Multi-application smart card device software solution for smart cardholder reward selection and redemption

• US 8,010,405 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Jean Elizabeth, Nelson, Chris S., Gordon, James G., Bortolin, Corinne
• Primary Examiner(s): Lastra; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/365,711
• Time in Patent Office: 3,122 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.1
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A system for facilitating reward selection and redemption for a loyalty program is disclosed. The system includes a point-of-sale (POS) device that is capable of monitoring and processing a reward redemption. The POS device informs a participant of the loyalty program as to what rewards are available for redemption. The participant is given an opportunity by the POS device to select the desired reward for redemption. Alternatively, the POS device allows the participant to defer redemption of the available rewards.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a payment option and a reward option on a point-of-sale device;

receiving a selection of the reward option at the point-of-sale device;

invoking a reward control application in the point-of-sale device after receiving the selection of the reward option, wherein the reward control application is configured to allow the redemption of rewards in an auto redemption mode or in a manual redemption mode and is configured to allow the point-of-sale device to operate in the auto redemption mode or in the manual redemption mode, wherein the auto redemption mode automatically redeems rewards when the rewards are available for redemption, and wherein the manual redemption mode allows for a loyalty program participant to choose when the rewards are redeemed;

receiving a purchase amount for a purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device;

after receiving the purchase amount for the purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device, retrieving loyalty program information from a loyalty program participant, wherein the loyalty program information is retrieved by the point-of-sale device, further wherein the loyalty program information is for a loyalty program offered by a sponsoring party, wherein the sponsoring party comprises one of an issuer or a credit card association;

checking whether the loyalty program participant is entitled to participate in the loyalty program offered by the sponsoring party;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, identifying rewards that are available for redemption based on the loyalty program information, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device identifies the rewards;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, sorting the available rewards based upon the respective values of the available rewards;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, additionally sorting the available rewards based upon the respective expiration dates of the available rewards after sorting the available reward based upon the respective values, to determine a predetermined order;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, displaying the rewards in the predetermined order on the point-of-sale device to the loyalty program participant for review;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, receiving selection information from the loyalty program participant regarding the displayed rewards, wherein the selection information is received by the point-of-sale device; and

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, processing the selection information to determine whether to effect immediate redemption of a selected reward or defer the rewards for subsequent redemption, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device processes the selection information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined order is based on corresponding expiration dates of the rewards if the monetary values corresponding to the rewards are equal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the loyalty program information upon redemption of the selected reward, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device updates the loyalty program information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the loyalty program information is stored in a smartcard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined order is based on corresponding monetary values of the rewards.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein if the payment option is selected, then the point-of-sale terminal processes the transaction using a payment application without counting the transaction for reward purposes in a loyalty program.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the loyalty program information is received from a smartcard used by the loyalty participant and wherein identifying rewards and displaying rewards occurs while the point-of-sale terminal is offline.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the purchase amount is displayed by the point-of-sale terminal before any redeemable rewards are displayed.

9. The method of claim 1 the selection information indicates that none of the displayed rewards was selected, wherein the rewards are thereafter deferred.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection information indicates that one of the rewards is selected for redemption.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the point-of-sale device includes a scroll button to allow the loyalty program participant to scroll through the rewards.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the rewards comprises sequentially displaying the rewards.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising, while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, displaying an appropriate congratulatory message on a point-of-sale device display, after the selection information has been processed.

14. A method comprising:

displaying a payment option and a reward option on a point-of-sale device;

receiving a selection of the reward option at the point-of-sale device;

invoking a reward control application in the point-of-sale device after receiving the selection of the reward option, wherein the reward control application is configured to allow the redemption of rewards in an auto redemption mode or in a manual redemption mode and is configured to allow the point-of-sale device to operate in the auto redemption mode or in the manual redemption mode, wherein the auto redemption mode automatically redeems rewards when the rewards are available for redemption, and wherein the manual redemption mode allows for a loyalty program participant to choose when the rewards are redeemed;

receiving a purchase amount for a purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device;

after receiving the purchase amount for the purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device, retrieving loyalty program information from a loyalty program participant, wherein the loyalty program information is retrieved by the point-of-sale device;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, identifying rewards that are available for redemption based on the loyalty program information, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device identifies the rewards;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, displaying the rewards in a predetermined order on the point-of-sale device to the loyalty program participant for review;

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, receiving selection information from the loyalty program participant regarding the displayed rewards, wherein the selection information is received by the point-of-sale device; and

while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, processing the selection information to determine whether to effect immediate redemption of a selected reward or defer the rewards for subsequent redemption, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device processes the selection information, wherein the predetermined order is based on corresponding monetary values of the rewards.

15. A point-of-sale device comprising:

a device display;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to display a payment option and a reward option on the point-of-sale device;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to receive a selection of the reward option at the point-of-sale device;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to invoke a reward control application in the point-of-sale device after receiving the selection of the reward option, wherein the reward control application is configured to allow the redemption of rewards in an auto redemption mode or in a manual redemption mode and is configured to allow the point-of-sale device to operate in the auto redemption mode or in the manual redemption mode, wherein the auto redemption mode automatically redeems rewards when the rewards are available for redemption, and wherein the manual redemption mode allows for a loyalty program participant to choose when the rewards are redeemed;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to receive a purchase amount for a purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to retrieve loyalty program information from a loyalty program participant after receiving the purchase amount for the purchase transaction conducted using the point-of-sale device, wherein the loyalty program information is retrieved by the point-of-sale device, further wherein the loyalty program information is for a loyalty program offered by a sponsoring party, wherein the sponsoring party comprises one of an issuer or a credit card association;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point of sale device to check whether the loyalty program participant is entitled to participate in the loyalty program offered by the sponsoring party;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to identify rewards that are available for redemption based on the loyalty program information while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device identifies the rewards;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point of sale device to sort the available rewards based upon the respective values of the available rewards while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point of sale device to additionally sort the available rewards based upon the respective expiration dates of the available rewards after sorting the available reward based upon the respective values, to determine a predetermined order, while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to display the rewards in the predetermined order on the point-of-sale device to the loyalty program participant for review while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode;

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to receive selection information from the loyalty program participant regarding the displayed rewards while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, wherein the selection information is received by the point-of-sale device; and

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to process the selection information to determine whether to effect immediate redemption of a selected reward or defer the rewards for subsequent redemption while the reward control application is in the manual redemption mode, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device processes the selection information.

16. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined order is based on corresponding expiration dates of the rewards if the monetary values corresponding to the rewards are equal.

17. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, further comprising:

control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to update the loyalty program information upon redemption of the selected reward, wherein the reward control application in the point-of-sale device updates the loyalty program information.

18. The point-of-sale device of claim 15 wherein the loyalty program information is stored in a smartcard.

19. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, further comprising control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to process the transaction using a payment application without counting the transaction for reward purposes in a loyalty program if the payment option is selected.

20. The point-of-sale device of claim 19, wherein the predetermined order is based on expiration dates for the rewards.

21. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the loyalty program information is received from a smartcard used by the loyalty participant.

22. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale device is configured to identify rewards and display rewards while the point-of-sale terminal is offline.

23. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the purchase amount is displayed by the point-of-sale terminal before any redeemable rewards are displayed.

24. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, the selection information indicates that none of the displayed rewards was selected, wherein the rewards are thereafter deferred.

25. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the selection information indicates that one of the rewards is selected for redemption.

26. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale device includes a scroll button to allow the loyalty program participant to scroll through the rewards.

27. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, wherein the control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to display includes control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale terminal to sequentially display the rewards.

28. The point-of-sale device of claim 15, further comprising control logic configured as computer software to cause the point-of-sale device to display a plurality of options for selection by a loyalty program participant, wherein the plurality of options includes a sale option, a void option, and a refund option.