Real-time rewards redemption

• US 8,332,290 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Bancorp Licensing Incorporated (US Bancorp)
• Original Assignee: US Bancorp Licensing Incorporated (US Bancorp)
• Inventors: Venturo, Dominic Victor, Daly, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US13/344,252
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.33
• US Class Current: 705/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a computing system, information regarding a transaction associated with a financial account of a customer. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on the information regarding the transaction, whether to provide a redemption alert to the customer. The method also includes providing the redemption alert to a mobile device of the customer if it is determined that the redemption alert is to be provided. The method further includes receiving a response to the redemption alert from the mobile device of the customer, where the response indicates whether at least a portion of accumulated loyalty rewards of the customer are to be used to pay for at least a portion of the transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a computing system, information regarding a transaction associated with a financial account of a customer;

determining, based at least in part on the information regarding the transaction, whether to provide a redemption alert to the customer;

if it is determined that the redemption alert is to be provided, providing the redemption alert to a mobile device of the customer;

receiving a response to the redemption alert from the mobile device of the customer, wherein the response indicates that at least a portion of accumulated loyalty rewards of the customer are to be used to pay for at least a portion of the transaction;

deducting at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards from a rewards balance of the customer; and

crediting the financial account of the customer with a value of at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the transaction is received from a point-of-sale device such that the computing system is able to decline or approve the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the redemption alert indicates an amount of the transaction that is to be paid for with the accumulated loyalty rewards.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the redemption alert is based at least in part on a rewards balance of the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to provide the redemption alert is based at least in part on a preference of the customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction is with a specified merchant.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction is for a specified good or service.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction occurs during a specified time period.

9. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information regarding a transaction associated with a financial account of a customer;

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to determine, based at least in part on the information regarding the transaction, whether to provide a redemption alert to the customer; and

a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor and configured to provide the redemption alert to a mobile device of the customer if it is determined that the redemption alert is to be provided;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a response to the redemption alert from the mobile device of the customer, and wherein the response indicates that at least a portion of accumulated loyalty rewards of the customer are to be used to pay for at least a portion of the transaction;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

deduct at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards from a rewards balance of the customer; and

credit the financial account of the customer with a value of at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the transaction is received from a point-of-sale device such that the system is able to decline or approve the transaction.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the response to the redemption alert indicates an amount of the transaction that is to be paid for with the accumulated loyalty rewards.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor determines whether to provide the redemption alert based at least in part on the rewards balance of the customer.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor determines whether to provide the redemption alert based at least in part on a preference of the customer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction is with a specified merchant.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction is for a specified good or service.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed cause a computer to:

process received information regarding a transaction associated with a financial account of a customer;

determine, based at least in part on the information regarding the transaction, whether to provide a redemption alert to the customer;

provide the redemption alert to a mobile device of the customer if it is determined that the redemption alert is to be provided;

process a received response to the redemption alert from the mobile device of the customer, wherein the response indicates that at least a portion of accumulated loyalty rewards of the customer are to be used to pay for at least a portion of the transaction;

deduct at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards from a rewards balance of the customer; and

credit the financial account of the customer with a value of at least the portion of the accumulated loyalty rewards.

17. The computer-executable instructions of claim 16, wherein the response to the redemption alert indicates an amount of the transaction that is to be paid for with the accumulated loyalty rewards.

18. The computer-executable instructions of claim 16, wherein determining whether to provide the redemption alert is based at least in part on the rewards balance of the customer.

19. The computer-executable instructions of claim 16, wherein determining whether to provide the redemption alert is based at least in part on a preference of the customer, and wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction is with a specified merchant.

20. The computer-executable instructions of claim 16, wherein determining whether to provide the redemption alert is based at least in part on a preference of the customer, and wherein the preference comprises a request from the customer to not receive the redemption alert if the transaction occurs during a specified time period.