Method and apparatus for enrolling with multiple transaction environments

• US 8,543,423 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Reiter, Eve, Ray, Pragnesh, O'Malley, Anne, Tze, Dennis, Teodosic, Stefan, Saunders, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEP VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/608,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,742 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/16
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards

Abstract

The present invention facilitates the enrollment of a user with multiple transaction environments, such as, for example, supplier membership programs. A browser uses integrated user information to facilitate the enrollment process between a user (e.g., a merchant or seller) and a supplier (e.g., a merchant or seller). An application for enrollment may include a user information pertinent for providing to the supplier for use in enrolling the user in a membership program that the user has an interest in. A user may submit data related to user information, products or services of interest to the user, and/or the like to the browser to request for membership enrollment, or request a quote for the performance of services or payment for goods, or the user may be enrolled in a membership program automatically upon receipt of the user information. The data may be submitted manually or using a storage device containing the required enrollment information. The storage device may be a Radio Frequency Identification Device in contactless communication with browser. Upon submitting the data to browser, the user is automatically enrolled in the membership program, and the user membership identification information is then stored in the storage device for later retrieval and use. The merchant may then incent user'"'"'s usage of the membership program.

Claims

1. A system for membership enrollment comprising:

an enrollment system including an enrollment system server configured to process user data in connection with a user;

a first supplier system configured to provide a first membership indicia to said enrollment system in response to said user data provided for enrollment in a first membership program;

a second supplier system configured to provide a second membership indicia to said enrollment system in response to said user data provided for enrollment in a second membership program, said second membership indicia different from said first membership indicia;

a readable storage device including a database configured to store said first and second membership indicia, and said user data;

an enrollment system reader in communication with said readable storage device and said enrollment system server, said enrollment system reader receiving said user data;

wherein said enrollment system reader notifies said user of enrollment of a third supplier system and initiates a request for additional user data from the user in response to said enrollment of said third supplier system in order to be supplied to said third supplier system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said enrollment system reader is in communication with said enrollment system for providing said user data to said first and second suppliers.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said enrollment system server is configured to provide said first and second membership indicia to said readable storage device, said readable storage device configured to store said first and second membership indicia in said readable storage device database.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said readable storage device database further includes a rewards data file for storing rewards value.

5. The system according to claim 4, further including a first supplier reader and a second supplier reader, said first and second supplier readers in communication with said enrollment system, said first and second supplier readers configured to provide an interrogation signal and configured to receive at least one of said first and second membership indicia.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said first and second supplier systems provides value to said rewards data file.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said value is provided in accordance with said user data.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said value is provided in response to receipt of said user data.

9. The system according to claim 3, wherein said readable storage device stores said first membership indicia prior to storing said second membership indicia.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein said readable storage device stores said first and second membership indicia substantially simultaneously.

11. The system according to claim 3, wherein said readable storage device stores at least one of said first and second membership indicia automatically.

12. A system for membership enrollment comprising:

an enrollment system including an enrollment system server configured to process user data in connection with a user;

a first supplier system configured to provide a first membership indicia to said enrollment system in response to said user data provided for enrollment in a first membership program;

a second supplier system configured to provide a second membership indicia to said enrollment system in response to said user data provided for enrollment in a second membership program, said second membership indicia different from said first membership indicia;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) storage device including a transponder system in communication with a transponder system database configured to store said first and second membership indicia, and said user data, said transponder system for receiving an interrogation signal, providing said user data and receiving at least one of said first and second membership indicia;

an RFID reader in communication with said RFID storage device and said enrollment system server, said RFID reader configured to provide said interrogation signal, receiving said user data, and configured to provide at least one of said first and second membership indicia; and

wherein said enrollment system reader notifies said user of enrollment of a third supplier system and initiates a request for additional user data from the user in response to said enrollment of said third supplier system in order to be supplied to said third supplier system.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said RFID reader is in communication with said enrollment system for providing said user data to said first and second supplier systems.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said enrollment system server is configured to provide said first and second membership indicia to said RFID storage device, said RFID storage device is configured to store said first and second membership indicia in said transponder system database.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said transponder system database further includes a rewards data file for storing rewards value.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second supplier systems provides value to said rewards data file, said value being provided via at least one of said RFID reader and said transponder system, and stored in said rewards data file.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said value is provided in accordance with at least one of said user data and a transaction indicia.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said readable storage device stores said first membership indicia prior to storing said second membership indicia.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein said readable storage device stores said first and second membership indicia substantially simultaneously.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein said readable storage device stores at least one of said first and second membership indicia automatically.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer-based system for enrolling a user in a membership program, user specific data at a universal enrollment system;

providing, by the computer-based system, the user specific data to a plurality of service providers for enrollment in a corresponding plurality of membership programs;

receiving, by the computer-based system, unique membership numbers associated with the user from the plurality of service providers; and

transferring, by the computer-based system, the unique membership numbers to a portable handheld user storage device, the storage device including a database containing a unique storage area for each unique membership number.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving at least one of the unique membership numbers from the storage device upon presentation of the storage device to a first service provider, the unique membership number identifying the user as a member of a first service provider membership program;

authenticating authenticity of at least the unique membership number and user;

providing rewards points to the storage device in accordance with at least one of the unique membership number and a transaction indicia; and

providing means for storing the rewards points for later redemption.

23. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer-based system for enrolling a user in a membership program, user specific data at a universal enrollment system;

providing, by the computer-based system, the user specific data to a plurality of service providers for enrollment in a corresponding plurality of membership programs;

receiving, by the computer-based system, unique membership numbers associated with the user from the plurality of service providers; and

transferring, by the computer-based system, the unique membership numbers to a portable handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) storage device using the storage device including a RF transponder and a database in communication with the RF transponder, the database containing a unique storage area for each unique membership number.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

receiving at least one of the unique membership numbers from the RFID storage device upon presentation of the RFID storage device to a first service provider, the unique membership number identifying the user as a member of a first service provider membership program;

authenticating authenticity of at least the unique membership number and user;

providing rewards points via RF communications to the RFID storage device in accordance with at least one of the unique membership number and a transaction indicia; and

providing means for storing the rewards points for later redemption.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the transfer of at least one of said rewards points, user specific data, and unique membership number is via RF.