Rewards program manager

• US 8,682,719 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Laramy, Jodene, Bodington, Shaun, Johnson-Alosi, Paula Marie, O'Brien, Denise Nay
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERHORST, MARIA VICTORIA
• Application Number:
  US11/688,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.1, 705/16, 705/14.34
• US Class Current: 705/14.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A method for managing rewards programs is disclosed. The method includes reviewing a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site via the Internet. The offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices. An offer from the plurality of offers is selected and a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of an issuer that selected the offer is generated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a computer system registering a first business entity with a rewards program manager that is executing on the computer system at a host site, the rewards program manager being operated by a second business entity;

the computer system receiving from the first business entity, a consumer list comprising information identifying a plurality of consumers;

the computer system enabling second business entity to manage multiple rewards programs associated with at least the first business entity at the host site at least in part by, prior to offering at least one of the rewards programs;

presenting, to the first business entity, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the second business entity;

receiving, from the first business entity, a specification of the at least one of the rewards programs; and

verifying, by the computer system, that the at least one of the rewards programs is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including comparing the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

the computer system generating offer messages to be sent to one or more consumers in the consumer list, wherein one or more of the rewards programs are offered to the one or more consumers by way of the offer messages; and

the computer system initiating sending of the offer messages to each of the one or more consumers in the consumer list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more minimum qualification criteria comprises one or more criteria with respect to a financial value provided by the at least one of the rewards programs to the plurality of consumers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the rewards programs has a plurality of program brands beneath the at least one of the rewards programs in a hierarchy as specified by the first business entity and verification by the rewards program manager with respect to the rewards program qualification criteria occurs at the rewards program level of the hierarchy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of program brands that are beneath the at least one of the rewards programs in the hierarchy is caused to inherit one or more details of the at least one of the rewards program by the rewards program manager.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second business entity corresponds to a payment processing entity that, at least, provides the set of rewards program qualification criteria and determines rewards in accordance with the at least one of the rewards programs based at least in part on payment authorization requests submitted to the payment processing entity.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial value provided by the at least one of the rewards programs is specified at least in part by a number of basis points with respect to a financial amount spent in relation to the at least one of the rewards programs.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the hierarchy comprises at least four hierarchy levels including a first business entity level, a second business partners level, a third rewards program level and a fourth program brands level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein entities in the second business partners level inherit one or more details from the first business entity level, entities in the third rewards program level inherit one or more details from the first business entity level or the second business partners level, and entities in the fourth program brands level inherit one or more details from the first business entity level, the second business partners level or the third rewards program level.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the host site maintains a wizard type graphical user interface for each level of the hierarchy, each wizard type graphical user interface configured at least to facilitate entry of details defining entities in the corresponding hierarchy level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the wizard type graphical user interfaces is further configured at least to cause entities in the corresponding hierarchy level to inherit details from parent entities in a higher level of the hierarchy.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the wizard type graphical user interface corresponding to the third rewards program level is further configured at least to present the set of rewards program qualification criteria and receive, with a plurality of graphical user interface fields, data corresponding to at least a portion of the specification of said at least one of the rewards programs.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the at least one of the rewards programs at least one rewards program identification number (RPIN) when the at least one of the rewards programs is verified by the computer system as in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program code comprising:

computer program instructions configured at least to cause at least one data processor to register a first business entity with a rewards program manager operated by a second business entity;

computer program instructions configured at least to cause the at least one data processor to receive from the first business entity, a consumer list comprising information identifying a plurality of consumers;

computer program instructions configured at least to cause the at least one data processor to enable the second business entity to manage multiple rewards programs associated with at least the first business entity using the rewards program manager at least in part by, prior to offering at least one of the rewards programs;

presenting, to the first business entity, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the second business entity;

receiving, from the first business entity, a specification of the at least one of the rewards programs; and

verifying, by the computer system, that the at least one of the rewards programs is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including comparing the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

computer program instructions configured at least to cause the at least one data processor to generate offer messages to be sent to one or more consumers in the consumer list, wherein one or more of the rewards programs are offered to the one or more consumers by way of the offer messages; and

computer program instructions configured at least to cause the at least one data processor to initiate sending of the offer messages to each of the one or more consumers in the consumer list.

3. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 2.

4. A system comprising:

at least one computer, operating at a host site, configured to, at least;

register a first business entity with a rewards program manager operated by a second business entity;

receive from the first business entity, a consumer list comprising information identifying a plurality of consumers;

enable the second business entity to manage multiple rewards programs associated with at least the first business entity at the host site at least in part by, prior to offering at least one of the rewards programs;

presenting, to the first business entity, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the second business entity;

receiving, from the first business entity, a specification of the at least one of the rewards programs and

verifying, by the computer system, that the at least one of the rewards programs is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including comparing the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

generate offer messages to be sent to one or more consumers in the consumer list, wherein one or more of the rewards programs are offered to the one or more consumers by way of the offer messages; and

initiate sending of the offer messages to each of the one or more consumers in the consumer list.

5. A method comprising:

a business entity computer providing information to a host site to register with a rewards program manager running on the host site, the business entity computer being operated by a first business entity and the rewards program manager being operated by a second business entity, the rewards program manager comprising computer-executable instructions executed by at least one computer;

the business entity computer, subsequent to registering, providing a consumer list to the rewards program manager;

the business entity computer managing multiple rewards programs at the host site at least in part by, prior to at least one of the rewards programs being offered;

receiving, from the rewards program manager, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the second business entity;

providing, to the rewards program manager, a specification of the at least one of the rewards programs; and

receiving verification, performed by the rewards program manager, that the at least one of the rewards programs is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including that the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs complies with the one or more minimum qualification criteria; and

the business entity computer initiating generation of offer messages to be sent to one or more consumers in the consumer list, wherein one or more of the rewards programs are offered to the one or more consumers by way of the offer messages.

6. A system comprising:

at least one computer configured to, at least;

provide information to a host site to register itself with a rewards program manager running on the host site, the at least one computer being operated by a first business entity and the rewards program manager being operated by a second business entity, the rewards program manager comprising computer-executable instructions executed by at least one computer;

provide, subsequent to registering, a consumer list to the rewards program manager;

manage multiple rewards programs at the host site at least in part by, prior to at least one of the rewards programs being offered;

receiving, from the rewards program manager, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the second business entity;

providing, to the rewards program manager, a specification of at least one of the rewards programs; and

receiving verification, performed by the rewards program manager, that the at least one of the rewards programs is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including that the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs complies with the one or more minimum qualification criteria; and

initiate generation of offer messages to be sent to one or more consumers in the consumer list, wherein one or more of the rewards programs are offered to the one or more consumers by way of the offer messages.

7. A method comprising:

a business entity computer, operated by a first business entity, receiving a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants at a host site, wherein the offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

the business entity computer facilitating management of at least one rewards program at the host site at least in part by, prior to at least one of the rewards programs being offered;

receiving, from a rewards program manager running on the host site, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one of the rewards programs in order for the at least one of the rewards programs to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by a second business entity;

providing, to the rewards program manager, a specification of the at least one rewards program at least in part by indicating selection of at least one offer from the plurality of offers; and

receiving verification, performed by the rewards program manager, that the specified at least one rewards program is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including that the specification of the at least one of the rewards programs complies with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

the business entity computer receiving a generated customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of the first business entity; and

the business entity computer initiating sending of the customized offer element to each of one or more consumers selected from among a plurality of consumers.

8. A method comprising:

a computer system, operated by a first business entity, providing for a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants at a host site, wherein the offers are associated with rewards provided to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

the computer system facilitating management of at least one rewards program including facilitating specification of the at least one rewards program at least in part by, prior to offering the at least one rewards program;

presenting, to a second business entity, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one rewards program in order for the at least one rewards program to be accepted by a rewards program manager operated by the first business entity;

receiving, from the second business entity, a specification of the at least one rewards program; and

providing verification, performed by the rewards program manager executing at the host site, that the specified at least one rewards program is in accordance with the set of rewards program qualification criteria including that the specification of the at least one rewards program complies with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

the computer system generating a customized offer element including a selected offer of the plurality of offers and an identifier of the second business entity;

the computer system determining one or more consumers from among a plurality of consumers; and

the computer system initiating sending the customized offer element to each of the one or more consumers from among the plurality of consumers.

9. A method comprising:

a business entity computer, operated by a first business entity, receiving via the Internet a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants stored at a host site, wherein the offers are associated with rewards provided to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

the business entity computer facilitating management of at least one rewards program at the host site at least in part by, prior to offering the at least one rewards program;

receiving, from a rewards program manager executing at the host site, a set of rewards program qualification criteria including one or more minimum qualification criteria to be satisfied by the at least one rewards program in order for the at least one rewards program to be accepted by the rewards program manager operated by the first business entity;

providing, to the rewards program manager, a specification of the at least one rewards program at least in part by indicating selection of at least one offer from the plurality of offers and

receiving verification, performed by the rewards program manager, that the specified at least one rewards program is in accordance with a set of rewards program qualification criteria including that the specification of the at least one rewards program complies with the one or more minimum qualification criteria;

the business entity computer receiving a generated a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of the first business entity; and

the business entity computer initiating sending of the customized offer element to each of one or more consumers selected from among a plurality of consumers.