System and method for managing a loyalty program via an association network infrastructure
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for providing a loyalty program comprising:
- registering a consumer with the loyalty program, said registration including obtaining personal information from the consumer and associating with the consumer a token to initiate a transaction request over an association network when used in conjunction with a merchant transaction system, wherein the token is associated with a form of tender;
receiving by a processor the transaction request initiated by the token from the merchant transaction system, said transaction request, containing information sufficient to identify the token and a transaction, wherein the transaction request is transmitted over the association network;
determining, by the processor, that the token cannot be used as tender to pay for the transaction and then determining whether the consumer is entitled to any rewards from the loyalty program in response to receiving the transaction request initiated by the token;
transmitting by the processor, via the association network a message to the merchant transaction system, indicating any applicable rewards and indicating that the token cannot be used as tender in response to the receiving the transaction request initiated by the token;
receiving, by the processor, from the merchant transaction system, additional details of the transaction stored at the merchant transaction system, during or after completion of the transaction tied to the token that cannot be used as tender, wherein the additional details of the transaction are transmitted over a communications network separate and distinct from the association network;
matching, by the processor, the information in the transaction request to the additional details of the transaction;
andtransmitting any additional rewards to the consumer in response to the matching of the information in the transaction request to the additional details of the transaction.
4 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing a loyalty program by utilizing a pre-existing association network. When a consumer is registered with the program, the consumer'"'"'s personal information is stored in a database and associated with a token ID. The token is capable of initiating a transaction message request over an association network when used in conjunction with a merchant transaction system. A program manager is provided that includes an association network interface for receiving over the association network the transaction request message initiated by the token at a merchant, where the transaction request message includes a first set of transaction information regarding a consumer-initiated product purchase transaction. The program manager is then configured to store the first set of transaction information, transmit to the merchant a response message that includes an indication that the token cannot provide tender for a product purchase, and utilize the first set of transaction information to facilitate the identification of one or more rewards for the consumer.
87 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for providing a loyalty program comprising:
-
registering a consumer with the loyalty program, said registration including obtaining personal information from the consumer and associating with the consumer a token to initiate a transaction request over an association network when used in conjunction with a merchant transaction system, wherein the token is associated with a form of tender; receiving by a processor the transaction request initiated by the token from the merchant transaction system, said transaction request, containing information sufficient to identify the token and a transaction, wherein the transaction request is transmitted over the association network; determining, by the processor, that the token cannot be used as tender to pay for the transaction and then determining whether the consumer is entitled to any rewards from the loyalty program in response to receiving the transaction request initiated by the token; transmitting by the processor, via the association network a message to the merchant transaction system, indicating any applicable rewards and indicating that the token cannot be used as tender in response to the receiving the transaction request initiated by the token; receiving, by the processor, from the merchant transaction system, additional details of the transaction stored at the merchant transaction system, during or after completion of the transaction tied to the token that cannot be used as tender, wherein the additional details of the transaction are transmitted over a communications network separate and distinct from the association network; matching, by the processor, the information in the transaction request to the additional details of the transaction; and transmitting any additional rewards to the consumer in response to the matching of the information in the transaction request to the additional details of the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification