Systems and methods to process referrals in offer campaigns

• US 9,466,075 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark, Spears, Joseph, Stan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Sittner, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US13/755,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a computing apparatus including a transaction handler configured to process enrollment of an enrolling user;

receiving, by the transaction handler, enrollment information corresponding to an enrollment request from the enrolling user;

receiving, by the transaction handler, electronic authorization requests from transaction terminals;

sending, by the transaction handler, transaction data associated with the authorization requests to a data warehouse to cause storage of the transaction data in the data warehouse;

determining, by the transaction handler, an identifier of a referring user based on the enrollment information;

in response to an enrollment of the enrolling user as a result of a referral from the referring user;

determining, by the transaction handler, whether the enrolling user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a first event specified by a merchant for an offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating, the determining based at least in part on the transaction data, and

determining, by the transaction handler, whether the referring user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a second event specified by the merchant for an offer campaign in which the referring user is participating;

in response to verification of enrollment of the enrolling user, sending, by the transaction handler;

an electronic communication to cause recording, by the data warehouse, of data in a first data record indicating achievement of the enrolling user in the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating,

an electronic communication to cause updating of a second data record stored in the data warehouse regarding the status of completing the set of requirements for the referring user,

a first notification to the enrolling user in accordance with a first action specified by the merchant in relation to the first event, the first action to cause a display of the first notification in a user interface of a first computing device of the enrolling user, and

a second notification to the referring user in accordance with a second action specified by the merchant in relation to the second event, the second action to cause a display of the second notification in a user interface of a second computing device of the referring user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating and the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating is specified by the merchant based on a set of events connected via prerequisite conditions, wherein the events specified by the merchant include parameters identified by merchants.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification to the enrolling user is by way of at least one of:

SMS, email, telephone call, webpage, direct mail or social network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the enrollment request is for a program designed to allow the enrolling user to at least one of:

use a website, receive purchase discounts, attend an event, play a game, view media, or participate in a social network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating is the same as the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first notification is provided to the enrolling user via a communication channel separate from a channel used by the transaction handler to respond to the authorization requests.

7. A non-transitory computer-storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a computing apparatus to:

receive, by a transaction handler, enrollment information corresponding to an enrollment request from an enrolling user;

receive, by the transaction handler, electronic authorization requests from transaction terminals;

send, by the transaction handler, transaction data associated with the authorization requests to a data warehouse to cause storage of the transaction data in the data warehouse;

determine, by the transaction handler, an identifier of a referring user based on the enrollment information;

in response to an enrollment of the enrolling user as a result of a referral from the referring user;

determine, by the transaction handler, whether the enrolling user is eligible qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a first event specified for an offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating, and

determine, by the transaction handler, whether the referring user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a second event specified for an offer campaign in which the referring user is participating;

in response to verification of enrollment of the enrolling user, send, by the transaction handler;

an electronic communication to cause recording, by the data warehouse, of data in a first data record indicating achievement of the enrolling user in the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating,

an electronic communication to cause updating of a second data record stored in the data warehouse regarding the status of completing the set of requirements for the referring user,

a first notification to the enrolling user in accordance with a first action specified by a merchant in relation to the first event, the first action to cause a display of the first notification in a user interface of a first computing device of the enrolling user, and

a second notification to the referring user in accordance with a second action specified by the merchant in relation to the second event, the second action to cause a display of the second notification in a user interface of a second computing device of the referring user.

8. The non-transitory computer-storage medium of claim 7, wherein the first event and the second event are specified by the merchant, and the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating is specified by the merchant based on a set of events.

9. The non-transitory computer-storage medium of claim 7, wherein the computing apparatus further comprises a portal, and the transaction handler receives the enrollment information via the portal.

10. The non-transitory computer-storage medium of claim 7, wherein the enrollment request is for a program designed to allow the enrolling user to participate in a social network.