Method and system for managing reward reversal after posting

• US 20050071228A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammad, Ayman, Bortolin, Corinne
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A system for managing reward reversal is provided. The system includes a device that is capable of adjusting the accumulation and redemption levels of rewards after a purchase or return transaction.

Claims

1. A system for managing reward reversals in connection with a loyalty program, comprising:

control logic configured to receive information relating to a previously completed transaction that is to be reversed, the previously completed transaction being associated with an account linked to the loyalty program;

control logic configured to determine reversal information for the transaction to be reversed; and

control logic configured to use the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic configured to use the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account comprises:

control logic configured to use the reversal information to;

determine an amount to be adjusted; and

restore any reward that was redeemed as part of the previously completed transaction.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic configured to use the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account comprises:

control logic configured to use the reversal information to adjust any accumulated reward that was earned as part of the previously completed transaction.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic configured to determine whether the previously completed transaction that is to be reversed is eligible for reversal.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on one or more rules governing the loyalty program.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a limit on number of times transactions can be reversed under the associated account.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an expiration limit on when the previously completed transaction can be reversed.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a policy provided by a sponsor of the loyalty program.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an order of precedence with respect to handling of two or more rewards involved in the previously completed transaction.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the previously completed transaction was conducted with a portable device;

and

wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on whether the portable device is presented for reversing the previously completed transaction.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic configured to use the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account includes:

control logic configured to update a reversal activity log after the previously completed transaction has been reversed.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is implemented using computer software.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein all control logic used in the system is distributed amongst a plurality of components including a point-of-sale device and a portable device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of components further include a host and a website.

15. A system for managing reward reversals in connection with a loyalty program, comprising:

control logic configured to receive information relating to a previously completely transaction that is to be reversed, the previously completed transaction being associated with an account linked to the loyalty program;

control logic configured to determine an amount to be adjusted in connection with the previously completed transaction that is to be reversed;

control logic configured to restore any reward that was redeemed as part of the previously completed transaction; and

control logic configured to adjust any accumulated reward that was earned as part of the previously completed transaction.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

control logic configured to update the associated account with information relating to any restored reward or adjusted accumulated reward.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

control logic configured to determine whether the previously completed transaction that is to be reversed is eligible for reversal.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on one or more rules governing the loyalty program.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a limit on number of times transactions can be reversed under the associated account.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an expiration limit on when the previously completed transaction can be reversed.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a policy provided by a sponsor of the loyalty program.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an order of precedence with respect to handling of two or more rewards involved in the previously completed transaction.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the previously completed transaction was conducted with a portable device;

and

wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on whether the portable device is presented for reversing the previously completed transaction.

24. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

control logic configured to update a reversal activity log after the previously completed transaction has been reversed.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the system is implemented using computer software.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein control logic used in the system is distributed amongst a plurality of components including a point-of-sale device and a portable device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of components further include a host and a website.

28. A method for managing reward reversals in connection with a loyalty program, comprising:

receiving information relating to a previously completed transaction that is to be reversed, the previously completed transaction being associated with an account linked to the loyalty program;

determining reversal information for the transaction to be reversed; and

using the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein using the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account comprises:

determining an amount to be adjusted; and

restoring any reward that was redeemed as part of the previously completed transaction.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein using the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account comprises:

adjusting any accumulated reward that was earned as part of the previously completed transaction.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

determining whether the previously completed transaction that is to be reversed is eligible for reversal.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on one or more rules governing the loyalty program.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a limit on number of times transactions can be reversed under the associated account.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an expiration limit on when the previously completed transaction can be reversed.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes a policy provided by a sponsor of the loyalty program.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more rules governing the loyalty program includes an order of precedence with respect to handling of two or more rewards involved in the previously completed transaction.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the previously completed transaction was conducted with a portable device;

and

wherein the determination as to whether the previously completed transaction is eligible for reversal is made based on whether the portable device is presented for reversing the previously completed transaction.

38. The method of claim 28 wherein using the reversal information to reverse the previously completed transaction and update the associated account includes:

updating a reversal activity log after the previously completed transaction has been reversed.

39. The method of claim 28 wherein the method is implemented using computer software.

40. A point-of-sale device utilizing the method as recited in claim 28.