SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPON-LESS PRODUCT LEVEL DISCOUNTS

• US 20130024259A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Puranik, Manjushri H., Newhouse, Sherree, Muthukrishnan, Sathish B., Wolf, David M., Rhoads, Lindsey C., Miller, Matthew James, Boggess, David William, Kimes, Charles Lafayette
• Application Number:
  US13/468,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A product level discount is managed during a transaction by receiving a transaction identifier associated with a transaction, where the transaction identifier comprises a transaction value, a customer account identifier, a merchant identifier, and a product identifier. A product identifier is assessed to determine whether the transaction qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with a predetermined offer. A rebate credit value is based on the transaction information and the predetermined offer, and qualification may be determined based on at least one of the customer account identifier and the merchant identifier. The product identifier could be a SKU code, which may be the basis for qualifying for the rebate credit. A merchant associated with the merchant identifier, which is part of the transaction, does not need to be informed of the application of the rebate credit to the customer account, which occurs after completion of the transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating, by a computer based system for managing a rewards program, a transaction account with the rewards program, wherein the rewards program comprises an offer;

receiving, by the computer based system, transaction information associated with a transaction from a merchant, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of a transaction value, and a transaction account identifier;

receiving, by the computer based system, a product identifier;

assessing, by the computer based system, the product identifier to determine that the transaction qualifies for a reward based predefined criteria associated with the offer;

determining, by the computer based system, the reward based on the transaction information and the offer; and

providing, by the computer based system, instructions for crediting the reward for the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information further comprises a merchant identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the reward comprises determining an amount of the reward based on at least one of the transaction account identifier and the merchant identifier, wherein the reward has a monetary value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying, by the computer based system, completion of the transaction; and

applying, by the computer based system, the reward to the transaction account in response to the completion of the transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, providing, by the computer based system, a record of the reward with the transaction on a statement associated with the transaction account.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identifier is at least one of a SKU code and a UPC code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the qualification for the reward is based on at least one of the SKU code and the UPC code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a merchant associated with the merchant identifier is not informed of the reward.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is initiated by a computing device that comprises a unique computing device indicator, and wherein the unique computing device indicator is associated with the transaction account.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the product identifier is captured the computing device, prior to initiating the transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending, by the computer based system, a notification of the offer to a user associated with the transaction account to incentivize completion of the transaction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user receives the notification of the offer on the computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying, by the computer based system, the reward to the transaction at a point of sale; and

determining, by the computer based system, authorization of the transaction in response to the applying the reward, wherein the reward is a monetary value.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computer based system, authorization of the transaction; and

applying, by the computer based system, the reward to the transaction.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying, by the computer based system, the reward to the transaction; and

determining, by the computer based system, authorization of the transaction.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is initiated by a computing device, wherein the computing device comprises a unique computing device indicator, and wherein the unique computing device indicator is associated with the transaction account.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the offer is established by at least one of a transaction account issuer, a loyalty account issuer, a merchant, and a product supplier.

18. The method of claim 16, providing, by the computer based system, the notification of the offer to a user on a computing device.

19. The method of claim 1, Wherein the transaction qualifies for the reward based on at least one of an aggregate transaction history associated with the transaction account, and real time spend data associated with the transaction account.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer contains criteria defining a reward for a class of products, and wherein the product identifier is analyzed to determine that a product associated with the product identifier qualifies for the class of products defined by the criteria.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identifier is received from a computing device.

22. The method of claim 1, crediting, by the computer based system, the reward at a POS.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is displayed on a statement associated with the transaction account.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the enrolling is in response to receiving transaction account information associated with the transaction account.

25. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer based system for managing a rewards program, cause the computer based system to perform operations comprising:

associating, by the computer based system, a transaction account with the rewards program, wherein the rewards program comprises an offer;

receiving, by the computer based system, transaction information associated with a transaction from a merchant, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of a transaction value, and a transaction account identifier;

receiving, by the computer based system, a product identifier;

assessing, by the computer based system, the product identifier to determine that the transaction qualifies for a reward based predefined criteria associated with the offer;

determining, by the computer based system, the reward based on the transaction information and the offer; and

providing, by the computer based system, instructions for crediting the reward for the transaction.

26. A computer based system for managing a product level discount comprising:

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor for managing a rewards program; and

the processor, when executing a computer program, performs operations comprising;

associating, by the processor, a transaction account with the rewards program, wherein the rewards program comprises an offer;

receiving, by the processor, transaction information associated with a transaction from a merchant, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of a transaction value, and a transaction account identifier;

receiving, by the processor, a product identifier;

assessing, by the processor, the product identifier to determine that the transaction qualifies for a reward based predefined criteria associated with the offer;

determining, by the processor, the reward based on the transaction information and the offer; and

providing, by the processor, instructions for crediting the reward for the transaction.