Method and system for tracking smart card loyalty points

• US 6,889,198 B2
• Filed: 01/21/1999
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kawan, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/234,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/35, 705/41, 235/380, 235/379
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method and system for tracking and redeeming smart card loyalty points includes storing loyalty program information related to transactions with at least one merchant in a loyalty register residing on a smart card microcomputer for the customer. Transaction information about transactions with the merchant is stored in a purchase log likewise residing on the smart card microcomputer for the customer. The stored transaction information is compared with the stored loyalty program information, and transaction information about one or more transactions with the merchant which is stored in the purchase log, but which is omitted from the loyalty register, is automatically identified. The stored loyalty program information is then automatically updated with the omitted transaction information. The transaction information includes, for example, a plurality of unique transaction numbers in ascending order, and identifying the omitted transaction information involves identifying one or more transaction numbers in the stored transaction information that is greater than any transaction number stored in the loyalty program information.

Claims

1. A method of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

storing loyalty program information in a loyalty register of a loyalty program application on a purchase log part of a transaction log on a smart card microcomputer, wherein the loyalty program application is capable of storing loyalty program information for a plurality of merchants, each identified by a unique merchant identifier, in a plurality of loyalty registers and wherein the loyalty program information includes information related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer and the loyalty register is identified by the unique merchant identifier the customer and the loyalty register is identified by the unique merchant identifier associated with the merchant to enable transactions with the merchant to be matched with the loyalty register for the merchant;

storing transaction information on the purchase log part of the transaction log on the smart card microcomputer about transactions with the merchant for the customer at a merchant terminal, wherein the transaction information includes the unique merchant identifier and a unique transaction number associated with each transaction with the merchant in ascending numerical order;

comparing the stored transaction information with the stored loyalty program information at a stand-alone terminal that is independent of the merchant terminal;

automatically identifying transaction information stored on the purchase log part of the transaction log at the stand-alone terminal about at least one transaction with the merchant for which an associated transaction number is numerically greater than any transaction number for a transaction with the merchant stored in the stored loyalty program information; and

automatically adding the identified transaction information to the stored loyalty program information at the stand-alone terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing loyalty program information further comprises loading a loyalty program application into programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer at a terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein loading the loyalty program application further comprises inputting customer information to the loyalty program application on the terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal comprises the merchant terminal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the loyalty program information further comprises storing the information in the loyalty register of the loyalty program application loaded into programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant identifier comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing transaction information further comprises performing a merchant transaction for the customer with the smart card at the merchant terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein performing the merchant transaction further comprises transferring information representing monetary value between a stored value application on the smart card microcomputer and a terminal application for the customer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring the information further comprises automatically logging the transfer for the customer to the purchase log on the smart card microcomputer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information further comprises a transaction amount and a transaction date for the merchant transaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing further comprises automatically comparing by an application on the smart card microcomputer of the transaction information stored in the purchase log on the smart card microcomputer with the loyalty program information stored in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing further comprises automatically comparing transaction information stored in a purchase log on the smart card microcomputer with loyalty program information stored in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer at a terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying further comprises automatically identifying by an application on the smart card microcomputer of the transaction number associated with the transaction information for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyalty program information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying further comprises automatically identifying transaction number associated with the transaction information for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyalty program information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the merchant identifier further comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating further comprises storing the identified transaction information with the stored loyalty program information for the customer by an application on the smart card microcomputer.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating further comprises storing the identified transaction information with the stored loyalty program information for the customer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified transaction information comprises a unique transaction number associated with the merchant transaction.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the identified transaction information further comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein storing the identified transaction information further comprises storing the identified transaction information in the loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer for the customer at the stand-alone terminal.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising automatically printing a summary report of the loyalty program information for the merchant on a printer associated with the stand-alone terminal.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising automatically uploading the loyalty program information by the stand-alone terminal to a back office loyalty server.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the transaction information further comprises storing a plurality of the unique transaction numbers in ascending order, each of which transaction numbers is associated with one of a plurality of merchant transactions for the customer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the stored loyalty program information comprises at least one of the unique transaction numbers.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored loyalty program information comprises information representing a balance of accumulated loyalty points stored in the loyalty program register on the smart card microcomputer.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising accessing the balance information on the smart card loyalty register by the customer at a terminal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein accessing the balance information further comprises displaying the balance information for the customer on a display screen associated with the terminal.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising displaying information about redeeming at least some of the accumulated loyalty points for the customer on the display screen.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising entering a request for the customer for redemption of least some of the accumulated loyalty points on an input device associated with the terminal.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising automatically updating the balance information for the customer with information about the redemption of the loyalty points.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising automatically printing a redemption coupon for the customer representing a redemption value of the redeemed loyalty points on a printer associated with the terminal.

37. A system of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

a loyalty register of a loyalty program application on a purchase log part of a smart card transaction log for storing loyalty program information on a smart card microcomputer, wherein the loyalty program, application is capable of storing loyalty program information for a plurality of merchants, each identified by a unique merchant identifier, in a plurality of loyalty registers and wherein the loyalty program information includes information related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer and the loyalty register is identified by the unique merchant identifier associated with the merchant to enable transactions with the merchant to be matched with the loyalty register for the merchant;

means for storing transaction information on the purchase log part of the transaction log on the smart card microcomputer about transactions with the merchant for the customer at a merchant terminal, wherein the transaction information includes the unique merchant identifier and a unique transaction number associated with each transaction with the merchant in ascending numerical order;

means associated with the transaction information storing means and the loyalty register for comparing the stored transaction information with the stored loyalty program information at a stand-alone terminal that is independent of the merchant terminal;

means associated with the comparing means for automatically identifying transaction information stored on the purchase log part of the transaction log at the stand-alone terminal about at least one transaction with the merchant for which an associated transaction number is numerically greater than any transaction number for a transaction with the merchant stored with the stored loyalty program information;

means associated with the identifying means and the loyalty for automatically adding the identified transaction information to the stored loyalty program information at the stand-alone terminal.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the transaction storing means further comprises a merchant application communicating with the transaction log at the merchant terminal.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the comparing means comprises an application on the smart card microcomputer.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the means for adding the identified transaction information to the stored loyalty program information comprises an application on the smart card microcomputer.

41. A method of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

storing loyalty program information in a loyalty register of a loyalty program application on a purchase log part of a transaction log in programmable memory on a smart card microcomputer, wherein the loyalty program application is capable of storing loyalty program information for a plurality of merchants, each identified by a unique merchant identifier, in a plurality of loyalty registers and wherein the loyalty program information includes information related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer and the loyalty register is identified by the unique merchant identifier associated with the merchant to enable transactions with the merchant to be matched with the loyalty register for the merchant;

storing transaction information on the purchase log part of the transaction log in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer about transactions with the merchant for the customer at a merchant terminal, wherein the transaction information includes the unique merchant identifier and a unique transaction number associated with each transaction with the merchant in ascending numerical order;

comparing, by an application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer, the transaction information stored in the purchase log on the smart card microcomputer with the loyalty program information stored in the loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer at a stand-alone terminal that is independent of the merchant terminal;

automatically identifying, by the application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer, a transaction number associated with the transaction information stored on the purchase log part of the transaction log at the stand-alone terminal for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyalty program information about at least one transaction with the merchant for which an associated transaction number is numerically greater than any transaction number for a transaction with the merchant stored in the stored loyalty program information; and

automatically adding the identified transaction information to the stored loyalty program information by an application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer at the stand-alone terminal.

42. A system of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

a loyalty register of a loyalty program application on a purchase log part of a smart card transaction log in programmable memory on a smart card microcomputer for storing loyalty program information, wherein the loyalty program application is capable of storing loyalty program information for a plurality of merchants, each identified by a unique merchant identifier, in a plurality of loyalty registers and wherein the loyalty program information includes information related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer and the loyalty register is identified by the unique merchant identifier associated with the merchant to enable transactions with the merchant to be matched with the loyalty register for the merchant;

wherein the purchase log part of the transaction log in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer is adapted for storing transaction information about transactions with the merchant for the customer at a merchant terminal, wherein the transaction information includes the unique merchant identifier and a unique transaction number associated with each transaction with the merchant in ascending numerical order;

an application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer for comparing the transaction information stored in the purchase log in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer with the loyalty program information stored in the loyalty register in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer at a stand-alone terminal that is independent of the merchant terminal;

wherein, the application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer is adapted for automatically identifying a transaction number associated with the transaction information stored on the purchase log part of the transaction log at the stand-alone terminal for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyal program information about at least one transaction with the merchant for which an associated transaction number is numerically greater than any transaction number for a transaction with the merchant stored with the stored loyalty program information; and

wherein the application in programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer is also adapted for automatically adding the identified transaction information to the stored loyalty program information at the stand-alone terminal.