Multiple party reward system utilizing single account

• US 7,318,041 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Rodgers, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAN BRAMER, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US10/037,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,253 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

A method enabling a frequent shopper reward system capable of tracking performance data of a plurality of members or account holders linked to a single frequent shopper account.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving transaction data associated with a customer transaction;

retrieving a customer record based on the transaction data, the customer record including account information identifying a primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder;

determining that the primary account holder and at least one of the sub-account holders are physically present;

transacting with at least one of the primary account holder and a present sub-account holder;

determining a reward; and

allocating the reward according to at least one rule to at least one of the primary account holder and any sub-account holders determined to be present.

2. The method of claim 1, in which receiving transaction data further comprises receiving frequent shopper data.

3. The method of claim 1, in which transacting requires presentation of a personal identification number of the primary account holder.

4. The method of claim 1, in which determining if the primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder are physically present comprises receiving physical presence information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the physical presence information comprises at least one of typed data, voice data, license plate data, biometric data, audio-spatial data, voice recognition data, handwriting recognition data, fingerprint data, retinal data, credit card data, smart card data, data from a touchscreen, and data from an input device.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

evaluating the transaction based on at least one of the physical presence information and the transaction data; and

updating the customer record in accordance with the evaluation.

7. The method of claim 6, in which updating comprises at least one of adding reward points, subtracting reward points, calculating a reward level, and allocating a calculated award level to at least one of the primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward comprises at least one of an immediate discount associated with the transaction, an increase in reward points, a future discount, a coupon, and a monetary rebate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises at least one of transaction rules, reward rules, physical presence rules, and affiliation rules.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to determining if the primary account holder and at least one of the sub-account holders are physically present:

transmitting display data including account member indicia associated with a frequent shopper account for display on a display device; and

providing a prompt to select at least one of the account member indicia which corresponds to the identity of at least one of the primary account holder and the sub-account holders.

11. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive transaction data associated with a customer transaction;

retrieve a customer record based on the transaction data, the customer record including account information identifying a primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder;

determine that the primary account holder and at least one of the sub-account holders are physically present;

transact with at least one of the present primary account holder and a present sub-account holder;

determine a reward; and

allocate the reward according to at least one rule to at least one of the primary account holder and any sub-account holders determined to be present.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, in which the instructions for receiving transaction data further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive frequent shopper data.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, in which the instructions for determining if the primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder are physically present comprise instructions configured to receive physical presence information.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

evaluate the transaction based on at least one of the physical presence information and the transaction data; and

update the customer record in accordance with the evaluation.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, in which the instructions for updating the customer record comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to at least one of add reward points, subtract reward points, calculate a reward level, and allocate a calculated award level, to at least one of the primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, in which the instructions for determining the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of an immediate discount associated with the transaction, an increase in reward points, a future discount, a coupon, and a monetary rebate.

17. The computer readablemedium of claim 11, in which the instructions for allocating the reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to utilize at least one of transaction rules, reward rules, physical presence rules, and affiliation rules.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to determining if the primary account holder and at least one of the sub-account holders are physically present:

transmit display data including account member indicia associated with a frequent shopper account for display on a display device; and

provide a prompt to select at least one of the account member indicia which corresponds to the identity of at least one of the primary account holder and the sub-account holders.

19. A system, comprising:

a transaction controller including a microprocessor and a memory;

at least one input device operatively connected to the transaction controller; and

an output device operatively connected to the transaction controller;

wherein the at least one input device receives transaction data associated with a customer transaction, the microprocessor retrieves a customer record based on the transaction data, the customer record including account information identifying a primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder, the at least one input device receives physical presence information, the microprocessor determines based on the physical presence information that the primary account holder and at least one of the sub-account holders are present, transacts with at least one of the primary account holder and a present sub-account holder, determines a reward, and allocates the reward according to at least one rule to at least one of the primary account holder and any sub-account holders determined to be present.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least one server in communication with the transaction controller, wherein the server comprises an input/output circuit, a microprocessor, and a memory including at least one of an awards rules database, an awards database, and entertainment programs.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a biometric device, a voice recognition unit, a license plate scanner, a handwriting recognition unit, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a barcode scanner, a touchscreen, a keyboard, and a computer mouse.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the microprocessor is further operable to update an account of at least one of the primary account holder and at least one sub-account holder.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the input device comprises a card reader, and the customer utilizes at least one of a frequent shopper card, bank card, credit card, debit card, and an affinity card to provide data.