Systems and methods for providing a user incentive program using circuit chip technology
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G06Q-030/02
G06Q-030/00
출원번호
US-0942169
(2013-07-15)
등록번호
US-9152973
(2015-10-06)
발명자
/ 주소
Warner, Shannon L.
Black, Marc R.
Mellas, Lisa
Mazour, James L.
Viswanathan, Rajkumar
Salters, Michael D.
Berg, Glenda L.
Bailey, Ann Elizabeth
Greeder, Michael T.
출원인 / 주소
TARGET BRANDS, INC.
대리인 / 주소
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
270
초록▼
Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large
Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using circuit chip technology, the method comprising: maintaining a website that is programmed to administer the user incentive program, the website providing user access to a plurality of selectable feat
1. A method for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using circuit chip technology, the method comprising: maintaining a website that is programmed to administer the user incentive program, the website providing user access to a plurality of selectable features of the user incentive program, wherein one of the selectable features comprises electronic coupons redeemable at a POS terminal;upon selection of find coupons, the website displaying a list of electronic coupons that are currently available for download to a circuit chip, the circuit chip including a memory storing user identification and incentive program information;enabling the user to select electronic coupons from the list of electronic coupons;saving the electronic coupons selected by the user to the circuit chip;processing items for purchase selected by the user at the POS terminal;the POS terminal accessing the user's circuit chip and comparing the items for purchase with the electronic coupons saved to the circuit chip;the POS terminal identifying any of the electronic coupons that are applicable to the items for purchase; andthe POS terminal automatically applying the applicable electronic coupons, wherein at least one of the electronic coupons saved to the circuit chip is a one time use electronic coupon, and wherein the method further comprises the POS terminal automatically removing the one time use electronic coupon from the circuit chip upon redemption. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the POS terminal comprises one of an electronic register at a retail store and a virtual register at an online store. 3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising preventing the user from downloading the one time use electronic coupon after redemption. 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: associating award points with one of the items for purchase or with a completed transaction; andsaving the award points to the circuit chip. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing user access to the plurality of selectable features comprises providing access to features including associating credit card accounts, applying for a store credit card, viewing transactions, and making payments. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the circuit chip resides in an access point including one of a personal computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant. 7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting a maximum liability parameter for one of the electronic coupons;incrementing a maximum liability counter each time the one of the electronic coupons is downloaded; andwhen the maximum liability parameter is reached for the one of the electronic coupons according to the maximum liability counter, the website removes the one of the electronic coupons from the list of electronic coupons. 8. A method for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using circuit chip technology, the method comprising: accessing a circuit chip including a memory storing user identification and incentive program information;the system apportioning the memory into a plurality of memory slots and assigning a system generated sponsor code to each of the plurality of memory slots, respectively;maintaining a website that is programmed to administer the user incentive program, the website providing user access to a plurality of selectable features of the user incentive program, wherein one of the selectable features comprises electronic coupons, the electronic coupons being associated with a coupon sponsor;upon selection of find coupons, the website displaying a list of electronic coupons that are currently available for download to the circuit chip;enabling the user to select electronic coupons from the list of electronic coupons;identifying a reserved memory slot by its sponsor code and automatically saving the selected electronic coupons in the reserved memory slot of the circuit chip corresponding to the coupon sponsor based on the sponsor code;processing items for purchase selected by the user at a POS terminal;the POS terminal accessing the circuit chip and comparing the items for purchase with the electronic coupons saved to the circuit chip;the POS terminal identifying any of the electronic coupons that are applicable to the items for purchase; andthe POS terminal automatically applying the applicable electronic coupons, wherein at least one of the electronic coupons saved to the circuit chip is a one time use electronic coupon, and wherein the method further comprises the POS Terminal automatically removing the one time use electronic coupon from the circuit chip upon redemption. 9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the system limiting an amount of memory space in the circuit chip memory available to one sponsor. 10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising: processing a transaction with items selected for purchase by the user, wherein the transaction is associated with one or more promotional offers, the promotional offers being associated with an offer sponsor; andautomatically storing the one or more promotional offers in the memory slots of the circuit chip corresponding to the offer sponsor based on the sponsor code. 11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising storing a circuit chip ID in the circuit chip memory, and automatically storing the one or more promotional offers in a database accessible by the circuit chip ID. 12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the apportioning step comprises apportioning an open bucket in the memory to prevent the user from using all of the memory and thereby allowing certain sponsor to always have space available in the memory.
Bejnar Jan W. (Philadelphia PA) Liebman Theodore E. (Philadelphia PA) Levitt Robert H. (Huntingdon Valley PA), Bar-coded card with coding and reading system.
Spooner James J. (16203 E. Glendora Dr. Fountain Hills AZ 85268-3108), Cards used as both coupons and playing cards and their method of manufacture and use.
Claus David M. (Indianapolis IN) Murphy Kevin D. (Indianapolis IN) Thompson Wanda G. (Indianapolis IN), Categorization of purchased items for each transaction by a smart card.
Gardenswartz Will H. ; Banker David W. ; Goidel Melissa B., Communicating with a computer based on an updated purchase behavior classification of a particular consumer.
Weiss Lawrence D. (New York NY) Kawan Joseph C. (Hollywood CA) Roth Leslie (Plainview NY) Vollmer Jim R. (Los Angeles CA) Tucci Morris L. (Van Nuys CA) Takata Melvin M. (Hermosa Beach CA) Samulon Alf, Computer and telephone apparatus with user friendly computer interface and enhanced integrity features.
Blumer Thomas P. ; Amstein Peter R. ; Drellishak Scott F. ; Forgaard Randy J. ; Schulert Andrew J., Computer system and computer-implemented process for remote editing of computer files.
Humble David R. (2696 Emerald Way N. Deerfield Beach FL 33441), Coupon validation network with storage of customer coupon data for credit on future purchases.
Geffrotin Bernard (Meudon FRX), Data processing system comprising authentification means viz a viz a smart card, an electronic circuit for use in such s.
Robinson W. Brent ; Mendez Erin M. ; Hale Brenda K. ; Johnson Laurie A. ; Weber Faris D., Database computer architecture for managing an incentive award program and checking float of funds at time of purchase.
Carrithers David C. (St. Louis County MO) Rapp Steven G. (St. Louis County MO) Stone Gayla L. (St. Louis County MO) Storey-Waller Jody A. (St. Louis County MO) Resch Kim A. (St. Louis County MO) McGu, Debit card system and method for implementing incentive award program.
Ziarno Witold A. (4519 S. St. Louis Ave. Chicago IL 60632), Display cursor controlling device for reading card information from an information bearing credit or debit card.
Doyle Michael D. ; Martin David C. ; Ang Cheong S., Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embe.
Thaxton, Daniel David; Schafer, Loren C.; Hileman, Martin H., Electronic coupon system and method of processing electronic coupon card for storage and redemption.
Krajewski ; Jr. Marjan (Acton MA) Chipchak John C. (Dracut MA) Chodorow David A. (Groton MA) Trostle Jonathan T. (Lexington MA) Baldwin Peter T. (Rowley MA), Electronic information network user authentication and authorization system.
Carrithers David C. ; Rapp Steven G. ; Stone Gayla L. ; Storey-Waller Jody A. ; Resch Kim A. ; McGuire Kelly K. ; Ashby Toni L. ; Jackson Mark ; Huff Lowell, Filter processor and method for implementing a program.
Mullins Wayne L., Game with multiple incentives and multiple levels of game play and combined lottery game with time of purchase win progressive jackpot.
Begum Paul G. (2608 Nottingham Way Salt Lake City UT 84108) Geiger Mark A. (871 Canyon Ridge Way #31 Midvale UT 84047), Instant electronic coupon verification system.
Lessin Arlen R. (New York NY) Gruppuso Frank M. (Commack NY) Harrison Shelley A. (Dix Hills NY), Intelligent portable interactive personal data system.
Golden Steven M. ; Levin Hillel ; Anderson Bradley A. ; Gentry Gary D. ; Barbour James A. ; Schornberg Albert, Interactive marketing network and process using electronic certificates.
Kalina Dyan T., Internet-based credit interchange system of converting purchase credit awards through credit exchange system for purchase of investment vehicle.
Ramsburg E. Douglas (Thurmont MD) Krahn Gerald C. (Burshe Prairie MD) Walter Jeffrey S. (Thurmont MD) Irelan ; Jr. Ralph F. (Emmitsburg MD) Wantz John L. (Thurmont MD) Patterson Eric (Waynesboro PA), Manufacture of telephone debit cards.
Uecker Robert Anthony ; Ward Michael James ; Byerly ; Jr. Baxter Hayes, Method and apparatus for automatically generating advisory information for pharmacy patients.
Mindrum Thomas (Fairfield CT) Off George (Danville CA) Scroggie Michael C. (Valencia CA) O\Brien Michael R. (Santa Monica CA), Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons.
Off George W. (Huntington Beach CA) Scroggie Michael C. (Valencia CA) Mindrum Thomas L. (Fairfield CT) O\Brien Michael R. (Santa Monica CA), Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons.
Off George W. (Huntington Beach CA) Scroggie Michael C. (Valencia CA) Mindrum Thomas L. (Fairfield CT) O\Brien Michael R. (Santa Monica CA), Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons.
Off George W. (Huntington Beach CA) Scroggie Michael C. (Valencia CA) Mindrum Thomas L. (Fairfield CT) O\Brien Michael R. (Santa Monica CA), Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons in response to the purchase of one or more products.
O'Brien Michael F. ; Off George W. ; Cherney Timothy L. ; Katz Gary M., Method and apparatus for selective distribution of discount coupons based on prior customer behavior.
Kaufman James Harvey ; Sincerbox Glenn Tavernia, Method and means for limiting adverse use of counterfeit credit cards, access badges, electronic accounts or the like.
Biorge James E. ; Hauge Richard T. ; Svigals Jerome, Method and system for allocating and redeeming incentive credits between a portable device and a base device.
Byerly Baxter H. ; Uecker Robert Anthony, Method and system for automatically generating advisory information for pharmacy patients along with normally transmitted data.
Pruchnicki Michael A. (3625 Twenty-Three Mile Rd. Utica MI 48087), Method and system for handling discount coupons by using centrally stored manufacturer coupons in place of paper coupons.
Deaton David W. (Abilene TX) Gabriel Rodney G. (Abilene TX), Method and system for selective incentive point-of-sale marketing in response to customer shopping histories.
Angelo Michael F. ; Collins David L. ; Kim Donald D. ; Jansen Kenneth A., Method for securely communicating remote control commands in a computer network.
Lambert Howard Shelton,GBX ; Orchard James Ronald Lewis,GBX, Method of executing a transaction on a smartcard, a smartcard and a transaction processing system including a smartcard.
Tiley,Stephen D.; Smith,Rodney S., Method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location and of inducing a retail outlet to act as such a remote location.
Richard Hiers Wagner, OPEN NETWORK SYSTEM FOR I/O OPERATION INCLUDING A COMMON GATEWAY INTERFACE AND AN EXTENDED OPEN NETWORK PROTOCOL WITH NON-STANDARD I/O DEVICES UTILIZING DEVICE AND IDENTIFIER FOR OPERATION TO BE PERF.
Nichtberger Steven (New Rochelle NY) McGlynn Kevin (Yorktown NY) Snook Corey (Meredith NH), Paperless system for distributing, redeeming and clearing merchandise coupons.
Maes Stephane Herman ; Sedivy Jan,CSX, Portable information and transaction processing system and method utilizing biometric authorization and digital certificate security.
Giuliani John A., Process, system and computer readable medium for in-store printing of discount coupons and/or other purchasing incentives in various departments within a retail store.
Tomita, Tokimori; Akihiko, Shigeta; Fujiwara, Masao; Matsumoto, Mamoru; Hiroshima, Yasumasa; Tomari, Satoshi, Service point management system for use in sales promotion services.
Carlisle William Reid (Morristown NJ) Curtis Lydia Anne (Bridgewater NJ) Murphy Kathleen M. (Bedminster NJ) Skibo Richard John (Skillman NJ), Smart card with multiple charge accounts and product item tables designating the account to debit.
Zeanah James ; Abbott Charles ; Boyd Nik ; Cohen Albert ; Cook James ; Grandcolas Michael ; Lan Sikhun ; Lindsley Bonnie ; Markarian Grigor ; Moss Leslie, System and method for delivering financial services.
Scroggie Michael C. ; Kacaba Michael E. ; Rochon David A. ; Diamond David M., System and method for providing shopping aids and incentives to customers through a computer network.
Scroggie Michael C. ; Kacaba Michael E. ; Rochon David A. ; Diamond David M., System and method for providing shopping aids and incentives to customers through a computer network.
Scroggie Michael C. ; Kacaba Michael E. ; Rochon David A. ; Diamond David M., System and method for providing shopping aids and incentives to customers through a computer network.
Powell Ken R., System and method for transferring identification information between portable cards in a computerized retail store having communication among a plurality of computers.
Heintzeman Scott B. (Plymouth MN) Storey Thomas W. (Minneapolis MN) Monson Barbara (Oceanside CA) Medina Steven J. (San Diego CA) Malark Gregory A. (Maple Grove MN), System for awarding credits to persons who book travel-related reservations.
Nguyen Trong ; Subramanian Mahadevan P. ; Haller Daniel R., System, method and article of manufacture for a gateway system architecture with system administration information acce.
Weber Jay C. ; Rowney Kevin T. B. ; Kramer Glenn A., System, method and article of manufacture for exchanging software and configuration data over a multichannel, extensible, flexible architecture.
Williams Humphrey ; Hughes Kevin ; Parmar Bipinkumar G., System, method and article of manufacture for network electronic authorization utilizing an authorization instrument.
Ginter Karl L. ; Shear Victor H. ; Spahn Francis J. ; Van Wie David M., Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection.
Hoffman Ned (Berkeley CA) Pare ; Jr. David F. (Berkeley CA) Lee Jonathan A. (Berkeley CA), Tokenless identification system for authorization of electronic transactions and electronic transmissions.
Okamoto Toshio,JPX ; Shimbo Atsushi,JPX ; Ishiyama Masahiro,JPX, User identification data management scheme for networking computer systems using wide area network.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.