WO2006018856B1

WO2006018856B1 - Computerized process for differential incentives based on payment modes

Info

Publication number: WO2006018856B1
Application number: PCT/IN2005/000268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sanjiv Agarwal
Original assignee: Sanjiv Agarwal
Priority date: 2004-08-16
Filing date: 2005-08-10
Publication date: 2006-11-16
Also published as: WO2006018856A2; WO2006018856A3; EP1820149A2; AU2005273497A1; EP1820149A4; CA2613397A1; JP2008529103A

Abstract

A computer-implemented loyalty program (200) is presented for issuing incentive rewards (206, 208). When a customer makes a payment (202), a determination is made regarding the type of payment (204). If the payment is made in cash the incentive reward is enhanced (206). A payment card that enables the accrual of incentives regardless of the payment method used is disclosed. A plurality of incentive rewards including incentive points, trading stamps and coupons is presented, whereby the incentive rewards are interchangeable at the time of issuance and redemption.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 05 July 2006 (05.07.06)

1. A computer implemented process for a merchant funded reward program for awarding differential incentives based on payment modes comprising:

- enrolling consumers in the reward program operating on a computer network means comprising a rewards administration server, redemption terminals and merchant terminals;

- receiving payment from the said consumers for the purchases made from merchant offering the said loyalty program

- determining reward incentives based on payment mode selected by the consumers, applying data processing program logic means;

- applying a plurality of different levels of reward according to a plurality of different payment modes selected by the consumers, the level of reward being inversely related tα the merchant's cost of processing the payment in each mode .

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising;

applying a first reward incentive if the payment is in Cash, applying a second reward incentive if the payment is by a PIN debit card, applying a third reward incentive if the payment is by a signature debit card and applying a fourth reward incentive if the payment is by a credit card not issued by or affiliated to the merchant.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein

the first reward incentive is greater than the second, the second is greater than the third and the third is greater than the fourth.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein

the reward incentive is in the form of points redeemable as per a catalogue and issued in the form of a coupon, a stamp or points electronically credited in a loyalty point account of the purchaser, or a monetary value issued in the form of a voucher or electronically credited in a monetary account applying data processing means.

5. A computerized financial process for implementing a reward incentive program utilizing an electronic payment system including an existing payment system network, when the payment on which the incentive is to be processed is not through the payment system but with cash, comprising:

- enrolling in the program a consumer and issuing an accrual card means utilized in a payment system network;

- receiving payment with cash from the enrolled consumer on completion of purchasing from an affiliated merchant, and such consumer also presenting the accrual card for collecting incentives; - on receiving the said cash payment and on being presented the said accrual card, the merchant inputting the accrual card identification, an amount and a code, in the payment system network, through electronic data capture and transmission means at the merchant terminal;

- applying data processing program logic means in the computer server in the payment system network, to debit the merchant's account in relation to the amount inputted; credit the consumer's reward account inputted, with a reward incentive associated with the amount inputted; apply processing fees levied by the payment system network entities; and effect the entire transaction by collecting the amount from the merchant, depositing in the reward account of the consumer and retaining processing fees, as per contract, through account reconciliation, clearing and settlement.

6. The process of claim 5 further comprising;

depositing the portion of the amount collected from the merchant and to be credited to the consumer as reward incentive in customer's monetary account including any payment card account, checking account, savings account, pension account, insurance account, social security account, charity account assigned to a charity recipient or any other monetary account, applying the program logic means.

7. The process of claim S further comprising: depositing the portion of the amount collected from the merchant and to be credited to the consumer as reward incentive in a redemption account and crediting the consumer's reward account with reward points instead, as per a conversion table applying the data processing program logic means,

8. A reward incentive accrual card means utilized in the process of collecting reward incentives through payment networks including existing payment system networks, when the payment is not through such payment networks but with cash, as per claim 5.

9. The reward incentive accrual card means as per claim 8; combined with a conventional payment card including a debit, credit or a stored value cash card, having the capability to be used;

- for collecting a first incentive whsn cash is used for payment and card is used as an accrual card a per claim 5, and;

- for additionally being used as a payment card conventionally and upon such usage collecting a second incentive .

10. A computerized financial process for implementing a reward incentive program comprising;

- being presented with a card for payment by a consumer, on completion of purchasing from a merchant affiliated to the said reward incentive process; displaying enhanced reward incentives if the consumer paid fully with cash instead of card, in an electronic display unit including an audio- visual interface unit at merchant terminal, applying program logic means

11. A process of issuing and redeeming philatelic trading stamps with a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value in addition to a tangible reward incentive value in points or money terms and having computer readable instructions on at least one of its sides; in a computerized reward incentive program comprising:

- printing the stamp in innumerable topical designs, patterns, sizes, color and themes, beyond what is obviously related to the reward value itself, and having a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value beyond the tangible value of reward itself

- printing on such stamp a numerical face value in the form of specific reward incentive points tangibly redeemable as per a catalogue or a monetary value redeemable at par, by presenting the stamp for the first time for redemption;

- redeeming on the first presentation a tangible reward incentive mύ canceling the stamp by applying a cancellation mark on it and returning the cancelled stamp to the consumer for further CoIIection, for realizing a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value of the cancelled stamp.

12. The process of claim 11, further comprising; determining a further tangible reward value by the incentive program administration from time to time, on collecting and re-presenting at least one specific cancelled stamp for a second time for redemption,

13. The philatelic trading stamps with a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value in addition to a tangible reward incentive value in points or money terms and having computer readable instructions on at least one of its sides, and an apparatus utilized in implementing the computerized reward incentive process of claim 11.

14. A printed collectible used in a gaming hobby, having an intangible perceived value, issued in a computerized purchasing incentive rewards process and having computer readable instructions on at least one of its sides;

- characterized in that the collectible additionally has a tangible reward incentive face value imprinted on in the form of specific reward incentive points tangibly redeemable as per a catalogue or a monetary value redeemable at par, by presenting the printed collectible for the first time for redemption and in that;

- the printed collectible on redemption is cancelled and loses its tangible par value of reward incentive but retains an intangible perceived value and is returnable to the presenter in cancelled condition for collection in a gaming hobby.

15. The printed collectible of claim 14, wherein the cancelled collectible may regain a different tangible value as announced by program administration from time to time, and such regained tangible value redeemable by re -presenting the first redeemed and cancelled collectible for a second redemption and a second cancellation.

16. A purchasing rewards incentive process comprising issuing and redeeming collectible of claim 14 and 15, comprising;

- printing and producing the collectible in innumerable topical designs, patterns, sizes, color and themes, beyond what is obviously related to the reward value itself and having a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value beyond the tangible value of reward itself;

- printing additionally on the collectible a numerical face value in the form of specific reward incentive points tangibly redeemable as per a catalogue or a monetary value redeemable at par, by presenting the stamp for the first time for redemption;

- redeeming on the first presentation, the reward incentive and canceling the collectible by applying a cancellation mark on it and returning the cancelled collectible to the consumer for further collection, for realizing a perceived collectible hobby and gaming value of the cancelled collectible and; determining and announcing a further tangible reward value by the incentive program administration from time to time, on collecting and re-presenting at least one specific cancelled collectible for a second time, for redemption.

17. The process of claim 4, further comprising;

philatelic trading stamp of claim 11 applied in the process as a form of reward, the reward of one form being interchangeable with another, at the time of issuance and redemption, at the option of the consumer, applying a conversion database means.

18. The process of claim 4, further comprising;

the printed collectible of claim 14 applied in the process as a form of reward, the reward of one form being interchangeable with another, at the time of issuance and redemption, at the option of the consumer, applying conversion database means.

19. The computer network and software means used in the process of claim 1.

20. The computer network and software means used in the process of claim 5.

21. A reward incentive process combining the features of claim 1 and claim 5.

22.A reward incentive process of claim 21 further combining the features of claim 10.

23.A reward incentive process of claim 22 further combining the features of claim 17.

24.A reward incentive process of claim 22 further combining the features of claim 18.

25. The apparatus for implementing the combined process of claim 24.