WO2021176429A1 - Method and system of issuing a payment token - Google Patents

Method and system of issuing a payment token Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021176429A1
WO2021176429A1 PCT/IB2021/051893 IB2021051893W WO2021176429A1 WO 2021176429 A1 WO2021176429 A1 WO 2021176429A1 IB 2021051893 W IB2021051893 W IB 2021051893W WO 2021176429 A1 WO2021176429 A1 WO 2021176429A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
customer
software application
merchant
side software
product
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2021/051893
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lynton NAICKER
Nischal Kirankumar PATEL
Yolan Mayan ROYAN
Original Assignee
Dops Rewards (Pty) Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dops Rewards (Pty) Ltd. filed Critical Dops Rewards (Pty) Ltd.
Priority to ZA2021/03813A priority Critical patent/ZA202103813B/en
Publication of WO2021176429A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021176429A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0207—Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
    • G06Q30/0234—Rebates after completed purchase
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/02—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/322—Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
    • G06Q20/342—Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/382—Payment protocols; Details thereof insuring higher security of transaction
    • G06Q20/3821—Electronic credentials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/383—Anonymous user system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/387—Payment using discounts or coupons

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of issuing a payment token, and a token issuing and redemption system.
  • the invention also relates to a computer programme product for performing the method.
  • the invention is expected to be particularly advantageously applicable to the promotion and sale of products in the hospitality and retail markets, including product promotion and sale at events. Accordingly, such applications should particularly, but not exclusively, be borne in mind when considering this specification.
  • token means not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so.
  • token should be broadly interpreted to include a “voucher”.
  • Loyalty programs are designed by merchants or sellers to encourage customers to continue to buy their products or use their services of business associated with a loyalty program by offering rewards.
  • a method of issuing a payment token the method being conducted at a token issuing and redemption system, and including: issuing a merchant with a merchant reward device; linking or assigning a product type to the merchant reward device; issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity; registering a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device; and issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
  • the product type may include, but is not limited, to any one or more of: a product brand; products of a particular supplier; and a range of products.
  • the merchant reward device may include any one or more of: a merchant card; and a merchant terminal.
  • the merchant card may include a machine readable merchant card having any one or more of: a barcode, for example a matrix barcode; and a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip.
  • the merchant terminal may include any one or more of: an NFC enabled merchant terminal; and a machine readable merchant terminal for displaying a barcode such as a matrix barcode.
  • the merchant terminal may be a mobile merchant terminal.
  • the virtual customer identity may be embodied by a customer mobile device.
  • the customer mobile device may include any one or more of: an NFC enabled device; and a barcode reader.
  • Linking or assigning the product type to the merchant reward device may include linking the product type via any one or more of: a server-side software application connected to a database; and a Mobile User Interface (Ul) of a client-side software application being installed on a mobile device of the merchant and in data communication with the server-side software application.
  • a server-side software application connected to a database
  • Ul Mobile User Interface
  • the server-side software application and the client-side software application are Web applications.
  • the server and client side software applications may be accessed by users via a browser.
  • Issuing the customer with the virtual customer identity may include creating the virtual customer identity via the Ul of the client-side software application being installed on a mobile device of the customer and in data communication with the server-side software application.
  • Registering of the customer purchase of the product may include the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device to conduct the purchase of the product.
  • the presenting of the customer identity entails the customer presenting their mobile device to the machine readable merchant card and capturing the matrix barcode on the machine readable merchant card by scanning the barcode.
  • the method may include the merchant’s analysing of sales data of a plurality of customers as described at any one or more of the server-side software application and client-side software application.
  • the method may include providing, to the merchant, a dashboard or so-called “leader-board”, the dashboard being accessible to the merchant via any one or more of: the Web application installed on the mobile device of the merchant; a browser installed on a desktop computer being in data communication with the server-side software application.
  • Analysing of the sales data of the plurality of customers may include reporting of the sales data to the merchant.
  • Registering the purchase may include verifying the scanned matrix barcode received from the mobile software application of the customer at the server-side software application.
  • the redeeming of the token for the reward may include presenting to the customer an authorization matrix barcode on a secondary merchant reward device of the kind hereinbefore described.
  • the merchant prior to redeeming the reward, the merchant would present the secondary merchant reward device, i.e. a secondary merchant card, to the customer for the customer’s capturing of the authorization matrix barcode and verification of the authorization barcode at the server-side software application.
  • Issuing of the customer with the virtual customer identity may include receiving and storing customer registration details at the server-side software application via the Web application of the mobile device of the customer. Naturally, in use, the customer would log in via the Web application and their login details would be verified by the server-side software application.
  • a method of issuing a payment token which includes: issuing a product with a product identifier; issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity; registering a customer purchase of the product by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the product; issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
  • Issuing of the product with the product identifier may include applying the product identifier to the product.
  • the method extends to issuing the product with a product identifier instead of issuing a merchant reward device to the merchant.
  • a token issuing and redemption system for conducting the method as hereinbefore described which includes: a merchant reward device; a customer mobile device operable to run a client-side software application; and a server-side software application being connected to a database and being in communication with the customer mobile device, wherein a product type is linked or assigned to the merchant reward device and the customer mobile device is issued with a virtual customer identity, and wherein a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type is registered at the client-side software application by the customer’s presenting of the customer virtual identity to the merchant reward device, and wherein the customer is issued with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
  • the system may include a merchant mobile device operable to run the client- side software application for the linking or assigning of the product type to the merchant reward device.
  • the client-side software application and server-side software application may include Web applications that are accessed by any one or more of: the customer and the merchant via a Web browser.
  • a computer program product for performing a method of issuing a payment token as hereinbefore described comprising a computer-readable medium having stored computer-readable program code for performing the steps in the method as hereinbefore described.
  • Figure 1 illustrates, schematically, a method of issuing a payment token, and a token issuing and redemption system for performing the method in accordance with one aspect of the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a swim-lane diagram illustrating the steps in the method of issuing a payment token according to one embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 3 shows a swim-lane diagram illustrating the steps in the method of issuing a payment token according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
  • reference numeral (10) denotes, generally, a token issuing and redemption system for conducting a method of issuing a payment token in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
  • the system (10) comprises a merchant reward device in the form of a machine readable merchant card (22) having a matrix barcode (24) applied thereto; a customer mobile device (16) of a customer (12) operable to run a client-side software application (28); and a server- side software application (32) being connected to a database (30) and being in communication with the customer mobile device (16), wherein a product type is linked or assigned to the machine readable merchant card (22) and the customer (12) is issued with a virtual customer identity (14), and wherein a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type is registered at the client-side software application (28) by the customer’s presenting of the customer virtual identity (14) to the machine readable merchant card (22), and wherein the customer (12) is issued with a payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of
  • the product type is a particular brand of product
  • the virtual customer identity (14) is embodied by the customer mobile device (16) having a barcode reader.
  • the client-side software application (28) and the server-side software application (32) are Web applications that are accessed by the customer (12) and merchant (40) via Web browsers, and the client-side software application (28) is provided with a dashboard or so-called “leader-board” (38) being accessible to the merchant (40) via the client-side software application (34) of the mobile device (36) of the merchant (40).
  • the method comprises: at step (101 ) wherein the merchant (40) is issued with the merchant reward device, i.e. the machine readable merchant card (22) having the matrix barcode (24) applied thereto; at step (102). the product type is linked or assigned to the merchant card (22) by the merchant’s (40) linking of the product type via the client-side software application (28) installed on the mobile device (36) of the merchant (40); at step (103). the customer (12) is issued with the virtual customer identity (14), the virtual customer identity being embodied by the customer mobile device (16) having installed thereon the client-side software application (28).
  • the merchant reward device i.e. the machine readable merchant card (22) having the matrix barcode (24) applied thereto
  • the product type is linked or assigned to the merchant card (22) by the merchant’s (40) linking of the product type via the client-side software application (28) installed on the mobile device (36) of the merchant (40); at step (103).
  • the customer (12) is issued with the virtual customer identity (14), the virtual customer identity being
  • issuing the customer (12) with the virtual customer identity (14) includes creating the virtual customer identity (14) via the Ul of the client-side software application (28). at step (104).
  • the customer (12) purchases a product belonging to the product types linked or assigned to the merchant card (22) by presenting their virtual customer identity (14) to the machine readable merchant card (22).
  • the matrix barcode (24) of the merchant card (22) is captured by the customer (12) via the customer mobile device (16); at step (105).
  • the purchase of the product is registered at the server-side software application (32); at step (106) in response to the customer purchase, the customer (12) is issued with a virtual payment token for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the virtual token for a reward (18); at step (107).
  • sales data of a plurality of customers of the kind are analysed by the merchant (40) via the dashboard (38), which analysis includes the reporting of the sales data to the merchant (40).
  • Figure 2 of the drawings shows a swim-lane diagram of another aspect of them method of issuing a payment token.
  • figure 2 illustrates the receiving and storing of customer registration details at the database (30) of the server-side software application (32) via the Web application (28) of the mobile device of the customer (12).
  • the customer (12) would log in via the Web application (28) and their login details would be verified by the server-side software application (32).
  • Figure 3 shows a swim-lane diagram in accordance with another aspect of the method as hereinbefore described, particularly, the presenting of the customer virtual identity in order to conduct the purchase of the product (San QR) and the redeeming of the reward by the customer.
  • the customer (12) scans the matrix barcode (24) on the merchant card (22), followed by a verification of the matrix barcode (24) at the database (30) of the server-side software application (32). Upon verification, the customer (12) is issued with the virtual token and the dashboard updated with the sales data.
  • redeeming of the reward involves the customer’s (12) scanning of an authorization matrix barcode, verification thereof, and redeeming of the reward in response to the authorization.
  • a method and system as hereinbefore described dispenses with the use of actual or physical customer loyalty cards by providing customers with a virtual customer identity, and does away with the need for customers to sign up to merchant loyalty programs individually. It should be appreciated that the invention, in particular the virtual customer identity, effectively provides an electronic, virtual loyalty card.

Abstract

A method of issuing a payment token at a token issuing and redemption system, comprising the steps of: issuing a merchant with a merchant reward device in the form of a machine-readable card, linking a product type to the merchant reward device, issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity, registering a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type by the customer's presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device, and issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer's subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ISSUING A PAYMENT TOKEN
This invention relates to a method of issuing a payment token, and a token issuing and redemption system. The invention also relates to a computer programme product for performing the method.
The invention is expected to be particularly advantageously applicable to the promotion and sale of products in the hospitality and retail markets, including product promotion and sale at events. Accordingly, such applications should particularly, but not exclusively, be borne in mind when considering this specification.
In this specification, the term “virtual” means not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so. The term “token” should be broadly interpreted to include a “voucher”.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The inventors are aware of loyalty marketing approaches whereby companies focus on growing and retaining existing customers through incentives. Loyalty programs are designed by merchants or sellers to encourage customers to continue to buy their products or use their services of business associated with a loyalty program by offering rewards.
Loyalty programs of the kind require customers to sign-up to merchants individually and their working relies on merchants issuing customers with actual (physical) loyalty cards when making purchases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of issuing a payment token, the method being conducted at a token issuing and redemption system, and including: issuing a merchant with a merchant reward device; linking or assigning a product type to the merchant reward device; issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity; registering a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device; and issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
The product type may include, but is not limited, to any one or more of: a product brand; products of a particular supplier; and a range of products.
The merchant reward device may include any one or more of: a merchant card; and a merchant terminal. To this end, the merchant card may include a machine readable merchant card having any one or more of: a barcode, for example a matrix barcode; and a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip. Likewise, the merchant terminal may include any one or more of: an NFC enabled merchant terminal; and a machine readable merchant terminal for displaying a barcode such as a matrix barcode. Advantageously, the merchant terminal may be a mobile merchant terminal.
The virtual customer identity may be embodied by a customer mobile device. To this end, the customer mobile device may include any one or more of: an NFC enabled device; and a barcode reader.
Linking or assigning the product type to the merchant reward device may include linking the product type via any one or more of: a server-side software application connected to a database; and a Mobile User Interface (Ul) of a client-side software application being installed on a mobile device of the merchant and in data communication with the server-side software application.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the server-side software application and the client-side software application are Web applications. To this end, the server and client side software applications may be accessed by users via a browser.
Issuing the customer with the virtual customer identity may include creating the virtual customer identity via the Ul of the client-side software application being installed on a mobile device of the customer and in data communication with the server-side software application.
Registering of the customer purchase of the product may include the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device to conduct the purchase of the product.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the presenting of the customer identity entails the customer presenting their mobile device to the machine readable merchant card and capturing the matrix barcode on the machine readable merchant card by scanning the barcode.
The method may include the merchant’s analysing of sales data of a plurality of customers as described at any one or more of the server-side software application and client-side software application. To this end, the method may include providing, to the merchant, a dashboard or so-called “leader-board”, the dashboard being accessible to the merchant via any one or more of: the Web application installed on the mobile device of the merchant; a browser installed on a desktop computer being in data communication with the server-side software application. Analysing of the sales data of the plurality of customers may include reporting of the sales data to the merchant.
Registering the purchase may include verifying the scanned matrix barcode received from the mobile software application of the customer at the server-side software application.
The redeeming of the token for the reward may include presenting to the customer an authorization matrix barcode on a secondary merchant reward device of the kind hereinbefore described. To this end, prior to redeeming the reward, the merchant would present the secondary merchant reward device, i.e. a secondary merchant card, to the customer for the customer’s capturing of the authorization matrix barcode and verification of the authorization barcode at the server-side software application.
Issuing of the customer with the virtual customer identity may include receiving and storing customer registration details at the server-side software application via the Web application of the mobile device of the customer. Naturally, in use, the customer would log in via the Web application and their login details would be verified by the server-side software application.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of issuing a payment token which includes: issuing a product with a product identifier; issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity; registering a customer purchase of the product by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the product; issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward. Issuing of the product with the product identifier may include applying the product identifier to the product.
In this regard, the method extends to issuing the product with a product identifier instead of issuing a merchant reward device to the merchant.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a token issuing and redemption system for conducting the method as hereinbefore described which includes: a merchant reward device; a customer mobile device operable to run a client-side software application; and a server-side software application being connected to a database and being in communication with the customer mobile device, wherein a product type is linked or assigned to the merchant reward device and the customer mobile device is issued with a virtual customer identity, and wherein a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type is registered at the client-side software application by the customer’s presenting of the customer virtual identity to the merchant reward device, and wherein the customer is issued with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
The system may include a merchant mobile device operable to run the client- side software application for the linking or assigning of the product type to the merchant reward device.
In a preferred embodiment, the client-side software application and server-side software application may include Web applications that are accessed by any one or more of: the customer and the merchant via a Web browser. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product for performing a method of issuing a payment token as hereinbefore described, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having stored computer-readable program code for performing the steps in the method as hereinbefore described.
The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
DRAWINGS:
In the drawings,
Figure 1 illustrates, schematically, a method of issuing a payment token, and a token issuing and redemption system for performing the method in accordance with one aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a swim-lane diagram illustrating the steps in the method of issuing a payment token according to one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 shows a swim-lane diagram illustrating the steps in the method of issuing a payment token according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like parts unless otherwise indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
With In figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral (10) denotes, generally, a token issuing and redemption system for conducting a method of issuing a payment token in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The system (10) comprises a merchant reward device in the form of a machine readable merchant card (22) having a matrix barcode (24) applied thereto; a customer mobile device (16) of a customer (12) operable to run a client-side software application (28); and a server- side software application (32) being connected to a database (30) and being in communication with the customer mobile device (16), wherein a product type is linked or assigned to the machine readable merchant card (22) and the customer (12) is issued with a virtual customer identity (14), and wherein a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type is registered at the client-side software application (28) by the customer’s presenting of the customer virtual identity (14) to the machine readable merchant card (22), and wherein the customer (12) is issued with a payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward (18). The system (10) includes a merchant mobile device (36) operable to run the client-side software application (28) for the linking or assigning of the product type to the machine readable merchant card (22).
In this embodiment of the invention, the product type is a particular brand of product, and the virtual customer identity (14) is embodied by the customer mobile device (16) having a barcode reader. The client-side software application (28) and the server-side software application (32) are Web applications that are accessed by the customer (12) and merchant (40) via Web browsers, and the client-side software application (28) is provided with a dashboard or so-called “leader-board” (38) being accessible to the merchant (40) via the client-side software application (34) of the mobile device (36) of the merchant (40).
In keeping with figure 1 and referring to the method of issuing a payment token conducted at the system (10), the method comprises: at step (101 ) wherein the merchant (40) is issued with the merchant reward device, i.e. the machine readable merchant card (22) having the matrix barcode (24) applied thereto; at step (102). the product type is linked or assigned to the merchant card (22) by the merchant’s (40) linking of the product type via the client-side software application (28) installed on the mobile device (36) of the merchant (40); at step (103). the customer (12) is issued with the virtual customer identity (14), the virtual customer identity being embodied by the customer mobile device (16) having installed thereon the client-side software application (28). To this end, issuing the customer (12) with the virtual customer identity (14) includes creating the virtual customer identity (14) via the Ul of the client-side software application (28). at step (104). the customer (12) purchases a product belonging to the product types linked or assigned to the merchant card (22) by presenting their virtual customer identity (14) to the machine readable merchant card (22). Accordingly, the matrix barcode (24) of the merchant card (22) is captured by the customer (12) via the customer mobile device (16); at step (105). the purchase of the product is registered at the server-side software application (32); at step (106) in response to the customer purchase, the customer (12) is issued with a virtual payment token for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the virtual token for a reward (18); at step (107). sales data of a plurality of customers of the kind are analysed by the merchant (40) via the dashboard (38), which analysis includes the reporting of the sales data to the merchant (40).
Figure 2 of the drawings shows a swim-lane diagram of another aspect of them method of issuing a payment token. In particular, figure 2 illustrates the receiving and storing of customer registration details at the database (30) of the server-side software application (32) via the Web application (28) of the mobile device of the customer (12). Next, the customer (12) would log in via the Web application (28) and their login details would be verified by the server-side software application (32).
Figure 3 shows a swim-lane diagram in accordance with another aspect of the method as hereinbefore described, particularly, the presenting of the customer virtual identity in order to conduct the purchase of the product (San QR) and the redeeming of the reward by the customer. The customer (12) scans the matrix barcode (24) on the merchant card (22), followed by a verification of the matrix barcode (24) at the database (30) of the server-side software application (32). Upon verification, the customer (12) is issued with the virtual token and the dashboard updated with the sales data. Likewise, redeeming of the reward involves the customer’s (12) scanning of an authorization matrix barcode, verification thereof, and redeeming of the reward in response to the authorization. Advantageously, a method and system as hereinbefore described dispenses with the use of actual or physical customer loyalty cards by providing customers with a virtual customer identity, and does away with the need for customers to sign up to merchant loyalty programs individually. It should be appreciated that the invention, in particular the virtual customer identity, effectively provides an electronic, virtual loyalty card.

Claims

Claims:
1. A method of issuing a payment token, the method being conducted at a token issuing and redemption system, and comprising the steps of: issuing a merchant with a merchant reward device; linking a product type to the merchant reward device; issuing a customer with a virtual customer identity; registering a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device; and issuing the customer with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the customer’s subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the merchant reward device is a machine-readable merchant card having a barcode, and the virtual customer identity is embodied by a customer mobile device having a barcode reader, the barcode being selected from the group consisting of: a linear barcode and a matrix barcode.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the merchant reward device is a machine-readable merchant card having a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip and the virtual customer identity is embodied by an NFC enabled customer mobile device.
4. A method as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein issuing the customer with the virtual customer identity includes creating the virtual customer identity via a user interface of a client-side software application being installed on the customer mobile device, the client-side software application being in data communication with a server-side software application.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein registering of the customer purchase of the product includes the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity at the merchant reward device to conduct the purchase of the product.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the product type is selected from the group consisting of: product brand; product supplier; and product range.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 which includes the merchant’s analysing of sales data of a plurality of customers by providing the merchant with a sales analysis dashboard and reporting of sales analysis data to the merchant.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein linking of the product type to the merchant reward device includes linking of the product type via the server-side software application being connected to a database, the server-side software application being a web-based server-side software application that is accessed via a web browser.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sales analysis dashboard is accessed via the web-based server-side software application.
10. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein linking of the product type to the merchant reward device includes linking of the product type via the user interface of the client-side software application being installed on the customer mobile device, the client-side software application being a web-based client- side software application that is accessed via a web browser.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sales analysis dashboard is accessed via the web-based client-side software application.
12. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein registering of the customer purchase of the product includes verifying the customer virtual identity received from the client-side software application at the server-side software application.
13. A token issuing and redemption system comprising: a merchant reward device; a customer mobile device having installed thereon a client-side software application; and a server having a server-side software application and database installed thereon and being in communication with the customer mobile device, wherein a product type is linked to the merchant reward device; the customer mobile device is issued with a virtual customer identity; a customer purchase of a product belonging to the product type is registered at the client-side software application by the customer’s presenting of the virtual customer identity to the merchant reward device; and wherein a customer is issued with a virtual payment token in response to the customer purchase for the subsequent redeeming of the token for a reward.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the merchant reward device is a machine-readable merchant card having a barcode, and the virtual customer identity is embodied by a customer mobile device having a barcode reader, the barcode being selected from the group consisting of: a linear barcode and a matrix barcode.
15. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the merchant reward device is a machine-readable merchant card having a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip and the virtual customer identity is embodied by an NFC enabled customer mobile device.
16. A system as claimed in either claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the product type is selected from the group consisting of: product brand; product supplier; and product range.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the client-side software application includes a user interface for creating the virtual customer identity.
18. A system as claimed in claim 17 which includes a sales analysis and reporting dashboard for the merchant’s analysis of sales data of a plurality of customers and reporting of the sales data to the merchant.
19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the server-side software application is a web-based server-side software application operable to be accessed by a web browser and operable to link the product type to the merchant reward device at the web-based server-side software application.
20. A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the sales analysis and reporting dashboard is accessed via the web-based server-side software application.
21. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the client-side software application is a web-based client-side software application operable to be accessed by a web browser and operable to link the product type to the merchant reward device at the web-based client-side software application.
22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the sales analysis and reporting dashboard is accessed via the web-based client-side software application.
23. A computer program product for issuing a payment token, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable program code, the computer- readable program code executable by a processing circuit to perform the steps of the method as claimed in claim 7.
24. A method of issuing a payment token as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
25. A token issuing and redemption system as claimed in claim 13, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
26. A new method of issuing a payment token substantially as herein described.
27. A new token issuing and redemption system substantially as herein described.
PCT/IB2021/051893 2020-03-06 2021-03-07 Method and system of issuing a payment token WO2021176429A1 (en)

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