AU2007200877A1 - A method and system for operating a rewards program - Google Patents

Description

00

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: Dydju Pty Ltd Invention Title: A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A REWARDS PROGRAM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -2- A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A REWARDS PROGRAM STechnical Field 00 This invention relates to a method and system for operating a rewards program.

Summary of the Invention 00 In a first aspect the present invention provides a method of operating a rewards Cprogram including the steps of: presenting a user with at least one question; collecting at rleast one response to the at least one question; delivering one of a number of rewards to the end user; wherein the particular reward delivered to the end user is selected based on the response to the at least one question.

The method may be conducted by way of a remotely accessible hosted software application.

The method may further include the steps of recording the at least one response to the at least one question.

The method may further include the step of providing reports based on the stored at least one response.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a system for operating a rewards program including: a presentation device for presenting a user with at least one question; a collection device for collecting at least one response to the at least one question; a delivery device for delivering one of a number of rewards to the end user; wherein the system is arranged to select a particular reward for delivery to the end user based on the response to the at least one question.

Either of the collection device or the delivery device may be provided in the form of a hosted remotely accessible software application.

The system may further include a database for storing the at least one response to the at least one question.

The system may further include means for viewing reports based on the stored at least one response.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -3- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an example of an administrator input screen used in the system of Sfigure 1; 00 Figure 3 is a further example of an administrator input screen illustrating setting up of outcome criteria used in an embodiment of the rewards program; Figure 4 depicts a reward in the form of a recipe; 00 Figure 5 shows an example of an end user input screen; Figure 6 shows a further end user input screen; Figure 7 illustrates selection of format for reporting of data gathered by the rewards program; and Figure 8 illustrates output of data according to the format selected at figure 7.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, a system 10 for operating a rewards program is shown including presentation devices for presenting users with questions in the form of touch screen 12 and PDA 14. The system further includes a device for collecting users responses to the questions in the form of software application 16 running on appropriate server hardware. The software application 16 also operates as a device for delivering rewards to end users. The particular rewards that are delivered to a particular end user are selected based on the end user's responses to the questions.

An administrator 18 may access software application by way of a computing device connected via internet The rewards delivered to the end user may include a recipe, or specific money off voucher. The reward can be delivered by Touch-Screen, PDA, Mobile Phone, Web Page, Email or by printed matter.

Software application 16 is a web based hosted application which allows real time updates and modifications to be made and delivered anywhere in the world instantaneously. The system administrator 18 accesses the software application 16 via a connection to the Internet to setup and manage the system. No software needs to be loaded on the administrators system and the latest version of software is always available to administrators.

The rewards delivered are targeted to individual end users according to the inputs that they give at the point of contact to the questions asked. For example, a -4reward could be a recipe based on the answers to questions of how many people the end user is cooking for, what preparation time they wish to use for the cooking process and Swhat kind of food they wish to serve, coupled in with this reward could be money off 00 certain products contained within the recipe. Alternatively, a reward could be a voucher and rules for a casino table game delivered based on the answer to the question of whether a user has played that game before.

00 An example of a rewards program conducted by system 10 will now be described with reference to figures 2 to 8. This rewards program might be used by a r- supermarket operator. The user interacts with the system by way of a touch screen.

The touch screen is ideally situated in a supermarket near to various products that are referred to in the survey.

Referring to figure 2, the outline of a survey used in the rewards program is shown. This screen would only be seen by administrators 18 preparing the survey or persons who are otherwise involved in the operation of the rewards program. This screen would not be seen by end users. In use, the survey gathers information from end users by capturing their responses to pre-prepared questions. In this case, two questions 22, 24 are to be used in the survey, "How many people are you cooking for?" 22 and "Would you like a tuna or beef based meal?" 24. Possible answers to the questions are also provided 26. The possible answers to question 22 are or The possible answers to question 24 are "Tuna" or "Beef'.

At figure 3, setting up of outcome criteria is shown. This screen allows the administrator 18 of the system to configure what rewards are delivered to users depending upon their responses to various questions as seen in the column "Outcome" 28. In this case, rewards have been allocated so that a user who selects answers and "Tuna" will receive a recipe for Tuna Corn Pasta (See fig A user selecting either of answers or and "beef' is allocated a recipe for Steak Diane. Some combinations of answers have not been allocated a reward. The allocation of rewards is configurable by the administrator 18 of the system.

Referring to figure 4 a reward is shown in the form of a recipe for Tuna Corn Pasta.

Referring to figure 5, question 22 is shown on an end user input screen as depicted to an end user who is carrying out the survey. The end user indicates their response to the question by activating either of on screen buttons or The end user activates a button by pressing on touch screen 12.

Referring to figure 6, question 24 is shown as presented to an end user in a similar manner to figure 00 The system records end user responses and delivers rewards to end users according to the outcome criteria 28. In the present example the end user selects "2" and "Tuna" and is delivered a reward in the form of a recipe for Tuna Corn Pasta that 00 prints out near to the touch screen. The touch screen is ideally placed near to ingredients that are required for the recipe. Thus, an end user may be motivated to purchase a product that they otherwise would not have purchased. The end user may optionally be provided with a printed coupon offering money off particular products.

During operation the system records end user responses to questions. This can provide important demographic information to the system administrator 18. In the present example, a supermarket operator can learn what size of meals their customers usually prepare, and if they prefer beef or tuna based meals. Referring to figure 7, the system administrator can elect to view the results captured by the system in various formats. In this case, the answer to question 22 is desired in 3D pie chart format. The answer to question 24 is desired in 2D column chart format.

At figure 8, the results are shown in the format selected at figure 7. It can be seen that 56% of respondents preferred tuna over beef, and 5 respondents were cooking for 2, whereas only 4 respondents were cooking for 4. Thus the trend of customer demographic in that particular supermarket is towards smaller meals based on tuna.

Knowing this, the administrator 18 can review the product placement and marketing arrangements in place for that supermarket with a view to better suiting the requirements of the customers who actually use the supermarket.

The reward offered to a customer may be intended to encourage a repeat visit by the customer. Alternatively, the rewards offered may be intended to prolong the current customer visit. For instance, in the case of a casino, the end user may be offered a voucher to play one or more free games at a game table they have not previously played. The voucher may have an expiry date so that it is only able to be used on the day of issue of the voucher. Thus, the end user is encouraged to stay longer in the casino to make use of the voucher reward.

In addition to the above, the software application can deliver displays in the form of graphics that are targeted to individual end users according to the inputs that O they give at the point of contact to the questions asked.

Software application 16 gives device independent delivery of rewards, graphics Sand questions, which means that the customer interface can deployed by any number 00 devices, such as Touch-Screen, PDA, Mobile Phone, Web Page or Email. This allows corporate users to reach their customers either at POS (Point of Sale) or in the convenience of their own home.

~The web service API utilized by the software application provides a seamless 00 platform independent application layer to the database, allowing the setup and configuration of rewards, graphics and questions to occur in real time by the administrator. This information is then delivered via flash technology to a multitude of devices that interact with the end user.

The use of web hosted technology to deliver information means that the software application 16 fully integrates system setup and physical delivery seamlessly via the web.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is conducted by way of a remotely accessible hosted software application.
2. 3. A method according to either claim 1 or claim 2 further including the steps of recording the at least one response to the at least one question.
3. 4. A method according to claim 3 further including the step of providing reports based on the stored at least one response. A system for operating a rewards program including: a presentation device for presenting a user with at least one question; a collection device for collecting at least one response to the at least one question; a delivery device for delivering one of a number of rewards to the end user; wherein the system is arranged to select a particular reward for delivery to the end user based on the response to the at least one question.
4. 6. A system according to claim 5 wherein either of the collection device or the delivery device are provided in the form of a hosted remotely accessible software application.
5. 7. A system according to either claim 5 or claim 6 further including a database for storing the at least one response to the at least one question.
6. 8. A system according to claim 7 further including means for viewing reports based on the stored at least one response.