WO2004097561A2 - Programme de fidelite a jetons d'adhesion - Google Patents

Programme de fidelite a jetons d'adhesion Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004097561A2
WO2004097561A2 PCT/US2004/012658 US2004012658W WO2004097561A2 WO 2004097561 A2 WO2004097561 A2 WO 2004097561A2 US 2004012658 W US2004012658 W US 2004012658W WO 2004097561 A2 WO2004097561 A2 WO 2004097561A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
membership
purchase
loyalty
program
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/012658
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2004097561A3 (fr
Inventor
Kevin P. Wren
William W. Wagner
Original Assignee
Mbna America Bank, N.A.
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 Mbna America Bank, N.A. filed Critical Mbna America Bank, N.A.
Publication of WO2004097561A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004097561A2/fr
Publication of WO2004097561A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004097561A3/fr

Links

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
    • G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
    • G06Q40/04—Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to shopping systems, and more particularly to customer reward programs.
  • a number of different businesses have customer loyalty-building programs.
  • One example is a credit card that allows the user to earn airline mileage points with each purchase made with the credit card.
  • Some credit card institutions offer more general points that can be redeemed for items or services of the user's choice, although only purchases made with that credit card can generate the points for the customer.
  • Another example is a rental car club, where the customer joins the club, sometimes by paying a fee, and enjoys privileges such as discounts or service upgrades that non-club members do not receive.
  • Some chain stores offer club card programs where members can join for free, membership is not restricted, and members receive discounts or rewards for purchases made in one of the chain's stores.
  • Other companies provide privileges to their customers when the customer registers the product.
  • the invention may be embodied in various manners, such as a system, a method, an article, and others.
  • the present invention may be a membership token loyalty system, comprising: a membership identifier associated with a member, wherein the member is uniquely identified by said membership identifier; a plurality of unrelated merchants; a social artifact provided to the member, where the social artifact includes data to associate the member to the membership identifier; an associator to associate the membership identifier with a purchase made using any form of payment at a merchant by the member, to obtain associated purchase data; and a data repository to store the associated purchase data.
  • the present invention may be a method of building membership loyalty, comprising: providing a member with a membership identifier; associating a purchase made using any form of payment by the member at any one of a plurality of unrelated merchants with the membership identifier; and updating a member profile associated with the membership identifier in a data repository when the purchase is made.
  • the present invention may be a system
  • I that includes a membership identifier associated with a member, the member uniquely identified with the membership identifier; a plurality of unrelated merchants; means for associating a purchase made using any form of payment at any of the merchants by the member with the membership identifier to obtain associated purchase data; and means for storing the associated purchase data.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the system of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2A-2C depict social artifacts according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method of building membership loyalty according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of membership data stored in a data repository according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of purchase data stored in a data repository according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary embodiment of marketing data stored in a data repository according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Definitions
  • a "computer” refers to any apparatus that is capable of accepting a structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results of the processing as output.
  • the computer can include, for example, any apparatus that accepts data, processes the data in accordance with one or more stored software programs, generates results, and typically includes input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
  • Examples of a computer include: a computer; a general purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a microcomputer; a server; an interactive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications device with internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and an interactive television; a portable computer; a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone; a pager; an RFID chip or other transmission device; and application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software.
  • a computer can be stationary or portable.
  • a computer can have a single processor or multiple processors, which can operate in parallel and/or not in parallel.
  • a computer also refers to two or more computers connected together via a network for transmitting or receiving information between the computers in real time or as a batch.
  • An example of such a computer includes a distributed computer system for processing information via computers linked by a network.
  • a "computer-accessible medium” refers to any storage device used for storing data accessible by a computer.
  • Examples of a computer-accessible medium include: a magnetic hard disk; a floppy disk; an optical disk, such as a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) and a digital versatile disk (DND); a magnetic tape; a memory chip; and a carrier wave used to carry computer- accessible electronic data, such as those used in transmitting and receiving e-mail or in accessing a network.
  • Software refers to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examples of software include: software; code segments; instructions; software programs; computer programs; and programmed logic.
  • a “computer system” refers to a system having a computer, where the computer comprises a computer-readable medium embodying software to operate the computer.
  • a “network” refers to a number of computers and associated devices that are connected by communication facilities.
  • a network involves permanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such as those made through telephone, wireless, or other communication links. Examples of a network include: an internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and an intranet.
  • An “information storage device” refers to an article of manufacture used to store information.
  • An information storage device has different forms, for example, paper form and electronic form.
  • paper form the information storage device includes paper printed with the information.
  • electronic form the information storage device includes a computer-readable medium storing the information as software, for example, as data.
  • a system and method for building customer loyalty includes a plurality of unrelated merchants, some of whom may be program partners, a data repository, and a unique membership identifier for each member. Members make purchases at the merchants and earn rewards for the purchases, regardless of the payment method. The rewards can be redeemed for goods and services offered by any of the program partners. Membership is open to all individuals and is not restricted to credit-worthy applicants.
  • the present invention is a membership loyalty program that allows its members to earn loyalty points for any purchase at any merchant whether or not a program partner, regardless of the payment method or merchandise purchased. Additionally, membership is available to any person, regardless of credit history. The loyalty points earned can be redeemed by the member for merchandise and services provided by any of the program partners.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the system 100 of the present invention.
  • the system 100 may comprise a data repository 102.
  • Data repository 102 may be stored, for example, on a machine- accessible medium, a computer, or a computer system.
  • Data repository 102 may accept, store, and distribute data related to one or more members 108 of the program, or related to purchases made by members 108 of the program.
  • Data repository 102 may maintain and update information on member 108.
  • data repository 102 may record the goods or services purchased, the amount paid, and the loyalty rewards earned by the purchase. Additionally, data repository 102 may store records as to the balance of points accrued by members
  • the system 100 may further comprise a plurality of merchants 104a, 104b, 104c (collectively 104).
  • Each merchant 104 may be any business or person offering a good or service to customers.
  • a merchant 104 may be, for example, a grocery store chain, a bank, a department store, a sports team, a movie theater chain, or a beauty salon.
  • There is no specific relationship required between the merchants 104 that is, the merchants 104 may be unrelated.
  • some merchants 104 may be direct competitors with each other, while other merchants 104 may be in a parent-subsidiary relationship, while still others may be completely independent of each other.
  • any number of merchants 104 may be a part of the system 100.
  • Additional merchants 104 may be added to the system 100 at any time.
  • the system 100 may further comprise one or more program partners 105.
  • a program partner 105 may be a merchant 104 who has agreed to participate in the membership loyalty program. Participation in the membership loyalty program may include providing membership rewards to members 108 and/or receiving data from data repository 102. Although only one program partner 105 is shown in FIG. 1, any number of program partners 105 may be a part of the system 100. Additional program partners 105 may be added to the system 100 at any time.
  • the system 100 may further comprise a unique membership identifier 106 associated with each individual member 108. Unique membership identifier 106 may be, for example, a unique sequence of numbers, a unique image or pictograph, a unique sequence of letters, or a unique sequence of letters and numbers. Unique membership identifier 106 serves to identify member 108 to the system 100 and associate data generated by the activities of member 108 within the system to member 108.
  • Member 108 may earn loyalty rewards 110, for example, by purchasing goods or services from any merchant 104 including a program partner 105.
  • the system 100 may award loyalty points 118 at the time a purchase is made. Member 108 may then redeem the loyalty points 118 for other goods or services 120 offered by any of the program partners 105.
  • Social artifact 112 may contain membership identifier 106 directly, or a code that links member 108 to the member's membership identifier 106. Social artifact 112 may act as a vehicle to capture, store and transmit information regarding transactions of member 108.
  • the identification on the exterior surface of the membership token and the identification stored in the technical component may be the same or different, but both identifications may uniquely identify member 108.
  • the social artifact 106 may also be used for informational and marketing purposes by the program partners 105 to transmit bonuses, offers, pertinent consumer information or rewards to members 108 in real time, even at point of sale, or to track consumer preferences in purchase of both items and venues.
  • membership identifier 106 may be encoded on a social artifact 112, such as a key fob, a smart card or a plastic card with a magnetic strip or may be a part of any easily carried device, such as a cell phone, pager, or personal digital assistant (PDA).
  • the social artifact 112 may be designed to engender brand loyalty to a product, membership organization, or program partner 105.
  • social artifact 112 may be a key fob shaped like a football helmet that displays a team logo.
  • a social artifact 112a may be a card that contains a unique member identifier 202 of member 108 visible from the exterior of social artifact 112a, for example, a sticker, an imprint, an image, a hologram, liquid crystal display (LCD), a label on an exterior surface, or a label or the like embedded in a transparent social artifact 112a.
  • the member identifier 202 may include the unique membership identifier 106 of the member 108.
  • Social artifact 112a may also have a magnetic strip 204. As seen, for example, in FIG.
  • a social artifact 112b may be a card that contains a technical component 206b integral with social artifact 112b.
  • the technical component 206b may be, for example, an embedded microchip, raised surface, a radio-frequency device (RFID), or a barcode embedded in social artifact 112b.
  • the technical component 20bc may include the unique membership identifier 106 of the member 108 and may store loyalty information for redemption purposes.
  • a social artifact 112c may be a key fob 208 that contains a technical component 206c.
  • the technical component 206c may be, for example, an embedded microchip, a radio-frequency device (RFID), raised surface or a barcode embedded in social artifact 112c.
  • the technical component 206c may include the unique membership identifier 106 of the member 108 and may store loyalty information for redemption purposes.
  • social artifact 112 may be any combination of a card, a key fob, or a portable object, and an external unique identification, a magnetic strip, or a technical component.
  • the system 100 may further comprise an associator 114.
  • Associator 114 may be associated with a merchant 104, a program partner 105, or a program administrator 116.
  • Associator 114 may read, scan, or otherwise extract data from social artifact 112 to identify member 108.
  • Associator 114 may also receive input about a purchase made by member 108.
  • Associator 114 may be in communication with data repository 102.
  • associator 114 may be coupled to data repository 102 via a network.
  • Associator 114 may associate data about the purchase with membership identifier 106 of member 108. The associated data may then be transmitted to data repository 102, or may be downloaded through other means on a scheduled basis. Alternatively, associator 114 may transmit the purchase data to data repository 102, where program administrator 116 associates the purchase data to member 108.
  • a separate associator 114 may be situated at each point of sale of a merchant 104 including any program partner 105.
  • associator 114 may be a web site where member 108 may enter information about a purchase.
  • associator 114 may be at a publicly accessible membership kiosk, telephone, e-mail, mail, survey, or any other means where member 108 may have the member's social artifact 112 scanned, or may enter information about a purchase manually.
  • Data repository 102 may be administered by a program administrator 116.
  • program administrator 116 may create new data, delete obsolete data, update existing data, and control access to the data in data repository 102.
  • Program administrator 116 may be one of the program partners 105.
  • the program administrator 116 maybe a program-managing entity, for example, a credit card company, in partnership with the program partners 105.
  • FIG. 3 depicts a method of building membership loyalty according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a person joins the membership loyalty program to become a member of the membership loyalty program.
  • a person may be a single human being, or a group of human beings, such as a family or a business.
  • the membership loyalty program can be joined, for example, by filling out a paper form or an online form, or telephoning a membership service.
  • the member may provide marketing information such as, for example, interests, hobbies, household income, level of education, age, sex, marital status, and shopping categories. Becoming a member may coincide with an application for credit but is not dependent upon applying for credit, being approved for credit, or paying a fee. Membership is also not restricted to particular groups, such as employees of one company, or members of some other organization. Any person may join the membership loyalty program. When the person becomes a member 108, the member 108 may receive a social artifact 112. When a person becomes a member of the membership loyalty program, a member profile is created and stored in data repository 102.
  • the member profile 402 may include the marketing information provided by the member in block 302.
  • the member profile 402 may also include, for example, the name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, or other information provided by the member.
  • Member profile 402 may also include membership identifier 106, or may be otherwise associated with membership identifier 106, and may include points 118.
  • the member may then make payment-neutral purchases at merchants 104.
  • the member may use any form of payment, such as, for example, a credit or debit card 306, cash 308, a check 310, or an electronic fund transfer 312.
  • the member 108 may pay with other payment techniques 314, such as barter, a gift certificate, coupon, online payment services, traveler's check, or any other form of payment accepted by the merchant 104.
  • the purchase data may be associated with the member 108. The association may take place, for example, by the associator 114 reading, listening, or scanning the social artifact 112 at the time of purchase. As seen in FIG.
  • the purchase data 502 may include the good or service purchased by the member 108, the amount paid, the number of reward points 118 earned, and other information about the purchase.
  • Purchase data 502 may also include membership identifier 106, or may be otherwise associated with membership identifier 106.
  • the points 118 in member profile 402 of member 108 stored in data repository 102 are updated according to the points earned by the purchase from block 316.
  • member 108 can redeem loyalty point 118 for goods and/or services 120 offered by program partners 105.
  • member 108 may receive a summary of all recorded purchases, for example, to use for budgeting and tax preparation purposes, based upon actual spending behavior from all sources of payment.
  • the program partner 105 may access data repository 102 and obtain the purchase data 502. Merchants 104 who are not program partners 105 cannot access data repository 102. Program partners 105 may also access or receive marketing data from the system. As seen in FIG. 6, for example, marketing data 602 may be purchase data 502 that is consolidated over many members. Marketing data 602 may also be consolidated member profile 402 data, or a combination of member profile 402 and purchase data 502, or other data of interest to the program partners 105 or program administrator 116. Consolidated data may be, for example, averaged data, totaled data, sorted data, or statistically analyzed data. The program partner 105 may use the marketing data 602, for example, to improve its marketing strategy, improve the goods or services it provides, communicate with its or a merchant's customers, or to make other business decisions.
  • the program administrator 116 may offer promotions co-branded with one or more of the program partners 105 to the member 108 based on the purchase data 402 and/or marketing data 502.
  • the program administrator 116 may also develop a relationship with the member 108, who may not have a previous relationship with the program administrator 116.
  • the program administrator 116 may offer the member 108 a credit card from the program administrator 116.
  • the program administrator 116 may offer other services and products to member 108, such as, for example, consumer finance, insurance, mortgage, and other membership programs.
  • member 108 may also receive privileges not extended to non-members. To access these privileges, member 108 may or may not need to redeem points earned in the program. Such privileges may include, for example, preferred parking at events, faster admission to events, backstage access, limited edition autographs, special discounts, and other limited availability privileges. Groups of individuals, such as families, households, and organizations, may also consolidate their loyalty rewards 110 for redemption at higher levels. This allows members 108 to earn more points 118 more quickly, and/or to receive goods and/or services 120 of greater value than an individual member might be able to earn. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système et un procédé pour fidéliser la clientèle comprenant un identificateur d'adhésion associé à un membre, ledit membre étant uniquement identifié par ledit identificateur d'adhésion ; une pluralité de commerçants non concernés ; un artefact social fourni au membre, ce dernier comprenant des données pour associer le membre à l'identificateur d'adhésion ; un dispositif d'association destiné à associer ledit identificateur avec un achat fait au moyen de n'importe quelle forme de paiement chez un commerçant par le membre, de façon à obtenir des données d'achat ; et un registre de données destiné à stocker les données d'achat associées.
PCT/US2004/012658 2003-04-24 2004-04-22 Programme de fidelite a jetons d'adhesion WO2004097561A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US46496003P 2003-04-24 2003-04-24
US60/464,960 2003-04-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004097561A2 true WO2004097561A2 (fr) 2004-11-11
WO2004097561A3 WO2004097561A3 (fr) 2005-06-16

Family

ID=33418165

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/012658 WO2004097561A2 (fr) 2003-04-24 2004-04-22 Programme de fidelite a jetons d'adhesion

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2004097561A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007036049A1 (fr) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Terrance Patrick Tietzen Administration dynamique de programmes de fidelisation de clientele

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010054003A1 (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-12-20 Emily Chien System and method for using loyalty points
US20020026348A1 (en) * 2000-08-22 2002-02-28 Fowler Malcolm R. Marketing systems and methods
US20020072974A1 (en) * 2000-04-03 2002-06-13 Pugliese Anthony V. System and method for displaying and selling goods and services in a retail environment employing electronic shopper aids
US20020120514A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2002-08-29 International Business Machines Corporation Method, computer system and computer program product for processing customer loyalty data
US20030236704A1 (en) * 2002-06-25 2003-12-25 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. System and method for a multiple merchant stored value card
US20050038741A1 (en) * 2001-07-10 2005-02-17 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Method and system for a travel-related multi-function fob

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020072974A1 (en) * 2000-04-03 2002-06-13 Pugliese Anthony V. System and method for displaying and selling goods and services in a retail environment employing electronic shopper aids
US20010054003A1 (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-12-20 Emily Chien System and method for using loyalty points
US20020026348A1 (en) * 2000-08-22 2002-02-28 Fowler Malcolm R. Marketing systems and methods
US20020120514A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2002-08-29 International Business Machines Corporation Method, computer system and computer program product for processing customer loyalty data
US20050038741A1 (en) * 2001-07-10 2005-02-17 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. Method and system for a travel-related multi-function fob
US20030236704A1 (en) * 2002-06-25 2003-12-25 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. System and method for a multiple merchant stored value card

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007036049A1 (fr) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Terrance Patrick Tietzen Administration dynamique de programmes de fidelisation de clientele

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004097561A3 (fr) 2005-06-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20220215404A1 (en) Method and System with Multi-Tier Club Memberships for Discounted Buying on the Internet and at Store Locations
US9836759B2 (en) Universal transaction associating identifier
US20050267800A1 (en) Method, system and computer program for providing a loyalty engine enabling dynamic administration of loyalty programs
US6571216B1 (en) Differential rewards with dynamic user profiling
US6173269B1 (en) Method and apparatus for executing electronic commercial transactions with minors
AU2007289054B2 (en) Loyalty program parameter collaboration
US20150348169A1 (en) System and method for marketplace software platform
US20070214037A1 (en) System and method of obtaining and using anonymous data
US20100057580A1 (en) Unified payment card
RU2598590C2 (ru) Система кассовых терминалов, использующая сеть предоплаченных/подарочных карт
US20100169170A1 (en) Merchant offer program
US20080059306A1 (en) Loyalty program incentive determination
US20130103481A1 (en) Systems and methods for campaign offers and rewards with offer serving engine based on digitized receipt data
US20030115100A1 (en) System and method for receiving and redeeming loyalty incentives
US20070130000A1 (en) Marketing and rewards system and method
US20110010233A1 (en) Method of administering a reward scheme
US20070179840A1 (en) Joint redemption account
AU2002325064A1 (en) Method of administering a reward scheme
US20190220886A1 (en) Negotiable digital durable coupon token
US11157935B1 (en) Systems and methods for self-generation of E-coupons
AU770512B2 (en) Transaction based award program
WO2004097561A2 (fr) Programme de fidelite a jetons d'adhesion
JP2003516593A (ja) チップカード割引システム
CA2237109A1 (fr) Base de donnees de systeme d'information marketing et methode et systeme d'exploitation correspondants
AU2010235905B2 (en) Merchant offer program

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase