Fully integrated, on-line interactive frequency and award...

Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Automated electrical financial or business practice or... – Discount or incentive

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Reexamination Certificate

active

06578012

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to frequency and award redemption program. More particularly, the present invention relates to an on-line, interactive frequency and award redemption program which is fully integrated.
2. Description of Related Art
Frequency programs have been developed by the travel industry to promote customer loyalty. An example of such a program is a “frequent flyer” program. According to such a program, when a traveler books a flight, a certain amount of “millage points” is calculated by a formula using the distance of the destination as a parameter. However, the millage points are not awarded until the traveler actually takes the flight.
When a traveler has accumulated sufficient number of millage points, he may redeem these points for an award chosen from a specific list of awards specified by the program. Thus, for example, the traveler may redeem the points for a free flight ticket or a free rental car. In order to redeem the accumulated points, the traveler generally needs to request a certificate, and use the issued certificate as payment for the free travel.
While the above program may induce customer loyalty, it has the disadvantage that the selection of prizes can be made only from the limited list of awards provided by the company. For example, a traveler may redeem the certificate for flights between only those destinations to which the carrier has a regular service. Another disadvantage is that the customer generally needs to plan ahead in sufficient time to order and receive the award certificate.
According to another type of frequency and award program, a credit instrument is provided and credit points are accumulated instead of the millage points. In such programs, bonus points are awarded by using a formula in which a price paid for merchandise is a parameter. Thus, upon each purchase a certain number of bonus points are awarded, which translate to dollar credit amount. According to these programs, the customer receives a credit instrument which may be acceptable by many enrolled retailers, so that the selection of prizes available is enhanced. An example of such a program is disclosed in E.P.A. 308,224. However, while such programs may enhance the selection of prizes, there is still the problem of obtaining the credit instrument for redeeming the awarded points. In addition, the enrolee must allow for processing time before the bonus points are recorded and made available as redeemable credit. Thus, the immediacy effect of the reward is lacking in these conventional incentive programs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, the present invention is advantageous in that it provides an on-line, interactive incentive program which is fully integrated.
The disclosed invention is also advantageous in that it provides an on-line access to product information, product purchases using an on-line electronic order form, award catalogs, and award redemption using an on-line electronic redemption forms.
Another advantage of the subject invention is that it awards bonus points immediately upon purchase of a merchandise.
The present invention is further advantageous in that it provides bonus points which are immediately made available for redemption.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows the to customer to select a prize immediately upon the award of the bonus points.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it allows a customer to order a prize and redeem the awarded points towards the ordered prize immediately upon the award of the bonus points, thus enhancing the immediacy effect of the reward program.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an electronic sign-up form for on-line signing up by users.
The above and other advantages are provided by the disclosed invention which includes provisions for access over the internet. Upon gaining of an access, the customer is able to browse through a merchandize catalog, an award catalog, view the bonus points available for redemption in the customer's award bonus account, and get information about the products for purchase, the program, and the customer's account. The program also enables the customer to order merchandize on-line, order prizes on-line and redeem awarded points on-line. Accordingly, the selection of available prizes is expanded by the merchants who join the program, and the bonus award is made instantly redeemable.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4750119 (1988-06-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 4885685 (1989-12-01), Wolfberg et al.
patent: 4932485 (1990-06-01), Mori
patent: 4941090 (1990-07-01), McCarthy
patent: 4949256 (1990-08-01), Humble
patent: 4992940 (1991-02-01), Dworkin
patent: 5025372 (1991-06-01), Burton et al.
patent: 5056019 (1991-10-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 5117355 (1992-05-01), McCarthy
patent: 5200889 (1993-04-01), Mori
patent: 5202826 (1993-04-01), McCarthy
patent: 5233514 (1993-08-01), Ayyoubi et al.
patent: 5287268 (1994-02-01), McCarthy
patent: 5483444 (1996-01-01), Heintzeman et al.
patent: 5513102 (1996-04-01), Auriemma
patent: 5537314 (1996-07-01), Kanter
patent: 5687322 (1997-11-01), Deaton et al.
patent: 5689100 (1997-11-01), Carrithers et al.
patent: 5708780 (1998-01-01), Levergood et al.
patent: 5715314 (1998-02-01), Payne et al.
patent: 5734838 (1998-03-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5761648 (1998-06-01), Golden et al.
patent: 5765141 (1998-06-01), Spector
patent: 5774870 (1998-06-01), Storey
patent: 5794210 (1998-08-01), Goldhaber et al.
patent: 5806044 (1998-09-01), Powell
patent: 5806045 (1998-09-01), Biorge et al.
patent: 5909492 (1999-06-01), Payne et al.
patent: 5937390 (1999-08-01), Hyodo
patent: 6009412 (1999-12-01), Storey
patent: 6009415 (1999-12-01), Shurling et al.
patent: 6029141 (2000-02-01), Bezos et al.
patent: 6049778 (2000-04-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6061660 (2000-05-01), Eggleston et al.
patent: 6081788 (2000-06-01), Appleman et al.
patent: 6148400 (2000-11-01), Arnold
patent: 6243688 (2001-06-01), Kalina
patent: 1 565 286 (1980-04-01), None
patent: 308224 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 2274349 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 2 306 740 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 2 315 351 (1998-01-01), None
patent: WO 96/29668 (1996-09-01), None
patent: WO 97/22058 (1997-06-01), None
Quinn, Judy, “The incentive industry gets smart”, Incentive, vol. 168, No. 2 (Feb. 1994), p. 23.*
Petersen, Laurie, “A shopping spree in cyberspace”, Catalog Age, vol. 12, No. 9 (Sep. 1, 1995), pp. 78-80.*
“Chase-ing After Smart Electronic Commerce”, Sep. 15, 1995, Network Computing, p. 26.
Jackie Cohen, “Merchant Server Market Heats Up”, Feb. 1, 1997, Bank Technology News.
“Public-Key Algorithms”, Chapter 19 p. 20, pp. 461-502, 1996, XP-002128601.
Eric Brown, “No Small Change”, Micropa, New Media (Jun. 23, 1997), pp30-37.
International Search Report (mailed Mar. 21, 1997), PCT/US96/19728.
Press Release, “Harrah's Casino Introduces Two ‘Firsts’ for the Casino Industry” (Aug. 23, 1993).
“Give Cyber-Ready Consumers the Once Over”, Interactive Marketing News, vol. 2, No. 13, Jun. 23, 1995.
Churbuck, “Dial-a-Catalog”, Forbes (Oct. 10, 1994). 126/3).
Hirsch, “Using the Internet to Reach Clients”, American Printer, p. 64 (Nov. 1, 1995).
Ernex Loyalty or Rewards Programs Explanation at URL=http://www.stockgroup.com/csu/ernex/ernex.htm (printed on Nov. 23, 1997).
Article entitled “B-to-B Tests Interactive Media”, Advertising Age, pp. B14-B15 (Aug. 1995).
“What is Agshare?”, at URL=http://www.swp.com/services/agshare.htm (printed on Nov. 23, 1997).
Berlin, “Internet World Feb. 1996—Riddle Me This”, at URL=http://www.iw.com/1996/02/recroom.html (Feb., 1996).
Web page “What is SuperClub” at URL=http://www.superclub.ie/whatis.html, printed Nov. 23, 1997.
Anthes, “MCI Cuts Ribbon on Digital Mall,” Computerworld, p. 15 (Nov. 28, 1994).
Hoffman et al., “Amex Travels the Net,” Computerworld, p. 63 (Feb. 27, 1995).
Kaufman, “Taking Inventory of your Frequent-flier Miles,” Money (Apr., 1995).
Rodriguez, “MCI Rolls out Internet Electronic Commerce,” Infowor

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Fully integrated, on-line interactive frequency and award... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Fully integrated, on-line interactive frequency and award..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fully integrated, on-line interactive frequency and award... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3092860

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.