Systems and methods for providing a user incentive program using smart card technology

US8489452B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TARGET BRANDS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Shannon L. Warner · Woodbury, US
• Marc Black · Midland, US
• Lisa Mellas · Minneapolis, US
• James Mazour · St. Louis Park, US
• Rajkumar Viswanathan · Minnetonka, US
• Michael Salters · Plymouth, US
• Glenda Berg · Apple Valley, US
• Ann Elizabeth Bailey · Apple Valley, US
• Michael T. Greeder · Maple Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 2003
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0238
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs.