In-store points redemption system and method6138911Abstract A computer implemented consumer transaction point accumulation system in which a consumer earns and accumulates points immediately for immediate use during transactions at participating retailer outlets, wherein at each transaction, a customers identification number is transmitted to a host data base which stores customer records including a customer balances of points accumulated to date. The system processing each consumer transaction during the consumer visit to the retailer outlet to determine points awarded for each transaction and to determine whether the item purchased is a redeemable item for which points may be redeemed for a reduction of the price of the redeemable item. The system updating said customer records immediately by adding points awarded or subtracting points redeemed from the customer balance of transaction points. Claims What is claimed: Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TABLE 1
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Example
Points are calculated based on the following criteria:
Minimum purchase $10
First break point 5 points per dollar .gtoreq. $10
Second break point
10 points per dollar .gtoreq. $25
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Purchase
First Break Points
Second Break Points
Total Regular Points
Amount Awarded Awarded Awarded
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$5.00 0 0 0
$10.00 5 points 0 5 points
$15.21 6 .times. 5 points
0 30 points
$25.00 15 .times. 5 points
1 .times. 10 85 points
$30.99 15 .times. 5 points
6 .times. 10 points
135 points
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The example shown above in Table 1 illustrates the manner in which points are accumulated in the preferred embodiment. In the above example, the amount of the customer's purchase must be at least ten dollars ($10) in order for a customer to earn any regular points. If the purchase price of all items purchased is greater than or equal to ten dollars ($10), the customer will earn five points per dollar amount purchased up to, but not including the second break point at twenty five dollars ($25). Once the total purchase value reaches twenty five dollars ($25), in addition to the five points being earned for each dollar between $10 and $25, the customer earns ten points for each dollar beginning with the twenty fifth dollars ($25). As shown in table 1, if the purchase amount is equal to five dollars ($5.00), no points are awarded. If the purchase amount is at least equal to ten dollars ($10.00), five points are awarded. No points are awarded for purchases that are less than ten dollars. If the purchase amount equals fifteen dollars and twenty one cents ($15.21), thirty (30) points are awarded: five points are awarded for the first ten dollars ($10) and five points for each dollar above ten dollars ($10) for a total of 30 points. No points are awarded for the twenty one cents because all cent amounts are truncated when calculating points. If the purchase amount is equal to thirty dollars and ninety nine cents ($30.99), one hundred thirty five (135) points are awarded. Five points are awarded for the first ten dollars ($10) and for each dollar above ten dollars ($10) for a total seventy five points. The seventy five points are characterized as first break points. Because the total purchase amount is greater than twenty five dollars ($25), the customer earns second break points which are ten points for the first twenty five dollars ($25) and for each dollar above twenty five dollars ($25) for a total of 60 points. No points are awarded for the ninety nine cents. The total points earned for a purchase that totals thirty dollars and ninety nine cents ($30.99), as shown above in table 1, is one hundred thirty five points (135) by virtue of combining the first and second chance break points. In the case of a customer account card being presented late during the sales transaction, the system includes the ability to provide credit to the consumer for any bonus items scanned before the card was presented so that they are printed on the receipt and the customer is issued those bonus points. Likewise, the system-also provides the customer with the opportunity to redeem points for any redeemable item input into the system before the card number was entered. The card may be presented at any time in the order prior to the time payment is entered into the POS device. Customers may redeem the points earned in a number of ways, including gift certificates and/or catalog items at the retailer service desk, or at the point-of-sale device during when purchasing a redeemable item. However, in some embodiments of the system, a customer may not be allowed to redeem points until certain information has been input the system. For example, a retailer may want demographic information input into the customer record of each customer prior to allowing each customer to participate in the program. The retailer could implement this requirement by placing a block on each customer's redemption of points until the demographic information has been input into the customer record. The redemption of points at the service desk for catalog items, certificates, and certificates for travel related rewards that may be redeemed at a variety of point levels, are validated against the customer account at the centralized host system database, and the customer's point balance in the account is debited on the system real-time upon redemption of points for certificates or catalog items. The redemption of points during check-out by a customer at the point-of-sale device can be made to only occur for items that are specifically designated as redeemable items. Items are designated as redeemable by the retailer. A customer who purchases an item designated as redeemable will be notified of the item's eligibility for redemption by the retailer. In some embodiments, depending upon capabilities of the POS system, the POS device may notify the cashier and customer of the item's eligibility for redemption as the item is scanned. If the customer decides to redeem the item eligible for redemption, points will be debited from the customer's account point balance and the customer will receive reaction in the price of the item immediately. The system also includes the ability to reflect additional reductions in the price of transaction items that are determined by the individual retailers. For example, all customers that present the account card can be given cents off discounts of any amount for a transaction item identified by the retailer. This additional reduction in price can be given separately or in combination with the price reduction that is provided by the redemption of points on selected items. An example of the additional reduction in price utilized in combination with a standard point redemption can be visualized on a redeemable item priced at two dollars ($2.00). If the retailer desires to give away the redeemable item at no cost to the consumer, the retailer may assign an additional reduction amount of eighty cents to the redeemable item. When a customer presents the account card along with the purchase of the item, they would get an eighty cent discount and if they choose to redeem the item, they could exchange 750 points for a reduction of $1.20 and get the item for free. In this scenario, the additional discount is not dependent upon whether the customer redeems points for a reduction in price, any customer that participates in the program and presents the account card would get the reduction in price. It is also contemplated that the additional discount could be dependent on redemption of points. Wherein the additional reduction in price of eighty cents will not occur unless the customer elects to redeem points for an initial reduction in price. During customer check-out at the point-of-sale device, the system prints on the sales receipt bonus item descriptions and the corresponding bonus points earned for all bonus items purchased during the customer's visit to the retailer. Redemptions taken by the customer at the point-of-sale are also printed on the receipt. When the customer completes all transactions, the system calculates and prints on the customer receipt the total points earned for those transactions and the new account point balance which reflects all points earned and redeemed during the present visit to the retailer. The system also transmits a message carrying the total points earned in the transaction by point category and the total points redeemed in the current transaction to the centralized host system database at the completion of a transaction so that the customer account can be updated. At the retailer's option, the system allows for the retailer to create a transaction log file that is configured to capture and upload information about customer transactions at various levels of detail for data analysis. Detailed Functional Description FIG. 1, shows a functional diagram of an embodiment of the computer implemented consumer transaction point accumulation system 2. The system 2 includes an in-store system 10, a retailer host 30 and a program coordinator host system 40. The in-store system 10 is comprised of a general retailer point-of-sale device 12 that includes a magnetic card reader and/or bar code scanner and has on-line connectivity to both the program coordinator host system 40 and the retailer host system 30. The point of sale device 12 is electrically coupled to a controller 14 that is electrically coupled to an in-store system communicator 18. In other embodiments, the system does not include an in-store system communicator and the system controller performs the function of communicating. The in-store system also includes a networked workstation 16 that is utilized at the retailer service desk. The in-store system communicator 18 and the service desk work station 16 routes the transactions of the in-store system to and from the host system 40 via a communication network. The transactions being routed between the in-store system 10 and the host system 40 occur in real-time. The system also includes a retailer host system 30 that is electrically coupled to the in-store system controller 14. The retailer host system 30 facilitates centralized setup of program data related to bonus and point-of-sale redeemable items. The retailer host system 30 transmits the set-up details for bonus and point-of-sale redemption items to the point of sale devices at each retailer outlet through the in-store system controller 14. Although the majority of the setup data is received in batch from the retailer host, which may be off-site, it may be necessary for store personnel to correct and/or modify set-up details downloaded from the host. A mechanism to read and change item level point parameters is thus a requirement at retailer level. Such changes are usually performed by accessing the in-store system controller 14 database. The retailer host system 30 also provides the retailer with the ability to batch upload customer data for analysis. The service desk work station 16 comprises a personal computer running a software application that allows a retailer to access the centralized host system 40. The retailer may access the application controlling the system and perform a number of functions depending on the levels of security attached to the function and the retailer employee's security clearance level. The functions available for access from the service desk work station 16 include: balance inquiry, transfer points, point balance adjustments, point refund, certificate issuance, merchandise order, add/change alternate identification, cancel/reissue customer card, enter enrollment data, and modify enrollment data. The service desk workstation also transmits information regarding new customer enrollment changes to the operational database host system 44. The balancing inquiry function provides the customer with a current account balance. The transfer points function allows retailer to assist customers in consolidating points between two customer accounts. The point balance adjustments function provides retailer personnel with the ability to make corrections to the customer's point balance in the customer's account. The point refund function provides the retailer with a mechanism to recover points issued on merchandise returns. The certificate issuance function allows the retailer to issue certificates to the program customers to be used at participating retailers. The certificates are printed with pre-assigned serial numbers in specific dollar amounts. When certificates are physically distributed to retailers the host system 40 logs the serial numbers sent to each store and flags each certificate with a status "D" indicating that the certificate is distributed and eligible for issuance. At the time of issuance, the certificate serial number is entered at the service desk work-station and verified through the on-line point server 42 to determine the status and value of the certificate. In order to be issued, the status flag for the certificate number being issued must be in the "D" state on the on-line point server 42. When the certificate is issued, the customer account is debited by the number of points necessary to purchase the certificate and the status flag for the certificate is changed to "I" on the on-line point server 42 indicating the certificate has been issued. The status flag assists with assuring that the certificates are used only once for their face value. When a certificate is being returned for redemption in exchange for a reduction in the price of a transaction (for example a $10 certificate for a reduction of $10 off the price of merchandise), the cashier must input the serial number of the certificate into the POS device. Following entry of the serial number, the POS device which is electrically coupled to the on-line point server 42 sends a request to the on-line point server 42 to determine whether the certificate presented is an issued and redeemable/valid certificate. The on-line point server 42 validates the certificate by indicating that the status of the certificate is ("I") issued and outstanding and that the certificate has not been previously redeemed. The retailer may redeem the certificate once an approval message is sent to the POS device by the on-line point server 42. The retailer may then reduce the amount due on a purchase by the face value of the certificate. A certificate that is redeemed has its status in the on-line point server 42 immediately changed to ("R"). The redeemed status takes the certificate out of circulation and prevents the certificate from being used again. The merchandise order function provides the retailer with the ability to assist the customer in redeeming points for catalog items. When the customer seeks to purchase catalog items, the customer account is verified through the on-line point server to insure that the customer has a sufficient point total in order to redeem a specified catalog item. If the customer account has sufficient points it is debited real-time by the number of points necessary for purchase of the selected catalog item. The add/change alternate identification function allows for substitute identification numbers to be set up and modified. The canceled/reissued customer card function allows a retailer to close an existing customer account and transfer the points and customer information to a new customer account. The enter enrollment data function allows the store to enter demographic information for new program participants into the operational data base host system 44. The modify enrollment data function allows the store to change demographic information for customers. The in-store system controller 14 communicates directly with the in-store system point-of-sale devices 12 and data files that define the items for sale at the retailer outlet as being bonus, exempt or redeemable. Bonus item, redemption item and exempt item data is transmitted from the retailer host system 30 to data storage files within the in-store system controller 14 for updating the in-store system controller data files relating to bonus, redemption and other system data. The in-store system controller 14 may also perform end-of-the-day processing at the local level which transmits daily totals to the on-line point server 42 for reconciliation. Upon receiving acknowledgment from the on-line point server 42 that the totals record was successfully received, the system controller 10 may extract customer activity and upload customer files to the operational data base host system 44. This function also advances the in-store business date. The on-line point server 42 serves all on-line request for point inquiries, updates and redemptions for consumer accounts. The on-line point server 42 maintains a customer file that includes a plurality of consumer records for each customer that is a participant of the point accumulation system program. The file within the on-line point server 42 also includes a plurality of merchant records for each of the plurality of non-competing retail merchants that support the program. Each customer record has the customer account data for each participating customer which includes at least data fields for storing the customer account number and the customer's total accumulated point value. The merchant records include but are not limited to transaction activity information. The on-line point server 42 stores detailed point activity data for a current business day in a transaction log file within the on-line point server 42 database. The on-line point server 42 extracts and transfers all relevant data to the operational database host system 44 for batch updating on a nightly basis. The on-line point server maintains each transaction log file until the operational database server returns a renewal file to the on-line point server at which point the on-line point server executes a renewal process which updates the on-line customer database and purges the corresponding transaction log file. The operational database host system 44 serves as a master data warehouse to service all non-real-time requirements for data (i.e. helpdesk, accounting, reporting, etc.) in support of the on-line point server 42. In addition, the operational database host system 44 services all requests from the in-store service desk to add and modify customer demographic data. On a nightly basis, the operational database host system 44 receives the transaction log file extract file from the on-line point server 42, updates the appropriate tables on the operational database and creates a renewal file. The renewal file is transferred to the on-line point server 42 to facilitate synchronization of the two-customer databases within the host system 40. The system includes the capability to perform a full file audit to make sure that the two-customer databases are in sync. The retailer host system 30 is where a majority of the setup data regarding bonus, redeemable and exempt items is entered for transmission to the in-store system controller 14 at each retailer outlet. The retailer host system performs at least the following functions: exempt setup, bonus item setup, in-store redemption item setup, and daily settlement processing. The retailer host system 30 also receives the transactional log files from the in-store system controller 14 and service desk 16. The exempt setup function defines the items and departments where the program points cannot be awarded. This information is to be downloaded to the in-store system controller 14 database for use in the retailer outlet. Although it is not a requirement, in this particular embodiment, the bonus item setup assigns a positive point value to an item and may also assign a start/stop date that defines the period during which an item maintains bonus status. Bonus item setup function also identifies the sponsor of the bonus points--the store, the program coordinator, or a manufacturer. This information is also downloaded to the in-store system controller 14 database for use at each individual retailer outlets. The redemption item setup function assigns a negative point and dollar value to an item and a start/stop date that defines the period during which an item maintains redemption status. In this particular embodiment, the point value for redeeming a redemption item is -750 points. The reduction of the price of the redeemable item is -$1.20, assuming the item purchased has a price that is greater than or equal to $1.20. This information is to be downloaded into the in-store system controller 14 at the individual retailer outlets. The retailer host system 30 also performs end-of-day processing which extracts all customer activity from each store by retrieving the transaction log files from each in-store system controller 14 and service desk 16 at each retailer location. These files of daily activity are uploaded to the retailer's host 30 and/or to operational database host system 44. The retailer host system 30 also provides for batch communications of collected data to the host system 40. Processing of the transactions that occur may be performed in two modes, one-phased or two-phased. A one-phased transaction is one in which the in-store system communicates once with the host system during the customer's transactions. The one communication is the request and authorization for a point update transaction where the opportunity for point redemption is not selection. A two-phased transaction is where there is an automatic balance inquiry at the beginning of the transaction and a point update at the end of the transaction. Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an overview of an embodiment of the consumer transaction point accumulation system main processing in the two phased mode. The point accumulation system's processing begins when a customer at the point-of-sale device for a retailer begins to purchase retailer products or services. At the start of the transaction 100, the retailer outlet cashier enters the customer's account number into the in-store system's point-of-sale device by way of a magnetic stripe card reader, keyboard or any other data input device used in conjunction with the point-of-sale device 102. Following input of the customer's account number, the in-store system controller 14 requests the customer's current point balance 104 from the host system 40 database 104. The host system 40 processes the request and locates a customer's account record stored within the host system 40 database and sends the account record back to the point-of-sale device 106 through the in-store system controller 14. The customer record that is sent back to the point-of-sale device 12 includes at least the customer's current accumulated point balance. The request for data by the in-store system 10 from the host system 40 and the transmission of customer account data from the host system 40 to the in-store system 10 both occur real-time so that the point-of-sale device 12 may save the customer's current accumulated point balance and account number in temporary data storage within the point-of-sale device 12 pending entry of a redeemable item 108. The customer point balance is also temporarily stored in the controller 14 so that points accumulated throughout the customer's transaction may be updated more quickly by updating the point balance being temporarily stored in the controller 14. Following the capture of the customer's account record, the cashier enters an item number for an item being purchased by the customer via a scanner or keypad 110, 112 causing the point-of-sale device 12 to communicate with the system controller 14 requesting the controller 14 to look up the item number of the item being purchased on a master item file within the in-store system controller 14 database 114. All items of possible purchase should be stored in the master item file where they are cross referenced with an item number and a status label. The status label for each item stored within the in-store system database is either exempt, redeemable, bonus or no status. First, the system checks to see if the item the customer seeks to purchase has exempt status 116. If the status is exempt, no points can be awarded for the purchase of that particular item 118. The system then returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased the item the customer seeks to purchase is not referenced as exempt, the point-of-sale device adds the price of the item to the accumulator tracking the eligible total for calculation of "regular" points 120. Next, the system checks to see if the item the customer seeks to purchase has bonus status 122. If the item being purchased has bonus status 124, the system processes the item being purchased as a bonus item and adds bonus points to the customer accumulated point balance total stored in temporary storage of the point of sale device. Next, the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased. If the item being purchased by a consumer does not have bonus status, the system checks to see if the item has redeemable status 126. If the item does not have redeemable status, it has no status 128 and the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased. If the item has redeemable status, the system may notify the retailer of such status and prompt the cashier to ask the customer if he/she wishes to exchange points for a reduction in the price of the item purchased 130. In this embodiment, the customer may exchange 750 points for a $1.20 reduction in the price of the redeemable item being purchased. If the consumer declines to exchange points for $1.20 off the price of the redeemable item being purchased, the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased. If the customer desires to exchange 750 points for a $1.20 reduction in the price of the item purchased 132, the cashier enters a unique code into the point-of-sale device corresponding to acceptance by the customer of the point exchange for a reduction in purchase price option. Following acceptance of the point exchange option by the customer, the point of sale device checks the balance of the customer's point total being temporarily stored in the point-of-sale device temporary data storage 134. Specifically, in this particular invention, the system is checking to see if the customer account point total is greater than or equal to 750 points. If the point total is less than 750 points 134, the point of sale device displays an error message to the retailer and voids out the 750 point exchange option 138 and the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased. If the customer account point balance is greater than or equal to 750 points, the point-of-sale device checks the in-store system controller data base to determine if the price of the item being purchased is greater than or equal to $1.20 136. If the price of the item being purchased is less than $1.20, an error is displayed at the point-of-sale device to the retailer and the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the clerk may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased 138. If the price of the item being purchased is greater than or equal to $1.20 140, the in-store system controller returns an item description to the point-of-sale device and debits the customer accumulated point balance temporarily stored in the point-of-sale device temporary storage by 750 points 140. The point-of-sale device prints a description of the item redeemed and/or the point amount debited from the consumer's accumulated account balance on the customer receipt 142. The in-store system controller also captures redemption and bonus data in a log file 144. Then, the system returns the point-of-sale device process back to the item entry state 110 so that the clerk may enter the item number of the next item desired to be purchased. If all customer transaction items have been purchased, the retailer may press a total key 110, 112 in order to indicate that the customer's transaction is complete. Once the customer's transactions have been completed, the controller calculates the net points earned by the customer during the current sales visit 146. Next, the retailer determines whether the order is ready to tender 148. If the order is not ready to tender, the system allows for the return of the point-of-sale device process to the item entry state 110 so that the retailer may enter data necessary to tender the order. If the order is ready to tender, the retailer tenders the order 150 and the point-of-sale device calculates the total net points earned during the current sale's visit and the new account balance of points accumulated 152. The point of sale device also sends an update message to the host that includes the customer's points earned in the current transaction 152. The system host retrieves the point update transaction and returns an acknowledgment of receipt of the update message to the in-store system controller and point-of-sale device 154. In either the ore-phased or two-phased mode, following receipt of a point update response message from the host system the point-of-sale device prints a receipt for the customer that includes the beginning point balance, the total points earned during the sales visit, the total points exchanged for price reductions during the sales visit and the new account point balance 156, which completes the transaction for that customer 158. Although the operation of an embodiment of the computer implemented consumer transaction point accumulation system has been disclosed, alternative embodiments of the invention can be made without the departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be appreciated and understood that the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
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