INTERACTIVE CONSUMER CARD INCENTIVE PROGRAM

摘要

An interactive consumer incentive system that allows merchants to collectimportant consumer information such as the goods purchased, the purchaseamount,and time of day so that marketing efforts may be specifically targeted to themosteffective audience. The inventive device comprises a card storing updateableaccountinformation, a reader for reading and updating the account information andelectricallyconnected to a cash register, a central database connectable to the reader fordownloading and storing the account information along with other purchaseinformation, an account view connected to the central database for allowingtheconsumer to view their account information, and a home page for allowing theconsumer to view their account information. Account information may consist ofanaccount number, consumer name, address, phone number and other relatedinformationimportant for marketing purposes. Purchase information may consist of the dateandtime of the purchase, purchase amount, type of goods/services purchased and/ormethod of payment. The database calculates the total "point values" given to aconsumer based upon the account information and the purchase informationreceivedfrom the reader. These "point values" are then redeemable by the consumer fordiscounts on purchases of goods/services from the merchant. Additionally, theaccount and purchase information collected and stored by the database may beutilizedby the merchant for specifically marketing to individual consumers based uponthepurchase information gathered.