Patent ID: 7857210
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for enabling a loyalty program to be linked to one or more card issuers, and thereby their cardholders, by operation of a loyalty system, the loyalty system being operable to enable the creation, implementation and management of one or more loyalty programs that provide benefits to members of the loyalty programs in connection with transactions between the members and one or more merchants associated with the loyalty system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) registering on the loyalty system one or more card issuers; (b) the operator of the loyalty system, the one or more card issuers, and the merchants establishing the rules for accrual and processing of benefits from the merchants to cardholders associated with the one or more card issuers in connection with transactions between the cardholders and the merchants with the loyalty system; (c) registering on the loyalty system one or more merchant acquirers associated with the one or more card issuers; (d) registering a plurality of the cardholders as members of the loyalty program; (e) applying the rules to accrue and process the benefits of cardholders in connection with the transactions between the cardholders and the merchants, by operation of the loyalty system; and (f) providing an option for the benefits to be paid to the card issuers, said card issuers optionally retaining a portion of the benefits, thereby providing an additional source of revenue to the card issuers.