Abstract:
A method includes establishing a loyalty points account for an account holder. The account holder may be allowed to access value held in the loyalty points account via a transaction authorized and cleared through a payment account system.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Customer loyalty programs are in widespread use. Many are sponsored by a single retail chain and provide benefits only in connection with purchases from that chain. Other customer loyalty programs involve cooperation among various merchants. For example, groups of travel and entertainment merchants are in some cases led by airlines as the chief sponsors of loyalty programs that allow for redemption of “miles” earned among all members of the participating group of merchants. 
         [0002]    The present inventors have now recognized an opportunity for a customer loyalty system that may be more comprehensive, accessible and attractive to users than existing programs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Features and advantages of some embodiments of the present disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments and which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram that illustrates a conventional payment system. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram that illustrates an overview of an environment in which conventional payment systems are operated. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that illustrates a customer loyalty system according to some embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 4-6  are block diagrams that illustrate computer systems that may serve as components of the customer loyalty system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram that illustrates a typical merchant point of sale terminal that may be provided according to some embodiments as part of the customer loyalty system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 8-11  are flow charts that illustrate processes that may be performed in the customer loyalty system of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    In general, and to introduce concepts of embodiments of this disclosure, a customer loyalty system may have an operator of a payment system as a lead sponsor and chief organizer. Additional sponsoring entities may include one or more merchants (including, for example, small and medium size merchants—“SMEs”), transaction acquirers, payment account issuers, payment facilitators and other parties involved with operation of payment systems. In addition or alternatively, other service providers, including social media operators or other web-based services may be included as sponsors. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, a given customer&#39;s points, funded by all participating sponsors, may be credited to a single loyalty points account that is issued as a payment account by a payment account issuer in cooperation with a payment system operator that is the chief organizer of the loyalty system. The resulting payment account may, in effect, function as a pre-paid payment account so that the customer can access the loyalty benefits in substantially conventional payment account transactions routed through the payment system operated by the chief organizer. In other words, the customer can use his or her card or other payment device issued through the program to access his/her loyalty points account through purchase transactions at the point of sale and/or in e-commerce transactions, including via merchants who have no connection to the loyalty program but who are simply acceptors of the brand of payment card that corresponds to the chief organizer. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, issuers of payment accounts for a different, unrelated payment system may be sponsors (funders of loyalty points) for the above-described loyalty system. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram that illustrates a conventional payment system  100 . 
         [0014]    The system  100  includes a conventional payment card/device  102  (which may alternatively be a conventional payment-enabled mobile device that stores a payment card account number and runs a payment applet; other form factors for the payment device, such as a fob, are also possible). The system  100  further includes a reader component  104  associated with a POS terminal  106 . In some known manner (depending on the type of the payment card/device  102 ) the reader component  104  is capable of reading the payment card account number and other information from the payment card/device  102 . 
         [0015]    The reader component  104  and the POS terminal  106  may be located at the premises of a retail store and operated by a sales associate of the retailer for the purpose of processing retail transactions. The payment card/device  102  is shown in  FIG. 1  to be interacting with the reader component  104  and the POS terminal  106  for the purpose of executing such a transaction. 
         [0016]    A computer  108  operated by an acquirer (acquiring financial institution; sometimes referred to as a “transaction acquirer”) is also shown as part of the system  100  in  FIG. 1 . The acquirer computer  108  may operate in a conventional manner to receive a payment account transaction authorization request message (sometimes referred to as an “authorization request”) for the transaction from the POS terminal  106 . The acquirer computer  108  may route the authorization request via a payment network  110  to the server computer  112  operated by the issuer of a payment account that is associated with the payment card/device  102 . As is also well known, the payment account transaction authorization response message (also referred to as an “authorization response”) generated by the payment account issuer server computer  112  may be routed back to the POS terminal  106  via the payment network  110  and the acquirer computer  108 . 
         [0017]    One well known example of a payment network is referred to as the “Banknet” system, and is operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, which is the assignee hereof. 
         [0018]    The payment card issuer server computer  112  may be operated by or on behalf of a financial institution (“FI”) that issues payment accounts to individual users and other entities. For example, the payment account issuer server computer  112  may perform such functions as (a) receiving and responding to requests for authorization of payment account transactions to be charged to payment accounts issued by the FI; and (b) tracking and storing transactions and maintaining account records. 
         [0019]    The components of the system  100  as depicted in  FIG. 1  are only those that are needed for processing a single transaction. A typical payment system may process many purchase transactions (including simultaneous transactions) and may include a considerable number of payment account issuers and their computers, a considerable number of acquirers and their computers, and numerous merchants and their POS terminals and associated proximity reader components. The system may also include a very large number of payment account holders, who carry payment cards or other devices for initiating payment transactions by presenting an associated payment account number to the reader component of a POS terminal. 
         [0020]    The above description of a typical payment account transaction was presented in the context of an in-store purchase transaction. As is also well-known, many payment account transactions also occur in the context of e-commerce purchase transactions. In those cases, for example, a customer may interact with an e-commerce server computer via a mobile device, personal computer, etc., and may enter payment account information into a data entry page to enable the e-commerce server computer to generate an authorization request. As in the case illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the authorization request may be routed to the account issuer via the acquirer and the payment network, and the authorization response may be routed back from the account issuer via the payment network and the acquirer. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram that fills in additional background with respect to the environment in which conventional payment account transactions may occur. One circumstance brought out in  FIG. 2  is that the conventional world of payment account transactions includes more than one payment network, represented by blocks  202  and  204 . Block  202 , for example, may be the above-mentioned Banknet system operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee hereof. As is well-known, the latter payment network handles payment account transactions for payment accounts branded with the “MASTERCARD” brand. Block  204  may be considered to represent another payment network, which handles payment account transactions for payment accounts branded with a different brand. 
         [0022]    Block  112 - 1  in  FIG. 2  represents issuers of payment accounts for which transactions are handled through the payment network  202 . Block  112 - 2  represents issuers of payment account for which transactions are handled through the payment network  204 . In real-world situations, some financial institutions or other payment account issuers may fall into both categories of account issuers—that is, the membership of blocks  112 - 1  and  112 - 2  may overlap. 
         [0023]    Block  206 - 1  in  FIG. 2  represents merchants that accept payment account transactions to be handled through payment network  202 . Block  206 - 2  represents merchants that accept payment account transactions to be handled through payment network  204 . It is again well-known that many merchants accept more than one brand of payment account transaction, so that again the membership of blocks  206 - 1  and  206 - 2  may overlap. 
         [0024]    Block  110 - 1  represents financial institutions that have banking relationships with merchants  206 - 1  and route authorization requests through payment network  202 . Block  110 - 2  represents financial institutions that have banking relationships with merchants  206 - 2  and route authorization requests through payment network  204 . Again there may be overlap in the memberships of the categories of entities represented by block  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . In some situations, payment processors, payment facilitators, or other entities may stand in for the acquirers  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . 
         [0025]    Block  208  represents the vast universe of individuals and other entities that hold payment accounts for which transactions are accepted by the merchants  206 - 1 ,  206 - 2 . It is, of course, frequently the case that account holders hold payment accounts of more than one brand. Moreover, the real-world environment of payment account transactions is more complex than that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and includes, for example, more than two different payment networks. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that illustrates a customer loyalty system  302  according to some embodiments. The customer loyalty system  302  of  FIG. 3  includes all the components/participants described above in connection with  FIG. 1 , and includes other components/participants as well, as will be described below. Moreover, as will be seen, components/participants that were described in connection in  FIG. 1  may have additional roles and/or functions in the customer loyalty system  302  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    Thus, the customer loyalty system  302  includes a POS/merchant system  106   a , which may have all the functionality of the POS terminal  106  described in connection with  FIG. 1  and additional functionality in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. Further, the customer loyalty system  302  includes a transaction acquirer  108   a , which may have all the functionality of the acquirer  108  described in connection with  FIG. 1  and additional functionality in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. Still further, the customer loyalty system  302  includes a payment network  110   a , which may have all the functionality of the payment network  110  described in connection with  FIG. 1 , and in some embodiments may have further functionality in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. In addition, the customer loyalty system  302  includes an account issuer  112   a , which may have all the functionality of the issuer  112  described in connection with  FIG. 1 , and additional functionality in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  also shows a payment card/device  102  and a reader  104  like those described above in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    One important component of the customer loyalty system  302  is a loyalty accounts server computer  304 . Details of characteristics and functionality of the loyalty accounts server computer  304  will be described below. In some embodiments, the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may be operated by the operator (not separately shown) of the payment network  110   a  in connection with the operator&#39;s role as chief organizer of the customer loyalty system  302 . In some embodiments, additional functionality of the POS/merchant system  106   a , transaction acquirer  108   a , payment network  110   a  and/or the account issuer  112   a  may include reporting payment account transactions to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  so that loyalty points can be credited to customer loyalty accounts of users (block  306 ) of the customer loyalty system  302 . System participants such as merchants, transaction acquirers, payment facilitators, account issuers and/or the operator of the payment network may provide funding to support the crediting of loyalty points to the customer loyalty accounts. Thus, any one or more of the types of participants named in the previous sentence may be sponsors of the loyalty points program made possible by the customer loyalty system  302 . Additional types of sponsors may include social media and/or service providers (block  310 ), including, for example, social media platforms, mobile telecommunications and/or other communications carriers, wallet service providers, internet search services, media subscription services, free web information destinations and portals and other online advertising platforms, etc. 
         [0030]    According to embodiments of the customer loyalty system  302 , the customer loyalty accounts may take the form of payment accounts issued by a loyalty accounts issuer  308  that has a cooperative relationship with the organizer of the customer loyalty system  302 . The loyalty accounts issuer  308  may be a financial institution that issues payment accounts, and the customer loyalty accounts issued according to embodiments of the customer loyalty system  302  may be payment accounts that functionally operate in a similar manner (in terms of payment account transactions) to the types of payment accounts used in the payment system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, when a user  306  signs up for a customer loyalty account via the loyalty accounts server computer  304 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may instruct the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to issue a customer loyalty account/payment account to the user. The issuance of the latter account by the loyalty accounts issuer  308  may include the loyalty accounts issuer  308  sending a substantially conventional payment card to the user. The user may then present the card (or the corresponding account number) to merchants to initiate payment account transactions to access the value of loyalty points that have been credited to the account. Embodiment of the payment credentials in a form other than a card may also occur in addition to or instead of issuance of a physical payment card. For example, the payment credentials may be loaded into or made accessible via a payment-enabled mobile device. In addition or alternatively, the payment credentials that correspond to the customer loyalty account/payment account may be included in the user&#39;s digital wallet. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the customer loyalty account/payment account may be identified by a primary account number (PAN). In addition or alternatively, the customer loyalty account/payment account may be identified, at least for some purposes, by a “payment token”, as that term is used in the EMV Payment Tokenization Standard (March 2014; http://www.emvco.com/specifications.aspx?id=263). Either a PAN or a payment token may hereinafter be referred to as an “account identifier.” 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, an issuer (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) of payment accounts that are handled by a different payment network (i.e., issued under a different brand) from the payment network  110   a  may be a sponsor of loyalty points for the customer loyalty system  302 . Thus, a transaction handled via payment network  204  ( FIG. 2 ) and related to a payment account issued by one of the issuers  112 - 2 , may give rise to loyalty points (funded by that issuer  112 - 2 ) credited to a customer loyalty account/payment account issued by the loyalty accounts issuer  308  ( FIG. 3 ) and accessible via the payment network  110   a  ( FIG. 3 ), which for present purposes is assumed to substantially coincide with the payment network  202  shown in  FIG. 2 . In other words, an account issuer under one payment network brand may be a loyalty points sponsor for a customer loyalty program organized by a different payment network. In such cases, the account issuer in question may report payment transactions for the user/loyalty program member to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to cause crediting of loyalty points to the customer loyalty account/payment account issued by the loyalty accounts issuer  308 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustration of an example embodiment of the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0034]    The loyalty accounts server computer  304  may be constituted, in its hardware aspects, by server computer and/or mainframe computer hardware, and may be controlled by software to cause it to operate in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    The loyalty accounts server computer  304  may include a computer processor  400  operatively coupled to a communication device  401 , a storage device  404 , an input device  406  and an output device  408 . The storage device  404 , the communication device  401 , the input device  406  and the output device  408  may all be in communication with the processor  400 . 
         [0036]    The computer processor  400  may be constituted by one or more single or multiple core processors or processing units. Processor  400  operates to execute processor-executable steps, contained in program instructions described below, so as to control the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to provide desired functionality. 
         [0037]    Communication device  401  may be used to facilitate communication with, for example, other devices (such as devices operated by the sponsors/funders of loyalty points in the customer loyalty system  302 ; and/or one or more computers operated by the loyalty accounts issuer  308 ; and/or one or more devices operated by the users  306 ). Communication device  401  may include numerous communication ports (not separately shown) to accommodate numerous simultaneous interactions and/or receipt and/or transmission of numerous data communication messages, and may be capable of engaging in data communication over conventional computer-to-computer data networks. 
         [0038]    Input device  406  may comprise one or more of any type of peripheral device typically used to input data into a computer. For example, the input device  406  may include a keyboard and a mouse. Output device  408  may comprise, for example, a display and/or a printer. 
         [0039]    Storage device  404  may comprise any appropriate information storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives), optical storage devices such as CDs and/or DVDs, and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devices and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, as well as so-called flash memory. 
         [0040]    Storage device  404  stores one or more programs for controlling processor  400 . The programs comprise program instructions that contain processor-executable process steps of loyalty accounts server computer  304 , including, in some cases, process steps that constitute processes provided in accordance with principles of the present disclosure, as described herein. 
         [0041]    The programs may include one or more conventional operating systems (not shown) that control the processor  400  so as to manage and coordinate activities and sharing of resources in the loyalty accounts server computer  304 , and to serve as a host for application programs (described below) that run on the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0042]    The programs stored in the storage device  404  may also include a user enrollment application program  410 . The user enrollment application program  410  may control the processor  400  to enable the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to permit users  306  to access a website hosted by the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to permit the users to sign up/enroll for customer loyalty accounts in the customer loyalty system  302 . In a typical enrollment interaction between a user and the loyalty accounts server computer  304 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may prompt the user to enter his/her name and contact information. In some embodiments, demographic information may also be collected. In some embodiments, the enrollment process may resemble application for a payment account, except that information related to creditworthiness may not be required. 
         [0043]    According to other functionality that may be provided by the user enrollment application program  410 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may be programmed to take steps necessary to fulfill the user&#39;s enrollment in the customer loyalty system. This may include, for example, transmitting a message from the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to instruct the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to open the customer loyalty account/payment account requested by the user. 
         [0044]    According to additional functionality that may be provided by the user enrollment application program  410 , loyalty account maintenance functions may be included, so that the loyalty accounts server computer  304  is programmed to allow typical account maintenance activities such as, for example, updates to the user&#39;s contact information or user profile. 
         [0045]    The storage device  404  may also store a loyalty points booking application program  412  to control the processor  400  to enable the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to receive and implement instructions from loyalty points sponsors/funders to credit loyalty points to users in respect of particular transactions. In some embodiments, the instructions may simply be in the form of reports of transactions that qualify for award of customer loyalty points. The loyalty accounts server computer  304  may respond to such instructions/transaction reports by instructing the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to make appropriate credits to the users&#39; accounts maintained by the loyalty accounts issuer  308 . 
         [0046]    The storage device  404  may also store a clearing application program  414  to program the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to manage clearing operations between the funders of loyalty points, on one hand, and the loyalty accounts issuer  308 , on the other hand. 
         [0047]    Another application program that may be stored by the storage device  404  is indicated by reference numeral  416  in  FIG. 4 , and may program the loyalty accounts server computer  304  to provide reporting to the user  306  concerning credits (and perhaps also charges) to the user&#39;s accounts. 
         [0048]    The storage device  404  may also store, and the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may also execute, other programs, which are not shown. For example, such programs may include an administrative reporting application, which may respond to requests from system administrators for reports on the activities performed by the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . The other programs may also include, e.g., one or more data communication programs, a database management program, website hosting software, device drivers, etc. 
         [0049]    Reference numeral  418  in  FIG. 4  indicates one or more databases that are maintained by the loyalty accounts server computer  304  on the storage device  404  as needed to support operation of the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0050]    The application programs of the loyalty accounts server computer  304  as described above may be combined in some embodiments, as convenient, into one, two or more application programs. In addition or alternatively, functionality described as part of a single program may, in some embodiments, be distributed among two or more different programs. 
         [0051]    Other components of the customer loyalty system  302  shown in  FIG. 3  may exhibit the same hardware architecture and types of components as described above with respect to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 , as will be seen from subsequent drawings and descriptions thereof. 
         [0052]    For example,  FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an account issuer computer  502 , which may be operated by or on behalf of the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to implement functions and roles of the loyalty accounts issuer  308  as described herein. The account issuer computer  502  may, in its hardware aspects, be constituted by computer server and/or mainframe hardware but may be programmed to provide functionality as described herein. The account issuer computer  502  may include a processor  500 , a communication device  501 , a storage device  504 , an input device  506  and an output device  508 . The communication device  501 , the storage device  504 , the input device  506  and the output device  508  may all be in communication with the processor  500 . The descriptions of hardware components, and their general functionality, as provided above in connection with  FIG. 4 , are also generally applicable to like-named components shown in  FIG. 5 . However, the programming of the account issuer computer  502  may differ, in at least some respects, from the programming of the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0053]    The storage device  504  may store an account issuance/maintenance application program  510 . The account issuance/maintenance application program  510  may program the account issuer computer  502  to issue customer loyalty accounts/payment accounts in response to instructions received from the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . In at least some respects, the account issuance/maintenance application program  510  may mirror functionality customarily provided by computers operated by payment account issuers in connection with enrollment of account holders and maintenance of records, including updating and related tasks in connection with payment accounts. 
         [0054]    In addition, the storage device  504  may store a program  512  that supports an interface between the account issuer computer  502  and the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . Part of the functionality provided by the interface program  512  may include implementing at the account issuer computer  502  instructions to credit loyalty points or corresponding monetary value to customer loyalty accounts/payment accounts maintained by the account issuer computer  502 . 
         [0055]    Still further, the storage device  504  may store a transaction handling application program  514 . The transaction handling application program may handle payment account transactions (including, for example, receiving authorization requests and issuing authorization responses, and subsequent transaction clearing operations) in a manner like that customarily implemented in payment account issuers generally. 
         [0056]    Also, the storage device  504  may store a reporting application program  516 . The reporting application program  516  may program the account issuer computer  502  such that it periodically (and/or on demand) provides reports to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  so that the loyalty accounts server computer  304  is kept up to date on the status of customer loyalty accounts/payment accounts issued at the request of the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0057]    The storage device  504  may also store, and the account issuer computer  502  may also execute, other programs, which are not shown. For example, such programs may include an administrative reporting application, which may respond to requests from system administrators for reports on the activities performed by the account issuer computer  502 . The other programs may also include, e.g., one or more data communication programs, a database management program, website hosting software, device drivers, etc. 
         [0058]    Reference numeral  518  in  FIG. 5  indicates one or more databases that are maintained by the account issuer computer  502  on the storage device  504  as needed to support operation of the account issuer computer  502 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an acquirer computer  602 , which may be operated by or on behalf of the transaction acquirer  108   a  shown in  FIG. 3  to implement functions and roles of the transaction acquirer  108   a  as described herein. The acquirer computer  602  may, like the account issuer computer  502 , exhibit the same hardware architecture and types of components as described above with respect to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . 
         [0060]    The acquirer computer  602  may, in its hardware aspects, be constituted by computer server and/or mainframe hardware but may be programmed to provide functionality as described herein. The acquirer computer  602  may include a processor  600 , a communication device  601 , a storage device  604 , an input device  606  and an output device  608 . The communication device  601 , the storage device  604 , the input device  606  and the output device  608  may all be in communication with the processor  600 . The descriptions of hardware components, and their general functionality, as provided above in connection with  FIG. 4 , are also generally applicable to like-named components shown in  FIG. 6 . However, the programming of the acquirer computer  602  may differ, in at least some respects, from the programming of the computers previously described in this disclosure. 
         [0061]    The storage device  604  may store a transaction handling application program  610 . The transaction handling application program  610  may program the acquirer computer  602  to implement functionality customarily performed by transaction acquirers in connection with payment account transactions. As will be understood from previous discussion herein, that functionality may include receiving authorization requests from merchants and routing the authorization requests via the payment network  110   a  to the issuer of the payment account that is being used for the transaction in question. Further, the functionality provided by the transaction handling application program  610  may include receiving authorization responses from issuers (received by the acquirer computer  602  via the payment network  110   a ), and forwarding the authorization responses to the pertinent merchant devices. 
         [0062]    The storage device  604  may also store a points booking reporting program  612 . The points booking reporting program  612  may program the acquirer computer  602  to aid in implementing the transaction acquirer&#39;s role in the customer loyalty program. More specifically, for example, the points booking reporting program  612  may program the acquirer computer  602  such that it reports qualifying transactions to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . As a result, the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may cause loyalty points to be credited to the customer loyalty accounts/payment accounts of users who initiated the transactions reported to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  by the acquirer computer  602 . In some embodiments, the transaction acquirer  108   a  may fund/sponsor loyalty points to be credited to all users of the customer loyalty system who (a) have signed up for loyalty accounts with the loyalty accounts server computer  304 ; and (b) initiate payment account transactions that are processed via the acquirer computer  602 . 
         [0063]    The storage device  604  may also store, and the acquirer computer  602  may also execute, other programs, which are not shown. For example, such programs may include an administrative reporting application, which may respond to requests from system administrators for reports on the activities performed by the acquirer computer  602 . The other programs may also include, e.g., one or more data communication programs, a database management program, website hosting software, device drivers, etc. 
         [0064]    Reference numeral  614  in  FIG. 6  indicates one or more databases that are maintained by the acquirer computer  602  on the storage device  604  as needed to support operation of the acquirer computer  602 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram that illustrates a typical merchant point of sale terminal  106   a  that may be provided according to some embodiments as part of the customer loyalty system of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0066]    In some embodiments, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may include many or all hardware and software features typically found in POS devices. Moreover, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may be programmed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure to provide functionality as described herein. Initially in regard to the point of sale terminal  106   a , there will be a brief description of its hardware aspects, with continued reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0067]    The point of sale terminal  106   a  may include a processing element (or elements) such as the processor  702  shown in  FIG. 7 . The processor  402  may, for example, be constituted by one or more single or multi-core processing units, and may operate to control the overall functioning of the point of sale terminal  106   a.    
         [0068]    The point of sale terminal  106   a  may also include typical peripheral components, in communication with and/or controlled by the processor  702 , such as: (a) a keypad  704  for receiving input from the human operator of the POS terminal; (b) a product reader  706  for reading any form of unique product identifier, such as a barcode or RFID, that appears on, or is attached to, products brought to the terminal for purchase; (c) a cash drawer  708  for storing cash received from customers; (d) one or more displays  710  for providing output (e.g., identifying products presented for purchase and their prices, indicating sales tax due, indicating transaction subtotals and totals, etc., providing prompts to the customer and/or to the sales associate); (e) a printer  712  for printing out sales receipts; and (f) a communication controller  714  for allowing the processor  702 , and hence, point of sale terminal  106   a  to engage in communication over data networks with other devices (e.g., the acquirer computer  602  ( FIG. 6 ) and/or the loyalty accounts server computer  304  ( FIG. 3 )). (In some embodiments, at least one of the displays  710  may be a touch screen, so as to provide an input function as well as an output function.) 
         [0069]    In addition, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may include one or more memory and/or data storage devices (indicated collectively at  716 ), which may comprise any combination of one or more of a hard disk drive, RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), flash memory, etc. The memory/data storage device(s)  716  may store software and/or firmware that programs the processor  702  and the point of sale terminal  106   a  to perform functionality as described herein. Thus the memory/data storage device(s)  716  may be in communication with the processor  702 . Further, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may include one or more housings (not shown) which contain and/or support one or more of the other components shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0070]    Moreover, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may include one or more of the usual card-reader elements (reference numeral  720 ) such as a mag stripe reader, a contact IC card reader, a contactless IC card reader, etc., and/or one or more other devices for exchanging communication with other types of payment devices, such as payment-enabled smartphones. 
         [0071]    In connection with the customer loyalty system of  FIG. 3 , the point of sale terminal  106   a  may be programmed to report eligible transactions to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . In some embodiments, every transaction may be a qualifying transaction, assuming only that the customer has previously enrolled in the loyalty program. In some embodiments, for enrolled participants in the loyalty program, transactions may be qualified whether cash or a payment card/device is used for the transaction. It may also be the case that the transaction qualifies, in connection with payment account transactions, regardless of which payment network/network brand the payment account is established in. 
         [0072]    For example, in a cash transaction, the customer may be permitted to swipe (or otherwise present) the payment card issued by the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to be read by the point of sale terminal  106   a  not for payment account transaction purposes, but rather to identify the customer as a customer loyalty program participant. With that identifying information, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  so that the customer/user is credited with loyalty points funded/sponsored by the merchant that operates the point of sale terminal  106   a.    
         [0073]    In some embodiments, the transaction at the point of sale terminal  106   a  may involve two card swipes/presentations. That is, the point of sale terminal  106   a  may read one card (issued by the issuer  112   a ,  FIG. 3 ) as a payment instrument, and may read the other card (issued by the loyalty accounts issuer  308 ) as a means of identifying the loyalty program participant for whom a loyalty points qualifying transaction is to be reported to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . As in the case of the cash transaction, the identifying information read by the point of sale terminal  106   a  from the latter card may be used by the point of sale terminal  106   a  to report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  for the purpose of causing loyalty points to be credited to the customer/user. As in a conventional payment account transaction, the information read by the point of sale terminal  106   a  from the former card may be used to initiate a payment account transaction (authorization request/authorization response, etc.) 
         [0074]    It may vary from device to device or transaction to transaction as to whether the customer loyalty ID card or the payment account transaction card is the first card to be read by the point of sale terminal  106   a . (It will also be recalled that what has been referred to as a “customer loyalty ID card” in the previous sentence may also be used itself as a payment card for initiating payment transactions, according to some embodiments.) 
         [0075]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart that illustrates a process that may be performed by the loyalty accounts server computer  304  in accordance with some aspects of the customer loyalty system disclosed herein. 
         [0076]    At  802  in  FIG. 8 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  receives a report of a transaction. As will be understood from previous discussion, the report may have been transmitted to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  from the point of sale terminal  106   a , from the acquirer computer  602 , from the issuer  112   a  or from the payment network  110   a . In some embodiments the report may have been transmitted to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  by an account issuer with respect to a payment account transaction that does not involve the payment network  110   a . (That is, in this latter circumstance, the transaction may involve a payment account not issued under the payment network brand associated with the payment network  110   a , and may be from an issuer of payment accounts under a brand different from the brand associated with the payment network  110   a .) In some embodiments, the same transaction may be reported to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  by more than one (potentially four or more) parties to the transaction, assuming that each party making the report of the same transaction participates in the system in such a manner as to fund/sponsor loyalty points for the transaction in question. 
         [0077]    At  804 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may instruct the loyalty accounts issuer  308  to credit loyalty points—with respect to the reported transaction—to the relevant customer loyalty account/payment account—i.e., to the account of the customer/user who engaged in the reported transaction. 
         [0078]    At  806 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may cause the reported transaction (and the loyalty points to be issued therefor) to be booked to a reporting file for subsequent inclusion in reporting to the user and/or other appropriate parties. 
         [0079]    At  808 , the loyalty accounts server computer  304  may cause the reported transaction and/or the applicable loyalty points to be booked to a clearing file, for subsequent settlement between the points-funders/sponsors and the loyalty account issuer  308 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart that illustrates a process that may be performed by the account issuer computer  502  in connection with aspects of the customer loyalty system disclosed herein. 
         [0081]    At  902  in  FIG. 9 , the account issuer computer  502  may receive instructions from the loyalty accounts server computer  304  as to loyalty points that are to be credited to a particular customer loyalty account/payment account that has been issued by the loyalty accounts issuer  308  in connection with operation of the customer loyalty system. 
         [0082]    At  904 , the account issuer computer  502  credits the loyalty points to the indicated customer loyalty account/payment account as instructed by the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . In doing so, the account issuer computer  502  may convert the loyalty points to a monetary value (e.g., according to a predetermined formula or ratio), such that the customer loyalty account/payment account—at least in its payment account aspects—is denominated in a suitable monetary amount for use in payment account transactions routed to the loyalty accounts issuer  308 . 
         [0083]    At  906 , the account issuer computer  502  may update a settlement file, so that the loyalty accounts issuer can later assure itself that it has received a transfer of value from the sponsor of the points just credited to the user&#39;s account. 
         [0084]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart that illustrates a process that may be performed by the acquirer computer  602  in connection with aspects of the customer loyalty system disclosed herein. 
         [0085]    At  1002  in  FIG. 10 , the acquirer computer  602  may receive an authorization request. At  1004 , the acquirer computer  602  may route the authorization request (via the payment network  110   a ) to the issuer of the payment account identified in the authorization request. At  1006 , the acquirer computer  602  may report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  so that loyalty points are credited to the account of the user who initiated the transaction. At  1008 , the acquirer computer  602  may update the transaction acquirer&#39;s settlement file for loyalty points transactions, so that the transaction acquirer is prepared to confirm a subsequent transfer of value in regard to the loyalty points from the transaction acquirer to the loyalty accounts issuer. 
         [0086]    In some embodiments, the acquirer computer  602  may report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  before receiving the authorization response, and may reverse the report if the payment account transaction is declined. In some embodiments, the acquirer computer  602  may report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  only when and if the acquirer computer  602  receives an authorization response that indicates approval of the transaction. 
         [0087]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart that illustrates a process that may be performed by the account issuer  112   a  ( FIG. 3 ) in connection with aspects of the customer loyalty system disclosed herein. It should be understood that the functionality disclosed in connection with  FIG. 11  may be implemented with a computer or a number of cooperating computers operated by or on behalf of the account issuer  112   a . The computer or computers may have the same or similar types of hardware architecture and/or hardware components as were described above in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
         [0088]    At  1102  in  FIG. 11 , the account issuer  112   a  may receive an authorization request initiated by a user enrolled in the customer loyalty system disclosed herein. It is assumed that the user is seeking to engage in a payment account transaction using a payment account issued to the user by the account issuer  112   a.    
         [0089]    At  1104 , the account issuer  112   a  may determine the details of its authorization response with respect to the authorization request received at  1102 . For example, the account issuer  112   a  may generate an authorization response approving the requested transaction if all is in order with the transaction requested and with the payment account to be used for the transaction requested. 
         [0090]    At  1106 , the account issuer  112   a  may transmit the authorization response for routing back to the merchant at which the transaction was initiated. 
         [0091]    At  1108 , the account issuer  112   a  may report the transaction to the loyalty accounts server computer  304  so that loyalty points are credited to the account of the user who initiated the transaction. At  1110 , the account issuer  112   a  may update its settlement file for loyalty points transactions, so that the account issuer  112   a  is prepared to confirm a subsequent transfer of value in regard to the loyalty points from the account issuer  112   a  to the loyalty accounts issuer. 
         [0092]    A customer loyalty program as disclosed herein may be highly attractive to consumers, as they may be able to accrue loyalty points in numerous ways and from numerous parties, including—in some embodiments—several sponsoring parties involved in a single payment account transaction. In some embodiments, the rules of the customer loyalty program may be such that the value of loyalty points can easily be transferred from one user to another. For example, the transferee user may have points (or corresponding monetary value) transferred to his/her account issued by the loyalty accounts issuer, so that the transferee can readily use the payment card associated with the account to access the transferred value. Enrollment of the customer in the program may, in some embodiments, be solicited and facilitated by the customer&#39;s wallet service provider, which may also be a sponsor/funder of loyalty points. In some embodiments, the wallet service provider may be an affiliate or operating division of the operator of a payment network. In some embodiments, enrollment in the loyalty program may be open to any individual, even including those who have no other connection with the chief organizer of the program or with any other particular party or entity. 
         [0093]    The customer loyalty program disclosed herein may also provide significant advantages for many or all of the transaction parties referred to herein and for other entities as well. For example, a payment facilitator or provider of payment-related services to small to medium sized entities (SMEs) may enroll the SMEs as points sponsors as part of a suite of payment-related services offered to SMEs. This may make it convenient and cost effective for even a very small business to offer customer loyalty rewards to its customers pursuant to the system disclosed herein. For example, the role of points sponsor may be bundled with enrollment as a payment account transaction acceptor (and with other services as well) for an SME. 
         [0094]    In some embodiments, where a merchant is a points sponsor, the merchant POS may not report the transactions in question to the loyalty accounts server computer  304 . Instead the reporting function may be taken on by the merchant&#39;s payment facilitator, so that the merchant may employ conventional POS equipment. 
         [0095]    As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “computer” should be understood to encompass a single computer or two or more computers in communication with each other. 
         [0096]    As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “processor” should be understood to encompass a single processor or two or more processors in communication with each other. 
         [0097]    As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “memory” should be understood to encompass a single memory or storage device or two or more memories or storage devices. 
         [0098]    As used herein and in the appended claims, a “server” includes a computer device or system that responds to numerous requests for service from other devices. 
         [0099]    The flow charts and descriptions thereof herein should not be understood to prescribe a fixed order of performing the method steps described therein. Rather, the method steps may be performed in any order that is practicable, including simultaneous performance of at least some steps. 
         [0100]    As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “payment card system account” includes a credit card account, a deposit account that the account holder may access using a debit card, a prepaid card account, or any other type of account from which payment transactions may be consummated. The terms “payment card system account” and “payment card account” and “payment account” are used interchangeably herein. The term “payment card account number” includes a number that identifies a payment card system account or a number carried by a payment card, or a number that is used to route a transaction in a payment system that handles debit card and/or credit card transactions. The term “payment card” includes a credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or other type of payment instrument, whether an actual physical card or virtual. 
         [0101]    As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “payment system” refers to a system for handling purchase transactions and related transactions. An example of such a system is the one operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the term “payment system” may be limited to systems in which member financial institutions issue payment accounts to individuals, businesses and/or other organizations. 
         [0102]    Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.