Communication system and method for narrowcasting

Abstract

A system includes an offer datastores including one or more offers from one or more merchants, a registered card module to register one or more payment cards to be used for a purchase transaction, a transaction matching module to identify the one or more merchants from a collection of purchase transaction data and to match the purchase transaction of the identified one or more merchants with one or more offers in the offer datastore from the identified one or more merchants, and a rewards module to determine an incentive to be applied to the one or more payment cards based on any offer associated with the matched merchant and generate a qualified transaction data to be transmitted to an issuer of the one or more payment cards.

Description

[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of PCT Application No. PCT / US2007 / 016287 filed Jul. 17, 2008, which claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60 / 831,193 filed on Jul. 17, 2006, 60 / 850,263 filed on Oct. 10, 2006, 60 / 924,591 filed on May 22, 2007, and 60 / 924,592 filed on May 22, 2007, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The present invention relates to a communication system and method, and more particularly, to a communication system and method for narrowcasting information based on active data gathering and active learning, providing merchant network services, and transaction processing for accumulating and redeeming rewards on a registered card with a spend, save, and give feature.[0004]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0005]Traditional communication systems and methods of reaching desired audiences among the masses mainly rely upon the broadcasting model, such as mass mailings and television...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]In addition, the active data gathering module allows a user to participate in a preference game for obtaining preference data of the user.

Problems solved by technology

But, the traditional broadcasting model is highly inefficient and research has shown that only a small fraction of the population pays any attention to these broadcasts.

Response rates to other forms of broadcast are generally unknown and difficult to quantify.

But, consumers become overwhelmed with unsolicited advertisement emails (i.e., “spam”) and all of its various forms of unsolicited advertisements, such as “pop-ups” (e.g., unsolicited advertisements that pop up during Internet use) and discard these indiscriminant communications.

The result is tremendous waste in marketing spend for a miniscule return.

But, this information, for example gender and location of residence, is generally insufficient to assure offers that may be interesting to the user.

Unfortunately, profiles are only as useful as the information provided by the user.

If the user provides false information or does not provide any information during registration, the targeted information will be irrelevant and therefore useless.

These so-called targeted communications are only slightly more effective than general broadcasting.

But, targeted advertisements and offers from these known systems are ineffective because the offered contents are almost always done in hindsight, i.e., based on past activities and, therefore, tend to be too late.

There are various disadvantages of the current points based incentive programs.

First, the rewards available for redemption are extremely limited.

Therefore, majority of the members find themselves ordering products they do not need or do not find very appealing to burn the points before losing them or letting them go to waste.

Second, the redeemable price and the cost spent are generally disproportionate.

Given that the distance between the east coast and the west coast is only about 3,000 miles; such an “incentive” does not necessarily encourage a consumer to become a member just for the reward.

Third, the redeeming process is extremely inefficient and inconvenient.

Accordingly, the offered “rewards” do not appeal to consumers who understand that the economics behind the rewards program are not only inconvenient but are not really incentives at all.

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