Systems and methods for registering consumers in a consumer program while accessing a network

Abstract

Decribed are methods and systems for registering consumers with merchant loyalty or other merchant programs a by using a credit card or other form of payment to register the consumer, and thereafter automatically recognizing the consumer as a member in the program based on subsequent purchases made using the form of payment. Consumer rewards can then be automatically applied during the purchase transactions with the merchant. Thus, the present disclosure allows for consumers to seamlessly and transparently gain the benefits of consumer programs merely by purchasing goods and services using forms of payment, without consumers needing to carry additional cards or coupons or login information.

1 . A system for registering consumers and associated forms of payment in a consumer program, the system comprising:
 a computer-server connected to a network;   a database connected to the computer-server for storing consumer information;   wherein the computer-server is operable to:
 receive, from a payment system via electronic communications over the network, a token associated with a form of payment, wherein the form of payment is associated with a transaction initiated by the consumer at a merchant associated with the consumer program; 
 compare the token associated with the form of payment with consumer program member records of the database to determine whether the form of payment is associated with a registered consumer program member; and 
 if the comparison determines that the token is not associated with a registered consumer program member, store the token associated with the form of payment in a record associated with the form of payment in the database. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-server comprises a gateway processor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-server comprises multiple computer-servers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises multiple databases. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the form of payment is selected from the group consisting of: credit cards, debit cards, electronic wallets, electronic payment accounts, consumer billing systems, cell-phone-based electronic payment systems, and PDA-based electronic communication systems. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the point of sale terminal is a consumer-facing terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the consumer-facing terminal is a tablet, and wherein the consumer agrees to the terms and conditions of the consumer program using the tablet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the point of sale terminal is a cashier-facing terminal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-server is further operable to transmit instructions to the point of sale terminal to apply consumer rewards to the transaction initiated by the consumer at the merchant associated with the consumer program. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computer-server is further operable to store transaction information in the database to track the consumer rewards applied to the transaction initiated by the consumer. 
     
     
         11 . A method for registering consumers and associated forms of payment in a consumer program, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a payment system via electronic communications over a network, a token associated with a form of payment, wherein the form of payment is associated with a transaction initiated by a consumer at a merchant associated with the consumer program;   comparing the token associated with the form of payment with consumer program member records of a database to determine whether the form of payment is associated with a registered consumer program member; and   storing the token associated with the form of payment in a record associated with the form of payment in the database if the comparison determines that the token is not associated with a registered consumer program member.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-server comprises a gateway processor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-server comprises multiple computer-servers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the database comprises multiple databases. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the form of payment is selected from the group consisting of: credit cards, debit cards, electronic wallets, electronic payment accounts, consumer billing systems, cell-phone-based electronic payment systems, and PDA-based electronic communication systems. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the point of sale terminal is a consumer-facing terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the consumer-facing terminal is a tablet, and wherein the consumer agrees to the terms and conditions of the consumer program using the tablet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the point of sale terminal is a cashier-facing terminal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting instructions to the point of sale terminal to apply consumer rewards to the transaction initiated by the consumer at the merchant associated with the consumer program. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising storing transaction information in the database to track the consumer rewards applied to the transaction initiated by the consumer. 
     
     
         21 . A system for registering consumers and associated forms of payment in a consumer program, the system comprising:
 a computer-server connected to a network;   a database connected to the computer-server for storing consumer information;   wherein the computer-server is operable to:
 receive, from a communication network associated with a merchant associated with the consumer program, an electronic address associated with a client device of the consumer; 
 transmit information for registering in the consumer program to the electronic address associated with the client device of the consumer; 
 receive an electronic communication from the consumer indicating that the consumer is registering a form of payment in the consumer program, wherein the electronic communication is an electronic message; 
 receive, from a payment system via electronic communications over the network, a token associated with the form of payment; and 
 store the token associated with the form of payment in a record associated with the consumer in the database. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the communication network is a local area network. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-server comprises multiple computer-servers. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the database comprises multiple databases. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic address is selected from the group consisting of: a mobile phone number, an e-mail address, and a device ID. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the client device is selected from the group consisting of: mobile devices, cell phones, laptop computers, desktop computers, end user devices, video monitors, cameras, and PDAs. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic communication from the consumer comprises an email. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-server is further operable to transmit instructions to a point of sale terminal to apply consumer rewards to a transaction initiated by the consumer at the merchant associated with the consumer program. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the computer-server is further operable to store transaction information in the database to track the consumer rewards applied to the transaction initiated by the consumer. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the form of payment is selected from the group consisting of: credit cards, debit cards, electronic wallets, electronic payment accounts, consumer billing systems, cell-phone-based electronic payment systems, and PDA-based electronic communication systems.