Heather J Gray

US Patent:

20120245992, Sep 27, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/431387

Inventors:

Frank R. Pender - San Mateo CA, US
Heather Cornwell Gray - Oakland CA, US
Douglas C. Leighton - San Mateo CA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 30/02

US Classification:

705 1427

Abstract:

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to incentive programs awarding loyalty points based at least in part upon the number of miles driven in a motor vehicle. Reward points may be earned by having the vehicle serviced at authorized locations. At the time of servicing, the authorized location notes a current vehicle odometer reading, and the odometer reading is communicated to an administrator of the loyalty program. The odometer reading is used to calculate a number of miles driven since the last authorized servicing, and the number of mile driven is then converted into loyalty points to be credited to a consumer of the vehicle. Thus, incentives for servicing only at authorized locations are provided to the consumer.

US Patent:

8170911, May 1, 2012

Filed:

May 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/844039

Inventors:

Frank R. Pender - San Mateo CA, US
Heather Cornwell Gray - Oakland CA, US
Douglas C. Leighton - San Mateo CA, US

Assignee:

Visa U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00
G05B 19/418

US Classification:

705 1427, 705 56, 701 29

Abstract:

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to incentive programs awarding loyalty points based at least in part upon the number of miles driven in a motor vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, reward points can be earned by having the vehicle serviced at authorized locations, such as a dealership. At the time of servicing, the authorized location notes the current vehicle odometer reading, and this odometer reading is communicated to an administrator of the loyalty program. The odometer reading in turn serves as the basis for calculating the number of miles driven since the last authorized servicing, and for conversion of this mileage figure into loyalty points to be credited to the owner, lessor, or renter of the vehicle. In this manner, a manufacturer of an automobile or other sponsor of a co-branded payment card can provide incentives for servicing only at manufacturer-authorized locations such as dealerships, thereby enhancing profitability of the dealership and promoting relations between manufacturer and dealer.