Method, computer system and computer program product for processing customer loyalty data
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJoachim Hagmeier, Jutta Kreyss, Mark Bassam Salem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marketing computer, a front-end computer, a back-end computer and a point-of-sale terminal are interconnected by networks. After loyalty rules for a customer loyalty program are entered and tested in the marketing computer, the corresponding loyalty rules are updated in the front-end computer. The front-end computer can be a relatively inexpensive device as it does not require a graphical user interface.
Claims10
A computer system comprising
- a) a back-end computer having a first database for storing loyalty rules and user data;
- b) a front-end computer having a second database for storing loyalty rules and for storing user data and a spreadsheet engine for processing user transaction data in accordance with the loyalty rules;
- and
- c) a communication link connecting the back-end computer and the front-end computer for synchronization of the first and the second databases.
A front-end computer device having a database for storing loyalty rules and user data and a spreadsheet engine for receiving and processing of transaction data of a user in accordance with the loyalty rules, the front-end computer device being adapted to be coupled with a back-end computer device via a communications link to synchronize its database with a corresponding database in the back-end computer device.
A method for performing a transaction comprising the steps of:
- a) inputting user-identifying data into a front-end computer device having a database for storing loyalty rules and user data and a spreadsheet engine for receiving and processing of transaction data;
- b) inputting transaction data into the front-end computer device;
- c) processing the transaction data in the spreadsheet engine in accordance with a loyalty rule;
- and
- d) synchronizing the front-end computer device with a back-end computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.