Biometric tokenless electronic rewards system and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for processing tokenless electronic consumer rewards between a reward provider and a recipient using an electronic identicator comparator and at least one recipient biometric data. The process uses apparatus for creating an electronic registry of a reward provider's products or services each having a predetermined rewards value, the rewards being disbursed to recipients based upon the occurrence of predetermined criteria; recipient registration, wherein the recipient registers with the electronic identicator comparator at least one registration biometric sample, and recipient specific data; recipient identification, wherein the identicator comparator compares a recipient bid biometric sample with previously registered biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the recipient; and recipient rewards issuance, wherein the rewards provider issues rewards to the recipient. This method and system can process an electronic consumer rewards transaction without the recipient using any unique identification tokens.

1 . A method for processing tokenless electronic consumer rewards between a reward provider and a recipient using an electronic identicator comparator and at least one recipient biometric data, comprising; 
 a. creating an electronic registry of a reward provider's products or services each having a predetermined rewards value, the rewards being disbursed to recipients based upon the occurrence of predetermined criteria, thus forming a rewards registry;    b. a recipient registration step, wherein the recipient registers with the electronic identicator comparator at least one registration biometric sample, and recipient specific data;    c. a tokenless recipient identification step, wherein the identicator comparator compares a recipient bid biometric sample with previously registered biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the recipient; and    d. a recipient rewards issuance step, wherein the rewards provider issues electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient,    wherein an electronic consumer rewards transaction is conducted without the recipient using any tokens.    
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rewards registry comprises any of the following: a registry of immediate cash discounts or rebates provided to recipient during a commercial transaction; a registry of the accrual of points which are credited towards the future purchase of a product or service, rental of an automobile, frequent flyer miles, or free air time for phone calls; a registry that is tied to certain product purchases, certain purchasing patterns reflecting frequency or loyalty, or certain purchase dollar amounts.  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein accrued rewards resultant from recipient's purchases are stored in the recipient's or user's rewards account, along with the recipient's corresponding demographic data and purchasing patterns.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a data storage step, wherein the recipient's purchases, purchasing patterns, and/or demographic data are stored for subsequent analysis.  
     
     
         8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the recipient's use of a PIN as a secondary security means in addition to his biometric.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biometric comprises any of the following: a fingerprint, retina of the eye, iris of the eye, voice print, facial vascular patterns.  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A system for processing tokenless electronic consumer rewards between a reward provider and a recipient using an electronic identicator comparator and at least one recipient biometric data, comprising; 
 a. means for creating an electronic registry of a reward provider's products or services each having a predetermined rewards value, the rewards being disbursed to recipients based upon the occurrence of predetermined criteria;    b. means for recipient registration, wherein the recipient registers with the electronic identicator comparator at least one registration biometric sample, and recipient specific data;    c. means for tokenless recipient identification, wherein the identicator comparator compares a recipient bid biometric sample with previously registered biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the recipient; and    d. means for recipient rewards issuance, wherein the rewards provider issues electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient,    wherein an electronic consumer rewards transaction is conducted without the recipient using any tokens.    
     
     
         25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the means for rewards registry comprises any of the following: a registry of immediate cash discounts or rebates provided to recipient during a commercial transaction; a registry of the accrual of points which are credited towards the future purchase of a product or service, rental of an automobile, frequent flyer miles, or free air time for phone calls; a registry that is tied to certain product purchases, certain purchasing patterns reflecting frequency or loyalty, or certain purchase dollar amounts.  
     
     
         27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising means for storage wherein accrued rewards resultant from recipient's purchases are stored in the recipient's or user's rewards account, along with the recipient's corresponding demographic data and purchasing patterns.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising means for storage wherein the recipient's purchases, purchasing patterns, and/or demographic data are stored for subsequent analysis.  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising the recipient's use of a PIN as a secondary security means in addition to his biometric.  
     
     
         36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . (canceled)  
     
     
         38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . (canceled)  
     
     
         40 . (canceled)  
     
     
         41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the biometric comprises any of the following: a fingerprint, retina of the eye, iris of the eye, voice print, facial vascular patterns.  
     
     
         43 . (canceled)  
     
     
         44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . (canceled)  
     
     
         46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . (canceled)  
     
     
         48 . A device for processing tokenless electronic consumer rewards between a reward provider and a recipient using an electronic identicator comparator and at least one recipient biometric data, comprising; 
 a. an electronic registry device for storing a reward provider's products or services each having a predetermined rewards value, the rewards being disbursed to recipients based upon the occurrence of predetermined criteria;    b. a recipient registration device for registration of at least one registration biometric sample and recipient specific data with the electronic identicator;    c. a tokenless recipient identification device for comparing a recipient bid biometric sample with previously registered biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the recipient; and    d. a recipient rewards issuance device for the rewards provider issuing electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient,    wherein an electronic consumer rewards transaction is conducted without the recipient using any tokens.    
     
     
         49 . (canceled)  
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 48  further comprising a rewards registry device comprising any of the following: a registry of immediate cash discounts or rebates provided to recipient during a commercial transaction; a registry of the accrual of points which are credited towards the future purchase of a product or service, rental of an automobile, frequent flyer miles, or free air time for phone calls; a registry that is tied to certain product purchases, certain purchasing patterns reflecting frequency or loyalty, or certain purchase dollar amounts.  
     
     
         51 . (canceled)  
     
     
         52 . (canceled)  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 50  further comprising a storage device for storing the accrued rewards resultant from recipient's purchases in the recipient's or user's rewards account, along with the recipient's corresponding demographic data and purchasing patterns.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 48  further comprising a storage device for storing the recipient's purchases, purchasing patterns, and/or demographic data for subsequent analysis.  
     
     
         55 . (canceled)  
     
     
         56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . (canceled)  
     
     
         58 . (canceled)  
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 48  wherein the recipient uses a PIN as a secondary security means in addition to his biometric.  
     
     
         60 . (canceled)  
     
     
         61 . (canceled)  
     
     
         62 . (canceled)  
     
     
         63 . (canceled)  
     
     
         64 . (canceled)  
     
     
         65 . (canceled)  
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 48  wherein the biometric comprises any of the following: a fingerprint, retina of the eye, iris of the eye, voice print, facial vascular patterns.  
     
     
         67 . (canceled)  
     
     
         68 . (canceled)  
     
     
         69 . (canceled)  
     
     
         70 . (canceled)  
     
     
         71 . (canceled)  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recipient rewards issuance step includes a tokenless recipient rewards issuance step, wherein the rewards provider tokenlessly issues electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient.  
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the means for recipient rewards issuance includes means for tokenless recipient rewards issuance, wherein the rewards provider tokenlessly issues electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient.  
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the recipient rewards issuance device includes a recipient rewards tokenless issuance device for the rewards provider tokenlessly issuing electronic rewards to the successfully identified recipient.