System and method for a merchant loyalty system

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a merchant loyalty program is disclosed. The invention includes receiving purchase data, wherein the purchase data comprises a consumer account code, a purchase amount, and a service establishment code; associating the service establishment code with a merchant proprietor rewards account code; calculating a reward amount based on the purchase amount; and, crediting a merchant proprietor reward account with at least a portion of said reward amount.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer system, data for one or more transactions between a first merchant and a second merchant, wherein the computer system stores information for first and second rewards accounts associated with the first and second merchants, respectively, and wherein the information includes respective balances of the first and second rewards accounts;   based on the received data for the one or more transactions, the computer system crediting the first rewards account associated with the first merchant with a first reward amount, wherein the crediting includes determining a new balance of the first rewards account, and;   based on the received data for the one or more transactions, the computer system crediting the second rewards account associated with the second merchant with a second reward amount, wherein the crediting includes determining a new balance of the second rewards account.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 based on the received data for the one or more transactions, the computer system determining a total reward amount for one of the one or more transactions; and   apportioning the total reward amount into the first and second reward amounts.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the received data for the one or more transactions includes at least a first purchase amount and a transaction account code that are associated with a first purchase, wherein the transaction account code identifies the first merchant, and wherein crediting the first rewards account associated with the first merchant with the first reward amount is based at least in part on the first purchase amount and the transaction account code. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the data for the one or more transactions includes at least a second purchase amount and a service establishment code that are associated with a second purchase, wherein the service establishment code identifies the second purchase as being made from the second merchant, and wherein crediting the second rewards account of the second merchant with the second reward amount is based at least in part on the second purchase amount and the service establishment code. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more transactions include a purchase by the first merchant from the second merchant. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first rewards account is credited based on the purchase by the first merchant using a card account linked to the first rewards account. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 crediting, by the computer system, a manufacturer rewards account based on a manufacturer code of an item purchased by the first merchant.   
     
     
         28 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining, at a computer system, a balance of a first rewards account of a first merchant, wherein the first rewards account is configured to receive reward amounts resulting from transactions between the first merchant and one or more other merchants;   receiving, at the computer system, information relating to one or more transactions between the first merchant and a second merchant that is one of the one or more other merchants;   in response to crediting a first reward amount to the first rewards account, determining, at the computer system, the balance of the first rewards account, wherein the first reward amount is credited based on the received information relating to the one or more transactions; and   in response to crediting a second reward amount to a second rewards account that is associated with the second merchant, determining, at the computer system, a balance of the second rewards account, wherein the second reward amount is also credited based on the received information relating to the one or more transactions.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more transactions between the first merchant and the second merchant include a purchase by the first merchant from the second merchant. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 the computer system determining, based on respective merchant information for the first merchant and the second merchant, that the second rewards account is eligible to be credited with the second reward amount.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein determining that the second rewards account is eligible is at least partially based on a threshold criteria. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the information relating to the one or more transactions between the first merchant and the second merchant include data for one or more purchases using a charge card that is associated with the first rewards account of the first merchant. 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising:
 a processor,   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   store data for a first and a second rewards accounts of a first merchant and a second merchant, respectively, wherein the first and second rewards accounts is each configured to receive respective reward amounts;   receive additional data for a purchase between the first and the second merchant;   based on the received additional data for the purchase, credit a first reward amount to the first rewards account of the first merchant; and   based on the received additional data for the purchase, credit a second reward amount to the second rewards account of the second merchant.   
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 33 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computing device to:
 determine a total reward amount for the purchase; and   apportion the total reward amount into the first and second reward amounts.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 33 , wherein the program instructions are executable to credit the first rewards account of the first merchant with the first reward amount, wherein the crediting is at least partially based on a transaction account code that is included in the received additional data, and wherein the transaction account code specifies that the first merchant made the purchase. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 33 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computing device to:
 determine, based on merchant information related to the second merchant, that the second rewards account is eligible to be credited with the second reward amount.   
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, if executed by a computing device that includes a processor, cause the computing device to:
 maintain a balance of a first rewards account associated with a first merchant, wherein the first rewards account is configured to receive reward amounts resulting from purchases made by the first merchant from one or more other merchants;   receive information relating to a purchase made by the first merchant from a second merchant that is one of the one or more other merchants;   in response to crediting a first reward amount to the first rewards account, determine the balance of the first rewards account, wherein the crediting is based on the received information; and   in response to crediting a second reward amount to a second rewards account that is associated with the second merchant, determine a balance of the second rewards account, wherein crediting of the second rewards account is also based on the received information.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computing device to:
 credit the first rewards account based on the received information relating to the purchase, wherein the purchase is made by the first merchant using a card account linked to the first rewards account.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the computing device to:
 credit a manufacturer rewards account based on a manufacturer code of an item purchased by the first merchant.