Multiple party reward system utilizing single account

Abstract

A method enabling a frequent shopper reward system capable of tracking performance data of a plurality of members or account holders linked to a single frequent shopper account.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising a transaction controller including a microprocessor and a memory storing software routines that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the transaction controller to:
 receive presence data indicating potential physical presence of an account holder at a location of a merchant;   display, by a user interface, a prompt requesting confirmation of whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant; and   in response to displaying the prompt, receive, by the user interface, a physical presence selection indicating confirmation as to whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the software routines, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the transaction controller to receiving the presence data indicating potential physical presence of the account holder at the location of the merchant by:
 automatically gathering account holder data from a device;   automatically retrieving customer records from a server based on the account holder data;   comparing the account holder data to the customer records; and   determining, based on the comparison of the received presence data and the device location, potential physical presence of the account holder at a location of a merchant;   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein, in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, the software routines, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the transaction controller to:
 determine whether account holder authorization is required for a transaction at the location of the merchant; and   in an instance in which account holder authorization is required, infer authorization based on the physical presence selection that confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the software routines, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the transaction controller to:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, add points to an account associated with the account holder based on the physical presence selection confirming that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the software routines, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the transaction controller to:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, display, by the user interface, a message for the account holder.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the message comprises a recommended action at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the message comprises a recommended purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the message comprises a common purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the message comprises a most recent purchase by the account holder at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 receiving presence data indicating potential physical presence of an account holder at a location of a merchant;   displaying, by a user interface, a prompt requesting confirmation of whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant; and   in response to displaying the prompt, receiving, by the user interface, a physical presence selection indicating confirmation as to whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein receiving the presence data indicating potential physical presence of the account holder at the location of the merchant comprises:
 automatically gathering account holder data from a device;   automatically retrieving customer records from a server based on the account holder data;   comparing, by a transaction controller, the account holder data to the customer records; and   determining, by the transaction controller, based on the comparison of the received presence data and the device location, potential physical presence of the account holder at a location of a merchant;   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising, in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant:
 determining, by a transaction controller, whether account holder authorization is required for a transaction at the location of the merchant; and   in an instance in which account holder authorization is required, inferring, by the transaction controller, authorization based on the physical presence selection that confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, displaying, by the user interface, a message for the account holder.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the message comprises a recommended action at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the message comprises a recommended purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the message comprises a common purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the message comprises a most recent purchase by the account holder at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, adding, by a processor, points to an account associated with the account holder based on the physical presence selection confirming that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
 receive presence data indicating potential physical presence of an account holder at a location of a merchant;   display, by a user interface, of a prompt requesting confirmation of whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant; and   in response to displaying the prompt, receive, by the user interface, a physical presence selection indicating confirmation as to whether the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computer to receiving the presence data indicating potential physical presence of the account holder at the location of the merchant by:
 automatically gathering account holder data from a device;   automatically retrieving customer records from a server based on the account holder data;   comparing the account holder data to the customer records; and   determining, based on the comparison of the received presence data and the device location, potential physical presence of the account holder at a location of a merchant;   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein, in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to:
 determine whether account holder authorization is required for a transaction at the location of the merchant; and   in an instance in which account holder authorization is required, infer authorization based on the physical presence selection that confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant.   
     
     
         36 . The computer readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, display, by the user interface, a message for the account holder.   
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the message comprises a recommended action at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         38 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the message comprises a recommended purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         39 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the message comprises a common purchase at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         40 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the message comprises a most recent purchase by the account holder at the location of the merchant. 
     
     
         41 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to:
 in an instance in which the physical presence selection confirms that the account holder is physically present at the location of the merchant, add points to an account associated with the account holder based on the physical presence selection confirming that the account holder is physical present at the location of the merchant.