Method and apparatus for determining a progressive discount for a customer based on the frequency of the customer's transactions
A system and method are disclosed for determining and applying a discount to a customer's transaction. The discount is of a progressive nature, wherein the value of a customer's discount increases if the customer meets the conditions associated with the discount. The system rewards more frequent or profitable customers with benefits such as larger increases in the discount or higher maximum discount than those awarded to less frequent or profitable customers. The discount is decreased or eliminated if the customer fails to meet the conditions associated with the discount.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor,
the processor being operative with the program to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a grace period based on the customer rating,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine whether the time of the transaction is within the grace period,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
setting the second discount equal to the first discount if the time of the transaction is within the grace period.
2. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor,
the processor being operative with the program to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a grace period based on the customer rating,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine whether the time of the transaction is within the grace period,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
setting the second discount less than the first discount if the time of the transaction is not within the grace period.
3. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor,
the processor being operative with the program to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
determining a discount increment based on:
the customer rating, and
the time of the transaction; and
determining the second discount, at a time when the customer is present at a point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction, based on the first discount and the discount increment;
and wherein applying comprises:
applying the second discount to the transaction when the customer is present at the point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor,
the processor being operative with the program to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
determining a discount decrement based on:
the customer rating, and
the time of the transaction; and
determining the second discount, at a time when the customer is present at a point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction, based on the first discount and the discount decrement;
and wherein applying comprises:
applying the second discount to the transaction when the customer is present at the point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction.
5. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction;
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction;
determine a customer rating of the customer;
determine a grace period based on the customer rating;
determine a time of the transaction;
determine whether the time of the transaction is within the grace period;
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction; and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
setting the second discount equal to the first discount if the time of the transaction is within the grace period.
6. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction;
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction;
determine a customer rating of the customer;
determine a grace period based on the customer rating;
determine a time of the transaction;
determine whether the time of the transaction is within the grace period;
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction; and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
setting the second discount less than the first discount if the time of the transaction is not within the grace period.
7. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
determining a discount increment based on:
the customer rating, and
the time of the transaction; and
determining the second discount, at a time when the customer is present at a point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction, based on the first discount and the discount increment;
and wherein applying comprises:
applying the second discount to the transaction when the customer is present at the point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction.
8. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:
receive transaction data that represents a transaction,
receive an identifier that identifies a customer participating in the transaction,
determine a customer rating of the customer,
determine a time of the transaction,
determine a second discount based on a first discount, the customer rating, and the time of the transaction, and
apply the second discount to the transaction,
wherein determining the second discount comprises:
determining a discount decrement based on:
the customer rating, and
the time of the transaction; and
determining the second discount, at a time when the customer is present at a point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction, based on the first discount and the discount decrement;
and wherein applying comprises:
applying the second discount to the transaction when the customer is present at the point-of-sale terminal and participating in the transaction.