Apparatus and method for rewarding consumers
View Patent ↗In order to reward a consumer for trying or learning about a product, the customer is given a unique identification number, preferably an unvalidated ATM readable card, and instructions for completing a test or survey by telephone or on the Internet. Upon successful completion of the test by the consumer, the identification number is validated so that the consumer may withdraw a cash reward from a temporary bank account funded when the identification number is validated via an ATM. Where the consumer is the patient of a physician, the patient may receive the number and card from the physician along with a prescription for redemption at a pharmacy whereat the pharmacy dispenses a supply of the drug to the patient and is paid by the manufacturer of the drug through the former's insurance payment processing system.
1. A system for enabling a consumer to obtain a reward through the use of a rewards card containing an identifier unique to said consumer comprising:
a temporary medical insurance account corresponding to said unique consumer identifier; and
an apparatus comprising:
identifier storage means for storing in machine readable form said unique consumer identifier and an indication of whether said consumer qualifies for said reward, said indication initially being that said consumer does not qualify for said reward,
questionnaire means for storing a questionnaire in machine readable form,
response criteria storage means for storing data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire in machine readable form,
testing means for posing questions to said consumer in audio or visual form and receiving from said consumer responses thereto, wherein said testing means is operatively connected to said questionnaire means,
comparator means for making a comparison between said data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire and said consumer responses, said comparator means causing said identifier storage means to indicate that said consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward as a function of said comparison, wherein said comparator means is operatively connected to said testing means, said response criteria storage means, and said identifier storage means,
funding means for funding said temporary medical insurance account corresponding to said identifier only when the consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward, wherein said funding means is operatively connected to said comparator means, and
card reader means for interpreting the identification number on said rewards card and authorizing dispensation of a reward to said consumer from said temporary account, wherein said card reader means is remote from said testing means and operatively connected to said identifier storage means.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said card reader comprises an ATM.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said card reader comprises a point of sale (POS) terminal.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said testing means comprises means for being accessed by telephone.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said comparator means further comprises means for generating a score as a function of the number of correct answers given to said questions, and said funding means is responsive to said score for funding said account in an amount which is a function of said score.
6. A method for enabling a consumer to obtain a monetary reward in a temporary medical insurance account through the use of a rewards card containing an identifier unique to said consumer comprising:
storing in machine readable form in an identifier storage means said unique consumer identifier and an indication of whether said consumer qualifies for said reward, said indication initially being that said consumer does not qualify for said reward,
storing a questionnaire in machine readable form in a questionnaire means,
storing data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire in machine readable form in a response criteria storage means,
posing questions to said consumer in audio or visual form and receiving from said consumer responses thereto by the use of a testing means operatively connected to said questionnaire means,
making a comparison, using a computer, between said data indicative of an acceptable response to said questionnaire and said consumer responses and causing said identifier storage means to indicate that said consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward as a function of said comparison by the use of a comparator means operatively connected to said testing means, said response criteria storage means, and said identifier storage means,
funding said temporary medical insurance account corresponding to said identifier only when the consumer associated with said identifier qualifies for said reward by the use of a funding means operatively connected to said comparator means, and
interpreting the identification number on said rewards card and authorizing dispensation of a reward to said consumer from said temporary account by the use of a card reader means remote from said testing means and operatively connected to said identifier storage means.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of enabling said consumer to answer said questions by the use of a numeric keypad to generate tones indicative of said answer.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of generating a score as a function of the number of correct answers given to said questions by the use of said comparator means.