System and Method for Tracking and Establishing a Progressive Discount Based Upon a Customer's Visits to a Retail Establishment

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receiving a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determining a current transaction time and a last transaction time associated with the customer;

determining that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period;

determining that the current transaction comprises a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period;

determining a discount that was applied to the last transaction associated with the customer; and

applying the discount to the current transaction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying the discount:

determining, based on the transaction data, that a value of the current transaction exceeds a predetermined dollar amount; and

increasing the discount by a predetermined amount.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying the discount:

determining, based on the transaction data, that a value of the current transaction is less than a predetermined dollar amount;

determining a penalty amount; and

decreasing the discount amount by the penalty amount.

4 . The method of claim 1 , in which applying the discount further comprises:

determining that the current transaction includes a purchase of a predetermined product; and

applying a discount amount to the predetermined product.

5 . The method of claim 1 , in which applying the discount comprises providing a discount amount at a retail establishment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , in which applying the discount comprises generating a coupon comprising a discount amount.

7 . The method of claim 1 , in which applying the discount comprises at least one of decreasing a current transaction amount by a dollar amount, awarding frequent flyer miles, providing long distance call time, or providing a reward incentive.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving second transaction data that represents a transaction of the customer occurring after the current transaction;

determining that the second transaction equals or exceeds the predetermined time period when a second transaction time is measured from the current transaction time;

determining a penalty amount; and

applying the discount less the penalty amount to the second transaction.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the penalty amount resets the discount to zero.

10 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receive a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determine a current transaction time and a last transaction time associated with the customer;

determine that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period;

determine that the current transaction comprises a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period;

determine a discount that was applied to the last transaction associated with the customer; and

apply the discount to the current transaction.

11 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to applying the discount:

determine, based on the transaction data, that a value of the current transaction exceeds a predetermined dollar amount; and

increase the discount by a predetermined amount.

12 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to applying the discount:

determine, based on the transaction data, that a value of the current transaction is less than a predetermined dollar amount;

determine a penalty amount; and

decrease the discount amount by the penalty amount.

13 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , in which the instructions for applying the discount further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the current transaction includes a purchase of a predetermined product; and

apply a discount amount to the predetermined product.

14 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , in which the instructions for applying the discount further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a discount amount at a retail establishment.

15 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , in which the instructions for applying the discount further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to generate a coupon comprising a discount amount.

16 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , in which the instructions for applying the discount further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to at least one of decrease a current transaction amount by a dollar amount, award frequent flyer miles, provide long distance call time, or provide a reward incentive.

17 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processer to:

receive second transaction data that represents a transaction of the customer occurring after the current transaction;

determine that the second transaction equals or exceeds the predetermined time period when a second transaction time is measured from the current transaction time;

determine a penalty amount; and

apply the discount less the penalty amount to the second transaction.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , in which the instructions for determining the penalty amount comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to calculate the penalty amount such that the discount is reset to zero.

19 . An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receive a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determine a current transaction time and a last transaction time associated with the customer;

determine that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period;

determine that the current transaction comprises a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period;

determine a discount that was applied to the last transaction associated with the customer; and

apply the discount to the current transaction.

20 . A method, comprising:

receiving transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receiving a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determining, based on the customer identifier, a greatest transaction duration for the customer;

calculating a current transaction duration based on the current transaction data and last transaction data associated with a last transaction of the customer;

determining that the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period;

determining that the current transaction duration is less than the predetermined time period;

determining a discount applied to the last transaction of the customer; and

applying the discount to the current transaction.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising, prior to applying the discount:

determining that a value of the current transaction exceeds a predetermined dollar amount; and

increasing the discount by a predetermined amount.

22 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising, prior to applying the discount:

determining that a value of the current transaction is less than a predetermined dollar amount;

determining a penalty amount; and

decreasing the discount amount by the penalty amount.

23 . The method of claim 20 , in which applying the discount further comprises:

determining that the current transaction includes a purchase of a predetermined product; and

applying a discount amount to the predetermined product.

24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

determining that the date of occurrence of the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period from a date of the current transaction; and

resetting the greatest transaction duration to equal the current transaction duration.

25 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

determining that the date of occurrence of the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period from a date of the current transaction; and

resetting the greatest transaction duration to equal the next longest transaction duration that occurred within the predetermined time period.

26 . The method of claim 20 , in which applying the discount comprises providing a discount amount at a retail establishment.

27 . The method of claim 20 , in which applying the discount comprises generating a coupon comprising a discount amount.

28 . The method of claim 20 , in which applying the discount comprises at least one of decreasing a current transaction amount by a dollar amount, awarding frequent flyer miles, providing long distance call time, or providing a reward incentive.

29 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

receiving second transaction data that represents a second transaction of the customer occurring after the current transaction;

determining that the second transaction equals or exceeds the predetermined time period when a second transaction time is measured from the current transaction time;

determining a penalty amount; and

applying the discount less the penalty amount to the second transaction.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the penalty amount resets the discount to zero.

31 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receive a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determine, based on the customer identifier, a greatest transaction duration for the customer;

calculate a current transaction duration based on the current transaction data and last transaction data associated with a last transaction of the customer;

determine that the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period;

determine that the current transaction duration is less than the predetermined time period;

determine a discount applied to the last transaction of the customer; and

apply the discount to the current transaction.

32 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to applying the discount:

determine that a value of the current transaction exceeds a predetermined dollar amount; and

increase the discount by a predetermined amount.

33 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to applying the discount:

determine that a value of the current transaction is less than a predetermined dollar amount;

determine a penalty amount; and

decrease the discount amount by the penalty amount.

34 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , in which the instructions for applying the discount further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the current transaction includes a purchase of a predetermined product; and

apply a discount amount to the predetermined product.

35 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the date of occurrence of the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period from a date of the current transaction; and

reset the greatest transaction duration to equal the current transaction duration.

36 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the date of occurrence of the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period from a date of the current transaction; and

reset the greatest transaction duration to equal the next longest transaction duration that occurred within the predetermined time period.

37 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , in which the instructions for applying the discount comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a discount amount at a retail establishment.

38 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , in which the instructions for applying the discount comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to generate a coupon comprising a discount amount.

39 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , in which the instructions for applying the discount comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to at least one of decrease a current transaction amount by a dollar amount, award frequent flyer miles, provide long distance call time, or provide a reward incentive.

40 . The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive second transaction data that represents a second transaction of the customer occurring after the current transaction;

determine that the second transaction equals or exceeds the predetermined time period when a second transaction time is measured from the current transaction time;

determine a penalty amount; and

apply the discount less the penalty amount to the second transaction.

41 . The computer readable medium of claim 40 , in which the instructions for determining the penalty amount comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to calculate the penalty amount such that the discount is reset to zero.

42 . An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive transaction data that represents a current transaction;

receive a customer identifier of a customer participating in the current transaction;

determine, based on the customer identifier, a greatest transaction duration for the customer;

calculate a current transaction duration based on the current transaction data and last transaction data associated with a last transaction of the customer;

determine that the greatest transaction duration exceeds a predetermined time period;

determine that the current transaction duration is less than the predetermined time period;

determine a discount applied to the last transaction of the customer; and

apply the discount to the current transaction.