REWARD EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
A method of operating a data collection and analysis system. An exchange computer receives customer identification data associated with a customer. A quantitative analysis algorithm determines whether the exchange computer has received an amount of customer identification data sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified, and if so, then a linking service computer or a plurality of remote database computers perform a qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data to determine if the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified. If the qualitative analysis algorithm passes, then customer information may be retrieved from the remote databases and collated and analyzed at the exchange computer. The customer may automatically register with reward programs using already-entered user information. A data analysis embodiment enables offers to be generated that are tailored towards specific users.
1 - 108 . (canceled)
109 . A method for automatically logging a customer into a merchant computer for executing a transaction comprising:
a customer operating a user computing device to log into an associated web site;
the customer selecting a link at the user computing device that was provided by the associated web site, causing the associated web site to transmit customer identification data associated with the customer;
a merchant computer receiving the customer identification data; and
the merchant computer using the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database and log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer.
110 . The method of claim 109 wherein the customer identification data is transmitted from the associated web site to the merchant computer by:
the associated web site transmitting the customer identification data to an exchange computer, and
the exchange computer transmitting the customer identification data to the merchant computer if the customer identification data passes a quantitative analysis algorithm executed by the exchange computer that determines whether the customer identification data is an amount sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified.
111 . The method of claim 109 wherein the merchant computer retrieves customer login credentials from a database and logs in the customer only if the customer identification data passes a qualitative analysis algorithm executed by the merchant computer that determines whether the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified by matching the customer identification data to a plurality of customer identification records.
112 . The method of claim 109 wherein the associated web site is provided to the user computing device by a merchant.
113 . The method of claim 109 wherein the associated web site is provided to the user computing device by an issuer.
114 . The method of claim 110 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a weighted entry algorithm in which each piece of the customer identification data is assigned a numerical value representing a relative weight, and wherein the total value of the relative weights must exceed a predetermined threshold in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
115 . The method of claim 110 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a minimum number of entries algorithm in which a predetermined minimum number of pieces of customer identification data must be present in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
116 . The method of claim 110 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises assigning a category type to each piece of the customer identification data, and wherein there is a requirement that a predetermined minimum number of categories is satisfied by the customer identification data.
117 . The method of claim 110 wherein if the quantitative analysis algorithm fails, then
the exchange computer sending a request to the user computing device for additional customer identification data and re-applying the quantitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the quantitative analysis algorithm passes.
118 . The method of claim 111 wherein a predetermined minimum number of pieces of the customer identification data must match a single customer identification record in order for the qualitative analysis algorithm to pass.
119 . The method of claim 111 wherein if the qualitative analysis algorithm fails, then
the merchant computer sends a request to the exchange computer for additional customer identification data;
the exchange computer obtains addition additional customer identification data from the user computing device and sends the additional customer data to the merchant computer; and
the merchant computer re-applies the qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the qualitative analysis algorithm passes.
120 . A system for automatically logging a customer into a merchant computer for executing a transaction comprising:
a user computing device operated by a customer to log into an associated web site;
an associated computer running an associated web site, wherein the associated web site is programmed to
provide a link to the user computing device,
receive a selection of the link by the user computing device, and
transmit customer identification data associated with the customer; and
a merchant computer programmed to
receive the customer identification data,
use the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database, and
log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer.
121 . The system of claim 120 further comprising an exchange computer programmed to
receive the customer identification data transmitted from the associated web site,
execute a quantitative analysis algorithm that determines whether the customer identification data is an amount sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified, and
transmit the customer identification data to the merchant computer if the customer identification data passes the quantitative analysis algorithm.
122 . The system of claim 120 wherein the merchant computer is further programmed to
execute a qualitative analysis algorithm that determines whether the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified by matching the customer identification data to a plurality of customer identification records, and
use the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database and log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer, only if the customer identification data passes the qualitative analysis algorithm.
123 . The system of claim 120 wherein the associated web site is provided to the user computing device by a merchant.
124 . The system of claim 120 wherein the associated web site is provided to the user computing device by an issuer.
125 . The system of claim 121 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a weighted entry algorithm in which each piece of the customer identification data is assigned a numerical value representing a relative weight, and wherein the total value of the relative weights must exceed a predetermined threshold in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
126 . The system of claim 121 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a minimum number of entries algorithm in which a predetermined minimum number of pieces of customer identification data must be present in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
127 . The system of claim 121 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises assigning a category type to each piece of the customer identification data, and wherein there is a requirement that a predetermined minimum number of categories is satisfied by the customer identification data.
128 . The system of claim 121 wherein if the quantitative analysis algorithm fails, then
the exchange computer is further programmed to send a request to the user computing device for additional customer identification data and re-apply the quantitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the quantitative analysis algorithm passes.
129 . The system of claim 122 wherein a predetermined minimum number of pieces of the customer identification data must match a single customer identification record in order for the qualitative analysis algorithm to pass.
130 . The system of claim 122 wherein if the qualitative analysis algorithm fails, then
the merchant computer is further programmed to send a request to the exchange computer for additional customer identification data;
the exchange computer is further programmed to obtain addition additional customer identification data from the user computing device and send the additional customer data to the merchant computer; and
the merchant computer is further programmed to re-apply the qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the qualitative analysis algorithm passes.
131 . A method for automatically logging a customer into a merchant computer for executing a transaction comprising:
a merchant computer receiving customer identification data, the customer data initially transmitted from an associated web site in response to selection by a customer operating a user computing device of a link that was provided by the associated web site to the user computing device after the customer had logged into the associated web site; and
the merchant computer using the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database and log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer.
132 . The method of claim 131 wherein the customer identification data is received from an exchange computer that was initially transmitted from the associated web site, wherein the exchange computer transmits the customer identification data to the merchant computer if the customer identification data passes a quantitative analysis algorithm executed by the exchange computer that determines whether the customer identification data is an amount sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified.
133 . The method of claim 131 wherein the merchant computer retrieves customer login credentials from a database and logs in the customer only if the customer identification data passes a qualitative analysis algorithm executed by the merchant computer that determines whether the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified by matching the customer identification data to a plurality of customer identification records.
134 . The method of claim 132 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a weighted entry algorithm in which each piece of the customer identification data is assigned a numerical value representing a relative weight, and wherein the total value of the relative weights must exceed a predetermined threshold in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
135 . The method of claim 132 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a minimum number of entries algorithm in which a predetermined minimum number of pieces of customer identification data must be present in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
136 . The method of claim 132 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises assigning a category type to each piece of the customer identification data, and wherein there is a requirement that a predetermined minimum number of categories is satisfied by the customer identification data.
137 . The method of claim 133 wherein a predetermined minimum number of pieces of the customer identification data must match a single customer identification record in order for the qualitative analysis algorithm to pass.
138 . The method of claim 133 wherein if the qualitative analysis algorithm fails, then
the merchant computer sends a request to the exchange computer for additional customer identification data;
the exchange computer obtains addition additional customer identification data from the user computing device and sends the additional customer data to the merchant computer; and
the merchant computer re-applies the qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the qualitative analysis algorithm passes.
139 . A merchant computer for automatically logging a customer in for executing a transaction, the merchant computer programmed to:
receive customer identification data, the customer data initially transmitted from an associated web site in response to selection by a customer operating a user computing device of a link that was provided by the associated web site to the user computing device after the customer had logged into the associated web site;
use the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database, and log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer.
140 . The merchant computer of claim 139 wherein the customer identification data is received from an exchange computer that was initially transmitted from the associated web site, wherein the exchange computer transmits the customer identification data to the merchant computer if the customer identification data passes a quantitative analysis algorithm executed by the exchange computer that determines whether the customer identification data is an amount sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified.
141 . The merchant computer of claim 139 further programmed to execute a qualitative analysis algorithm that determines whether the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified by matching the customer identification data to a plurality of customer identification records, and
use the customer identification data to retrieve customer login credentials from a database and log in the customer in order to enable the customer to execute a transaction with the merchant computer, only if the customer identification data passes the qualitative analysis algorithm.
142 . The system of claim 140 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a weighted entry algorithm in which each piece of the customer identification data is assigned a numerical value representing a relative weight, and wherein the total value of the relative weights must exceed a predetermined threshold in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
143 . The system of claim 140 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises a minimum number of entries algorithm in which a predetermined minimum number of pieces of customer identification data must be present in order for the quantitative analysis algorithm to pass.
144 . The system of claim 140 wherein the quantitative analysis algorithm comprises assigning a category type to each piece of the customer identification data, and wherein there is a requirement that a predetermined minimum number of categories is satisfied by the customer identification data.
145 . The system of claim 141 wherein a predetermined minimum number of pieces of the customer identification data must match a single customer identification record in order for the qualitative analysis algorithm to pass.
146 . The system of claim 141 wherein if the qualitative analysis algorithm fails, then the merchant computer is further programmed to send a request to the exchange computer for additional customer identification data;
the exchange computer is further programmed to obtain addition additional customer identification data from the user computing device and send the additional customer data to the merchant computer; and
the merchant computer is further programmed to re-apply the qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data and the additional customer identification data until the qualitative analysis algorithm passes.