IP Library Granted Patent US 12,253,851
Granted Patent B2
US 12,253,851 · App. 18/592,187 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Cognitive system reward management

Inventor: Charles Howard Cella (Pembroke, MA)
Assignee: Strong Force TP Portfolio 2022, LLC
G05D1/0022B60W40/08G01C21/3438G01C21/3461G01C21/3469G01C21/3617G05B13/027G05D1/0088G05D1/0212G05D1/0287G05D1/224G05D1/225G05D1/226G05D1/227G05D1/228G05D1/229G05D1/24G05D1/646G05D1/69G05D1/692G05D1/81G06F40/40G06N3/0418G06N3/045G06N3/08G06N3/086G06N20/00G06Q30/0208G06Q50/188G06Q50/40G06V10/764G06V10/82G06V20/56G06V20/59G06V20/597G06V20/64G07C5/006G07C5/008G07C5/02G07C5/08G07C5/0808G07C5/0816G07C5/0866G07C5/0891G10L15/16G10L25/63B60W2040/0881G06N3/02G06Q30/0281G06Q50/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,253,851
App. No.
18/592,187
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transportation system and method for managing rewards in the transportation system includes using a merchant interface to a cognitive system for managing the offering or fulfillment of a reward to a rider of a vehicle, where a merchant may specify parameters of the reward that can be earned by the rider as a result of performing an action while in the vehicle.

Claims (56)

1. A transportation system, comprising:

a cognitive system configured to manage at least one of an offering or a fulfillment of a reward of a plurality of rewards to a rider of a vehicle;

a merchant interface configured to allow at least one merchant of a plurality of merchants to specify parameters of the reward that can be earned by the rider as a result of performing an action while in the vehicle; and

a vehicle communication interface configured to convey the parameters of the reward for receipt by the rider;

wherein the transportation system is configured to:

manage the plurality of rewards concurrently within the cognitive system;

provide the plurality of merchants with analytics related to an effectiveness of the offering of the plurality of rewards through the merchant interface, wherein the analytics relate to at least one of: a minimum purchase amount, a specific product eligibility, a specific service eligibility, or a time frame within which the plurality of rewards can be earned;

communicate the parameters of the reward for receipt by the rider;

aggregate the plurality of rewards that includes the reward to create an offer combination of the plurality of rewards for the rider;

notify the rider of the reward earned in response to performance of the action using a communication system of the vehicle;

dynamically adjust the parameters of the reward based on external factors;

set eligibility criteria for the rider to earn the reward through the merchant interface;

facilitate a redemption of the reward by the rider through vehicle systems of the vehicle; and

suggest route modifications to the rider based, at least in part, on a location of the at least one merchant offering the reward, in coordination with a navigation system of the vehicle.

2. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive system is further configured to process preferences of the rider to personalize the offering of the reward presented to the rider.

3. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the merchant interface is further configured to receive feedback from the at least one merchant regarding the effectiveness of the fulfillment of the reward.

4. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to provide the rider with options to accept, decline, or modify the parameters of the reward.

5. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the action performed by the rider is at least one of: making a purchase, participating in a survey, visiting a merchant location, or viewing an advertisement.

6. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the reward is at least one of: discounts, loyalty points, promotional items, or service upgrades.

7. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive system is further configured to:

track the redemption of the reward by the rider as a redemption history; and

adjust a future offering of the reward based on the redemption history.

8. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle communication interface is integrated with an in-vehicle entertainment system to display the parameters of the reward to the rider.

9. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive system is further configured to synchronize the offering of the reward with an estimated time of arrival at the location of the at least one merchant offering the reward.

10. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the cognitive system utilizes machine learning algorithms to optimize a timing and a type of offering of the reward based on historical data of behavior of the rider.

11. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the merchant interface provides the analytics in real-time to the plurality of merchants regarding uptake of the reward by riders.

12. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate with a personal electronic device to deliver the parameters of the reward.

13. The transportation system of claim 1 , wherein the external factors include at least one of: traffic conditions, weather conditions, or merchant inventory levels.

14. A method for managing rewards in a transportation system, the method comprising:

providing a merchant interface;

receiving, via the merchant interface, parameters of a reward of a plurality of rewards, wherein the parameters are specified by at least one merchant of a plurality of merchants, wherein the reward can be earned by a rider of a vehicle as a result of performing an action while in the vehicle;

managing, by a cognitive system, at least one of an offering or a fulfillment of the reward to the rider based on the specified parameters;

managing the plurality of rewards from the plurality of merchants concurrently within the cognitive system;

providing the plurality of merchants with analytics related to an effectiveness of the offering of the reward through the merchant interface, wherein the analytics relate to at least one of: a minimum purchase amount, a specific product eligibility, a specific service eligibility, or a time frame within which the reward can be earned;

communicating the parameters of the reward for receipt by the rider;

aggregating the plurality of rewards that includes the reward to create an offer combination of the plurality of rewards for the rider;

notifying the rider of the reward earned in response to performance of the action using a communication system of the vehicle;

dynamically adjusting the parameters of the reward based on external factors;

setting eligibility criteria for the rider to earn the reward through the merchant interface;

facilitating a redemption of the reward by the rider through vehicle systems of the vehicle; and

suggesting route modifications to the rider based, at least in part, on a location of the at least one merchant offering the reward, in coordination with a navigation system of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising customizing the offering of the reward based on a profile of the rider, wherein the profile includes at least one of: preferences, a past behavior, or demographic information of the rider.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising updating the parameters of the reward in real-time based on feedback received from the at least one merchant through the merchant interface.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

presenting the rider with the parameters of the reward through an in-vehicle display system; and

receiving a response to the offering of the reward from the rider.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the action performed by the rider includes at least one of: making a purchase, participating in a survey, visiting a merchant location, or viewing an advertisement.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reward includes at least one of: discounts, promotional items, or service upgrades.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

tracking the redemption of the reward by the rider as a redemption history; and

modifying a subsequent offering of the reward based on the redemption history.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising integrating the offering of the reward with the navigation system of the vehicle to guide the rider to the location of the at least one merchant offering the reward.

22. The method of claim 14 , further comprising utilizing machine learning algorithms within the cognitive system to optimize the offering of the reward based on historical data of behavior of the rider.

23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

communicating the parameters of the reward to a personal electronic device;

wherein the external factors include at least one of: traffic conditions, weather conditions, or merchant inventory levels.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2024
From: CELLA, CHARLES HOWARD
To: STRONG FORCE TP PORTFOLIO 2022, LLC
Reel/Frame 067006/0422 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16887569 · May 29, 2020
Continuation 16803220 · Feb 27, 2020
Continuation PCTUS2019053857 · Sep 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62739335 · Sep 30, 2018
Related Publication 20240201686A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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