PreGrant Publication Database Search Results: 5826786 in AppFT Database. MyStarbucksIdea.com. My Starbucks Idea. Starbucks seeks to patent loyalty card. High performance access to file storage Patent sleuth Theo DP writes, "Looks like Microsoft and Amazon may have some competition in the worst-Seattle-patent-ever contest.
" That's a tall latte, because when it comes to fatuous patents, Amazon.com and Microsoft have raised the bar very high. But he notes that this week two Starbucks patent applications seek to protect the electronic loyalty card. One, application (#20050077350), aims to cover a "dual card", a combined credit card and electronic loyalty card for Starbucks own stores, for example. A second application (#20050080672) by the same applicants seeks to protect the transactional system that exchanges data between the loyalty card and the credit card. The second filing is embroidered with some purple prose, and reads like the script to a made-for-schools documentary. As opposed to today's intrepid hucksters, who rush down to the US Patent Office before they've even sold anything.
With the modern USPTO, who needs a donkey? 0050080672. Creating customer loyalty Abstract A system for rewarding the loyalty of a payment cardholder comprises a dual card for facilitating credit transactions associated with a credit account and further facilitating stored value transactions associated with a stored value account.
The system further comprises a computer-implemented loyalty program for calculating a loyalty value based on the credit transactions of the dual card, the loyalty value being used to load the stored value account of the dual card. The system yet further comprises a rebate file produced by a credit card issuing bank. The rebate file contains a rebate based on the credit transactions. Related U.S. Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Description [0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/IB03/04495, designating the United States, filed Oct. 13, 2003. 0050077350. Dual card Abstract A dual card, which facilitates payment for goods or services from either a credit account or a stored value account, operates on both an open network and a closed network.
The dual card is a payment card that integrates the ability to provide credit privileges and stored value privileges to a cardholder of the dual card. The features, benefits, and advantages of a stored value card are integrated with the credit card aspects of the dual card. The benefits, features, and advantages of a credit card are integrated with a stored value card. Related U.S. Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: Patents & Patent Law. 0070291710. Wireless communication system Abstract A processing system is described that includes a wireless communication interface that wirelessly communicates with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment.
The wireless communication interface receives a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices. A local server computer located in proximity to the establishment generates instructions for processing the remote order received from the wireless communication interface. The local server computer then passes the processing instructions to an order processing queue in preparation for processing of the remote order. Related U.S. Claims 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.