Database computer architecture for managing an incentive award program and checking float of funds at time of purchase

Claim 1

In an advanced intelligent network based information distribution system including a central office switching system connected to communication lines, a computer implemented method of providing an incentive award system for providing an award to users participating in the incentive award system and administering by an institution, the user maintaining a transaction intensive account utilizing manual and automatic transactions and with a supply balance, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic transaction by a user; (b) determining whether the electronic transaction is a reward eligible transaction; (c) generating a transaction request when the electronic transaction is determined to be the reward eligible transaction; (d) determining a reward responsive to the reward eligible transaction represented in the transaction request; (e) assigning the reward to a user record responsive to reward criteria; (f) generating a reward record representing the reward, the reward being determined when the reward eligible transaction comprises at least one of a new user account electronic transaction, an acquisition electronic transaction, and a supply balance electronic transaction, the reward eligible transaction being applied against the transaction intensive account utilizing the manual and the automatic transactions and being deducted from the supply balance; (g) accumulating the reward for each user record; (h) generating a reward report to the user indicating current and accumulated awards; (i) providing access to the user record and the reward by the user responsive to predetermined criteria; and (j) applying the reward eligible transaction against the transaction intensive account utilizing the manual and the automatic transactions and the eligable transaction being deducted from the supply balance immediately and in real-time by said institution without incurring float charges while checking float of funds of said supply balance at the time of purchase before awarding to the user said reward.

Claim 17

A method of providing an incentive award system for providing an award to users participating in the incentive award system and administering by an institution, the user maintaining a transaction intensive account utilizing manual and automatic transactions and with a supply balance, and the incentive award system including a request transaction and points calculator processing computer system, and a points assigning and reporting processing computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic transaction by a user; (b) determining whether the electronic transaction is a reward eligible transaction; (c) generating a transaction request when the electronic transaction is determined to be the reward eligible transaction; (d) determining a reward responsive to the reward eligible transaction represented in the transaction request; (e) assigning the reward to a user record responsive to reward criteria; (f) generating a reward record representing the reward, the reward being determined when the reward eligible transaction comprises at least one of a new user account electronic transaction, an acquisition electronic transaction, and a supply balance electronic transaction, wherein the acquisition electronic transaction is considered eligible for the reward to minimize the manual transactions and to stimulate the automatic transactions and to simultaneously eliminate counterfeit purchases effectuated to obtain the reward, wherein the reward record includes a transaction code field, a bonus point field, a bonus switch field, a transaction point field, and a transaction point sign field, a customer status field, and a new account indicator field, wherein the bonus switch field facilitates processing of the bonus point field and the transaction point sign field facilitates the processing of the transaction point field, wherein the customer status field and the new account indicator field facilitate the assignment of the reward to the customer account; (g) accumulating the reward for each user record; (h) generating a reward report to the user indicating current and accumulated awards; (i) providing access to the user record and the reward by the user responsive to predetermined criteria; and (j) applying the reward eligible transaction against the transaction intensive account utilizing the manual and the automatic transactions and the eligible transaction being deducted from the supply balance immediately and in real-time by said institution without incurring float charges while checking float of funds of said supply balance at the time of purchase before awarding to the user said reward.

Claim 18

A method of providing an incentive award system for providing an award to users participating in the incentive award system and administering by an institution, the user maintaining a transaction intensive account utilizing manual and automatic transactions and with a supply balance, and the incentive award system including a request transaction and points calculator processing computer system, and a points assigning and reporting processing computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an electronic transaction by a user; (b) determining whether the electronic transaction is a reward eligible transaction; (c) generating a transaction request when the electronic transaction is determined to be the reward eligible transaction; (d) determining a reward responsive to the reward eligible transaction represented in the transaction request; (e) assigning the reward to a user record responsive to reward criteria; (f) generating a reward record representing the reward, the reward being determined when the reward eligible transaction comprises at least one of a new user account electronic transaction, an acquisition electronic transaction, and a supply balance electronic transaction, wherein the acquisition electronic transaction is considered eligible for the reward to minimize the manual transactions and to stimulate the automatic transactions and to simultaneously eliminate counterfeit purchases effectuated to obtain the reward, wherein the reward record includes a transaction code field, a bonus point field, a bonus switch field, a transaction point field, and a transaction point sign field, a customer status field, and a new account indicator field, wherein the bonus switch field facilitates processing of the bonus point field and the transaction point sign field facilitates the processing of the transaction point field, wherein the customer status field and the new account indicator field facilitate the assignment of the reward to the customer account; (g) accumulating the reward for each user record; (h) generating a reward report to the user indicating current and accumulated awards; (i) providing access to the user record and the reward by the user responsive to predetermined criteria; and (j) applying the reward eligible transaction against the transaction intensive account utilizing the manual and the automatic transactions and the eligible transaction being deducted from the supply balance immediately and in real-time by said institution without incurring float charges while checking float of funds of said supply balance at the time of purchase before awarding to the user said reward.