Container Reward System via Automatic Identifier Linking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recycling reward systems are complex and time-consuming for users, and lack efficient methods for merchants to collect container metric data after product disposal, leading to low recycling rates and incomplete data collection.

Innovation Solution

A computing system that links product and container identifiers to cardholder accounts during transactions, allowing for automatic reward distribution upon recycling and collection of container metrics without requiring users to alter their recycling habits or manually scan containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually scan containers through mobile applications to collect rewards, then reward collection is enabled, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereward collectionVSAvoidrecycling process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically links containers to cardholder accounts through transaction data and automatically provides rewards when containers are recycled, eliminating the need for users to manually scan containers or interact with complex interfaces. The computing system performs self-service by autonomously matching container identifiers with account identifiers and processing rewards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by linking container identifiers to cardholder accounts during the initial purchase transaction. This pre-linking eliminates the need for users to perform actions at the recycling stage, as the connection is already established before the container reaches the end of its lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If users take containers directly to recycling facilities for rewards, then reward collection is enabled, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereward collectionVSAvoidrecycling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The computing system automatically processes reward distribution by receiving container identifiers from recycling facilities, matching them with pre-stored account identifiers, and providing rewards without requiring user presence or interaction at the recycling facility. This automated self-service eliminates time loss for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The computing system acts as an intermediary between recycling facilities and cardholders, automatically matching container identifiers with account identifiers and processing rewards in the background. This intermediary function eliminates the need for direct user involvement in the reward collection process at recycling facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If merchants rely on customer surveys to determine container metric data, then data collection is enabled, but the data becomes incomplete and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer metric dataVSAvoidcontainer metric accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback loops where container identifiers are tracked from purchase through recycling, and container metric data is automatically collected and stored in databases. This continuous feedback mechanism ensures complete and accurate data collection without relying on manual customer input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual customer surveys with automated electronic data collection mechanisms. Container identifiers are automatically captured at purchase and recycling points, and the computing system processes this data electronically to generate accurate container metric reports, eliminating the imprecision of manual survey methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11978078B2Methods and systems for rewarding recycling of containers and collecting container metrics

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

Described herein is a computing system for linking products and containers to cardholders. The computing system is configured to receive transaction data associated with a transaction carried out by a cardholder, the transaction data including an account identifier associated with the cardholder, a product identifier, and a container identifier associated with a product purchased in the transaction. The computing system also links the product identifier and the container identifier to the account identifier, and stores the linked product identifier, container identifier, and account identifier. The computing system receives, from a user device, the container identifier associated with the container received by a user associated with recycling the container, determines the account identifier linked to the container identifier associated with the product received by the user, and automatically provides a reward to the cardholder via the account identifier.