Loyalty Commerce Network API for Third-Party Application Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system that allows third-party developers to design and generate applications for accessing and managing loyalty programs, and for customizing user interfaces, as the traditional card-based loyalty schemes are transitioning to online and mobile platforms.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented loyalty commerce network that facilitates the generation of applications through an application programming interface (API) coupled with a loyalty program interface, using pre-defined templates and a loyalty server processor to validate and communicate with loyalty programs, enabling developers to create, submit, and modify applications for approval and publication on an online marketplace.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional card-based loyalty schemes are used, then simplicity and ease of operation are maintained, but adaptability to online and mobile platforms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API gateway as an intermediary component that mediates between external applications and the loyalty program backend systems. This gateway provides standardized interfaces for application submission, validation, and deployment, enabling third-party developers to create mobile and online loyalty applications without directly accessing complex backend systems. The gateway acts as a buffer that simplifies the interaction model while maintaining security and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct modular components: application submission interface, validation engine, template management system, and deployment pipeline. Each component handles a specific aspect of the application lifecycle independently. This segmentation allows the system to process different types of loyalty applications (mobile, web, hybrid) through the same modular architecture, enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If third-party developers are allowed to create custom applications, then versatility and customization options increase, but system security and control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation and security checks on applications before they are deployed to production environments. The validation engine evaluates submitted applications against predefined security criteria, data access policies, and compliance requirements. Templates are pre-configured with security constraints that limit what operations third-party applications can perform, ensuring that even customized applications cannot compromise system security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where validation results, security assessments, and compliance checks are returned to developers iteratively during the application development process. This allows developers to adjust their applications to meet security requirements before final deployment, maintaining both customization capability and system security through continuous validation feedback loops.
3Productivity
If manual validation processes are used for application approval, then security control is maintained, but processing time and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The validation system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the application type and risk assessment. For low-risk, standard-template applications, the system automatically validates and approves submissions without human intervention. For complex or high-risk applications, the system escalates to semi-automatic or manual review processes. This dynamic approach optimizes processing speed for routine cases while maintaining security oversight for exceptional cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service validation through automated checking of applications against predefined criteria, security policies, and compliance rules. The validation engine autonomously evaluates submitted applications, checks template conformity, and provides instant feedback on approval or rejection. This self-service capability dramatically reduces manual processing time while maintaining consistent validation standards.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented loyalty commerce network for facilitating generation of an application via an application computing device for communicating with loyalty programs via corresponding loyalty program computing devices, the network comprising: an application programming interface for receiving a request for generating said application and for generating said application based on said request and pre-defined templates associated with at least one of said loyalty programs; a loyalty program interface configured for communicating between the loyalty commerce network and said at least one loyalty program, said loyalty program interface for redirecting said request to said loyalty program; said loyalty program interface for defining a plurality of pre-defined criteria for validating said application; and, a loyalty server processor for processing said request and for validating said application in dependence upon said criteria being met.