A system and method for media trade-in exchange. The apparatus comprises a kiosk that allows a user to provide a plurality of media items to the kiosk for verification and analysis and then calculate the exchange redemption value. The exchange redemption value is calculated based on the physical damage of a media item, the included media item packaging, the included media item documentation, and the authenticity of the media item. The user may then choose to receive the redemption value in a plurality of options comprised of cash, debit, store credit, reward points, gift card, eCodes, or may alternatively, decline to accept the redemption value offer and have the media item returned to them.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for location-based trafficking for resource accumulation. The system may monitor location data of a mobile device of a user to determine when the user is within a predetermined distance from a specific geographical location of a resource. The system may then automatically transmit a token alert across a wireless network to the mobile device, activating a resource accumulation application to cause a user interface of the mobile device to display an augmented reality of a camera display that includes a virtual token. In some embodiments, the system determines that some advanced interaction has occurred between the user and a merchant associated with the geographical location of the resource and, in response, provides additional virtual tokens or improves the benefit to the user for one or more virtual tokens.

A client device detects a QR code (or NFC tag). The client device decodes the QR code. The client device determines that the data encoded within the QR code includes a URL. Based on the URL, the client device sends a first request to a first server identified by the URL. In response to the first request, the client device receives from the first server data configured to cause the client device to display, to a user of the client device, at least one of: a video or an interactive web page. Responsive to the data encoded in the QR code, the client device sends to a coupon server: identification data associated with a user of the client device, and a request for the coupon server to distribute a digital coupon for an offer associated with an identifier encoded within the QR code to an account associated with the user.

A system and method for providing promotional rewards is provided. First, a promotional reward is communicated to a customer. The promotional reward offer comprises a promotional reward associated with one or more promotional reward-earning behaviors and a promotional time frame. The offer may specify a customer population, and the customer may be enrolled in the promotional reward program if the customer is determined to be in the population. The customer is credited a promotional reward if the customer accomplishes the promotional reward-earning behavior(s) within the promotional time frame. The customer may also be enrolled in a base reward program. The promotional rewards and base rewards may be accumulated in a customer account. A system for implementing a promotional rewards program is also provided.

Systems and methods of tracking and rewarding users of any of a variety of content hosting systems, such as search engines. In one embodiment, a method of rewarding a user of a search engine includes receiving secure identification information identifying a user, retrieving user account information using the secure identification information, receiving a search query associated with the user account information, crediting the user account with a reward that is directly related to providing the search query, and returning search results in response to the received search query.

A client device detects a QR code (or NFC tag). The client device decodes the QR code. The client device determines that the data encoded within the QR code includes a URL. Based on the URL, the client device sends a first request to a first server identified by the URL. In response to the first request, the client device receives from the first server data configured to cause the client device to display, to a user of the client device, at least one of: a video or an interactive web page. Responsive to the data encoded in the QR code, the client device sends to a coupon server: identification data associated with a user of the client device, and a request for the coupon server to distribute a digital coupon for an offer associated with an identifier encoded within the QR code to an account associated with the user.

A computer-implemented method and system for calculating a metric of a user's social or environmental performance among a plurality of users. The processor executing the computer executable instructions identifies opportunities for social action be included in a content feed addressable to the user and provides opportunities generated by organizations to the user. The processor monitors interactions between the user and other users/organizations, monitors a type of interaction and associated social/environmental impact of the interactions, stores the interactions in a user profile, and determines from the user profile a social/environmental achievement or new contribution by the user. For each social/environmental achievement/contribution, the processor assigns a numerical value to an amount, a frequency, a location of the user, and a quality of the user profile data representative of the user's influence in each social/environmental achievement or contribution.

A system for patient admission control in a healthcare network may include a monitoring system configured to monitor a number of patients who are waiting at a healthcare facility; a patient admission control system; and a processing device. The processing device is configured to apply a Markov Decision Process model to determine at an instant of time whether a waiting patient should be directed to a remote healthcare facility after the instant of time, and if so, cause the patient admission control system to direct a waiting patient to a remote healthcare facility after the instant of time. A system for replacing a machine in a system of machines may include a monitoring system configured to monitor operation of multiple machines, an inventory control system, and a processing device configured to apply a Markov Decision Process model to determine when to cause the inventory control system to replace a machine.

The invention facilitates pooling, gifting or transferring of geographic area loyalty points between accounts. The invention also facilitates a transfer of geographic area loyalty points from a consumer account associated with a sponsoring company to a consumer account associated with a host company. The invention may also facilitate gifting of loyalty points to charitable organizations on a recurring basis, wherein the gifting may transfer any portion of geographic based points to various charities. The system may also convert the geographic area loyalty points to a monetary value, thereby allowing the points to be donated to a charity such that the donation appears to be a monetary value donation to the charity.

The present invention teaches a system, method and computer program for enabling local or regional merchants to participate in an automated cause marketing (ACM) program using mobile devices. The ACM program that may provide benefits to several parties involved in fundraising for one or more supported organizations, including one or more supported organizations, advertising providers, merchants, and individuals. Merchants are able to access enhanced analytics regarding their transactions with members and non-members of the ACM program and can use these enhanced analytics to realize an increased number of or revenue from transactions with members. The present invention also teaches a system and method for enabling advertising providers to acquire and analyze data associated with consumers-merchant transactions. The present invention provides the above features optimally using mobile devices. Furthermore, the present invention, may enable a member to disseminate its charitable preferences and contribution notifications to members of its electronic social networks.