LOYALTY PROGRAM BASED ON TIME SAVINGS

摘要

Users of a web site may save time by completing purchases via an electronic network. A transaction completed at least partially online, for example, may require less user time than an alternative transaction that is completed by traveling to a physical store location. A computer system may estimate an amount of time saved by a user for a transaction, relative to an alternative transaction, using various techniques such as estimating an amount of travel time that may be saved. User loyalty accounts may be credited with the estimated amounts of time saved for transactions. Estimated amounts of time saved may be displayed to users, which may encourage additional purchases to be made via a web site or service that supports estimation of time savings for transactions.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
in response to a participant completing at least a portion of a first transaction via an electronic network, a computer system calculating a time value indicating an estimated amount of time saved by the participant in the first transaction, the estimated amount of time being relative to a second estimated amount of time for completing at least a portion of an alternative transaction, the alternative transaction corresponding to a first good or service included in the first transaction; and based on the time value indicating the estimated amount of time saved, the computer system causing a balance of an account corresponding to the participant to be adjusted.