# How Digital Receipts Turn One-Time Payments Into Ongoing Customer Relationships > A system that transforms static digital receipts into dynamic, time-sensitive portals for rewards, feedback, and tipping after a purchase is complete. - **Patent:** US 10217092 - **Original title:** Interactive digital platform - **Owner:** Square Inc - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 7 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, ecommerce, finance ## What it does This patent describes a system that replaces a simple transaction record with an interactive digital receipt sent to a customer's mobile device. Unlike a paper slip, this receipt includes active components like promotional offers, feedback forms, and tipping interfaces that are only available for a specific, merchant-defined timeframe. A key feature is the dynamic value of rewards: the system can automatically decrease the value of a promotion the longer a customer waits to interact with it. For example, a customer might receive a 20% discount coupon that shrinks to 10% if not claimed within an hour of the transaction. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover static digital receipts that merely display transaction details without interactive, time-based components. - Does not cover loyalty programs that operate independently of the interactive digital receipt interface. - Does not cover payment processing itself, but rather the engagement layer added to the receipt after the transaction is instantiated. - Does not cover general-purpose messaging apps that are not specifically tied to the receipt-generation workflow described. ## The clever bit The system uses the 'timeframe' as a variable to influence consumer behavior, specifically by making the value of a reward decay over time to create urgency for the customer to engage with the merchant immediately. ## Real-world examples 1. Square Point of Sale digital receipts 2. Merchant-branded loyalty apps 3. Post-purchase feedback prompts in mobile wallets ## Why it matters This patent represents a shift in merchant-customer engagement, moving from passive transaction logging to active customer retention. By integrating feedback and rewards directly into the receipt, Square created a way to keep customers engaged with a brand long after they have left the physical store. It highlights the transition of the receipt from a boring proof-of-purchase into a functional marketing tool. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Digital Receipts Turn One-Time Payments Into Ongoing Customer Relationships cover? A system that transforms static digital receipts into dynamic, time-sensitive portals for rewards, feedback, and tipping after a purchase is complete. ### Who owns patent US 10217092? Square Inc owns this patent, granted in 2019. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on February 26, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10217092 cited by? This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent represents a shift in merchant-customer engagement, moving from passive transaction logging to active customer retention. By integrating feedback and rewards directly into the receipt, Square created a way to keep customers engaged with a brand long after they have left the physical store. It highlights the transition of the receipt from a boring proof-of-purchase into a functional marketing tool. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover static digital receipts that merely display transaction details without interactive, time-based components. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10217092/shopify-shipping **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10217092 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Square Prepares Digital Tabs for Customers Before They Arrive](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10157378/stripe-connect) — A system that lets merchants create a digital customer tab before a guest arrives, using reservation data to pre-load preferences and payment info for a faster checkout. - [Tracking Shoppers and Store Items for Better Recommendations](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11900293/merchant-action-recommendation-system) — This patent describes a system that tracks the location of physical customers, virtual customers, and store items using beacons to generate a combined visual report and recommend actions for merchants. - [How Automated Systems Generate and Track Consumer Dispute Letters](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10540437/system-and-interface-for-electronic-communication-generation-and-tracking) — A software system that helps consumers write, format, and send formal complaint letters to businesses by turning simple questionnaire answers into professional, legally-compliant documents. - [How Referral-Based Text Message Marketing Systems Work](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10204358/shopify-payments) — A system that tracks web browsing to send personalized text message offers to users, incentivizing them to share those offers with friends to grow a subscriber database. - [How Square Syncs Inventory Between Physical Shops and Online Stores](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10192220/square-capital) — A system that lets store owners toggle items between online and physical sales channels using a single dashboard to keep stock counts accurate everywhere.