Mobile system and method for exchanging point value
First Claim
1. A system for redeeming the value of points that are issued by one of multiple loyalty programs, wherein the points for each loyalty program are held in a point account maintained on behalf of a customer, and wherein the redeemed value of points in the point account may be transferred into a transaction account for conducting a purchase transaction with a third party, the system comprising:
- a single terminal providing a location for both (1) redeeming the value of points held by a first mobile customer and (2) conducting a transaction with a third party at the location by a second mobile customer that is a companion of the first mobile customer, the terminal including at least one reader for receiving a first mobile customer ID transmitted by a first mobile device for identifying the first mobile device and a second mobile customer ID transmitted by a second mobile device for identifying the second mobile device, the first mobile customer ID associated with the point account, the second mobile customer ID associated with the transaction account for conducting the transaction with the third party, the terminal using the transaction account to conduct the transaction with the third party at the terminal, the reader using signaling for the terminal to determine, from the receipt of the first mobile customer ID and a second mobile customer ID at about the same time, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are positioned at or near the reader simultaneously and that the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer are companions, with the terminal communicating with both the first mobile device and the second mobile device to verify the identity of both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer and confirm that both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer approve of transferring the redeemed value of points from the point account into the transaction account;
a point database for storing point account data, including data associated with the number of points in the point account and associated with a value of the points; and
a server accessing the point database in response to the first mobile customer ID received from the first mobile device at the terminal for determining the value of points held in the point account, in order to transfer value associated with points in the point account into the transaction account, whereby the second mobile customer conducts the transaction with the third party using the transferred value of points held on behalf of the first customer in the point account.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transaction is conducted at a merchant location using redeemed loyalty points maintained in a loyalty point account for a customer. The transactions are conducted using a mobile device at a POS terminal. In response to receiving a customer ID from the mobile device, a loyalty server provides the monetary value of loyalty points. The customer may use the mobile device to redeem those points and have the value transferred into a financial account. A payment processing system connected to the POS terminal completes the transaction using the financial account.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for redeeming the value of points that are issued by one of multiple loyalty programs, wherein the points for each loyalty program are held in a point account maintained on behalf of a customer, and wherein the redeemed value of points in the point account may be transferred into a transaction account for conducting a purchase transaction with a third party, the system comprising:
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a single terminal providing a location for both (1) redeeming the value of points held by a first mobile customer and (2) conducting a transaction with a third party at the location by a second mobile customer that is a companion of the first mobile customer, the terminal including at least one reader for receiving a first mobile customer ID transmitted by a first mobile device for identifying the first mobile device and a second mobile customer ID transmitted by a second mobile device for identifying the second mobile device, the first mobile customer ID associated with the point account, the second mobile customer ID associated with the transaction account for conducting the transaction with the third party, the terminal using the transaction account to conduct the transaction with the third party at the terminal, the reader using signaling for the terminal to determine, from the receipt of the first mobile customer ID and a second mobile customer ID at about the same time, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are positioned at or near the reader simultaneously and that the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer are companions, with the terminal communicating with both the first mobile device and the second mobile device to verify the identity of both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer and confirm that both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer approve of transferring the redeemed value of points from the point account into the transaction account; a point database for storing point account data, including data associated with the number of points in the point account and associated with a value of the points; and a server accessing the point database in response to the first mobile customer ID received from the first mobile device at the terminal for determining the value of points held in the point account, in order to transfer value associated with points in the point account into the transaction account, whereby the second mobile customer conducts the transaction with the third party using the transferred value of points held on behalf of the first customer in the point account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for redeeming the value of points that are issued by one of multiple loyalty programs, wherein the points for each loyalty program are held in a point account maintained on behalf of a customer, and wherein the redeemed value of points in the point account may be transferred into a transaction account for conducting a purchase transaction with a third party, the system comprising:
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providing, at a single terminal, a location for both (1) redeeming the value of points held by a first mobile customer and (2) conducting a transaction with a third party at the location by a second mobile customer that is a companion of the first mobile customer, the terminal including at least one reader for receiving a first mobile customer ID transmitted by a first mobile device for identifying the first mobile device and a second mobile customer ID transmitted by a second mobile device for identifying the second mobile device, the first mobile customer ID associated with the point account, the second mobile customer ID associated with the transaction account for conducting the transaction with the third party, the terminal using the transaction account to conduct the transaction with the third party at the terminal, the reader using signaling for the terminal to determine, from the receipt of the first mobile customer ID and a second mobile customer ID at about the same time, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are positioned at or near the reader simultaneously and that the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer are companions, with the terminal communicating with both the first mobile device and the second mobile device to verify the identity of both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer and confirm that both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer approve of transferring the redeemed value of points from the point account into the transaction account; storing, at a point database, point account data, including data associated with the number of points in the point account and associated with a value of the points; and accessing the point database in response to the first mobile customer ID received from the first mobile device at the terminal for determining the value of points held in the point account, in order to transfer value associated with points in the point account into the transaction account, whereby the second mobile customer conducts the transaction with the third party using the transferred value of points held on behalf of the first customer in the point account. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification