Points-based rewards automation system and method
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- identifying a rewards sponsor, wherein said rewards sponsor is a member of a network marketing hierarchy, said rewards sponsor associated with a rewards account;
identifying terms of a rewards plan, including terms indicating a number of rewards points to be distributed by said rewards sponsor;
receiving information from said rewards sponsor indicating a selection of a participant to include in said rewards plan, wherein said participant is a member of said network marketing hierarchy; and
establishing said rewards plan.
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Abstract
A points-based rewards system and method are provided.
68 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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identifying a rewards sponsor, wherein said rewards sponsor is a member of a network marketing hierarchy, said rewards sponsor associated with a rewards account;
identifying terms of a rewards plan, including terms indicating a number of rewards points to be distributed by said rewards sponsor;
receiving information from said rewards sponsor indicating a selection of a participant to include in said rewards plan, wherein said participant is a member of said network marketing hierarchy; and
establishing said rewards plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for administering a rewards program in a marketing hierarchy including at least a first and a second participant, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from said first participant to establish a rewards plan benefiting said second participant;
identifying an activity motivated by said rewards plan, said motivated activity including at least one of a performance activity and a vesting activity;
identifying a rewards level to be paid to said second participant if said motivated activity is performed; and
transferring points equal to said rewards level from an account of said first participant to an account of said second participant if said second participant performs said motivated activity. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for receiving a reward, comprising:
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establishing a rewards account with a rewards system;
receiving notification of enrollment in a rewards plan, said rewards plan including terms identifying a motivated activity and a rewards amount;
performing said motivated activity; and
receiving said rewards amount in the form of rewards points deposited in said rewards account, said rewards points including both funded and unfunded points. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A rewards device, comprising:
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a processor; and
a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;
identify a rewards sponsor, wherein said rewards sponsor is a member of a network marketing hierarchy;
identify a number of rewards points in an account of said rewards sponsor;
identify terms of a rewards plan, including terms indicating a number of rewards points to be distributed by said rewards sponsor;
receive information from said rewards sponsor indicating a selection of a participant to include in said rewards plan, wherein said participant is a member of said network marketing hierarchy; and
establish said rewards plan.
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40. A rewards system, comprising:
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a first participant device;
a second participant device;
a rewards system server storing a first participant account and a second participant account, said first participant account including funded points and unfunded points;
said first participant device in communication with said rewards system server to establish a rewards plan to benefit a participant associated with said second participant device, said rewards plan identifying a motivated activity and a rewards amount to be paid from said first participant account; and
said second participant device in communication with said rewards system server to receive information regarding said rewards plan.
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41. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method to administer a rewards plan, said method comprising:
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identifying a rewards sponsor, wherein said rewards sponsor is a member of a network marketing hierarchy;
identifying a number of rewards points in an account of said rewards sponsor;
identifying terms of a rewards plan, including terms indicating a number of rewards points to be awarded by said rewards sponsor;
receiving information from said rewards sponsor indicating a selection of a participant to include in said rewards plan, wherein said participant is a member of said network marketing hierarchy; and
establishing said rewards plan.
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42. A method for participating in a rewards plan as a rewards sponsor, comprising:
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identifying that a rewards participant has completed an activity associated with a rewards plan established by said rewards sponsor, said completion of said activity obligating said rewards sponsor to transfer a number of rewards points to an account of said rewards participant;
identifying that said number of rewards points include both funded and unfunded rewards points associated with said rewards sponsor; and
charging an amount to a financial account associated with said rewards sponsor to fund said unfunded rewards points.
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43. A method for participating in a rewards plan as a rewards sponsor, comprising:
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identifying that a rewards participant has completed an activity associated with a rewards plan established by said rewards sponsor, said completion of said activity obligating said rewards sponsor to transfer a number of rewards points to an account of said rewards participant;
identifying that said number of rewards points include both vested and unvested rewards points associated with said rewards sponsor; and
transferring said number of rewards points to an account of said rewards participant.
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Specification