Methods, systems, and products to distributing reward points

• US 20080162282A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaylord, William
• Application Number:
  US11/649,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for distributing reward points. Blocks of point are assigned to at least one advertiser for distribution in advertising. An account is established for a user. A credit request is received from the user for processing an advertiser'"'"'s content. A predetermined number of points associated with the content is debited from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points and credited to the user'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A method to distribute reward points, comprising:

assigning blocks of points to at least one advertiser for distribution in advertising;

establishing an account for a user;

receiving a credit request from the user for processing an advertiser'"'"'s content;

debiting a predetermined number of points from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points; and

crediting the user'"'"'s account with the predetermined number of points.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a redemption request from the user to redeem points in the user'"'"'s account.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising selling the block of points to the advertiser.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising billing the advertiser for managing the user'"'"'s account.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising accounting for points debited from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the advertiser'"'"'s block of points is debited to result in a negative balance, then debiting a predetermined dollar amount from the advertiser'"'"'s account and crediting another block of points to the advertiser.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a notification from the service provider to the advertiser when the advertiser'"'"'s block of points is nearly exhausted.

8. A server that distributes reward points, the server operative to:

assign blocks of points to at least one advertiser for distribution in advertising;

establish an account for a user;

receive a credit request from the user for processing an advertiser'"'"'s content;

debit a predetermined number of points from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points; and

credit the user'"'"'s account with the predetermined number of points.

9. The server according to claim 8, further operative to receive a redemption request from the user to redeem points in the user'"'"'s account.

10. The server according to claim 8, further operative to sell the block of points to the advertiser.

11. The server according to claim 8, further operative to bill the advertiser for managing the user'"'"'s account.

12. The server according to claim 8, further operative to account for points debited from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points.

13. The server according to claim 8, wherein when the advertiser'"'"'s block of points is debited to result in a negative balance, then the server is further operative to debit a predetermined dollar amount from the advertiser'"'"'s account and crediting another block of points to the advertiser.

14. The server according to claim 8, further operative to send a notification from the service provider to the advertiser when the advertiser'"'"'s block of points is nearly exhausted.

15. A computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the steps:

assigning blocks of points to at least one advertiser for distribution in advertising;

establishing an account for a user;

receiving a credit request from the user for processing an advertiser'"'"'s content;

debiting a predetermined number of points from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points; and

crediting the user'"'"'s account with the predetermined number of points.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a redemption request from the user to redeem points in the user'"'"'s account

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for selling the block of points to the advertiser.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for billing the advertiser for managing the user'"'"'s account.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for accounting for points debited from the advertiser'"'"'s block of points.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for sending a notification from the service provider to the advertiser when the advertiser'"'"'s block of points is nearly exhausted.