INTERFACE BETWEEN TWO REWARD PROGRAMS FOR CONSOLIDATING CURRENCY FOR REDEMPTION

• US 20090192890A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maritz Holdings Inc. (InMoment, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maritz Incorporated
• Inventors: Wehner, Darlene, Steinkamp, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts

Abstract

A system and method, such as an interface, for real time consolidation of currency between two or more reward programs. The interface allows a participant to consolidate in real time currency of one program in which a participant has an account with currency of one or more other programs in which the participant also has an account. Thus, the participant can selectively combine the currencies from two or more programs for redemption via one of the programs.

Claims

1. An interface between at least two reward programs, including a first reward program and a second reward program in which a participant who is part of both the first program and the second program has an amount of first currency in the first program and has an amount of second currency in the second program, said interface comprising a processor and the following instructions executed by the processor:

Instructions for receiving from the first reward program a request of the participant for the second currency;

Instructions for querying the second reward program to determine the amount of the second currency of the participant;

Instructions for receiving from the second reward program the amount of the second currency;

Instructions for identifying to the participant via the first reward program the amount of the second currency available for purchasing a reward item selected by the participant via the first reward program;

Instructions for receiving from the first program a quantity of second currency indicated by the participant to be applied to purchase the selected reward item via the first reward program; and

Instructions for indicating to the second reward program the quantity of second currency of the participant to be deducted from the amount of second currency of the participant in the second reward program.

2. The interface of claim 1 further comprising:

Instructions for receiving from the second program a indication that the amount of second currency indicated by the participant has been deducted from the second program; and

Instructions for indicating to the first program that second program has indicated the amount of second currency has been deducted from the second program.

3. A system for a reward program comprising:

A first storage bank for storing accounts of participants having a first currency in a first reward program;

A first redemption module for redeeming currency;

A first program processor for administering the accounts in the first storage bank including adding first currency to the accounts and subtracting redeemed first currency in response to the first redemption module,

wherein the first program processor is linked to a second reward program processor of a second reward program which is independent of the first reward program,

wherein particular participants each have an account with the first and second reward programs;

wherein the first program processor receives from the second program processor second currency, and

wherein the first program processor consolidates the second currency with the first currency for use by particular participants for redemption via the first redemption module.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising an interface comprising a processor and the following instructions executed by the processor:

Instructions for receiving from the first reward program a request of the participant for the second currency;

Instructions for querying the second reward program to determine the amount of the second currency of the participant;

Instructions for receiving from the second reward program the amount of the second currency;

Instructions for identifying to the participant via the first reward program the amount of the second currency available for purchasing a reward item selected by the participant via the first reward program;

Instructions for receiving from the first program a quantity of second currency indicated by the participant to be applied to purchase the selected reward item via the first reward program; and

Instructions for indicating to the second reward program the quantity of second currency of the participant to be deducted from the amount of second currency of the participant in the second reward program.

5. The interface of claim 4 further comprising:

Instructions for receiving from the second program a indication that the amount of second currency indicated by the participant has been deducted from the second program; and

Instructions for indicating to the first program that second program has indicated the amount of second currency has been deducted from the second program.

6. A system for use by participants comprising:

A first reward program system in which the participants are members and earn and redeem first currency;

A second reward program system independent and distinct from the first rewards program, said second reward program in which the participants are members and earn and redeem second currency; and

An interface for transferring the first currency to the second reward program for redemption by the participants via the first reward program and for transferring the second currency to the first reward program for redemption by the participants via the second reward program.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the interface comprises a processor and the following instructions executed by the processor:

Instructions for receiving from the first reward program a request of the participant for the second currency;

Instructions for querying the second reward program to determine the amount of the second currency of the participant;

Instructions for receiving from the second reward program the amount of the second currency;

Instructions for identifying to the participant via the first reward program the amount of the second currency available for purchasing a reward item selected by the participant via the first reward program;

Instructions for receiving from the first program a quantity of second currency indicated by the participant to be applied to purchase the selected reward item via the first reward program; and

Instructions for indicating to the second reward program the quantity of second currency of the participant to be deducted from the amount of second currency of the participant in the second reward program.

8. A method of consolidating currencies of a first reward program having first currency and a second reward program having second currency, said programs having a common participant, said method comprising:

receiving from the first reward program a request of the participant for the second currency;

querying the second reward program to determine the amount of the second currency of the participant;

receiving from the second reward program the amount of the second currency;

identifying to the participant via the first reward program the amount of the second currency available for purchasing a reward item selected by the participant via the first reward program;

receiving from the first program a quantity of second currency indicated by the participant to be applied to purchase the selected reward item via the first reward program; and

indicating to the second reward program the quantity of second currency of the participant to be deducted from the amount of second currency of the participant in the second reward program.

9. The method of claim 8 executed by an interface comprising a processor and the following instructions executed by the processor:

Instructions for receiving from the first reward program a request of the participant for the second currency;

Instructions for querying the second reward program to determine the amount of the second currency of the participant;

Instructions for receiving from the second reward program the amount of the second currency;

Instructions for identifying to the participant via the first reward program the amount of the second currency available for purchasing a reward item selected by the participant via the first reward program;

Instructions for receiving from the first program a quantity of second currency indicated by the participant to be applied to purchase the selected reward item via the first reward program; and

Instructions for indicating to the second reward program the quantity of second currency of the participant to be deducted from the amount of second currency of the participant in the second reward program.