METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ISSUING, AGGREGATING AND REDEEMING MERCHANT REWARDS
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of operating a reward program comprising:
- a. providing a reward account database for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between a user and a first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification;
b. adding a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and
c. adding a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account.
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Abstract
A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. The user is awarded loyalty points from the merchant based on the amount of the purchase (e.g. 100 points for a $100 purchase). The reward points, which are specific to the merchant and the user, are stored in a database at the issuing bank, the acquiring bank, or a central reward server. The user may redeem the reward points earned from the transaction with the merchant at a later time, or may redeem the points with another merchant in the same marketing cluster, or may aggregate those reward points with those of other merchants into a reward point exchange account, and then redeem the aggregated reward points for goods or services from any approved merchant on the network, depending on the configuration of the system.
124 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of operating a reward program comprising:
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a. providing a reward account database for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between a user and a first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification; b. adding a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and c. adding a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A reward program computer comprising a reward account database in memory for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between a user and a first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification;
- wherein the reward program computer is programmed to
a) add a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and b) add a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
- wherein the reward program computer is programmed to
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39. In a networked credit card system comprising a computer network that interconnects with an issuing bank computer associated with an issuing bank, an acquiring bank computer associated with an acquiring bank, a first merchant computer associated with a first merchant, and a second merchant computer associated with a second merchant, wherein the issuing bank computer interacts with the acquiring bank computer to authorize purchase transactions for a user using a user payment account, associated with the issuing bank, for purchase transactions with at least one of the first merchant and the second merchant, the issuing bank computer comprising a reward account database in memory for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between the user and the first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification comprising a user payment account identification linked to the user payment account, and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification;
- wherein the issuing bank computer is programmed to
a) add a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and b) add a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account.
- wherein the issuing bank computer is programmed to
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40. In a networked credit card system comprising a computer network that interconnects with an issuing bank computer associated with an issuing bank, an acquiring bank computer associated with an acquiring bank, a first merchant computer associated with a first merchant, and a second merchant computer associated with a second merchant, wherein the issuing bank computer interacts with the acquiring bank computer to authorize purchase transactions for a user using a user payment account, associated with the issuing bank, for purchase transactions with at least one of the first merchant and the second merchant, the credit card system further comprising a central reward server computer interconnected with the computer network and comprising a reward account database in memory for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between the user and the first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification comprising a user payment account identification linked to the user payment account, and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification;
- wherein the central reward server computer is programmed to
a) add a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and b) add a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account.
- wherein the central reward server computer is programmed to
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41. In a networked credit card system comprising a computer network that interconnects with an issuing bank computer associated with an issuing bank, an acquiring bank computer associated with an acquiring bank, a first merchant computer associated with a first merchant, and a second merchant computer associated with a second merchant, wherein the issuing bank computer interacts with the acquiring bank computer to authorize purchase transactions for a user using a user payment account, associated with the issuing bank, for purchase transactions with at least one of the first merchant and the second merchant, the acquiring bank computer comprising a reward account database in memory for storing at least (i) a first reward account for transactions between the user and the first merchant, the first reward account identified by a user identification comprising a user payment account identification linked to the user payment account, and a first merchant identification, and (ii) a second reward account for transactions between the user and a second merchant, the second reward account identified by the user identification and a second merchant identification;
- wherein the acquiring bank computer is programmed to
a) add a first set of rewards to the first reward account in the reward account database as a result of a first purchase transaction between the user and the first merchant, wherein the user identification and the first merchant identification are used to access the first reward account; and b) add a second set of rewards to the second reward account in the reward account database as a result of a second purchase transaction between the user and the second merchant, wherein the user identification and the second merchant identification are used to access the second reward account.
- wherein the acquiring bank computer is programmed to
Specification