PORTABLE HAND-HELD MULTIFUNCTION DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE TRANSACTION AND REWARD ACCOUNTS

• US 20140046738A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/897,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140046738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0227 Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 : Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 : at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 : Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles

Abstract

A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user'"'"'s earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user'"'"'s earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.

Claims

1. A portable hand-held multi-function device comprising processing circuitry, program storage, and data memory;

wherein

a plurality of transaction applications are stored in the data memory; and

the processing circuitry is programmed via instructions in the program storage to automatically select a first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a first purchase from a first merchant in a first transaction and a second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a second purchase from a second merchant in a second transaction.

6. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to automatically select the first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the first transaction based on the first purchase, and to automatically select the second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the second transaction based on the second purchase.

7. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to automatically select the first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the first transaction based on the first merchant, and to automatically select the second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the second transaction based on the second merchant.

8. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, further comprising storing, based on the first transaction, first rewards to a first reward account stored in the data memory and associated with the first transaction application.

9. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 8, further comprising storing, based on the second transaction, second rewards to a second reward account stored in the data memory and associated with the second transaction application.

10. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a credit card application.

11. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a debit card application.

12. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a loyalty card application.

13. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 10, wherein selection of the credit card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the credit card application.

14. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 11, wherein selection of the debit card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the debit card application.

15. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 12, wherein selection of the loyalty card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the loyalty card application.

16. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1 comprising a smart card.

17. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1 comprising a peripheral device.

35. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to automatically select a first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a first purchase from a first merchant in a first transaction and a second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a second purchase from a second merchant in a second transaction by referencing a default preference.

36. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 35, wherein the default preference is modifiable when the device is used with a point of sale terminal for either of the first transaction or the second transaction.

37. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 35, wherein the default preference is stored in a user profile.

38. The portable hand-held multi-function device of claim 37, wherein the user profile is stored in the data memory.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

18. A method of using a portable hand-held multi-function device comprising

storing a plurality of transaction applications in a data memory of the portable hand-held multi-function device;

the portable hand-held multi-function device automatically selecting a first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a first purchase from a first merchant in a first transaction and

a second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a second purchase from a second merchant in a second transaction.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable hand-held multi-function device automatically selects the first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the first transaction based on the first purchase, and automatically selects the second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the second transaction based on the second purchase.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable hand-held multi-function device automatically selects the first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the first transaction based on the first merchant, and automatically selects the second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment in the second transaction based on the second merchant.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing, based on the first transaction, first rewards to a first reward account stored in the data memory and associated with the first transaction application.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing, based on the second transaction, second rewards to a second reward account stored in the data memory and associated with the second transaction application.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a credit card application.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a debit card application.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of transaction applications comprises a loyalty card application.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein selection of the credit card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the credit card application.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein selection of the debit card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the debit card application.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein selection of the loyalty card application for the first transaction enables payment to be made for the first transaction with rewards previously stored in the reward account associated with the loyalty card application.

33. The method of claim 18 wherein the portable hand-held multi-function device comprises a smart card.

34. The method of claim 18 wherein the portable hand-held multi-function device comprises a peripheral device.

39. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable hand-held multi-function device automatically selects a first transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a first purchase from a first merchant in a first transaction and a second transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications for making payment for a second purchase from a second merchant in a second transaction by referencing a default preference.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of modifying the default preference when the device is used with a point of sale terminal for either of the first transaction or the second transaction.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the default preference is stored in a user profile.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the user profile is stored in the data memory.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)