SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDEEMING REWARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCOUNTS

• US 20080097856A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blagg, Lynn, Lindsay, Carol
• Application Number:
  US11/956,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• 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 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Among other things, the present invention provides systems and methods for fulfilling reward redemptions. In some cases, the systems and methods receive redemption requests associated with an account. The redemption request can be satisfied from a reward associated with the account, or by accessing a reward associated with another account. Redeeming a reward from another account can involve transferring value from one account to another, or grouping the related accounts and allowing members of the group to perform the settlement function. Various of the systems and method further provide for performing automatic reward redemptions, either by an entity maintaining the account to which the reward is associated, or through use of a fulfillment entity.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method for accruing frequent flyer rewards, the method comprising:

providing an account, wherein the account includes a frequent flyer reward that accrues based at least in part on activity of a first party, and wherein the account is controlled by an airline;

receiving a request to associate a second party with the account;

associating the second party with the account, wherein the frequent flyer reward accrues based at least in part on activity of the second party; and

receiving a request to redeem the reward.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the activity of the first party is travel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the activity of the first party is use of a credit card.

17. A method for acquiring frequent flyer rewards, the method comprising:

providing a first account, wherein the first account includes a first frequent flyer reward that accrues based at least in part on activity of a first party;

providing a second account, wherein the second account includes a second frequent flyer reward that accrues based at least in part on activity of a second party;

associating the first account with the second account, wherein a combination of the first frequent flyer reward and the second frequent flyer reward is accessible by the first party.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

aggregating the first frequent flyer reward and the second frequent flyer reward in a reward pool.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reward pool is linked with the first account.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first account and the second account are linked in an account group, and wherein the reward pool is linked with the account group.

21. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

receiving a reward redemption request from the second party, wherein satisfying the reward redemption request requires an amount greater than the second frequent flyer reward; and

accessing at least a portion of the first frequent flyer reward to satisfy the reward redemption request.

22-71. -71. (canceled)