Method and system for exchange and aggregation of reward points via a global computer network

• US 6,820,061 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US10/608,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• 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 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• 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 30/0228 On-line clearing houses
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 : Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

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 rewards server (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). A trading server accumulates some or all of the user'"'"'s earned reward points from the reward servers and credits the accumulated points into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points.

Claims

1. A method for making an online purchase over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a user accessing a web site for logging into an online reward points trading system that allows accumulation of reward points from a plurality of individual reward accounts for application towards online payment of a product, each individual reward account associated with an individual reward issuing entity and stored on a reward server associated with the reward point issuing entity, and wherein each of said reward accounts tracks points earned by the user for transactions between the user and the associated reward points issuing entity, and wherein each of the reward points issuing entities enables the user to selectively redeem points from the reward account associated with the user for an item selected by the user;

b. the reward points trading system determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward point accounts;

c. the user selecting via the web site a product to be purchased from a plurality of available products;

d. the web site displaying to the user the number of reward points available for redemption in at least one of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

e. the user interactively selecting via the web site points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated and applied to the purchase of the selected product;

f. the reward points trading system accumulating the selected reward points from the selected individual reward accounts for application in a purchase transaction for the selected product; and

g. the reward points trading system executing a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user by applying the accumulated points to the purchase price of the product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of the user selecting via the web site a product to be purchased from a plurality of available products comprises the steps of:

a. the reward points trading system generating an online catalog of a plurality of products available for purchase;

b. the reward points trading system providing the online catalog for display to the user via the web site; and

c. the user selecting a desired product from the online catalog displayed via the web site.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points required to purchase the product.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the purchase price exceeds the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product, and wherein the user provides additional payment to allow the reward points trading system to execute a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the additional payment is made by the user with a credit card via the web site.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of the user selecting via the web site a product to be purchased from a plurality of available products comprises the steps of:

a. the reward points trading system providing links to associated merchant web sites that display products available for purchase;

b. the user linking the user computer to an associated merchant web site; and

c. the user selecting a desired product from a merchant web site.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the reward points trading system causing the selected individual reward accounts to deduct the reward points designated by the user and accumulated by the reward points trading system for the purchase transaction for the selected product.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein consideration is provided to the reward points trading system by a reward issuing entity in exchange for the deduction of reward points designated by the user from an associated reward account.

10. An online networked purchasing system comprising:

a. a user computer interconnected to a computer network;

b. a plurality of individual reward computers interconnected to the computer network;

each of the reward computers comprising a plurality of reward accounts associated with a plurality of users, each individual reward account associated with an individual reward issuing entity, wherein each of said reward accounts tracks points earned by the user for transactions between the user and the associated reward points issuing entity, and wherein each of the reward points issuing entities enables the user to selectively redeem points from the reward account associated with the user for an item selected by the user; and

c. a reward points trading computer interconnected to the computer network and adapted to;

i. allow a user to log in via a web site;

ii. determine over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward accounts;

iii. provide to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allow a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer;

iv. provide to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available for redemption in each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

v. allow a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated and applied to the purchase of a selected product;

vi. accumulate the selected reward points from each of the selected individual reward accounts for application in a purchase transaction for the selected product; and

vii. execute a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user by applying the accumulated points to the purchase price of the product.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the reward points trading computer is adapted to provide to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allow a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer by:

a. generating an online catalog of a plurality of products available for purchase;

b. providing the online catalog for display to the user via the web site; and

c. allowing the user to select a desired product from the online catalog displayed via the web site.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points required to purchase the product.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the purchase price exceeds the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product, and wherein the user provides additional payment to allow the reward points trading system to execute a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the additional payment is made by the user with a credit card via the web site.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the reward points trading computer is adapted to provide to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allow a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer by:

a. providing links to associated merchant web sites that display products available for purchase;

b. allowing the user to link the user computer to an associated merchant web site; and

c. allowing the user to select a desired product from a merchant web site.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the reward points trading computer is further adapted to cause the selected individual reward accounts to deduct the reward points designated by the user and accumulated by the reward points trading system for the purchase transaction for the selected product.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein consideration is provided to the reward points trading system by a reward issuing entity in exchange for the deduction of reward points designated by the user from an associated reward account.

19. A reward points trading computer comprising:

a. means to interconnect to a computer network for communication with a user computer and a plurality of individual reward computers;

b. means for allowing a user to log in via a web site;

c. means for determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward accounts;

d. means for providing to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allow a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer;

e. means for providing to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available for redemption in each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

f. means for allowing a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated and applied to the purchase of a selected product;

g. means for accumulating the selected reward points from each of the selected individual reward accounts for application in a purchase transaction for the selected product; and

h. means for executing a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user by applying the accumulated points to the purchase price of the product.

20. The reward points trading computer of claim 19 which provides to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allows a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer by:

a. generating an online catalog of a plurality of products available for purchase;

b. providing the online catalog for display to the user via the web site; and

c. allowing the user to select a desired product from the online catalog displayed via the web site.

21. The reward points trading computer of claim 20 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points required to purchase the product.

22. The reward points trading computer of claim 21 wherein an available product is displayed in the online catalog along with the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product.

23. The reward points trading computer of claim 22 wherein the purchase price exceeds the number of reward points that may be applied to purchase the product, and wherein the user provides additional payment to allow the reward points trading system to execute a purchase transaction for the selected product on behalf of the user.

24. The reward points trading computer of claim 19 which provides to a user computer a display of a plurality of products available for purchase and allows a user to select a product for purchase via the user computer by:

a. providing links to associated merchant web sites that display products available for purchase;

b. allowing the user to link the user computer to an associated merchant web site; and

c. allowing the user to select a desired product from a merchant web site.

25. The reward points trading computer of claim 19 which is further adapted to cause the selected individual reward accounts to deduct the reward points designated by the user and accumulated by the reward points trading system for the purchase transaction for the selected product.

26. The reward points trading computer of claim 25 in which the reward points trading system is further adapted to receive consideration provided by a reward issuing entity in exchange for the deduction of reward points designated by the user from an associated reward account.

27. A method for accumulating reward points from a plurality of individual reward issuing entities into a common reward account over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a user accessing a web site for logging into an online reward points trading system that allows accumulation of reward points from a plurality of individual reward accounts, each individual reward account associated with an individual reward point issuing entity and stored on a reward server associated with the reward point issuing entity, and wherein each of said reward accounts tracks points earned by the user for transactions between the user and the associated reward points issuing entity, and wherein each of the reward points issuing entities enables the user to selectively redeem points from the reward account associated with the user for an item selected by the user;

b. the reward points trading system determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward accounts;

c. the web site displaying to the user the number of reward points available in each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

d. the user interactively selecting via the web site points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated; and

e. the reward points trading system accumulating the selected reward points from each of the selected individual reward accounts into a single reward account.

28. An online networked reward points trading system comprising:

a. a user computer interconnected to a computer network;

b. a plurality of individual reward computers interconnected to the computer network;

each of the reward computers comprising a plurality of reward accounts associated with a plurality of users; and

c. a reward points trading computer interconnected to the computer network and adapted to;

i. allow a user to log in via a web site;

ii. determine over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward accounts;

iii. provide to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

iv. allow a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated; and

v. accumulate the selected reward points from each of the selected individual reward accounts into a single reward account.

29. A reward points trading computer comprising

a. means to interconnect to a computer network for communication with a user computer and a plurality of individual reward computers,

b. means for allowing a user to log in via a web site;

c. means for determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in each of a plurality of individual reward accounts;

d. means for providing to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

e. means for allowing a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from selected individual reward accounts to be accumulated; and

f. means for accumulating the selected reward points from each of the selected individual reward accounts.

30. A method for accumulating reward points from at least one individual reward issuing entity into a common reward account over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a user accessing a web site for logging into an online reward points trading system that allows accumulation of reward points from at least one individual reward account associated with an individual reward point issuing entity;

b. determining, by accessing a reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity, the number of reward points a user has in the at least one individual reward account associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity;

c. displaying to the user the number of reward points available in the at least one individual reward account;

d. the user interactively selecting via the web site points from the at least one individual reward account to be traded into a common reward account; and

e. the reward points trading system trading the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the reward points trading system trades the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of the reward points trading system trading the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity decreasing the reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

the reward points trading system increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

33. The method of claim 32 comprising the further step of the reward server computer conveying consideration to the reward points trading system corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points trading system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points trading system and the reward server computer.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of recording the trade of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points trading system and the reward server computer.

38. An online networked reward points trading system comprising:

a. a user computer interconnected to a computer network;

b. at least one individual reward computer interconnected to the computer network and comprising a plurality of reward accounts associated with a plurality of users; and

c. a reward points trading computer interconnected to the computer network and adapted to;

i. allow a user to log in via a web site;

ii. determine over the network the number of reward points a user has in at least one individual reward account;

iii. provide to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the at least one each of the plurality of individual reward accounts;

iv. allow a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from at least one selected individual reward account to be traded; and

v. trade the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into a common reward account.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the reward points trading computer is adapted to trade the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into a common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the reward points trading computer is adapted to trade the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into a common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange by

causing the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity to decrease the reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the reward points trading system is further adapted to receive consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points trading system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points trading system and the reward server computer.

43. The system of claim 40 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

44. The system of claim 40 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

45. The system of claim 40 wherein the reward points trading computer is further adapted to record the trade of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points trading computer and the reward server computer.

46. A reward points trading computer comprising:

a. means to interconnect to a computer network for communication with a user computer and a plurality of individual reward computers;

b. means for allowing a user to log in via a web site;

c. means for determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in at least one individual reward account;

c. means for providing to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the at least one individual reward account;

d. means for allowing a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from the at least one individual reward account to be traded into a common reward account; and

e. means for trading the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account.

47. The computer of claim 46 wherein the means for trading the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account performs such trades at a predetermined rate of exchange.

48. The computer of claim 46 wherein the means for trading the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

means for causing the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity to decrease the reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

means for increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

49. The computer of claim 48 further comprising means for receiving consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

50. The computer of claim 49 wherein the consideration received is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points trading computer and the reward server computer.

51. The computer of claim 48 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

52. The computer of claim 48 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

53. The computer of claim 48 further comprising means for recording the trade of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points trading computer and the reward server computer.

54. A method for exchanging reward points from at least one individual reward issuing entity into a common reward account over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a user accessing a web site for logging into an online reward points exchange system that allows exchanging of reward points from at least one individual reward account associated with an individual reward point issuing entity;

b. determining, by accessing a computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity, the number of reward points a user has in the at least one individual reward account associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity;

c. displaying to the user the number of reward points available in the at least one individual reward account;

d. the user interactively selecting via the web site points from the at least one individual reward account to be exchanged into a common reward account; and

e. the reward points trading system exchanging the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into reward points in the common reward account.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the reward points exchange system exchanges the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of the reward points exchange system exchanging the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity decreasing the reward account by the selected number of reward points; and

the reward points exchange system increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

57. The method of claim 56 comprising the further step of the reward server computer conveying consideration to the reward points exchange system corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points exchange system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points trading system and the reward server computer.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

61. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of recording the exchange of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange system and the reward server computer.

62. An online networked reward points exchange system comprising:

a. a user computer interconnected to a computer network;

b. at least one individual reward computer interconnected to the computer network and comprising a plurality of reward accounts associated with a plurality of users; and

c. a reward points exchange computer interconnected to the computer network and adapted to;

i. allow a user to log in via a web site;

ii. determine over the network the number of reward points a user has in at least one individual reward account;

iii. provide to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the at least one individual reward account;

iv. allow a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from at least one selected individual reward account to be exchanged; and

v. exchange the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into reward points in a common reward account.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the reward points exchange computer is adapted to exchange the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into a common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the reward points exchange computer is adapted to exchange the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into a common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange by

causing the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity to decrease the reward account by the selected number of reward points; and

increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the reward points exchange system is further adapted to receive consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points exchange system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points exchange system and the reward server computer.

67. The system of claim 64 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

68. The system of claim 64 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

69. The system of claim 64 wherein the reward points trading computer is further adapted to record the exchange of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange computer and the reward server computer.

70. A reward points exchange computer comprising:

a. means to interconnect to a computer network for communication with a user computer and a plurality of individual reward computers;

b. means for allowing a user to log in via a web site;

c. means for determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in at least one individual reward account;

d. means for providing to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the at least one individual reward account;

e. means for allowing a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from the at least one individual reward account to be exchanged into a common reward account; and

f. means for exchanging the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into reward points in the common reward account.

71. The computer of claim 70 wherein the means for exchanging the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into reward points in the common reward account performs such exchanges at a predetermined rate of exchange.

72. The computer of claim 71 wherein the means for exchanging the selected reward points from the at least one individual reward account into reward points in the common reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

means for causing the reward server computer associated with the at least one individual reward issuing entity to decrease the reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

means for increasing the common reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

73. The computer of claim 72 further comprising means for receiving consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

74. The computer of claim 73 wherein the consideration received is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points trading computer and the reward server computer.

75. The computer of claim 72 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

76. The computer of claim 72 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

77. The computer of claim 72 further comprising means for recording the exchange of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange computer and the reward server computer.

78. A method for exchanging reward points from a first reward account into a second reward account over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a user accessing a web site for logging into an online reward points exchange system that allows exchanging of reward points from a first reward account to reward points in a second reward account;

b. determining, by accessing a reward server computer associated with the first reward account, the number of reward points a user has in the first reward account;

c. displaying to the user the number of reward points available in the first reward account;

d. the user interactively selecting via the web site points from the first reward account to be exchanged into the second reward account; and

e. the reward points exchange system exchanging the selected reward points from the first reward account into reward points in the second reward account.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the reward points exchange system exchanges the selected reward points from the first reward account into the second reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of the reward points exchange system exchanging the selected reward points from the first reward account into reward points in the second reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

the reward server computer associated with the first reward account decreasing the first reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

the reward points exchange system increasing the second reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

81. The method of claim 80 comprising the further step of the reward server computer conveying consideration to the reward points exchange system corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points exchange system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points exchange system and the reward server computer.

83. The method of claim 80 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

84. The method of claim 80 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

85. The method of claim 80 further comprising the step of recording the exchange of the designated reward points from the first reward account into the second reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange system and the reward server computer.

86. An online networked reward points exchange system comprising:

a. a user computer interconnected to a computer network;

b. a first reward computer interconnected to the computer network and comprising a plurality of reward accounts associated with a plurality of users; and

c. a reward points exchange computer interconnected to the computer network and adapted to;

i. allow a user to log in via a web site;

ii. determine over the network the number of reward points a user has in a first reward account on the first reward computer;

iii. provide to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the first reward account;

iv. allow a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from the first reward account to be exchanged; and

v. exchange the selected reward points from the first reward account into reward points in a second reward account.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the reward points exchange computer is adapted to exchange the selected reward points from the first reward account into a second reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein the reward points exchange computer is adapted to exchange the selected reward points from the first reward account into a second reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange by

causing the reward server computer associated with the first reward account to decrease the first reward account by the selected number of reward points; and

causing the second reward account to be increased by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

89. The system of claim 88 wherein the reward points exchange system is further adapted to receive consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the first reward account.

90. The system of claim 89 wherein the consideration conveyed by the reward server computer to the reward points exchange system is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points exchange system and the reward server computer.

91. The system of claim 88 wherein the common reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the common reward account.

92. The system of claim 88 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

93. The system of claim 88 wherein the reward points exchange computer is further adapted to record the exchange of the designated reward points from the at least one individual reward account into the common reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange computer and the reward server computer.

94. A reward points exchange computer comprising:

a. means to interconnect to a computer network for communication with a user computer and a plurality of individual reward computers;

b. means for allowing a user to log in via a web site;

c. means for determining over the network the number of reward points a user has in a first reward points account;

d. means for providing to a user computer a display of the number of reward points available in the first reward points account;

e. means for allowing a user to interactively select, via the user computer, points from the first reward points account to be exchanged into a second reward points account; and

f. means for exchanging the selected reward points from the first reward points account into reward points in the second reward points account.

95. The computer of claim 94 wherein the means for exchanging the selected reward points from the first reward account into reward points in the second reward account performs such exchanges at a predetermined rate of exchange.

96. The computer of claim 95 wherein the means for exchanging the selected reward points from the first reward account into reward points in the second reward account at a predetermined rate of exchange comprises

means for causing the reward server computer associated with the first reward account to decrease the reward account by the designated number of reward points; and

means for increasing the second reward account by the corresponding number of reward points based on the predetermined rate of exchange.

97. The computer of claim 96 further comprising means for receiving consideration conveyed by the reward server computer corresponding to the number of reward points decreased in the reward account.

98. The computer of claim 97 wherein the consideration received is in the form of a monetary credit to an account between the reward points exchange computer and the reward server computer.

99. The computer of claim 96 wherein the second reward account represents a combined value of reward points traded into the second reward account.

100. The computer of claim 96 wherein the reward points represent an earned value with a cash equivalent or negotiable worth.

101. The computer of claim 96 further comprising means for recording the exchange of the designated reward points from the first reward account into the second reward account in a transaction log for a subsequent reconciliation process between the reward points exchange computer and the reward server computer.