Method and system for using reward points to liquidate products

• US 7,761,378 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan; Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US12/105,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 705/15, 705 39- 40
• US Class Current: 705/40
• 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 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• 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 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user'"'"'s reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points. The consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of executing a product liquidation transaction in conjunction with a reward account stored on a reward server computer, comprising the steps of:

a. a user having a reward account stored on a reward server computer associated with a reward account issuer comprising reward points previously awarded by a reward issuing entity to the user as part of a previous transaction, the reward points having (i) a par value established by the reward account issuer equivalent to the amount that the reward account issuer will convey upon surrender of said reward points, and (ii) a retail value equivalent to an amount that the user will accept for surrender of said reward points, said retail value being substantially higher than said par value;

b. a product provider offering to sell a product at a liquidation price that is substantially less than a reference price otherwise charged for the product;

c. the user requesting a transacting entity to facilitate the user in obtaining the product by surrendering at least some of the reward points from the reward account stored on the reward server computer to the reward account issuer, the number of reward points surrendered having a par value substantially equal to the liquidation price and a retail value substantially equal to the reference price;

d. requesting the reward account issuer to convey to the transacting entity the par value of the surrendered reward points;

e. the transacting entity conveying consideration to the product provider equivalent to the liquidation price of the product; and

f. the product provider causing the product to be conveyed to the user;

whereby the user receives the product from the product provider as a result of surrendering the reward points;

from the reward account stored on the reward server computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is a merchant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is a manufacturer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is a wholesaler.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is a distributor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is a liquidator.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is retailer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is broker/trader.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider is an entity operating on a points exchange network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by a liquidating service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by the reward account issuer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by the product provider.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the transacting entity advertising the availability of the product in exchange for reward points.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the liquidation price of the product is equivalent to the par value of the reward points and other consideration.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the user to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the reward account issuer to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the product provider to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward account issuer is a single reward issuing entity.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward account issuer is an aggregator and the reward account is an exchange account comprising reward point value obtained as a result of exchanging reward points from separate reward point accounts stored in separate reward point server computers in association with different reward issuing entities.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward points are represented by frequent flyer miles awarded by an airline.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward points are represented by cash-back value.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward points are represented by gift certificates.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward points are represented by product rebate value.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider conveys the product to the user directly.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the product provider causes a second party to convey the product to the user.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the product provider gives a credit to the second party in exchange for the second party conveying the product to the user.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the product provider provides an alternative product to the second party in exchange for the second party conveying the product to the user.

28. A system for executing a product liquidation transaction comprising:

a. a reward points server computer selectively interconnected over a computer network and associated with a reward account holder issuer, comprising data storage means for storing a reward account associated with a user, the reward account configured to track reward points previously earned by the user for previous transactions between the user and a reward issuing entity, wherein the reward points have (i) a par value established by the reward account issuer equivalent to the amount that the reward account issuer will convey upon surrender of said reward points, and (ii) a retail value equivalent to an amount that the user will accept for surrender of said reward points, said retail value being substantially higher than said par value;

b. a product provider server computer selectively interconnected over the computer network and associated with a product provider, comprising means for offering to sell a product at a liquidation price that is substantially less than a reference price otherwise charged for the product;

c. a user computer selectively interconnected over the computer network and associated with a user, comprising means for requesting a transacting entity to facilitate the user in obtaining the product by surrendering at least some of the reward points to the reward account issuer, the number of reward points surrendered having a par value substantially equal to the liquidation price and a retail value substantially equal to the reference price;

d. a transaction server computer selectively interconnected over the computer network and associated with a transacting entity, comprising;

i. means for requesting the reward account issuer to convey to the transacting entity the par value of the surrendered reward points;

ii. means for conveying consideration to the product provider equivalent to the liquidation price of the product;

whereby the user receives the product from the product provider as a result of surrendering the reward points.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is a merchant.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is a manufacturer.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is a wholesaler.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is a distributor.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is a liquidator.

34. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider is retailer.

35. The system of claim 28 wherein the transacting entity is a liquidating service.

36. The system of claim 28 wherein the transacting entity and the reward account issuer are the same entity.

37. The system of claim 28 wherein the transacting entity and the product provider are the same entity.

38. The system of claim 28 wherein the transaction server computer further comprises means for advertising the availability of the product in exchange for reward points.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the liquidation price of the product is equivalent to the par value of the reward points and other consideration.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the user to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the reward account issuer to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the product provider to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

43. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward account issuer is a single reward issuing entity.

44. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward account issuer is an aggregator and the reward account is an exchange account comprising reward point value obtained as a result of exchanging reward points from separate reward point accounts stored in separate reward point server computers in association with different reward issuing entities.

45. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward points represented by frequent flyer miles awarded by an airline.

46. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward points are represented by cash-back value.

47. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward points are represented by gift certificates.

48. The system of claim 28 wherein the reward points are represented by product rebate value.

49. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider conveys the product to the user directly.

50. The system of claim 28 wherein the product provider causes a second party to convey the product to the user.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the product provider gives a credit to the second party in exchange for the second party conveying the product to the user.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the product provider provides an alternative product to the second party in exchange for the second party conveying the product to the user.

53. A method of a transacting entity facilitating a product liquidation transaction comprising the steps of:

a. a transacting entity offering a product for sale from a product provider to a user in exchange for a quantity of reward values, the reward values being stored in a reward account held by a reward account holder on a reward server computer comprising reward values previously provided by a reward issuing entity to the user, the reward values having a par value attributed by the reward account holder equivalent to a first amount that the reward account holder is willing to convey upon surrender of said reward values, the reward values also having a retail value attributed by the user equivalent to a second amount that the user is willing to accept upon surrender of said reward values, wherein the retail value of the quantity of reward values is equivalent to a reference price;

b. accepting a request from a user to convey the product in exchange for the quantity of reward values from the reward server computer specified by the transacting entity;

c. causing the reward account on the reward server computer to be reduced by the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

d. effecting a transfer of consideration from the reward account holder on the reward server computer to the product provider, the consideration equivalent to a liquidation price that is substantially less than the reference price, the liquidation price equivalent to the par value of the reward values surrendered; and

e. causing the product provider to transfer the product to the user.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a merchant.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a manufacturer.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a wholesaler.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a distributor.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a liquidator.

59. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is retailer.

60. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is broker/trader.

61. The method of claim 53 wherein the product provider is a points exchange network.

62. The method of claim 53 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by a liquidating service.

63. The method of claim 53 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by the reward account holder.

64. The method of claim 53 wherein the steps performed by the transacting entity are performed by the product provider.

65. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of the transacting entity advertising the availability of the product in exchange for reward values.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the liquidation price of the product is equivalent to the par value of the reward values needed to obtain the product.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the user to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the reward account holder to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

69. The method of claim 66 wherein a transaction fee is conveyed from the product provider to the transacting entity in exchange for executing the transaction.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein the liquidation price of the product is equivalent to the par value of the reward values and other consideration.

71. The method of claim 53 wherein the reward account holder is a single reward issuing entity.

72. The method of claim 53 wherein the reward account holder is an aggregator and the reward account is an exchange account comprising reward point value obtained as a result of exchanging reward values from at least one or more different reward issuing entities.

73. A product transaction server computer comprising:

a. means for offering a product for sale from a product provider to a user in exchange for a quantity of reward values, the reward values being stored in a reward account held by a reward account holder comprising reward values previously provided by a reward issuing entity to the user, the reward values having a par value attributed by the reward account holder equivalent to a first amount that the reward account holder is willing to convey upon surrender of said reward values, the reward values also having a retail value attributed by the user equivalent to a second amount that the user is willing to accept upon surrender of said reward values, wherein the retail value of the quantity of reward values is equivalent to a reference price;

b. means for accepting a request from a user to convey the product in exchange for the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

c. means for causing the reward account to be reduced by the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

d. means for effecting a transfer of consideration from the reward account holder to the product provider, the consideration equivalent to a liquidation price that is substantially less than the reference price, the liquidation price equivalent to the par value of the reward values surrendered; and

e. means for causing the product provider to transfer the product to the user.

74. A product transaction server computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to operate the computer to:

a. enable offering a product for sale from a product provider to a user in exchange for a quantity of reward values, the reward values being stored in a reward account held by a reward account holder comprising reward values previously provided by a reward issuing entity to the user, the reward values having a par value attributed by the reward account holder equivalent to a first amount that the reward account holder is willing to convey upon surrender of said reward values, the reward values also having a retail value attributed by the user equivalent to a second amount that the user is willing to accept upon surrender of said reward values, wherein the retail value of the quantity of reward values is equivalent to a reference price;

b. accept a request from a user to convey the product in exchange for the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

c. cause the reward account to be reduced by the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

d. effect a transfer of consideration from the reward account holder to the product provider, the consideration equivalent to a liquidation price that is substantially less than the reference price, the liquidation price equivalent to the par value of the reward values surrendered; and

e. cause the product provider to transfer the product to the user.

75. A method of a product provider facilitating a product liquidation transaction comprising the steps of:

a. causing a transacting entity to offer a product for sale to a user in exchange for a quantity of reward values, the reward values being stored in a reward account held by a reward account holder on a reward server computer comprising reward values previously provided by a reward issuing entity to the user, the reward values having a par value attributed by the reward account holder equivalent to a first amount that the reward account holder is willing to convey upon surrender of said reward values, the reward values also having a retail value attributed by the user equivalent to a second amount that the user is willing to accept upon surrender of said reward values, wherein the retail value of the quantity of reward values is equivalent to a reference price;

b. authorizing the transacting entity to

(i) accept a request from a user to convey the product in exchange for the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity;

(ii) cause the reward account on the reward server computer to be reduced by the quantity of reward values specified by the transacting entity; and

(iii) effect a transfer of consideration from the reward account holder on the reward server computer to the product provider, the consideration equivalent to a liquidation price that is substantially less than the reference price, the liquidation price equivalent to the par value of the reward values surrendered; and

c. providing the product to the user.