Reward program management system and method

A reward program management system for managing a combination of a plurality of rewards earned by a person through participation in a plurality of reward earning programs of different earn partners, the person having a plurality of identifiers associated with the person, at least some of which being in respect of the plurality of reward earning programs, the system comprising:

• a first server accessible to earn partners via electronic communication over a first network, the first server configured to receive reward information from earn partners, the reward information including, in respect of the person, at least a reward earned by the person and one of the plurality of identifiers associated with the person associated with the reward;
• a first computer-readable information storage medium in electronic communication with the first server, the first computer-readable information storage medium including a first database storing at least a plurality of the rewards earned by the person and the identifier associated with each reward;
• a second server accessible to the person via a second network and in electronic communication with the first computer-readable information storage medium, the first server configured to provide the person with an interface to receive information from the person regarding at least two of the plurality of identifiers associated with the person to create a set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• a computer processor in electronic communication with the first computer-readable information storage medium, for retrieving and totaling the rewards earned by the person stored in the first database in association with all of the identifiers of the set of linked identifiers, to create a total reward associated with the person;
• a second computer-readable information storage medium in electronic communication with the computer processor, the second computer-readable information storage medium including a second database storing at least the total reward associated with the person and at least one of the set of linked identifiers;
• and
• a third server accessible to burn partners via a third network and in electronic communication with the second computer-readable information storage medium, the third server configured to provide information regarding the total reward associated with the person upon receipt from a burn partner of the at least one of the set of linked identifiers.

A method of managing a plurality of reward earning programs in order to provide for joint burning of rewards earned through different ones of the plurality of reward earning programs, comprising:

• receiving, via at least one network, a first electronic signal representative of information including at least (i) a first reward earned by the person at a first earn partner through a first reward earning program, and (ii) a first identifier associated with the person in respect of the first reward;
• storing the information received via the first electronic signal in at least one computer-readable information storage medium;
• receiving, via the at least one network, a second electronic signal representative of information including at least (ii) a second reward earned by the person at a second earn partner through a second earning program, and (ii) a second identifier associated with the person in respect of the second reward;
• storing the information received via the second electronic signal in the at least one computer-readable information storage medium;
• sending, via the at least one network, a third electronic signal representative of an interface allowing the person input at least the first identifier and the second identifier;
• receiving, via the at least one network, a fourth electronic signal representative of at least the first identifier and the second identifier generated in response to input from the person;
• creating a link, via at least one computer processor, between at least the first identifier and the second identifier to create a set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• totaling, via the at least one computer processor, the rewards earned by the person stored in association with all the identifiers of the set of linked identifiers to create a total reward associated with the person;
• receiving, via the at least one network, a fifth electronic signal representative of the at least one of the set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• sending, via the at least one network, a sixth electronic signal representative of the total reward associated with the person.

A method of managing a plurality of reward earning programs in order to provide for joint burning of rewards earned through different ones of the plurality of reward earning programs, comprising:

• receiving, via a first network, a first electronic signal representative of information including at least (i) a first reward earned by the person at a first earn partner through a first reward earning program, and (ii) a first identifier associated with the person in respect of the first reward;
• storing the information received via the first electronic signal in a first computer-readable information storage medium;
• receiving, via the first network, a second electronic signal representative of information including at least (ii) a second reward earned by the person at a second earn partner through a second earning program, and (ii) a second identifier associated with the person in respect of the second reward;
• storing the information received via the second electronic signal in the first computer-readable information storage medium;
• sending, via a second network, a third electronic signal representative of an interface allowing the person input at least the first identifier and the second identifier;
• receiving, via the second network, a fourth electronic signal representative of at least the first identifier and the second identifier generated in response to input from the person;
• creating a link, via a first computer processor, between at least the first identifier and the second identifier to create a set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• totaling, via a second computer processor, the rewards earned by the person stored in association with all the identifiers of the set of linked identifiers to create a total reward associated with the person;
• receiving, via a third network, a fifth electronic signal representative of the at least one of the set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• sending, via the third network, a sixth electronic signal representative of the total reward associated with the person.

A method of managing a plurality of reward earning programs in order to provide for joint burning of rewards earned through different ones of the plurality of reward earning programs, comprising:

• receiving, via a first network, a first electronic signal representative of information including at least (i) a first reward earned by the person at a first earn partner through a first reward earning program, and (ii) a first identifier associated with the person in respect of the first reward;
• storing the information received via the first electronic signal in a first computer-readable information storage medium;
• receiving, via the first network, a second electronic signal representative of information including at least (ii) a second reward earned by the person at a second earn partner through a second earning program, and (ii) a second identifier associated with the person in respect of the second reward;
• storing the information received via the second electronic signal in the first computer-readable information storage medium;
• sending, via a second network, a third electronic signal representative of an interface allowing the person input at least the first identifier, the second identifier, and a master identifier;
• receiving, via the second network, a fourth electronic signal representative of at least the first identifier, the second identifier, and the master identifier generated in response to input from the person;
• creating a link, via a first computer processor, between at least the first identifier, the second identifier, and the master identifier to create a set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• totaling, via a second computer processor, the rewards earned by the person stored in association with all the identifiers of the set of linked identifiers to create a total reward associated with the person;
• receiving, via a third network, a fifth electronic signal representative of the master identifier associated with the person;
• sending, via the third network, a sixth electronic signal representative of the total reward associated with the person.

A method of managing a plurality of reward earning programs as recited in claim 42, wherein the first reward, the second reward, and the total reward are each a reduction in a predetermined per unit price of fuel;

• and
• further comprising, after sending the sixth electronic signal, via a third computer processor:
• reducing the predetermined per unit price of fuel by at least the total reward associated with the person;
• and
• pumping fuel at the reduced price per unit.

A reward program management system comprising:

• a plurality of rewards earned by a person through participation in a plurality of reward earning programs of different earn partners, the person having a plurality of identifiers associated with the person in respect of the plurality of reward earning programs, each of the rewards having at least one of the plurality of identifiers associated therewith, at least two of the rewards having different ones of the plurality of identifiers associated therewith;
• a master identifier associated with the person;
• and
• an interface allowing the person to link the plurality of identifiers with the master identifier so as to permit joint burning of the plurality of rewards.

A method of managing a plurality of reward earning programs in order to provide for joint burning of rewards earned through different ones of the plurality of reward earning programs, comprising:

• receiving first reward information including at least (i) a first reward earned by the person at a first earn partner through a first reward earning program, and (ii) a first identifier associated with the person in respect of the first reward;
• receiving second reward information including at least (ii) a second reward earned by the person at a second earn partner through a second earning program, and (ii) a second identifier associated with the person in respect of the second reward;
• linking the first identifier and the second identifier to create a set of linked identifiers associated with the person;
• totaling the rewards earned by the person stored in association with all the identifiers of the set of linked identifiers to create a total reward associated with the person;
• sending the total reward associated with the person for burning.

A software interface permitting a person to maintain one or more reward program memberships, the interface being configured to provide displays including:

• a prompt requesting identification information;
• a list of earn partner rewards programs in which a person participates;
• information on earned rewards for each earn partner on the list;
• and
• an option to link two or more of the earn partner rewards programs on the list to jointly burn rewards earned in linked earn partner rewards programs.

A website including one or more storage media for storing instructions and data for carrying out various steps associated with one or more rewards programs including:

• creating one or more member accounts associated with one or more rewards programs, respectively, of which a person is a member;
• linking two or more existing member accounts;
• accessing the customer accounts using one form of identification;
• and
• accounting for earned rewards accrued from rewards earned in the two or more rewards programs and burned rewards burned by the person.