US 8,195,507 B2 · Method and system for using multi-function cards for storing, managing and aggregating reward points

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.

Claims18

Dependent claims

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

wherein the processing circuitry is programmed via instructions in the program storage to:
store in the data memory a plurality of transaction applications and a plurality of reward accounts, each of said reward accounts being associated with one of the plurality of transaction applications,
issue rewards in association with a transaction executed using a selected one of the plurality of transaction applications,
store the issued rewards in the reward account associated with the transaction application selected for use with the transaction;
and
combine rewards previously stored in at least two of the plurality of the reward accounts towards purchase of an item.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/726,505Filed 18 Mar 2010 · continuation

Priority

23 Jun 1999

Published

US 2010/0223118 A12 Sep 2010

Granted

5 Jun 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

G06Q 30/0227
Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems: frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between…
G06Q 20/105
Specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems: involving programming of a portable…
G06Q 20/204
Point-of-sale [POS] network systems: comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
G06Q 20/227
Payment schemes or models: characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer

Family

Application60/140,603Us provisional application · filed 23 Jun 1999

Application09/602,222Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Jun 2000

Application10/608,736Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Jun 2003

US 6,594,640 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Jul 2003

Application10/835,547Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Apr 2004

US 6,820,061 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Nov 2004

US 7,716,080 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 11 May 2010

US 2010/0223118 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Sep 2010

Application10/835,547Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application10/608,736Parent of this continuation

US 2004/0098317 A1Published application

US 2005/0021400 A1Published application

US 8,195,507 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and system for using multi-function cards for storing, managing and aggregating reward points

Life of this patent

Method and system for using multi-function cards for storing, managing and aggregating reward points

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18