Method and apparatus for value allocation exchange

#The present relates generally to exchange or purchase of value allocations, and more specifically to systems and methods for exchanging computer maintained value allocations.

#A common method of encouraging consumer activity is to reward consumers for specified activities. Often, these rewards take the form of free or discounted merchandise based on a quantum of consumer activity. For example, restaurants may encourage consumers to eat lunch at the restaurant by providing free lunches after the consumer has frequented the restaurant for lunch a specified number of times. Airlines, as another example, often have reward programs which reward consumers for the activity of flying with the airline a certain number of trips or for a certain number of miles. Once the consumer has reached the requisite number of trips or miles, the consumer may exchange the value allocations for products or airline flights.

#The Internet provides an additional example of value allocations for encouraging consumer activities. The Internet, and particularly the Worldwide Web (Web), allows individuals to obtain information, view content, and interact with other users and computer systems across the globe. The Internet can be used as an education device, with individuals learning about varied and different subjects. The Internet can also be used as an entertainment vehicle, with individuals able to receive entertainment, and more generally content, from a variety of sources. Indeed, the number of sources of entertainment and products on the web is staggering. Many of the entities delivering the content receive remuneration through the sale of products on the web, others charge for user interaction with a website, while others receive remuneration merely through advertising services of others. Given the staggering number of potential content sources, content providers have taken many steps to encourage users to visit, or interact with, their websites.

#These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

#FIG. 1 is a deployment diagram illustrating an Internet points exchange system;

#FIG. 2 is a process diagram of generating a points buy and sell rate sheet;

#FIG. 1 illustrates a representation of a computer system for exchanging value allocations in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The value allocations represent numerical quanta which, at various sums, may be used to purchase items from an issuer of the value allocations. The representation of FIG. 1 is descriptive of various embodiments. In one embodiment, FIG. 1 represents a deployment diagram illustrating an Internet value allocation exchange system. The Internet value allocation exchange system includes a broker server 1015 hosted by a broker host 1096. A broker, for example a points broker, uses a broker server to buy and sell points over the Internet. The broker server does so by accepting orders from users and satisfying those orders by buying and selling points from entities offering points services. The broker host is a general purpose computer as depicted in FIG. 5.

#FIG. 5 is a hardware architecture diagram of a general purpose computer suitable for use as an Internet value allocation exchange broker server host. Microprocessor 3600, comprised of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 3610, memory cache 3620, and bus interface 3630, is operatively coupled via system bus 3635 to main memory 3640 and I/O control unit 3645. The I/O interface control unit is operatively coupled via I/O local bus 3650 to disk storage controller 3695, video controller 3690, keyboard controller 3685, and communications device 3680. The communications device is adapted to allow software objects hosted by the general purpose computer to communicate via a network with other software objects. The disk storage controller is operatively coupled to disk storage device 3625. The video controller is operatively coupled to video monitor 3660. The keyboard controller is operatively coupled to keyboard 3665. The network controller is operatively coupled to communications device 3696.

#Computer program instructions implementing an Internet points exchange broker server are stored on the disk storage device until the microprocessor retrieves the computer program instructions and stores them in the main memory. The microprocessor then executes the computer program instructions stored in the main memory to implement the Internet points exchange broker server.