# US 8,571,926 B2 · System and apparatus for linking multiple rewards programs to promote the purchase of specific product mixes

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- Number: US 8,571,926 B2
- Document ID: US8571926B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/566,478
- Filed: 2012-08-03
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-30
- Assignees: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
- Applicants: Corinne Bortolin; Loc Nguyen
- Inventors: Corinne Bortolin; Loc Nguyen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571926B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0227: {Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems}
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q 30/0226: Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
- G06Q 30/0235: constrained by time limit or expiration date
- G06Q 90/00: Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving information at a host server computer about a first reward program created by a first merchant, wherein the first reward program provides for a first reward when a first product is purchased from the first merchant;
receiving information at the host server computer about a second reward program created by a second merchant, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward when a second product different from the first product is purchased from the second merchant; and
using the host server computer, providing for a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program and the second reward program and that provides a combination reward that is based on the purchase of at least the first product and the second product, wherein the combination reward is given to a consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer purchases the first product and the second product.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than the value of each of the first reward and the second reward.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than the combined value of the first reward and the second reward.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer uses a portable consumer device to purchase both of the first product and the second product.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second product is purchased after the first product, and the combination reward is a reduction in price of the second product.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the combination reward program is based on the purchase of the first product and more than one of the second product, and the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer purchases the first product and more than one of the second product.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the second reward program provides the second reward for only the first one of second product being purchased from the second merchant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer purchases the first product and the second product made by the same company.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the combination reward is void if the consumer purchases a third product made by a different company at the same time as purchasing either the first product or the second product.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving information at a host server computer about a third reward program created by a third merchant, wherein the third reward program provides for a third reward when a third product is purchased from the third merchant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the combination reward program is also linked to the third reward program and the combination reward is also based on the purchase of the third product, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward, the second reward, and the third reward if the consumer purchases the first product, the second product, and the third product.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward, the second reward, and the third reward if the consumer purchases the first product, the second product, and more than one of the third product.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward, the second reward, and the third reward if the consumer purchases the first product, more than one of the second product, and more than one of the third product.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
receiving, at a host server computer, information about a first pre-existing reward program created by a first merchant, wherein the first reward program provides for a first reward;
receiving, at the host server computer, information about a second pre-existing reward program created by a second merchant, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward; and
using the host server computer, providing for a combination reward program that provides a combination reward, wherein the combination reward is given to a consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer purchases the first product and the second product.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the combination reward is given to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward if the consumer uses a portable consumer device to purchase the first product and the second product.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the portable consumer device includes a dynamic data field that may be updated based on a product preference of the consumer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the dynamic data field is updated each time the reward programs accumulate or redeem a reward.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the portable consumer device includes information about past purchases for facilitating determinations about combination rewards.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the combination reward program and the portable consumer device are provided by the same host organization.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
reducing or eliminating the combination reward if a third product is purchased.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
receiving information about a third pre-existing reward program for a third product, wherein the third reward program provides a third reward, wherein the combination reward is greater than each of the first reward, the second reward, and the third reward.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
communicating parameters to access devices used by the first merchant and the second merchant to facilitate the sale of the first product and the second product, wherein the parameters enable the access devices to determine when rewards are accumulated or redeemed if a qualifying purchase transaction is conducted by a consumer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the combination reward is an extension of time to receive at least one of the first reward and the second reward.

### Claim 24 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the combination reward is the ability to access the at least one of the first reward or the second reward at an earlier date.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the combination reward is a monetary award.

### Claim 26 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the first reward program is created by a first merchant, the second reward program is created by a second merchant, and the combination reward program is created by a host organization that is affiliated with both the first merchant and the second merchant.