U.S. patent application number 13/955743 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for reward exchange method and system with control of exchanged rewards and monetary consideration.
This patent application is currently assigned to Signature Systems LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Signature Systems LLC. Invention is credited to Richard Postrel.
Application Number | 20140100939 13/955743 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44152387 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140100939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Postrel; Richard |
April 10, 2014 |
REWARD EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH CONTROL OF EXCHANGED REWARDS
AND MONETARY CONSIDERATION
Abstract
An item may be purchased using a combination of rewards and
monetary consideration, wherein a maximum allowable reward payment
portion (or correspondingly a minimum monetary consideration
amount) is established by the merchant, the reward issuer, or an
online reward exchange operator. The user may select, using for
example a user interface slider control, the desired number of
rewards to redeem (up to the maximum allowable amount) and the
corresponding monetary consideration portion is displayed. The
transaction may then be executed wherein the selected rewards are
redeemed and the balance is paid for with the corresponding
monetary consideration.
Inventors: |
Postrel; Richard; (Miami
Beach, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Signature Systems LLC |
Miami Beach |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Signature Systems LLC
Miami Beach
FL
|
Family ID: |
44152387 |
Appl. No.: |
13/955743 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12942710 |
Nov 9, 2010 |
8533037 |
|
|
13955743 |
|
|
|
|
12703265 |
Feb 10, 2010 |
8615428 |
|
|
12942710 |
|
|
|
|
12687423 |
Jan 14, 2010 |
|
|
|
12703265 |
|
|
|
|
61144733 |
Jan 14, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0239 20130101;
G06Q 30/0233 20130101; G06Q 30/0238 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/0228 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.33 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method for operating a reward exchange
system comprising: a) transmitting to a remote computing device
purchase price information comprising: (i) a purchase price for an
item for sale from a merchant, wherein the purchase price may be
paid with a reward payment portion and a monetary consideration
portion, the reward payment portion equivalent to a value of
rewards that may be redeemed by a user from at least one reward
issuer towards payment of the purchase price for the item; and (ii)
a maximum allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward
payment portion of the purchase price; and b) receiving from the
remote computing device a purchase request for the item, the
purchase request comprising (i) a desired amount of the reward
payment portion and (ii) a desired amount of the monetary
consideration portion; c) wherein (i) the desired amount of the
reward payment portion does not exceed the maximum allowable reward
payment portion for the reward payment portion amount of the
purchase price, and (ii) the total value of (A) the desired amount
of the reward payment portion and (B) the desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price
for the item.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a user
interface instruction to provide a slider control at the remote
computing device, the slider control allowing a user to select
along an axis the desired amount of the reward payment portion only
up to the maximum allowable reward payment portion.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising calculating the desired
amount of the monetary consideration portion as a function of the
desired amount of the reward payment portion selected with the
slider control.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a user
interface instruction to display the purchase price information at
the remote computing device.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user interface instruction
further comprises an input box control element that is displayed to
allow entry of the purchase request.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established by the merchant.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established by the at least one reward
issuer.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established by an operator of the online
reward exchange system.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established as a percentage of the
purchase price.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established as a value.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount is established as a number of reward
points.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising d) executing a
transaction for the purchase of the item by (i) redeeming the
rewards of the reward payment portion received in the purchase
request, (ii) executing a monetary transaction for the monetary
consideration portion, and (iii) providing the item to the
user.
13. The method of claim 1 comprising d) determining a plurality of
items that may be purchased with the desired amount of the reward
payment portion and the desired amount of the monetary
consideration portion; and e) transmitting to the remote computing
device a description of the plurality of items that may be
purchased with the desired amount of the reward payment portion and
the desired amount of the monetary consideration portion.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of items that may
be purchased with the desired amount of the reward payment portion
and the desired amount of the monetary consideration portion may be
purchased from a predefined cluster of merchants, wherein merchant
in said cluster of merchants agrees to provide items at the
purchase price that may be paid for with a reward payment portion
and a monetary consideration portion, utilizing the maximum
allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward payment
portion of the purchase price.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowable reward
payment portion is modified over time in accordance with an
expiration date of the item for purchase.
16-29. (canceled)
30. A reward exchange computer programmed to: a) transmit to a
remote computing device purchase price information comprising: (i)
a purchase price for an item for sale from a merchant, wherein the
purchase price may be paid with a reward payment portion and a
monetary consideration portion, the reward payment portion
equivalent to a value of rewards that may be redeemed by a user
from at least one reward issuer towards payment of the purchase
price for the item; and (ii) a maximum allowable reward payment
portion amount for the reward payment portion of the purchase
price; and b) receive from the remote computing device a purchase
request for the item, the purchase request comprising (i) a desired
amount of the reward payment portion and (ii) a desired amount of
the monetary consideration portion; c) wherein (i) the desired
amount of the reward payment portion does not exceed the maximum
allowable reward payment portion for the reward payment portion
amount of the purchase price, and (ii) the total value of (A) the
desired amount of the reward payment portion and (B) the desired
amount of the monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the
purchase price for the item.
31. The reward exchange computer of claim 30 further programmed to
transmit a user interface instruction to provide a slider control
at the remote computing device, the slider control allowing a user
to select along an axis the desired amount of the reward payment
portion only up to the maximum allowable reward payment
portion.
32. The reward exchange computer of claim 31 wherein the desired
amount of the monetary consideration portion is calculated as a
function of the desired amount of the reward payment portion
selected with the slider control.
33. The reward exchange computer of claim 30 further programmed to
transmit a user interface instruction to display the purchase price
information at the remote computing device.
34. The reward exchange computer of claim 33 wherein the user
interface instruction further comprises an input box control
element that is displayed to allow entry of the purchase
request.
35-83. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to reward systems, and in particular
to a reward point exchange platform that enables users to exchange,
redeem and manage reward points amongst various reward programs via
an online exchange service.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Users often may earn reward points as part of a transaction
with a merchant or issued by a credit card company or a
distributor. For example, a merchant and/or issuer may award a user
one point for each dollar spent. In this case, a $100 purchase will
result in the awarding of 100 reward points, which are tracked in a
reward point account stored on a reward point server computer
managed by the merchant, issuer or a third party service provider.
In addition, credit card issuers may implement their own reward
point system, such as AMERICAN EXPRESS MEMBERSHIP REWARDS. In this
card issuer-based system, a user may be awarded one point for every
dollar spent regardless of the merchant. For example, if a user
spends a total of $2,465 in one month with his credit card, the
issuer may award him with 2,465 points in a reward account. Often
these merchant-based programs are implemented independently from a
card issuer-based program, such that a user may be awarded with
reward points in multiple accounts based on the same transaction.
Airline frequent flyer programs operate similarly and may award
points or miles based on the distance or cost of an airplane trip
(or on the value of the customer to the airline rather than its
distance or cost).
[0003] Many programs offer redemption programs in which the user
may trade in, or redeem, his reward points in exchange for goods,
services, or discounts. For example, a user may redeem 20,000
MEMBERSHIP REWARD points for a music player device, or he may
redeem 50,000 AMERICAN AIRLINES points for a free flight or seat
upgrade, etc. A major problem in this field is that redemption
options are limited to only certain goods available from a certain
merchant, issuer, or catalog. Also, users often have small amounts
of points in several accounts, each of which provide no meaningful
redemption options. My issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,594,640; 6,842,739;
6,820,061; 6,829,586; 6,947,898; 7,096,190; 7,512,551; 7,624,040;
7,624,041 relate to the exchange and/or combination of reward
points from various user accounts so that the aggregated reward
points provide greater redemption options to the user. This new
invention is for a reward point exchange platform in which
consumers (users), merchants, manufacturers, issuers and other
partners may interoperate to the benefit of all parties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention includes a system that provides for
and implements a "promotional wallet". For example, card issuers
desire consumers to adopt and utilize (spend money with) their
card. To achieve this, they offer an incentive system whereby they
provide points or other value to the consumer (the "promotional
wallet" of the issuer). The consumer collects this promotional
wallet from numerous issuers, with the average American household
being a member of fourteen reward programs. The consumer is able to
aggregate their promotional wallet, based on a set of eligibility
rules, which he trades in exchange for goods and services from the
merchant by transferring his promotional wallet to the merchant.
The merchant in turn transfers his promotional wallet in the form
of a discount provided to the issuer. Thus, a complete cycle of the
promotional wallets are transferred from the issuer to the
consumer, from the consumer to the merchant, and from the merchant
to the issuer, allowing the issuer to liquidate his liability at a
discount, merchants to sell more and optimize their inventory, and
consumers to purchase products and services from a much larger
universe of offerings with greater frequency and ease. In addition
a product manufacturer may operate in the same manner as a merchant
by providing products for sale directly to the consumer or through
a third party via the exchange of the present invention without
using the merchant as a middleman; the manufacturer may also
provide a portion of his promotional wallet to merchants and other
participants in the wholesale-retail chain of distribution as an
incentive for participating on the exchange in liquidating certain
products and services designated by the manufacturer as a credit
towards the purchase of "new inventory" for every item sold in the
selected inventory for liquidation as designated by the
manufacturer on the exchange. This helps to collapse the cycle time
of bringing new products of the manufacturer to market and
increases the sales volume of the merchants as well, without
cannibalizing the cash wallet of the consumer. For the issuer,
provided is an optimization methodology for the lifetime value of
his reward points and frequent flyer miles.
[0005] The exchange of the present invention further provides for
issuers to geometrically expand their merchant base and redemption
offering opportunities to consumers in a seamless end-to-end
solution which allows consumers to not only aggregate their reward
points for a higher value redemption and a higher perceived value
redemption, but more frequent redemption opportunities and solves
the problem for issuers of not being able to manage large numbers
of merchants in their reward program. Most reward programs have
less than a thousand merchants who redeem points, the largest being
AMERICAN EXPRESS with approximately 1500 merchants. Currently these
merchant programs are managed by account managers. There is a limit
to the number of accounts they can manage. Thus, only a limited
number of merchants participate and this is generally confined to
the largest merchants. Under this invention, the nearly 18 million
merchants in the United States and millions of international
merchants that accept credit cards would now be able to participate
on reward programs. The system provides automated eligibility and
trading capabilities for the issuers to enable the electronic
management of the system. In so doing, this allows for a bidding
system whereby millions of merchants may bid for access to issuers'
card-members by offering a discount on the redeemed value of the
issuers' points for that privilege, thereby driving the cost of
redemption down and liquidating liability at meaningful discounts
for the issuer.
[0006] By implementing the present invention, the merchant is
provided with an inventory optimization system which is based upon
an age discount progression algorithm whereby inventory is tracked
according to age and assigned a discount based upon the algorithm.
When the algorithm matches one or more of the trading relationships
established with issuers, or meets a designated price, that
inventory is transferred into the rewards server and is available
for redemption on the exchange thereby creating an inventory
optimization engine that dynamically connects the merchants'
promotional wallet to the issuer with the sale discount on his
selected merchandise according to his rules based algorithm.
[0007] In one embodiment, it is recognized that a major expense of
a merchant is his differential discount from full price to cash
price. When merchants get new inventory, it is put out for sale
(whether in a brick and mortar store or an online store) at full
price. If the products sell at an acceptable rate then the price
will stay at full price. If, however, the merchandise does not sell
at an acceptable rate, then the merchandise is discounted.
Depending upon how poorly the merchandise sells, and how long it
takes to sell, that merchandise is discounted at a greater degree.
Under the present invention, this discount may be utilized as a
promotional wallet and be transferred to the issuer. For example, a
merchant may provide 60% off full price in his store, and have a
relationship to provide 30% off in the exchange and earn an
additional 30% on the sale of that product. Or, in the alternative,
the merchant may opt to provide 30% off to the customer and 30% off
to the issuer. In this scenario a $100 item would sell for a $70
price to the customer. The customer would redeem what he perceives
to be a one hundred dollar item paid for with $70 worth of points
from a selected issuer(s), which may be 7,000 points (with a
perceived value of one cent per point). The merchant would provide
a further 30% discount to the issuer, so the issuer would only pay
the merchant $40 cash but would retire 7,000 of the customer's
reward points in the transaction. By selling the inventory at less
of a discount to the consumer ($30 rather than $60), brand
devaluation is eliminated, and the consumer is glad to be able to
purchase using his promotional wallet and preserving his cash. The
exchange takes a transaction fee from individual constituents.
[0008] Thus, as more fully described herein, the present invention
in one aspect is a method for operating an online reward exchange
system. A user registers via a user computer over a computer
network with an exchange computer via a web site by entering into
the user computer user information comprising reward account
information for at least one reward program in which the user is
previously enrolled, the reward program operated by an issuer via
an issuer computer and providing reward points to a reward account
of the user stored in association with the issuer computer as a
result of a transaction previously executed between the user and
the issuer. A plurality of merchants also register with the
exchange computer via the web site by using an associated merchant
computer for providing merchant information comprising (i) product
information that identifies at least one product to be offered for
sale to the user via the exchange computer, and (ii) a designation
of issuers registered with the exchange computer with which the
merchant agrees to execute a reward redemption transaction when
requested by the user. A plurality of issuers also register with
the exchange computer via the web site, each of the issuers
registering using an associated issuer computer for providing
issuer information comprising a designation of merchants registered
with the exchange computer with which the issuer agrees to execute
a reward redemption transaction when requested by the user.
[0009] The exchange computer communicates with each of the issuer
computers with which the user is enrolled with a reward account
with the issuer computer. The exchange computer receives reward
account information from each of the issuer computers for the user.
The exchange computer then calculates a promotional wallet for the
user, which comprises a total redeemable value for all of the
user's reward accounts stored in the plurality of issuer computers.
The exchange computer then displays to the user via the user
computer the user's promotional wallet.
[0010] In one embodiment, an unregistered user views a web page
from an issuer computer of a registered issuer, the unregistered
user being previously enrolled in a reward program of the
registered issuer. The unregistered user selects a link on the web
page that automatically links the unregistered user computer to the
exchange computer, and the exchange computer automatically
registers the unregistered user by using reward account information
transmitted from the issuer computer to the exchange computer. The
user may then enter additional reward account information for a
plurality of additional issuers with which the user is previously
enrolled.
[0011] A reward redemption transaction may then be executed by a
user selecting, via a web page served to the user computer by the
exchange computer, an item for purchase from a merchant (for
example by utilizing a dynamic search filter presented by the web
page that enables the user to select a desired product category,
manufacturer, and/or price range), the item to be purchased at
least partially by the redemption of reward points from at least
one issuer. The user selects via the web page at least one reward
program previously registered in the exchange computer by the user
and a quantity of reward points to be redeemed for the purchase of
the item by the user. The exchange computer then causes a purchase
transaction to be executed for the item selected by the user using
at least the quantity of reward points from the reward program
selected by the user.
[0012] The user may also select via the user computer a plurality
of points of interest, which are tracked and analyzed by the
exchange computer. The exchange computer then provides the user
computer with a web page displaying products available for
redemption determined as a result of analyzing the points of
interest selected by the user. The exchange computer may also
dynamically display to the user computer a quantity of products
available for redemption that correspond to each of the points of
interest selected by the user.
[0013] In one embodiment, the exchange computer causes the purchase
transaction to be executed for the item selected by the user using
at least the quantity of reward points from the reward program
selected by the user by first requesting the issuer computer
associated with the selected reward program to (I) reduce the
reward account associated with the user by the quantity of reward
points selected by the user for execution of the reward redemption
transaction, and (II) convey consideration to the exchange computer
corresponding to the quantity of reward points selected by the user
for execution of the reward redemption transaction. The exchange
computer then conveys consideration to the merchant computer
selected by the user in exchange for the associated merchant
providing to the user the selected item.
[0014] In another embodiment, the exchange computer causes the
purchase transaction to be executed by requesting the merchant to
execute the purchase transaction by first transmitting to the
merchant computer (I) an identification of the item selected by the
user and (II) an identification of the reward issuer selected by
the user and the quantity of reward points selected by the user for
redemption for the item. The merchant computer then requests the
issuer computer associated with the selected reward program to (I)
reduce the reward account associated with the user by the quantity
of reward points selected by the user for execution of the reward
redemption transaction, and (II) convey consideration to the
merchant computer corresponding to the quantity of reward points
selected by the user for execution of the reward redemption
transaction. The issuer computer at some point (e.g. in real time
or at a later time in batch mode) conveys consideration to the
merchant in exchange for the merchant providing to the user the
selected item.
[0015] The exchange computer may provide a proposed redemption
solution to the user computer, which designates at least one reward
program previously registered in the exchange computer by the user
and a quantity of reward points to be redeemed for the purchase of
the item by the user. The user may then either accept the proposed
redemption solution, or modify the proposed redemption solution as
desired.
[0016] The exchange computer determines the proposed redemption
solution by any or all of: (1) referencing a user profile stored in
an associated user profile database that indicates user preferences
as to which of a plurality of reward programs is desired to be used
for reward redemption, (2) analyzing prior reward redemptions by
the user stored in an associated reward redemption database to
ascertain a preferred reward program, (3) ascertaining by reference
to a merchant profile database a preferred redemption partner of
the merchant from which the user is making the product purchase,
(4) referencing an exchange rules profile stored in an exchange
rules profile database that indicates exchange preferences as to
which of a plurality of reward programs is desired to be used for
reward redemption, (5) referencing an issuer rules profile stored
in an issuer rules profile database that indicates issuer
preferences as to which of a plurality of reward programs is
desired to be used for reward redemption. In the case of the issuer
rules profile, the issuer preferences may comprise (1) a preference
to redeem the reward points of a primary issuer before redeeming
reward points of issuers other than the primary issuer, (2) a
preference to redeem the reward points of a primary issuer after
redeeming reward points of issuers other than the primary issuer,
(3) a preference to redeem the reward points of a primary issuer up
to a specified amount, after which the points of issuers other than
the primary issuer will be redeemed, or (4) a preference to redeem
the reward points of a issuers other than a primary issuer up to a
specified amount, after which the points of the primary issuer will
be redeemed.
[0017] In one aspect, the user may bid on a reward redemption
transaction by selecting via a web page served by the exchange
computer to the user computer an item for purchase from a merchant,
the item to be purchased at least partially by the redemption of
reward points from at least one issuer; then the user selects via
the web page at least one reward program previously registered in
the exchange computer by the user and a quantity of reward points
to be bid to be redeemed for the purchase of the item by the user.
The user computer submits to the exchange computer a bid comprising
a quantity of reward points that the user is offering for
redemption for purchase of the item. The exchange computer submits
the bid received from the user computer to the merchant computer,
and the merchant computer either accepts or rejects the bid for
purchase of the product. In the alternative, the exchange computer
submits the bid received from the user computer to the issuer
computer, and the issuer computer either accepts or rejects the bid
for purchase of the product.
[0018] In another aspect of the invention, a merchant and an issuer
may execute a trading agreement. The merchant may create a bid by
selecting via the merchant computer a desired issuer from a group
of issuers that are registered with the exchange, and entering into
the merchant computer a desired redemption discount offer, the
desired redemption discount offer being the amount that the
merchant is willing to provide in a transaction with the selected
issuer. The merchant submits the bid to the exchange computer,
which then forwards the bid to the issuer computer of the desired
issuer selected by the merchant in the bid. The issuer accepts the
bid, rejects the bid, or counter proposes a modified bid in which a
modified redemption discount is submitted to the exchange computer
for forwarding to the merchant computer. In the alternative, the
issuer may create a bid by selecting with the issuer computer a
desired merchant from a group of merchants that are registered with
the exchange, and entering into the web page a desired redemption
discount offer, the desired redemption discount offer being the
amount that the issuer is willing to accept in a transaction with
the selected merchant. The issuer submits the bid to the exchange
computer, which then forwards the bid to the merchant computer of
the desired merchant selected by the issuer in the bid. The
merchant accepts the bid, rejects the bid, or counter proposes a
modified bid in which a modified redemption discount is submitted
to the exchange computer for forwarding to the issuer computer.
[0019] In another aspect of the invention, a merchant may submit to
the exchange computer any or all of the following: (1) a price
discount schedule that specifies price discounts to be
automatically generated by the exchange computer as a function of
elapsed time that a specified product is available for purchase;
(2) a redemption schedule that specifies redemption discounts to be
automatically generated by the exchange computer as a function of
elapsed time that a specified product is available for purchase;
and/or (3) a transacted value discount schedule that specifies
transacted value discounts to be automatically generated by the
exchange computer as a function of elapsed time that a specified
product is available for purchase.
[0020] In yet another aspect of the invention, a user profile is
built for storage in a user profile database associated with the
exchange computer. A reward redemption offer is generated based on
information in the user profile and then presented to the user via
the user computer. The user profile may include information
regarding the user's past reward redemptions and/or the user's past
product viewing history. A merchant may access the user profile
database in order to generate a product offer to a user that is
targeted to that user based on the profile information of the
user.
[0021] In another aspect of the invention, a product purchase
transaction is executed by a user first selecting an item for
purchase from a merchant. Then, the exchange computer determines
the lowest price that is being charged by the plurality of
merchants for the item selected by the user. The exchange computer
also determines the lowest number of reward points that may be
redeemed from the plurality of issuers for the item selected by the
user. The determined lowest price and the determined lowest number
of reward points are displayed to the user via the user computer,
and the user selects a mode of purchase of the item with either the
determined lowest price or the determined lowest number of reward
points. Then, a purchase transaction is executed for the item
selected by the user by the mode selected by the user.
[0022] In another embodiment, provided is a method of and system
for executing a purchase transaction for an item at a point of
sale, such as in a merchant retail store. Price information
associated with an item to be purchased by a user is input into a
point of sale device, such as a terminal associated with a cash
register at a checkout counter of the store. A user ID associated
the user is also input into the point of sale device, such as by
swiping a credit card, loyalty card or the like. The user ID is
then transmitted to an exchange computer via a computer network.
The exchange computer sends back to the point of sale device a
promotional wallet associated with the user ID, the promotional
wallet indicating a redeemable value of reward points stored in at
least one reward point account associated with the user and at
least one issuer computer. The point of sale device receives the
promotional wallet and displays it to the user. A redemption
selection is input as a function of the promotional wallet, the
redemption selection indicating a selection of reward points to be
redeemed from at least one reward point account associated with the
user and at least one issuer computer. The point of sale device
then causes a purchase transaction to be executed for the item
selected by the user by using the inputted redemption
selection.
[0023] The point of sale device may cause the purchase transaction
to be executed by transmitting an instruction to the exchange
computer to request the at least one issuer computer to redeem the
reward points selected by the user by (I) reducing the reward
account associated with the user by the quantity of reward points
selected by the user for execution of the purchase transaction, and
(II) conveying consideration to the exchange computer corresponding
to the quantity of reward points selected by the user for execution
of the purchase transaction. The point of sale device may then
receive confirmation from the exchange computer that the issuer
computer has redeemed the reward points selected by the user and
the user may take the item purchased.
[0024] Alternatively, the point of sale device may cause the
purchase transaction to be executed by transmitting an instruction
to the at least one issuer computer to request the at least one
issuer computer to redeem the reward points selected by the user by
(I) reducing the reward account associated with the user by the
quantity of reward points selected by the user for execution of the
purchase transaction, and (II) conveying consideration to a
merchant computer associated with the point of sale device
corresponding to the quantity of reward points selected by the user
for execution of the purchase transaction. The point of sale device
may then receive confirmation from the merchant computer that the
issuer has redeemed the reward points selected by the user and the
user may take the item purchased.
[0025] The promotional wallet indicates a total redeemable value of
reward points stored in a plurality of reward point accounts
associated with the user, wherein each of the plurality of the
reward point accounts are associated with one of a plurality of
issuer computers.
[0026] The redemption selection input to the point of sale device
may indicate a combination of a first selection of reward points to
be redeemed from a first reward point account and a second
selection of reward points to be redeemed from a second reward
point account, etc.
[0027] Price information associated with the item may be input by
reading a machine-readable indicia associated with the item. The
price information may be embedded in and obtained directly from the
machine-readable indicia, or the machine-readable indicia may
include an index that is used by the point of sale device to lookup
the price information from an associated product database. The
reading of the machine-readable indicia may be performed by
scanning a bar code symbol with a bar scanning device associated
with the point of sale device, or by reading an RFID tag with an
RFID reader device associated with the point of sale device, or by
manually entering the price information with a manual data entry
device associated with the point of sale device. Alternatively, an
item description may be entered, and the price looked up in a price
lookup database. Further alternatively, a description of the item
may be entered in lieu of the price, and the transaction may
proceed on that information.
[0028] Thus, the system that is used to implement this embodiment
includes an exchange computer, a merchant computer associated with
a merchant and selectively interconnected to the exchange computer
via a computer network, an issuer computer associated with a reward
points issuer and selectively interconnected to the exchange
computer via a computer network; and a point of sale device
operably associated with the merchant computer. The point of sale
device has at least one input device for inputting information from
a user, a display, a data connection to the computer network; and a
processor programmed to a) receive via the at least one input
device price information associated with an item to be purchased by
a user; b) receive via the at least one input device item a user ID
associated the user; c) transmit the user ID to the exchange
computer via the data connection; d) receive from the exchange
computer via the data connection a promotional wallet associated
with the user ID, the promotional wallet indicating a redeemable
value of reward points stored in at least one reward point account
associated with the user and at least one issuer computer; e)
display the promotional wallet to the user; f) receive via the at
least one input device a redemption selection as a function of the
promotional wallet, the redemption selection indicating a selection
of reward points to be redeemed from at least one reward point
account associated with the user and at least one issuer computer;
and g) cause a purchase transaction to be executed for the item
selected by the user by using the inputted redemption
selection.
[0029] In another aspect of the invention, controls may be placed
on the relative amounts of rewards that may be redeemed for an item
being purchased such that there may be a maximum allowable reward
payment portion and/or a minimum allowable monetary consideration
portion, the total value of which equals the price of the item
being purchased. These controls may be designated by the merchant,
the issuer, and/or an operator of the exchange system. In this
aspect of the invention, purchase price information for an item for
purchase is transmitted to a remote computing device such as a user
computer, a point of sale device, a mobile phone, a tablet
computing device, a web-enabled interactive television set, etc.
The purchase price information includes (i) a purchase price for an
item for purchase from a merchant, wherein the purchase price may
be paid with a reward payment portion and a monetary consideration
portion, with the reward payment portion equivalent to a value of
rewards that may be redeemed by a user from at least one reward
issuer towards payment of the purchase price for the item; and (ii)
a maximum allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward
payment portion of the purchase price. A purchase request for the
item is made by the user and subsequently received from the remote
computing device. The purchase request includes (i) a desired
amount of the reward payment portion and (ii) a desired amount of
the monetary consideration portion. The desired amount of the
reward payment portion may not exceed the maximum allowable reward
payment portion for the reward payment portion amount of the
purchase price, and the total value of (A) the desired amount of
the reward payment portion and (B) the desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price
for the item. In one embodiment, a user interface instruction is
transmitted to provide a slider control at the remote computing
device, the slider control allowing a user to select along an axis
the desired amount of the reward payment portion only up to the
maximum allowable reward payment portion. The desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion is then calculated as a function of
the desired amount of the reward payment portion selected with the
slider control. Alternatively, the user interface instruction
provides for the display of the purchase price information at the
remote computing device, and the user interface instruction also
provides for an input box control element that is displayed to
allow entry of the purchase request. The maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount may be established by the merchant, the
rewards issuer, or an operator of the exchange system. The maximum
allowable reward payment portion amount may be established as a
percentage of the purchase price, as a value, and/or as a number of
reward points, as desired. In an alternative embodiment to this,
the purchase price information includes a minimum allowable
monetary consideration portion amount of the purchase price rather
than a maximum allowable reward payment portion amount.
[0030] From the merchant's perspective, provided is a method for a
merchant to provide an item for sale via the reward exchange
system. The merchant establishes purchase price information for an
item for sale; the purchase price including (i) a purchase price
for the item for purchase, wherein the purchase price may be paid
with a reward payment portion and a monetary consideration portion,
with the reward payment portion equivalent to a value of rewards
that may be redeemed by a user from at least one reward issuer
towards payment of the purchase price for the item; and (ii) a
maximum allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward
payment portion of the purchase price. The merchant transmits the
purchase price information for the item for sale; and the merchant
sells the item for sale in accordance with the maximum allowable
reward payment portion and the monetary consideration portion. In
one embodiment, the merchant establishes the purchase price
information for an item for sale by controlling a slider control
provided at a merchant computer, the slider control allowing the
merchant to select along an axis the maximum allowable reward
payment portion. In an alternative embodiment to this, the purchase
price information includes a minimum allowable monetary
consideration portion amount of the purchase price rather than a
maximum allowable reward payment portion amount.
[0031] From the reward issuer's perspective, provided is a method
for a reward issuer to reduce a user's reward account and provide
compensation to a merchant for selling an item to a user using
rewards. The reward issuer establishes a maximum allowable reward
payment portion for an item for sale by a merchant, the item for
sale having a purchase price associated therewith, the purchase
price and the maximum allowable reward payment portion constituting
purchase price information. The reward issuer transmits the maximum
allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward payment
portion of the purchase price. The reward issuer subsequently
provides compensation to a merchant towards the purchase of the
item by a user, the compensation being equivalent to rewards
redeemed by the user up to the maximum allowable reward payment
portion established by the reward issuer. In one embodiment, the
reward issuer establishes the maximum allowable reward payment
portion by controlling a slider control provided at a reward issuer
computer, the slider control allowing the reward issuer to select
along an axis the maximum allowable reward payment portion. In an
alternative embodiment to this, the reward issuer establishes a
minimum allowable monetary consideration portion amount of the
purchase price rather than a maximum allowable reward payment
portion amount.
[0032] From the user's perspective, provided is a method for a user
to purchase an item at least partially with rewards. A
user-operated remote computing device receives purchase price
information that includes a purchase price for an item for sale
from a merchant, wherein the purchase price may be paid with a
reward payment portion and a monetary consideration portion, the
reward payment portion equivalent to a value of rewards that may be
redeemed by a user from at least one reward issuer towards payment
of the purchase price for the item; and a maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount for the reward payment portion of the
purchase price. The remote computing device transmits a purchase
request for the item, the purchase request including a desired
amount of the reward payment portion and a desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion. The desired amount of the reward
payment portion does not exceed the maximum allowable reward
payment portion for the reward payment portion amount of the
purchase price, and the total value of the desired amount of the
reward payment portion and the desired amount of the monetary
consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price for the
item. In one embodiment, the remote computing device receives a
user interface instruction to provide a slider control at the
remote computing device, the slider control allowing a user to
select along an axis the desired amount of the reward payment
portion only up to the maximum allowable reward payment portion. In
an alternative embodiment to this, the reward issuer establishes a
minimum allowable monetary consideration portion amount of the
purchase price rather than a maximum allowable reward payment
portion amount.
[0033] In another aspect of the invention, provided is a
computer-implemented method for operating a reward exchange system.
A search request is received from a remote computing device, the
search request for items available for purchase from a merchant,
wherein the purchase price may be paid with a reward payment
portion and a monetary consideration portion, the reward payment
portion equivalent to a value of rewards that may be redeemed by a
user from at least one reward issuer towards payment of the
purchase price for the item, wherein a maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount has been established for the reward payment
portion of the purchase price, wherein the search request specifies
a desired minimum amount of rewards that may be redeemed by the
user towards payment of the purchase price. A description of at
least one item for sale meeting the search request is returned to
the remote computing device, wherein the maximum allowable rewards
payment portion is not less than the desired minimum amount of
rewards specified in the search request.
[0034] In another aspect of the invention, provided is a method of
purchasing an item by scanning with a mobile computing device a bar
code associated with a desired item to obtain item identification
information from the bar code; sending the item identification
information to an exchange server computer; sending a purchase bid
to the exchange server computer, the purchase bid comprising an
offer to purchase an item identified by the item identification
information with rewards having a bid value; accepting or rejecting
the purchase bid at the exchange server computer; and communicating
the rejection or acceptance of the purchase bid to the mobile
computing device.
[0035] In another aspect of the invention, provided is a method of
operating a reward exchange system by receiving from a merchant
computer an instruction to provide a combined discount for the
purchase of an item by a customer at least partially with rewards,
the combined discount comprised of an issuer discount and a
customer discount, the issuer discount indicating a discount amount
off of a listed price for the item that is provided by the merchant
to the issuer, and the customer discount indicating a discount
amount off of a listed price for the item that is provided by the
merchant to the customer; providing the combined discount for a
purchase of the item by the customer from the merchant by providing
the customer discount to the customer so that the customer pays for
the item in rewards having a value to the customer equivalent to
the listed price minus the customer discount; and providing the
issuer discount to the issuer such that the issuer redeems rewards
of the customer and pays the merchant the listed price minus the
customer discount minus the issuer discount.
[0036] In another aspect of the invention, provided is a method for
executing a reward redemption transaction by transmitting to a user
computer a web page that provides for the display of a plurality of
available search criteria, each of said available search criteria
being independently selectable by a user for searching a database
of items available for purchase; receiving from the user computer a
search criteria selection obtained from the plurality of available
search criteria; searching the database of items available for
purchase to determine items matching or most closely resembling the
search criteria selection; transmitting to the user a web page that
provides for the display of a quantity of items matching or most
closely resembling the search criteria selection; repeating steps
the above steps as desired by the user whereby the quantity of
items displayed match or most closely resemble all of the search
criteria selections received from the user computer; receiving a
request from the user computer to display descriptions of the items
that match or most closely resemble all of the search criteria
selections received from the user computer; and transmitting one or
more web pages to the user computer that provide for the display of
the descriptions of the items that match or most closely resemble
all of the search criteria selections received from the user
computer.
[0037] In addition, a purchase selection may then be received from
the user computer indicative of an item desired to be purchased by
the user using rewards as at least partial payment; a reward
selection may be received from the user computer identifying the
rewards to be used as at least partial payment, the identified
rewards being from at least one user reward account stored on a
reward account server computer; and a purchase transaction may be
executed for the item desired to be purchased using at least the
reward selection received from the user computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0038] FIG. 1a is a top level block diagram of the system of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 1b is detailed diagram of the system of the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 1c is an alternative detailed diagram of the system of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 1d is a system diagram of an alternative embodiment of
the present invention utilizing a point of sale device;
[0042] FIG. 1 is a screen shot of a home page of the reward
exchange system in one alternative embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 2 is a screen shot of a direct user login page in
another alternative embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a new user registration page in
which users may also add reward programs to their profile;
[0045] FIG. 4 is a screen shot of the page of FIG. 3 in which a
reward program is being added to the profile;
[0046] FIG. 5 is a screen shot of the page of FIG. 3 in which
several reward programs have been added to the profile;
[0047] FIG. 6 is a screen shot of an instant reward offer;
[0048] FIG. 7 is a screen shot of the user's home page;
[0049] FIG. 8 is a screen shot of the user's home page with a user
profile entry section;
[0050] FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a user redemption item search
page with category selections;
[0051] FIG. 10 is a screen shot of a user redemption item search
page based on a category with a detailed sub-category listing;
[0052] FIG. 11 is a screen shot of a page the enables searching for
items by featured brand name;
[0053] FIG. 12 is a screen shot of a page that enables searching
for items by a detailed brand name selection;
[0054] FIG. 13 is a screen shot of a page that enables searching by
item price.
[0055] FIG. 14 is a screen shot of a web page that has several
available items for redemption;
[0056] FIG. 15 is a screen shot of a web page with an item selected
by a mouse rollover;
[0057] FIG. 16 is a screen shot of a web page with several items
selected for comparison viewing;
[0058] FIG. 17 is a screen shot of a web page with a selected
product from the product comparison along with a suggested points
redemption solution for obtaining that selected product;
[0059] FIG. 18 is a screen shot of a web page with detailed
information about a selected product from the product comparison
along with a suggested points redemption solution for obtaining
that selected product;
[0060] FIG. 19 is a screen shot of a web page with various
merchants that can supply the user with the selected product;
[0061] FIG. 20 is a screen shot of a web page in which the user is
informed his redemption options do not provide enough points for
obtaining the selected items;
[0062] FIG. 21 is a screen shot of a web page that provides the
user with slider options for modifying his redemption scenario;
[0063] FIG. 22 is a screen shot of a web page that illustrates a
modified redemption scenario;
[0064] FIG. 23 is a screen shot of a web page that illustrates a
selected product along with a modified redemption scenario;
[0065] FIG. 24 is a screen shot of a checkout web page;
[0066] FIG. 25 is a screen shot of a web page showing confirmation
of the redemption transaction using points and a credit card;
[0067] FIG. 26 is a screen shot of a checkout web page for payment
with points only.
[0068] FIG. 27 is a screen shot of a web page showing confirmation
of the redemption transaction with points only;
[0069] FIG. 28 is a screen shot of a web page showing completion of
the redemption transaction with points only;
[0070] FIG. 28a is a flowchart illustrating a user purchase
transaction;
[0071] FIG. 28b is a flowchart illustrating a product refund
process;
[0072] FIG. 28c is a flowchart illustrating a settlement
process;
[0073] FIG. 29 is a screen shot of a merchant login page;
[0074] FIG. 30 is a screen shot of a new merchant registration
page;
[0075] FIG. 31 is a screen shot of a new merchant registration page
with filled in data;
[0076] FIG. 32 is a screen shot of a merchant home page;
[0077] FIG. 33 is a screen shot of a merchant page with a trading
partner selection portion;
[0078] FIG. 34 is a screen shot of a merchant page with an Exchange
menu item drop down list;
[0079] FIG. 35 is a screen shot of a merchant page with an
Inventory menu item drop down list;
[0080] FIG. 36 is a screen shot of a merchant page with an
Analytics menu item drop down list;
[0081] FIG. 37 is a screen shot of a merchant page with trading
partners selected;
[0082] FIG. 38 is a screen shot of a merchant page for creating an
exchange bid;
[0083] FIG. 39 is a screen shot of the merchant page of FIG. 38 in
which bid data has been entered;
[0084] FIG. 40 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which the bid
has been submitted;
[0085] FIG. 41 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which open
bids may be searched, selected and managed;
[0086] FIG. 42 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which a bid
is selected for review;
[0087] FIG. 43 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which a
counter-offer is provided;
[0088] FIG. 44 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which a
counter-offer is submitted;
[0089] FIG. 45 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which a bid
is accepted;
[0090] FIG. 46 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
accepted bid agreements may be viewed;
[0091] FIG. 46a is a flowchart illustrating the merchant bidding
process;
[0092] FIG. 46b is a flowchart illustrating the merchant
eligibility process;
[0093] FIG. 47 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which the
inventory summary is presented;
[0094] FIG. 48 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
inventory may be added or edited;
[0095] FIG. 48a is a flowchart illustrating the process of a
merchant adding inventory;
[0096] FIG. 48b is a flowchart illustrating the process of a
merchant managing inventory;
[0097] FIG. 48c is a flowchart illustrating the process of product
eligibility;
[0098] FIG. 49 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
discount scheduling may be implemented.
[0099] FIG. 50 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
discount scheduling may be modified.
[0100] FIG. 51 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which rewards
inventory is shown.
[0101] FIG. 52 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which rewards
inventory detail is shown.
[0102] FIG. 53 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which an
analytics summary is shown.
[0103] FIG. 54 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
analytics by product is shown.
[0104] FIG. 55 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which
analytics by reward programs is shown.
[0105] FIG. 56 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which a
profile summary is shown after creation.
[0106] FIG. 57 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which issuer
analytics are shown.
[0107] FIG. 58 is a screen shot of a merchant page in which network
analytics are shown.
[0108] FIG. 59 is a screen shot of an issuer login page;
[0109] FIG. 60 is a screen shot of a new issuer registration
page;
[0110] FIG. 61 is a screen shot of a new issuer registration page
with filled in data;
[0111] FIG. 62 is a screen shot of an issuer home page;
[0112] FIG. 63 is a screen shot of an issuer bid creation page;
[0113] FIG. 64 is a screen shot of an issuer bid creation page with
a trading partner selected;
[0114] FIG. 65 is a screen shot of the issuer page of FIG. 64 in
which bid data has been entered;
[0115] FIG. 66 is a screen shot of an issuer page in which the bid
has been submitted;
[0116] FIG. 67 is a screen shot of an issuer page in which open
bids may be searched, selected and managed;
[0117] FIG. 68 is a screen shot of an issuer page in which a bid is
selected for review;
[0118] FIG. 69 is a screen shot of an issuer merchant page in which
accepted bid agreements may be viewed;
[0119] FIG. 69a is a flowchart illustrating the issuer bidding
process;
[0120] FIG. 70 is a screen shot of an issuer page in which an
analytics summary is shown
[0121] FIG. 71 is a diagram of the point of sale device of FIG.
1d.
[0122] FIG. 72 is a flowchart of an aspect of the invention in
which a maximum allowable reward payment portion of a purchase
price of an item for sale by a merchant is implemented.
[0123] FIG. 73 is a flowchart of another aspect of the invention in
which a minimum allowable monetary consideration portion amount of
the purchase price is implemented.
[0124] FIGS. 74a, 74b, and 74c illustrate the use of a slider
control for making payment for an item in rewards and monetary
consideration.
[0125] FIGS. 75 and 76 illustrate user input boxes for entering
rewards to redeem and/or monetary consideration to be given for an
item.
[0126] FIGS. 77a, 77b and 77c illustrate the use of such a slider
control that may be provided to the merchant for establishing a
customer discount and an issuer discount for a transaction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0127] FIG. 1a is a top level block diagram of the system 100 of
the present invention, which may be referred to as the online
reward exchange system, or simply the exchange. Participants on the
exchange may be grouped into five different types: consumers 104
(also referred to interchangeably herein as users), merchants 106,
issuers 108, manufacturers 110, and partners 112. Also shown in
FIG. 1a is an exchange computer 102, which is the central hub or
gateway that mediates the entire exchange system 100. A consumer or
user 104 is a participant who makes purchases, receives reward
points, and ultimately exchanges or redeems reward points for goods
or services. For example, a user 104 may redeem previously earned
reward points for an item on the exchange. A merchant 106 is a
participant who sells goods or services to a user 104 and who
receives compensation in the form of cash and/or reward points
(e.g. as a credit to an account). For example, a merchant 106 may
be an electronics retailer such as BEST BUY which agrees to provide
a television to a user 104 and receive a discounted price. An
issuer 108 is a participant which issues reward points to users 104
as part of some type of transaction. For example, an issuer 108 may
be CITICORP which provides a credit card account to a user 104 and
issues THANKYOU reward points each time that user uses the credit
card to make a purchase. A manufacturer 110 is similar to a
merchant 106 in that it sells goods to a user, but in this case it
is done directly and not through a retail environment. For example,
SONY may be a manufacturer 110 that produces and sells radios to
users 104 through the exchange. A partner 112 is a participant that
performs some other function related to the exchange. For example,
a points aggregator may be a partner 112 on the system, which may
perform the function of aggregating reward points from different
accounts for use in redeeming on the exchange. A processor such as
FIRST DATA may act on the exchange in multiple functions on behalf
of merchants and processing credit card transactions.
[0128] As used herein, the term "rewards" or "reward points" may
include any type of rewards that are provided as an incentive or
loyalty device as well known in the art, included but not limited
to reward points, loyalty points, frequent flier miles or points,
club points, rebates, coupons, and other incentives, as may be
appropriate.
[0129] Any participant on the exchange may function as one or more
of these types. For example, a participant may function as a
merchant 106 (selling goods or services) and may function as an
issuer 108 (issuing points in conjunction with the sale of goods or
services). For convenience purposes we will refer to them as
independent entities in the following description.
[0130] The exchange computer 102 is the central server that
interoperates with each of the entities described above and shown
in FIG. 1b. All of the entities in FIG. 1a interoperate with the
exchange computer 102 over a wide area network 114, such as the
Internet, in order to accomplish the functionality of the exchange
as described herein. An existing network such as a credit card
network may also be used. Communications are accomplished through
computers such as server and/or client computers as well known in
the art. Thus, when we refer to the interactions with a merchant,
we are referring to such interactions that may take place with a
merchant computer 128, and likewise for the issuers 108 with issuer
computers 130. In most cases the user 104 will interact with the
exchange computer 102 via a user computer 126 such as a desktop
computer, laptop computer, smartphone, tablet, netbook, web-enabled
television set and the like. In an alternative embodiment described
further herein, the user 104 may use a point of sale device to
accomplish the desired transaction.
[0131] Also shown in FIG. 1b, and discussed further herein, is a
user reward account database 132 that is associated with the issuer
computer 130. As known in the art, users earn reward points through
various transactions with the issuer 108, and those reward points
are stored in a user reward point account in the database 132 for
subsequent redemption. The present invention allows users to redeem
their reward points in new ways heretofore unavailable.
[0132] Also shown in FIG. 1b are several databases that are
associated with the exchange computer 102: a user profiles database
116, an issuer profiles database 118, a merchant profiles database
120, an exchange profiles database 122, a reward redemption history
database 124, a product database 117, and an issuer/merchant bids
database 119. These are also described in further detail below.
[0133] The exchange computer implements various programs and
software modules in order to execute the functionalities as
described herein. These programs include but are not limited to a
web server 150, a search engine 152, a bidding engine 154, an
inventory optimization engine 156, a marketing engine 158, an
exchange service 160, a settlement service 162, a customer service
164, and authentication and authorization service 166, all of which
are also shown in FIG. 1b. Theses programs/modules utilize the
various databases described above in order to interoperate with the
user computers, the issuer computers, and the merchant computers.
The web server 150 will communicate with browser and other client
programs executing on the user computers, the issuer computers, and
the merchant computers in order for the users, issuers and
merchants respectively to communicate with the exchange computer
102 as further described herein. Many of the web pages that are
served by the web server 156 are illustrated in the remaining
Figures and described throughout this specification. The web server
156 may be comprised of several web server programs as desired. The
web server 156 therefore provides the graphical user interface
(GUI) front end for the various parties that interoperate with the
exchange computer 102. Other client/server software may be used
instead of a web server in order for the various computers to
interact if desired.
[0134] The search engine 152 is program code that enables searches
of the various databases to be executed. In particular, the search
engine 152 will utilize the product database 117 such that a user
computer may request the display of certain products, such as all
DSLR cameras, or those cameras that cost less than $500, or TVs
that may be redeemed by reward points only, etc. The search engine
will implement dynamic filters that are served to the user computer
on search pages through the web server 156 as known in the art. The
user may select search criteria on the search pages, return those
to the search engine via the web server, and have the search engine
return the desired results after searching the required
databases.
[0135] The bidding engine 154 is a program that interoperates with
the issuer/merchant bids database 119 in order to facilitate the
bidding process between issuers and merchants as described further
herein. The bidding engine 154 will facilitate the interaction and
agreement of terms for discounts between issuers and merchants.
Issuers and merchants can configure a series of auto accept or
reject criteria to better manage pending bids. Bids whose state
can't be determined with the criteria given by the issuer or
merchant will be added to a pending queue and will be dealt with
manually. Bids can be generated, countered, accepted or rejected
within the engine. A complete history of all bids and their
resulting audit trail will be kept. Accepted bids are fed into the
inventory optimization engine.
[0136] Thus, a merchant may submit a bid to an issuer in which the
merchant agrees to provide a specified discount for purchases by a
user who proposes to utilize reward points of that issuer in the
transaction. For example, a merchant may submit to the exchange
computer a desired 20% discount bid applicable to reward points
issued by CHASE. This bid is forwarded to CHASE, and if accepted by
CHASE, then the merchant would only charge $80 for a $100 MSRP
item, for example. As explained below, bids may be accepted,
rejected, or negotiated until an agreement is reached by the issuer
and merchant.
[0137] In addition, the bidding engine 154 manages a bidding
process that is undertaken by a user in order to bid on products by
offering a reduced number of reward points as tender for a desired
product, as further described below.
[0138] The inventory optimization engine 156 shown in FIG. 1b
facilitates the merchant's ability to control which products are
available at a given discount. It allows a merchant to either
directly control a given product's current discount or to setup an
automated date driven discount schedule. In this way a merchant can
schedule a progressive discount schedule to move product. The
engine will determine the products in the exchange service that are
available for reward point redemption. It does this by applying
accepted bids to the merchant's products and finds those that match
the accepted bids the merchant has with various issuers. This
information feeds into the redemption solution the consumer can use
for the merchant's products. A history of products, their discount
schedule and changes will be retained in a audit trail. Also data
from the engine will be fed into the marketing engine for use in
analytics.
[0139] The inventory optimization engine is therefore a program
that enables the exchange computer 102 to provide an age discount
progression algorithm whereby inventory is tracked according to age
and assigned a discount based upon the algorithm. When the
algorithm matches one or more of the trading relationships
established with issuers, that inventory is transferred into the
rewards server and is available for redemption on the exchange
thereby creating an inventory optimization engine that dynamically
connects the merchants' promotional wallet to the issuer with the
sale discount on his selected merchandise according to his rules
based algorithm.
[0140] The marketing engine 158 is a program executed by the
exchange computer that provides for various marketing functions
such as promotion programs, product and customer analytics, etc.
The marketing engine facilitates insight into consumers, their
behavior, and product sales. It allows the issuer's and merchant's
to visualize the performance of various offerings and promotions
based on consumer demographics. The engine manages the
communication with consumers. In this way, issuers and merchants
can set up promotions that will be communicated to consumers
matching various parameters. Additional analytics are generated
around product/service performance. This enables issuers and
merchants to hone in on the products that consumers want and the
effectiveness of promotions. General system reporting for all
parties will also be included in the engine.
[0141] The exchange service 160 facilitates the customers purchase
of products and services with reward points and other monetary
consideration such as cash or credit. The merchants and products
available may be determined by the inventory optimization engine.
Products are arranged in various categories and hierarchies. These
can be easily searched and navigated by the consumer. A wish list
for consumers to store interesting products will be kept. When the
consumer wishes to purchase a product, they will be presented with
a redemption solution interface that will present a default
redemption solution as well as enable to consumer to edit the
solution using available issuer programs as determined by the
inventory optimization engine. Once a successful solution is
accepted by the consumer the product will be added to the
consumer's shopping cart. The shopping cart is then fed into the
settlement service upon consumer checkout. The exchange service
keeps a history of customer behavior including which products were
viewed, added to their wish list, abandoned in their cart and
purchased. This history is fed into the marketing engine to provide
additional analytics.
[0142] The settlement service 162 is a program executed by the
exchange computer that facilitates the various exchange
transactions between the merchant, the user, and the issuer as
further described herein. The settlement service facilitates the
completion of the checkout process. It performs the resulting
transactions between the consumer and issuers, the consumer and
merchants, and the merchants and issuers. It is responsible to
generate the various API calls to debit or credit a consumer's
account at various issuers and for sending product/service orders
to merchants for fulfillment. In the event of any failures it is
also responsible for the roll back of any transactions already
completed as part of the checkout process. The service also
facilitates customer returns from either the merchant's or issuer's
viewpoint. It reports financial information into the exchange's
financial system for backend processing. It also keeps an entire
audit trail of all resulting transactions, their status, state, and
confirmation or denial.
[0143] The customer service module 164 will enable the users of the
exchange to report any issues that result from its use. This
includes consumers having questions about products and services,
billing, order status, etc. In addition, it should be the point of
contact for issuers and merchants to find assistance with issues.
Consumer issues will be forward directly to issuers and/or
merchants when appropriate. By doing this it will enable the issuer
and/or merchant to provide an elevated level of service when such a
level is desired. This is beneficial when an issuer is using the
exchange as a captive portal for high value customers and wish to
ensure those customers receive a premium customer service
experience.
[0144] The authentication and authorization service 166 ensures
that users of the exchange are valid and for which functions they
are entitled. In the case of consumers it will communicate to
issuer systems to validate credentials given for the issuer system.
In addition it will handle single sign on when a consumer arrives
from an issuer portal. Also it will allow for consumers to merge
accounts and/or identify when consumers arriving to the exchange
from different issuer portals are in fact the same individual.
Finally it will allow merchant and issuers to administer the
exchange accounts that have elevated privileges when acting on
behalf of the merchant or issuer. FIG. 1c shows an alternative view
of the exchange system shown in FIG. 1b and described further
herein.
[0145] The exchange computer 102 provides each participant with an
appropriate interface (e.g. via various web pages) that enables
that participant to perform the desired functions as will now be
described. FIG. 1 is a screen shot of a home page 134 of the reward
exchange system in one embodiment, also known as the SWIFT REWARDS
EXCHANGE. Any participant, after accessing the general URL (such as
http://www.swiftrewardsexchange.com) of the exchange computer 102,
will be provided with the home page 134 of FIG. 1 that is displayed
on their particular computer. From there, the participant will
select the icon desired (consumer/user button 136, merchant button
138, issuer button 140, manufacturer button 142, or partner button
144). The functionality provided to each type of participant by the
exchange server will now be described in detail.
[0146] In one aspect, a user 104 registers via the user computer
126 over the computer network 114 with the exchange computer 102
via a web site. The user enters into the user computer 126 user
information that includes reward account information for at least
one reward program in which the user is previously enrolled. The
reward program is operated by an issuer 108 via an issuer computer
130 and provides reward points to a reward account 132 of the user
stored in association with the issuer computer 130 as a result of a
transaction previously executed between the user and the
issuer.
[0147] FIG. 2 is a screen shot of a user login web page 200 that is
served from the exchange computer 102 to the user computer 126
accessed when selecting the consumer/user button 136 in FIG. 1. In
an alternative, the user will be able to access the exchange
computer 102 directly by entering the URL of this particular user
login page 200.
[0148] In a preferred embodiment, the user may enter or be ported
to the exchange computer 102 web site directly by selecting a
button or other control from a reward issuer web site or from a
merchant web site that is offering a desired product available via
the exchange. So, for example, a user may be viewing a web catalog
of a merchant such as BEST BUY, and view a DVD player of interest.
If that merchant is also making that DVD player available via the
exchange, then the merchant will also provide a link button with an
image of the exchange and/or text such as "CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS
PRODUCT VIA THE REWARDS EXCHANGE". In the case of a rewards issuer
web page, the text may read "GET MORE FOR YOUR POINTS", "REDEEM
FASTER", TURBOCHARGE YOUR REWARDS'', etc. By clicking through this
link, the user will be linked directly to the exchange computer 102
web site, automatically logged in, and a page that displays the
desired product (along with reward point redemption options) is
provided. If the user is not yet a member of the exchange he would
be automatically registered with the exchange based upon the data
contained within the existing entry site's database (reward issuer
or merchant, as the case may be) or by some other means well known
in the art and be directed to the exchange site's user home page or
category page depending on the level of connectivity with the
originating site; the exchange web page may be modified to reflect
the attributes of the originating web page/site or be white
labeled/custom banded to reflect the issuer or merchant. When entry
is from a participating issuer, that issuer will be designated as
the "primary market maker" of that transaction and may direct
certain rules of redemption to apply. This direct link embodiment
is further described below.
[0149] Referring back to the user login page 200 of FIG. 2 that is
displayed on the user computer 126, the user may login to the
system as known in the art (name and password). If the user is a
new user, he may register via the new user registration page 300 of
FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, new users add their name and other contact
information. Users may also add reward programs to their profile by
selecting the Add a Rewards Program section 302, and then entering
the required information including the name of the rewards program
(from the drop down list 304), their account identification number
in text box 306, their user name in text box 308, and their
password in text box 310. FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a web page 400
in which a reward program is being added to the profile by
selecting the program name (CITI THANKYOU), entering the account
ID, user name and password. FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a web page
500 in which several reward programs have been added to the user's
profile as shown in the column 502 at the right side. In addition
to entering reward programs in which the user is already a member,
the user may be given the option to join a rewards program by
selecting it from the Join a Rewards Program drop down list 504.
FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a web page 600 for an instant reward
offer that is shown to the user after he has completed or updated
his profile information as described above. The user may also login
at this point where indicated.
[0150] All of the reward program and other user information that is
entered by the user is stored in a user profile database 116 as
shown in FIG. 1b in association with the exchange computer 102 for
future use by the exchange computer 102 as described herein.
[0151] Once the user has entered all of his reward program
information, the exchange computer 102 will communicate with each
of the issuer computers 130 with which the user is enrolled with a
reward account. The exchange computer receives reward account
information 132 from each of the issuer computers 130 for the user
104. For example, the exchange computer 102 will request reward
information from reward program 1 operated by issuer 1, from reward
program 2 operated by issuer 2, from reward program 3 operated by
issuer 3, etc., all of which have been entered by the user since
the user is enrolled with each of those issuers. The exchange
computer 102 then calculates a promotional wallet for the user,
which comprises a total redeemable value for all of the user's
reward accounts stored in the plurality of issuer computers. Thus,
if the user has 3,000 reward points in reward program 1 that have a
redeemable value of $30, and 5,000 reward points in reward program
2 that have a redeemable value of $50, and 10,500 reward points in
reward program 3 that have a redeemable value of $105, then the
total redeemable value in the user's promotional wallet is $185.
The exchange computer then displays to the user via the user
computer the user's promotional wallet, for example with a display
that states "THE TOTAL REDEEMABLE VALUE OF YOUR PROMOTIONAL WALLET
FOR ALL OF YOUR REWARD PROGRAMS IN THE AGGREGATE IS $185."
[0152] The user's promotional wallet may be revised from time to
time in order to show changes in the value. For example, if a user
earns more reward points with an issuer, or if a user redeems
reward points either through the exchange or directly with an
issuer, then the number of reward points available for redemption
will change and of course the value of the promotional wallet will
change accordingly. Similarly, if a user adds a new reward program
to his user profile, the value of the reward points in that newly
added account will be added to the promotional wallet. The
promotional wallet may be recalculated periodically or when any of
these events may occur, as desired.
[0153] In the example given above, it has been assumed that the
reward points have a redeemable value of one cent per point.
However, the redeemable value may be different based on a value set
by the issuer. In an alternative embodiment, the redeemable value
of the reward points from an issuer may be different for
redemptions with different merchants, based on a trading agreement
between an issuer and a merchant, as discussed below. For example,
issuer 1 may assign a value of one cent per point for transactions
with merchant 1, but it may assign a value of 0.9 cents per point
for transactions with merchant 2, etc. Conversion or exchange rates
used to calculate the various values may be stored by the exchange
computer, the merchant computer, and/or the issuer computer.
[0154] The user may of course always modify his user profile to
provide any other reward programs information as desired. For
example, the user may subsequently register with a new reward
program, which may be added to the user profile so he can access
that reward program via the exchange system. In addition, the
system may be configured to periodically check its user list
against issuers in its issuer profile database 118 to see if any of
the users may be already enrolled in one of its issuer's reward
programs but not entered by the user in his profile. For example,
if a user neglects to enter his CHASE VISA reward program into the
system, and CHASE VISA is a registered issuer, then the system can
check with CHASE VISA to see if that user has a reward program
there. If so, the exchange system may invite the user to enroll
that program with the system, or it may be adapted to do so
automatically via the CHASE VISA reward server if desired.
[0155] FIG. 7 is a screen shot of the user's home page 700 that is
accessed after logging in. There, the user can enter additional
user profile information in the My Profile section 702 on the right
side, as shown in web page 800 of FIG. 8.
[0156] In a preferred embodiment, independent web sites of
merchants and manufacturers that engage in the reward activity will
use the exchange system logo as a button link with a tag line such
as "REDEEM FASTER". When the user selects this link, he is linked
to the exchange web site and automatically logged in (if he is
already a member) or invited to register or optionally
automatically registered (if he is not a member). In this case, the
user will not see the web page 134 of FIG. 1, but may be linked
directly to the web page 900 of FIG. 9 for example to begin his
search or directly to a product information page 2100 such as in
FIG. 21 if he has already selected a product from the merchant's
independent web site that linked him to the exchange computer 102.
This allows users to utilize a more natural shopping behavior.
[0157] Referring back to FIG. 7, the user's home page 700 enables
the user to perform various searches for desired goods or services.
The Search Rewards menu 704 at the left side provides the ability
to begin a search based on category, brand, price, merchant,
location, special occasion, new items, or profile. A free-form
search text entry box 706 is also provided.
[0158] FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a user redemption item search
page 900 with category selections 902. There, various major
categories are presented in text and icon view. If the user for
example selects Computers and Electronics, then the web page 1000
of FIG. 10 is presented on the user computer with numerous
drill-down sub-categories 1002 of more detail. In FIG. 10, the user
has selected cameras:point-and-shoot and cameras:digital-SLRs.
These selections then are presented in the search results box 1004
on the right side, along with the number of results for each
sub-category after the exchange computer has searched product
database 117 as shown in FIG. 1b.
[0159] FIG. 11 is a screen shot of a web page 1100 the enables
searching for items by featured brand name such as SONY or KODAK.
Since the user has selected two "cameras" categories, the system
provides featured brand names of only those companies that can
provide cameras. In addition, the user may select from numerous
other brands by selecting the alphabetical bar 1102 as shown. FIG.
12 is a screen shot of a web page 1200 that enables searching for
items by a detailed brand name selection, wherein "N" has been
selected and the brands available in that grouping are presented.
In the web page 1200 of FIG. 12, several "N" brands have been
selected. The search results on the right side are now narrowed as
shown. That is, the results have provided 50 hits that can be
viewed by the sub-category previously selected as well as by brand
name as shown.
[0160] Also shown in FIG. 12 is a Show Results button 1202. The
user may use this button to cause the search engine to display the
detailed results of the search based on the previously-entered
search criteria. In this example, the user has configured the
category filter (see FIG. 10) and the brand filter to arrive at 50
results as shown in FIG. 12. By selecting the Show Results button
at this stage, the user will then be provided with a web page that
displays the results of the search; for example as described below
with reference to FIG. 14. By preventing the specific search
results from being shown until the user actually selects the Show
Results button 1202, several benefits are achieved. In the prior
art, typical search engines will show products to users in a
click-through model whereby the search engine directs the user to
the merchant's web site such that the merchant ends up paying for
the click-through and the consumer is forced to a site he or she
may not want to be at. In this invention, the click-through model
is avoided such that the merchant will not be required to pay a
click-through fee to the search engine, content provider or
aggregator and the user is not forced into the merchant site. The
merchant is freed from the click-through model and ultimately
acquires a more focused inquiry from the user with a higher
conversion to executed transactions.
[0161] The search results therefore may be dynamically refined when
the user implements additional dynamic search filters without
showing the search results until the user selects the Show Results
button 1202. That is, by selecting any or all of the search filters
shown in the search rewards menu 704 (i.e. category, brand, price,
merchant, location, special occasion, new items, etc.) the user can
drill down to a manageable group of desired products and avoid the
prior art click-through model as described with greater accuracy
and thereby eliminating extraneous information.
[0162] Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, a web page is
transmitted to the user computer that provides for the display of a
plurality of available search criteria (as shown for example in
search rewards menu 704 as well as category selection 902,
sub-categories 1002, etc.), each of the available search criteria
being independently selectable by a user for searching a database
117 of items available for purchase; receiving from the user
computer a search criteria selection obtained from the plurality of
available search criteria; searching the database 117 of items
available for purchase to determine items matching the search
criteria selection; transmitting to the user a web page (such as
web page 1200) that provides for the display of a quantity of items
matching the search criteria selection; and repeating steps the
above steps as desired by the user whereby the quantity of items
displayed match all of the search criteria selections received from
the user computer.
[0163] The user is able to selectively delete, add, and modify any
or all of the search criteria at any time during this process, in
any desired combination and in any order, thereby providing a rich
and dynamic user experience.
[0164] At some point, a request is made by the user to display
descriptions of the items that match all of the search criteria
selections received from the user computer (such as by selecting
the Show Results button 1202); and one or more web pages are
transmitted to the user computer that provide for the display of
the descriptions of the items that match all of the search criteria
selections received from the user computer (such as web page
1400).
[0165] FIG. 13 is a screen shot of a web page 1300 that enables
searching by item price. Here, the user has selected less than one
hundred dollars, but no hits are returned for any of the previously
selected brands and sub-categories. The user could if desired enter
a price range into section 1302, or he could also force the search
engine to show only those results that can be obtained with points
with selection 1304. If this is selected, then the search engine
162 operating on the exchange computer 102 must first calculate the
monetary value of the user's reward points in all accounts
referenced by user profile 116 (the promotional wallet) and then
use that value as a search criteria into the product database
117.
[0166] FIG. 14 is a screen shot of a web page 1400 that is
displayed after the user has selected the Show Results button 1202
as described above. As can be seen, in this example there are
several available items for redemption based on previously entered
search criteria. The user may select to see only four products per
page or 12 products per page. As can be seen, there are 14 total
products in the product database 117 that met the user's search
criteria. FIG. 15 is a screen shot of a web page 1500 with an item
1502 selected by a mouse rollover or the like. Once the user
selects an item 102 by rollover, several options appear at the
bottom of the item description. The first button 1504 is to select
that item for a comparison, the second button 1506 is to fetch more
detailed information about that item, the third button 1508 is to
select that item for purchase, and the fourth button 1510 is to
save that item for future viewing.
[0167] In addition to returning to the user quantities and
descriptions of products that match the search criteria designated
by the user, the exchange computer may also employ algorithms
referred to as fuzzy logic to return, if desired, quantities and
descriptions of items that most closely resemble the search
criteria entered. This may be especially useful in order to aid a
user in making a product selection if the search criteria returns a
very small subset of items from the database. For example, if the
search criteria is too stringent for the currently available items,
then by returning a match to a subset of the search criteria may be
helpful. Or, one of the criteria may be broadened by the algorithm
such that it is broader than what was originally indicated by the
user. This is akin to the exchange computer making suggestions to
the user based on search criteria that has been input.
[0168] As the user is browsing through the various web pages that
provide product information, the exchange computer tracks this
activity as points of interest. That is, even though a user may not
select a particular product to purchase as he browses, a product he
is viewing is considered to be a point of interest since the user
has shown some interest in that product (or brand, category, or
price). The exchange computer tracks these points of interest for
the user and analyzes the points of interest over time (which may
be only a given browsing session, or over several browsing
sessions, etc.). The exchange computer may also dynamically display
to the user computer a quantity of products available for
redemption that correspond to each of the points of interest
selected by the user.
[0169] For example, a user may be browsing a category of cameras
and select a point and shoot camera to review as well as a digital
SLR camera to review. The exchange computer stores and analyzes
these points of interest and ascertains that the user may be
interested in a third type of camera, and then presents the user
with an option to review this new product page if desired.
[0170] The exchange computer may provide a proposed redemption
solution to the user computer, which designates at least one reward
program previously registered in the exchange computer by the user
and a quantity of reward points to be redeemed for the purchase of
the item by the user. This is displayed in Redemption Solution
window 1512 on the right side, which appears once the item 1502 is
selected by the user. The user may then either accept the proposed
redemption solution, or modify the proposed redemption solution as
desired.
[0171] The exchange computer 102 will use the cost of the selected
item 1502 ($400) and analyze the user's available reward points in
reward accounts with which the merchant has an exchange agreement
in place (to be described later). The exchange computer will then
make a suggestion, which may be modified by the user, as to the
points that may be redeemed to pay for the selected item 1502. For
example, in this case as shown in section 1512, the exchange server
has determined that this user may be able to use 20,000 of his
American Airlines points and 10,000 of his AT&T points to pay
for the selected item 1502.
[0172] The exchange computer determines the proposed redemption
solution by any or all of: (1) referencing a user profile stored in
an associated user profile database that indicates user preferences
as to which of a plurality of reward programs is desired to be used
for reward redemption, (2) analyzing prior reward redemptions by
the user stored in an associated reward redemption database to
ascertain a preferred reward program, (3) ascertaining by reference
to a merchant profile database a preferred redemption partner of
the merchant from which the user is making the product purchase,
(4) referencing an exchange rules profile stored in an exchange
rules profile database that indicates exchange preferences as to
which of a plurality of reward programs is desired to be used for
reward redemption, and/or (5) referencing an issuer rules profile
stored in an issuer rules profile database that indicates issuer
preferences as to which of a plurality of reward programs is
desired to be used for reward redemption.
[0173] In the scenario where the exchange computer references a
user profile (stored in profile database 116), the user profile
contains user preferences that specify which of the reward programs
the user wants to use for redemption. For example, a user may
specify in his profile to first use the reward points from his
CITIBANK reward account, and then use reward points from his
AMERICAN EXPRESS reward account when the CITIBANK points are
exhausted. In this case CITIBANK is considered to be the primary
issuer and AMERICAN EXPRESS is considered to be a secondary issuer.
In addition to specifying a preference to redeem the reward points
of a primary issuer before redeeming reward points of issuers other
than the primary issuer, other scenarios may exist. For example, a
preference may be specified by the user in his profile to redeem
the reward points of a primary issuer after (rather than before)
redeeming reward points of issuers other than the primary
issuer.
[0174] Similarly, the user may specify a preference to redeem the
reward points of a primary issuer up to a specified amount or up to
a certain percentage, after which the points of issuers other than
the primary issuer will be redeemed. For example, he may specify to
redeem points from CITIBANK up to the first $50 of the cost of the
item, and then redeem points from other issuers to make up the
difference. Further, the user may specify a preference to redeem
the reward points of a issuers other than a primary issuer up to a
specified amount or up to a certain percentage, after which the
points of the primary issuer will be redeemed.
[0175] In the alternative to referencing a user profile to
determine a proposed redemption solution, the exchange computer may
analyze prior reward redemptions by the user stored in an
associated reward redemption database 124 in order to ascertain a
preferred reward program of the user.
[0176] So, if the user has not specified in his profile that
CITIBANK is his primary or preferred issuer, the exchange computer
may be able to ascertain that the user has redeemed CITIBANK reward
points in his prior redemptions and then suggest the use of
CITIBANK reward points for subsequent redemptions.
[0177] In a further alternative, the exchange computer may refer to
a merchant profile database 120 in order to ascertain a preferred
redemption partner of the merchant from which the user is making
the product purchase. So, for example, if the user is requesting a
purchase of a TV from BESTBUY, the BESTBUY merchant profile may
indicate that CHASE is a preferred redemption partner of BESTBUY.
The exchange computer determines this and then checks if the user
has registered a reward program with CHASE in his profile. If CHASE
has been registered with that user, then the exchange computer will
propose a redemption solution that would utilize the user's reward
points from his CHASE reward account since CHASE is the preferred
redemption partner of BESTBUY.
[0178] In a further alternative, the exchange computer may refer to
an exchange rules profile stored in an exchange rules profile
database 122 that indicates exchange preferences as to which of a
plurality of reward programs is desired to be used for reward
redemption. An issuer may have preferred status with the exchange
system such that its reward program would be first proposed to the
user when making a purchase transaction. Likewise, in another
alternative, an issuer rules profile stored in an issuer rules
profile database 116 may be referenced, that indicates issuer
preferences as to which of a plurality of reward programs is
desired to be used for reward redemption.
[0179] FIG. 16 is a screen shot of a web page 1600 with several
items selected for comparison viewing in box 1602. FIG. 17 is a
screen shot of a web page 1700 with a selected product 1702 from
the product comparison along with a suggested points redemption
solution 1704 for obtaining that selected product 1702. FIG. 18 is
a screen shot of a web page 1800 with detailed information 1802
about a selected product from the product comparison along with a
suggested points redemption solution 1804 for obtaining that
selected product. FIG. 19 is a screen shot of a web page 1900 with
a list 1902 of various merchants that can supply the user with the
selected product. FIG. 20 is a screen shot of a web page 2000 in
which the user is informed in box 2002 that his redemption options
do not provide enough points for obtaining the selected items.
[0180] FIG. 21 is a screen shot of a web page 2100 that provides
the user with slider controls 2102 for modifying his redemption
solution. As previously explained, the exchange computer 102 has
analyzed the user's available reward points and rules and
determined that an optimal reward scenario is to use 20,000 of his
American Airlines points and 10,000 of his AT&T points to pay
for the selected item. However, the user may now modify this
exchange scenario as desired. For example, the user may want to use
none of his American Airlines points, and thus will use the mouse
to slide the slider 2102 all the way to the left side to zero (see
the resulting web page 2200 of FIG. 22). He may then opt to use
some or all of his 138,000 Bloomingdale's reward points by grabbing
the slider 2202 and sliding to the right until the desired dollar
amount equivalent is displayed (in this case $200 as in FIG. 22).
This equates to 25,000 Bloomingdales points as shown. He can then
modify his redemption scenario in the same manner with any other
available reward programs as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The section
2204 labeled Your Redemption Solution at the right side of the web
page 2200 page will show the elected redemption options.
[0181] In a further embodiment described more fully below, certain
constraints may be placed that specify maximum amount of rewards
that may be redeemed for a product and/or a minimum amount of
monetary consideration. For example, the $400 camera in this
example may only be paid for with $300 worth of rewards and a
minimum $100 monetary portion (cash, credit, debit, etc). As more
fully explained below, this may be set by the merchant, the
issuer(s), and/or the exchange service. In this case, the maximum
reward portion and/or the minimum monetary consideration amounts
may be displayed to the user on web page 2100, for example with a
slider control or input boxes. These constraints may be imposed
with more than one issuer such that if the user decides to
aggregate rewards from multiple issuers, there may be maximum
allowable reward portions imposed by each issuer.
[0182] Some of the reward programs in the user's profile are shown
in grayed out format 2104 in FIG. 21. Although these programs are
in the user's profile, they are unavailable for exchange with the
selected merchant since there has been no exchange/trading
agreement executed via the exchange with the selected merchant and
those issuers. This is explained in further detail below.
[0183] FIG. 23 is a screen shot of a web page 2300 that illustrates
the selected product 2302 along with the modified redemption
scenario 2304. FIG. 24 is a screen shot of a checkout web page 2400
in which the selected product price and extra costs such as tax and
shipping are presented. This gives the option of paying the extra
costs with a credit card or with more reward points. FIG. 25 is a
screen shot of a web page 2500 showing confirmation of the
redemption transaction using points and a credit card for the extra
costs. FIG. 26 is a screen shot of a checkout web page 2600 for
payment with points only so that the user may pay for the extra
costs with points in the same manner that he pays for the selected
item with points.
[0184] In sum, the reward redemption transaction may be executed by
the user selecting the item for purchase from a merchant (for
example by utilizing the dynamic search filter presented by the web
page that enables the user to select a desired product category,
manufacturer, and/or price range). The item is purchased at least
partially by the redemption of reward points from at least one
issuer. The user selects via the web page at least one reward
program previously registered in the exchange computer by the user
and a quantity of reward points to be redeemed for the purchase of
the item by the user. The exchange computer then causes a purchase
transaction to be executed for the item selected by the user using
at least the quantity of reward points from the reward program
selected by the user. Cash or other consideration may be combined
with selected reward points if desired in order to complete the
transaction.
[0185] Several ways exist for enabling the transaction to be
executed. In one embodiment, the exchange computer mediates the
transaction and causes the purchase transaction to be executed for
the item selected by the user using at least the quantity of reward
points from the reward program selected by the user by the exchange
computer requesting the issuer computer associated with the
selected reward program to (I) reduce the reward account associated
with the user by the quantity of reward points selected by the user
for execution of the reward redemption transaction, and (II) convey
consideration to the exchange computer corresponding to the
quantity of reward points selected by the user for execution of the
reward redemption transaction. The exchange computer then conveys
consideration to the merchant computer selected by the user in
exchange for the associated merchant providing to the user the
selected item. So for example, the redemption transaction specifies
that a DVD will be purchased by the user from BEST BUY (the
merchant) using 1500 reward points from the user's reward account
with CHASE (the issuer), for which CHASE will pay one penny per
point redeemed. In this case, the exchange computer instructs the
CHASE issuer computer to reduce the user's reward account by 1500
reward points. In exchange, CHASE will convey consideration with a
value of $15.00 (one penny per point) to the exchange computer,
either in real time or by crediting an account that the exchange
computer maintains with the CHASE issuer computer via the
Settlement Service 162. The exchange computer will request the BEST
BUY merchant computer 128 to execute a purchase transaction for the
selected DVD, such that the DVD is shipped to the user as known in
the art of ecommerce. The exchange computer will convey
consideration to the BEST BUY merchant computer 128 (e.g. $15.00),
either in real time or by crediting an account that the exchange
computer maintains with the CHASE issuer computer via the
Settlement Service 162, in exchange for the DVD being shipped to
the user. As a result, the exchange computer has brokered a
transaction in which the user receives a DVD from the merchant BEST
BUY by using reward points from his CHASE reward account, which
would otherwise not be acceptable tender for this purchase
transaction in the prior art.
[0186] In this simple example, the exchange computer conveys the
same amount of consideration to the merchant that was received from
the issuer ($15.00). It is envisioned that the exchange computer
may charge a transaction fee for this service, which may be paid by
any or all of the parties involved (the user, the issuer, and/or
the merchant). For example, the user may be charged $1.00 by the
exchange computer for executing the transaction. Or, the issuer may
pay a service fee to the exchange computer in addition to the
$15.00 conveyed for redeeming the reward points. Or, the merchant
may only receive $14.00 from the exchange computer, wherein the
exchange has retained $1.00 of the $15.00 conveyed by the issuer.
Any scenario may be implemented as may be agreed to by the parties
involved.
[0187] In an alternative embodiment, the exchange computer causes
the purchase transaction to be executed by requesting the merchant
to execute the purchase transaction directly with the issuer by
first transmitting to the merchant computer (I) an identification
of the item selected by the user and (II) an identification of the
reward issuer selected by the user and the quantity of reward
points selected by the user for redemption for the item. The
merchant computer then directly requests the issuer computer
associated with the selected reward program to (I) reduce the
reward account associated with the user by the quantity of reward
points selected by the user for execution of the reward redemption
transaction, and (II) convey consideration to the merchant computer
corresponding to the quantity of reward points selected by the user
for execution of the reward redemption transaction. The issuer
computer at some point (e.g. in real time or at a later time in
batch mode) conveys consideration to the merchant in exchange for
the merchant providing to the user the selected item. As applied to
the purchase example above, the $15.00 consideration paid by the
issuer would go directly to the merchant rather than through the
exchange computer.
[0188] In these examples, only one reward account is being used by
the user to redeem points in exchange for a product. Of course, if
multiple reward accounts are chosen or redemption for the product,
then each issuer is contacted in the same manner as described
above. For example, if the user decides to redeem 1000 points from
CHASE and 500 points from CITIBANK to pay for the DVD from BEST
BUY, then CHASE will convey $10.00 in consideration to the exchange
computer and CITIBANK will convey $5.00 in consideration to the
exchange computer (each issuer reducing the user's reward account
accordingly). The exchange computer may then convey the total
consideration of $15.00 to BESTBUY in exchange for the DVD as
described above. Likewise, the merchant computer may mediate the
transaction directly with the issuer (bypassing the exchange
computer) as described above.
[0189] FIG. 27 is a screen shot of a web page 2700 showing
confirmation of the redemption transaction with points only, and
FIG. 28 is a screen shot of a web page 2800 showing completion of
the redemption transaction with points only.
[0190] FIG. 28a is a flowchart illustrating a user purchase
transaction under this embodiment. As described above, as a
starting point, a user wants to purchase a product utilizing the
exchange. After performing the searches of the product database and
determining the desired product as well as the merchant from whom
the product will be purchased, the product is added to the shopping
cart. The user may continue to peruse the site for more products to
be purchased, and at some point he or she will decide to execute
the purchase transaction. The default or proposed redemption
solution is determined by the exchange computer, and presented to
the user computer for the user to consider. If the user approves of
the proposed redemption solution, then the product and the approved
redemption solution is added to the user's order. If the user does
not approve of the proposed redemption solution, however, then the
proposed solution may be modified before being added to the order.
The user may then checkout or continue to add products to his or
her shopping cart. During the checkout process, the reward point
redemption request (or requests if multiple issuers are involved)
is generated and sent to the issuer computer. The issuer computer
may then approve or decline the request. If declined, then this is
indicated to the user and the redemption scenario may be modified
or the checkout aborted (fails). Assuming the issuer approves the
redemption request, then the merchant purchase order request is
generated by the exchange computer and sent to the merchant
computer. If the merchant can't execute the transaction (e.g. the
product is no longer available), then this is indicated to the user
and the transaction may be modified or the checkout aborted
(fails). Assuming that the merchant is able to execute the
transaction, then the financial terms are logged (e.g.
consideration conveyed by issuer and received by the merchant,
transaction fees, etc.) and the product is shipped to the user.
FIG. 28b is a flowchart of a typical product refund process.
[0191] FIG. 28c is a flowchart illustrating a settlement process of
an embodiment of the invention that is executed by the settlement
service 162. As a starting point, the exchange needs to settle the
completed orders. The total number of redeemed points for an issuer
is determined, and the cash value for that issuer's redeemed points
is calculated. A request for funds is then sent to the issuer
computer for the amount calculated. Once the issuer has transferred
the requested funds to the exchange computer, then this issuer
payment is recorded in a transaction log. A transaction fee, which
may be for example a percentage of the funds transferred in, is
deducted from the amount received from the issuer and the records
are updated. The associated payments that must be made to the
merchant(s) are calculated based on the previously executed
purchase transactions. Payment is then sent to the merchant. After
acknowledgement of receipt by the merchant, the successful
settlement transaction is logged as complete.
[0192] In addition to merchants, third party fulfillment centers
may participate on the exchange. These third party fulfillment
centers would offer products in exchange for reward points in the
same manner as described herein with respect to merchants.
[0193] In one embodiment, the user may bid on a reward redemption
transaction. After selecting an item for purchase from a merchant
via the exchange computer web pages, the user selects at least one
reward program previously registered in the exchange computer by
the user and a quantity of reward points to be bid to be redeemed
for the purchase of the item by the user. The user computer submits
to the exchange computer a bid of the quantity of reward points
that the user is offering for redemption for purchase of the item.
The exchange computer, utilizing the bidding engine 154, submits
the bid received from the user computer to the merchant computer,
and the merchant computer either accepts or rejects the bid for
purchase of the product. So, for example, if the user is bidding on
a $1,000 plasma TV, he may submit a bid to the merchant for $900 to
purchase the TV. The merchant may accept the bid, reject the bid,
or make a counter offer (e.g. $950). The transaction may be
executed once both parties agree on a purchase price.
[0194] Similarly, the exchange computer may submit the bid received
from the user computer to the issuer computer, and the issuer
computer either accepts or rejects the bid for purchase of the
product. In the plasma TV example above, if the exchange computer
indicates that the plasma TV will require redemption of 100,000
points from CHASE, then the user may submit a bid of 90,000 points
for redemption. The exchange computer submits this bid to the CHASE
issuer computer, which may then accept the bid, reject it, or make
a counter offer. In the event that the issuer does agree to make
the purchase by redeeming less points, then it would still convey
the required consideration to the exchange computer, but would
retire less points, thus placing a higher value on each point
retired than it would otherwise.
[0195] The exchange computer may also split bids between the issuer
and the merchant such that the merchant may agree to take less
consideration than otherwise required, and the issuer may retire
less points than otherwise required, in order to execute a desired
transaction. For example, if the user bids 90,000 CHASE points to
obtain the plasma TV from BEST BUY, then CHASE may agree to retire
90,00 points (rather than 100,000) but convey only $950, and
BESTBUY may agree to accept the $950 rather than the listed price
of $1,000.00.
[0196] In another aspect of the invention, a product purchase
transaction is executed by a user first selecting an item for
purchase from a merchant. Then, the exchange computer determines
the lowest price that is being charged by the plurality of
merchants for the item selected by the user. The exchange computer
also determines the lowest number of reward points that may be
redeemed from the plurality of issuers for the item selected by the
user. The determined lowest price and the determined lowest number
of reward points are displayed to the user via the user computer,
and the user selects a mode of purchase of the item with either the
determined lowest price or the determined lowest number of reward
points. Then, a purchase transaction is executed for the item
selected by the user by the mode selected by the user.
[0197] With respect to merchant interaction, a plurality of
merchants also register with the exchange computer via the web site
by using an associated merchant computer for providing merchant
information that includes (i) product information that identifies
at least one product to be offered for sale to the user via the
exchange computer, and (ii) a designation of issuers registered
with the exchange computer with which the merchant agrees to
execute a reward redemption transaction when requested by the user.
FIG. 29 is a screen shot of a merchant login page 2900 that is
accessible by selecting the merchant button 138 from the home page
of FIG. 1 or by direct entry of an appropriate URL. There, the
merchant may login to the system as known in the art (name and
password). If the merchant is new to the system, he may register
via the new merchant registration page 3000 of FIG. 30. In FIG. 30,
new merchants add their name and other contact information, the
result of which is shown in the web page 3100 of FIG. 31. FIG. 32
is a screen shot of the merchant's home page 3200 that is accessed
after logging in to the exchange computer 102. There, the merchant
can enter desired customer profile information in the Customer
Profile section 3202 on the right side, such as age range, marital
status, income, etc. FIG. 33 is a screen shot of a merchant page
3300 with a trading partner selection portion 3302 on the left
side. There, the merchant may select any or all of the issuers or
other trading partners that are registered in the exchange system,
such as Citi ThankYou, Hilton Honors, etc. FIG. 34 is a screen shot
of a merchant page 3400 with an Exchange menu item drop down list
3402 that shows a Create Bid option 3406, a Manage Open Bids option
3408, and a View Agreements option 3410.
[0198] A merchant and an issuer may execute a trading agreement.
The merchant may create a bid by selecting via the merchant
computer a desired issuer from a group of issuers that are
registered with the exchange, and entering into the merchant
computer a desired redemption discount offer, the desired
redemption discount offer being the amount that the merchant is
willing to provide in a transaction with the selected issuer. The
merchant submits the bid to the exchange computer, which then
forwards the bid to the issuer computer of the desired issuer
selected by the merchant in the bid. The issuer accepts the bid,
rejects the bid, or counter proposes a modified bid in which a
modified redemption discount is submitted to the exchange computer
for forwarding to the merchant computer.
[0199] Thus, if the merchant selects Create Bid 3406, then the web
page 3800 of FIG. 38 is presented. The merchant selects the desired
trading partners on the Select Trading Partners section 3802 to
whom the bid will be presented by the exchange computer 102. The
merchant then enters the desired Redemption Discount 3804, which is
the discount that the merchant is willing to provide in a
transaction with the issuer selected in section 3802. For example,
as shown in the web page 3900 of FIG. 39, the merchant has entered
a desired 20% discount into box 3804. If this were accepted by the
issuer(s) to whom the bid is submitted, then the merchant would
only charge $80 for a $100 MSRP item, for example. The merchant can
also select in box 3902 if it wants to keep the bid good (open)
until cancelled or set a time frame for expiration in boxes 3904.
The merchant can also set a cap up in box 3906 to which the amount
of transactions can be executed at the set discount rate. The
merchant can also set other options such as availability (e.g.
in-store, web, etc.) in drop down list 3908 as well as special
promotions. Once the bid data is entered by the merchant, the bid
is submitted into the exchange computer 102 and stored in
issuer/merchant bid database 119 as shown in FIG. 1b.
[0200] The bid is then forward to the trading partner selected by
the merchant. Once the trading partner reviews the bid, it will
submit a response to the exchange computer 102 that is forwarded
back to the merchant and displayed in the Chosen Partners column
3806 indicated in FIG. 38. Chosen Partners column 3806 indicates
the chosen trading partners as well as the number of members of
that partner.
[0201] Certain parameters may exist in the system to automatically
block bids from a merchant from being sent to the issuer. An issuer
may have designated certain issuer preferences (for example stored
in issuer profiles database 118) that indicate the issuer's rules
for executing a trading partnership with a merchant. For example,
an issuer may designate that it will not execute an agreement with
any merchant having annual sales less than X amount. When the
merchant submits a bid, the system can filter out the merchants
that do not meet the issuer's criteria and automatically respond to
the merchant without having to submit the bid to the issuer. This
auto-reject criteria may be modified by the issuer as desired.
[0202] In an alternative embodiment, an issuer receives multiple
requests/bids from merchants through the system which first does a
credit check, removing those who do not meet the standards of the
issuer, scans for blocked categories such as escort services,
liquor or tobacco products and previously blocked merchants. Of the
merchants who pass, the system then looks at the product category
offered by the merchant, his geography and sales volume for
desirability and is automatically approved, rejected with a minimum
discount required to establish a trading relationship based upon
the algorithms that establish the value of the merchant to the
issuer.
[0203] FIG. 40 is a screen shot of a merchant page 4000 in which
the bid has been submitted. A Bid Log 4002 displays each bid made
by the merchant, including pertinent details of that bid. FIG. 41
is a screen shot of a merchant page 4100 in which open bids may be
searched in section 4104, selected and managed in section 4102. The
Search for Bid section 4104 displays the open bids of that
merchant. The merchant may select an open bid from that list and
review its details. Shown in FIG. 41 is the detail in section 4102
of a bid made to Citi ThankYou, in which the issuer (Citi ThankYou)
has made a counter-offer back to the merchant in the amount of a
30% discount. That is, Citi ThankYou has rejected the 20% discount
offer and instead counter proposes that this merchant provide a 30%
discount. The issuer would rather have the higher 30% discount
since it means that it would only have to pay the merchant $70 for
a $100 MSRP item, while retiring $100 worth of reward points of the
user (e.g. 10,000 points). A log of the bids made back and forth
will be displayed in the Bid Log 4002 on the right side.
[0204] FIG. 42 is a screen shot of a merchant page 4200 in which a
bid is selected for review. FIG. 43 is a screen shot of a merchant
page 4300 in which a further counter-offer is provided, for example
the merchant here has entered a proposed discount of 25%. This will
be submitted back to the issuer via the exchange until the parties
either reach an agreement or cease negotiations. FIG. 44 is a
screen shot of a merchant page 4400 in which a counter-offer is
submitted. FIG. 45 is a screen shot of a merchant page 4500 in
which a response bid is accepted by the merchant. FIG. 46 is a
screen shot of a merchant page 4600 in which accepted bid
agreements may be viewed.
[0205] This bidding process described above is managed by the
bidding engine 154 of the exchange computer 102 in association with
the issuer/merchant bids database 119, which are shown in FIG. 1b.
FIG. 46a also illustrates this process, in which a merchant that
wants to establish a trading relationship with an issuer will find
an issuer via the web page, then create the desired bid that is
checked against the issuer profile in the issuer profile database
118. If the bid meets a predefined rule from that issuer's profile
(such as "accept all bids under 10% discount), then the bid is
approved an the trading relationship is automatically created. If
the rule is not met then the bid is queued and sent to the issuer
for review. The bid could be accepted or rejected, in which case a
counter-bid may be made by the issuer and returned to the merchant
via the exchange computer.
[0206] Further checks on the bid may be made with respect to
merchant eligibility as illustrated in FIG. 46(b). In order to
determine if the merchant's bid is eligible for the selected
issuer, several criteria are reviewed. For example, the merchant's
sales volume is checked to see if it meets the issuer's defined
requirements. Also, the merchant must be in good credit standing
(have the required credit rating). The merchant is cross-checked
against a list of banned or excluded merchants. Finally, the
merchant's products must match the issuer's stated categories.
Assuming all of these (and perhaps other) criteria have been met,
then the bid will be allowed to be made. If any criteria fail, then
the bid is disallowed.
[0207] FIG. 35 is a screen shot of a merchant home page 3500 with
an Inventory menu item drop down list 3502 that sets forth the
options of Summary 3504, Add/Edit products 3506, Discount
Scheduling 3508, and Rewards Inventory 3510. This is the vehicle by
which merchants are able to enter their available products and
services into the system for storage in the product database 117
and searching and subsequent purchase by an interested user as
described above. For example, FIG. 47 is a screen shot of a
merchant page 4700 in which the inventory summary is presented in
section 4702. This displays a summary of the value of the reward
inventory, the scheduled inventory, and the total inventory. Also
shown for informational purposes are the number of SKUs,
categories, items, returns, etc.
[0208] Also shown is a Search engine panel 4704 on the left side in
which the merchant can search the inventory by SKU, category,
brand, supplier, programs, promotion and price, as well as a
free-form text entry search box. The merchant can also select to
search for merchandise, services, or time-sensitive items as
shown.
[0209] FIG. 48 is a screen shot of a merchant page 4800 in which
inventory may be added or edited. Reference is also made to the
process flowchart of FIG. 48a. Entry fields are presented in
section 4802 for product name and related information as shown. As
such, product descriptions and quantities may be added by the
merchant for all the products (and services) he wishes to make
available on the exchange. In the alternative, a Bulk Product
Upload function 4804 may be selected in which a file is uploaded
that contains all of the required information, thus eliminating the
need for manual entry. Inventory may be managed as shown by the
process flow of FIG. 48b, and product eligibility is determined as
shown by the process flow of FIG. 48c.
[0210] FIG. 49 is a screen shot of a merchant page 4900 in which
discount scheduling may be implemented in accordance with this
invention. FIG. 50 is a screen shot of a merchant page 5000 in
which discount scheduling may be modified. Here the merchant may
enter a schedule of price discounts that will be automatically
generated based on the schedule entered. For example, a product may
be provided with a 20% discount for 30 days, then 30% for the next
30 days, etc. This progression discount schedule may be modified by
the merchant as desired. Similar functionality is provided for
rewards inventory as shown in web page 5100 in FIG. 51. FIG. 52 is
a screen shot of a merchant page 5200 in which rewards inventory
detail is shown.
[0211] FIG. 36 is a screen shot of a merchant page 3600 with an
Analytics menu item drop down list 3602, showing various options
such as Sales, Issuer, Marketing, Exchange, Cluster, Supplier and
Partner. FIG. 53 is a screen shot of a merchant page 5300 in which
an analytics summary is shown. FIG. 54 is a screen shot of a
merchant page 5400 in which analytics by product is shown; and FIG.
55 is a screen shot of a merchant page 5500 in which analytics by
reward programs is shown. FIG. 56 is a screen shot of a merchant
page 5600 in which a profile summary is shown after creation. FIG.
57 is a screen shot of a merchant page 5700 in which issuer
analytics are shown, and FIG. 58 is a screen shot of a merchant
page 5800 in which network analytics are shown.
[0212] In another aspect of the invention, a merchant may submit to
the exchange computer any or all of the following: (1) a price
discount schedule that specifies price discounts to be
automatically generated by the exchange computer as a function of
elapsed time that a specified product is available for purchase;
(2) a redemption schedule that specifies redemption discounts to be
automatically generated by the exchange computer as a function of
elapsed time that a specified product is available for purchase;
and/or (3) a transacted value discount schedule that specifies
transacted value discounts to be automatically generated by the
exchange computer as a function of elapsed time that a specified
product is available for purchase.
[0213] In yet another aspect of the invention, a user profile is
built for storage in a user profile database associated with the
exchange computer. A reward redemption offer is generated based on
information in the user profile and then presented to the user via
the user computer. The user profile may include information
regarding the user's past reward redemptions and/or the user's past
product viewing history. A merchant may access the user profile
database in order to generate a product offer to a user that is
targeted to that user based on the profile information of the
user.
[0214] FIG. 59 is a screen shot of an issuer login page 5900 that
is accessed by a reward point issuer 108 on an issuer computer 130
interconnected to the exchange computer 102 via the network 114 by
selecting the issuer button 140 on the home screen 134 of FIG. 1.
This page may of course also be directly accessed with an
appropriate URL entry.
[0215] A plurality of issuers also register with the exchange
computer via the web site, each of the issuers registering using an
associated issuer computer for providing issuer information
comprising a designation of merchants registered with the exchange
computer with which the issuer agrees to execute a reward
redemption transaction when requested by the user.
[0216] FIG. 60 is a screen shot of a new issuer registration page
6000, and FIG. 61 is a screen shot of a new issuer registration
page 6100 with filled in data. FIG. 62 is a screen shot of an
issuer home page 6200 after the issuer has logged in. FIG. 63 is a
screen shot of an issuer bid creation page 6300 in which the issuer
may create an exchange bid in the same manner as described with
respect to the merchants above.
[0217] That is, in the alternative, the issuer may create a bid by
selecting with the issuer computer a desired merchant from a group
of merchants that are registered with the exchange, and entering
into the web page a desired redemption discount offer, the desired
redemption discount offer being the amount that the issuer is
willing to accept in a transaction with the selected merchant. The
issuer submits the bid to the exchange computer, which then
forwards the bid to the merchant computer of the desired merchant
selected by the issuer in the bid. The merchant accepts the bid,
rejects the bid, or counter proposes a modified bid in which a
modified redemption discount is submitted to the exchange computer
for forwarding to the issuer computer.
[0218] FIG. 64 is a screen shot of an issuer bid creation page 6400
with a trading partner selected, FIG. 65 is a screen shot of the
issuer page 6500 of FIG. 64 in which bid data has been entered, and
FIG. 66 is a screen shot of an issuer page 6600 in which the bid
has been submitted. FIG. 67 is a screen shot of an issuer page 6700
in which open bids may be searched, selected and managed; FIG. 68
is a screen shot of an issuer page 6800 in which a bid is selected
for review, and FIG. 69 is a screen shot of an issuer merchant page
6900 in which accepted bid agreements may be viewed.
[0219] FIG. 70 is a screen shot of an issuer page 7000 in which an
analytics summary is shown similar to the analytics previously
described.
[0220] The selection of the manufacturer button 142 on FIG. 1
provides functionality to a manufacturer similar to that of a
merchant as previously described.
[0221] In an alternative to a user entering search criteria into a
user computer for products review, a user may use a mobile device
such as a camera-enabled cell phone or smart phone such as an
IPHONE to capture an image of a UPC bar code of a product of
interest. The bar code is imaged and decoded, and the UPC data is
transmitted wirelessly to the exchange computer 102. Scanning and
decoding of UPC codes is well known in the art. This enables a user
to scan a product and comparison shop with the present
invention.
[0222] In a further alternative embodiment, functionality may be
embedded within a point of sale device (POS device) to interact
with the exchange computer 102. For example, a user may be shopping
in a store and bring a product to the register for checkout. The
UPC of the product will be scanned by the cashier using a POS
device or associated scanner, and the UPC data will be transmitted
to the exchange computer along with customer identification
information that may be obtained for example by scanning the
magnetic stripe of the user's credit or debit card. The exchange
computer may then send back to the POS device a display of the
user's available reward points in his promotional wallet as
described above. If the merchant where the user is purchasing the
product has a trading agreement with the issuer(s) of the user's
points (or with a third party other than the points issuer which
has the ability to transact the point based transaction), then the
user may elect to have a reward exchange transaction take place on
order to pay for the product. For example, if the user is
purchasing a $20 DVD at BEST BUY, this information is sent to the
exchange computer 102 via the POS device. If the user has reward
points with CHASE, and CHASE has already executed a trading
agreement with BEST BUY, then the user may elect to use his CHASE
reward points to pay for the DVD. The user's reward account would
be reduced by the number of points required (e.g. 2,000 points),
and CHASE per its agreement with BEST BUY would convey appropriate
consideration to BEST BUY to pay for the DVD. If for example a 10%
trading agreement was previously agreed to by BEST BUY (as
merchant) and CHASE (as issuer), then CHASE would convey $18 to
BESTBUY for the purchase of the DVD.
[0223] The system that is used to implement this embodiment is
shown in FIG. 1d and includes an exchange computer 102, a merchant
computer 128 associated with a merchant 106 and selectively
interconnected to the exchange computer via a computer network 14,
an issuer computer 130 associated with a reward points issuer 108
and selectively interconnected to the exchange computer via the
computer network; and a point of sale device 7100 operably
associated with the merchant computer 128. This similar in topology
to the system of FIG. 1b, except that there is no need for a user
computer since the purchase transaction is made via the point of
sale device at the merchant's retail outlet.
[0224] The point of sale device 7100 may be a terminal associated
with a cash register at a checkout counter of the store. Or, the
point of sale device may a kiosk located in the store, or in a
central location such as a shopping mall, airport terminal, and the
like. A point of sale device may be implemented in various mobile
environments such as a taxicab to enable a rider to pay for his or
her ride with reward points through the exchange, or it may be
located at a concierge desk in a hotel or travel agency
environment.
[0225] The point of sale device 7100 is shown in further detail in
FIG. 71. The point of sale device 7100 has at least one input
device 7102 for inputting information from a user and/or item, a
display 7104, a data connection 7106 to the computer network; and a
processor 7108.
[0226] In an alternative embodiment, a user may be browsing through
the aisles at a merchant's retail store and may have real-time
communications with a merchant computer located at the store, or
with a point of sale device at the store if the merchant computer
is located offsite. The user may be carrying a communications
device such as a cell phone, or a smartphone or PDA such as an
IPHONE or IPAD, and the merchant system (merchant computer or point
of sale device) may communicate with the user to advertise certain
items that may be of interest, or an application with a remote
transmitting device which communicates with a user mobile device.
For example, the merchant computer may push an ad to the user's
cell phone in the form of a text message that reads "CDs now on
sale in aisle 3" or the like. The content of the ad may be of
general interest or it may be derived from an analysis of the
user's past purchasing or browsing history (e.g. points of
interest). Thus, if the merchant computer has already sold CDs to a
particular user, the text message above may be sent. If the device
being carried by the user has Wi-Fi capabilities and the user is
logged in to the store's network, then the system will know the
user is in the store and will be able to communicate with the user
via the Wi-Fi connection or by text messaging discussed above.
[0227] In addition to pushing simple ads, the system may interact
with a user device to notify the user of the availability of
certain redemption opportunities available at the store that meet
certain parameters designated by either the merchant, issuer, or
user, concerning products available within the retail
environment.
[0228] The system may use RF, IR, BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, and or other
means of wireless communication between the user device and the
merchant computer or point of sale device for such communications
discussed above.
[0229] With respect to the point of sale device 7100 of FIG. 71,
the processor 7108 is programmed to receive via the input device
7102 price information associated with an item to be purchased by a
user. Price information associated with the item may be input by
reading a machine-readable indicia associated with the item. For
example, the input device 7102 may be a bar code canning device,
which is then used to scan a bar code such as UPC code 7112 on the
(or associated with) the item to be purchased by the user. The
price information may be embedded in and obtained directly from the
machine-readable UPC indicia 7112, or the machine-readable indicia
may include an index that is used by the point of sale device 7100
to lookup the price information from an associated product
database. Either of these options are well known in the art.
[0230] In an alternative embodiment, the machine-readable indicia
may be an RFID tag that is embedded in the item or its packaging.
RFID tags emit RF signals that contain information about the item
in the same fashion that bar codes contain such information,
including but not limited to its price or an index used to lookup
its price. In this case, the input device 7102 is an RFID reader
device associated with the point of sale device.
[0231] In a further alternative, the price or product information
may be manually entered into the point of sale device 7100 by a
manual data entry input device associated with the point of sale
device. This would be a keyboard that may be used for example if
the bar code cannot be successfully scanned. All of these data
entry input devices 7102 described herein are known in the art and
need not be described in any further detail herein.
[0232] The input device may also be used to in order to input a
user identification (user ID) into the point of sale device 7100.
While the same input device 7102 may be used for this function
(e.g. a keyboard), it may be preferred to use a second input device
7110 as shown in FIG. 71, which may be a device configured to read
an encoded token presented by the user. For example, the input
device 7110 may be a card reader known in the art that is able to
read the magnetic stripe from a token that is a card 7114 such as a
credit card, debit card, or reward loyalty card, etc.
Alternatively, the input device 7110 may be a smart card reader
that is configured to read a memory chip on a smart card as known
in the art. Any type of input device that can read a user ID from a
token would be useful with this invention.
[0233] In the preferred embodiment the user ID is (or is associated
with) the credit card number of the user that is presented by the
user during the transaction. The user ID is transmitted by the
point of sale device 7100 to the exchange computer 102 via the data
connection 7106. The user ID is then used by the exchange computer
to ascertain a promotional wallet for that user (as described
previously), which is sent back to the point of sale device from
the exchange computer via the data connection. As previously
described, the promotional wallet indicates a redeemable value of
reward points stored in at least one reward point account 132
associated with the user 104 and at least one issuer computer
130.
[0234] The promotional wallet is then displayed on display 7104 for
the user to review. The promotional wallet may include a proposed
redemption solution, as described above, or it may simply show the
reward point account(s) linked to by the exchange computer with the
number of points available in the account(s). The functionality
described above with respect to the display of reward points and
selection by the user of the desired points for redemption, may
also be implemented by the point of sale device 7100. The user can
select the desired redemption solution on the point of sale device
(for example if the display 7104 is a touch screen display or
through associated buttons as known in the art). The redemption
selection, which indicates a selection of reward points to be
redeemed from at least one reward point account associated with the
user and at least one issuer computer, is then used to execute the
purchase transaction for the item selected by the user by using the
inputted redemption selection.
[0235] In a simple redemption scenario, the user has selected to
redeem reward points from a single issuer such as CITIBANK. For
example, the user may indicate that the item should be purchased in
full with 5,000 of his CITIBANK reward points as indicated in the
proposed redemption solution on the display 7104. The point of sale
device may then cause the purchase transaction to be executed by
transmitting an instruction to the exchange computer 102 to request
the CITIBANK issuer computer to redeem the 5,000 reward points
selected by the user by (I) reducing the reward account associated
with the user by the quantity of reward points selected by the user
for execution of the purchase transaction (5,000 points), and (II)
conveying consideration to the exchange computer 102 corresponding
to the quantity of reward points selected by the user for execution
of the purchase transaction. For example, the issuer computer may
at some point convey $50.00 to the exchange computer. This may done
in real time at the time of the request, or it may done offline in
a batch transaction mode in a settlement process as previously
described. Regardless of when the consideration is actually
conveyed, The point of sale device may receive confirmation from
the exchange computer 102 that the issuer computer has redeemed the
5,000 reward points selected by the user and the user may take the
item purchased. Settlement between the parties may occur at a later
time if desired. For example, the merchant computer 128 may receive
consideration for the sale of the item from the exchange computer
102 to complete the transaction.
[0236] Alternatively, the transaction may occur directly between
the merchant and the issuer without further intervention by the
exchange computer. That is, the point of sale device 7100 may cause
the purchase transaction to be executed by transmitting an
instruction to the CITIBANK issuer computer to request it to redeem
the 5,000 reward points selected by the user by (I) reducing the
reward account associated with the user by the 5,000 points
selected by the user for execution of the purchase transaction, and
(II) conveying consideration directly to a merchant computer
associated with the point of sale device corresponding to the 5,000
reward points selected by the user for execution of the purchase
transaction. The point of sale device may then receive confirmation
from the merchant computer that the issuer has redeemed the reward
points selected by the user and the user may take the item
purchased. Settlement between the parties may occur at a later time
if desired. For example, the merchant computer 128 may receive
consideration for the sale of the item from the CITIBANK issuer
computer 130 to complete the transaction.
[0237] In the alternative to using a single reward points issuer as
described above, the exchange computer may present the user with an
option to redeem points from multiple issuers and combine the total
redeemable value to pay for the desired item. Thus, the redemption
selection input to the point of sale device may indicate a
combination of a first selection of reward points to be redeemed
from a first reward point account (e.g. CITIBANK) and a second
selection of reward points to be redeemed from a second reward
point account (e.g. CHASE), etc. In this embodiment, there will be
multiple redemptions and transfers of consideration; one for each
issuer selected by the user for redemption. The exchange computer
may then authorize the transaction after it has received
confirmation of the redemption from all of the selected issuers. In
addition, coupons and other forms of tender such as cash, credit,
store credits, etc. may be used along with reward points to execute
the purchase transactions.
[0238] The point of sale device may display advertisements relevant
to the user, the product, and/or the transaction itself which are
served from the merchant computer based on the transaction, the
user, the product being purchased, etc.
[0239] FIG. 72 is a flowchart of an aspect of the invention in
which a maximum allowable reward payment portion of a purchase
price of an item for sale by a merchant is implemented. A purchase
price for the item is established by a party in the transaction,
which may be a merchant, a rewards issuer, or the operator of the
online rewards exchange system. The purchase price in this
embodiment is paid for with a reward payment portion and a monetary
consideration portion. The reward payment portion is equivalent to
the value of rewards that may be redeemed by a user from at least
one reward issuer towards payment of the purchase price for the
item. The monetary consideration portion (which may be cash, credit
card, debit card, check, etc.) makes up the balance of the purchase
price, such that the reward payment portion and the monetary
consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price for the
item.
[0240] In this embodiment, a maximum allowable reward payment
portion amount for the reward payment portion of the purchase price
is established. The maximum allowable reward payment portion sets
the upper limit of the portion of the purchase that may be paid
with rewards. For example, the purchase price may be set to $100,
and the maximum allowable reward payment portion may be set to $40.
This would allow a user to redeem rewards up to a value of $40,
with the balance of $60 payable only with monetary consideration.
The maximum allowable reward payment portion may be expressed in
different ways, such as but not limited to an absolute value (e.g.
$40 as above), or as a percentage of the purchase price (e.g. 40%),
or in terms of the rewards (e.g. 4,000 reward points).
[0241] The purchase price information (the purchase price and the
maximum allowable reward payment portion) is then and sent by the
online reward exchange computer to a remote computing device for
interaction with a user. The remote computing device may be a user
computer (in an online embodiment) or a point of sale terminal (in
a retail store embodiment). The user computer may be a desktop
computer, laptop computer, handheld portable computer, smartphone
and the like. In any of theses cases, the purchase price
information is preferably displayed is some form for the user to
view and consider, along with a description of the item such as
images, text etc. As a result the user is informed how much the
item costs, as well as how much of that price may be paid for with
rewards (the maximum allowable reward payment portion amount). The
user may then control the remote computing device to enter a
purchase request for the item, which includes (i) a desired amount
of the reward payment portion and (ii) a desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion. As long as the desired amount of
the reward payment portion does not exceed the maximum allowable
reward payment portion (and the total value of the desired amount
of the reward payment portion and the desired amount of the
monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price
for the item), then the purchase request is sent to the reward
exchange computer. The transaction may then be executed by
redeeming the rewards of the reward payment portion received in the
purchase request (as fully described above), executing a monetary
transaction for the monetary consideration portion (e.g charging a
user's credit card), and then providing the item to the user.
[0242] In a preferred embodiment a slider control is implemented at
the remote computing device, which allows the user to set the
desired amount of the reward payment portion. In this embodiment, a
user interface instruction is transmitted by the reward exchange
computer to the remote computing device to provide a slider control
for display at the remote computing device, such as on a web page.
The slider control allows a user to select along an axis the
desired amount of the reward payment portion only up to the maximum
allowable reward payment portion. In addition, the desired amount
of the monetary consideration portion is calculated as a function
of the desired amount of the reward payment portion selected with
the slider control. For example, in the case where the purchase
price for the item is $100 and the maximum allowable reward payment
portion is 6,000 points (which also may be expressed at $60 when
the par value of each point is one cent), then this purchase price
information is transmitted by the reward exchange computer to the
remote computing device. FIGS. 74a, 74b, and 74c show a slider as
may be displayed on the display of the remote computing device for
this example (such as on the web page 2100 in FIG. 21). FIG. 74a
shows that when the slider is at the extreme left position, the
reward payment portion is selected at 0 points. Optionally, this
may be the default position presented to the user. Since the
purchase price is $100, the corresponding monetary consideration
portion is calculated to be $100 as displayed in FIG. 74a. The user
may then control the remote computing device to move the slider as
desired along the bar (such as with a mouse, trackpad, touchscreen,
etc.) and the reward payment portion and monetary consideration
portion will change accordingly. FIG. 74b illustrates the slider at
the middle position, where the reward payment portion is 3,000
points and the corresponding monetary consideration portion is $70.
FIG. 74c illustrates the slider at the extreme right position,
where the reward payment portion is the established maximum of
6,000 points and the corresponding monetary consideration portion
is $40. These amounts may be displayed to the user in different
ways and in different resolutions other than what is shown by the
example here. In any event, by sliding the control along the bar,
the desired reward payment portion will vary, as will the
corresponding monetary consideration portion. The reward payment
portion will be limited by the maximum allowable reward payment
portion that was received by the remote computing device as part of
the purchase price information from the reward exchange
computer.
[0243] In another embodiment, rather than use a slider interface
control element, the user may be presented with a simple display of
the purchase price and the maximum allowable reward payment
portion, as well as an input box that would allow the user to input
either the desired amount of the reward payment portion (in which
case the corresponding amount of the required monetary
consideration is calculated and optionally displayed) or the
desired amount of the monetary consideration (in which case the
corresponding amount of the required reward payment portion is
calculated and optionally displayed), both cases of which are
limited by the maximum allowable reward payment portion amount. An
example of this is shown in FIG. 75.
[0244] Various combinations of these user interface control
elements, as well as others well known in the art, may be used
within the scope of this invention.
[0245] In a further embodiment, the exchange computer may use the
desired amount of the reward payment portion and the desired amount
of the monetary consideration portion as submitted by the user in
order to search its product database and determine a plurality of
additional items that may be purchased in accordance with those
desired amounts. That is, if the user indicates that the desired
monetary consideration portion is $70 and the desired reward
portion is 3,000 points, then the exchange computer will search the
database to find additional products that can be purchased with $70
and 3,000 points. A description of these additional items may then
be transmitted to the remote computing device for the user to
review and select as may be desired.
[0246] These additional items may also purchased from a predefined
cluster of merchants, wherein each merchant in the cluster of
merchants agrees to provide items at the purchase price that may be
paid for with a reward payment portion and a monetary consideration
portion, utilizing the maximum allowable reward payment portion
amount for the reward payment portion of the purchase price. For
example, a group of merchants may band together and form a cluster
of merchants, in which they all agree to negotiate with issuers
under the same terms and conditions with respect to the maximum
allowable reward payment portion as well as other matters. The
clusters maybe formed based on virtually any type of organizations,
such as by product types sold by the merchants, geographic
locations of the merchants, size of the merchants (e.g. in terms of
gross sales amounts), etc. For example, a group of merchants in a
single shopping center may form a cluster and agree that they will
all honor a predefined rule set regarding the relative amounts of
monetary consideration and maximum allowable reward payment
portion. As such, if a user request to purchase an item with a
desired monetary consideration portion of $70 and a desired reward
portion of 3,000 points, then all of the shopping center cluster
merchants would agree to provide similar items to the user at the
same terms and conditions, and the exchange computer would send
this information to the user for further consideration.
[0247] In an alternative embodiment, the purchase price information
may include a minimum allowable monetary consideration portion
amount of the purchase price rather than a maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount. This would operate similarly to the
embodiment described above. Thus, FIG. 73 is a flowchart of this
embodiment in which a minimum monetary consideration portion of a
purchase price of an item for sale by a merchant is implemented. A
purchase price for the item is established by a party in the
transaction, which may be a merchant, a rewards issuer, or the
operator of the online rewards exchange system. The purchase price
in this embodiment is paid for with a reward payment portion and a
monetary consideration portion. The reward payment portion is
equivalent to the value of rewards that may be redeemed by a user
from at least one reward issuer towards payment of the purchase
price for the item. The monetary consideration portion (which may
be cash, credit card, debit card, check, etc.) makes up the balance
of the purchase price, such that the reward payment portion and the
monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase price
for the item.
[0248] In this embodiment, a minimum monetary consideration portion
amount for the reward payment portion of the purchase price is
established. The maximum minimum monetary consideration portion
sets the lower limit of the portion of the purchase that must be
paid with monetary consideration. For example, the purchase price
may be set to $100, and the minimum monetary consideration portion
may be set to $40. This would require a user to pay with monetary
consideration at least $40, with the balance payable by redeeming
rewards. The minimum monetary consideration portion may be
expressed in different ways, such as but not limited to an absolute
value (e.g. $40 as above), or as a percentage of the purchase price
(e.g. 40%).
[0249] The purchase price information (the purchase price and the
minimum monetary consideration portion) is then and sent by the
online reward exchange computer to a remote computing device for
interaction with a user. The remote computing device may be a user
computer (in an online embodiment) or a point of sale terminal (in
a retail store embodiment). The user computer may be a desktop
computer, laptop computer, handheld portable computer, smartphone
and the like. In any of theses cases, the purchase price
information is preferably displayed is some form for the user to
view and consider, along with a description of the item such as
images, text etc. As a result the user is informed how much the
item costs, as well as how much of that price must be paid for with
monetary consideration (the minimum monetary consideration
portion). The user may then control the remote computing device to
enter a purchase request for the item, which includes (i) a desired
amount of the reward payment portion and (ii) a desired amount of
the monetary consideration portion. As long as the desired amount
of the monetary consideration portion does not go lower than the
minimum monetary consideration portion (and the total value of the
desired amount of the reward payment portion and the desired amount
of the monetary consideration portion is equivalent to the purchase
price for the item), then the purchase request is sent to the
reward exchange computer. The transaction may then be executed by
redeeming the rewards of the reward payment portion received in the
purchase request, executing a monetary transaction for the monetary
consideration portion (e.g charging a user's credit card), and then
providing the item to the user.
[0250] In a preferred embodiment a slider control is implemented at
the remote computing device, which allows the user to set the
desired amount of the monetary consideration portion. In this
embodiment, a user interface instruction is transmitted by the
reward exchange computer to the remote computing device to provide
a slider control for display at the remote computing device. The
slider control allows a user to select along an axis the desired
amount of the monetary consideration portion only up to the minimum
monetary consideration portion. In addition, the desired amount of
the reward payment portion is calculated as a function of the
desired amount of the monetary consideration portion selected with
the slider control. For example, in the case where the purchase
price for the item is $100 and the minimum monetary consideration
portion is $40, then this purchase price information is transmitted
by the reward exchange computer to the remote computing device.
FIGS. 74a, 7b, and 74c show a slider as may be displayed on the
display of the remote computing device for this example. FIG. 74a
shows that when the slider is at the extreme left position, the
monetary consideration portion is selected at $100. Optionally,
this may be the default position presented to the user. Since the
purchase price is $100, the corresponding reward payment portion is
calculated to be 0 as displayed in FIG. 74a. The user may then
control the remote computing device to move the slider as desired
along the bar (such as with a mouse, trackpad, touchscreen, etc.)
and the reward payment portion and monetary consideration portion
will change accordingly. FIG. 74b illustrates the slider at the
middle position, where the monetary consideration portion is $70
and the corresponding reward payment portion is 3,000 points. FIG.
74c illustrates the slider at the extreme right position, where the
monetary consideration is the established minimum $40 and the
corresponding reward payment portion is 6,000 points. These amounts
may be displayed to the user in different ways and in different
resolutions other than what is shown by the example here. In any
event, by sliding the control along the bar, the desired monetary
consideration portion will vary, as will the corresponding reward
payment portion. The monetary consideration portion will be limited
by the minimum allowable monetary consideration portion that was
received by the remote computing device as part of the purchase
price information from the reward exchange computer.
[0251] In another embodiment, rather than use a slider interface
control element, the user may be presented with a simple display of
the purchase price and the minimum allowable monetary consideration
portion, as well as an input box that would allow the user to input
either the desired amount of the reward payment portion (in which
case the corresponding amount of the required monetary
consideration is calculated and optionally displayed) or the
desired amount of the monetary consideration (in which case the
corresponding amount of the required reward payment portion is
calculated and optionally displayed), both cases of which are
limited by the minimum allowable monetary consideration portion
amount. An example of this is shown in FIG. 75.
[0252] The merchant clustering discussed above is also applicable
to this embodiment.
[0253] In another embodiment, the maximum allowable rewards payment
portion (and likewise the minimum allowable monetary consideration
portion) may be modified, in cases wherein the item for purchase
has some type of shelf-life or expiration date, in accordance with
the expiration date of the item. For example, if the item for
purchase is a ticket (plane ticket, cruise ticket etc.) for an
event at a specific date, then the merchant may want to allow a
user to use more rewards (and less required monetary consideration)
to purchase the item as the expiration date approaches. This may
also be applicable to perishable items such as food items. In this
embodiment, the merchant may set up a sliding scale that allows for
this contingency. For example, a merchant selling a ticket to a
cruise that departs on June 1, with a price of $1,000.00, may set a
maximum allowable reward amount of 60,000 reward points having a
par value of one cent per point (with the balance payable in
monetary consideration). The merchant may also specify that the
same ticket may be purchased with up to 70,000 reward points if
unsold by April 1, then up to 80,000 reward points if unsold by May
1, then up to 100,000 points (100%) if unsold by May 25.
[0254] In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
merchant will determine the relative percentages of monetary
consideration and reward payments that may be used to purchase the
product from the merchant. That is, the merchant will be the party
that establishes the purchase price information for an item for
sale, which includes the purchase price for the item for sale,
wherein the purchase price may be paid with a reward payment
portion and a monetary consideration portion, with the reward
payment portion equivalent to a value of rewards that may be
redeemed by a user from at least one reward issuer towards payment
of the purchase price for the item. As described above, the
purchase price information also includes a maximum allowable reward
payment portion amount for the reward payment portion of the
purchase price. The merchant transmits the designated purchase
price information for the item for sale. That is, the merchant may
supply this information to the exchange computer, which will
include the purchase price information along with the descriptions
of the items for sale as described above. Optionally, the purchase
price information may be transmitted to a user computer in other
ways, such as on a web site operated by the merchant with optional
links back to the reward exchange web site. In any event, the user
is provided with this purchase price information as designated by
the merchant and the sale may occur as described above (i.e. the
item is sold in accordance with the maximum allowable reward
payment portion and the monetary consideration portion). In one
embodiment, the merchant establishes the purchase price information
for an item for sale by controlling a slider control provided at a
merchant computer, the slider control allowing the merchant to
select along an axis the maximum allowable reward payment portion.
This may be similar to the slider control shown in FIGS. 74a, 74b
and 74c. In an alternative embodiment to this, the purchase price
information includes a minimum allowable monetary consideration
portion amount of the purchase price rather than a maximum
allowable reward payment portion amount as described above. The
merchant may indicate the maximum allowable reward payment portions
and/or minimum allowable monetary consideration portions for a
given product or group of products based on a trading relationship
with a particular merchant, if desired. Thus, these parameters may
be set by a merchant as part of a bid made to an issuer as
described above. For example, these parameters may be entered into
the web page 4200 of FIG. 42 as described above. Similarly these
parameters may be included in the inventory management process
described above.
[0255] In another embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
rewards issuer will determine the relative percentages of monetary
consideration and reward payments that may be used to purchase the
product from the merchant. That is, the rewards issuer will be the
party that establishes the maximum allowable reward payment portion
for an item for sale by a merchant. The reward issuer transmits the
maximum allowable reward payment portion amount for the reward
payment portion of the purchase price. That is, the rewards issuer
may supply this information to the reward exchange server, which
will already have the purchase price information from the merchant
along with the descriptions of the items for sale as described
above. Optionally, the maximum purchase price information may be
transmitted to the merchant computer. In any event, the user is
provided with the purchase price information and the sale may occur
as described above (i.e. the item is sold in accordance with the
maximum allowable reward payment portion and the monetary
consideration portion). In one embodiment, the rewards issuer
establishes the purchase price information for an item for sale by
controlling a slider control provided at a rewards server computer,
the slider control allowing the rewards issuer to select along an
axis the maximum allowable reward payment portion. This may be
similar to the slider control shown in FIGS. 74a, 74b and 74c. The
reward issuer subsequently provides compensation to a merchant
towards the purchase of the item by a user, the compensation being
equivalent to rewards redeemed by the user up to the maximum
allowable reward payment portion established by the reward issuer.
In an alternative embodiment to this, the reward issuer establishes
a minimum allowable monetary consideration portion amount of the
purchase price rather than a maximum allowable reward payment
portion amount.
[0256] In a further embodiment, the product search criteria
described above may be modified to also incorporate a search filter
that would only provide products that allow for at least certain
maximum allowable reward payment portion. For example, the user
could specify that he or she only wants to see results for a DVD
player search in which at least 75% of the purchase price may be
paid for with rewards.
[0257] In addition, as described above, a user may use a mobile
device such as a camera-enabled cell phone or smart phone such as
an IPHONE to capture an image of a UPC bar code of a product of
interest. The bar code is imaged and decoded, and the UPC data is
transmitted wirelessly to the exchange computer. In a further
embodiment, the user may then place a bid or offer to but the
product of interest, such as by bidding on the purchase price,
and/or bidding on the number of rewards that the user is willing to
redeem either as partial or full payment for the product.
[0258] In a further embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
maximum allowable reward payment portion (or the corresponding
minimum allowable monetary consideration portion) may be a function
of a discount that is provided in a purchase transaction. For
example, in the case where the merchant has provided a discount to
the issuer as part of the trading agreement described above, a
further constraint may be imposed such that a discount greater than
X % would also require that no more than Y % of the purchase price
be paid for with rewards. Similarly, in the case where a discount
is provided to the consumer for a given product purchase, then a
further constraint may be imposed such that a discount greater than
X % would also require that no more than Y % of the purchase price
be paid for with rewards. In addition, these requirements may be
combined such that if the combined discount provided to the
consumer and issuer is greater than X % would also require that no
more than Y % of the purchase price be paid for with rewards.
[0259] In a further aspect of the invention, the merchant may elect
to provide a combined discount (e.g. 60% off total) which includes
a customer discount (e.g. 20% off to the customer) and an issuer
discount (e.g. 40% off to the issuer). In this scenario a $100 item
would sell for an $80 price presented to the customer. The customer
would redeem what he perceives to be a one hundred dollar item paid
for with $80 worth of points from a selected issuer(s), which may
be 8,000 points (with a perceived value of one cent per point). The
merchant would provide a further 40% discount to the issuer, so the
issuer would only pay the merchant $40 in monetary consideration
but would retire 8,000 of the customer's reward points in the
transaction. By selling the inventory at less of a discount to the
consumer ($20 rather than $60), brand devaluation is eliminated or
reduced, and the consumer is glad to be able to purchase using his
promotional wallet and preserving his cash. The exchange may take a
transaction fee from individual constituents.
[0260] The merchant may provide this combined discount scenario as
part of its bid process with a given issuer as discussed above,
whereby the combined discount could apply to all transactions with
that issuer. In the alternative, the merchant may provide this
scenario in conjunction with a particular inventory, such as a DVD
player, which may or may not be limited to a given issuer. The
system is flexible in order to allow the merchant to specify the
desired configuration in virtually any desired combination.
[0261] In the embodiment in which the merchant offers the combined
discount to a given issuer for all transactions with that issuer,
the merchant may be given user interface controls such as a slider
control in order to specify the relative percentages of issuer
discount and customer discount as desired. FIGS. 77a, 77b and 77c
illustrate the use of such a slider control that may be provided to
the merchant, for example in or associated with the web page 3800
as shown in FIG. 38. As described above, the merchant may enter its
bid data onto this web page 3800. This bid data in this embodiment
may now include the slider as shown in FIGS. 77a, 77b and 77c. FIG.
77a shows the slider in the extreme left position, wherein for a
total discount offered of 60%, the customer discount would be 0%
and the issuer discount would be the full 60%. The merchant may now
control the slider along its axis to obtain the desired relative
percentages. For example, FIG. 77b shows the slider at 1/3 along
the axis, such that the customer discount would be 20% and the
issuer discount would be 40%. Similarly, FIG. 77c shows the slider
at the extreme right position, in which the customer gets the full
discount (60%) and the issuer gets no discount (0%). Other values
are of course selectable along the continuum of the axis as
desired, wherein the total combined discount will always equal 60%
(in this example). If the merchant enters a different combined
discount in the web page, then the values selectable along the axis
of the slider control will of course change accordingly.
[0262] In the alternative embodiment in which the combined discount
is specified for a given product entered by the merchant into the
system, the relative percentage may be established by using the
slider control in the web page for example of FIG. 48 as described
above.
[0263] Other interface means of indicting these relative
percentages of the combined discount may also be used as known in
the art.
* * * * *
References