Abstract:
A system and method for implementation of product searches via a search engine over a networked computer system such as the Internet. In particular, a user may execute a search for product offers that are accompanied with reward components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.) and/or those that allow payment in whole or in part with payment components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.).
Abstract:
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.
Abstract:
A system and method for implementation of product searches via a search engine over a networked computer system such as the Internet. In particular, a user may execute a search for product offers that are accompanied with reward components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.) and/or those that allow payment in whole or in part with payment components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.).
Abstract:
A method of operating a centralized healthcare management system that includes a data translation map database and a central interpolation server computer interconnected to a computer network. The central server references a data translation map database for a desired translation map that enables the central interpolation server to translate data records from a source format to a destination format.
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.
Abstract:
A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. The user is awarded loyalty points from the merchant based on the amount of the purchase (e.g. 100 points for a $100 purchase). The reward points, which are specific to the merchant and the user, are stored in a database at the issuing bank, the acquiring bank, or a central reward server. The user may redeem the reward points earned from the transaction with the merchant at a later time, or may redeem the points with another merchant in the same marketing cluster, or may aggregate those reward points with those of other merchants into a reward point exchange account, and then redeem the aggregated reward points for goods or services from any approved merchant on the network, depending on the configuration of the system.
Abstract:
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.
Abstract:
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points. The consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.
Abstract:
Product providers are able to liquidate goods via a transacting entity such as a liquidation broker which acts to exchange a user's reward points for the liquidated goods in a manner that is transparent to both the redeeming user and the product provider. A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points, held by a reward account holder in a reward point account on the user's behalf, are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product in whole or in part. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account, as either designated by the user or by a third party, by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points. In this case, the consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product (a “reference price”), while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points (which is generally substantially less than the retail value of the points). The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment (the lower par value of the reward points) equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment, but without having to go through a typically “liquidation process” with its accompanying brand devaluation and associated costs. The reward account holder is able to eliminate the liability of the reward points previously owed to the user, but pays far less (only at the lower par value) than the retail value of the points assigned by the user. The user may utilize reward points from a single reward points issuer, or he may aggregate points from multiple reward points issuing entities as described herein (cash and/or other consideration may also be combined with points as described herein).
Abstract:
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of reward points issuing entities, each of the reward points issuing entities tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a rewards server. A trading server accumulates the user's earned reward points from each of the reward servers interconnected over a network in association with consideration provided by the reward servers to the trading server and credits the accumulated points into a reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase from a merchant computer interconnected to the network. The merchant computer provides the item to the user in exchange for consideration received from said trading server, and the trading server reduces the number of points in the user's reward exchange account in accordance with the consideration provided to the merchant computer.