Patent ID: 7676393
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a reward accumulation and redemption program comprising the steps of: a) a trading server computer (i) communicating via a computer network with a plurality of reward server computers, each of said plurality of reward server computers associated with a different one of a plurality of reward issuing entities, each of said plurality of reward server computers storing a user reward account associated with a user for storing reward points awarded to the user for transactions between the user and the associated reward issuing entity, and (ii) determining a quantity of reward points previously stored in each of the user reward accounts; b) the trading server computer transmitting one or more web pages comprising (i) a display of the reward points determined to be previously stored in each of the user reward accounts, (ii) controls for designating reward points to be combined from a selected two or more of the user reward accounts for the purchase of an item, and (iii) a display of a plurality of items that may be purchased by a redemption of a combination of rewards from at least two of said plurality of user reward accounts; c) the trading server computer receiving, via the computer network, instructions from the user operating a user computer that identify (i) an item selected for purchase, and (ii) at least two user reward accounts and a selected quantity of reward points to be combined from each of the at least two selected user reward accounts for redemption for said item selected for purchase, and e) the trading server computer, in real time response to receiving said instructions, combining the selected quantity of earned rewards for redemption for said item selected for purchase.