Patent ID: 8838472
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A system for redeeming the value of points that are issued by one of multiple loyalty programs, wherein the points for each loyalty program are held in a point account maintained on behalf of a customer, and wherein the redeemed value of points in the point account may be transferred into a transaction account for conducting a purchase transaction with a third party merchant, the system comprising: a single terminal providing a location for both (1) redeeming the value of points held by a first mobile customer and (2) conducting a transaction with a third party merchant at the location by a second mobile customer that is a companion of the first mobile customer, the terminal including a reader for receiving a first mobile customer ID transmitted by a first mobile device for identifying the first mobile device and a second mobile customer ID transmitted by a second mobile device for identifying the second mobile device, the first mobile customer ID associated with the point account, the second mobile customer ID associated with the transaction account for conducting the transaction with the third party, the terminal using the transaction account to conduct the transaction with the third party at the terminal, the reader using short range signaling for the terminal to determine, from the receipt of the first mobile customer ID and a second mobile customer ID at about the same time, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are positioned at or near the reader simultaneously and that the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer are companions, with the terminal verifying the identity of both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer and confirming that both the first mobile customer and the second mobile customer approve of transferring the redeemed value of points from the point account into the transaction account; a point database for storing point account data, including the number of points in the point account held for the first mobile customer and a value associated with the points; and a value server accessing the point database in response to the first mobile customer ID received from the first mobile device at the terminal and for determining the value of points held in the point account, in order to transfer value associated with points in the point account into the transaction account, whereby the second mobile customer conducts the transaction with the third party merchant using the transferred value of points held on behalf of the first customer in the point account.