Method and system for using reward points to purchase products

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.).

1 . A computer-implemented method for an online purchase transaction computer to enable a user to execute an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system using rewards towards purchase of a product, comprising the steps of:
 an online purchase transaction computer providing to a user device a payment web page displaying a plurality of payment options for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device, the payment options comprising a rewards payment option that causes payment to be made to a merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;   the online purchase transaction computer receiving from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the rewards payment option; and   in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the rewards payment option, the online purchase transaction computer communicating with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the online purchase transaction computer communicates with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the user reward account; 
 
       and further comprising the online purchase transaction computer conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the online purchase transaction computer communicates with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 causing reward points to be transferred from the reward server computer to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the payment web page additionally displays an additional rewards payment option, said additional rewards payment option causing, if elected, payment to be made to the merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from an additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is associated with the additional reward payment option and that is different from the merchant computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of payment options displayed on the payment web page for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device comprises at least two rewards payment options, wherein each of said rewards payment options has an associated exchange rate with the merchant computer that is displayed to the user to enable the user to select a rewards payment option with a desired exchange rate with the merchant computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the payment web page further additionally displays a credit card payment option as a payment option. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward payment option is displayed on the payment web page as a pay with points button. 
     
     
         8 . An online purchase transaction computer adapted to enable a user to execute an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system, said online purchase transaction computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to:
 provide to a user device a payment web page displaying a plurality of payment options for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device, the payment options comprising a rewards payment option that causes payment to be made to a merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;   receive from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the rewards payment option; and   in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the rewards payment option, communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.   
     
     
         9 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  programmed to communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the user reward account; 
 
       and wherein the online purchase transaction computer is further programmed to convey consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
     
     
         10 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  programmed to communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 causing reward points to be transferred from the reward server computer to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
 
     
     
         11 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  wherein the payment web page additionally displays an additional rewards payment option, said additional rewards payment option causing, if elected, payment to be made to the merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from an additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is associated with the additional reward payment option and that is different from the merchant computer. 
     
     
         12 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of payment options displayed on the payment web page for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device comprises at least two rewards payment options, wherein each of said rewards payment options has an associated exchange rate with the merchant computer that is displayed to the user to enable the user to select a rewards payment option with a desired exchange rate with the merchant computer. 
     
     
         13 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  wherein the payment web page further additionally displays a credit card payment option as a payment option. 
     
     
         14 . The online purchase transaction computer of  claim 8  wherein the reward payment option is displayed on the payment web page as a pay with points button. 
     
     
         15 . An online purchase transaction system for a user to execute an online purchase transaction, comprising:
 an online purchase transaction computer interconnected to a computer network;   a merchant computer interconnected to the computer network;   a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer, the reward server computer interconnected to the computer network; and   a user device interconnected to the computer network for communications with at least the online purchase transaction computer;   
       wherein said online purchase transaction computer comprises processing circuitry programmed to:
 provide to the user device a payment web page displaying a plurality of payment options for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device, the payment options comprising a rewards payment option that causes payment to be made to a merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on the reward server computer; 
 receive from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the rewards payment option; and 
 in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the rewards payment option, communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
 
     
     
         16 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the online purchase transaction computer is programmed to communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and   receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the user reward account;   
       and wherein the online purchase transaction computer is further programmed to convey consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
     
     
         17 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the online purchase transaction computer is programmed to communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 causing reward points to be transferred from the reward server computer to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product. 
 
     
     
         18 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the payment web page additionally displays an additional rewards payment option, said additional rewards payment option causing, if elected, payment to be made to the merchant computer for the product at least partially by reducing rewards from an additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is associated with the additional reward payment option and that is different from the merchant computer. 
     
     
         19 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of payment options displayed on the payment web page for payment to be made for a product selected for purchase via the user device comprises at least two rewards payment options, wherein each of said rewards payment options has an associated exchange rate with the merchant computer that is displayed to the user to enable the user to select a rewards payment option with a desired exchange rate with the merchant computer. 
     
     
         20 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the payment web page further additionally displays a credit card payment option as a payment option. 
     
     
         21 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the reward payment option is displayed on the payment web page as a pay with points button. 
     
     
         22 . The online purchase transaction system of  claim 15  wherein the user device is a portable device equipped with wireless Internet access.