Method and system for electronic exchange of reward points

Abstract

A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards comprising:
 a reward exchange computer communicating with a reward server computer that stores in a reward account a first set of reward points of a first type earned from a first reward issuing entity as a result of a first transaction executed with the first reward issuing entity;   the reward exchange computer storing in a reward exchange account a second set of reward points of a second type earned as a result of a second transaction executed with a second reward issuing entity which is different from the first reward issuing entity; and   the reward exchange computer accepting communication from the reward server computer for exchanging a quantity of reward points of the first type from the reward account on the reward server computer into reward points of the second type for adding to the reward exchange account on the reward exchange computer by:
 converting a quantity of reward points of the first type that have been designated to be decreased from the reward account on the reward server computer into a corresponding amount of reward points of the second type at a predetermined reward server conversion rate, 
 adding the corresponding amount of reward points of the second type to the reward exchange account, and 
 combining the corresponding amount of reward points of the second type added to the reward exchange account with the second set of reward points of the second type previously stored in the reward exchange account. 
   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards of  claim 30  wherein the reward exchange computer accepts communication from the reward server computer as a result of the reward server computer providing a web page to a user computer, the web page comprising a control that initiates the communication between the reward server computer and the reward exchange computer. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards of  claim 31  wherein the control comprises a hyperlink or a button. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards of  claim 30  wherein the reward account on the reward server computer is associated with a credit card reward program. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards of  claim 30  wherein the reward account on the reward server computer is associated with an airline reward program. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method of exchanging rewards of  claim 30  further comprising
 the reward exchange computer receiving a request to redeem at least some of the combined reward points of the second type from the reward exchange account for an item; and 
 the reward exchange computer redeeming the requested combined reward points of the second type from the reward exchange account by decreasing the reward exchange account by the combined reward points of the second type requested to be redeemed for the item. 
 
     
     
         36 . A reward exchange computer comprising:
 communications means for communicating with a reward server computer that stores in a reward account a first set of reward points of a first type earned from a first reward issuing entity as a result of a first transaction executed with the first reward issuing entity;   memory means for storing in a reward exchange account a second set of reward points of a second type earned as a result of a second transaction executed with a second reward issuing entity which is different from the first reward issuing entity; and   processing means programmed to:
 accept communication from the reward server computer for exchanging a quantity of reward points of the first type from the reward account on the reward server computer into reward points of the second type for adding to the reward exchange account on the reward exchange computer by:
 converting a quantity of reward points of the first type that have been designated to be decreased from the reward account on the reward server computer into a corresponding amount of reward points of the second type at a predetermined reward server conversion rate, 
 adding the corresponding amount of reward points of the second type to the reward exchange account, and 
 combining the corresponding amount of reward points of the second type added to the reward exchange account with the second set of reward points of the second type previously stored in the reward exchange account. 
 
   
     
     
         37 . The reward exchange computer of  claim 36  wherein the processing means accepts communication from the reward server computer as a result of the reward server computer providing a web page to a user computer, the web page comprising a control that initiates the communication between the reward server computer and the reward exchange computer. 
     
     
         38 . The reward exchange computer of  claim 37  wherein the control comprises a hyperlink or a button. 
     
     
         39 . The reward exchange computer of  claim 36  wherein the reward account on the reward server computer is associated with a credit card reward program. 
     
     
         40 . The reward exchange computer of  claim 36  wherein the reward account on the reward server computer is associated with an airline reward program. 
     
     
         41 . The reward exchange computer of  claim 36  wherein the processing means is further programmed to
 receive a request from the user computer to redeem at least some of the combined reward points of the second type from the reward exchange account for an item; and 
 redeem the requested combined reward points of the second type from the reward exchange account by decreasing the reward exchange account by the combined reward points of the second type requested to be redeemed for the item.