System and method for users to designate accounts from which to trade rewards

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 method of operating a user computing device comprising:
 a user computing device transmitting to a trading server computer an enrollment of at least two user reward accounts comprising (i) a first reward account stored on a first reward server computer that holds a first set of reward points of a first type from a first reward issuing entity as a result of a first transaction executed between the user and the first reward issuing entity and (ii) a second reward account stored on a second reward server computer that holds a second set of reward points of a second type from a second reward issuing entity as a result of a second transaction executed between the user and the second reward issuing entity which is different from the first reward issuing entity; and   the user computing device sending instructions to the trading server computer comprising a user profile indicating a prioritization of the at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer for exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account and combining the exchanged rewards with each other in the user reward exchange account by the trading server computer
 requesting the first reward server computer to decrease reward points of the first type from the first reward account, 
 adding a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, 
 requesting the second reward server computer to decrease reward points of the second type from the second reward account, 
 converting the reward points of the second type decreased from the second reward account into a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type at a predetermined conversion rate, 
 adding the corresponding amount of converted reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, and 
 combining, in the reward exchange account, the corresponding amount of reward points of the first type added to the reward exchange account from the first reward account with the converted reward points of the first type added to the reward exchange account from the second reward account. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the user profile indicates a prioritization for exchanging rewards from user reward accounts having a higher value before exchanging rewards from user reward accounts having a lower value. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the user profile indicates a requirement for the trading server computer to obtain approval from the user computing device prior to exchanging rewards from a user reward account specified in the user profile. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the steps of
 the user computing device displaying a plurality of items that may be purchased by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account; and 
 the user computing device sending instructions that identify an item selected for purchase by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account. 
 
     
     
         34 . A user computing device, the user computing device programmed to:
 transmit to a trading server computer an enrollment of at least two user reward accounts comprising (i) a first reward account stored on a first reward server computer that holds a first set of reward points of a first type from a first reward issuing entity as a result of a first transaction executed between the user and the first reward issuing entity and (ii) a second reward account stored on a second reward server computer that holds a second set of reward points of a second type from a second reward issuing entity as a result of a second transaction executed between the user and the second reward issuing entity which is different from the first reward issuing entity; and   send instructions to the trading server computer comprising a user profile indicating a prioritization of the at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer for exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account and combining the exchanged rewards with each other in the user reward exchange account by the trading server computer
 requesting the first reward server computer to decrease reward points of the first type from the first reward account, 
 adding a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, 
 requesting the second reward server computer to decrease reward points of the second type from the second reward account, 
 converting the reward points of the second type decreased from the second reward account into a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type at a predetermined conversion rate, 
 adding the corresponding amount of converted reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, and 
 combining, in the reward exchange account, the corresponding amount of reward points of the first type added to the reward exchange account from the first reward account with the converted reward points of the first type added to the reward exchange account from the second reward account. 
   
     
     
         35 . The user computing device of  claim 34  wherein the user profile indicates a prioritization for exchanging rewards from user reward accounts having a higher value before exchanging rewards from user reward accounts having a lower value. 
     
     
         36 . The user computing device of  claim 34  wherein the user profile indicates a requirement for the trading server computer to obtain approval from the user computing device prior to exchanging rewards from a user reward account specified in the user profile. 
     
     
         37 . The user computing device of  claim 34  further programmed to
 display a plurality of items that may be purchased by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account; and 
 send instructions that identify an item selected for purchase by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account.