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 a trading server computer exchanging rewards and combining the exchanged rewards with each other in a user reward exchange account stored on the trading server computer, in accordance with a user profile indicating a prioritization of at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer, comprising:
 the trading server computer receiving from a user computer a user profile indicating a prioritization of at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer for exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account;   the trading server computer exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account in accordance with the prioritization indicated in the user profile by the steps of:
 the trading server computer requesting a first reward server computer, said first reward server computer comprising a plurality of first reward accounts, each of said first reward accounts associated with a different user, to decrease reward points of a first type from a first reward account of the plurality of first reward accounts that were earned as a result of a plurality of first transactions executed between the user and a first reward issuing entity, 
 the trading server computer adding a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, 
 the trading server computer requesting a second reward server computer, said second reward server computer comprising a plurality of second reward accounts, each of said second reward accounts associated with a different user, to decrease reward points of a second type from a second reward account of the plurality of second reward accounts that were earned as a result of a plurality of second transactions executed between the user and a second reward issuing entity, 
 the trading server computer 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, 
 the trading server computer adding the corresponding amount of converted reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, and 
 the trading server computer 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 a 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 trading server computer sending to a user computing device a display of a plurality of items that may be purchased by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account; and 
 the trading server computer receiving from the user computing device instructions that identify an item selected for purchase by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account. 
 
     
     
         34 . A trading server computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to exchange rewards and combine the exchanged rewards with each other in a user reward exchange account stored on the trading server computer, in accordance with a user profile indicating a prioritization of at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer, by:
 receiving from a user computer a user profile indicating a prioritization of at least two user reward accounts to be accessed by the trading server computer for exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account;   exchanging rewards into a user reward exchange account in accordance with the prioritization indicated in the user profile by the steps of:
 requesting a first reward server computer, said first reward server computer comprising a plurality of first reward accounts, each of said first reward accounts associated with a different user, to decrease reward points of a first type from a first reward account of the plurality of first reward accounts that were earned as a result of a plurality of first transactions executed between the user and a first reward issuing entity, 
 adding a corresponding amount of reward points of the first type to the reward exchange account, 
 requesting a second reward server computer, said second reward server computer comprising a plurality of second reward accounts, each of said second reward accounts associated with a different user, to decrease reward points of a second type from a second reward account of the plurality of second reward accounts that were earned as a result of a plurality of second transactions executed between the user and a second reward issuing entity, 
 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 trading server computer 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 trading server computer of  claim 34  wherein the user profile indicates a requirement for the trading server computer to obtain approval from a user computing device prior to exchanging rewards from a user reward account specified in the user profile. 
     
     
         37 . The trading server computer of  claim 34  wherein the processing circuitry is further programmed to
 send to a user computing device a display a plurality of items that may be purchased by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account; and 
 receive from the user computing device instructions that identify an item selected for purchase by redemption of rewards from the reward exchange account.