Mobile Rewards Redemption System and Method

Abstract

A mobile rewards real-time redemption system allows members of programs to use a mobile rewards redemption application via their mobile device to redeem currency or points. A ‘ghost’ credit/debit vehicle (account) is used to redeem the rewards currency or points. The ghost card completes the financial transaction which is, from the perspective of a redemption retailer, a conventional card transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising: a mobile rewards control center in communication with a prepaid card management system and a mobile device of a user, wherein the mobile rewards control center manages a plurality of user rewards accounts, said accounts have account identification numbers and said rewards accounts are associated with prepaid card management accounts corresponding to the users associated with the user accounts. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the prepaid card management system is in communication with a plurality of point of sale terminals. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the prepaid card management system is an electronic wallet management system which manages a plurality of prepaid cards associated with users having electronic wallet accounts on such system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the user reward account is connected with the electronic wallet account associated with the same user; said system is configured to credit a user's reward account with points and configured to convert such points into an amount applied to the user's electronic wallet account. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system is configured to credit the user's reward account in response to a purchase by the user at a point of sale terminal in communication with the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system is configured to credit the user's reward account in response to a purchase by the user wherein the purchase information is received by the system via the mobile device of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the user reward account is initially a zero balance account, the user reward account is hidden from the user, or the user reward account is initially a zero balance account and is hidden from the user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the system is in communication with the user through a mobile application residing on the user's mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the mobile rewards control center is configured to interface through an electronic gateway with one or more award program platforms to which the user is a member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the electronic wallet management system is in communication with one or more award program platforms to which the user is a member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an offer engine providing offers to the user via the mobile device in response to an action by the user.