Patent US20030182218A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20030182218A1
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US
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Chasing rewards associated with accounts
Assignee: First Data Corp
•
Filing: 2003-02-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-02-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a method for linking accounts corresponding to different products together to create a group so that group processing can be performed at the group level while independent processing of the accounts is performed at the account level. The method links the accounts into a group by linking a financial record for each account to group master data for the group. The group master data includes information about the group, including group control settings, aggregate data, and a group identifier. A group typically includes a key account and one or more dependent accounts. The relationship between a dependent account and the group is specified by a dependent strategy. A dependent strategy specifies group level processing options for the account. The relationships between the accounts and the group are flexible to accommodate changes in the status of the group cardholders. Alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the appended claims and is supported by the foregoing description.
Inventors
- 👤 Lynn Blagg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0215; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/22; G06Q20/227; G06Q20/24; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/367; G06Q30/0226; G06Q30/0233; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
1 . A method for chasing rewards maintained in association with one or more accounts, the method comprising: receiving a redemption request associated with a first account; identifying a second account that includes a reward related to the redemption request; and satisfying the redemption request at least in part from the second account.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
1 . A method for chasing rewards maintained in association with one or more accounts, the method comprising: receiving a redemption request associated with a first account; identifying a second account that includes a reward related to the redemption request; and satisfying the redemption request at least in part from the second account.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second account includes querying for accounts with the reward related to the redemption request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first account and the second account are included within an account group, the method further comprising: accessing a dependent strategy associated with the second account, wherein the dependent strategy indicates that reward chasing via the first account is supported.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first account and the second account are included within an account group, the method further comprising: accessing a dependent strategy associated with the first account, wherein the dependent strategy indicates that reward chasing is supported.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first account and the second account are included within an account group, and wherein a third account is included within the account group, the method further comprising: identifying the third account; and accessing a dependent strategy associated with the third account, wherein the dependent strategy indicates that reward chasing is not supported.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the dependent strategy indicates that the first account is eligible to access reward value from a qualifying account.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the dependent strategy indicates that the second account is eligible to release reward value to a qualifying account.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the a first reward is associated with the first account and a second reward is associated with the second account, and wherein the first reward is maintained in relation to the first account at the account level and the second reward is maintained in relation to the second account at the account level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reward related to the redemption request is selected from a group consisting of point based rewards, and cash based rewards.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first account and the second account are included within an account group, the method further comprising: determining that the reward associated with the redemption request cannot be satisfied from the first account.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the identifying a second account that includes a reward related to the redemption request is done based at least in part on the inability to satisfy the redemption request from the first account.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
12 . A method for satisfying a unitary redemption request from rewards available from a plurality of accounts, the method comprising: receiving a redemption request in relation to a first account, wherein the redemption request identifies a reward; determining that the reward cannot be satisfied by the first account; identifying a second account that can satisfy at least a portion of the reward; and satisfying at least a portion of the reward from the second account.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
12 . A method for satisfying a unitary redemption request from rewards available from a plurality of accounts, the method comprising: receiving a redemption request in relation to a first account, wherein the redemption request identifies a reward; determining that the reward cannot be satisfied by the first account; identifying a second account that can satisfy at least a portion of the reward; and satisfying at least a portion of the reward from the second account.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the reward is selected from a group consisting of: frequent flyer miles, merchandise points, value applicable to certain purchases, value applicable to merchandise from a particular retailer, and value applicable to services available from one or more suppliers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
14 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising: linking the first account and the second account into an account group, wherein a first dependent strategy is defined relating the first account to the account group and a second dependent strategy is defined relating the second account to the account group.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second dependent strategy indicates that reward chasing initiated through the first account is allowed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
16 . The method of claim 15 , the method further comprising: delinking the first account from the account group, wherein the second dependent strategy is modified to indicate that reward chasing initiated through the first account is not allowed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
17 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising: determining that a combination of the first account and the second account cannot satisfy the reward; and identifying a third account that can satisfy at least a portion of the reward; and satisfying at least a portion of the reward from the third account.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein identifying the third account is done based on an indicator associated with the second account.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein identifying the third account is done based on an indicator associated with the first account.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
20 . A method for redeeming rewards, the method comprising: servicing a first account, wherein the first account is associated with a first party and a reward; receiving a request to redeem at least a portion of the reward, wherein the request is initiated by a second party; in response to the request to redeem, identifying the first account and a relationship between the first account and the second party; and satisfying the request to redeem.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
20 . A method for redeeming rewards, the method comprising: servicing a first account, wherein the first account is associated with a first party and a reward; receiving a request to redeem at least a portion of the reward, wherein the request is initiated by a second party; in response to the request to redeem, identifying the first account and a relationship between the first account and the second party; and satisfying the request to redeem.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the reward is a first reward, wherein the second party is associated with a second account that is associated with a second reward, wherein the request to redeem the reward includes a unified request to redeem at least portions of the first and second rewards.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
22 . The method of claim 20 , the method further comprising: associating the first account with a second account, wherein the second account is associated with the second party, and wherein the second party becomes associated with the first account.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the reward is a first reward, and wherein the second account is associated with a second reward, the method further comprising: satisfying the request to redeem the reward, wherein the request is at least partially satisfied from the first account and at least partially satisfied from the second account.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the at least partial satisfaction from the second account is based in part on an inability to fully satisfy the request to redeem the reward from the first account.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
25 . The method of claim 24 , the method further comprising: augmenting the first reward based at least in part on transactions associated with the first account; and augmenting the second reward based at least in part on transactions associated with the second account.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the request to redeem the reward is a first request, the method further comprising: receiving a second request to redeem a reward, wherein the second request is initiated by the first party; and satisfying the second request in part from the first account and in part from the second account; wherein satisfying the request in part from the second account is based in part on an inability to fully satisfy the request from the first account.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
27 . The method of claim 17 , the method further comprising: associating the first account with a second account, wherein the second party is at least partially liable for the second account, and wherein the first party becomes at least partially liable for the second account.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the reward is a first reward, and wherein the second account is associated with a second reward, the method further comprising: satisfying the request to redeem the reward, wherein the request is at least partially satisfied from the first reward and at least partially satisfied from the second reward.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
29 . The method of claim 28 , the method further comprising: augmenting the first reward based at least in part on transactions associated with the first account; and augmenting the second reward based at least in part on transactions associated with the second account.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
59 words
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the request to redeem the reward is a first request, the method further comprising: receiving a second request to redeem a reward, wherein the second request is initiated by the first party; and satisfying the second request in part from the first reward and in part from the second reward.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
31 . A method for chasing rewards associated with accounts, the method comprising: identifying a first account associated with a reward; receiving a redemption request associated with a second account; and satisfying the redemption request by accessing at least a portion of the reward.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
31 . A method for chasing rewards associated with accounts, the method comprising: identifying a first account associated with a reward; receiving a redemption request associated with a second account; and satisfying the redemption request by accessing at least a portion of the reward.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
32 . The method of claim 31 , the method further comprising: augmenting the reward based on activity in the first account.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
33 . The method of claim 31 , the method further comprising: determining that chasing can be applied to the first account.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the first account and the second account are included in an account group, and wherein the reward remains linked to the first account.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein a dependent strategy at least partially governs the interaction of the first account with the account group, and wherein the dependent strategy indicates that the reward can be chased.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the reward is selected from a group consisting of: frequent flyer miles, discount points, value applicable to certain purchases, insurance benefits, and merchandise.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
37 . A method for making rewards obtainable, the method comprising: identifying a reward associated with a first owner; receiving a redemption request from a second owner; and accessing the reward and satisfying the redemption request from the second owner.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
37 . A method for making rewards obtainable, the method comprising: identifying a reward associated with a first owner; receiving a redemption request from a second owner; and accessing the reward and satisfying the redemption request from the second owner.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
38 . The method of claim 40 , the method further comprising: augmenting the reward based on activity associated with the first owner.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
39 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the first account and the second account are included in an account group, and wherein the reward is available via the account group.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein a dependent strategy at least partially governs the interaction of the first account with the account group, and wherein the dependent strategy indicates that the reward is to be available via the account group.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
41 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the first account and the second account are included in an account group, and wherein the reward remains linked to the first account.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
42 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the reward is selected from a group consisting of: frequent flyer miles, discount points, value applicable to certain purchases, insurance benefits, and merchandise.
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