MERCHANT DEVICE FOR INTERACTING WITH PORTABLE HAND-HELD MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.
1 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . A merchant terminal comprising:
means for reading a portable multi-function device comprising a plurality of transaction applications stored in a data memory on the device, the plurality of transaction applications comprising a default transaction application designated in a user profile on the portable multi-function device for execution of a purchase transaction,
a display screen programmed to display the plurality of transaction applications read from the device,
means for selecting a transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications displayed on the display screen to override the default transaction application designated by the portable multi-function device for execution of the purchase transaction, and
an interconnection to a computer network for effecting payment for the purchase transaction using the default transaction application or, if selected, the selected transaction application.
36 . The merchant terminal of claim 35 , wherein the display screen is further programmed to display a plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application.
37 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises credit associated with a credit card.
38 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises reward points associated with the credit card account that are stored on the portable multi-function device.
39 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises reward points associated with the credit card account that are stored on a remote rewards account.
40 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a display of total reward points accrued.
41 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a display of points awarded the purchase transaction.
42 . The merchant terminal of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises an option to enter a number of reward points to be used to apply to the purchase transaction.
43 . The merchant terminal of claim 42 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a price to be applied to the purchase transaction when the number of reward points entered are used for the purchase transaction.
44 . The merchant terminal of claim 42 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a number of reward points remaining when the number of reward points entered are used for the purchase transaction.
45 . The merchant terminal of claim 35 further programmed to upload a purchase incentive into the data memory of the device based on the purchase transaction.
46 . The merchant terminal of claim 45 wherein the purchase incentive comprises a coupon.
47 . The merchant terminal of claim 45 wherein the purchase incentive comprises reward points.
48 . A method of executing a purchase transaction comprising:
a merchant terminal reading a portable multi-function device comprising a plurality of transaction applications stored in a data memory on the device, the plurality of transaction applications comprising a default transaction application designated in a user profile on the portable multi-function device for execution of a purchase transaction,
the merchant terminal displaying on a display screen the plurality of transaction applications read from the device,
the merchant terminal receiving a selection of transaction application from the plurality of transaction applications displayed on the display screen to override the default transaction application designated by the portable multi-function device for execution of the purchase transaction, and
the merchant terminal interconnecting to a computer network for effecting payment for the purchase transaction using the default transaction application or, if selected, the selected transaction application.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the merchant terminal further displays a plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application.
50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises credit associated with a credit card.
51 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises reward points associated with the credit card account that are stored on the portable multi-function device.
52 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises reward points associated with the credit card account that are stored on a remote rewards account.
53 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a display of total reward points accrued.
54 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a display of points awarded the purchase transaction.
55 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises an option to enter a number of reward points to be used to apply to the purchase transaction.
56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a price to be applied to the purchase transaction when the number of reward points entered are used for the purchase transaction.
57 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the plurality of payment options associated with a selected transaction application comprises a number of reward points remaining when the number of reward points entered are used for the purchase transaction.
58 . The method of claim 48 further comprising the merchant terminal uploading a purchase incentive into the data memory of the device based on the purchase transaction.
59 . The method of claim 58 wherein the purchase incentive comprises a coupon.
60 . The method of claim 58 wherein the purchase incentive comprises reward points.