METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING MULTI-FUNCTION CARDS FOR STORING, MANAGING AND AGGREGATING REWARD POINTS
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 portable multi-function device comprising processing circuitry, program storage, and data memory; wherein
a payment application and a reward account associated with the payment application are stored in the data memory, and
the processing circuitry is programmed via instructions in the program storage to:
store in the reward account a set of rewards issued as a result of a first purchase transaction executed using the payment application,
execute a second purchase transaction with a merchant using rewards from the reward account as at least partial payment for an item from the merchant.
36 . The device of claim 35 wherein the payment application is a credit card application.
37 . The device of claim 35 wherein the payment application is a debit card application.
38 . The device of claim 35 wherein the payment application is one of a plurality of payment applications stored in the data memory, and wherein the processing circuitry selects the payment application for use as a default payment application in the first purchase transaction by referencing a user profile.
39 . The device of claim 38 wherein the user profile is stored in the data memory.
40 . The device of claim 35 further comprising user input circuitry, wherein the payment application is one of a plurality of payment applications stored in the data memory, and wherein the processing circuitry selects the payment application for use in the first purchase transaction by referencing a user selection made via the user input circuitry.
41 . The device of claim 40 wherein the user input circuitry comprises a button.
42 . The device of claim 35 wherein the device is a smart card.
43 . The device of claim 35 wherein the device is a peripheral device.
44 . A method of using a portable multi-function device comprising
the portable multi-function device storing in a data memory a payment application and a reward account associated with the payment application,
the portable multi-function device storing in the reward account a set of rewards issued as a result of a first purchase transaction executed using the payment application, and
the portable multi-function device executing a second purchase transaction with a merchant using rewards from the reward account as at least partial payment for an item from the merchant.
45 . The method of claim 44 wherein the payment application is a credit card application.
46 . The method of claim 44 wherein the payment application is a debit card application.
47 . The method of claim 44 wherein the payment application is one of a plurality of payment applications stored in the data memory, and further comprising the step of the processing circuitry selecting the payment application for use as a default payment application in the first purchase transaction by referencing a user profile.
48 . The method of claim 47 wherein the user profile is stored in the data memory.
49 . The method of claim 44 wherein the payment application is one of a plurality of payment applications stored in the data memory, and wherein the processing circuitry selects the payment application for use in the first purchase transaction by referencing a user selection made via user input circuitry on the device.
50 . The method of claim 49 wherein the user input circuitry comprises a button.
51 . The method of claim 44 wherein the device is a smart card.
52 . The method of claim 44 wherein the device is a peripheral device.