IP Library Granted Patent US 11,367,326
Granted Patent B2
US 11,367,326 · App. 16/921,134 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Systems and methods for conversion of loyalty program rewards

Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford (Las Vegas, NV); Thomas M. Sears (Henderson, NV); Omer Sattar (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
G07F17/3255G07F17/3239G07F17/3241
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,367,326
App. No.
16/921,134
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player loyalty account of a player with a stored value account. The player can accumulate loyalty points over time. The accumulated loyalty points can be converted to value, such as cash or coupons, associated with the stored value account. The value can be accessed by the player through the use of a stored value payment vehicle associated with the stored value account. The value added to the stored value account can be restricted such that the use of the value is limited to particular merchants or particular types of transactions.

Claims (19)

1. A computer-based method of converting loyalty points to value, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a player identifier of a player, wherein the player identifier is associated with a player loyalty profile account having a balance of accumulated points maintained by a casino computing system;

identifying, by any of the one or more computing devices, a stored value account based at least partially on the player identifier, wherein the stored value account is associated with a stored value payment vehicle issued to the player, wherein a balance of the stored value account is maintained by an issuer processor computing system, wherein the balance comprises an unrestricted balance portion and a restricted balance portion that are both maintained simultaneously by an issuer processor computing system;

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the casino computing system to decrease the balance of accumulated points by a first amount;

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the issuer processor computing system to increase the unrestricted balance of the stored value account by a second amount wherein the first amount and the second amount are correlated by a first conversion rate;

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the casino computing system to decrease the balance of accumulated points by a third amount; and

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the issuer processor computing system to increase the restricted balance of the stored value account by a fourth amount wherein the third amount and the fourth amount are correlated by a second conversion rate that is different than the first conversion rate.

2. The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the unrestricted balance portion of the stored value account is usable for open-loop transactions.

3. The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the restricted balance portion of the stored value account is only usable for stored value payment vehicle transactions at affiliated merchants.

4. The computer-based method of claim 1 , further comprising:

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the casino computing system to decrease the balance of accumulated points by a fifth amount; and

associating, by any of the one or more computing devices, a first coupon with the stored value account that is accessible through use of the stored value payment vehicle.

5. The computer-based method of claim 4 , further comprising:

instructing, by any of the one or more computing devices, the casino computing system to decrease the balance of accumulated points by a sixth amount; and

associating, by any of the one or more computing devices, a second coupon with the stored value account that is accessible through use of the stored value payment vehicle, wherein the first coupon is different from the second coupon.

6. The computer-based method of claim 4 , wherein the fifth amount is greater than the sixth amount and a value of the first coupon is higher than a value of the second coupon.

7. The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the decrease of the balance of the accumulated points and the increase of the restricted balance of the stored value account occurs in substantially real-time.

8. The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the decrease of the balance of the accumulated points and the increase of the unrestricted balance of the stored value account occurs in substantially real-time.

9. The computer-based method of claim 1 , wherein the player identifier is a casino-issued unique identifier tied to a loyalty program associated with a gaming environment.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SANFORD, KIRK E.; SEARS, THOMAS M.; SATTAR, OMER
To: SIGHTLINE INTERACTIVE LLC
Reel/Frame 058859/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2021
From: SIGHTLINE INTERACTIVE LLC
To: SIGHTLINE PAYMENTS LLC
Reel/Frame 057655/0230 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15413950 · Jan 24, 2017
Related Publication 20200334952A1 · Oct 22, 2020