System and method for funding a collective account by use of an electronic tag

Abstract

A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . A method for attributing a reward to an individual account and a collective account, comprising: 
 associating an RFID tag with an individual account, wherein the individual account and the RFID tag are both associated with the tagholder and a financial institution and at least one organization, wherein the tagholder is the holder of the individual account and the financial institution issues the individual account, wherein further the financial institution comprises one or more host computers;    aggregating purchase amounts for purchases made from a plurality of merchants using the individual account as a payment source;    determining if any of the purchases that were made using the individual account as    attributing the first reward to the individual account;    attributing the second reward to a collective account associated with the at least one organization, wherein the at least one organization comprises at least one of a business organization, a trade organization, a political party, a religious organization, an athletic organization, a professional society, an educational organization, a charitable organization, a fund-raising organization, or a governmental organization, or combinations thereof; and    distributing the first reward to the tagholder from the financial institution.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 associating the RFID tag with at least one prefunded account, wherein the prefunded account has a balance;    maintaining at least one of the prefunded accounts; and    debiting the balance of at least one of the prefunded accounts in an amount related to RFID tag usage.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising replenishing the prefunded account balance with funds from the individual account associated with the RFID tag upon fulfillment of some predetermined condition.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the individual account is associated with at least one loyalty program, wherein further the tagholder earns a third reward based on the tagholder's participation in the loyalty programs.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the second reward is calculated based at least in part on RFID tag usage.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag is branded with a symbol, name colors, or combinations thereof, generally associated with the at least one organization.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a sound generating device.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the sound generating device generates a programmed sound generally associated with the organization.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein one or both of the first and second rewards comprise cash, airline miles, reward points, services, goods, rebates, up front payment, statement credit, discounts or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the tagholder selects the organization.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises an LED controllable via the tagholder.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises an LCD controllable via the tagholder.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises at least one communication port allowing the tag to communicate with other devices.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a microprocessor.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a transmitter.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the RFID tag further comprises at least one of a smart card, a plastic card, a bar coded sticker, a transponder readable by a reader/antenna, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the RFID tag operates in half duplex mode.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the RFID tag operates in full duplex mode.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the individual account comprises a credit account, a debit account, a stored value account or a rewards account.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first reward is distributed to the individual account substantially upon tag usage.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first reward is periodically distributed to the tagholder.