System and method for optimized redemption of credits in a variable value transaction

Abstract

A system and method of optimizing the redemption of credits in a variable value transaction are disclosed. The variable value transaction may involve a piece of media content and include an initial balance and a remaining balance. The initial balance and the remaining balance may be dependent on the piece of media content and when the variable value transaction is completed. The remaining balance may not be known until the variable value transaction is completed. Credits may be assigned an order of availability for redemption based on credit redemption criteria such as a redemption priority, a product value, an expiration date, and/or a redemption value. The credits with a higher order of availability may be redeemed prior to credits with a lower order of availability.

1 . A method of optimizing a redemption of a plurality of credits in a variable value transaction, wherein the plurality of credits comprises a first credit and a second credit, the variable value transaction comprises an initial balance and a remaining balance, and the variable value transaction involves a piece of media content, the method comprising:
 retrieving an applicability rule for each of the plurality of credits, wherein the applicability rule defines whether each of the plurality of credits is applicable to the piece of media content, and wherein the applicability rule comprises a credit redemption criteria for each of the plurality of credits;   determining an order of availability of each of the plurality of credits for the piece of media content, based on the credit redemption criteria of each of the plurality of credits, wherein the credit redemption criteria comprises a redemption priority, a product value, and an expiration date;   redeeming the first credit for the initial balance, if the order of availability of the first credit is higher than the order of availability of other credits in the plurality of credits; and   redeeming the second credit for the remaining balance upon completion of the variable value transaction, if the order of availability of the second credit is higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media article, the method further comprising vending the media article from an article dispensing machine, in response to redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises at least one of a return of the media article to the article dispensing machine, or a passive sale of the media article comprising a non-return of the media article after a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media article, the method further comprising reserving the media article for future pickup from an article dispensing machine, in response to redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises at least one of a return of the media article to the article dispensing machine, a passive sale of the media article comprising a non-return of the media article after a predetermined time period, or a non-pickup of the media article from the article dispensing machine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media selection, the method further comprising obtaining access to the media selection at a content provider, in response to redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises relinquishing access to the media selection.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 redeeming the first credit comprises transitioning the first credit from an available state to a redeemed state; and   redeeming the second credit comprises transitioning the second credit from the available state to the redeemed state.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the order of availability comprises:
 assigning the order of availability for the first credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the first credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits; and   assigning the order of availability for the first credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the first credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the order of availability comprises:
 assigning the order of availability for the second credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the second credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits; and   assigning the order of availability for the second credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the second credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redemption priority, the product value, and the expiration date are predetermined based on a credit subscription. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value; and   determining the order of availability comprises:
 assigning the order of availability for the first credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the first credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the first credit is higher than the redemption value of the other credits; and 
 assigning the order of availability for the first credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the first credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the first credit is lower than the redemption value of the other credits. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value; and   determining the order of availability comprises:
 assigning the order of availability for the second credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the second credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the second credit is higher than the redemption value of the other credits; and 
 assigning the order of availability for the second credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the second credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the second credit is lower than the redemption value of the other credits. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value, the redemption value based on one or more of an external partner, a credit subscription, a credit definition, the piece of media content, and previous credit redemption history. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accruing the second credit for a predicted redemption of the second credit for the remaining balance, if the variable value transaction is not complete and if the order of availability of the second credit is higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the variable value transaction is stored as a credit cart structure, the method further comprising:
 creating an open item in the credit cart structure, in response to initiating the variable value transaction, wherein the open item is for tracking a status of the piece of media content before the completion of the variable value transaction; and   closing the open item in the credit cart structure upon the completion of the variable value transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of media content comprises one or more of a media article or a media selection, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game, and the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game. 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium for optimizing a redemption of a plurality of credits in a variable value transaction, wherein the plurality of credits comprises a first credit and a second credit, the variable value transaction comprises an initial balance and a remaining balance, and the variable value transaction involves a piece of media content, the computer readable medium comprising:
 a first code segment for retrieving an applicability rule for each of the plurality of credits, wherein the applicability rule defines whether each of the plurality of credits is applicable to the piece of media content, and wherein the applicability rule comprises a credit redemption criteria for each of the plurality of credits;   a second code segment for determining an order of availability of each of the plurality of credits for the piece of media content, based on the credit redemption criteria of each of the plurality of credits, wherein the credit redemption criteria comprises a redemption priority, a product value, and an expiration date;   a third code segment for redeeming the first credit for the initial balance, if the order of availability of the first credit is higher than the order of availability of other credits in the plurality of credits; and   a fourth code segment for redeeming the second credit for the remaining balance upon completion of the variable value transaction, if the order of availability of the second credit is higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media article, the computer readable medium further comprising a fifth code segment for vending the media article from an article dispensing machine, in response to the third code segment for redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises at least one of a return of the media article to the article dispensing machine, or a passive sale of the media article comprising a non-return of the media article after a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media article, the computer readable medium further comprising a sixth code segment for reserving the media article for future pickup from an article dispensing machine, in response to the third code segment for redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises at least one of a return of the media article to the article dispensing machine, a passive sale of the media article comprising a non-return of the media article after a predetermined time period, or a non-pickup of the media article from the article dispensing machine.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 :
 wherein the piece of media content comprises a media selection, the computer readable medium further comprising a seventh code segment for obtaining access to the media selection at a content provider, in response to the third code segment for redeeming the first credit; and   wherein the completion of the variable value transaction comprises relinquishing access to the media selection.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the third code segment for redeeming the first credit comprises an eighth code segment for transitioning the first credit from an available state to a redeemed state; and   the fourth code segment for redeeming the second credit comprises a ninth code segment for transitioning the second credit from the available state to the redeemed state.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second code segment for determining the order of availability comprises:
 a tenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the first credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the first credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits; and   an eleventh code segment for assigning the order of availability for the first credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the first credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits.   
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second code segment for determining the order of availability comprises:
 a twelfth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the second credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the second credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits; and   a thirteenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the second credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, or the expiration date of the second credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits.   
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the redemption priority, the product value, and the expiration date are predetermined based on a credit subscription. 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value; and   the second code segment for determining the order of availability comprises:
 a fourteenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the first credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the first credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the first credit is higher than the redemption value of the other credits; and 
 a fifteenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the first credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the first credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the first credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the first credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the first credit is lower than the redemption value of the other credits. 
   
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value; and   the second code segment for determining the order of availability comprises:
 a sixteenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the second credit as higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is higher than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is higher than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the second credit is sooner than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the second credit is higher than the redemption value of the other credits; and 
 a seventeenth code segment for assigning the order of availability for the second credit as lower than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits, if the redemption priority of the second credit is lower than the redemption priority of the other credits, the product value of the second credit is lower than the product value of the other credits, the expiration date of the second credit is later than the expiration date of the other credits, or the redemption value of the second credit is lower than the redemption value of the other credits. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the credit redemption criteria further comprises a redemption value, the redemption value based on one or more of an external partner, a credit subscription, a credit definition, the piece of media content, and previous credit redemption history. 
     
     
         26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising an eighteenth code segment for accruing the second credit for a predicted redemption of the second credit for the remaining balance, if the variable value transaction is not complete and if the order of availability of the second credit is higher than the order of availability of the other credits in the plurality of credits. 
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the variable value transaction is stored as a credit cart structure, the computer readable medium further comprising:
 a nineteenth code segment for creating an open item in the credit cart structure, in response to initiating the variable value transaction, wherein the open item is for tracking a status of the piece of media content before the completion of the variable value transaction; and   a twentieth code segment for closing the open item in the credit cart structure upon the completion of the variable value transaction.   
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the piece of media content comprises one or more of a media article or a media selection, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game, and the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game.