Method and system for using third party reward points to pay for an item via a search engine

Abstract

A system and method for implementation of product searches via a search engine over a networked computer system such as the Internet. In particular, a user may execute a search for product offers that are accompanied with reward components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.) and/or those that allow payment in whole or in part with payment components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.).

I claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for a reward server computer to facilitate an online purchase transaction using a points payment process over a networked computer system comprising the reward server computer executing the steps of:
 sending to a search engine computer an indication of a number of reward points held by the reward server computer in a user reward account on behalf of a user;   receiving from the search engine computer a request to execute a points payment process by using a selection of the reward points from the user reward account in order to pay for at least part of a purchase transaction between the user, the search engine computer, and a merchant computer from which a product selected for purchase by the user will be provided to the user;   decreasing the user reward account by the selection of reward points; and   conveying to the search engine computer consideration proportionate to the selection of reward points decreased in the user reward account so as to enable the search engine computer to make payment therefrom to the merchant computer for the product selected for purchase by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward points comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card. 
     
     
         3 . A reward server computer programmed to facilitate an online purchase transaction using a points payment process over a networked computer system by:
 sending to a search engine computer an indication of a number of reward points held by the reward server computer in a user reward account on behalf of a user;   receiving from the search engine computer a request to execute a points payment process by using a selection of the reward points from the user reward account in order to pay for at least part of a purchase transaction between the user, the search engine computer, and a merchant computer from which a product selected for purchase by the user will be provided to the user;   decreasing the user reward account by the selection of reward points; and   conveying to the search engine computer consideration proportionate to the selection of reward points decreased in the user reward account so as to enable the search engine computer to make payment therefrom to the merchant computer for the product selected for purchase by the user.   
     
     
         4 . The reward server computer of  claim 3  wherein the reward points comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method for executing an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:
 a. an online purchase transaction computer providing to a user device an option to cause payment to be made to a merchant computer for the product selected for purchase at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;   b. the user operating the user device generating a payment request to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;   c. the user device transmitting the payment request to the online purchase transaction computer; and   d. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer, the online purchase transaction computer communicating with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 (i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount; 
 (ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and 
   e. the online purchase transaction computer conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the payment request additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and wherein the online purchase transaction computer, in response to receiving the payment request, additionally communicates with the additional reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the additional designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 (i) requesting the additional reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional designated amount; and 
 (ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the additional designated user reward account; and conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product. 
 
     
     
         8 . A networked computer system for executing an online purchase transaction comprising
 A. an online purchase transaction computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to:
 a. provide to a user device an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; 
 b. receive from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and 
 c. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer, communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 (i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount; and 
 (ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and 
 
 d. conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product; and 
   B. a user device comprising processing circuitry programmed to:
 a. receive from the online purchase transaction computer an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and 
 b. transmit to the online purchase transaction computer the payment request to pay for the selected product. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the payment request received by the online purchase transaction computer additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and wherein the online purchase transaction computer in response to receiving the payment request, additionally communicates with the additional reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the additional designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by
 (i) requesting the additional reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional designated amount; and 
 (ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the additional designated user reward account; and conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product.