System and Apparatus for Linking Multiple Rewards Programs to Promote the Purchase of Specific Product Mixes

Abstract

A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a server computer, purchase information from a first merchant that provides a first reward to a consumer for purchasing a first product at the first merchant in accordance with a first reward program associated with the first merchant;   receiving, at the server computer, purchase information from a second merchant that provides a second reward to the consumer for purchasing a second product at the second merchant in accordance with a second reward program associated with the second merchant; and   determining, by the server computer, that a combination reward trigger is satisfied to provide a combination reward to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward in response to the consumer purchasing the first product and the second product, the combination reward being provided in accordance with a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program and the second reward program.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 prior to receiving purchase information from the first merchant and purchase information from the second merchant, 
 receiving information about the first reward program; 
 receiving information about the second reward program; and 
 creating the combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program and the second reward program and that provides a combination reward that is based on the purchase of at least the first product and the second product. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 receiving information about a third reward program that provides a third reward to a consumer for purchasing a third product at a third merchant; 
 creating the combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program, the second reward program and the third reward program and that provides a combination reward that is based on the purchase of at least the first product, the second product and the third product. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than each of the value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than the combined value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 receiving, at a server computer, purchase information from a third merchant that provides a third reward to the consumer for purchasing a third product at the third merchant in accordance with a third reward program associated with the third merchant; and 
 determining, by the server computer, that a combination reward trigger is satisfied to provide a combination reward to the consumer in addition to the first reward, the second reward and the third award in response to the consumer purchasing the first product, the second product and the third product, the combination reward being provided in accordance with a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program, the second reward program and the third reward program. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 providing the combination reward to the consumer. 
 
     
     
         28 . A server computer comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium coupled with the processor, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions configured to be executed by the processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving purchase information from a first merchant that provides a first reward to a consumer for purchasing a first product at the first merchant in accordance with a first reward program associated with the first merchant;   receiving purchase information from a second merchant that provides a second reward to the consumer for purchasing a second product at the second merchant in accordance with a second reward program associated with the second merchant; and   determining that a combination reward trigger is satisfied to provide a combination reward to the consumer in addition to the first reward and the second reward in response to the consumer purchasing the first product and the second product, the combination reward being provided in accordance with a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program and the second reward program.   
     
     
         29 . The server computer of  claim 28  wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium performs operations further comprising:
 providing the combination reward to the consumer. 
 
     
     
         30 . The server computer of  claim 28  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than each of the value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         31 . The server computer of  claim 28  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than the combined value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         32 . The server computer of  claim 28  wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium performs operations further comprising:
 receiving purchase information from a third merchant that provides a third reward to the consumer for purchasing a third product at the third merchant in accordance with a third reward program associated with the third merchant; and 
 determining that a combination reward trigger is satisfied to provide a combination reward to the consumer in addition to the first reward, the second reward and the third award in response to the consumer purchasing the first product, the second product and the third product, the combination reward being provided in accordance with a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program, the second reward program and the third reward program. 
 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at an access device of a second merchant, information for a combination reward program that is linked to a first reward program at a first merchant and a second reward program at the second merchant;   receiving, at the access device of the second merchant, purchase information for a purchase of a first product at the first merchant that provides a first reward to a consumer for purchasing the first product at the first merchant in accordance with the first reward program associated with the first merchant;   receiving, at the access device of the second merchant, purchase information for a purchase of a second product at the second merchant that provides a second reward to a consumer for purchasing the second product at the second merchant in accordance with the second reward program associated with the second merchant; and   providing, by the access device of the second merchant, the combination reward to the consumer in addition to the second reward in accordance with the combination reward program.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than each of the value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the value of the combination reward is greater than the combined value of the first reward and the second reward. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising:
 receiving, at the access device of the second merchant, information for a combination reward program that is linked to the first reward program at the first merchant, the second reward program at the second merchant, and a third reward program at a third merchant; 
 receiving, at the access device of the second merchant, purchase information for a purchase of a third product at the third merchant that provides a third reward to a consumer for purchasing the third product at the third merchant in accordance with the third reward program associated with the third merchant; and 
 providing, by the access device of the second merchant, the combination reward to the consumer in addition to the second reward in accordance with the combination reward program. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the combination reward includes a reduction in price for the purchase of the second product or a coupon. 
     
     
         38 . An access device comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium coupled with the processor, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions configured to be executed by the processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving information for a combination reward program that is linked to a first reward program at a first merchant and a second reward program at the second merchant;   receiving purchase information for a purchase of a first product at the first merchant that provides a first reward to a consumer for purchasing the first product at the first merchant in accordance with the first reward program associated with the first merchant;   receiving purchase information for a purchase of a second product at the second merchant that provides a second reward to a consumer for purchasing the second product at the second merchant in accordance with the second reward program associated with the second merchant; and   providing the combination reward to the consumer in addition to the second reward in accordance with the combination reward program.