Method and system for reward points redemption for computer-based activity

Abstract

A system and method for a user to have a credit card, debit card, or stored value card that is linked to their reward points account in such a way as to permit them to pay for purchases with a merchant by using the card, wherein the merchant uses the existing credit card payment infrastructure as if payment were being made/authorized by a bank linked to the credit card or debit card account, but in fact the card is linked to the user's reward points account. In this manner, the user and merchant can use the reward points account to pay for purchases in a seamless manner whereby reward points are used for consideration rather than or as a supplement to cash and traditional credit.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of using reward points to pay for computer-based activities comprising the steps of:
 a. maintaining a reward point account on a reward point server computer on behalf of a user, said reward point account storing the number of reward points a user has earned based on transactions with a reward point issuing entity;   b. transferring the reward point account balance amount from the reward point account on the reward point server computer to a local controller on a mobile remote computing system;   c. the user accessing a computer-based activity on the mobile remote computing system in exchange for redemption of at least some of the user's reward points from the local controller;   d. reconnecting the local controller to the reward point server computer, and   e. modifying the reward point account balance on the reward point server computer based on the reward point balance remaining on the local controller.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile remote computing system is located on an airplane. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises playing a game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to email services. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises entertainment services. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises connection of a stand-alone computing device to an interface port. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises wireless access to external services. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to a fax machine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to a printer. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a. a reward point server computer maintaining a reward point account on behalf of a user, said reward point account storing the number of reward points a user has earned based on transactions with a reward point issuing entity; and   b. a mobile remote computing system comprising a local controller for storing a reward point balance of a user and controlling access to a computer-based activity, and adapted to
 (i) transfer the reward point account balance amount from the reward point account on the reward point server computer to the local controller on the mobile remote computing system such that the user may access a computer-based activity on the mobile remote computing system in exchange for redemption of at least some of the user's reward points from the local controller, and 
 (ii) reconnect to the reward point server computer and modify the reward point account balance on the reward point server computer based on the reward point balance remaining on the local controller. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the mobile remote computing system is located on an airplane. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises playing a game. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to email services. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises entertainment services. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises connection of a stand-alone computing device to an interface port. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises wireless access to external services. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to a fax machine. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said computer-based activity comprises access to a printer.