Messaging App Rewards Transfer via Intermediary Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for peer-to-peer (p2p) transfers of rewards and gift cards are cumbersome, requiring users to have existing accounts with entities and often result in unwanted gifts due to lack of account compatibility and recipient preferences.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables p2p transactions through a messaging application, allowing senders to convert rewards points into gift options, with recipients able to accept or decline gifts and choose alternative options without the sender's knowledge, using a provider institution computing system that authenticates identities and manages transactions based on rewards accounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users transfer rewards points through traditional account-based systems, then the transfer can be tracked and managed, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires existing accounts with multiple entities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a messaging application as an intermediary platform that enables rewards point transfers without requiring traditional account-based systems. The messaging app serves as a mediator between sender and recipient, allowing direct peer-to-peer transfers while the backend system handles account verification and rewards management transparently. This eliminates the need for users to manually manage multiple accounts across different entities.
Solution Approach 2:
The messaging application is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a communication tool and a rewards transfer platform. The system allows users to send rewards points, gift cards, and messages through a single unified interface, eliminating the need for separate account management systems for each transfer type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If senders select specific gift options for recipients, then the gift can be tailored to recipient preferences, but recipients may receive unwanted gifts due to lack of preference matching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the traditional gift selection process by allowing recipients to choose from multiple gift options after receiving the gift request but before finalizing the transfer. Instead of the sender unilaterally selecting a gift, the system presents the sender's gift choices to the recipient, who then has the agency to select their preferred option or request alternatives. This inversion ensures recipient preference alignment while maintaining sender initiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gift selection process is made dynamic and flexible, allowing the recipient to modify the gift choice after the sender has selected an initial option. The system enables real-time adjustments where recipients can request different gift types, amounts, or configurations based on their current preferences, transforming a static sender-driven process into a dynamic collaborative selection.
3Reliability
If the system provides multiple gift options to recipients, then recipients can choose desirable gifts, but the processing complexity and user interactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where recipients independently review and select from multiple gift options presented to them. The automated backend system generates multiple gift variations based on the sender's initial selection and the recipient's profile, then allows the recipient to self-select the preferred option without requiring extensive manual intervention from the sender or complex processing workflows.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system converts rewards points to gift values, then the transfer becomes flexible and convertible, but the conversion process requires verification and processing power
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing conversion rates between rewards points and gift values before actual transfers occur. The backend system maintains pre-established conversion tables and eligibility criteria, allowing rapid conversion during gift transfers without requiring complex real-time verification for each transaction. This preliminary preparation reduces processing power consumption during actual gift transfers.
Data Source
AI summary
A provider institution computing system includes a network interface circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor coupled to a non-transitory memory. The processing circuit can receive a request to send a gift to a recipient; verify that a first account associated with the sender includes a first value of points; determine, based on the request, a first gift value having a first gift type and a second gift value having a second gift type; and provide a first gift option to the sender device for display. The processing circuit can receive a first gift selection and provide data that causes the sender device to generate and transmit the gift message to the recipient via the second messaging application. The processing circuit can receive a request for a monetary amount in lieu of the first gift selection and authenticate the recipient device.