Points Management System Segmentation for Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing points processing systems automatically apply all earned points towards a credit card balance, preventing users from redeeming points for future purchases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with separate accounts for earned and available points, allowing users to opt-in for autopay after a billing cycle, enabling points to be transferred to a rewards account for redemption or kept for future purchases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the points processing system automatically applies all earned points toward the user's credit card balance, then the user's credit card balance is paid down automatically, but the user is prohibited from redeeming points toward future purchases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single points account into two separate accounts: an earned points account and an available points account. This segmentation allows the system to automatically apply points from the available points account to credit card balances while preserving points in the earned points account for future redemption options, thereby resolving the contradiction between automation and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic account management where points can be automatically applied to credit card balances when desired, but users retain the flexibility to opt-out or redirect points to other redemption options. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt between automatic application and user-controlled redemption based on real-time preferences.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows users to opt-in for autopay after a billing cycle, then user flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the points management into separate earned and available points accounts, the system simplifies the complexity of managing user choices. The segmentation creates clear, distinct pathways for automatic application versus redemption, making the system easier to manage despite increased flexibility options.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use an earned autopay account, an available autopay account, an earned points account, and an available points account each associated with a customer. The method includes storing a cache including first and second numbers of points stored in the available autopay account and the available points account, respectively. A points authorization request requesting a first transaction amount is received from a requesting computing device. A second transaction amount is subtracted from the first and/or second numbers of points. A points redemption request including a third transaction amount is sent to the payment processing computing device. Each of the first, second, and third transaction amounts includes a particular monetary value and/or a corresponding transaction number of points. The payment processing computing device subtracts the third transaction amount from the available points account and/or the available autopay account.