Reward Point Donation Targeting Before Expiration

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Solution Overview

Problem

A significant portion of reward points expire unused each year due to limited validity, leading to reduced effectiveness of loyalty programs and user disengagement from charitable causes due to lack of personalized donation options.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that identifies users with expiring reward points associated with sustainable initiatives through transaction history analysis, enabling targeted notifications to donate these points to sustainable activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If reward points are given limited validity period, then users are incentivized to redeem points timely, but a substantial percentage of reward points expire unused every year

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveredemption rateVSAvoidexpired reward points

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing transaction history before expiration to identify users with sustainable initiative transactions and proactively notifying them of donation opportunities, enabling users to redeem points before expiration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rewards server acts as an intermediary that connects users with sustainable initiative preferences to appropriate donation options, facilitating the redemption process and preventing point expiration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If generic donation options are provided, then users can donate reward points to charitable causes, but users become disengaged due to lack of personalized donation options

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedonation flexibilityVSAvoiduser engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by providing personalized donation options tailored to each user's transaction history and sustainable initiative preferences, making the donation experience relevant and engaging for each individual user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from transaction history analysis to understand user preferences and continuously improves donation recommendations, creating a personalized experience that increases user engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260044874A1Method and system for facilitating utilization of reward points

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

A method and system for facilitating utilization of reward points is provided. A set of users is identified from multiple users such that the reward points associated with payment modes of the set of users are set to expire after a first time period. Further, a transaction history of the set of users is analyzed to detect at least one transaction that is associated with a sustainable initiative for each of the set of users. Based on the analysis, users are selected from the set of users such that the transaction history of each of the selected users is associated with at least one of the sustainable initiatives. Further, the selected users are notified to donate the reward points that are set to expire to sustainable activities.