Apparatus and method for executing on-line purchases
First Claim
1. An apparatus for executing on-line retail purchases, the apparatus comprising:
- a ticket server, wherein the ticket server issues a purchase ticket to a customer, wherein the purchase ticket comprises a predetermined redemption time, and wherein the purchase ticket is associated with a purchase item;
a doorman server in network communication with the ticket server, wherein the doorman server issues a purchase approval indicator in response to both of;
a) the purchase ticket being presented to the doorman server on or after the predetermined redemption time, and b) the doorman server receiving a ticket validation indicator from the ticket server, wherein the ticket server sends the ticket validation indicator to the doorman server in response to the ticket server receiving a ticket validation request from the doorman server, and the ticket server determining that the purchase ticket is valid; and
a checkout server in network communication with the doorman server;
wherein the checkout server executes an on-line purchase of the purchase item in response to the checkout server receiving the purchase approval indicator from the doorman server.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for executing on-line purchases. The apparatus includes three different servers, a ticket server, a doorman server, and a checkout server. The purchase tasks are spread among the servers, and timed, so that the on-line purchase can be handled without server overload and customers losing their place in line. The ticket server issues a purchase ticket to a customer. The purchase ticket includes a predetermined time after which the customer can present the ticket to purchase the purchase item. On or after the predetermined time, the customer presents the purchase ticket to the doorman server. The doorman server validates the ticket and checks that the predetermined time has passed. Once the doorman server approves the purchase ticket, the doorman server passes the purchase ticket to the checkout server with a purchase approval indicator. The checkout server then executes the on-line purchase of the purchase item.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for executing on-line retail purchases, the apparatus comprising:
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a ticket server, wherein the ticket server issues a purchase ticket to a customer, wherein the purchase ticket comprises a predetermined redemption time, and wherein the purchase ticket is associated with a purchase item; a doorman server in network communication with the ticket server, wherein the doorman server issues a purchase approval indicator in response to both of;
a) the purchase ticket being presented to the doorman server on or after the predetermined redemption time, and b) the doorman server receiving a ticket validation indicator from the ticket server, wherein the ticket server sends the ticket validation indicator to the doorman server in response to the ticket server receiving a ticket validation request from the doorman server, and the ticket server determining that the purchase ticket is valid; anda checkout server in network communication with the doorman server;
wherein the checkout server executes an on-line purchase of the purchase item in response to the checkout server receiving the purchase approval indicator from the doorman server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification