System that transfers asset ownership using a probabilistic model

• US 20020077982A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Incentmark, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dante Pellegrini
• Inventors: Pellegrini, Dante
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

Briefly, according to the present invention, ownership right in an asset is transferred using a probabilistic model. In one exemplary embodiment, the system and method of the invention implements the probabilistic model by a raffle system that facilitates the transfer of ownership in any asset. An asset can be any valuable item that is owned, including any type of product, good or service. In an exemplary embodiment, the participants interface with the system over a network of interconnected wired or wireless devices, such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for transferring ownership of assets to participants over a network, wherein the participants interface with the network using wired or wireless devices, comprising the steps of:

issuing redeemable tokens having defined redemption values to one or more participants over the network, wherein each issued redeemable token is associated with a participant;

probabilistically selecting at least one redeemable token, when redemption value of the issued redeemable tokens reaches a collective token value; and

transferring an ownership right to at least one asset to a participant who is associated with a selected redeemable token.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

specifying a redemption value for the at least one asset that corresponds to the collective token value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the redemption value for the asset is equal to the collective token value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the redeemable tokens are issued in response to a participant purchasing the redeemable tokens for a specified price.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the redeemable tokens are issued in response to a participant meeting an incentive criterion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the incentive criterion requires browsing one or more web pages.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

offering the at least one asset for sale over the network by specifying a corresponding redemption value; and

transferring the ownership right to the asset to a buyer participant who is associated with the probabilistically selected redeemable token.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

offering the at least one asset as a promotional item by specifying a corresponding incentive criterion for the promotional item;

issuing redeemable tokens to participants that meet the incentive criterion;

transferring the ownership right to the promotional item to a participant who is associated with the probabilistically selected redeemable token.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the collective token value is at least one of a pre-defined value, a value reached after a predefined time period, and a value reached after a predefined number of redeemable tokens are issued.

10. A method for transferring ownership of assets to participants over a network, wherein the participants interface with the network using wired or wireless devices, comprising the steps of:

offering an asset for sale by specifying a redemption value associated with the asset;

issuing redeemable tokens having defined redemption values to one or more buyer participants who purchase the redeemable tokens, wherein each issued redeemable token is associated with a buyer participant;

probabilistically selecting at least one redeemable token, when a collective redemption value of the issued redeemable tokens reaches the redemption value associated with the asset; and

transferring an ownership right to the asset to a buyer participant who is associated with a selected redeemable token.

11. A method for transferring ownership of assets to participants over a network, wherein the participants interface with the network using wired or wireless devices, comprising the steps of:

pledging an asset as a promotional item;

associating the promotional item with an incentive criterion;

issuing redeemable tokens having defined redemption values to one or more participants who meet the incentive criterion, wherein each issued redeemable token is associated with a participant;

probabilistically selecting at least one redeemable token, when redemption value of the issued redeemable tokens reaches a collective token value; and

transferring an ownership right to the asset to a participant who is associated with a selected redeemable token.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the incentive criteria requires browsing one or more web pages.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the collective token value is at least one of a pre-defined value, a value reached after a predefined time period, and a value reached after a predefined number of redeemable tokens are issued.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the redemption value for the asset is corresponds to the collective token value of the issued redeemable tokens.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the redemption value for the asset is equal to the collective token of the issued redeemable tokens.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the redeemable tokens are issued in response to a participant purchasing the redeemable tokens for a specified price.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the redeemable tokens are issued in response to a participant meeting an incentive criterion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the incentive criterion requires browsing one or more web pages.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the asset is offered for sale over the network by specifying a corresponding redemption value;

and wherein the ownership right to the asset is transferred from a seller to a buyer participant who is associated with the probabilistically selected redeemable token.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the asset is offered as a promotional item by specifying a corresponding incentive criterion for the promotional item, wherein the server station issues redeemable tokens to participants that meet the incentive criterion;

and wherein the ownership right to the promotional item is transferred to a participant who is associated with the probabilistically selected redeemable token.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the incentive criterion requires browsing one or more web pages.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the collective token value is at least one of a pre-defined value, a value reached after a predefined time period, and a value reached after a predefined number of redeemable tokens are issued.

14. A system for transferring ownership of an asset over a network, comprising:

one or more client stations where participants interface with the network using one or more wired or wireless devices;

a server station that issues redeemable tokens having defined redemption values to the participants over the network, wherein each issued redeemable token is associated with a participant;

a processor that probabilistically selects at least one redeemable token, when a collective redemption value of the issued redeemable tokens reaches a collective token value, wherein an ownership right to the asset is transferred to a participant who is associated with a probabilistically selected redeemable token.