Process and product for enforcing purchase agreements

• US 20020130179A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Fincham, Magdalena M., Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products. The buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer. Thereafter, a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. A penalty may be assessed if the first and second plurality of products do not correspond.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a buyer price for a product, the buyer price being different than a retail price of the product;

establishing a redemption code which identifies the buyer price and the product; and

charging a financial account for the buyer price;

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase that does not include the product.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of charging a financial account for the buyer price comprises:

charging the financial account for the retail price; and

crediting the financial account for a rebate amount.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the redemption code comprises:

sixteen digits.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the redemption code comprises:

a bar code.

5. A method comprising:

establishing online a buyer price for a product, the buyer price being lower than a retail price of the product, the product to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer;

establishing, before the transaction at the retailer, a redemption code which identifies the buyer price and the product;

charging a credit card account for the buyer price; and

charging the credit card account for a penalty amount if

the redemption code has been received in connection with the transaction at the retailer, but the transaction does not include the product being picked up.

6. A method comprising:

establishing a buyer price for a number of units of a product, the buyer price being different than a retail price of the number of units of the product;

charging a financial account for the buyer price;

transmitting a redemption code which identifies the buyer price and the number of units of the product; and

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase that does not include the number of units of the product.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the step of:

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase that does not include the number of units of the product comprises

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase that includes a more than the number of units of the product.

8. A method comprising:

establishing a buyer price for a product,

the buyer price being different than a retail price of the product,

the product not including a second product;

charging a financial account for the buyer price;

transmitting a redemption code which identifies the buyer price and the product; and

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase that includes the second product.

9. A method comprising:

establishing a buyer price for a product, the buyer price being different than a retail price of the product;

charging a financial account for the buyer price;

transmitting a redemption code which identifies the buyer price, the product and a retailer from which to take possession of the product; and

charging the financial account for a penalty amount if the redemption code has been received in connection with a purchase not at the retailer.

10. A method comprising:

associating a first credit card account with a second credit card account;

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being different than a retail price of the first plurality of products;

setting a credit limit on the first credit card account to an amount based on the buyer price;

associating the first credit card account with the first plurality of products;

receiving data that represents a transaction at a retailer in which the first credit card account was used; and

charging the second credit card account for a penalty amount if the transaction includes an additional product beyond the first plurality of products, which additional product was not paid for.

11. A method comprising:

associating a transaction identifier with a credit card account;

establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products, the buyer price being different than a retail price of the first plurality of products;

associating the transaction identifier with the first plurality of products and the buyer price;

transmitting the transaction identifier;

receiving data that represents a transaction at a retailer in which the transaction identifier was used; and

charging the credit card account for a penalty amount if the transaction includes an additional product beyond the first plurality of products, which additional product was not paid for.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the step of receiving data that represents a transaction comprises:

receiving data that represents a plurality of transactions, each transaction including identifiers of products purchased and identifiers of coupons used; and

selecting an identifier of a coupon used that matches