Method and apparatus for offering forward commitment agreements
First Claim
1. A method of forming an agreement comprising:
- identifying a consumer proximate to a benefit dispensing device;
receiving information about the consumer;
offering a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement;
receiving the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement; and
providing the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes a system and method for presenting forward commitment agreements to consumers proximate to a benefit dispensing device such as a vending machine or an automatic teller machine. A controller is in communication with one or more benefit dispensing devices and one or more merchant devices. Merchants devise forward commitment agreements to be offered to consumers. Such agreements specify a benefit that will be provided to a consumer immediately if the consumer agrees to fulfill a commitment in the future. Using a merchant device, a merchant communicates descriptions of the forward commitment agreements to the controller. When a consumer subsequently accesses a benefit dispensing device, the controller, via the benefit dispensing device, offers a forward commitment agreement to the consumer. If the consumer chooses to enter into the forward commitment agreement, then the benefit dispensing device provides the consumer with an immediate benefit. In some embodiments, the merchant subsequently reimburses the controller for the benefit provided to the consumer.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method of forming an agreement comprising:
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identifying a consumer proximate to a benefit dispensing device;
receiving information about the consumer;
offering a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement;
receiving the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement; and
providing the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A benefit dispensing device comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions operative to;
identify a consumer proximate to the benefit dispensing device, receive information about the consumer, offer a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement, receive the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement, and provide the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device.
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50. A system comprising:
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a controller; and
a benefit dispensing device in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is operative to identify a consumer proximate to the benefit dispensing device, receive information about the consumer, offer a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement, receive the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement, and provide the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device.
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51. A method of forming an agreement comprising:
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identifying a consumer proximate to a benefit dispensing device;
offering a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement; and
providing the benefit to the consumer immediately via the benefit dispensing device if the consumer accepts the offer.
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52. A benefit dispensing device comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions operative to;
identify a consumer proximate to the benefit dispensing device, offer a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement, receive the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement, and provide the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device.
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53. A system comprising:
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a controller; and
a benefit dispensing device in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is operative to identify a consumer proximate to the benefit dispensing device, offer a benefit to the consumer in exchange for the consumer entering into a forward commitment agreement, receive the consumer'"'"'s acceptance of the benefit and agreement to enter into the forward commitment agreement, and provide the benefit to the consumer via the benefit dispensing device.
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Specification