Method and apparatus for identifying potential buyers
First Claim
1. A method for identifying potential buyers, comprising the steps of:
- receiving intent data from a potential buyer, wherein the intent data identifies an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period; and
determining a reward for the potential buyer based on the intent data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A method for identifying potential buyers, comprising the steps of:
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receiving intent data from a potential buyer, wherein the intent data identifies an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period; and
determining a reward for the potential buyer based on the intent data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 74)
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11. A method for identifying potential buyers, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period, the description having a degree of specificity;
receiving a degree of certainty with which the potential buyer intends to purchase the item within the particular time period;
receiving a payment identifier of a financial account of the potential buyer;
determining a reward offer associated with a reward based on at least one of the degree of specificity, the degree of certainty, and a length of the particular time period; and
outputting the reward offer to the potential buyer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for applying a penalty, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a potential buyer has fulfilled an obligation to purchase an item within a particular time period;
retrieving an applicable penalty from a penalty database; and
applying the applicable penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer.
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24. A method for applying a penalty, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a potential buyer has fulfilled an obligation to purchase an item within a particular time period;
calculating a penalty, wherein the calculation takes into account a price of a reward offered to the potential buyer in exchange for the obligation to purchase the item within the particular time period; and
applying the penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer.
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25. A method for applying a penalty, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining whether a particular time period in which a potential buyer intends to purchase an item has expired;
(b) repeating step (a) until the particular time period has expired;
(c) calculating a penalty; and
(d) applying the penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method for identifying potential buyers, comprising the steps of:
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receiving intent data from a potential buyer;
generating a reward offer associated with a reward for the potential buyer based upon the intent data; and
issuing the reward to the potential buyer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method for identifying potential buyers, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving intent data from a potential buyer intending to purchase an item within a particular time period;
(b) associating a financial account with the potential buyer;
(c) determining a reward offer associated with a reward based on a value of the intent data;
(d) outputting the reward offer to the potential buyer;
(e) determining whether the potential buyer accepts the offer;
(f) modifying the offer if the potential buyer rejects the offer;
(g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until the potential buyer accepts the offer;
(h) issuing the reward to the potential buyer; and
(i) receiving a confirmation signal indicating that the potential buyer has purchased the item corresponding to the intent data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of storing information reflecting that a confirmation signal has been received from a potential buyer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an identifier of the potential buyer intending to purchase an item within a particular time period;
receiving the confirmation signal from the potential buyer indicating the potential buyer has purchased the item;
validating the confirmation signal; and
updating a database to reflect that the confirmation signal has been received. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method for rewarding a potential buyer, comprising the steps of:
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offering a reward to a potential buyer for inputting a description of an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period; and
issuing the reward after the description is input.
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43. An apparatus for identifying potential buyers, comprising:
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a central server coupled to one or more input devices for receiving intent data from a potential buyer, wherein the intent data includes a description of an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period, the central server operable to determine a reward for the potential buyer based on the intent data. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A central server system, comprising:
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a processor;
a storage device coupled to the processor; and
software operative to run on the processor to issue a reward to a potential buyer in exchange for demand information, the demand information including at least a description of an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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75. An information transmission medium for use in a potential buyer identification system, the information transmission medium transmitting a computer program comprising the processing steps of:
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receiving intent data from a potential buyer, wherein the intent data includes at least a description of an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period; and
determining a reward for the potential buyer based upon the intent data.
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76. A computer data signal representative of controller instructions comprising the processing steps of:
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receiving intent data from a potential buyer, wherein the intent data includes at least a description of an item the potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time period; and
determining a reward for the potential buyer based upon the intent data.
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Specification