Systems and methods for consumers to purchase products

• US 20050160023A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lifespring Health Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Lifespring Health Network LLC
• Inventors: Pearson, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/045,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A service provider system is provided and offers products for sale through the service provider system directly, and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system. Members are enrolled in the service provider system. Points are awarded to members for purchases of products through the service provider system and the associated merchants for future purchases. A dollar value of points granted to a member, through the service provider system or associated merchants, during a taxable year is unknown to the service provider system or associated merchants during that taxable year.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

awarding points to members for purchases of products through the service provider system and the associated merchants for future purchases; and

wherein a dollar value of points granted to a member through the service provider system or associated merchants during a taxable year is unknown to the service provider system or associated merchants during that taxable year.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds a dollar amount.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds $600.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the points are rebates that are tied to the purchase of goods or services.

8. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

awarding points to a member for purchases made through the service provider system or associated merchants that are, (i) made by the member itself, (ii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by the member, and (iii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by members in (ii), wherein members in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively a member'"'"'s community; and

wherein a dollar value of points granted to a member through the service provider system or associated merchants during a taxable year is unknown to the service provider system or associated merchants during that taxable year.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds a dollar amount.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds $600.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are rebates that are tied to the purchase of goods or services.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are used for (i) health related products and services, (ii) health insurance premiums, (iii) deposit into a Health Savings Account or a similarly approved account, and (iv) purchase of a health plan.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

19. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

awarding points to a member for purchases made through the service provider system or associated merchants that are, (i) made by the member itself, (ii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by the member, and (iii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by members in (ii), wherein members in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively a member'"'"'s community; and

wherein a dollar value of points granted to a member through the service provider system or associated merchants at a time of grant is unknown to the service provider system, associated merchants and members.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds a dollar amount.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds $600.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are rebates that are tied to the purchase of goods or services.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are used for (i) health related products and services, (ii) health insurance premiums, (iii) deposit into a Health Savings Account or a similarly approved account, and (iv) purchase of a health plan.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

30. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

providing members with service provider debit or credit cards;

awarding points to a member for purchases made through the service provider system or associated merchants that are, (i) made by the member itself, (ii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by the member, and (iii) made by members who were-referred to the service provider system by members in (ii), wherein members in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively a member'"'"'s community; and

wherein at least a portion of points utilized by members, through the service provider system or associated merchants, is eligible to be claimed as a medical expense deduction as an itemized deduction or as a self-employed medical insurance cost for federal income tax purposes.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds a dollar amount.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds $600.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are rebates that are tied to the purchase of goods or services.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are used for (i) health related products and services, (ii) health insurance premiums, (iii) deposit into a Health Savings Account or a similarly approved account, and (iv) purchase of a health plan.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

41. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

awarding points to a member for purchases made through the service provider system or associated merchants that are, (i) made by the member itself, (ii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by the member, and (iii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by members in (ii), wherein members in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively a member'"'"'s community; and

wherein the service provider system or associated merchants are unable to determine a member'"'"'s tax treatment of the points.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds a dollar amount.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the service provider system and the associated merchants and members for the taxable year do not know if the value of points awarded to a member during the exceeds $600.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are rebates that are tied to, the purchase of goods or services.

48. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are used for (i) health related products and services, (ii) health insurance premiums, (iii) deposit into a Health Savings Account or a similarly approved account, and (iv) purchase of a health plan.

49. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are rebate points that are directly related and limited by the amount of purchases made by a member awarded the points.

50. The method of claim 41 wherein points awarded by the service provider system and associated merchants are used as an offset against the purchase price of future products and services purchased by the member originally awarded the points.

51. The method of claim 41 wherein the points are used for purchase price adjustments through the service provider or associated merchants.

52. A method of purchasing products and services, comprising:

providing a service provider system, the service provider system offering products for sale through the service provider system directly and also through associated merchants that are authorized to be associated with the service provider system;

enrolling members in the service provider system;

awarding points to a member for purchases made through the service provider system or associated merchants that are, (i) made by the member itself, (ii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by the member, and (iii) made by members who were referred to the service provider system by members in (ii), wherein members in (i), (ii) and (iii) are collectively a member'"'"'s community; and

wherein the service provider system or associated merchants do not know a value of points that is attributable to community purchases relative to the value of points attributed to purchases made by an individual member in the community.