Method and apparatus for renting items
First Claim
1. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-enabled steps of:
- receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
providing to the customer one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria up to a limit indicated by a specified limiting criteria, where the limiting criteria is not defined as the number of items provided;
in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, up to a limit specified by a limiting criteria where the limiting criteria is not defined as a maximum number of items currently provided, nor is the limiting criteria defined as a maximum number of exchanges within a period of time, nor is the limiting criteria defined as a maximum number of items currently provided in conjunction with a maximum number of exchanges within a period of time.
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Abstract
According to a computer-implemented approach for renting items to customers, customers specify what items to rent using item selection criteria separate from deciding when to receive the specified items. According to the approach, customers provide item selection criteria to a provider. The provider provides the items indicated by the item selection criteria to customer over a delivery channel. The provider may be either centralized or distributed depending upon the requirements of a particular application. Each item is assigned a specific value, such as a number of points. A “SIMULTANEOUS-VALUE” method allows users to rent items up to a limit such that the total value assigned to the items currently provided does not exceed some limit, possibly also with a maximum number of exchanges. A “TIME LIMIT-VALUE” method accrues a value each time an item is provided, and allows exchanges to occur up to the value limit during a specified period of time, possibly also with a maximum number of exchanges. “SIMULTANEOUS-VALUE” and “TIME LIMIT-VALUE” methods may be used together or separately with a variety of subscription methodologies. The points assigned to each item may vary with certain business conditions. For instance, an item that is low in inventory may be assigned a higher value.
45 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-enabled steps of:
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receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
providing to the customer one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria up to a limit indicated by a specified limiting criteria, where the limiting criteria is not defined as the number of items provided;
in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, up to a limit specified by a limiting criteria where the limiting criteria is not defined as a maximum number of items currently provided, nor is the limiting criteria defined as a maximum number of exchanges within a period of time, nor is the limiting criteria defined as a maximum number of items currently provided in conjunction with a maximum number of exchanges within a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-enabled steps of:
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receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
assigning a point value to each rentable item;
providing to the customer one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria up to a limit of items such that the total of the points assigned to items currently provided is less than a specified limit;
in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, up to a limit of items such that the total of the points assigned to items currently provided is less than a specified limit. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-enabled steps of:
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receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
assigning a point value to each rentable item;
providing to the customer one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria up to a limit of items such that the total of the points assigned to items provided is less than a specified limit;
in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, up to a limit of items such that the total of the points assigned to items provided within a specified period of time is less than a specified limit. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification