RETAIL SYSTEM FOR SELLING PRODUCTS BASED ON A FLEXIBLE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- determining transaction information associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price;
transmitting information that facilitates the acquisition of the product, by the buyer, from the merchant, in exchange for payment provided by the buyer, to the central controller, of an amount based on the first price; and
providing an amount based on the second price to the merchant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one described embodiment, a method is provided in which transaction information is determined. The transaction information is associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price. Information is transmitted that facilitates the acquisition of the product by the buyer, in exchange for payment provided by the buyer to the central controller. An amount based on the second price is provided to the merchant.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining transaction information associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price;
transmitting information that facilitates the acquisition of the product, by the buyer, from the merchant, in exchange for payment provided by the buyer, to the central controller, of an amount based on the first price; and
providing an amount based on the second price to the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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receiving, from a buyer, an indication of a selection of a product from a Web site;
determining a first price for the selected product, wherein a merchant offers the selected product for sale at a second price different from the first price;
receiving, via a point-of-sale terminal, a credit card number associated with the buyer;
determining whether the credit card number is associated with the product;
arranging for the buyer to provide (i) the first price for the product if the credit card number is associated with the product, and (ii) the second price for the product if the credit card number is not associated with the product; and
transmitting information that facilitates the acquisition of the product, by the buyer, from the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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establishing, between the buyer and a purchasing system, a first price for a product;
arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer, the retailer being a different entity from the purchasing system, wherein the retailer offers, to buyers that do not establish the first price with the purchasing system, the product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price; and
transmitting, to the retailer, verification information facilitates authorization, by the retailer, of the buyer to take possession of the product, wherein the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the product at the retailer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification