Remittance Method and System for Services

• US 20080010213A1
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Experiential Payment Technologies Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quantum Corporation of New York Incorporated (Chi Ko Investment Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roth, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/065
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

Tokens containing a unique identification code that allow admission or access to entertainment or personal services are sold and distributed. A seller-distributor node oil a global computer network affects transactions that exchange tokens for payment. The tokens represent remittance for services provided by a plurality of service providers. For each token obtained through the seller-distributor node, the system allows a variable rate of redemption at the plurality of service providers upon use by the token (ticket) holder. The token (ticket) holder/user selects which one of the plurality of service providers to request remittance for services at the respective service provider'"'"'s rates. Different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some of the service providers. Rendering of the token enables remittance for service by the ticket holder/user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate. The token may be in the form of an electronic ticket, a bar code, an email message, an electronic message, a code number or machine readable data/code.

Claims

1. A remittance for services method comprising:

enabling a seller-distributor node on a global computer network to affect transactions that exchange tokens for payment, the tokens representing remittance for services provided by a plurality of service providers; and

for each token obtained through the seller-distributor node, affecting variable rate redemption of the token by a user at any one of the plurality of service providers upon user request, the user selecting which one of the plurality of service providers to request remittance for services and each service provider of the plurality setting respective rates of his services, such that different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some of the service providers, the token enabling remittance for service by the user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the services provided by the plurality of service providers is any of movie showings, a spectator sport session, a participatory sport session, a concert, an entertainment session and a leisure session.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the service of the selected service provider has a certain seating limit per date and time.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the token may be any one or combination of an electronic ticket, a bar code, an email message, an electronic message, a code number and machine readable data.

2. A method as claimed in claim I wherein the seller-distributor node is provided by one of a venue owner, a ticket agent, a distributor of a service provider of the plurality of service providers, and one or more of the service providers.

6. A method as claimed in claim I wherein the user redeems the token by any of:

downloading to the selected service provider, transmitting by facsimile, communicating by electronic mail and electronically rendering the token to the selected service provider.

7. A remittance for services system comprising:

a node on a global computer network affecting transactions that exchange tokens for payment, the tokens representing remittance for services provided by a plurality of service providers;

a token manager responsive to the tokens obtained through the node, the token manager affecting variable rate redemption of each token by a respective user at any one of the plurality of service providers upon user request, the user selecting one of the plurality of service providers to request remittance for services and each service provider of the plurality setting respective rates of his services, such that different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some service providers, the token enabling remittance for service by the user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the node is provided by one of a venue owner, a ticket agent, a distributor of a service provider of the plurality of service providers, and one or more of the service providers.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein services provided by the plurality of service providers is any of movie showings, a participatory sport session, a spectator sport event, a concert, an entertainment session and a leisure session.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein service of the selected service provider has a certain seating limit per date and time.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the token may be any one or combination of an electronic ticket, a bar code, an electronic message, an email message, a code number and a set of machine readable code.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the user redeems the token by any of:

downloading to the selected service provider, transmitting by facsimile, communicating by electronic mail and electronically rendering the token to the selected service provider.

13. Computer apparatus for providing remittance for services comprising:

computer node means for affecting transactions that exchange tokens for payment, the tokens representing remittance for services provided by a plurality of service providers;

redemption means for affecting variable rate redemption of each token via a respective user at any one of the plurality of service providers upon user request, the user selecting which one of the plurality of service providers to request remittance for services and each service provider of the plurality setting respective rates of his services such that different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some service providers, the token enabling remittance for service by the user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate.

14. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the computer node means is provided by one of a venue owner, a ticket agent, a distributor of a service provider of the plurality of service providers, and one or more of the service providers.

15. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein services provided by the plurality of service providers is any of movie showings, a participatory sport session, a spectator sport event, a concert, an entertainment session and a leisure session.

16. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein service of the selected service provider has a certain seating limit per date and time.

17. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the token may be any one or combination of an electronic ticket, a bar code, an email message, an electronic message, a code number and a set of machine readable code.

18. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the user redeems the token by any of:

downloading to the selected service provider, transmitting by facsimile, communicating by electronic mail and electronically rendering the token to the selected service provider.

19. A computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having a computer readable program;

the computer readable program when executed by a digital processor causes;

a seller-distributor node on a global computer network to affect transactions that exchange tokens for payment, the tokens representing remittance for services provided by a plurality of service providers; and

for each token obtained through the seller-distributor node, a variable rate redemption of the token by a user at any one of the plurality of service providers upon user request, the user selecting which one of the plurality of service providers to request remittance for services and each service provider of the plurality setting respective rates of his services, such that different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some of the service providers, the token enabling remittance for service by the user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate.

20. A computer program product as claimed in claim 19 wherein:

the token may be any one or combination of an electronic ticket, a bar code, an email message, an electronic message, a code number and machine readable data; and

the user redeems the token by any of;

downloading to the selected service provider, transmitting by facsimile, communicating by electronic mail and electronically rendering the token to the selected service provider.