Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services

• US 20080215457A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holdit, LLC
• Original Assignee: Optionit Incorporated
• Inventors: Pappas, Christian S., Brown, Charles P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services using plural electronic options with associated option fees based on one or more different pre-determined priority system. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services. An option fee is associated with a reservation price to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future time using a priority system.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic options for goods or services using a priority ordering scheme, comprising:

providing a plurality of electronic options to a plurality of client network devices via a server network device via a computer network for a desired good or service provided by a supplier, wherein the electronic option terms are established by the supplier and wherein the plurality of electronic options are available for purchase via a plurality of pre-determined option fees, and wherein the plurality of electronic options are provided based on a priority ordering scheme;

receiving a pre-determined option fee to purchase an electronic option based on the priority ordering scheme on the server network device via the computer network;

recording the purchase of the electronic option in a database associated with the server network device in a pre-determined priority order for a prioritized group in the priority ordering scheme; and

receiving a request to exercise the purchased electronic option to purchase the desired good or service based on the priority order established for the prioritized group in the priority ordering scheme.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing one or more central processing units to execute the steps of the method.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined priority order includes allowing purchase of electronic options during one or more different pre-determined priority time periods for one or more prioritized groups.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein another larger pre-determined electronic option fee is received to purchase the electronic option, wherein the larger pre-determined electronic option fee is used to obtain a more favorable position in the priority ordering scheme that is used to allow the purchased electronic option to be exercised to purchase the desired good or service.

5. A method for providing electronic options with a plurality of additional components for goods or services using a priority ordering scheme, comprising:

providing a plurality of electronic options to a plurality of client network devices via a server network device via a computer network for a desired good or service provided by a desired supplier, wherein the electronic option terms are established by the desired supplier and wherein the electronic options are available for purchase for a pre-determined option fee with a plurality of additional components provided for the goods or services, wherein a number of the additional components provided decreases over a time period the electronic option is available, wherein the additional components are provided to a purchaser of the additional components at no additional charge as an incentive to purchase the electronic option at an earlier period of time in the priority ordering scheme;

receiving a pre-determined option fee to purchase an electronic option based on the priority ordering scheme on the server network device via the computer network;

recording the purchase of the electronic option in a database associated with the server network device for the priority ordering scheme including any additional components made available; and

receiving a request to exercise the purchased electronic option to purchase the desired good or service including any additional components made available based on the priority ordering scheme.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing one or more central processing units to execute the steps of the method.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the additional components include additional accessories, extended warranties, additional rebates, extended rebate dates, extended return polices for goods purchased with the electronic option.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the additional components include additional service features for services purchased with the electronic option.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the additional components includes a right to modify any of the electronic option terms or any of the terms of purchasing the actual good or service during a time period after purchasing the electronic option.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the priority ordering includes a time priority ordering.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the priority ordering includes a price priority ordering.

12. A system providing electronic options for goods or services using a priority ordering scheme, comprising in combination:

means for providing a plurality of electronic options to a plurality of client network devices via a server network device via a computer network for a desired good or service provided by a supplier, wherein the electronic option terms are established by the supplier and wherein the plurality of electronic options are available for purchase via a plurality of pre-determined option fees, and wherein the plurality of electronic options are provided based on a priority ordering scheme;

means for receiving a pre-determined option fee to purchase an electronic option based on the priority ordering scheme on the server network device via the computer network;

means for recording the purchase of the electronic option in a database associated with the server network device in a pre-determined priority order for the priority ordering scheme; and

means for receiving a request to exercise the purchased electronic option to purchase the desired good or service based on the priority order established for the priority ordering scheme.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the priority ordering scheme includes a time priority ordering scheme with one or more different pre-determined priority time periods for one or more prioritized groups.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the priority ordering scheme includes a time priority ordering scheme with additional components, wherein a number of the additional components provided decreases over a time period the electronic option is available, wherein the additional components are provided to a purchaser of the additional components at no additional charge as an incentive to purchase the electronic option at an earlier period of time in the priority ordering scheme.