SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMER PURCHASE AND FUTURE DISTRIBUTED DELIVERY OF COMMODITY AT PREDETERMINED PRICES
First Claim
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1. A method for providing commodity price protection to individual consumers, comprising:
- requiring a consumer to pay a provider an amount in exchange for a right to take physical delivery on a quantity of a commodity at an agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within a specified period without being affected by price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the specified period ends at an expiration date;
exposing the provider to unlimited upward risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period;
exposing the consumer to unlimited downside risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period;
specifying that the right to take the physical delivery on the quantity of the commodity at the agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within the specified period is not transferable, assignable, or marketable;
requiring the consumer to take the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity before and by the expiration date;
allowing the consumer discretion as to time and location of the physical delivery; and
where the consumer has not taken the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity upon the expiration date, providing the consumer with a plurality of regulatory-compliant solutions.
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a unique methodology as well as the overall architecture necessary to implement the methodology that can enable an entity to create and provide a consumer price protection product under the Forward Contract Exception of the Commodity Exchange Act. Even consumers who do not meet commodity-related regulation requirements such as the Eligible Contract Participant regulatory requirements may purchase such a consumer price protection product or a variation thereof to reduce or cancel out the risk or at least reduce the unpredictability in purchasing commodities such as motor fuels.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing commodity price protection to individual consumers, comprising:
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requiring a consumer to pay a provider an amount in exchange for a right to take physical delivery on a quantity of a commodity at an agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within a specified period without being affected by price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the specified period ends at an expiration date; exposing the provider to unlimited upward risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period; exposing the consumer to unlimited downside risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period; specifying that the right to take the physical delivery on the quantity of the commodity at the agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within the specified period is not transferable, assignable, or marketable; requiring the consumer to take the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity before and by the expiration date; allowing the consumer discretion as to time and location of the physical delivery; and where the consumer has not taken the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity upon the expiration date, providing the consumer with a plurality of regulatory-compliant solutions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable storage medium carrying program instructions executable by a processor to:
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enable a consumer to pay a provider an amount in exchange for a right specified in a consumer price protection contract to take physical delivery on a quantity of a commodity at an agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within a specified period without being affected by price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the specified period ends at an expiration date, wherein the consumer price protection contract exposes the provider to unlimited upward risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the consumer price protection contract exposes the consumer to unlimited downside risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the consumer price protection contract specifies that the right to take the physical delivery on the quantity of the commodity at the agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within the specified period is not transferable, assignable, or marketable, wherein the consumer price protection contract requires the consumer to take the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity before and by the expiration date, and wherein the consumer price protection contract allows the consumer discretion as to time and location of the physical delivery; allow the consumer to monitor a usage of the quantity of the commodity via a Website maintained by the provider; and provide the consumer with a plurality of regulatory-compliant solutions via the Website where the consumer has not taken the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity upon the expiration date. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing commodity price protection to individual consumers, comprising:
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a processor; a computer-readable storage medium accessible by the processor and carrying program instructions executable by the processor to; enable a consumer to pay a provider an amount in exchange for a right specified in a consumer price protection contract to take physical delivery on a quantity of a commodity at an agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within a specified period without being affected by price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the specified period ends at an expiration date, wherein the consumer price protection contract exposes the provider to unlimited upward risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the consumer price protection contract exposes the consumer to unlimited downside risk of the price fluctuations associated with the commodity during the specified period, wherein the consumer price protection contract specifies that the right to take the physical delivery on the quantity of the commodity at the agreed price per unit of the commodity at any time within the specified period is not transferable, assignable, or marketable, wherein the consumer price protection contract requires the consumer to take the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity before and by the expiration date, and wherein the consumer price protection contract allows the consumer discretion as to time and location of the physical delivery; allow the consumer to monitor a usage of the quantity of the commodity via a Website maintained by the provider; and provide the consumer with a plurality of regulatory-compliant solutions via the Website where the consumer has not taken the physical delivery of the quantity of the commodity upon the expiration date. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification