Online Marketplace for Sale of Discounted Stated Value Vouchers Redeemable by Vendors
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor'"'"'s inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:
- receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor'"'"'s commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of items from the vendor'"'"'s inventory;
operating the marketplace server computer to maintain a website for displaying at a bidder'"'"'s computing device a for-sale listing identifying a stated value voucher available for sale but omitting information identifying any pending bids, and for accepting the bidder'"'"'s bid for at least one stated value voucher;
referencing at the marketplace server computer a predetermined rule for accepting a bid for sale of a stated value voucher;
approving at the marketplace server computer sale of a respective stated value voucher to a corresponding bidder for each bid acceptable according to the rule; and
tendering the respective stated value voucher to each corresponding bidder for each approved sale.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marketplace server computer for sale of stated value vouchers via an online marketplace. The vouchers are presented in a particular manner allowing for effective inventory management using rule-based approval of sales. The method involves receiving a vendor'"'"'s commitment to sell vouchers, and maintaining a website for displaying a for-sale listing identifying the vouchers. Sales of vouchers are approved in accordance with predetermined rules, which rules may be changed by the vendor over time, and during a single for-sale listing of a single lot of vouchers. The for-sale listing may identify a maximum number of vouchers for sale, although more than the maximum number may be sold. Each buyer is thus encouraged to provide a buyer-specific highest acceptable bid for a voucher, and the vendor thus provides a buyer-specific discount that is the minimum acceptable discount for each particular buyer, provide that such bid is acceptable to the vendor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor'"'"'s inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:
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receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor'"'"'s commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of items from the vendor'"'"'s inventory; operating the marketplace server computer to maintain a website for displaying at a bidder'"'"'s computing device a for-sale listing identifying a stated value voucher available for sale but omitting information identifying any pending bids, and for accepting the bidder'"'"'s bid for at least one stated value voucher; referencing at the marketplace server computer a predetermined rule for accepting a bid for sale of a stated value voucher; approving at the marketplace server computer sale of a respective stated value voucher to a corresponding bidder for each bid acceptable according to the rule; and tendering the respective stated value voucher to each corresponding bidder for each approved sale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21)
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12. A computer-implemented method for managing a vendor'"'"'s inventory of items for sale, said method being computer-implemented by a marketplace server computer having a microprocessor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the microprocessor, the method comprising:
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receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor'"'"'s commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value, each stated value voucher being redeemable by the vendor in the amount of the stated cash value for purchase of items from the vendor'"'"'s inventory; receiving at the marketplace server computer the vendor'"'"'s identification of a minimum bid acceptable to the vendor for sale of a stated value voucher, the vendor providing varying instructions from time to time; transmitting from the marketplace server computer data for causing display at a bidder'"'"'s computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a specified number of the stated value vouchers available for sale; receiving at the marketplace server computer a plurality of bids for the stated value vouchers from a plurality of bidders'"'"' computing devices; comparing at the marketplace server computer each of the plurality of bids to the vendor'"'"'s current time-variant minimum acceptable bid; approving at the marketplace server computer sale of a stated value voucher to the corresponding bidder for each bid exceeding a current minimum acceptable bid, a collective number of approved sales exceeding the specified number of stated value vouchers for sale; and tendering a respective stated value voucher to each respective bidder for each approved sale. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22)
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20. A computer program product comprising instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium, the instructions being executable by a microprocessor of a marketplace server computer to cause the marketplace server computer to:
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receive a vendor'"'"'s commitment to sell stated value vouchers having a stated cash value; receive, from time to time, the vendor'"'"'s identification of a minimum bid acceptable to the vendor for sale of a stated value voucher; transmit data for causing display at a bidder'"'"'s computing device of a for-sale listing identifying a specified number of the stated value vouchers available for sale; receive a plurality of bids for the stated value vouchers from a plurality of bidders'"'"' computing devices; compare each of the plurality of bids to the vendor'"'"'s current time-variant minimum acceptable bid; approve sale of a stated value voucher to the corresponding bidder for each bid exceeding a current minimum acceptable bid; and authorize tendering of a respective stated value voucher to each respective bidder for each approved sale.
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Specification