PURCHASES USING UNIQUE CODES

• US 20110029409A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard, Borst, Karl Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/873,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

An E-store allows purchase of codes for use on another website. The codes can be redeemed for items or credit on a website different from the site on which they were purchased. This allows obtaining items on the web site without requiring real money or virtual money to be paid for the items. In addition, credits can be awarded using an administrative tool that distributes the credits or a portion thereof based on automatically detected events.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method, comprising:

using a computer for producing a user interface that shows a number of credits, where the credits are units of virtual currency for use on the website, and where said credits are usable to obtain items on a website;

detecting a selection by a supervisory user of a number of credits to be allocated to multiple persons other than the supervisory user; and

using the computer for allocating said credits to said multiple persons other than the supervisory user without logging in as any of said multiple persons.

46. A method as in claim 45, wherein said selection comprises a selection of credits to be allocated in the future, and said allocating automatically occurs at a time subsequent to said selection.

47. A method as in claim 46, wherein said allocating occurs on a specified date.

48. A method as in claim 46, wherein said allocating occurs at specified periods.

49. A method as in claim 46, wherein said allocating occurs when a specified event occurs.

50. A method as in claim 46, wherein said specified event is an action that is confirmed by an external detection.

51. A method as in claim 46, wherein said allocating comprises providing a code indicative of said credits.

52. A method as in claim 45, further comprising obtaining a deluxe membership that provides additional capabilities on said website, and where said deluxe membership periodically allocates an additional number of said credits.

53. A method as in claim 45, wherein said other website includes at least one activity that can only be done a limited number of times per period.

54. A method as in claim 53, wherein said deluxe membership also increases a number of times that said at least one activity can be done.

55. A method as in claim 45, wherein said user interface provides a control for said supervisory user to reallocate credits among said multiple persons.