Methods and apparatus wherein a buyer arranges to purchase a first product using a communication network and subsequently takes possession of a substitute product at a retailer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a retailer system, comprising:
- receiving product redemption information, the product redemption information enabling a buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer, wherein the buyer takes possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system; and
determining, by a computing device, a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product.
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Abstract
Purchasing system methods and apparatus are provided wherein a buyer purchases a first product through a purchasing system, such as by submitting a buyer offer. A retailer receives product redemption information from a buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the first product. The retailer determines a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product. The determination may be based on information contained in the buyer offer, such as a product category, a product class and one or more product features.
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Citations
89 Claims
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1. A method of operating a retailer system, comprising:
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receiving product redemption information, the product redemption information enabling a buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer, wherein the buyer takes possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system; and
determining, by a computing device, a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of operating a retailer system, comprising:
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receiving product redemption information from a buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system;
determining if the first product is available to be provided to the buyer, determining a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product;
sending to the purchasing system information about an attempt to provide the substitute product to the buyer;
receiving from the purchasing system verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the substitute product; and
providing the substitute product to the buyer. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a first product from a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to provide a substitute product to the buyer; and
sending to the retailer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the substitute product. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a first product from a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving from the retailer a request to offer a substitute product to the buyer;
determining if the retailer request will be approved; and
sending to the retailer information approving the request to offer the substitute product to the buyer. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a first product from a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving a request to identify a substitute product;
determining a substitute product to provide to the buyer; and
sending to the retailer information about the substitute product. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase one of a plurality of products from a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of one of the plurality of products at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to provide to the buyer a particular product of the plurality of products; and
sending to the retailer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the particular product.
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82. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a type of product from a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the type of product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to provide to the buyer a particular product; and
sending to the retailer verification information authorizing the buyer to take possession of the particular product.
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83. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:
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receiving a buyer offer through a communication network, including a buyer-defined price and product requirements, from the buyer;
determining if the buyer offer will be accepted by a seller;
sending product redemption information to the buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of a product in accordance with the product requirements, wherein the buyer takes possession of the product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, the buyer had purchased the first product from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the seller;
receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to provide a product to the buyer; and
sending to the retailer verification information authorizing the buyer to take possession of the product. - View Dependent Claims (84)
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85. A retailer system device, comprising:
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a processor; and
a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;
receive product redemption information from a buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system; and
determine a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product.
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86. A retailer system apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving product redemption information from a buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system; and
means for determining a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product.
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87. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for operating a retailer system, said method comprising:
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receiving product redemption information from a buyer, the product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of a first product, purchased by the buyer through a purchasing system, at a retailer that is a different entity from the purchasing system, wherein the buyer had purchased the first product through the purchasing system by establishing with the purchasing system a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product through the purchasing system, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and the buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system; and
determining a substitute product to provide to the buyer, the substitute product being different than the first product.
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88. A method of using a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network to purchase a first product from a seller;
receiving product redemption information, the product redemption information enabling a buyer to take possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the first product had been purchased from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and a payment, based on the first price, is provided to the seller;
providing the product redemption information to the retailer; and
taking possession of a substitute product at the retailer.
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89. A method of using a purchasing system, comprising:
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arranging through a communication network to purchase a first product from a seller;
receiving product redemption information, the product redemption information enabling a buyer to take possession of the first product at a retailer that is a different entity from the seller, wherein the first product is purchased from the seller by establishing with the seller a first price for the product, the retailer offers, to buyers who do not purchase the first product from the seller, the first product for sale at a second price that is different than the first price, and a payment, based on the first price, is provided to the seller;
providing a request to take possession of a substitute product; and
taking possession of the substitute product at the retailer.
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Specification