Settlement systems and methods wherein a buyer takes possession at a retailer of a product purchased using a communication network

• US 7,039,603 B2
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: LEVITAN, IAN, Tedesco, Daniel E., Mik, Magdalena, Van Luchene, Andrew S., Otto, Jonothan, Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US09/348,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,491 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/44, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 705/37, 705/21
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• 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 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Settlement systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a product at a retailer. In one embodiment, a purchasing system arranges through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a product from a seller at a first price. The purchasing system also arranges for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer that offers the product for sale at a second price. Payment of an amount based on the first price is received from the buyer, and the purchasing system arranges for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

Claims

1. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

arranging through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retailer that offers the product for sale at a second price, wherein the retailer is not the seller;

receiving from the buyer a payment of an amount based on the first price; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the settlement price is based on the second price.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the settlement price is equal to the second price.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the settlement price is a percentage of the second price.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the settlement price is more than the second price.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the settlement price is further based on a commission amount.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the settlement price is not solely a function of the second price.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the settlement price is not based on the second price.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving payment from the buyer comprises charging a financial account associated with the buyer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the payment is received at a tune based on when the purchasing system arranges for the buyer to purchase the product.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the payment is received at a time based on when the buyer takes possession of the product at the retailer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving payment comprises receiving payment of an amount based on the first price plus a penalty amount.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the penalty amount is imposed when the buyer has not took possession of the product from the retailer within a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the penalty amount is based on a cost associated with shipping the product to the buyer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises:

receiving a buyer offer, including a buyer-defined first price and information about the product, from the buyer; and

determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information about the product includes at least one of:

a product category;

a product class;

a product feature;

a product manufacturer; and

a product identifier.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the buyer offer includes a payment identifier.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said determining comprises at least one of:

(i) sending information about the buyer offer to at least one seller; and

(ii) locally determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first price is set by the seller.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first price is set by the buyer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first price is set by the purchasing system.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises evaluating at least one of:

the first price;

the settlement price;

a seller price;

a subsidy amount;

a commission amount; and

a minimum acceptable price.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said evaluation further comprises evaluating a minimum profit amount.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said evaluation comprises comparing the minimum profit amount to the first price less the settlement price.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said evaluation comprises comparing the minimum profit amount to the first price and the subsidy amount less the settlement price.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the minimum profit amount is a negative amount.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises selecting at least one product from a plurality of possible products.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises selecting at least one retailer from a plurality of possible retailers.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises selecting a plurality of retailers.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said evaluation comprises:

comparing the first price with a minimum acceptable price; and

comparing the minimum profit amount to the first price and the subsidy amount less the settlement price.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product is only performed if(i) first price is at least equal to the minimum acceptable price;

and (ii) the minimum profit amount is at least equal to the first price and the subsidy amount less the settlement price.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises arranging for the seller to sell the product to the buyer at a seller price.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said arranging for the seller to sell the product further comprises evaluating a minimum acceptable price below which a product will not be sold.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the minimum acceptable price is set by the seller.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the minimum acceptable price is set by the purchasing system.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the first price is not equal to the seller price.

37. The method of claim 33, comprising exchanging payment of a seller amount with the seller, the seller amount being based on the first price and the settlement price.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises sending redemption information to buyer.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises:

receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to take possession of the product; and

sending to the retailer a verification authorizing the buyer to take possession of the product.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the retailer to receive payment of the settlement price comprises paying the settlement price to the retailer.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product comprises selecting a plurality of retailers and the settlement price is paid to the retailer at which the buyer took possession of the product.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises arranging for a seller to sell the product to the buyer, and said arranging for the retailer to receive payment of the settlement price comprises arranging for the retailer to receive payment of the settlement price from the seller.

43. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving payment of a subsidy amount from a subsidy provider.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the subsidy provider comprises at least one of:

a manufacturer of the product;

a seller of the product;

the retailer; and

a third party subsidy provider.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises arranging for a product manufacturer to sell the product to the buyer at a seller price, and said receiving payment of a subsidy amount comprises adjusting a seller amount exchanged with the manufacturer.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the product comprises arranging for the retailer to sell the product to the buyer at a seller price, and said receiving payment of a subsidy amount comprises adjusting the settlement price paid to the retailer.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the subsidy amount is variable and further includes a maximum subsidy amount.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the subsidy amount is associated with a plurality of transactions performed by the purchasing system.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving payment of a commission amount from a commission provider.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the commission provider comprises at least one of:

a manufacturer of the product;

a seller of the product;

the retailer; and

the buyer.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the commission amount is based on at least one of:

a predetermined amount;

a percentage of the first price;

a percentage of the settlement price; and

a percentage of a seller price.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein said receiving payment of the commission amount comprises adjusting at least one of:

the first price;

the settlement price; and

a seller amount exchanged with a seller.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the settlement price is not equal to the second price.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the first price is not equal to the second price.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the first price is not equal to the settlement price.

56. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsidizing the purchase of the product.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the purchasing system subsidizes the purchase of the product based on at least one of:

subsidies provided to other buyers;

past subsidies provided to the buyer; and

a maximum purchasing system subsidy amount.

58. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchasing system arranges for a plurality of buyers to take possession of a plurality of products at the retailer.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the purchasing system arranges for the retailer to receive a payment corresponding to each settlement price as each of the plurality of products is provided.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the purchasing system arranges for the retailer to receive a payment corresponding to a plurality of settlement prices after the retailer has provided a plurality of products.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for a buyer to purchase a product comprises evaluating at least one of:

the first price;

the settlement price;

a seller price;

a subsidy amount;

a commission amount; and

a minimum acceptable price.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending to the retailer verification information comprises:

sending redemption information to the buyer;

receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to take possession of the product; and

sending to the retailer a verification authorizing the buyer to take possession of the product.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the redemption information and the information related to an attempt to take possession of the product comprise a redemption code.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the redemption code is a pseudo payment identifier.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the pseudo payment identifier is one of a pseudo:

credit card number;

debit card number; and

banking account number.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the pseudo payment identifier is uniquely associated with the purchase of the product by the buyer.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said receiving from the retailer the pseudo payment identifier comprises receiving the identifier through a credit card processing system.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the pseudo payment identifier is provided on a voucher, and the retailer sends the voucher to the purchasing system as a record of charge.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein said arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer further comprises adjusting a spending limit associated with the pseudo payment identifier.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said adjusting a spending limit comprises establishing a minimum spending amount and a maximum spending amount based on the settlement price.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the information related to an attempt to take possession of the product comprises a purchase price and said sending a verification is only performed if the purchase price is more than the minimum spending amount and less than the maximum spending amount.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein said adjusting comprises adjusting the spending limit based on one of:

the second price;

the settlement price; and

the first price.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said adjusting is further based on one of:

a penalty amount; and

a tax amount.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein said adjusting is based on one of (i) an average;

and (ii) the highest of a plurality of settlement prices or retail prices associated with the product.

80. The method of claim 74, wherein the spending limit is re-adjusted when the buyer takes possession of the product at the retailer.

81. The method of claim 67, wherein the information received from the retailer comprises:

a sixteen digit pseudo credit card number, including four digits associated with the purchasing system and twelve digits associated with the buyer'"'"'s purchase of the product; and

an expiration date.

82. The method of claim 67, wherein said receiving payment of the buyer price from the buyer is only performed after said sending of the verification to the retailer.

83. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

receiving, after the verification is sent to the retailer, payment of a subsidy amount from a subsidy provider.

61. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

receiving, from a buyer through a communication network, information about a product to be purchased from a seller at a first price;

receiving payment based on the first price from the buyer;

arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer that offers the product for sale at a second price, wherein the retailer is not the seller;

sending to the retailer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the product; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of a settlement puce in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the received information comprises a buyer offer, the first price is a buyer-defined price, and the information about the product includes at least one of:

a product category;

a product class;

a product feature; and

a payment identifier.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said determining comprises at least one of:

(i) sending information about the buyer offer to at least one seller; and

(ii) locally determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

receiving a subsidy amount from a subsidy provider, wherein the subsidy amount is at least equal to the difference between the first price and the settlement price.

84. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

receiving, from a buyer through a communication network, a buyer offer, including information about a product to be purchased, a first price and a payment identifier;

determining if the buyer offer will be accepted by evaluating at least one of;

the first price, a settlement price to be paid to a retailer in exchange for providing the product to the buyer, a seller price to be paid to a seller of the product, a subsidy amount to be paid by a subsidy provider, a commission amount to be paid by a commission provider, and a minimum acceptable price;

receiving from the buyer payment of the first price using the payment identifier;

sending a pseudo payment identifier to the buyer;

receiving the pseudo payment identifier from the retailer;

sending to the retailer a verification authorizing the buyer to take possession of the product; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of the settlement price.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

adjusting a spending limit associated with the pseudo payment identifier when the pseudo payment identifier is sent to the buyer; and

re-adjusting the spending limit when the buyer takes possession of the product at the retailer.

86. A purchasing system device, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

arrange through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price;

receive from the buyer a payment of an amount based on the first price; and

arrange for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

87. A purchasing system apparatus, comprising:

means for arranging through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price;

means for receiving from the buyer a payment of an amount based on the first price; and

means for arranging for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

88. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for operating a purchasing system, said method comprising:

arranging through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price;

receiving from the buyer a payment of an amount based on the first price; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

89. A method of using a purchasing system, comprising:

arranging with the purchasing system, through a communication network, to purchase a product from a seller at a first price;

paying an amount based on the first price to the purchasing system;

receiving redemption information from the purchasing system;

providing the redemption information to a retailer that offers the product for sale at a second price; and

taking possession of the product at the retailer.

90. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

arranging through a communication network for a buyer to render payment equal to a first price, through the communication network, to a seller for a product, the product being offered for sale by the seller for the first price;

arranging for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer that offers the product for sale at a second price; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the settlement price is the first price when the seller is the retailer.

92. The method of claim 90, further comprising:

determining if the seller is the retailer.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the seller is a party other than the retailer and the settlement price is based on the second price.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the seller is the retailer and the settlement price is based on the first price.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein the seller is the retailer and the settlement price is based on the second price.

96. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

arranging through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retail that offers the product for sale at a second price, wherein the retailer is not the seller;

arranging for the buyer to provide to the retailer a payment of an amount based on the first price; and

arranging for the retailer to receive payment of an amount based on a difference between the first price and a settlement price in exchange for providing the product to the buyer.

97. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising:

arranging through a communication network for a buyer to (i) purchase a product from a seller at a first price, and (ii) take possession of the product at a retail that offers the product for sale at a second price, wherein the retailer is not the seller;

determining if the second price is less than the first price; and

if the second price is less than the first price, arranging for the buyer to purchase the product from the seller at no more than the second price.