Method and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce transactions using electronic tokens
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for conducting electronic commerce transactions with a merchant comprising:
- receiving a request for an electronic commerce transaction with a vendor from a user using a client device;
registering the user with the vendor;
determining whether the user has adequate funds to finance the purchase of electronic tokens from the vendor, the electronic tokens being issued and redeemable by the vendor, each of the electronic tokens having a predetermined nominal value;
selling electronic tokens to the user responsive to the determination of whether the user has sufficient funds;
storing the purchased electronic tokens in a user account with the vendor;
determining whether the user has a sufficient number of electronic tokens in the user account to cover a purchase of at least one of a plurality of products or services offered by the vendor;
enabling the user to order at least one of the plurality of products or services offered by the vendor if a determination is made that the user'"'"'s account balance contains a sufficient number of electronic tokens;
enabling the user to make a purchase selection from amongst the plurality of products or services offered by the vendor, the purchase price being set at an integer multiple of the electronic tokens;
transmitting a confirmation to the user summarizing the electronic commerce transaction; and
electronically delivering the purchase selection to the user;
wherein the receiving, determining, selling, storing, enabling, transmitting, and delivering are each performed by a server computer of the vendor.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce using electronic tokens are described. The electronic tokens are issued and maintained by a vendor, who also provides products and services that can be purchased or rented using the electronic tokens. The electronic tokens may be purchased from the vendor either on-line, using a credit card, or off-line, using a check, money order, purchase order, or other payment means. Because the vendor is the issuer of the electronic tokens, there is no need for transactions to be handled by a third party, such as a bank or other organization. This reduces the overhead involved in conducting electronic commerce, and provides the vendor with a greater amount of control. Additionally, the vendor maintains total control over the price of the electronic tokens at any time. For vendors who offer software products for sale or rental, use of electronic tokens makes a variety of rental arrangements practical including rental for short periods of time, for a specific number of uses, or for a specific number of processing.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for conducting electronic commerce transactions with a merchant comprising:
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receiving a request for an electronic commerce transaction with a vendor from a user using a client device; registering the user with the vendor; determining whether the user has adequate funds to finance the purchase of electronic tokens from the vendor, the electronic tokens being issued and redeemable by the vendor, each of the electronic tokens having a predetermined nominal value; selling electronic tokens to the user responsive to the determination of whether the user has sufficient funds; storing the purchased electronic tokens in a user account with the vendor; determining whether the user has a sufficient number of electronic tokens in the user account to cover a purchase of at least one of a plurality of products or services offered by the vendor; enabling the user to order at least one of the plurality of products or services offered by the vendor if a determination is made that the user'"'"'s account balance contains a sufficient number of electronic tokens; enabling the user to make a purchase selection from amongst the plurality of products or services offered by the vendor, the purchase price being set at an integer multiple of the electronic tokens; transmitting a confirmation to the user summarizing the electronic commerce transaction; and electronically delivering the purchase selection to the user; wherein the receiving, determining, selling, storing, enabling, transmitting, and delivering are each performed by a server computer of the vendor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for conducting electronic commerce transactions with a vendor comprising:
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registering a user with the vendor; determining whether the user has adequate funds to finance the purchase of electronic tokens from the vendor, the electronic tokens being issued and redeemable by the vendor, each of the electronic tokens having a predetermined nominal value; selling electronic tokens to the user responsive to the determined adequacy of funds; storing the electronic tokens in a user account with the vendor; receiving a request for information regarding a selected one of plurality of products or services offered by a the vendor from a user using a client device; receiving a request from the user to make a purchase selection from amongst the plurality of products or services offered by the vendor; determining whether the user has a sufficient number of electronic tokens in the user account to cover a purchase of at least one of a plurality of products or services offered by the vendor, the purchase price being set at an integer multiple of the electronic tokens; enabling the user using the client device to order a plurality of products or services offered by the vendor if a determination is made that the user'"'"'s account balance contains a sufficient number of electronic tokens; transmitting a confirmation to the user summarizing the electronic commerce transaction; and electronically delivering the purchase selection to the user; wherein the receiving, determining, enabling, transmitting, and delivering are each performed by a vendor server computer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification