System and method for renting or purchasing goods via a communications network

• US 7,590,546 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Inventors: Chuang, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUHL, DENNIS WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/691,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer implemented method for offering items for sale or rent. The method includes providing a user with the choice of renting or purchasing an item. The rental price and purchase price for the item are displayed. A user command to rent an item is received.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing inventory of a disk rental system comprising:

generating a user queue data structure comprising;

a list of ordered disk identifiers associated with user selected disks;

a status identifier for each disk identifier, the status identifiers including a checked out status, available status, and unavailable status;

maintaining a database of user queue data structures corresponding to a plurality of users;

generating an optimized purchase price for a disk identifier with a checked out status comprising searching the database of user queue data structures to identify the frequency of appearance of the disk identifier in all user queue data structures; and

storing the optimized purchase price in the user queue data structure and displaying the optimized purchase price to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user request to purchase a disk identifier with a checked out status; and

sending a query to the user determining whether the user wishes to receive additional packaging associated with the disk identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and sending an email notification to a user containing an optimized purchase price for a disk with a checked out status identifier.

4. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for managing inventory of a web-based disk rental system comprising, comprising:

generating a user queue data structure comprising;

a list of ordered disk identifiers associated with user selected disks; and

a status identifier for each disk identifier, the status identifiers including a checked out status, available status, and unavailable status;

maintaining a database of user queue data structures corresponding to a plurality of users;

generating an optimized purchase price for a disk identifier with a checked out status comprising searching the database of user queue data structures to identify the frequency of appearance of the disk identifier in all user queue data structures; and

storing the optimized purchase price in the user queue data structure and displaying the optimized purchase price to the user.