Automated on-line purchasing system

• US 7,774,239 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Prescott
• Original Assignee: James Prescott
• Inventors: Prescott, James
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNHAM, JASON B
• Application Number:
  US11/548,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An Internet-based purchasing system and associated method, including: (i) a remote terminal for use by a consumer; (ii) an on-line purchasing system, wherein the system further includes a system database in communication with the remote terminal for storing both consumer information and ticket and merchandise information; (iii) a user interface between the remote terminal and the on-line purchasing system for allowing the exchange of information and commands between the remote terminal and the on-line purchasing system; (iv) at least one source system in communication with the on-line purchasing system for allowing vendors of tickets or merchandise to sell items on-line, wherein the source system further includes a source database for storing current ticket and merchandise information; (v) a communication interface between the on-line purchasing system and the source system for allowing data exchange between the systems; (vi) software means for allowing the on-line purchasing system to monitor the source system for current ticket or merchandise information and communicate the information back to the on-line purchasing system; (vii) software means for allowing the on-line purchasing system to execute the purchase of tickets or merchandise from the source system based on the current information; and (viii) software means for allowing the source system to communicate with the remote terminal to indicate the completion of the purchase to the consumer.

Claims

1. An on-line system for executing transactions, comprising:

(a) a remote terminal, wherein the remote terminal is used by a customer to enter customer information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise, and wherein the remote terminal further includes Internet access;

(b) an on-line transaction system, wherein the on-line transaction system further includes;

a server and a system database located on the server, wherein the system database is in communication with the remote terminal and stores customer information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices;

(c) at least one source system in communication with the on-line system for allowing vendors to sell on-line, wherein the source system further comprises a source database for storing current vendor event and merchandise information;

(d) a communications interface between the on-line transaction system and the source system for allowing information exchange between the two systems;

(e) a software program located on the server for allowing the customer to pre-register with the on-line transaction system by entering personal contact information, payment information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise becoming available on-line in the source database, wherein the software program prioritizes the customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise becoming available on-line relative to other customers using the on-line system based on time of the customer pre-registration;

(f) an activity tracking software module located on the server for allowing the on-line transaction system to automatically monitor the source system for current event and merchandise information and communicate the information back to the on-line transaction system;

(g) a check sales status module, programmed to run at predefined intervals to determine if customer pre-registration choice is available on the at least one source system, wherein the check sales status module is located on the server and communicates with the on-line transaction system;

(h) a software purchasing program located on the server for allowing the on-line transaction system to immediately and automatically execute a purchase transaction for the customer based on the check sales status module identifying the customer pre-registration choice is available, wherein a formula is generated in order to execute the purchase at some time variable, just prior to a projected public sale posting to ensure that the transaction take place the moment that the event or merchandise is offered; and

(i) a software program located on the source system for allowing the source system to communicate with the remote terminal to indicate completed transactions to the customer.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a software payment module located on the server for allowing the on-line transaction system and the source system to communicate with a financial institution for the purpose of completing credit card transactions.

3. A method for executing on-line consumer transactions, comprising:

(a) using a remote terminal to access an on-line transaction system, wherein the customers uses the remote terminal to enter customer information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise, wherein the on-line transaction system further comprises a server and a system database, wherein the system database stores customer information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices, wherein the system database is in communication with at least one vendor source system, and wherein the vendor source system further includes a source database containing current information about any available items and events and upcoming items and events that will be available;

(b) using a software program located on the server for allowing a consumer to pre-register with the on-line transaction system by entering personal contact information, payment information, customer event and merchandise preferences, and customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise becoming available on-line in the system database, and wherein the software program prioritizes the customer pre-registration choices of desired events or merchandise becoming available on-line in the system database relative to other consumers using the on-line system based on time of the customer pre-registration;

(c) monitoring the vendor source system for current event and merchandise information using an activity tracking software module located on the server, wherein the activity tracking software communicates available current event and merchandise information to the on-line transaction system;

(d) using a check sales status module programmed to run at predefined intervals to determine if a customer pre-registration choice is currently available on the source system, wherein the check sales status module is located on the server and communicates available customer pre-registration choices to the on-line transaction system;

(e) using the software purchasing program located on the server to immediately and automatically execute a purchase transaction for the customer based on the check sales status module identifying the customer pre-registration choice is available in the at least one vendor source system information concerning current availability and on the consumer'"'"'s desired purchase, wherein a formula is generated in order to execute the purchase at some time variable, just prior to a projected public sale posting to ensure that the transaction take place the moment that the event or merchandise is offered; and

(f) using software means located within the vendor source system to send notification to the remote terminal indicating that a transaction has been completed.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of using a software payment module located on the server to allow the on-line transaction system and the source system to communicate with a financial institution for the purpose of completing a credit card transaction.