Method and apparatus for providing cross-benefits via a central authority
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site;
selecting, by a controller in communication with at least one vendor server, a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies;
transmitting, by the controller in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased;
receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer;
receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor;
providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor,in which the second amount of funds is based on the first amount of funds; and
facilitating, via the controller, a transaction between the customer and the second vendor.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller is in communication with a plurality of vendors that are servicing customers, as well as with a plurality of “subsidizing” vendors seeking access to those customers. The controller receives from a first vendor an indication of one or more items that a customer is to purchase. In response, the controller transmits, on behalf of a subsidizing vendor, an indication of an offer for a subsidy such as a reduction in the customer'"'"'s purchase price. If the customer accepts the offer, the controller provides an amount of funds from the subsidizing vendor to the first vendor. The controller may also retain a portion of the amount as payment. The controller also facilitates a transaction between the customer and the subsidizing vendor. For example, the customer may be required to sign up for a service (e.g. credit card account service) that is provided by the subsidizing vendor. By having the controller manage such a system by acting between subsidizing vendors and vendors that are servicing customers, a vendor need only communicate with the controller, rather than a plurality of other vendors.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site; selecting, by a controller in communication with at least one vendor server, a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting, by the controller in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor, in which the second amount of funds is based on the first amount of funds; and facilitating, via the controller, a transaction between the customer and the second vendor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
2. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site; selecting, by a controller in communication with at least one vendor server, a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting, by the controller in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor, in which the second amount of funds is derived directly or indirectly from the first amount of funds; and facilitating, via the controller, a transaction between the customer and the second vendor, in which the second amount of funds is based on a price associated with the purchase.
-
-
3. A method, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site; selecting, by a controller in communication with at least one vendor server, a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting, by the controller in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor, in which the second amount of funds is derived directly or indirectly from the first amount of funds; and facilitating, via the controller, a transaction between the customer and the second vendor, determining the second amount of funds based on a price associated with the purchase.
-
-
4. A data storage device storing instructions that when performed by a processor direct the processor to perform:
-
receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site; selecting, by a controller in communication with at least one vendor server, a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting, by the controller in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor, in which the second amount of funds is based on the first amount of funds; and facilitating, via the controller, a transaction between the customer and the second vendor.
-
-
5. An apparatus comprising:
-
a processor; and a data storage device in communication with the processor, the data storage device storing instructions that when performed by the processor direct the processor to perform; receiving an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a first vendor via a web site; selecting a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor, in which the second amount of funds is based on the first amount of funds; and facilitating a transaction between the customer and the second vendor.
-
-
6. A system comprising:
-
at least one vendor server; at least one subsidizing vendor server; and a controller in communication with the at least one vendor server and with the at least one subsidizing vendor server, the controller comprising a data storage device storing instructions that when performed by the controller direct the controller to perform; receiving from a vendor server associated with a first vendor an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from the first vendor; selecting a subsidy from a plurality of subsidies; transmitting to the vendor server, in response to the received indication of the at least one item, an indication of an offer for the subsidy from a second vendor, the step of transmitting an indication of the offer being performed before the at least one item is purchased; receiving from the vendor server an indication that the customer accepts the offer; receiving a first amount of funds from the second vendor via a subsidizing vendor server associated with the second vendor; providing a second amount of funds to the first vendor via the vendor server, in which the second amount of funds is based on the first amount of funds; and facilitating a transaction between the customer and the second vendor.
-
Specification