Systems and methods wherein a security deposit facilitates a transaction in which a benefit is applied in exchange for performance of a task

• US 7,908,168 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Kobayashi, Michiko, Golden, Andrew P., Allison, Scott B., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Palmer, Timothy A., Jorasch, James A., Delamater, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Champagne, Luna
• Application Number:
  US12/190,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car. It is also arranged for the customer to provide a security deposit. When the customer performs the task by test driving the car, arrangements are then made to return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a controller device, an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant;

transmitting, based on the indication from the customer, an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit, wherein the task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant;

providing the offer to the customer;

receiving the security deposit from the customer;

applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task by the customer; and

returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after receiving the indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase, determining an amount to associate with the security deposit.

3. The method of claim 2, in which determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprises basing the amount on at least one of information associated with the transaction, information associated with the customer, demographic information, psychographic information, an address, or a credit rating.

4. The method of claim 2, in which determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprises basing the amount on information associated with an indication received from a customer device.

5. The method of claim 2, in which determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprises basing the amount on information associated with at least one item purchased in the transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the security deposit comprises an item owned by the customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the security deposit comprises a reduction of an amount of credit available to the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the security deposit comprises a right that the customer has to receive a payment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the security deposit comprises at least one of providing a partially non-functional item, or a non-functional item to the customer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

verifying that the task was completed; and

transmitting a signal to restore full functionality to the item.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

verifying that the task was completed; and

transmitting a code to the customer for use to restore full functionality to the item.

12. The method of claim 1, in which returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer further comprises adjusting an amount to return based on an evaluation of the performance of the task.

13. The method of claim 1, in which returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer further comprises at least one of arranging for the merchant to provide a payment, arranging for the subsidy provider to provide a payment, or arranging for an escrow service to provide a payment.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the controller, compensation for facilitating the transaction.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction comprises a purchase by the customer of at least one of an item, a product, or a service.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to transmitting the offer, displaying to the customer a plurality of benefits available for application to the transaction for selection by the customer, wherein each of the plurality of benefits is associated with a task to be performed.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a benefit for application to the transaction; and

determining an amount to associate with the security deposit.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit comprises at least one of a subsidy that allows the customer to purchase a first item for a second price that is less than a first price the customer was willing to pay, a supplemental item, a substitute item associated with a third price that is higher than the first price, an amount of alternate currency, an amount of frequent flyer miles, an improved term associated with the transaction, an increase in a bid amount, or an increase in a probability of the customer receiving the first item.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises at least one of a requirement that the customer test drive an automobile, a requirement that the customer apply for a service, a requirement that the customer purchase one or more supplemental items, a requirement that the customer exchange a used item, a requirement that the customer visit a second merchant different than the first merchant, a requirement that the customer agree to receive information, a requirement that the customer dial a telephone number, a requirement that the customer access a web page, or a requirement that the customer provide certain information.

20. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant;

transmit, based on the indication from the customer, an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit, wherein the task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant;

provide the offer to the customer;

receive the security deposit from the customer;

apply the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task by the customer; and

return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, after receiving the indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase, determine an amount to associate with the security deposit.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, in which the instructions for determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to base the amount on at least one of information associated with the transaction, information associated with the customer, demographic information, psychographic information, an address, or a credit rating.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21, in which the instructions for determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to base the amount on information associated with an indication received from a customer device.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21, in which the instructions for determining the amount to associate with the security deposit comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to base the amount on information associated with at least one item purchased in the transaction.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for receiving the security deposit from the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to accept an indication that the customer provided an item owned by the customer.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for receiving the security deposit from the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to reduce an amount of credit available to the customer.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for receiving the security deposit from the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to accept a right that the customer has to receive a payment.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for receiving the security deposit from the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one of a partially non-functional item, or a non-functional item to the customer.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

verify that the task was completed; and

transmit a signal to restore full functionality to the item.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

verify that the task was completed; and

transmit a code to the customer for use to restore full functionality to the item.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to adjust an amount to return based on an evaluation of the performance of the task.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 20, in which the instructions for returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to at least one of arrange for the merchant to provide a payment, arrange for the subsidy provider to provide a payment, or arrange for an escrow service to provide a payment.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to receive an indication of compensation for facilitating the transaction.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to transmitting the offer, transmit instructions to display to the customer a plurality of benefits available for application to the transaction for selection by the customer, wherein each of the plurality of benefits is associated with a task to be performed.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive a selection of a benefit for application to the transaction; and

determine an amount to associate with the security deposit.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

receive an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant;

transmit, based on the indication from the customer, an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit, wherein the task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant;

provide the offer to the customer;

receive the security deposit from the customer;

apply the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task by the customer; and

return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a communication device operatively coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with at least one of a customer device, a merchant device, a subsidy provider device, a benefit provider device, an escrow service device, or a payment device.