Electronic quantity purchasing system
First Claim
1. A method of electronically transacting purchase and redemption of at least one tangible commodity which comprises:
- a) providing a computer-based system for purchasing tangible commodities over a communication network and which computer-based system includes a computer database containing commodity information concerning at least one product which may be purchased at a current time purchase price, and which purchase price is posted and locked-in at time of purchase, for at least partial redemption at a future date;
b) establishing, using the computer-based system, an account for the purchaser;
c) establishing, using the computer-based system, an account balance for each commodity in quantity units;
d) authorizing, using the computer-based system, the purchaser to purchase a quantity of at least one tangible commodity from the electronic system;
e) electronically accessing, using the computer-based system, the electronic system for purchaser transactions;
f) performing, using the computer-based system, a purchaser transaction including purchasing from said computer database a first purchase quantity of a selected tangible commodity at the current time purchase price reflected in said computer database for redemption of at least a portion of the first purchase quantity of the selected commodity at a future date at the locked-in purchase price;
g) summing, using the computer-based system, the first purchase quantity with the account balance to provide a current account balance in said account for the purchaser in the computer database for the selected commodity;
h) storing, using the computer-based system, data in said computer database for the current account balance in an electronically accessible format;
i) performing, using the computer-based system, a purchaser transaction including redeeming at least a portion of the current account balance of the selected commodity;
j) adjusting, using the computer-based system, the current account balance to reflect the redeemed portion of the selected commodity;
k) using the computer-based system, identifying a zone for redemption from the account balance of each commodity, identifying at least another zone of redemption, and converting at least a portion of the account balance of at least one commodity to an account balance for the another zone of redemption;
l) repeating, using the computer-based system, at least one of the steps of performing a purchaser transaction selected from purchasing from said computer database a subsequent purchase quantity or redeeming at least a portion of the current account balance; and
m) adjusting, using the computer-based system, the current account balance to reflect the purchaser transaction from the step of repeating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an electronic quantity purchasing system which is a host computer that a user may access to purchase quantities of goods or services at a locked-in price for later redemption. The preferred communication means employed is via secure, high-speed Internet access. Data storage is electronic. Users employ the system to make an instant purchase of a small or large quantity of a commodity, such as gasoline at the current purchase price. Users can redeem all or part of their balance for real product at a physical location in the future when desired. The redemption will draw down the user'"'"'s account balance at the locked-in purchase price, so the user is able to circumvent the market price in effect at the time of redemption.
25 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of electronically transacting purchase and redemption of at least one tangible commodity which comprises:
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a) providing a computer-based system for purchasing tangible commodities over a communication network and which computer-based system includes a computer database containing commodity information concerning at least one product which may be purchased at a current time purchase price, and which purchase price is posted and locked-in at time of purchase, for at least partial redemption at a future date; b) establishing, using the computer-based system, an account for the purchaser; c) establishing, using the computer-based system, an account balance for each commodity in quantity units; d) authorizing, using the computer-based system, the purchaser to purchase a quantity of at least one tangible commodity from the electronic system; e) electronically accessing, using the computer-based system, the electronic system for purchaser transactions; f) performing, using the computer-based system, a purchaser transaction including purchasing from said computer database a first purchase quantity of a selected tangible commodity at the current time purchase price reflected in said computer database for redemption of at least a portion of the first purchase quantity of the selected commodity at a future date at the locked-in purchase price; g) summing, using the computer-based system, the first purchase quantity with the account balance to provide a current account balance in said account for the purchaser in the computer database for the selected commodity; h) storing, using the computer-based system, data in said computer database for the current account balance in an electronically accessible format; i) performing, using the computer-based system, a purchaser transaction including redeeming at least a portion of the current account balance of the selected commodity; j) adjusting, using the computer-based system, the current account balance to reflect the redeemed portion of the selected commodity; k) using the computer-based system, identifying a zone for redemption from the account balance of each commodity, identifying at least another zone of redemption, and converting at least a portion of the account balance of at least one commodity to an account balance for the another zone of redemption; l) repeating, using the computer-based system, at least one of the steps of performing a purchaser transaction selected from purchasing from said computer database a subsequent purchase quantity or redeeming at least a portion of the current account balance; and m) adjusting, using the computer-based system, the current account balance to reflect the purchaser transaction from the step of repeating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of maintaining an account for purchase of at least one tangible commodity at a posted and locked-in price current at time of purchase and for delivery on-demand of the at least one tangible commodity regardless of a price current at time of delivery, the method including the steps of:
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establishing, using a computer-based system, a bulk refillable account for an individual user; establishing, by the computer-based system, a current account balance for each commodity in quantity units; accessing, by the computer-based system, the account by the user; transacting, by the computer-based system, for delivery of a selected tangible commodity, delivery being available on-demand at a plurality of specific locations; adjusting, by the computer-based system, the current balance for the selected commodity in response to the transacting, wherein the step of transacting includes the steps of; purchasing, by the computer-based system, a purchase quantity of the selected commodity at the price at time of purchase to lock-in said price at time of purchase for subsequent delivery and redemption, redeeming, by the computer-based system, subsequently a redeemed quantity of the selected commodity at a subsequent date, the redeemed quantity being at least a portion of the current balance; identifying a zone for redemption for the account balance of each commodity, identifying at least another zone of redemption, and converting at least a portion of the account balance of at least one commodity to an account balance for the another zone of redemption; and permitting, by the computer-based system, access to the account for repeating the step of transacting. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification