Systems and methods wherein a buyer purchases a product at a first price and acquires the product from a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price

• US 6,249,772 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1997
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US08/889,503
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 705/25-27, 705/1, 705/14, 705/10, 340/825.26, 340/825.29, 340/825-3-8, 707/1, 707/10, 707/9, 707/100, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer purchases a product at a first price and acquires the product from a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, the second price being different from the first price. Transaction information associated with the buyer and the merchant is received. Information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for providing payment of an amount based on the first price, such as by providing payment to a central controller, is transmitted. According to one embodiment, the central controller provides payment of an amount based on the second price to the merchant.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the central controller of an amount based on the first price,

wherein the central controller provides payment of an amount based on the second price to the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a third party provides to the central controller payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving transaction information from the merchant, and said transmitting comprises transmitting information to the merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a credit card processor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with the central controller.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a merchant device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a payment account processor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the merchant.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmit information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the central controller of an amount based on the first price,

wherein the central controller provides payment of an amount based on the second price to the merchant.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor arranges for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a third party provides to the central controller payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor receives transaction information from the merchant and transmits information to the merchant.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor is associated with the central controller.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor is associated with a credit card processor.

34. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

35. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor exchanges information with the central controller.

36. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor exchanges information with a merchant device.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

38. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said processor exchanges information with a payment account processor.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

40. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with the central controller.

41. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with the merchant.

42. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

44. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

45. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for processing a transaction, said method comprising:

receiving transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the central controller of an amount based on the first price,

wherein the central controller provides payment of an amount based on the second price to the merchant.

46. The medium of claim 45, wherein said method further comprises:

arranging for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

47. The medium of claim 45, wherein a third party provides to the central controller payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price.

48. The medium of claim 45, wherein said receiving comprises receiving transaction information from the merchant, and said transmitting comprises transmitting information to the merchant.

49. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

50. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

51. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

52. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

53. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

54. The medium of claim 45, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

55. The medium of claim 45, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a credit card processor.

56. The medium of claim 45, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

57. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with the central controller.

58. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a merchant device.

59. The medium of claim 58, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

60. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a payment account processor.

61. The medium of claim 60, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

62. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

63. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the merchant.

64. The medium of claim 45, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

65. The medium of claim 64, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

66. The medium of claim 45, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

67. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the merchant of an amount based on the first price,

wherein at least one of the central controller and a third party provides payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price to the merchant.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

arranging for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein said receiving comprises receiving transaction information from the merchant, and said transmitting comprises transmitting information to the merchant.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

73. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

74. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

75. The method of claim 67, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

76. The method of claim 67, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a credit card processor.

77. The method of claim 67, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

78. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with the central controller.

79. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a merchant device.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

81. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a payment account processor.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

83. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

84. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the merchant.

85. The method of claim 67, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

87. The method of claim 67, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

88. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the merchant of an amount based on the first price,

wherein at least one of the central controller and a third party provides payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price to the merchant.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein said processor arranges for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

90. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein said processor receives transaction information from the merchant and transmits information to the merchant.

91. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

92. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

93. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

94. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

95. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

96. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein said processor is associated with the central controller.

97. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein said processor is associated with a credit card processor.

98. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

99. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting comprise exchanging information with the central controller.

100. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting comprise exchanging information with a merchant device.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

102. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting comprise exchanging information with a payment account processor.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

104. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with the central controller.

105. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with the merchant.

106. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein at least one of the receiving and the transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

107. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

108. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

109. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for processing a transaction, said method comprising:

receiving transaction information, the transaction information being associated with (i) a buyer who has arranged to purchase a product from a central controller at a first price established between the buyer and the central controller and (ii) a merchant that offers the product for sale at a second price, different from the first price, without offering the product for sale to buyers at the first price; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant in exchange for the buyer providing payment to the merchant of an amount based on the first price,

wherein at least one of the central controller and a third party provides payment of an amount based on the difference between the first price and the second price to the merchant.

110. The medium of claim 109, wherein said method further comprises:

arranging for the buyer to purchase the product at the first price.

111. The medium of claim 109, wherein said receiving comprises receiving transaction information from the merchant, and said transmitting comprises transmitting information to the merchant.

112. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier.

113. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises a product identifier.

114. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises a customer identifier.

115. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant identifier.

116. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises a credit card account number.

117. The medium of claim 109, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

118. The medium of claim 109, wherein said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a credit card processor.

119. The medium of claim 109, wherein the information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant comprises an indication of the first price.

120. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with the central controller.

121. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a merchant device.

122. The medium of claim 121, wherein the merchant device comprises a point of sale terminal.

123. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting comprise exchanging information with a payment account processor.

124. The medium of claim 123, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

125. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the central controller.

126. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with the merchant.

127. The medium of claim 109, wherein at least one of said receiving and said transmitting are associated with a payment account processor.

128. The medium of claim 127, wherein the payment account processor comprises at least one of:

(i) a credit card processor, (ii) a debit card processor and (iii) a checking account processor.

129. The medium of claim 109, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

(i) a payment account number, (ii) a debit card account number and (iii) a checking account number.

130. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving from a buyer a selection of a product via a Web site;

establishing for the buyer a first price for the product, wherein a merchant offers the product for sale at a second price different from the first price;

receiving a credit card number via a point of sale terminal;

receiving a product identifier that identifies the product;

determining whether the credit card number is associated with the product;

arranging for the buyer to provide the first price for the product if the credit card number is associated with the product;

arranging for the buyer to provide the second price for the product if the credit card number is not associated with the product; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant.

131. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive from a buyer a selection of a product via a Web site;

establish for the buyer a first price for the product, wherein a merchant offers the product for sale at a second price different from the first price;

receive a credit card number via a point of sale terminal;

receive a product identifier that identifies the product;

determine whether the credit card number is associated with the product;

arrange for the buyer to provide the first price for the product if the credit card number is associated with the product;

arrange for the buyer to provide the second price for the product if the credit card number is not associated with the product; and

transmit information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant.

132. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for processing a transaction, said method comprising:

receiving from a buyer a selection of a product via a Web site;

establishing for the buyer a first price for the product, wherein a merchant offers the product for sale at a second price different from the first price;

receiving a credit card number via a point of sale terminal;

receiving a product identifier that identifies the product;

determining whether the credit card number is associated with the product;

arranging for the buyer to provide the first price for the product if the credit card number is associated with the product;

arranging for the buyer to provide the second price for the product if the credit card number is not associated with the product; and

transmitting information that allows the buyer to acquire the product from the merchant.