System to provide game play for products
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing a product, comprising:
- receiving a selection of a product from a customer, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
receiving a fee to play a game;
determining an outcome of the game;
providing the product to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
crediting a portion of the fee to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for providing a product is described in which a selection of a product is received from a customer, a fee to play a game is received, an outcome of the game is determined, the product is provided to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome, and a portion of the fee is credited to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome.
269 Citations
94 Claims
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1. A method for providing a product, comprising:
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receiving a selection of a product from a customer, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
receiving a fee to play a game;
determining an outcome of the game;
providing the product to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
crediting a portion of the fee to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
receiving an instruction from the customer to play the game.
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4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
- determining the fee.
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5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the fee is determined based on the product.
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6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the fee is determined based on the customer.
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7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the fee credited is equal to the fee.
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8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the credited portion is applicable only to a sale price of the product.
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9. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a selection comprises:
receiving a commitment from the customer to purchase the product.
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10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was received from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was received from a second customer.
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13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:
- receiving the probability from the customer.
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14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:
- determining the fee based on the received probability.
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15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:
- determining the probability based on the received fee.
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16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the credited portion is applicable only to a sale price of the product.
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17. A method for providing a product, comprising:
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receiving from a customer a selection of a plurality of products which are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
receiving a fee to play a game;
determining an outcome of the game;
providing one of the plurality of products to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
crediting a portion of the fee to a sale price of one of the plurality of products if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
receiving an instruction from the customer to play the game.
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20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:
determining the fee.
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21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the fee is determined based on the plurality of products.
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22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the fee is determined based on the customer.
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23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the portion of the fee credited is equal to the fee.
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24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the credited portion is applicable only to a sale price of one of the plurality of products.
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25. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a selection comprises:
receiving a commitment from the customer to purchase one of the plurality of products.
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26. A method according to claim 17, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was received from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was received from a second customer.
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29. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:
receiving the probability from the customer.
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30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:
determining the fee based on the received probability.
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31. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:
determining the probability based on the received fee.
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32. A method according to claim 17, wherein the credited portion is applicable only to a sale price of one of the plurality of products.
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33. A method according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of products is associated with a respective winning outcome.
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34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the product provided is associated with the winning outcome.
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35. A method for providing a product, comprising:
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identifying a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by a customer;
determining whether a game outcome and a fee are associated with the product;
providing the product to the customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
determining a sale price based on the fee; and
charging the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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36. A method for providing a product, comprising:
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identifying a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by a customer;
determining whether a game outcome is associated with the product;
providing the product to the customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
determining a sale price; and
charging the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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37. Processor-executable process steps embodied in a computer-readable medium, the process steps comprising:
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a receiving step to receive a selection of a product from a customer, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
a receiving step to receive a fee to play a game;
a determining step to determine an outcome of the game;
a providing step to provide the product to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
a crediting step to credit a portion of the fee to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
a receiving step to receive a commitment from the customer to purchase the product.
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41. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 37, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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42. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 41, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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43. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 41, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was received from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was received from a second customer.
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44. Processor-executable process steps embodied in a computer-readable medium, the process steps comprising:
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a receiving step to receive from a customer a selection of a plurality of products which are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
a receiving step to receive a fee to play a game;
a determining step to determine an outcome of the game;
a providing step to provide one of the plurality of products to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
a crediting step to credit a portion of the fee to a sale price of one of the plurality of products if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
a receiving step to receive a commitment from the customer to purchase one of the plurality of products.
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49. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 44, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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50. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 49, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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51. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 49, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was received from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was received from a second customer.
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52. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 44, wherein each of the plurality of products is associated with a respective winning outcome.
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53. Processor-executable process steps according to claim 52, wherein the product provided is associated with the winning outcome.
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54. Processor-executable process steps embodied in a computer-readable medium, the process steps comprising:
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an identifying step to identify a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
a determining step to determine whether a game outcome and a fee are associated with the product;
a providing step to provide the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
a determining step to determine a sale price based on the fee; and
a charging step to charge the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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55. Processor-executable process steps embodied in a computer-readable medium, the process steps comprising:
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an identifying step to identify a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
a determining step to determine whether a game outcome is associated with the product;
a providing step to provide the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
a determining step to determine a sale price; and
a charging step to charge the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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56. A device comprising:
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a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and
a processor, wherein the processor is operative with the process steps to;
i) receive a selection of a product from a customer, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
ii) receive a fee to play a game;
iii) determine an outcome of the game;
iv) provide the product to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
v) credit a portion of the fee to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A device comprising:
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a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and
a processor, wherein the processor is operative with the process steps to;
i) receive from a customer a selection of a plurality of products which are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
ii) receive a fee to play a game;
iii) determine an outcome of the game;
iv) provide one of the plurality of products to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
v) credit a portion of the fee to a sale price of one of the plurality of products if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A device comprising:
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a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and
a processor, wherein the processor is operative with the process steps to;
i) identify a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
ii) determine whether a game outcome and a fee are associated with the product;
iii) provide the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome; and
iv) determine a sale price based on the fee and charging the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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74. A device comprising:
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a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and
a processor, wherein the processor is operative with the process steps to;
i) identify a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
ii) determine whether a game outcome is associated with the product;
iii) provide the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
iv) determine a sale price; and
v) charge the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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75. An apparatus comprising:
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means for obtaining a selection of a product from a customer, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
means for obtaining a fee to play a game;
means for deciding an outcome of the game;
means for transmitting the product to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
means for providing the fee to the customer if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
means for obtaining a commitment from the customer to purchase the product.
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79. An apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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80. An apparatus according to claim 79, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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81. An apparatus according to claim 79, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was obtained from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was obtained from a second customer.
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82. An apparatus comprising:
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means for obtaining from a customer a selection of a plurality of products which are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
means for obtaining a fee to play a game;
means for deciding an outcome of the game;
means for transmitting one of the plurality of products to the customer if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
means for providing a portion of the fee to a sale price of one of the plurality of products if the outcome is a losing outcome. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
means for obtaining a commitment from the customer to purchase one of the plurality of products.
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87. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein the game reflects a probability that a winning outcome will result.
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88. An apparatus according to claim 87, wherein the probability is based on a customer profile.
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89. An apparatus according to claim 87, wherein the probability is a first probability if the selection was obtained from a first customer and is a second probability if the selection was obtained from a second customer.
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90. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein each of the plurality of products is associated with a respective winning outcome.
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91. An apparatus according to claim 90, wherein the product provided is associated with the winning outcome.
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92. An apparatus comprising:
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means for determining a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
means for deciding whether a game outcome and a fee are associated with the product;
means for transmitting the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
means for deciding a sale price based on the fee; and
means for billing the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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93. An apparatus comprising:
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means for determining a desired product, the desired product being from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
means for deciding whether a game outcome is associated with the product;
means for transmitting the product to a customer if the game outcome is a winning outcome;
means for deciding a sale price; and
means for billing the customer the sale price for the product if the game outcome is a losing outcome.
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94. A system for providing game play for products, comprising:
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a customer device comprising;
a customer memory storing processor-executable process steps; and
a customer processor, wherein the customer processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to;
i) select a product from a plurality of products, the product being selected from a plurality of products that are brought to a POS terminal by the customer;
ii) transmit a fee to play a game;
iii) present an indication that the customer has won the product if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
iv) receive credit for a portion of the fee if the outcome is a losing outcome; and
a retailer device comprising;
a retailer memory storing retailer processor-executable process steps; and
a retailer processor, wherein the retailer processor is operative with the retailer processor-executable process steps to;
i) receive a selection of the product;
ii) receive the fee;
iii) determine the outcome;
iv) transmit the indication that the customer has won the product if the outcome is a winning outcome; and
v) transmit the credit for the portion of the fee if the outcome is a losing outcome.
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Specification