Apparatus and method for providing and/or for fulfilling subscription services

• US 7,280,978 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTJ Ventures, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Original Assignee: Raymond Anthony Joao
• Inventors: Joao, Raymond Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdi; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINTER, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/659,264
• Time in Patent Office: 2,584 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/26, 705/27, 705/1, 705/14, 700/216
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, including receiving a request to receive or pick-up a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, at a retail facility or a store pursuant to a subscription, processing information regarding the request with a processing device, wherein the processing device determines whether the subscription is active or not active or determines whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the subscription, and transmitting a message in response to the request, wherein the message contains an authorization or a denial of the request, and further wherein the message is transmitted to a point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a request to receive or pick-up, at a retail facility or a store pursuant to a subscription, a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine;

processing information regarding the request with a processing device, wherein the processing device determines whether the subscription is active or not active or determines whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the subscription; and

transmitting a message in response to the request, wherein the message contains an authorization or a denial of the request, and further wherein the message is transmitted to a point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the request and the message is transmitted on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing information for at least one of renewing the subscription, extending the subscription, and canceling or terminating the subscription.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing information for creating or initiating the subscription.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the subscription is for a specified number of the printed issues and is for a specified time period, and further wherein one or more of the printed issues can be skipped or foregone in or during the specified time period while allowing a subscriber to be able to pick-up or receive all of the specified number of the printed issues in or during the specified time period.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request contains at least one of an access code, a personal identification number or code, and information obtained from a magnetic strip of an account card or from a microprocessor of an account card.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

swiping an account card using a scanner device or a reader device to obtain information stored on the account card.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing information regarding a search for the subscription or a search for a second subscription.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the subscription is not active; and

processing information for re-opening or renewing the subscription.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of an availability of a subscription and a subscription sale or special; and

transmitting the second message to the point-of-sale transaction device or to a communication device associated with an individual or a subscriber, wherein if the second message is transmitted to the communication device the second message is transmitted to the communication device at least one of on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web and on or over a wireless communication network.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of an availability of a subscription issue, a shipment of a subscription issue to the retail facility or the store, and an arrival of a subscription issue at the retail facility or the store; and

transmitting the second message to the point-of-sale transaction device or to a communication device associated with an individual or a subscriber.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the second message is transmitted at least one of on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web and on or over a wireless communication network.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request to receive or pick-up a good or a service at the retail facility or the store pursuant to a second subscription;

processing information regarding the second request;

determining whether the second subscription is active or not active or determining whether any good or service or any goods or services remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the second subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains information regarding an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the first point-of-sale transaction device or to a second point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request to receive or pick-up a ticket or tickets at the retail facility or the store pursuant to a second subscription;

processing information regarding the second request;

determining whether the second subscription is active or not active or determining whether any ticket or any tickets remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the second subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains information regarding an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the first point-of-sale transaction device or to a second point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for a sporting event or sporting events.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for at least one of an entertainment event, entertainment events, a movie, movies, a show, shows, a theater performance, and theater performances.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing information regarding a changing of the retail facility or the store from which a printed issue of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, can be received or picked-up.

18. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

processing a request to create or initiate a subscription which allows for printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up at a retail facility or a store or to be received at a retail facility or a store or at another retail facility or another store, wherein the request is transmitted from a communication device or from a transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the request contains information regarding a specified number of printed issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store in or during a specified time period, wherein one or more of the printed issues can be skipped or foregone in or during the specified time period while ensuring that a subscriber is able to pick-up or receive all of the specified number of the printed issues at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store in or during the specified time period, wherein the request is processed with a processing device;

creating or initiating a subscription in response to the request; and

transmitting a message to the communication device or to the transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the message contains information regarding the subscription which was created or initiated.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the request and the message is transmitted on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing information for at least one of renewing the subscription, extending the subscription, and canceling or terminating the subscription.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing information regarding a search for the subscription or a search for a second subscription.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of an availability of a subscription, an availability of a subscription issue, a shipment of a subscription issue to the retail facility or the store or to another retail facility or another store, and an arrival of a subscription issue at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store; and

transmitting the second message to the point-of-sale transaction device or to a communication device associated with an individual or the subscriber.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the second message is transmitted at least one of on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web and on or over a wireless communication network.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing a second request, wherein the second request is a request to create or initiate a second subscription, wherein the second subscription allows for at least one of a good, goods, a service, and services, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store, wherein the second request is transmitted from the communication device or from the transaction device, or the second request is transmitted from a second communication device or from a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store or associated with another retail facility or another store;

creating or initiating a second subscription in response to the second request; and

transmitting a second message to the communication device or to the transaction device, or transmitting the second message to the second communication device or to the second transaction device, wherein the second message contains information regarding the second subscription which was created or initiated.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing a second request, wherein the second request is a request to create or initiate a second subscription, wherein the second subscription allows for a ticket or tickets to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store, wherein the second request is transmitted from the communication device or from the transaction device, or the second request is transmitted from a second communication device or from a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store or associated with another retail facility or another store;

creating or initiating a second subscription in response to the second request; and

transmitting a second message to the communication device or to the transaction device, or transmitting the second message to the second communication device or to the second transaction device, wherein the second message contains information regarding the second subscription which was created or initiated.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for a sporting event or sporting events.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for at least one of an entertainment event, entertainment events, a movie, movies, a show, shows, a theater performance, and theater performances.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing information regarding a second request, wherein the second request is a request to pick-up or receive a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, at a retail facility or a store or at another retail facility or another store pursuant to the subscription;

determining whether the subscription is active or not active or determining whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the communication device or to the transaction device, or is transmitted to a second communication device or to a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store or associated with another retail facility or another store.

29. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

processing a request to create or initiate a subscription which allows for printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up at a retail facility or a store, or to be received at a retail facility or a store, wherein the request is transmitted from a communication device or from a transaction device associated with a retail facility or a store, wherein the request contains information regarding a specified number of printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received in or during a specified time period, and a retail facility or a store from which the printed issues can be picked-up or received, wherein the request is processed with a processing device;

creating or initiating a subscription in response to the request; and

transmitting a message to the communication device or to the transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the message contains information regarding the subscription which was created or initiated.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein one or more of the printed issues can be skipped or foregone in or during the specified time period while allowing a subscriber to be able to pick-up or receive all of the specified number of the printed issues in or during the specified time period.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the request and the message is transmitted on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

processing information for at least one of renewing the subscription, extending the subscription, and canceling or terminating the subscription.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

processing information regarding a search for the subscription or a search for a second subscription.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a second message, wherein the second message contains information regarding at least one of an availability of a subscription, an availability of a subscription issue, a shipment of a subscription issue to the retail facility or the store, and an arrival of a subscription issue at the retail facility or the store; and

transmitting the second message to the point-of-sale transaction device or to a communication device associated with an individual or a subscriber.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the second message is transmitted at least one of on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web and on or over a wireless communication network.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

processing a second request, wherein the second request is a request to create or initiate a second subscription, wherein the second subscription allows for at least one of a good, goods, a service, and services, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store, wherein the second request is transmitted from the communication device or from the transaction device, or is transmitted from a second communication device or from a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store;

creating or initiating a second subscription in response to the second request; and

transmitting a second message to the communication device or to the transaction device, or transmitting the second message to the second communication device or to the second transaction device, wherein the second message contains information regarding the second subscription which was created or initiated.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

processing a second request, wherein the second request is a request to create or initiate a second subscription, wherein the second subscription allows for a ticket or tickets to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store, wherein the second request is transmitted from the communication device or from the transaction device, or is transmitted from a second communication device or from a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store;

creating or initiating a second subscription in response to the second request; and

transmitting a second message to the communication device or to the transaction device, or transmitting the second message to the second communication device or to the second transaction device, wherein the second message contains information regarding the second subscription which was created or initiated.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for a sporting event or sporting events.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the second subscription is a subscription for a ticket or tickets to or for at least one of an entertainment event, entertainment events, a movie, movies, a show, shows, a theater performance, and theater performances.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

processing information regarding a second request, wherein the second request is a request to pick-up or receive a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, at the retail facility or the store pursuant to the subscription;

determining whether the subscription is active or not active or determining whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the communication device or to the transaction device, or is transmitted to a second communication device or to a second transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store.

41. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

inputting or entering information regarding a request to receive or pick-up, at a retail facility or a store pursuant to a subscription, a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, wherein the subscription is an existing subscription, and further wherein the information is input or entered into a point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store;

generating a request to receive or pick-up a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, at the retail facility or the store pursuant to the subscription;

transmitting the request to a processing device;

receiving the request, wherein the processing device receives the request;

processing the information regarding the request with the processing device, wherein the processing device determines whether the subscription is active or not active or determines whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the subscription;

transmitting a message in response to the request, wherein the message contains an authorization or a denial of the request, and further wherein the message is transmitted to the point-of-sale transaction device; and

providing information contained in the response via the point-of-sale transaction device.

42. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a first request to receive or pick-up, at a retail facility or a store pursuant to a subscription, a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine;

processing information regarding the first request with a processing device, wherein the processing device determines whether the first subscription is active or not active or determines whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the first subscription;

transmitting a first message in response to the first request, wherein the first message contains an authorization or a denial of the first request, and further wherein the first message is transmitted to a first point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store;

receiving a second request to receive or pick-up a ticket or tickets to at least one of a sporting event, an entertainment event, a movie, a show, and a theater performance, at the retail facility or the store pursuant to a second subscription;

processing information regarding the second request;

determining whether the second subscription is active or not active or determining whether any ticket or any tickets remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the second subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains information regarding an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the first point-of-sale transaction device or to a second point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

43. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a first request to receive or pick-up, at a retail facility or a store pursuant to a subscription, a printed issue of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine;

processing information regarding the first request with a processing device, wherein the processing device determines whether the first subscription is active or not active or determines whether any issue or any issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the first subscription;

transmitting a first message in response to the first request, wherein the first message contains an authorization or a denial of the first request, and further wherein the first message is transmitted to a first point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store;

receiving a second request to receive or pick-up at least one of a good or a service at the retail facility or the store pursuant to a second subscription;

processing information regarding the second request;

determining whether the second subscription is active or not active or determining whether any good or service or any goods or services remain to be fulfilled pursuant to the second subscription; and

transmitting a second message in response to the second request, wherein the second message contains information regarding an authorization or a denial of the second request, and further wherein the second message is transmitted to the first point-of-sale transaction device or to a second point-of-sale transaction device located at the retail facility or the store.

44. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

processing a request to create or initiate a subscription which allows for printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up at a retail facility or a store or to be received at a retail facility or a store or at another retail facility or another store, wherein the request is transmitted from a communication device or from a transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the request contains information regarding a specified number of printed issues of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store in or during a specified time period, wherein one or more of the printed issues can be skipped or foregone in or during the specified time period while ensuring that a subscriber is able to pick-up or receive all of the specified number of the printed issues at the retail facility or the store or at another retail facility or another store in or during the specified time period, wherein the request is processed with a processing device;

creating or initiating a subscription in response to the request; and

transmitting a message to the communication device or to the transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the message contains information regarding the subscription which was created or initiated and an authorization to allow for a first printed issue of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store pursuant to the subscription which was created or initiated.

45. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

processing a request to create or initiate a subscription which allows for printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up at a retail facility or a store or to be received at a retail facility or a store, wherein the request is transmitted from a communication device or from a transaction device associated with a retail facility or a store, wherein the request contains information regarding a specified number of printed issues of at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received in or during a specified time period, and a retail facility or a store from which the printed issues can be picked-up or received, wherein the request is processed with a processing device;

creating or initiating a subscription in response to the request; and

transmitting a message to the communication device or to the transaction device associated with the retail facility or the store, wherein the message contains information regarding the subscription which was created or initiated and an authorization to allow for a first printed issue of the at least one of a periodical, a newspaper, and a magazine, to be picked-up or received at the retail facility or the store pursuant to the subscription which was created or initiated.