Method of delivering goods and services via media

• US 7,925,531 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trialcard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trialcard Incorporated
• Inventors: Cunningham, David W., Reuben, Charles W., Engle, William N., Harden, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cobanoglu; Dilek B
• Application Number:
  US10/098,700
• Time in Patent Office: 3,315 Days
• Field of Search: 705/3, 705/14, 705/14.1, 705/2
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A method of providing goods and services to individuals or entities via media entails assigning at least one good or service to a medium and assigning a unique identifier to the medium. Recording information in a database relative to the medium and linking the one or more goods or services assigned to the medium with the identifier of the medium. Thereafter, the medium is distributed to an individual or entity and the individual or entity presents the medium to a provider of goods or services assigned to the medium. Upon presentment the provider delivers one or more of the assigned goods to the individual or entity making presentment. At an appropriate point in the process, a communication is directed to the database recording the results of the transaction between the provider and the individual or entity presenting the medium.

Claims

1. A method of promoting goods and services, comprising:

issuing a non-transitory media in which each medium has at least one good or service associated therewith;

identifying each medium with an identifier and recording the identifier in a database such that the at least one good or service associated with each medium can be determined;

assigning an inactive status to the media such that while assuming the inactive status the goods or services associated with the medium may not be redeemed;

recording the inactive status in a database;

activating at least some of the media by changing the status of the media from an inactive state to an active state and recording the change of the status in the database;

varying the value of at least some of the media such that the value of the media varies according to selected conditions; and

distributing the media to holders wherein the holders present the media to providers that deliver the goods or services associated with the presented media to the holders.

2. The method of claim 1 including varying the value of the media based on the manner of activation, the location of the provider, or the identity of the holder or provider.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is consulted at various times to determine whether the media or a certain medium is active or inactive.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is updated from time to time with respect to the status of a medium and the value associated with the medium.

5. The method of claim 4 including the provider communicatively linking to the database and determining whether a presented medium is active or inactive, and further communicating for recordation in the database any goods or services delivered to a holder as a result of the medium being presented to the provider.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is provisioned with certain criteria that established variable value for the medium.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the value of the medium is a function of the manner in which the medium is activated, the location of the provider, the identity of the provider, or the identity of the individuals presenting the medium.

8. The method of claim 1 including deactivating the media upon the occurrence of one or more conditions.

9. The method of claim 8 including reactivating the media after the media has been deactivated.

10. A method of promoting goods and services, comprising:

issuing a non-transitory media in which each medium has at least one good and service associated therewith;

identifying each medium with an identifier and recording the identifier in a database such that the at least one good or service associated with each medium can be determined;

assigning an inactive status to the media such that while assuming the inactive status the goods or services associated with the media may not be redeemed;

recording the inactive status in a database;

activating at least some of the media by changing the status of the media from an inactive state to an active state and recording the change of the status in the database;

varying the value of each medium such that the value of the medium varies according to selected conditions; and

distributing the media to holders wherein the holders present the media to providers that deliver the goods or services associated with the presented media to the holders.

11. The method of claim 10 including varying the value of each medium based on the manner of activation, the location of the provider, or the identity of the holder or provider.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the database is consulted at various times to determine whether a certain medium is active or inactive.

13. The method of claim 10 including updating the database from time to time with respect to the status of a medium and the value associated with the medium.

14. The method of claim 10 including communicatively linking the provider to the database and determining whether a presented medium is active or inactive, and further communicating for recordation in the database the identity if a good or service delivered to the holder as a result of the medium being presented to the provider.

15. The method of claim 10 including deactivating the media upon the occurrence of one or more conditions.

16. The method of claim 10 including reactivating the media after the media has been deactivated.