Method for reducing purchase time

• US 8,396,809 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Raff, Christopher, Comstock, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/145,535
• Time in Patent Office: 3,955 Days
• Field of Search: 705/67, 705/65, 705/66
• US Class Current: 705/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication

Abstract

For delayed purchases, a purchase token is used to store purchase details on a user device until a user is ready to make a purchase. The purchase token has an expiration date. The purchase token sets a maximum price for a selected item and reserves the selected item until the expiration date. For routine purchases, the user device is preauthorized to complete the purchase. For obvious purchases, a tracking system is used to track the user device and bill the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising in combination:

transferring, without purchase, a purchase token to a user device, the purchase token based on information from a previous purchase stored by the user device, with details regarding the previous purchase stored on the user device;

storing the purchase token on the user device; and

redeeming the purchase token to complete a purchase.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the purchase token.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein authentication is performed using an electronic signature.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein authentication is performed using an encryption system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase token contains purchase details needed to complete the purchase.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the purchase details include details selected from the group consisting of item description, item price, and store information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase token contains an expiration date.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the purchase token sets a maximum price for a selected item until the expiration date.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising redeeming the purchase token on or before the expiration date at a price less than or equal to the maximum price.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the purchase token reserves a selected item until the expiration date.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a merchant receives credit for a sale when the purchase token is transferred.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a payment device transfers the purchase token to the user device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a Web page transfers the purchase token to the user device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase token is redeemed at a store.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase token is redeemed on a Web page.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring payment information to a payment device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the payment information includes account information needed to complete the purchase.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is an electronic device selected from the group consisting of personal digital assistant, mobile phone, pager, and handheld device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a personal digital assistant.