Abstract:
This invention is a system and method for allowing a purchaser to make attempts for charge exemption when buying merchandise or services via a shopping platform over a communication network so they do not have to commit to paying the full price of the selected merchandise or service. 
     A purchaser selects a certain merchandise or service at a client system. The client system transmits information about the selection to a server system. The server system computes whether the charge exemption is approved. 
     The purchaser is allowed to continue making attempts until either he/she is approved or he/she uses up the allowed number of attempts. However, even if the purchaser does not win, he/she is allowed to pay the full price and purchase the item. If any of the purchaser&#39;s attempts are successful, or if the purchaser chooses to pay the full price of the item, the item is purchased.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Currently there are many electronic purchase systems in existence. These systems allow purchasers to select merchandise or services, pay for the item immediately, and have the item delivered immediately or in the future. Previously, an efficient system of storage, logistics and inventory composition were the major contributors to a successful electronic purchase system. It would be useful to have new and innovative ways to entice purchasers to use electronic purchase systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a system and method for allowing purchasers to make electronic purchases with a chance for a charge exemption. A charge exemption allows a purchaser to purchase goods or services by paying only a fraction of the full price. This system entices more users to use the system than would otherwise because a charge exemption is an exciting way to potentially acquire goods or services at a reduced price. 
         [0003]    These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an overview of the flow of an embodiment of the system or method. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the system, identifying the parts of the system. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an embodiment of the system, describing the portion associated with generating an order page. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an embodiment of the system, describing the portion associated with a user opting to pay the full purchase price. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an embodiment of the system, describing the portion associated with a user opting to apply for a charge exemption. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Technical staff in this field may wish to apply this charge exemption technique to different contexts. Although the example embodiments illustrated and discussed here are made up of a server and client terminals based on the internet environment, it can also be applied to various kinds of communications channels. For example, LAN, WAN, point-to-point connections, etc. On the other hand, the server system can be formed with any combination of hardware or software capable of realizing this technology. The client system can be composed of any combination of hardware or software that is capable of interacting with the server system. Both the server and the client terminals can be combined to form an integrated system which may contain a mobile terminal system, a TV system, a game system, a single-chip computer system or other consumer products that can be used to materialize this technology. 
         [0010]    The embodiments of the invention may be implemented on a computer system that includes a central processing unit (CPU), a bus, system memory, read-only memory (ROM), and other components such as input or output devices, permanent storage devices, graphics processing units, and networking interfaces. Such a computer system may include various types of computer readable medium and/or interfaces for various types of computer readable medium. The components of such a computer system are electronic devices that automatically perform operations based on digital and/or analog input signals. Such a computer system may comprise the client unit or server unit described in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0011]    The particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  supports “apply for charge exemption” through the internet. The example embodiment system is composed of a server unit  210  and a client unit  220 . The server unit has three modules: a charge exemption parameter computing module  212 , a charge exemption application evaluation module  215 , and a balance computing module  211 , as well as a database  213  and a command processing unit  214 . 
         [0012]    The client unit  220  has a client ID  221 , commodity identification information  222 , a transaction ID  223 , and a command processing unit  224 . The client unit  220  accesses the command processing unit  224  to send the client ID  221  and selected commodity identification information  222  (indicates which item or service a user has selected) to the server unit  210 . The server unit  210  receives the information through the command processing unit  214  and accesses the charge exemption parameter computing module  212 . The charge exemption parameter computing module  212  is responsible for computing the following parameters—chance of getting approval of each charge exemption application attempt of the selected item/service, the cost of each application and the maximum number of applications allowed per unit count of item/service ordered. 
         [0013]    Charge exemption parameter computing module  212  computes the cost of each charge exemption application, the chance of approval for each charge exemption application, and the maximum number of applications allowed per unit count of item/service ordered. Server unit  210  retrieves the computed parameters from charge exemption parameter computing module  212 . Server unit  210  combines the above parameters with the price and quantity available of the selected item/service and sends this information to the client unit  220 . Server unit  210  accesses command processing unit  214  to instruct client unit  220  to display the above information along with a prompt with 3 choices: (1) customer pays full price for the item/service and purchases it, (2) customer applies for charge exemption, and (3) customer adds selected item/service to shopping cart. 
         [0014]    The client unit  220  receives input from the customer and sends the command of the customer to the server unit  210 . The server unit  210  processes the command with the command processing unit  214  and responds depending on the selected command. 
         [0015]    If the selected command is “pay full price,” the server unit  210  will automatically instruct the charge exemption application evaluation module  215  to evaluate attempts of charge exemption application until either an application is approved or the maximum number of applications allowed per unit count of item/service ordered for the selected item/service has been reached. If charge exemption is approved, the balance computing module  211  will compute the final balance that the customer must pay; the price of the item/service will not be added to the balance but the cost of the applications will be added, as well as shipping costs if shipping is needed. If charge exemption is not approved after all the attempts have been used, the balance will be the price of the item/service and the shipping cost if shipping is needed. Finally, the purchasing process regarding the specific item/service concludes. 
         [0016]    If the selected command is “apply for charge exemption,” the server unit  210  sends to client unit  220  instructions to display a prompt instructing the customer to make a payment for the cost of the applications. Each time the server unit  210  receives an application from the client unit  220 , server unit  220  accesses the balance computing module  211  to check whether there is still enough credit to pay for the application. If the credit is enough to cover the cost of the application, the balance computing module  211  will deduct the cost of the application from the credit. Then the server unit  210  will access the Charge Exemption Application Evaluation Module  215  to evaluate whether the particular application is approved or not. If the application is approved the customer will have to make no more payment other than the shipping cost if shipping applies, and the total balance will be computed by the balance computing module  211 . If the application is not approved, the customer can choose to make another application as long as there is still enough credit and the maximum number of applications allowed per unit count of item/service ordered for the current order is not reached. The customer can also choose to “pay the difference”, and pay an amount of money so that together with the payment for the cost of the spent applications the customer pays the amount of the full purchase price of the item/service and gets the item/service. If the customer chooses to give up at any time, the cost of the applications will not be refunded. 
         [0017]    If the selected command is “add item/service to shopping cart,” the server unit  210  places it on record that the customer placed the selected item/service into the cart. The customer can add items/services to the cart at will and later choose from the above two actions for the batch of selected items/services or separately for each item/service. 
         [0018]    An example embodiment of generating an order web page is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When a buyer requests to examine details of a desired commodity  301 , a server will receive this request and generate a web page  302 , which is transmitted to the client for display. Web page  302  contains general descriptive information of commodities (as the normal operation does), action options  303 , which include “Commit to buy”  303   a , “Apply for charge exemption”  303   b , and “Add to shopping cart”  303   c . Although there are 3 selectable action options  303 , more options can be added or some of the existing options can be reduced from these action options  303 . Web page  302  also contains commodity identification information  306 . Commodity identification information  306  contains the following: the maximum number of opportunities to apply for charge exemption m, cost x for each attempt to obtain a charge exemption, and success rate y for each attempt. Although the maximum number of opportunities to apply for charge exemption m, cost x for each attempt to obtain a charge exemption, and success rate y for each attempt are contained in the commodity identification information  306  of this implementation example, evaluation of an application can be also realized through other means. The information regarding the specific commodity/service may be manipulated in many ways. For example, reorganize, increase or reduce the information shown in commodity identification information  306 , or conceal any piece of such information. It has been recognized by the technical staff in this field that the same basic algorithm can also be implemented by using other methods. 
         [0019]    The selection of an action option  303  determines how an order is completed. Once a user selects an action option  303 , the system must verify membership information in order to complete the transaction. A separate sub-process, verification of membership ID  304  occurs after action option  303  is selected. Once membership is verified, transaction ID  305  is assigned to the transaction. The transaction then proceeds according the selected action option  303 . 
         [0020]    If the user selected “Commit to buy”  303   a , the transaction continues as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The process continues to sub-process  401 , where the buyer completes the order with full payment, which follows the same procedures as those of a conventional shopping operation: start from payment, run through order processing, delivery, and end up with confirming receipt of items/services. The transaction then proceeds to sub-process  402 , where upon completion of orders for designated commodities/services, m number of charge exemption application opportunities will be offered to the buyer automatically. The transaction proceeds to sub-process  409 . 
         [0021]    In sub-process  409 , balance computing module  211  will check the total number of exemption application attempts the buyer has made and the transaction proceeds to sub-process  403 . 
         [0022]    In sub-process  403 , before the buyer begins an attempt to apply for a charge exemption, the system checks if any charge exemption application attempts remain. If there are still more applications available for the buyer, sub-process  404  will proceed; otherwise, the operation will go to sub-process  407 . 
         [0023]    In sub-process  404 , an attempt to apply for a charge exemption is made automatically on the buyer&#39;s behalf, and the transaction proceeds to sub-process  405 . 
         [0024]    In sub-process  405 , the balance computing module  211  records and updates the number of exemption application attempts and counts up all the charge exemption application attempts the buyer has made for the particular transaction at hand, the cumulative sum of which is n. The result of n will be stored for computation of final (and additional) charge. The transaction proceeds to sub-process  406 . 
         [0025]    In sub-process  406 , the charge exemption application evaluation module  215  outputs the result for the current exemption application attempt computed with the preset algorithm. If the result of output indicates that the buyer has won a charge exemption, the transaction proceeds to sub-process  408 ; otherwise, the transaction proceeds to sub-process  409 . 
         [0026]    In sub-process  407 , the balance computing module  211  computes the final charge for the current transaction. The buyer who has run out of all the charge exemption application opportunities will obtain the desired commodities at their original commodity price. When the transaction is completed, the accumulated number of charge exemption application attempts for the current designated commodity will be reset to zero. 
         [0027]    In sub-process  408 , if a charge exemption application from a buyer is approved, the payment he/she has made for the designated item will be refunded to him/her. In order to obtain the desired commodity, he/she will only need to pay the cost nx for all the exemption application attempts he/she has made. When the transaction is completed, the accumulated number of charge exemption application attempts for the current designated commodity will be reset to zero. Although in this implementation example the maximum number of charge exemption opportunities allowable for a certain commodity is a fixed value, in practice, different buyers can be given different maximum numbers of charge exemption opportunities, depending upon the result of calculation. 
         [0028]    Each action to apply for charge exemption can be regarded either as a single tentative action or as representing a number of tentative actions initiated through one single command. The procedures given in  FIG. 4  are capable of combining some part of the procedures by means of batch processing. On the other hand, the procedures starting from Step  402  to the final step of the procedures in  FIG. 4  can be completed by merging them into a one-key operation. 
         [0029]    If the user selected “Apply for charge exemption”  303   b , the transaction continues as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In sub-process  501 , the client sends the buyer&#39;s input to the server, and the buyer pays a small amount for the cost of exemption application attempts through cash payment (or credit payment). 
         [0030]    The transaction then proceeds to sub-process  502 , where the balance computing module  211  determines whether the current balance is adequate to pay for a charge exemption application attempt. Only when the balance is greater than the cost x needed to pay for the next attempt can the buyer proceed with the next application for an exemption in sub-process  503 . If the balance is less than the cost x for making one more application attempt, the transaction proceeds to sub-process  508 . 
         [0031]    By checking the number of applications the buyer has made, the system can determine whether there are still opportunities available for the buyer to make more attempts for applying for an expected exemption. Sub-process  503  determines if a buyer has any charge exemption application attempts remaining. If the number of exemption application attempts so far made is less than m, i.e. there are still exemption application opportunities available, the transaction proceeds to sub-process  504 ; if the number of exemption application attempts made is equal to m, i.e. the exemption application opportunities allowed have run out, then the transaction proceeds to sub-process  509 . 
         [0032]    Sub-process  504  evaluates a charge exemption application attempt once it has been determined that a buyer can proceed the attempt. The charge exemption application evaluation module  215  receives the command of performing one charge exemption application evaluation for the current transaction, and determines in real-time whether the current exemption application is successful based on the commodity identification information, user ID and transaction ID at hand. The transaction then proceeds to sub-process  505 . 
         [0033]    Sub-process  505  will deduct the cost of the current attempt and increment the count of exemption application attempts initiated by the. The transaction then proceeds to sub-process  506 . 
         [0034]    Sub-process  506  outputs the result for the current exemption application attempt based on the preset algorithm. If the resulted output indicates that the application is approved, proceed to sub-process  510 ; otherwise, if the result indicates that the charge exemption application is not approved, proceed to sub-process  507 . 
         [0035]    Sub-process  507  asks the buyer if he or she wishes to stop the process. If the buyer indicates “no”, the system will proceed to check the balance with sub-process  502 . If the buyer indicates “yes”, the system will proceed to sub-process  509 . 
         [0036]    In sub-process  508 , two options are offered for the situation in which the buyer does not have adequate balance for continuing further exemption application attempts. If he/she chooses to stop the process, the transaction proceeds to sub-process  509 ; if he/she chooses to continue the process, proceed to sub-process  501 . 
         [0037]    In sub-process  509 , two options are offered for buyers who have run out of their charge exemption application opportunities or have chosen to stop further charge exemption application attempts: pay the difference or give up. If he/she chooses to purchase the desired commodity through making up for the price difference, proceed to sub-process  511 ; if the buyer chooses to give up buying the desired commodity through making up for the price difference, proceed to sub-process  512 . 
         [0038]    In sub-process  510 , the buyer has won a charge exemption and he/she will only need to pay the cost nx for the charge exemption application attempts he/she has made in exchange for the desired item/service, i.e. the number of application attempts made multiplied by the cost of each attempt, as well as any shipping fees. 
         [0039]    In sub-process  511 , the buyer who chooses to buy the desired item/service through making up for the price difference must pay off the price difference (w-nx), as well as any shipping fees, to obtain the desired item/service at its original purchase price. 
         [0040]    In sub-process  512 , the buyer has given up the choice to buy the item/service at its original price. The buyer still must pay the cost nx for all the charge exemption application attempts he/she has made. The buyer will get a final balance computed by the balance computing module  211 . This will bring the shopping process to an end. When the transaction is completed, the accumulated number of charge exemption application attempts made for the designated item/service will be reset to zero. 
         [0041]    Each action to apply for charge exemption can be regarded either as a single action or as a batch of tentative actions initiated through one single command. The procedures given in  FIG. 5  are capable of combining some part of the procedures by means of batch processing. 
         [0042]    Charge exemption application attempts can be achieved by clicking a certain area with the mouse, through a voice command, from a keyboard, by devices with movement/gesture perceptive functions, or by operating a remote controller. It can also be the result of a game. 
         [0043]    The following implementation example will further illustrate the system and method described: a buyer requests to view the details of commodity A, he/she gets the “Identification Information of Commodity A”, and the maximum number of charge exemption application opportunities offered to him/her is 10. The cost of each exemption application attempt is 50 cents, the success rate for each charge exemption application attempt is 1/100, and the commodity price is 50 US dollars. The buyer chooses (1) to commit to buy, and completes the order by paying 50 US dollars in full, with his/her user ID having been verified and combined with the ID of the current transaction. The buyer gets 10 opportunities to apply for a charge exemption. In accordance with the procedure in  FIG. 4 , if none of the buyer&#39;s charge exemption applications are approved after he/she has used all of his/her 10 opportunities, the shopping process will come to an end. In accordance with result a, the buyer finally obtains commodity A by paying 50 US dollars. Suppose the 6th application is approved, the system will refund 50 US dollars already paid by the buyer in accordance with result b. However, the buyer needs to pay the cost for all 6 charge exemption application attempts the buyer has made, which means the buyer has to pay a total amount of 6×0.50, that is, 3 US dollars, in exchange for commodity A. If the buyer chooses to (2) apply for charge exemption, after his/her user ID has been verified and combined with the ID of the current transaction, he/she will only need to pay 5 US dollars or less, but no less than 50 cents, perhaps 3 US dollars, in advance. Assuming that the buyer pays 3 US dollars as credit, he/she will be given the opportunity to make 6 attempts to apply for a charge exemption. If an exemption is approved on his/her 4th attempt, he/she will have a credit of 1 US dollar, and will obtain commodity A, in accordance with result c. If none of the 6 attempts of the buyer get approved, and the buyer does not have sufficient credit left in the account to pay for another charge exemption application attempt, in accordance with sub-process  508 , he/she can choose to give up any further attempt to apply for an exemption. As shown in sub-process  509 , if the buyer chooses to buy commodity A by making up for the price difference, he/she will need to pay the price difference 50-6×0.50 in accordance with result d. In other words, he/she will have to pay off the remaining 47 US dollars and finally pay 50 US dollars in exchange for commodity A. If the buyer chooses to give up in sub-process  509 , he/she will have paid 3 US dollars, in accordance with result e, and the process concludes without the buyer obtaining commodity A. No matter what action option the buyer chooses, in the context of the current transaction, the buyer will be allowed to apply for a charge exemption only when the following two conditions are simultaneously satisfied: the balance remaining in the current account is greater than or equal 0.50 US dollars, and the total number of charge exemption application attempts for this one unit count of commodity A so far made is less than 10. When the transaction is completed, the accumulated number of charge exemption application attempts made for the designated commodities will be reset to zero. And with that the buyer can begin a new order for commodity A or order other commodities. 
         [0044]    While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.