Abstract:
A discount system for installment of trade articles and its method is proposed in the present invention. The discount system provides at least a first trade article and a second trade article. When the second consuming end purchases the second trade article after the first consuming end purchases the first trade article, an accumulative value is added by one to record the number of people who purchase the second trade articles. After that, a processing unit calculates a discount price according to the accumulative value so that the installment payment of the first consuming end is reduced correspondingly. Thereby, the profit of marketing the trade articles for the second consuming end is transferred partially to the first consuming end. In this way, the present invention can attract more consumers to purchase the articles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to a discount system for installment of trade articles and its method, and more particularly, to system that an accumulative value to record the number of people who purchase the trade articles. Then, a discount price is calculated according to the accumulative value and an installment payment of the consuming end is reduced correspondingly. Thus, the system provides a discount for the consuming end during the installment period.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     After business activities were developed, trade articles were usually marketed via a “push” method. The so-called “push” method is referred to that enterprises sell (“push”) their articles to consumers actively. In this way, enterprises have more decision-making authorities. Thus, the prices of trade articles are mainly decided by enterprises themselves. Consumers can only accept the prices decided by the enterprises and cannot have more discounts.  
         [0005]     However, since network technologies progress and electronic businesses are developed vigorously, the traditional transaction mode that had been used for thousands of years is changed and the cost for marketing is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the customers&#39; consciousness is awakened and the competition in the market is keener and keener. Enterprises start to produce articles fulfilling the requirements of consumers to attract the consumers. It means that the marketing method is changed from “push” to “pull”. In this way, the consumers can have more decision-making authorities. Hence, enterprises, all without exception, think and provide more discount plans to attract more consumers for purchasing.  
         [0006]     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a discount system for purchasing products on-line. The details of this discount system and the method thereof can be fount in Taiwan patent No. 535079. As shown in the figure, it provides an Internet discount mechanism  1 ′ to offer a discount profit for people who purchase products on-line. The Internet discount mechanism  1 ′ includes an identification unit  11 ′, which is used to identify the identity of a consumer and record the personal information of the consumer to produce a personal account; a time control unit  12 ′ used to record the surfing time of an Internet advertisement  10 ′ provided by an advertisement database  15 ′, wherein the time control unit  12 ′ checks whether the Internet advertisement  10 ′ is indeed browsed via the personal account and then counts time to produces a time signal; a storage unit  13 ′ to record a number of browsing times of the Internet advertisement  10 ′ and produce a frequency signal by employing the time signal; and an ordering unit  14 ′ used for a user to order the product advertised by the Internet advertisement  10 ′ and make the real price of the product be “fixed price*(1—a number of browsing times of the Internet advertisement*a specific percentage)”. In this way, a discount profit is provided to attract consumers to purchase products.  
         [0007]     Conventional discount systems used for purchasing products on-line usually provides discount profits for consumers when they purchase the products. However, for the consumers who choose to pay for the products via installment, the products that can be paid via installment are usually more expensive than other products. That is because the products that can be paid via installment have a risk that consumers cannot pay for the products at a time and it takes a more time for enterprises to obtain the total payment of the products. Thus, although conventional discount systems discount the products that can be paid via installment, the prices of the products that can be paid via installment are still higher than that of other products. Hence, consumers who want to purchase products that can be paid via installment may lose the desire to purchase products. For this sake, how to provide more discount profits for consumers during the installment periods so as to attract more consumers to purchase products has become an important issue for enterprises.  
         [0008]     Therefore, how to provide a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same to resolve the drawbacks of the prior art so as to improve upon that the conventional discount systems cannot provide more discount profits during installment periods has been desired for a long time. Accordingly, in view of the research, development and practical sale experiences of the related products for many years, the inventor of the present invention sought to improve the prior art. Via inventor&#39;s professional knowledge and his research, design and case study in many ways, the inventor finally proposes a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same to resolve the drawback mentioned above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     An objective of the present invention is to provide a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same. After a first consumer purchases a first product, when a second consumer purchases a second product, an accumulative value is increased to represent a total number of second consumers who have purchased the second products and a discount price is calculated according to the accumulative value so as to reduce an installment payment of the first consumer during the installment period. Thereby, a goal of attracting more consumers to purchase products is achieved.  
         [0010]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same. In this system and method, a first consumer invites at least a second consumer for purchase. When the second consumer purchases products, the first consumer obtains a corresponding discount price. Thus, an installment payment of the first consumer is reduced during the installment period. In this way, due to the discount profit, the first consumer is driven to constantly invite the second consumers to purchase products. Thereby, a goal of making more consumers to purchase products is achieved.  
         [0011]     Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same. Therein, a transaction server is provided to advertise at least a first product and at a second product that are provided by the same enterprise and different enterprises. Thus, when the first consumer and the second consumer purchase products provided by different enterprises, the first consumer can still obtain a corresponding discount price.  
         [0012]     For achieving the objectives above, the present invention provides a discount system for installment of trade articles and a method for the same. The system has a transaction server, which employs a web page to provide information of at least a first product and at least a second product for a first consumer. Then, the first consumer can purchase the first products via the transaction server. After that, when at least a second consumer purchases the second product, an accumulative value is increased to represent a total number of people who have purchased the second products. Then, a processor is used to calculate a discount price according to the accumulative value so as to reduce an installment payment of the first consumer. Thus, the first consumer who chooses to pay for the first product via installment can obtain more discount profit. In this way, a goal of attracting more consumers to purchase products is achieved.  
         [0013]     Numerous additional features, benefits and details of the present invention are described in the detailed description, which follows. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a discount system for purchasing products on-line;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the present invention, wherein a first consumer invites second consumers to purchase products and thereby obtain a corresponding discount price;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first consumer invites second consumers to purchase products and thereby obtain a corresponding discount price;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6   a  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first enterprise provides same products for consumers;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6   b  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first enterprise provides different products for consumers;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the present invention, wherein a first consumer and a second consumer use a transaction server to purchase products;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first consumer and a second consumer use a transaction server to purchase products;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9   a  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first enterprise provides same products for purchase of consumers via a transaction server;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9   b  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first enterprise provides different products for purchase of consumers via a transaction server; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of the present invention, wherein a first enterprise and a second enterprise provide different products for purchase of consumers via a transaction server. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     In the prior art, most of enterprises provide discounts for consumers only when marketing products. The present invention is different to the prior art. It provides discount during the installment period. Thus, a consumer&#39;s installment payment can be reduced to make the consumer have more desire of purchase. Hence, the goal of attracting consumers to purchase trades articles is achieved.  
         [0028]     Reference is made to  FIG. 2 , which is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment uses a installment method as an example of the paying method of at least a first product. The method of the present invention has following steps.  
         [0029]     First, in step S 10 , the present invention provides at least a first product and at least a second product for at least a first consumer to purchase the first product via web page. Then, in step S 12 , when at least a second consumer purchases at least a second product, an accumulative value is increased to represent a total number of people who have purchased the second product. Subsequently, step S 14  is performed to multiply the accumulative value with a predetermined percentage to obtain a discount ratio. Thereby, the present invention can calculate a discount price according to the price of the first product or the amount of the installment payment of the first consumer. Finally, in step S 16 , according to the discount price, the amount of the installment payment of the first consumer can be reduced. Thus, the amount of the installment payment of the first consumer can be adjusted dynamically.  
         [0030]     The present invention calculates the discount price via daily settlement, monthly settlement or yearly settlement. Each time when the time for settlement is reached, the discount price is calculated according to the accumulative value used in step S 14 . Furthermore, the installment payment can be calculated via one of formulas (1)-(5). Therein, if formula (1) is used, the first consumer needs to pay the same amount of installment payment for the principal and its interest of the first product at each time. If formula (2) is used, the first consumer pays a part of the principal in advance and then pays the same amount of installment payment for the remaining principal and its interest of the first product at each time, in which the interest is decreased each time when the installment payment is paid. If formula (3) is used, the first consumer pays the same amount of installment payment for the principal and its interest of the first product at each time, in which the interest is decreased each time when the installment payment is paid. If formula (4) is used, the first consumer pays the same amount of installment payment for the interest of the first product at each time and the principal of the first product can be paid later after a predetermined time period. Finally, if formula (5) is used, the first consumer pays the same amount of installment payment for the principal of the first product at each time.  
         [0031]     Formulas (1)-(5) is shown as follows:  
                 the   ⁢           ⁢   installment   ⁢           ⁢   payment     =               price   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product     +               total   ⁢           ⁢   interest   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product             total   ⁢           ⁢   times   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   intallments         ;           (   1   )                   the   ⁢           ⁢   installment   ⁢           ⁢   payment     =         outstanding   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product       remaining   ⁢           ⁢   times   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   intallments       +   interest       ;           (   2   )                   the   ⁢           ⁢   installment   ⁢           ⁢   payment     =         price   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product       total   ⁢           ⁢   times   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   intallments       +   interest       ;           (   3   )                   the   ⁢           ⁢   installment   ⁢           ⁢   payment     =       total   ⁢           ⁢   interest   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product       total   ⁢           ⁢   times   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   intallments         ;   and           (   4   )                 the   ⁢           ⁢   installment   ⁢           ⁢   payment     =         price   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   first   ⁢           ⁢   product       total   ⁢           ⁢   times   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   intallments       .             (   5   )             
 
         [0032]     Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present invention includes at least a first product  14 , at least a second product  122 , at least a first consumer  10 , at least a second product  16 , an accumulative value  18  and a processor  20 . Therein, after the first consumer  10  purchases a first product  14 , each time when a second consumer  12  purchases a second product  16 , the accumulative value  18  is increased to represent a total number of people, i.e. second consumers, who have purchased the second product  16 . Then, the processor  20  calculates a discount price according to the accumulative value  18  so as to reduce an installment payment  140  of the first consumer  10 . The present invention calculates a discount price  22  dynamically according to the situation of the second consumer&#39;s purchasing to provide a profit for the first consumer  10 . Thereby, the goal of attracting more consumers to purchase is achieved.  
         [0033]     Furthermore, the processor  20  of the present invention can uses a simple-interest method or a compound-interest method to calculate the discount price  22  according to the installment payment  140  or the price  142  of the first product  14 . If the discount price  22  is calculated according to the installment payment  140  and the simple-interest method, the discount price  22  is 1500×15%=225 when the installment payment is 1500 and the discount ratio is 15%. Then, the discount price subtracts from the installment payment of the first consumer  10 . Thus, the first consumer  10  only needs to pay 1500−225=1275. In this way, the present invention offers a discount for consumers during the period of installment.  
         [0034]     Furthermore, if the discount price  22  is larger than the installment payment of the first consumer  10 , the present invention records the difference between the discount price  22  and the installment payment of the first consumer  10  into a database. Thus, when the first consumer  10  wants to purchase a product or needs to pay next installment payment, the difference recorded in the database will be deducted from the price of the product or the next installment payment.  
         [0035]     Reference is made to  FIG. 4  together with  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, as an example, the first consumer invites at least a second consumer. When the second consumer purchases products, the first consumer is benefited by a corresponding discount price. First, in step S 20 , the present invention provides at least a first product  14  and at least a second product  16  for at least a first consumer  10  to purchase the first product  14 . Then, in step S 22 , the first consumer  10  invites at least a second consumer  12 . After that, in step S 24 , when the second consumer  12  invited by the first consumer  10  purchases the second product  16 , an accumulative value  18  is increased to represent a total number of people who have purchased the second product. Subsequently, the processor  20  performs step S 26  and step S 28 . In step S 26 , a discount price is calculated according to accumulative value  18 . The discount price is deducted from the installment payment of the first consumer  10 . Thereby, a part of the profit for marketing the second product  16  is transferred to the first consumer  10  and thus the installment payment of the first consumer  10  is reduced. In this way, the first consumer  10  will be driven to invite the second consumer  18  or more other consumers to purchase products.  
         [0036]     Reference is made to  FIG. 6   a . As shown in the figure, the system illustrated in  FIG. 6   a  is similar as that shown in  FIG. 3 . The difference is that the system shown in  FIG. 6   a  further includes a first enterprise  24 , which provides at least a first product  14 . After the first consumer  10  purchases a first product  14 , each time when a second consumer  12  purchases a first product  14 , an accumulative value  18  is increased to represent a total number of people (second consumers) who have purchased the first products  14 . Then, the processor  20  calculates a discount price  22  according to the accumulative value  18 .  
         [0037]     Furthermore, reference is also made to  FIG. 6   b . The first enterprise  24  provides the first product  14  and the second products  16 . After the first consumer  10  purchases the first product  14 , the first enterprise  24  uses the accumulative value and the processor  20  to calculate the discount price, which is deducted from the installment payment of the first consumer  10  who purchases the first product  14  from the first enterprise  24 . Therein, the accumulative value  18  is increased to represent a total number of people (second consumers) who have purchased the second products  16 .  
         [0038]     Reference is made to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . As shown in the figures, the system of the present invention has a transaction server  24 . In step S 30 , the transaction server  24  uses a web page to provide information of at least a first product and at least a second product. After the first consumer  10  obtains the information of the first product  14 , the first consumer  10  can purchase the first product  14 . After that, the accumulative value  18  and the processor  20  are used as described in step S 32  to step S 36  to reduce the installment payment of the first consumer. In this way, the first consumer  10  and the second consumer  12  can use the network technology to choose and purchase a product. Therein, step S 32  and step S 36  are the same as step S 12  and step S 16  mentioned in  FIG. 2 . Hence, these two steps are not detailed again.  
         [0039]     Reference is made to  FIG. 9   a  and  FIG. 9   b . As shown in the figures, the system of the present invention has a transaction server  24 , which is used to present at least a first product  14  provided by the first enterprise  24 . Thus, when the first consumer  10  and the second consumer  12  connect to the transaction server  14  via a network, they can purchase the first product  14 . In addition, the transaction server  24  can present different products provided by the first enterprise  24 . Thus, the first consumer  10  and the second consumer  12  can purchase the first product  14  and the second product  16 .  
         [0040]     Reference is made to  FIG. 10 . As shown in the figure, the present invention further includes a transaction server  26 , a first enterprise  24  and a second enterprise  28 . The transaction server  26  is used to present at least a first product  14  provided by the first enterprise  24  and a second product  16  provided by the second enterprise  28 . After the first consumer  10  purchases a product provided by the first enterprise  24 , when a second consumer  18  purchases a product provided by the second enterprise  28 , the transaction server  26  increases an accumulative value  18  to represent a total number of second consumers  18  who have purchased the second products  16 . Then, the processor  20  calculates a corresponding discount price according to the accumulative value. Thereby, when the first consumer  10  and the second consumer  12  purchase the products provided by different enterprises, the first consumer  10  can also obtain the corresponding discount price.  
         [0041]     To sum up, the present invention is related to a discount system for installment of trade articles and its method. Via the use of a transaction server, an accumulative value and a processor, when a second consumer purchases a second product via the transaction server, the accumulative value is increased to represent a total number of second consumers who have purchased the second products. Then, the processor calculates a discount price according to the accumulative value so as to reduce an installment payment of the first consumer. In this way, a discount profit is obtained by the consumers in the installment period of products that the consumers purchase.  
         [0042]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.