Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20040143502
Timestamp: 2018-04-23 09:53:10
Document Index: 403779764

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 102', '§ 102', '§ 103', '§ 103', '§ 112', 'art 2000', 'art 2000']

US20040143502A1 - Guaranteed pricing systems - Google Patents
Guaranteed pricing systems Download PDF
US20040143502A1
US20040143502A1 US10752066 US75206604A US2004143502A1 US 20040143502 A1 US20040143502 A1 US 20040143502A1 US 10752066 US10752066 US 10752066 US 75206604 A US75206604 A US 75206604A US 2004143502 A1 US2004143502 A1 US 2004143502A1
US10752066
A computer implemented method for guaranteeing a consumer a best price on an item or service purchased from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time at a first price, the method in certain aspects including storing in a first database data for the first price and information identifying the consumer, inputting at least one later-in-time second price for the item or service, determining, during a predetermined time period, any lower second price for the item, comparing the two prices and calculating a money-value difference therebetween, and refunding to the consumer a refund amount equal to the money-value difference; and, in one aspect, entering the consumer in a contest upon completion of the first transaction.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/506,718 filed Feb. 18, 2000; Ser. No. 09/375,451 filed Aug. 17, 1999; and 09/637,293 filed Aug. 11, 2000—all incorporated fully herein for all purposes.
The present invention, in certain aspects, provides a system that, in certain aspects, includes any of the systems and/or methods disclosed in the previously-mentioned “Business System” patent application—Ser. No. 09/375,934—additionally with the following: a method in which a vendor who sells a business or service to a consumer maintains a record of the sale and monitors that item (or service) for a preset time period (e.g., but not limited to, for a week, a month, three months, six months, or a year). If the item is offered at a lower price then the consumer paid, or for sale within the preset time period with any additional new incentive and/or at a lower cost than that paid by the consumer, the consumer is automatically given a refund, a credit, and/or a coupon or certificate good for use equal to the difference in sales prices and/or including value for the new incentive. Alternatively, the vendor may make available a refund, etc. of lesser or of more value than the price difference. Alternatively, a host system or any centralized system as disclosed in the “Business System” patent application (or in any prior art system cited therein) may record the sale, monitor the vendor and the product (or service) for the preset time period, and handle the making available of the refund, etc. to the consumer. The subsequent price or prices to be compared to an initial first sales price can be limited to subsequent retain prices or it may include subsequent on-sale and/or discounted prices.
Such methods and systems which automatically apply a refund and/or an incentive, past or future, to a system user's account.
[0024]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a traditional prior art paper-based bill presentment and payment system.
[0025]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art electronic bill payment systems operated by companies like CheckFree Corporation.
[0026]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art electronic bill payment system proposed by Visa International.
[0027]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a bill presentment and payment system according to one implementation of this invention.
[0028]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for electronically presenting and paying bills using the FIG. 4 system.
[0029]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a bill presentment and payment system according to still another implementation of this invention.
[0030]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a bill presentment and payment system according to still another implementation of this invention.
[0031]FIGS. 8, 10 and 11 are schematic views of systems and/or methods according to the present invention.
[0032]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a personal computer useful with a system according to the present invention.
It is within the scope of certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a method (and a corresponding system and/or apparatus) which is an improved version of the subject matter of these U.S. Pat. Nos.: U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,717, Jan. 25, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,634, Jan. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,635, Jan. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,636, Dec. 21, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,205, Dec. 21, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,408, Dec. 28, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,411, Dec. 28, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,413, Dec. 28, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,942, Nov. 30, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,919, Dec. 7, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,914, Dec. 7, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,739, Nov. 23, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,454, Apr. 20, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411, Sep. 28, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,738, Nov. 23, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,175, Jan. 5, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207, Aug. 11, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,671 issued Apr. 18, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,548 issued Mar. 14, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,150 issued May 30, 2000 (collectively the “listed patents”)—(all of which listed patents are incorporated herein in the entirety for all purposes) said preferred embodiments according to the present invention including any method in any of these listed patents plus one or some (in any number and in any possible combination) of the elements of the present invention, including, but not limited to, one or some of these elements of certain embodiments of the present invention:
The present invention also provides an improved system (as compared to systems of U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,634) for providing purchasing incentives to consumers, including a main computer having a purchase history database for storing product data for products purchased in association with a unique identifier and a personal page database, a computer network, at least one personal computer coupled to said main computer via said computer network, said main computer configured to transmit a prompt for personal information to said at least one personal computer over said computer network, said at least one personal computer configured to transmit personal information data from to said main computer over said computer network in response to said prompt, said main computer configured to generate page data defining a personal web page that is accessible over said computer network, said personal web page based at least in part on said personal information data transmitted from said at least one personal computer to said main computer, said main computer configured to assign a web page address to said personal web page based upon said personal information data, said main computer configured to store said page data defining said personal web page in said personal page database, said main computer configured to determine a purchase incentive depending on (1) said product data stored in said purchase history database or (2) said page data stored in said personal page database, said main computer configured to update said page data so that said personal web page will display said purchase incentive, and the main computer configured to carry out the steps of the guaranteeing of the best price for the purchased products; a computer program product including a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for providing purchasing incentives to consumers, said computer program performing the steps of storing in a purchase history database product data for products purchased in association with a unique identifier, transmitting a prompt for personal information from a main computer to a personal computer over a computer network, transmitting personal information data from said personal computer to said main computer over said computer network in response to said prompt, generating page data defining a personal web page that is accessible over said computer network, said personal web page based at least in part on said personal information data transmitted from said personal computer to said main computer, assigning a web page address to said personal web page based upon said personal information data, storing said page data defining said personal web page in a personal page database, determining a purchase incentive depending on (1) said product data stored in said purchase history database or (2) said page data stored in said personal page database, updating said page data so that said personal web page will display said purchase incentive, and the steps of guaranteeing of the best price for the purchased products; a computer implemented method for generating a web page said method including the steps of transmitting a prompt for personal information from a main computer to a personal computer over a computer network, transmitting personal information data from said personal computer to said main computer over said computer network in response to said prompt, generating page data defining a web page based upon said personal information data, assigning a web page address to said web page based upon said personal information data, storing in a purchase history database data identifying products purchased in association with said identity code, determining a purchase incentive depending on said data stored in said purchase history database in association with said identity code, changing said page data so that said web page having said web page address displays said purchase incentive, and the steps of guaranteeing the best price for the purchased products; and a computer implemented method for generating a web page, said method including the steps of transmitting a prompt for personal information from a main computer to a personal computer over a computer network, transmitting personal information data from said personal computer to said main computer over said computer network in response to said prompt, generating page data defining a web page based upon said personal information data, assigning a web page address to said web pane based upon said personal information data, determining a purchase incentive depending on said personal information, changing said page data so that said web page having said web page address displays said purchase incentive, and guaranteeing a best price for the purchased products.
The present invention, in certain aspects, provides improved versions of the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,717 (incorporated fully here for all purposes) including, but not limited to: including in each method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,717 guaranteeing a best price according to the present invention for any item or service purchased, and in each system of the patent the apparatus(es), computer(s), network(s), device(s), machine(s), and/or computer program(s) for accomplishing the guaranteeing of the best price. In one particular aspect, a method according to the present invention is a method for using a smart card to gain access through an access device upon payment of a value (V) as payment for a thing or service sold at a first price, the method including: operatively coupling said smart card to said access device; reading at least a first set of data and a second set of data from said smart card; performing a first authentication process on said at least first set of data; permitting access if said step of performing a first authentication process meets a required condition; storing said at least first set of data and said second set of data in a memory of said access device when access is permitted, wherein when access is not permitted, said at least first set of data and said second set of data are not stored in said memory of said access device; performing a second authentication process on said at least first set of data and said second set of data after said step of permitting access is accomplished; and guaranteeing a best price for the thing or service purchased initially at the first price.
In one particular aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for guaranteeing the best price for the delivery of a mail item (e.g. a letter, parcel, package, box, postcard). Any method disclosed herein for guaranteeing a best price for a service may be used to guarantee a best price for mail delivery service. One particular method for guaranteeing a consumer a best price for mail delivery service for delivering a mail item delivered by a first mail service provider in a first transaction at a first price includes recording the first price and information identifying the consumer, monitoring the sales price of the item for a predetermined time period after the first transaction, noting any price lower than the first price for the service during the predetermined time period, calculating a money-value difference between the first price and said any price lower than the first price, and refunding to the consumer an amount equal to the money-value difference. For multiple subsequent lower prices a largest single money-value difference for the largest first-price/subsequent price differential is determined and that amount is refunded.
The present invention, therefore, discloses in at least certain embodiments, a computer implemented method for guaranteeing a consumer a best price on an item or service purchased from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time at a first price. Such a method may include storing in a first database data for the first price and information identifying the consumer, inputting at least one second price for the item or service, said second price comprising a price charged for the item or service at a time later than the first time, determining, during a predetermined time period, any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price for the item, comparing the first price to the at least one second price and calculating a money-value difference between the first price and any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price, and refunding to the consumer a refund amount equal to the money-value difference. Such a method may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: wherein the refunding step includes posting the refund amount as a credit to an account of the consumer; wherein the item or service is purchased by the consumer on-line via a network system; wherein the item is purchased via a host system with at least one computer for implementing the computer implemented method and the host system records the first price and information identifying the customer; the host system conducts the monitoring, noting, and calculating steps; and the host system provides the refund to the consumer; wherein the host system provides the refund by crediting an account of the consumer; wherein the account is an account of the consumer with the host system; wherein a refund adjustment is made for each subsequent sales price lower than the at least one second price for the predetermined time period; monitoring sales of the item or service during the predetermined time period for any incentive provided to consumers purchasing the item or service following the first transaction, and providing the consumer involved in the first transaction with a refund based on a money value of said incentive; monitoring sales of the item or service during the predetermined time period for any incentive provided to consumers purchasing the item following the first transaction, and
providing the consumer involved in the first transaction with a refund based on a money value of said incentive; wherein only prices for the item to be sold by the vendor involved in the first transaction are taken into account in the comparing step; and/or wherein only prices for the item for sale in a pertinent geographic area are taken into account in the comparing step.
The present invention, therefore, discloses in at least certain embodiments, a computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for guaranteeing a consumer a best price of an item or service purchased at a first price from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time, said computer program performing the steps of receiving and storing in a first database data for the first price with a unique identifier identifying the consumer, receiving and storing in a second database at least one second price for the item or service, said second price comprising a price charged for the item or service at a time later than the first time, determining, during a predetermined time period, any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price, comprising the first price to the at least one second price, calculating a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one second price lower than the first price, and generating a refund amount equal to the money-value difference. Such a computer program may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: crediting an account of the consumer with the refund amount; crediting the consumer's account by transmitting data indicative of the refund amount and data identifying the consumer from a first computer to a second computer, the second computer maintaining the account of the consumer; said at least one second price lower than the first price comprising a plurality of said second prices, the computer program further including determining the lowest price of the plurality of said second prices and generating a refund amount corresponding to a largest money-value difference between said lowest price and said first price, and generating a refund amount equal to said largest money-value difference; and/or crediting an account of the consumer with the largest money-value difference.
The present invention, therefore, discloses in at least certain embodiments, an apparatus for guaranteeing a best price to a consumer for an item or service purchased at a first price at a first time from a vendor in a first transaction, the apparatus including a storage device and a processor device connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative to: compare the first price to at least one subsequent second price for the item or service, determine whether the at least one subsequent second price is lower than the first price, and, if so, calculate a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one subsequent second price which is lower than the first price, and generate a refund amount equal to the money-value difference. Such an apparatus may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: credit an account of the consumer with the refund amount; wherein the processor is operative to credit the consumer's account by transmitting data indicative of the refund amount and data identifying the consumer from a first computer to a second computer, the second computer maintaining the account of the consumer; wherein data for the account of the consumer is stored in the storage device; wherein said at least one second price lower than the first price comprising a plurality of said second prices, the processor operative to determine the lowest price of the plurality of said second prices and a refund amount corresponding to a largest money-value difference between said lowest price and said first price, and generate a refund amount equal to said largest money-value difference; and/or wherein the processor is operative to credit an account of the consumer with the largest money-value difference.
The present invention, in certain aspects, provides improved versions of the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,671 (incorporated fully here for all purposes) including, but not limited to: including in each method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,671 guaranteeing a best price according to the present invention for any item or service purchased, and in each system of the patent the apparatus(es), computer(s), network(s), device(s), machine(s), and/or computer program(s) for accomplishing the guaranteeing of the best price. In one particular aspect, a method according to the present invention is a method as shown schematically in FIG. 4 that is a billing and payment authorization method that includes: defining a database having predetermined tolerance parameters for a billable entity; receiving billing information from a billing entity, the billing information including an amount the billable entity is to pay for goods or services; after receiving the billing information, determining if the billing information received from the billing entity satisfies the predetermined tolerance parameters; providing the billable entity with remote access to the database to review the billing information submitted by the billing entity, and authorize payment of the billing entity; guaranteeing a best price to the billable entity for the goods or services which the payment is form, and, if necessary, providing a refund to the billable entity (which, in one aspect, is automatically credited to an account of the billable entity with no action or initiation by the billable entity. All the boxes of FIG. 11 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,671 which is incorporated here by reference, except the bottom two boxes.
The present invention, in certain aspects, provides improved versions of the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,150 (incorporated fully here for all purposes) including, but not limited to: including in each method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,150 guaranteeing a best price according to the present invention for any item or service purchased, and in each system of the patent the apparatus (es)., computer(s), network(s), device(s), machine(s), and/or computer program(s) for accomplishing the guaranteeing of the best price.
[0106]FIG. 2 shows a prior art electronic Bill Payment Service Provider (BPSP) system 40 operated by companies like CheckFree Corporation, Intuit Services Corporation, and VISA Interactive. The BPSP system 40 includes a biller 42, a consumer 44, a BPSP services unit (BSU) 46, BPSP bank 48, a biller bank 50, a consumer bank 52, and ACH (Automated Clearing House) network 54, and potentially other payment networks like RPS (Remittance Processing Service). The lockbox operation of processing payment remittances is performed by either the biller, or a third party designated by the biller. In the illustrated implementation, a third party concentrator (CT) 56 processes payment remittances, although the bank 50 itself may also be designated to perform the lockbox operation. The ACH network is a nationwide system that processes electronic payments on behalf of depository financial institutions well-known in the art.
[0114]FIG. 3 shows a prior art electronic bill payment system 90 proposed by Visa International. This system 90 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,206, entitled “Electronic Bill Pay System” issued Nov. 7, 1995. The Visa system 90 includes a biller 92, a consumer 94, a biller bank 96, a consumer bank 98, a settlement bank 100, and a payment network 102. The payment network 102 is described in the patent as being the VisaNet.RTM. network. A method for presenting and paying bills using the Visa bill pay system 90 is illustrated as a series of enumerated steps. The biller 92 sends a bill 104 by U.S. mail or email (step 1). The bill 104 includes a unique biller reference number (BRN). To pay the bill 104, the consumer 94 transmits to consumer bank 98 a transaction indicating an amount to pay, the source of funds, a date on which to make the payment, the consumer's account number with biller, and the biller's BRN (step 2).
[0117]FIG. 4 shows a bill presentment and payment remittance & settlement system 110 according to an implementation of this invention. The system 110 includes a biller 112, a consumer 114, and a network 116. The bill presentment and payment system 110 is an electronic, computerized system having computing units at the biller 112 and consumer 114. For convenience, the pair of terms “biller” and “biller computing unit,” as well as the pair of terms “consumer” and “consumer computing unit,” will be used interchangeably. A detailed discussion of an exemplary implementation of a consumer computing unit is described below and depicted in FIG. 6.
[0120]FIG. 5 shows a method for electronically presenting and paying bills using the system 110. As one implementation, the steps are performed in software executing at the biller computing unit 112 and the consumer computing unit 114. Other software components might also reside at the biller bank 122 (and/or concentrator 120) and the consumer bank 124. At step 150, the biller's software executing at the biller computing unit 112 generates a bill 128 and associated payment remittance information 130 according to a format created entirely by the biller. This is advantageous because the biller can customize the bill and remittance information to include any type of data that it wants. Additionally, the bill and payment remittance information can be specifically formatted for compatibility with the biller's existing accounting software. Another advantage is that the bill can be artistically designed to present an appearance unique to the biller. The bill 128 might be implemented simply as a static data structure which holds pertinent data related to the account and billing matters, as well as any remittance data desired by the biller. This data structure is passed between the biller computing unit and the consumer computing unit and utilized by the software components running on these computing units. The bill 128 might alternatively be constructed with additional features, such as embedded hyperlinks, pop-up dialog boxes, or pop-up advertisements. The bill 128 might further be constructed as a sophisticated application, having executable code and other features, in addition to the basic data structure.
At step 167, FIG. 5, the biller computing unit 112 (or any other computing unit or suitable system in the overall system) may be used to monitor the Network 116 (or any other desired Network or database) for prices for the goods or services purchased by the consumer. The unit 112 can compute price differences and applicable refunds and can then initiate and transmit a credit, e.g. via the Network 126, which is automatically credited (step 169(to the consumer's account, e.g. a consumer account in the consumer bank 124 (or, alternatively a consumer's credit card account or account with a company—as can be the consumer account credited in any embodiment of this invention).
[0126]FIG. 6 shows another implementation of a bill presentment and payment system in accordance with the invention, which is referenced generally by number 250. System 250 differs from the system 110 described with respect to FIG. 4 in that an intermediary 252 is interposed between the biller 112 and consumer 114. The intermediary 252 is a bill presentment and payment remittance service provider that handles billing responsibilities for the biller and payment instructions remitted back from the consumers. The intermediary 252 acts as a centralized bill warehouse and delivery mechanism that offers one gathering place for both billers and consumers. The intermediary 252 is equipped with a computing unit that is programmed to electronically handle the bills, remittance information, payment instructions, and staging and delivery instructions on behalf of many different billers and many different consumers. The intermediary functions can also be split among multiple entities. For example, one company can stage the bills and another company can handle the remittance processing. Other arrangements for handling the intermediary functions are also possible.
The biller 112 passes th payment instructions onto a concentrator 120 or biller bank 122. The biller bank 122 submits a debit transaction using the clearing payment instructions generated by the intermediary 252 to debit the consumer's account in consumer bank 124 for the amount of the payment authorized by the consumer. The intermediary's computing unit is programmed (as is, e.g. the biller computing unit 112, FIG. 4) to monitor prices of the goods or services purchased by the computer to calculate price differences; to validate applicable refunds; and to initiate and transmit a credit in an account of the consumer. Alternatively, any other computing unit in the system does this.
[0130]FIG. 7 shows another implementation of a bill presentment and payment system in accordance with the invention, which is referenced generally by number 260. System 260 is essentially the same as system 250 described above with respect to FIG. 6, with the primary difference being that the intermediary 252 sends the payment instructions (PI) 254 directly to the biller bank 122 as opposed to the biller 112. This eliminates having the biller handle the payment instruction file. In a variation of this implementation, the intermediary can be configured to submit the payment instructions directly, or through its own bank (not shown), to the clearing network 126.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, and for guaranteeing a best price to a consumer for the subject matter of a transaction, including: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller; electronically transmitting the bill and associated payment remittance information to the consumer; enabling the consumer to authorize electronic payment of the bill; associating the electronic payment with the payment remittance information; transmitting the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, from the consumer back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller; and guaranteeing a best price to the consumer for the goods or services that are the subject of the transaction; such a method wherein the payment remittance information is arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can enter or alter and one or more closed data fields to bold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including hidden structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; and/or such a method including automatically providing a refund to an account of the consumer to effect a best price guarantee, said refund requiring no post-transaction action by the consumer.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a method for electronically presenting and remitting payment of bills, and for guaranteeing a best price to a consumer for the subject matter of a transaction, including: generating a bill and associated payment remittance information at a biller, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields to hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; electronically transmitting a bill and associated payment remittance information from the biller to at least one intermediary; electronically transmitting the bill and payment remittance information from the intermediary to the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions which include at least one of a payment amount and a payment date; electronically transmitting the payment instructions and payment remittance information from the consumer to the intermediary; electronically transmitting the payment remittance information including the structured remittance data, from the intermediary back to the biller in the format prescribed by the biller; settling accounts between the consumer and biller using the payment instructions; and guaranteeing a best price to the consumer for the goods or services that are the subject of the transaction; and such a method including automatically providing a refund to an account of the consumer to effect a best price guarantee, said refund requiring no post-transaction action by the consumer.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps including: storing a bill and associated payment remittance information, the payment remittance information being arranged within a data structure according to a format prescribed by the biller, the data structure having one or more open data fields to hold data that a consumer can supply or alter and one or more closed data fields that hold data that the consumer cannot alter, the remittance information further including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from the consumer; presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data; enabling the consumer to specify payment instructions including at least one of an amount to be paid on the bill, a payment date, and an account from which to draw payment, while prohibiting the consumer from altering data contained in the closed data fields; associating the payment instructions with the structured remittance data; electronically transmitting the payment instructions to initiate payment of the bill; electronically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the biller prescribed format to the biller so that the structured remittance data is automatically returned to the biller without intervention by the consumer; and guaranteeing a best price to the consumer for the goods or services that are the subject of the transaction; such a computer-readable medium having further computer-executable instructions for performing a step of monitoring prices for the subject matter of the transaction; such a medium having further computer-executable instructions for performing a step of comparing prices for the subject matter of the transaction and calculating a refund, if any, due to the consumer; and/or such a medium having further computer-executable instructions for automatically crediting an account of the consumer to effect a best price guarantee; and a computing unit configured to read and perform the computer-executable instructions on the computer-readable memory as any recited above.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, an electronic bill presentment and payment remittance system including a network, a biller computing unit with computer-readable medium, and a consumer computing unit with computer readable medium, the computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing steps including operatively linking the biller computing unit and consumer computing unit to the network; generating a bill for a consumer sales transaction to related to goods or services and associated payment remittance information in a particular format at the biller computing unit, the remittance information including structured remittance data that is kept hidden from a consumer; transmitting the bill and payment remittance information over the data network from the biller computing unit to the consumer computing unit; receiving the bill and payment remittance information at the consumer computing unit and presenting the bill to the consumer without revealing the structured remittance data to the consumer; facilitating entry of payment instructions including at least one of a payment amount and a date at the consumer computing unit, and following said entry, automatically routing the payment remittance information, including the structured remittance data, in the particular format to the biller computing unit; and guaranteeing a best price for the goods or services; and computer-readable media having such computer-executable instructions and further having computer-executable instructions to calculate and transmit a refund credit to an account of the consumer computing unit, e.g. by phone, by wireless communication, by radio or over the network.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a system for conducting electronic commerce between a user and an electronic commerce merchant in a computer network that includes a plurality of user workstations coupled to a network server containing a collection of replaceable and extensible object-oriented software components that interoperate to provide back-end services including means for initiating an implementation of an abstract, object-oriented Cashier component to process payment requests by employing a number of replaceable software components or tools, means for generating an implementation of an abstract, object-oriented CashierDesk component that provides the Cashier component access to instances of other classes used in processing a transaction, means for entering a transaction into the Cashier component for processing for payment and issuing of a receipt for the transaction using the CashierDesk components, and means for guaranteeing to the user a best price for the transaction; such a system with means for providing a refund to the user in order to effect a best price guarantee; and/or such a system with means for providing the refund automatically to an account of the user, which refund requires no action on the part of the user after the transaction.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, an article of manufacture with a computer readable program code embodied on a computer network for conducting electronic commerce between a user and an electronic commerce merchant in a system that includes a plurality of user workstations coupled to a network server containing a collection of replaceable and extensible subject-oriented interface software components that interoperate to provide back-end services, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture with computer programming code which generates an implementation of an abstract, object-oriented Cashier Component to process payment requests by employing a number of replaceable software components or tools in a framework, computer programming code generating an implementation of an abstract, object-oriented CashierDesk component that provides the Cashier component access to instances of other classes used in processing a transaction, computer programming code entering a transaction into the Cashier component for processing for payment and issuing a receipt for the transaction using the CashierDesk components; and computer programming code guaranteeing a best price to the user for the transaction; such an article of manufacture with computer programming code for providing a refund to the user in order to effect a best price guarantee; and/or such an article of manufacture with computer programming code for providing the refund automatically to an account of the user, which refund requires no action on the part of the user after the transaction.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a billing and payment authorization method, including defining a database having predetermined tolerance parameters for a billable entity, receiving billing information from a billing entity, the billing information including an amount the billable entity is to pay for a transaction whose subject matter is goods or services, after receiving the billing information, determining if the billing information received from the billing entity satisfies the predetermined tolerance parameters, providing the billable entity with remote access to the database to review the billing information submitted by the billing entity, and authorize payment of the billing entity, and guaranteeing to the billable entity a best price for the subject matter of the transaction; such a method including providing a refund to the billable entity in order to effect a best price guarantee and/or such a method including providing the refund automatically to an account of the billable entity, which refund requires no action by the billable entity after the transaction.
Any method according to the present invention may include a step in which a consumer engaging in a transaction is entered in a contest or a lottery with a chance to win a prize, an item, a service, and/or an amount of money. In one aspect this entry is automatic upon the consumer opting to have the best price guarantee with respect to an item or service purchased. In another aspect both the best price guarantee and the contest or lottery entry are automatic with the purchase of the item (or service), with or without an additional charge for the best price guarantee.
In another aspect, the consumer opts for the contest or lottery entry (whether the best price guarantee is automatic upon a purchase or is activated upon the consumer opting for the best price guarantee). In certain particular aspects the entry is free and in another aspect the consumer pays a pre-established amount for each contest or lottery entry. In another aspect, a consumer is eligible for the contest or lottery (or can opt to have an entry) only upon purchase of more than one item (or service and/or service); e.g., but not limited to, two, three four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or eleven (or more) purchases. In one aspect such multiple purchases must occur within a pre-set time period, e.g., but not limited to, within a day, a week, two weeks, three weeks, a month, a plurality (two or more) months, a year, or a plurality (two or more) of years; and/or such multiple purchases must occur in the same sales location (e.g., but not limited to, one particular store or mall), in the same geographic area (e.g., but not limited to, within one mall area, one town, one city, one county, one state, or one country), in the same type and/or same chain of store, shop, business, or sales entity; and/or are purchases for the same item or service (or services) and/or are purchases for item (or services) from one category (e.g., but not limited to, office supplies, office furniture, or kitchen supplies).
In one particular aspect, the consumer herself or himself does not personally receive the award amount (or other prize); but the consumer gets to designate a charitable organization, educational entity, needy person, governmental entity, or service organization that receives the amount (or other prize). In one particular aspect, a consumer winning a monetary amount is given options for receiving the amount, e.g., but not limited to, one lump sum amount or a payout over time or both. In another embodiment any of the above methods and/or steps according to the present invention is used without a best price guarantee.
A contest or lottery monetary amount, according to one embodiment of the present invention, is based on a percentage of the value of purchases made by one specific consumer or by a plurality of distinct consumers, and these purchases may be: purchases of a particular item (or service); purchases within a particular time period; purchases within a particular geographic area; purchases from a particular entity, type of entity, or chain of entities; and/or purchases at or above a particular monetary value. Alternatively, instead of basing a won monetary amount on a percentage of value of purchases, the amount is determined by including in it a specific monetary amount for each purchase (each purchase by any consumer receiving the best price guarantee; or alternatively, not receiving such a guarantee); e.g., but not limited to one cent for each purchase whether the purchase is for an item (or service) that costs one, two, a hundred, or a thousand dollars. In another aspect, a consumer receives multiple entries depending on the amount of money spent for an item, items, service, and/or services; e.g., but not limited to, a consumer receiving an entry for each dollar spent and, therefor, e.g., receiving 112 entries upon spending $112. Alternatively, the amount is a pre-established fixed amount to be awarded at a pre-determined time to a consumer; and, in certain aspects, this consumer is one who has purchased an item (and/or service) or a pre-set number of items (and/or services) with a best price guarantee according to the present invention, or who has purchased items (or services) with a best price guarantee according to the present invention whose cost reaches a pre-set level.
The contest or lottery can be, according to the present invention, automatic and require no action on the part of the consumers with the first knowledge of entry into the contest or lottery and/or of winning the contest or lottery being a notification with a monthly account statement, a phone call, a letter, a personal notification (e.g. at home, at a workplace, or at a sales entity), an email notification, and/or when the consumer identifies himself or herself, e.g., but not limited to, upon the consumer using a credit card, smart card, or other electronic identifier, with the notification being electronic, e.g. on a touch pad, monitor or screen, and/or in person electronically and/or by a person in person.
In one particular aspect a contest or lottery monetary amount (or other prize) is made available, according to the present invention, for award instantly upon a consumer completing a purchase and receiving a best price guarantee according to any method according to the present invention and is, in certain aspects, either paid in cash instantly to the consumer or is credited instantly to an account of the consumer. The monetary amount (or other prize) in such methods is either pre-established or is determined by any method disclosed herein. Such an amount can be awarded, in certain aspects of the present invention, upon completion of a pre-set number of transactions, each of which includes a best price guarantee according to the present invention or can be awarded when a pre-set level for an amount is reached.
In another aspect a consumer instantly wins a contest or lottery monetary amount (determined in any way according to the present invention) or other prize upon purchase of a particular previously-designated item and/or service with a best price guarantee according to any method according to the present invention. Any known method may be used to identify the item or service, e.g., but not limited to, a bar code and/or a secret mark or identifier on the item or associated with the service.
In another aspect of the present invention a consumer wins a contest or lottery amount (or other prize) in any way according to the present invention and with a best price guarantee according to any embodiment according to the present invention by purchasing a particularly numbered item (or service) e.g., but not limited to, the one hundredth or ten thousandth item (or service) sold. For example, and not by way of limitation, XYZ Co. determines a lottery amount of $10,000 for the ten thousandth person to buy one of its ABC Model 2000 televisions within the state of Texas with the purchase for 99¢ of a best price guarantee that covers any ABC Model 2000 television sold within the next month within the state of Texas (with the best price guarantee put into effect by any method according to the present invention).
In one particular aspect of methods according to the present invention which include a best price guarantee method according to the present invention, when a consumer receives a price differential amount due to the best price guarantee and the account of the consumer to be credited with an amount equal to the amount of the price differential is an account that requires a minimum monthly payment and the price-differential amount equals or exceeds the amount of the minimum monthly payment, the minimum monthly payment (or part thereof) is made automatically with the price-differential amount.
In any method disclosed above instead of winning a monetary amount, a winning consumer can win a particular pre-established item or service.
The step or structure for any embodiment of the contest discussed above is indicated in the embodiments of FIGS. 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 by “CONTEST optional” and it is within the scope of this invention to provide any of the contest steps, apparatuses or alternatives with any method according to the present invention. The various steps and/or programs for any of the contest steps according to the present invention are provided by appropriate software programs in the computer(s) used to effect the methods according to the present invention.
The present invention, therefore, in at least certain embodiments, provides a computer implemented method for guaranteeing a consumer a best price on an item or service purchased from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time at a first price, the first price paid by the consumer at the first time, the method including storing in a first database data for the first price and information identifying the consumer, inputting at least one second price for the item or service, said second price comprising a price for the item or service at a time later than the first time, determining, during a predetermined time period following the first time, any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price for the item, comparing the first price to the at least one second price and calculating a money-value difference between the first price and any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price, refunding to the consumer a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and posting the refund amount as a credit to an account of the consumer; and entering the consumer in a contest, the consumer qualifying for said entering and for winning a prize in said contest by completing the first transaction. Such a method may include one or some of the following, in any possible combination: wherein the prize is from the group of an item or items, a service or services, a monetary amount, and/or a payment to the account of the consumer; wherein the prize is awarded for the consumer to designate for another entity other than the consumer; wherein the prize is a monetary amount paid personally to the consumer or to an account of the consumer in lieu of payment due on said account of the consumer; wherein the consumer is automatically entered in the contest upon completion of the first transaction; and/or wherein the prize is a monetary amount automatically credited to an account of the consumer.
The present invention, therefore, in at least certain embodiments, provides a computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for guaranteeing a consumer a best price of an item or service purchased at a first price from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time, the first price paid by the consumer at the first time, said computer program performing the steps of receiving and storing in a first database data for the first price with a unique identifier identifying the consumer, receiving and storing in a second database at least one second price for the item or service, said second price comprising a price for the item or service at a time later than the first time, determining, during a predetermined time period following the first time, any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price, comparing the first price to the at least one second price, calculating a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one second price lower than the first price, generating a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and crediting an account of the consumer with the refund amount; and in one aspect, wherein the computer program performs the step of entering the consumer in a contest, th consumer qualifying for said entering and for winning a prize in said contest by completing the first transaction.
The present invention, therefore, in at least certain embodiments, provides apparatus for guaranteeing a best price to a consumer for an item or service purchased at a first price at a first time from a vendor in a first transaction, the first price paid by the consumer at the first time, the apparatus including storage device, a processor device connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative to compare the first price to at least one second price for the item or service, said at least one second price temporally subsequent to the first price, determine whether the at least one second price is lower than the first price, and, if so, calculate a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one second price which is lower than the first price, generate a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and to credit an account of the consumer with the refund amount; and in one aspect wherein the processor is operative to enter the consumer in a contest upon completion of the first transaction.
In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 102. The invention claimed herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 103 and satisfies th conditions for patentability in § 103. This specification and the claims that follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
1. A computer implemented method for guaranteeing a consumer a best price on an item or service purchased from a vendor in a first transaction at a first time at a first price, the first price paid by the consumer at the first time, the method comprising
storing in a first database data for the first price and information identifying the consumer,
inputting at least one second price for the item or service, said second price comprising a price for the item or service at a time later than the first time,
comparing the first price to the at least one second price and calculating a money-value difference between the first price and any price of the at least one second price lower than the first price,
refunding to the consumer a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and
posting the refund amount as a credit to an account of the consumer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer implemented method further comprises
entering the consumer in a contest, the consumer qualifying for said entering and for winning a prize in said contest by completing the first transaction.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the item is purchased via a host system with at least one computer for implementing the computer implemented method and the host system records the first price and information identifying the customer; the host system conducts the monitoring, noting, and calculating steps.
monitoring sales of the item or service during the predetermined time period for any incentive provided to consumers purchasing the item or service following the first transaction, and
providing the consumer involved in the first transaction with a refund based on a money value of said incentive.
calculating a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one second price lower than the first price,
generating a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and
crediting an account of the consumer with the refund amount.
16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the computer program performs the steps of
said at least one second price lower than the first price comprising a plurality of said second prices, the computer program further comprising
determining the lowest price of the plurality of said second prices and generating a refund amount corresponding to a money-value difference between said lowest price and said first price,
generating a refund amount equal to said money-value difference and,
crediting an account of the consumer with the largest money-value difference.
a processor device connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor,
the processor operative to
compare the first price to at least one second price for the item or service, said at least one second price temporally subsequent to the first price,
determine whether the at least one second price is lower than the first price, and, if so,
calculate a money-value difference between the first price and the at least one second price which is lower than the first price,
generate a refund amount equal to the money-value difference, and to
credit an account of the consumer with the refund amount.
said at least one second price lower than the first price comprises a plurality of said second prices, the processor operative to
determine the lowest price of the plurality of said second prices and a refund amount corresponding to a money-value difference between said lowest price and said first price, and
generate a refund amount equal to said money-value difference.
US10752066 1999-08-17 2004-01-06 Guaranteed pricing systems Abandoned US20040143502A1 (en)
US50671800 Continuation-In-Part 2000-02-18 2000-02-18
US63729300 Continuation-In-Part 2000-08-08 2000-08-08
US11100343 Continuation-In-Part US7769631B2 (en) 1999-08-17 2005-04-06 Business systems with price guarantee and display
US20040143502A1 true true US20040143502A1 (en) 2004-07-22
ID=27409249
US10752066 Abandoned US20040143502A1 (en) 1999-08-17 2004-01-06 Guaranteed pricing systems
US (1) US20040143502A1 (en)
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