| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20110073646 | Game Presentation In A Retail Establishment - According to one embodiment, a game presentation such as a virtual slot machine may be displayed by a display device associated with a point of sale (POS) terminal. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110166919 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS WHEREIN A SECURITY DEPOSIT FACILITATES A TRANSACTION IN WHICH A BENEFIT IS APPLIED IN EXCHANGE FOR PERFORMANCE OF A TASK - Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car. It is also arranged for the customer to provide a security deposit. When the customer performs the task by test driving the car, arrangements are then made to return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20120010934 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OFFERS USING A BILLING STATEMENT - A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data. | 01-12-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080208663 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A BENEFIT DURING A TRANSACTION FOR USE DURING A LATER TRANSACTION - A method and apparatus for allowing a customer to purchase or otherwise receive a benefit during a first transaction that will be redeemed by the customer or provided to the customer at a later time or during a future transaction for the purchase, rental, lease, etc. of one or more products and/or services. The price to the customer for the benefit may be a monetary amount, a non-monetary amount, a commitment by the customer to complete or perform some obligation or qualifying action. The value of the benefit to the customer may be based on one or more aspects or characteristics of the first transaction. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090254531 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND CATEGORIZING DATA AT A TERMINAL - A method and system for collecting and categorizing survey data includes receiving customer information from a customer. A query is identified based at least in part on the customer information. The query is output for presentation to the customer. In one embodiment, the query is presented to the customer by prompting an employee, such as a clerk at a point-of-sale terminal, to verbally present the question to the customer. A customer response to the query is then received. The request from the customer may be, for example, a request to purchase one or more products or it may be a request for assistance or information. The customer response is then captured and analyzed. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100049601 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING SUBSCRIPTIONS - A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription may be established after receiving information that identifies a product. Terms of a subscription for the product are established, such as a frequency and a duration of the subscription. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100267440 | GAMES OF CHANCE WITH PLAYER-SPECIFIED ELEMENTS - A game to be modified in accordance with the invention involves a first random outcome and a second random outcome that are combined according to game rules to produce a game outcome. The game is administered by receiving a player request for a specific entry, the specific entry replacing one of the random outcomes and being selected from a finite set of possibilities not determined by chance. The requested specific entry affects the probable outcome of the game. The specific entry is combined with the remaining one of the random outcomes according to the game rules to determine the game outcome. According to one embodiment, the specific entry may be a score such as 18 which replaces the player's hand in the game of blackjack. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110275430 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD INCLUDING AN EVALUATION OF A PARTIAL SYMBOL COMBINATION - A game to be modified in accordance with the invention involves a first random outcome and a second random outcome that are combined according to game rules to produce a game outcome. The game is administered by receiving a player request for a specific entry, the specific entry replacing one of the random outcomes and being selected from a finite set of possibilities not determined by chance. The requested specific entry affects the probable outcome of the game. The specific entry is combined with the remaining one of the random outcomes according to the game rules to determine the game outcome. According to one embodiment, the specific entry may be a score such as 18 which replaces the player's hand in the game of blackjack. | 11-10-2011 |
