Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110047022 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CROSS-BENEFITS BASED ON A CUSTOMER ACTIVITY - In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor (e.g., a subsidizing vendor). The offer may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for an item purchased from a first vendor and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. The customer is charged a second price for the items, which is less than the total price, and may even be zero. | 02-24-2011 |
20110258030 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SALE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PERIODICALS - A POS terminal receives a signal that indicates an item, for example, via a bar code scanner. The POS terminal ascertains whether the item is associated with an offer for a rebate. If so, a code is generated and output to the customer, such as on a printed receipt. The code is associated with an offer for a rebate in exchange for establishing a subscription to a periodical. If the customer subscribes to a required periodical, he will be credited the amount he paid for the item. Subsequently, the customer requests a subscription to a periodical from a subscription fulfillment house, and provides his code in conjunction with the request. If the code is valid, the customer is provided with a rebate. The rebate may be provided directly by the subscription fulfillment house (e.g. a credit to a credit card account) or may be provided by a merchant (e.g. a discount on a future purchase). | 10-20-2011 |
20120150609 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SALE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PERIODICALS - A POS terminal receives a signal that indicates an item, for example, via a bar code scanner. The POS terminal ascertains whether the item is associated with an offer for a rebate. If so, a code is generated and output to the customer, such as on a printed receipt. The code is associated with an offer for a rebate in exchange for establishing a subscription to a periodical. If the customer subscribes to a required periodical, he will be credited the amount he paid for the item. Subsequently, the customer requests a subscription to a periodical from a subscription fulfillment house, and provides his code in conjunction with the request. If the code is valid, the customer is provided with a rebate. The rebate may be provided directly by the subscription fulfillment house (e.g. a credit to a credit card account) or may be provided by a merchant (e.g. a discount on a future purchase). | 06-14-2012 |
20120185313 | SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A POSTING PAYMENT AMOUNT AS A CREDIT FOR PURCHASES - Products and processes are provided in which information is received for a post relating to an item to be sold via a posting site. A posting payment amount relating to the post is determined. The posting amount is provided as a credit for purchases. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185350 | SYSTEM TO FEATURE A POSTING - Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post relating to an item to be sold via a posting site. A posting payment award is determined. The posting award is provided in the form of a prominent feature of the post on the posting site. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185351 | SYSTEM TO DETERMINE A POSTING PAYMENT AMOUNT BASED ON PREFERRED PAYMENT METSHOD - Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The received posting information identifies a preferred method of payment. Based on the preferred method of payment, a posting payment amount is determined. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185352 | SYSTEM TO PROCESS A POSTING PAYMENT - Products and processes are provided in which information is received that is related to a post for an item to be sold via, a posting site. The received posting information includes account information which identifies an account of a party other than the seller. Based on the received information, a posting payment amount is determined. The post payment amount is transferred with respect to the entity other than the seller, using the received account information. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185364 | SYSTEM TO DETERMINE POSTING PAYMENT AMOUNT BASED ON SPECIFIC TYPE OF ITEM - Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include type data identifying the item for sale as being a specific type of item. Based on the received type data, a posting payment amount is determined. | 07-19-2012 |
20120185365 | SYSTEM TO DETERMINE POSTING PAYMENT AMOUNT FOR BASED ON A NUMBER OF VIEWS - Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The post offering the item for sale is published via a posting site and the number of people who viewed the post is determined. Based on the number of people who viewed the post, a posting payment amount is determined. | 07-19-2012 |
20120197694 | SYSTEM TO SOLICIT COMMITMENT TO POST INFORMATION - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197766 | SYSTEM TO SOLICIT INVENTORY INFORMATION - Products and processes are provided in which an award is offered to an entity to provide inventory information concerning an item that the entity is in a position to offer for sale via a posting site. In response to receiving inventory information, the award is provided to the entity. | 08-02-2012 |
20130268389 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFERING MULTIPLE PRODUCTS - A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person is disclosed. | 10-10-2013 |
20130282456 | SYSTEM AND METHODS TO DETERMINE A VALUE RELATING TO A POST - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETERMINE A VALUE RELATING TO A POST - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 10-24-2013 |
20130290085 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETERMINE A VALUE RELATING TO A POST - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 10-31-2013 |
20130290086 | Systems and methods to determine a value relating to a post - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 10-31-2013 |
20130304552 | Systems and methods to determine a value relating to a post - Products and processes are provided in which an award for a commitment from an entity to post information, via a posting site, at or before a subsequent time is offered to an entity. In response to receiving the commitment, the award is provided to the entity. | 11-14-2013 |
20140129427 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETERMINE A VALUE RELATING TO A POST - Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include type data identifying the item for sale as being a specific type of item. Based on the received type data, a posting payment amount is determined. | 05-08-2014 |
20140222609 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CROSS-BENEFITS BASED ON A CUSTOMER ACTIVITY - In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor (e.g., a subsidizing vendor). The offer may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for an item purchased from a first vendor and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. The customer is charged a second price for the items, which is less than the total price, and may even be zero. | 08-07-2014 |
20140304114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING UPGRADING OF PREVIOUSLY SOLD PRODUCTS - In accordance with at least some embodiments, systems and methods provide for storing an indication of an initial purchase of a first new product from a supplier and by an initial purchaser and facilitating a provision to the initial purchaser of the second product by the supplier and a return of the pre-owned product from the initial purchaser to the supplier. | 10-09-2014 |