HK1201362A1 - Transferable indicia and display with related commissioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

Aspects of the invention may include methods and systems for determining commission amounts in a multiple party transaction for the purchase of goods or services by an obtaining user, the goods or services associated with an indicia, the multiple party transaction being amongst at least an originating merchant and a providing merchant, the providing merchant in selective communication with a central processor, the method including: receiving the indicia associated with the goods or services for purchase and a purchase price; determining the goods or services associated with the indicia; determining factors associated with the multiple party transaction comprising: the purchase price; the identity of the providing merchant and providing merchant characteristics; the identity of the originating merchant and originating merchant characteristics; calculating, based at least in part on the factors: a commission, if any, for the providing merchant; and a commission, if any, for the originating merchant.

Description

Transferable indicia and display with associated commission generation system

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of the U.S. provisional patent application No.61/608,820, filed on 3/9/2012 of the present application, was also filed on a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 13/742,608, filed on 16/1/2013.

Background

The popularity of stored-value cards related to goods or services has increased dramatically over the past few years, from multi-purpose rechargeable (reloadable) debit cards (open or closed loop) and wireless mobile airtime (airtime) to digital downloads, transportation applications, and even the purchase of tangible goods. With the increased use, systems and methods for providing and using these cards have evolved.

Stored value cards generally fall into two (2) categories: chip cards and account cards. In a chip card (e.g., a "smart card"), the value account may actually be held on the card itself. Instead, with an account card, the card may be associated with a value account that may exist elsewhere (e.g., on the payment processor or in a database of a financial institution). In this case, the stored value card may include, for example and without limitation, an account number that may be used to conduct card transactions (e.g., activating, redeeming, recharging, storing, etc.).

However, with digital devices (such as, but not limited to, mobile phones and devices, tablets, laptops and other computers, e.g., Nook)^TMAnd Kindle^TMSuch as an electronic reader), the necessity and utility of the physical card itself (or any such tangible medium that includes information needed to access the underlying stored value account) is greatly reduced.

Indicia associated with the underlying stored value account may become more important due to a decrease in the necessity, utility, or even attractiveness of the physical card. Thus, it may be desirable to be able to transfer indicia that is also associated with a stored value account.

Disclosure of Invention

The scheme of the invention can comprise the following steps: a method for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for the purchase of goods or services by an obtaining user, the goods or services being associated with an indicia, the multi-party transaction being conducted between at least an originating merchant and a providing merchant, the providing merchant being in selective communication with a central processor, the method comprising: receiving, by the central processor from the providing merchant: indicia associated with goods or services for purchase; and a purchase price of the good or service; determining, by the central processor, goods or services associated with the indicia; determining, by a central processor, factors associated with a multi-party transaction, the factors comprising: a purchase price of the good or service; providing an identity of a merchant and providing merchant characteristics associated with the providing merchant; providing an identity of an originating merchant and originating merchant characteristics associated with the originating merchant; calculating, based at least in part on the factors: providing a commission fee for the merchant-if any; and initiate a commission for the merchant, if any.

Other aspects of the invention may include: a method for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for an obtaining user to purchase goods or services at a providing merchant, the goods or services being associated with indicia captured by an initiating user from the initiating merchant and communicated to the obtaining user, the multi-party transaction being conducted at least at a provider in selective communication with a central processor, the method comprising: receiving, by the central processor, the indicia and the transacted purchase price from the providing merchant; determining, by a central processor, factors associated with a multi-party transaction, the factors selected from the group consisting of: a purchase price for the good or service, an identity of the providing merchant, any applicable promotions offered by the providing merchant, an identity of the initiating merchant, any applicable promotions offered by a manufacturer of the good or service, characteristics of the initiating user, characteristics of the obtaining user, a location of the purchase transaction, a type of the purchase transaction, a value communicated to pay for the purchase transaction, an amount of time elapsed between the initiating user capturing the indicia and the obtaining user purchasing the good or service, a competitive format between the initiating merchant and the providing merchant; calculating, based at least in part on the factors: providing a commission fee for the merchant-if any; and initiate a commission for the merchant, if any.

Other aspects of the invention may include: a system for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for purchase of goods or services by an obtaining user, the goods or services being associated with indicia captured by an initiating user from an initiating merchant and communicated to the obtaining user, the system comprising: a commission engine comprising: a merchant interface configured to selectively communicate with at least a providing merchant; a data storage, comprising: information identifying merchants and features associated with such merchants; information identifying competitive patterns for such merchants; information associated with a promotion offered by a providing merchant or an originating merchant; a commission calculation module configured to: calculating the commission fees due to the provided merchants, if any, and the commission fees of the initiated merchants, if any; the calculation is based on a purchase price of the transaction, information received in the indicia, available from the indicia, and/or information from a database.

These and other aspects will become apparent from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

Drawings

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate like elements. The accompanying drawings illustrate certain illustrative embodiments and may be helpful in understanding the following detailed description. Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The illustrated embodiments should be considered as exemplary and in no way limiting of the overall scope of the invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The detailed description will refer to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary display according to some embodiments of the inventions.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary display according to some embodiments of the inventions.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary display having exemplary indicia according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a general transaction flow according to some embodiments of the inventions.

FIG. 5 illustrates various display communication or update methods according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a general transaction flow according to some embodiments of the inventions.

Fig. 7 illustrates a table listing exemplary commission lists according to some embodiments of the invention.

8A-8D illustrate systems and methods for communicating one or more tags between one or more users according to some embodiments of the present invention.

9A-9B illustrate systems and methods for communicating one or more tags between one or more users according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates systems and methods for communicating one or more tags between an organization and one or more users according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates systems and methods for delivering one or more tags in an enterprise-to-enterprise environment, according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates systems and methods for communicating one or more tags identified by a party of interest between one or more users according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates systems and methods for communicating one or more activated tokens between one or more users according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 14A and 14B illustrate systems and methods of communicating one or more tokens between one or more users in a group gifting environment, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates indicia that may be used to determine the commission contingency due (if any) for various merchants, according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method for determining commission fees due (if any) for various merchants, according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a system for determining commission fees due (if any) for various merchants, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The matters illustrated in this description are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the various exemplary embodiments disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Descriptions of well-known functional machine structures are omitted for clarity and conciseness. Furthermore, as used herein, the singular may be interpreted in the plural, and alternatively, terms of the plural may be interpreted in the singular.

In general, the present application presents systems, methods, and computer-readable media for advertising, tracking, processing, activating, authorizing, and providing goods or services to customers, including commission based thereon. More specifically, the present invention contemplates various aspects, systems, components, and methods relating to at least one or more of the following:

(i) displaying various goods or services to a customer at a retail location;

(ii) providing indicia of goods or services to a customer;

(iii) a customer or promoter who can capture or save the indicia in a device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet, or computer);

(iv) the initiator can keep the token in an intermediate state or in the device before purchase;

(v) the indicia is transferable such that, for example, (a) the originator is able to send the indicia or an identifier associated with the indicia to another party (the payer) who may pay for the goods or services; (b) the initiator can pay for the indicia and send the goods or services to the other party (the recipient); and/or (c) any other transferability may be verified by or between the initiator, payer, and recipient, each of which may be the same or different users.

(vi) The indicia may be used to purchase and/or activate and/or authorize goods or services;

(vii) the mark may include various information or may be created by combining different information. The indicia may evolve as it passes between the parties and the retailer, and may identify or be associated with one or more of the following at any point: (a) a particular good or service; (b) an initiating retailer, (c) an initiating party; (d) a purchaser; (e) a receiving party; (f) providing a retailer; (g) pricing associated with a particular good or service; and/or (h) any promotions, discounts, customer loyalty membership, coupons, or other programs or programs that may affect the price of a good or service.

(viii) In the case of electronic or digital goods or services, the goods or services may actually be placed or downloaded onto the originating retailer's device, but may be locked against use until the goods or services are purchased.

(ix) The goods or services may be purchased as follows: (a) at the originating retailer (e.g., via a lane transaction at a typical retail location (POS)); (b) by accessing the originating retailer's website or other online or electronic presence; (c) by an application (or "app") on the device, where the app may be provided by or associated with the originating retailer, a third party, or even a competing retailer; (d) by accessing the location of a third party or competitor retailer and completing the purchase through a typical lane transaction at the POS; (e) by accessing a third party or competitor retailer's website or other online or electronic presence.

(x) When purchasing goods or services, the originating retailer may accept a commission payment that may vary depending on how and to what the payment transaction is taking place. For example, if the token is used to purchase goods or services at the initiating retailer during a typical lane transaction at the POS, or through an app provided or managed by the initiating retailer or online presence, the initiating retailer may receive a full commission, e.g., 100X. If the indicia is for later purchase of goods or services, such as through a third party application or online presence, the originating retailer may receive a full commission (100X) or a slightly reduced commission (75X). If the token is used to purchase goods or services at a later time and through a competing retailer (either in the lane or through an application or online presence of the competing retailer), the initiating retailer may receive a reduced commission, e.g., 50X, while the competing retailer (now the providing retailer) may receive a commission of 50X if it participates in the overall process.

(xi) The commission of the initiating and/or providing retailer can vary based on various promotions associated with the goods or services. For example, the originating retailer may attempt to increase its chances of becoming a providing retailer by lowering the overall price of the goods or services (thereby reducing its commission). For example, if the initiating retailer receives a commission of 50X for initially transferring indicia to the customer (even if purchased at a competing retailer), the initiating retailer may reduce the price of the goods or services by 25X, potentially increasing the chance that it will successfully sell and receive a commission of 75X instead of 50X if the sale fails.

In some embodiments of the invention, various indicia may be stored in the mobile device's basket for later purchase. In such a case, any party that is expected to have indicia (the originator, having indicia on its device, intended to be the subject of the recipient or payer) may receive various updates or communications regarding the information for the promotion for the particular good or service.

As briefly described above, the present invention may include a user display that may be present at a retailer. The user display may include a base sign, a video display, a touch screen, an electronic ink screen (e.g., a bi-stable display), an interactive display, one or more screens or display areas, a multimedia display (e.g., with sound, video, tactile, scent, taste, etc.).

The displayed information may be updated in various ways. In the case of a basic logo, the display may be updated according to typical means (i.e. replacing various symbols and displays). In the case of electronic displays (video or otherwise), the display may be implemented using network connections (e.g., the internet, T1, T3, cable, fiber optics, etc.), via mobile technologies (e.g., 3G, 4G, etc.), wireless technologies (RFID, rf, etc.)Or other wireless technology) or update the information displayed on the display through an updatable or replaceable memory (e.g., disk, memory card, thumb drive, DVD, or other memory device, etc.).

The goods or services may include any number of products. For example, stored value cards (e.g., gift cards, prepaid cards, etc.), wireless airtime or rechargeable cards, game tokens or stored value cards, transportation fees, laundry values, digital media (e.g., music, video, books, programs, software, games, applications, etc.), services, and/or any other virtual, electronic, digital, or physical goods.

Indicia selected and saved by the initiator may be placed, saved, and/or stored in various wallets, folders, groupings, or baskets associated with the mobile device. These purses, folders, groupings, or baskets can be created and managed by the user and can be associated with various features (e.g., originating retailer, classification of goods or services, date of selection, payment mechanism, etc.). The indicia may be saved in these purses, folders, groupings or baskets until purchase, or until a period of time has elapsed and the indicia expires. Alternatively, if the indicia associated with the goods or services is associated with a special price or promotion, the indicia may expire or be deleted at the end of the promotion or when the price is no longer available.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary display 10 according to some embodiments of the invention will be discussed. The display 10 may be any form of sign, video display, monitor, touch screen, bi-stable display, etc. 110. The display may include one or more display areas and may display one or more products. Referring to fig. 1, a display 10 may show various products-goods or services-that may be purchased or obtained by using the display. For example, the display 10 may present financial products 111 (e.g., $50, $100, or $250 Visa cards), airtime or mobile phone products 112 (e.g., 60 minutes, 120 minutes, or 180 minutes of prepaid airtime), digital media 113 (e.g., iTunes prepaid cards, purchases or rentals of single song downloads or movie downloads), or other items 114 (e.g., game tokens for online or local games, laundry cards or values, download books for electronic readers, etc.). It is contemplated that any article (digital, electronic or physical) may be purchased by the system and method of the present invention and may be identified by a tag.

Further, the indicia may be associated with an amount of value, and the present invention may be used to send an amount of currency among users. A token of value (e.g., a token representing 50 euros) may be selected by the originator. The originator may pay for the 50 euro dollars in dollars and then send an indicia of the value to the recipient. The recipient can use the transmitted token to obtain a value of 50 euro.

Similarly, a token may cycle through a group of users, and each user may add value to the token. For example, the promoter may select indicia associated with a variable denomination Visa prepaid debit card. The promoter may select and provide a payment of $50 to add to the associated Visa prepaid debit card. The initiator may then cycle or pass the indicia to others who, in turn, may contribute to the Visa prepaid debit card by using the indicia. Once finished, the indicia may be sent to a recipient who may receive the accumulated gift.

Each item 111, 112, 113, 114 displayed on the display 10 may be associated with a tag. The indicia may be made available through the use of a display, as discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 3.

Note that the display 10 may be provided by a third party, and this may be noted on the display 120. The third party may be an intermediary party between the originating retailer, the providing retailer, and/or the provider of goods or services. A third party may establish and manage the system and method of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 2, the display 20 may also include one or more display regions. For example, the display may be divided into two (2) areas, with one area 210 displaying various promotions and discounts 211, and a second area 220 displaying corresponding products 212, 213 to which the promotions or discounts apply. Alternatively, one display area may provide a video (e.g., a commercial or other such advertisement) while a second display area displays the product and corresponding indicia being advertised.

Alternatively, various display areas may be used to display related, complimentary, or associated products. For example, if the display is a touch screen, the user can select specific products from a digital catalog, for example, separated by categories. Once the user selects a product or category, other related, complimentary, or associated products may be displayed. In this embodiment, for example, the user may select a product corresponding to a movie or theater ticket and may display products related to a restaurant local to the theater.

In some embodiments, similar products or services may be displayed to the customer in conjunction with or in lieu of the selected product or service. For example, a customer may be watching various gift cards for a restaurant. The customer may have selected an italian restaurant. The display may show similar products, i.e., other italian or similar restaurants, for which the promoter may offer the current discount or promotion.

The display may be any type of device capable of communicating indicia associated with a desired or selected good or service to a user or customer. The indicia may be communicated by a mobile phone reading or obtaining the indicia from a display, for example by reading a machine code. Referring to fig. 3, the indicia may be listed and displayed as a code (e.g., barcode 311, Aztec code 312, QR code 319, or graphic code 319), or the indicia may be an alphanumeric 315, numeric 314, or alphanumeric 316 code that the user may enter into the mobile device. The indicia may also be wirelessly transmitted to the user device, for example, by using RFID or bluetooth technology, which may be prompted by "tapping" a particular portion of the display 313. Alternatively, the user may connect the user device directly to the display, for example through a USB or mini-USB cable 317.

A general transaction will now be discussed with reference to fig. 4. Initiating retailer 410 may include a display, which in turn may include various indicia of various goods or services. The initiator 420 may select and store one or more indicia on the device 421. At this point, the promoter may proceed to a retailer checkout point of sale (POS) and pay for the goods or services associated with the indicia. Here, the initiator is also the payer. Once payment is complete, the goods or services may be provided (physically or electronically) to the originating party. Here, the initiator is also the payer and the receiver.

Alternatively, the initiator 420 may provide the indicia to a different party (payer) who may use the indicia for payment of the goods or services. Payer 430 may pay for the goods or services at originating retailer 410, at the digital presence of originating retailer 410, at a different retailer's digital presence, or from a third party (e.g., a party to the hypervisor) using device 431. Referring to FIG. 4, in this exemplary embodiment, a payer 430 may purchase goods or services using the indicia using the website of a different retailer 440. The different retailer is a provider retailer. Note that the originating retailer and the providing retailer may be the same.

Provider retailer 440 may then provide the purchased goods or services to the interested party. The party receiving the purchased goods or services (recipient 450) may receive the goods or services on another device 451 or associated with another device 451. Note that the recipient may, but need not, be an initiator or payer.

Referring to fig. 5, various ways of updating the display 511 at the retail location 510 will be briefly discussed. The display 511 may be in selective communication with a local database 512 of various promotions or items. Display 511 may be in selective communication with input 513, and input 513 may receive a memory card, thumb drive, DVD, or any other download of updated information local to retailer 510. Alternatively, the display 511 may be in selective wireless communication 514 with another party 520, and the other party 520 may update the display remotely using its own wireless communication 521. The display 511 may also be in selective wired communication with a third party 520, for example, via a network connection (e.g., the internet, a host-to-host connection, a direct wire, etc.). Further, it is contemplated that more than one party can update information on the display 511. For example, a provider may purchase a display time and may use that time to display various goods, services, promotions, etc. The provider may update and/or modify its contribution to the display directly accordingly.

A possible flow 60 of branding and purchased products or services according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to fig. 6. Initiator 610 may use device 611 to capture token 670 from initiating retailer 640. Indicia 670 may include, for example, information identifying a product or service, pricing information for the product or service, identifying information for originating retailer 640, and so forth.

The initiator 610 may communicate the indicia to the payer 620 (or the payer's device 620). Note that the token 671 transmitted from the originating party 610 to the payer 620 may be modified from the initial token 670 captured at the originating retailer 640. For example, the modified indicia may include information identifying the originating party, various customer loyalty member identity information for the originating party, and the like. Payer 620 may purchase goods or services using indicia 672. Goods or services may be purchased from a provider (i.e., originating retailer 640, third party 650, or another retailer as providing retailer 660). The token 620 provided by payer 620 to the provider may be further modified from token 670 or 671. Indicia 672 may include information identifying payer 620, various membership identities of payer 620, or information identifying or associated with a party receiving goods or services (recipient 630).

The provider may then provide the goods or services to the recipient 630 or the device of the recipient 630. Again, note that the initiator 610, payer 620, and recipient 630 may be the same or different parties or users.

An exemplary commission list 70 based on various different purchase arrangements will now be discussed with reference to fig. 7. For example, because the originating retailer that initiated the sale (regardless of where the final sale occurred) provided the initial indicia to the customer 71, the originating retailer may be entitled to a commission of X (e.g., 1-2% of the value of the purchased product) 72. Assuming the provider retailer is a participant in process 73, the provider retailer may receive a commission on Y (e.g., 2-2.5% of the value of the purchased product) for completing the sale 74. If the provider retailer is not a participant in the process, or if the goods or services are provided from a neutral third party 75 (e.g., a third party managing the process), the initiating provider may be entitled to an additional commission on Z (e.g., 0.5% of the value of the purchased product) 76.

Thus, if the originating retailer is a provider retailer, the retailer may have the right to charge a commission of 3% -4.5% of the purchase value of the goods or services. The initiating retailer is rewarded for successfully advertising, displaying, and initiating the sale of the product or service. The retailer is rewarded for actually ending the sale.

It is contemplated that once the initiator or any other party has saved one or more indicia in the device, the relevant product or service can be purchased by selecting the indicia on the device and utilizing an application that may be provided by the retailer or a third party managing the process. Thus, a purchase using an application provided by the process manager or any other neutral third party will not negatively impact the commission of the originating retailer, but adds a small portion (since no sales commission is paid to the other party).

Such an intermediate application may communicate with a display at the originating merchant to obtain various indicia and may act as a basket to carry various indicia that have not yet been purchased. The intermediate application may also selectively communicate with a funding source (e.g., a mobile wallet or financial account) to provide easy payment for purchasing the selected token. Further, the intermediary application may contain user information that may affect the availability or pricing of various goods or services. For example, a customer may utilize such an intermediary application to record various customer loyalty programs, membership programs (e.g., AAA) that may affect pricing, membership programs (e.g., DirectBuy, or purchases from a club) that may affect product or service availability, or other identifying features that may affect product or service availability or pricing. Indicia displayed on the display may be specifically configured for use with such intermediate applications in an attempt to provide a quick, efficient, and seamless purchase transaction.

Systems and methods utilizing transferable indicia according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to fig. 8A-D. Referring to FIG. 8A, it is contemplated by the present invention that an initiator 810 may capture, read, or otherwise obtain one or more indicia 820 of stored value. The initiator 810 may transmit the token 820 to the second party 830. Note that the initiator 810 may be the second party 830, and/or the second party 830 may be a payer and/or a recipient. The second party 830 may purchase the token 820, may pass the token 820 to another party, or may receive the token 820 once/if purchased.

Referring to fig. 8B, an initiator 810 may transmit a token 820 to more than one party 830, 831, 832. In this embodiment, one or more parties 830, 831, 832 may be payment or receiving parties. For example, the initiator 810 may wish to receive a particular token and may send the token to various potential gift givers. According to some embodiments, the initiator 810 may wish each of the parties 830, 831, 832 to obtain and receive a flag (e.g., if the flag indicates a textbook at a reduced price).

Referring to FIG. 8C, the initiator 810 may transmit tokens 820, 821, 822, 823 to the second party 830. The second party 830 may select one or more for purchase, receipt, or for delivery to the other party. Similarly, FIG. 8D shows that the initiator 810 may transmit more than one token 820, 821, 822, 823 to more than one party 830, 831, 832. For example, a teacher may communicate a plurality of indicia including a reading list to a plurality of students.

Fig. 9A and 9B illustrate that tags may identify categories or subsets of goods or services, and may evolve during transfers between various users to more specifically identify particular goods or services, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Referring to fig. 9A, an originator may identify a general product that is desired to be received or sent to a recipient. For example, the initiator 910 may identify a prepaid product line corresponding to a value that may be used in a particular game. The initiator 910 may send indicia 920A for this type of stored-value card to the second party 930. In this example, the second party 930 may be a payer; note, however, that it is contemplated that the second party 930 may further pass the token 920A downstream, or the second party 930 may also be a recipient.

The second party 930 may then determine what amount or level of value will be purchased. For example, the promoter 910 may have delivered indicia related to tokens used in a game. The second party 930, as a payer, may decide that he or she wishes to purchase a ten dollar ($10.00) token for game play. The second party 930 may send the token 920A, the token 950 for the amount of value to purchase and the value 960 to the central processor 940, and the central processor 940 may activate the token for use. The central processor 940 may then send the activated indicia of particular value back to the second party 930, or the identified recipient. Referring to fig. 9A, the recipient may also be the initiator 910, and the central processor 940 or the second party 930 may communicate the activated specific token 920B to the initiator 910 for use or further distribution.

Referring to fig. 9B, another system and method in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention will be discussed, wherein tags may identify categories or subsets of goods or services, and may evolve during transfers between various users to more specifically identify particular goods or services.

In FIG. 9B, the initiating user 910 may identify a category of goods or services and send indicia of the category of goods or services to one or more second parties 930. For example, as shown in fig. 9B, the initiating user 910 may send a tag 920A corresponding to a particular band (e.g., a cape). The second party 930 may receive the token 920A and may select a particular good or service from the transmitted categories. The second party 930 may then send the token 920A, the selected identification 950 (e.g., the song "yellow submarine"), and the value 960 to the central processor 940. The central processor 940 may activate the indicia to redeem or use the particular goods or services selected by the second party 930. The central processor 940 may communicate the activated specific token 920B back to the second party 930 or may communicate the activated specific token 920B to the identified recipient. Note that while fig. 9B shows the initiator 910 as the recipient, additional or alternative recipients may be present.

Referring to FIG. 10, an initiator 110 may be an organization, a federation, a partner, or some other type of group or entity, according to some embodiments of the invention. For example, the initiator 1010 may be a coalition of like-minded members (e.g., a alumni organization of a university or college). The initiator 1010, by its state, is able to provide a particular good or service to its members at a reduced rate. For example, alumni organizations may provide various brands of items (e.g., school sweaters, etc.) as well as publications written or executed by other alumni at a cheaper price than is publicly available. The initiator 1010 may provide one or more indicia 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024 to one or more members 1031, 1032, 1033, 1032, 1035. Some members may choose to purchase or obtain one or more goods or services identified by markers 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, and may select such markers 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024 and communicate the markers and value 1050 to central processor 1040 for purchase.

Note that it is also contemplated that the originator 1010 may purchase each of the goods or services identified by the indicia 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024 for its members 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1035, and that the members need only transmit the indicia to the central processor 1040 for redemption.

Central processor 1040 may then provide the purchased good or service to the receiving member or instigate the provision of the purchased good or service (as shown in fig. 10, member 1032 may receive the good or service identified by indicia 12345XYZ, and member 1034 may receive the good or service identified by identification 54321 ABC).

Note that in order to provide such a reduced-price offer to a member, the central processor would need to be the identity of the recipient of the member of the federation as the initiator 1010. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, member 1034 may send indicia 1023 of the selected good or service, along with value 1050, and member's identification characteristics 1060 to central processor 1040. Central processor 1040 may then determine (a) the particular goods or services identified by the received indicia; (b) whether the received value amount is appropriate for the particular good or service identified by the received indicia; and determining (c) whether the requestor is eligible based on the identifying characteristic for a price or selection related to the particular good or service identified by the received indicia.

Referring to FIG. 11, the system and method for utilizing transitive markup in accordance with the present invention can be implemented in an enterprise-to-enterprise application. For example, a first enterprise 1110 may provide a selection of goods or services 1120 to a second enterprise 1130. The selection of goods or services 1120 may include identifying one or more indicia 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 for or associated with a particular good or service. The second enterprise 1130 may then select one or more indicia from the selection of goods or services 1120, and may provide indicia of such selected indicia to its employees and/or customers 1131, 1132, 1133, 1134, 1135. Employees and/or customers 1131, 1132, 1133, 1134, 1135 may select one or more indicia for redemption. It is contemplated that employees and/or customers 1131, 1132, 1133, 1134, 1135 may send indicia back to the second enterprise 1130 at 1140 for redemption (and the second enterprise 1130 may accumulate indicia received from their employees and/or customers and send the accumulation to the first enterprise or to central processor 1160), may send indicia to the first enterprise 1110 at 1150 for redemption (and the first enterprise may send indicia to central processor 1160), or may send indicia directly to central processor 1160. The activated indicia, or goods and services associated with the indicia, may be provided to employees and/or customers from the first enterprise 1110, the second enterprise 1130, or the central processor 1160.

Systems and methods according to some embodiments of the present invention may also be used to communicate or provide payment for particular goods or services between particular identified parties.

For example, a particular good or service may be identified as particularly desirable for a particular recipient. Specific goods and services (e.g., health foods, thermal clothing, counseling, and specific out-of-class activities) may be identified and grouped as desired by the child. Such grouping may be accomplished by a governmental entity or agency, a particular group of interest, or any other party of interest. Groups of particular goods and services may be distributed among the parties. Examples of this may include: such indicia (e.g., electronic versions of charitable-initiated gift exchanges during holidays) are distributed to parents who pay child care fees, family members who are at risk or identified children, or various charitable organizations and groups supported externally.

In particular, the interested party 1210 may identify one or more groups 1220 of one or more tokens 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224 determined to be of interest, necessary, or desirable to provide to the recipient. The marked group 1220 may be communicated to one or more parties 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235. At this point, various processes may occur. For example, party 1231 may identify marker 1221 as something that party 123l wants to obtain for itself or for the recipient. The party 1231 may then send the token 1221 and payment 1250 to the central processor 1240. Central processor 1240 may then determine the goods or services identified by marker 1221 and provide or initiate the provision of the goods or services back to the party 1231 or to the recipient 1237.

It is contemplated that in some instances, the parties receiving the set of indicia may not have funds available to purchase the identified goods or services, but still be entitled to the goods or services. For example, the user 1233 may identify the identification 1233 as desirable and may separately send the tag 1223 to the central processor 1240. Central processor 1240 may then provide or initiate the provision of goods or services back to party 1233. For example, if the party 1233 has government assistance (food coupon, TANIF, etc.), certain additional goods or services may be offered for free.

According to some embodiments, user 1235 may receive identified group 1220 and determine that two identified goods or services in group 1220 are desired. The tags 1222, 1224 associated with these goods or services may be passed to another party 1238 for purchase. The party 1238 may select one of the transmitted tokens 1224 and may communicate the tokens 1224 and payment 1250 to the central processor 1240. The central processor may then provide or initiate the provision of goods or services back to the party 1235 or the identified recipient 1236. For example, a national institution may determine what is "mandatory" for a child, and a monitoring parent may send indicia corresponding to the personal applicable requirements to a non-monitoring parent (i.e., a person who pays a child's care fee or provides financial support to the child or monitoring parent). The non-monitoring parent may decide the particular goods or services (e.g., school textbook or supplies) he or she wishes to purchase (or may be somewhat obligated) and may send identification and payment to central processor 1240. Central processor 1240 may then provide or initiate the provision of goods or services to party 1235 or to a recipient (here, a child, for example) 1236.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the initiator 1310 may purchase or otherwise obtain a plurality of tokens 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324. Here, the initiator 1310 may also be a payer. The initiator 1310 may then distribute the activated tokens 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324 to the respective recipients 1331, 1332, 1333. Recipient 1331 may receive token 1321; receiver 1332 may receive tokens 1322 and 1323; recipient 1333 may receive token 1324. While tokens 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324 may be paid for and activated, they may not have been redeemed. Accordingly, each of the recipients 1331, 1332, 1333 may redeem their respective received indicia with a central processor.

For example, in a holiday event, the originator may purchase multiple indicia and may distribute the indicia to the recipient as deemed appropriate by the originator. Another example may be the purchase of "digital christmas gifts" (stowing stuffers) that the initiator may distribute among the gift recipients.

Systems and methods for packet gifting according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to fig. 14A and 14B. Generally, packet gifting can occur in at least three (3) environments: a serial environment, a parallel environment, and/or a combination of serial and parallel environments. The serial environment will now be discussed with reference to fig. 14A.

The initiator 1410 may select a marker corresponding to the good or service. For example, for ease of discussion, the indicia may correspond to a prepaid card or a gift card. However, it should be noted that the group donation may also provide different products or product characteristics that may be purchased or unlocked at various prices. The initiator 1410 may select a token and may add value 1430 to the token. For example, initiator 1410 may add $50 to the token. The token 1420 with a value of $50 may then be transmitted to the second party 1411. The second party 1411 may add $20 to the tag, now transmitting the tag 1421 to the third party 1414. Third party 1414 may add $100 to the tag. The process may continue by any number of parties. When the last party has added value (which may be the last party when the pool of participants has been exhausted, when a time limit has been reached, or when there is no more party interested in contributing gifts), the recipient 1440 may be provided with a final sentinel 1422 having a combined value of $ 170.00.

Referring to fig. 14B, a parallel contribution scheme will be discussed. In fig. 14B, the initiating user 1410 selects marker 1420 as a gift for the recipient 1440. The initiating user 1410 then distributes the token 1420 to one or more parties 1411, 1412, 1413. Each of one or more parties 1411, 1412, 1413 may add value to the indicia by communicating the indicia 1420 and an amount of value to the central processor. For example, the party 1411 may deliver a value 1430 worth $ 50.00; the party 1412 may deliver a value 1431 of value $20.00 and the party 1413 may deliver a value of $ 100.00. The central processor 1450 may accumulate the values and provide a flag 1425 associated with the combined gift value (here, $ 170.00). The central processor 1450 may provide the indicia to the recipient 1440, or the central processor 1450 may provide the final sponsored indicia back to the initiator 1410 for delivery to the recipient 1440.

In general, the present invention provides a transferable mark with a mark's life cycle. The tag may identify a particular good or service-or a group or set of goods or services. The indicia may be modified to further identify goods or services, such as a particular song from a particular band or a particular value on a gift card. The indicia may include an identification of the originator, recipient or payer to provide a particular offer to the user group. The indicia may include information identifying the originating merchant (if any), or any advertisement that caused the originating party to capture or record the indicia.

The flag may be passed between the parties in these various states. The indicia may evolve during such communication to provide information necessary or desired in a particular transaction.

Various other attributes and/or features may be part of the systems and methods of the present invention. For example, attributes such as "daily transactions" or other such names may be utilized. In such an attribute, a customer downloading the indicia may receive a notification or message as part of a "daily transaction" to notify the customer of the relevant, relevant promotion. For example, if a customer downloads an indicia of a restaurant (e.g., an Outback gift card indicia), a discounted theater indicia (e.g., an AMC theater) may be provided because of, in view of, or based on the desired purchase of the restaurant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the application or program may selectively communicate with the retailer display when the user is at or near the retailer location (as opposed to requiring the user to be in close proximity or close proximity to the display). The application or program may then display all or most of the virtual products available from the retailer.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the application or program may track the location of the user, for example, within a retailer's location. In this manner, detailed offers or "daily transactions" may be provided to the user based on the user's location within the venue. For example, if the user is within a section of a store selling DVDs, the user may receive a promotion or "daily transaction" for a price reduction (e.g., of a particular movie or theater ticket). Another example may be to provide a discount on a complimentary item to the user. For example, if a user purchases a portion of a computer in a store, the user may receive a promotion or "daily transaction" for an online archiving or backup service.

It is also contemplated that various retailers and providers may intentionally reduce their possible commission fees to effect sales and become providers. For example, the initiating retailer may advertise: if purchased from an originating retailer, the price is 1.5% lower than usual. The initiating retailer, if it is fulfilling the sale and becomes the providing retailer, can reduce its sales commission by 1.5%, thereby collecting the full initiating commission and the reduced sales commission for promotion.

Various other aspects of the invention may also be utilized. For example, when the indicia is obtained by the user device, in the case of digital goods or services, the goods or services may actually be placed on the device in a locked or inactive state. Once purchased in the lane at the retailer or later through use of an application or other connection, the digital goods or services may be unlocked. This may provide at least two (2) benefits.

First, the loading of digital goods or services may be accomplished at the retailer using a free retailer-sponsored network connection-which may require a significant amount of data to be transmitted. Thus, the user does not have to worry about excessive data charges for such transfers. When the purchase is completed, a minimal amount of data may be required to be transferred from the provider retailer to the recipient in order to unlock or authorize the use of the digital goods or services. For example, an encryption key or other such password or authorization code may be sent from the provider.

Second, the user can select various digital goods or services and load them onto the device, and then select and pay only for the goods or services actually used. For example, before traveling, a user may select three or four digital movies, which tags and files may be placed on the user's device. The user can then only select-and pay-for-the movies that are actually desired or have time to watch.

Further, due to the transferability of the indicia (as described above), the initiator (e.g., child) may send to another party (e.g., parent) various indicia that the first party wants to access. The second party (parent) may then select and pay for their favorite goods or services, which may then be transmitted or provided to the originating party (or child). These schemes may be combined with what is commonly referred to as a filter card or cost-limiting card to provide value to a recipient with a limit on how to use it (e.g., for food but not for wine or smoke).

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a system and method for providing commission generation for transferable indicia will now be discussed. Generally, the commission generation system can utilize various inputs to calculate or determine the commission due to the merchant. Possible merchants suitable for the commission may include the originating merchant or the providing merchant. In addition, promotions arranged or signed by the provider of goods or services can also affect commission fees.

To understand the variable factors that can be weighted by the commission generation system, it is useful to first understand the identity and role of the parties. The originating merchant is the merchant that initially provided the indicia to the user. The user may pass the indicia to various other parties, but because the originating merchant initiated a process that may result in a sale, the originating merchant may receive a commission for the contribution.

A providing merchant is a merchant that activates an indicium to use or provide a good or service (e.g., in the case of physical goods). If the goods or services are digital, there may also be a provider of the goods or services. For example, the originating merchant may provide an indicia of a $50.00 iTunes gift card. The provider may actually "sell" the gift card, thereby activating the indicia that has been obtained. It should be noted that, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the originating merchant and the providing merchant may be the same merchant.

The provider (here iTunes or Apple) may then offer the goods or services associated with the indicia. In the context of physical goods, the originating merchant may provide indicia associated with a particular DVD or blu-ray. The provider may use the markers to physically sell the DVD or blu-ray disc to the customer. Such physical sales may occur at a physical store, or may occur online, where the indicia may be entered, the DVD purchased and subsequently shipped. It should be noted that the provider of goods or services may be a providing merchant; but where indicia of redeemable value, digital goods, or the like is activated, the provider of the goods or services may be a separate and distinct party from the providing merchant.

Various other attributes may also affect the determination of the commission fees for the parties. Factors may include, but are not limited to: price sold by the good or service, any promotion offered by the originating merchant, any promotion offered by the offering merchant, any promotion offered by the provider of the good or service or the manufacturer of the good or service, any promotion applicable to the user due to characteristics of the user, length of time between original capture of the indicia and the purchase decision, competitive relationship between the originating merchant and the offering merchant, control contract documents for any of the parties and the commission generation system, number of passes between different users through which the indicia moves, characteristics of the good or service selected for purchase (e.g., total value of purchase, etc.), interaction between any other party or entity (e.g., purchased good or service, e.g., having a food tag, may have a reduced merchant commission), indicia, user, merchant, or entity, Any other characteristic of the provider, the manufacturer, and/or any other interested party or entity.

As mentioned above, the indicia may include: information that may be used by a central processor (which may include or be referred to as a commission generation engine). Referring to FIG. 15, a marker 1500 according to some embodiments of the invention will now be discussed. Indicia 1500 may include various information that may be used by the central processor in determining how much, if any, of the commission fees should be paid to the providing merchant and/or the originating merchant. Indicia 1500 may include an identification 1501 of the offering of the purchased goods or services, an identification 1502 of the originating merchant, an identification 1503 of any applicable promotions that the originating merchant has presented, an identification 1504 of the offering merchant, an identification 1505 of any applicable promotions that the offering merchant has presented, and/or any other information 1506. Other information may include: capturing the indicia or purchase transaction is the date and/or time, the promotion in discussion provided by the manufacturer of the good or service, information about the initiating or obtaining user (e.g., membership of a particular group, loyalty membership, etc.).

Referring to fig. 16, a method according to some embodiments of the invention will now be discussed. At step 1610, the initiating user may select and capture the indicia at the initiating merchant. As mentioned above, the initiating user may capture or obtain the mark from, for example, a display.

At step 1620, the initiating user may communicate the token to a different user, which may become the obtaining user. At step 1630, the obtaining user may present indicia for activation and/or purchase at the providing merchant. At step 1640, the providing merchant may send the indicia and/or other information to the central processor.

At step 1650, the central processor may identify the goods or services associated with the indicia and the ultimate purchase price of the goods or services associated with the indicia.

At step 1660, the central processor may determine a commission fee (if any) for each of the providing merchant and the originating merchant. The determination at step 1660 may utilize various information provided by or accessed from the database. Such information may include, but is not limited to, information regarding the identity of the merchant, promotions, competitive patterns, users, time periods, manufacturer promotions, and the like.

After determining the commission, the central processor can send the amount of the commission (if any) to the originating merchant at step 1680 and to the providing merchant at step 1690. The actual purchase and/or activated settlement may occur subsequently and the actual value transfer representing the value of the commission may be made immediately, subsequently or periodically.

Referring to fig. 17, a system of some embodiments of the invention will now be discussed. The system 1700 may include a provider 1710, an initiator 1711, and possibly a manufacturer 1712 of goods or services.

The system 1700 may also include a central processor or commission generation engine 1720. The central processor or commission generation engine 1720 may include: a merchant interface 1721 in selective communication with the providing merchant 1710, the originating merchant 1711, and (possibly) the manufacturer 1712.

The central processor 1720 may also include a data store 1722 and a commission calculation module 1723. The data store 1722 may include information that the commission calculation module 1723 takes into account in determining the amount of the commission.

The data storage 1722 may include: information about merchants, promotions, competitive patterns, users, time periods, and/or any other information that may be relevant in calculating the commission fees.

It should be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are merely exemplary. Numerous variations, changes, substitutions and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all subject matter described herein and shown with reference to the accompanying drawings be regarded as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and that the scope of the invention be solely determined by the appended claims.

Claims (24)

1. A method for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for the purchase of goods or services by an obtaining user, the goods or services being associated with an indicia, the multi-party transaction being conducted between at least an originating merchant and a providing merchant, the providing merchant being in selective communication with a central processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by the central processor from the providing merchant:

indicia associated with goods or services for purchase; and

a purchase price of the good or service;

determining, by the central processor, goods or services associated with the indicia;

determining, by a central processor, factors associated with a multi-party transaction, the factors comprising:

a purchase price of the good or service;

providing an identity of a merchant and providing merchant characteristics associated with the providing merchant;

providing an identity of an originating merchant and originating merchant characteristics associated with the originating merchant;

calculating, based at least in part on the factors:

providing a commission fee for the merchant-if any; and

initiate a commission for the merchant-if any.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise: any applicable promotions offered by the originating merchant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the applicable promotion offered by the originating merchant is offered by the originating merchant at the time the indicia was captured by the originating user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the applicable promotion offered by the originating merchant is currently offered by the originating merchant at the time of the purchase of goods or services from the providing merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise:

any applicable promotions for the merchant are provided.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise:

the obtaining of the characteristics of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the characteristics of the obtained user can be selected from the group consisting of: obtaining a membership of a user in a particular club, obtaining a membership of a user in a particular loyalty program, obtaining a membership of a user in a particular category, and obtaining a location where the user did not initially capture indicia at the originating merchant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is captured by the originating party from an originating merchant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise:

a feature of the initiating user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics of the initiating user can be selected from the group consisting of: obtaining a membership identity of a user in a particular club; obtaining a membership of a user in a particular loyalty program, obtaining a membership of a user in a particular category, and obtaining a location where the user did not initially capture indicia at the originating merchant.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise:

any applicable promotion offered by the manufacturer of the goods or services.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise:

characteristics of the purchase transaction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristics of the purchase transaction can be selected from the group consisting of: a location of the purchase transaction, a type of the purchase transaction, and a value communicated to pay for the purchase transaction.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the token is passed from the initiating user to the obtaining user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicia is transferred from the originating user to the obtaining user through one or more intermediary users.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the factors further comprise: the number of passes the token moves between the initiating user and the obtaining user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the factors further comprise: the amount of time that passes between the initiating user capturing the indicia and the acquirer purchasing the good or service.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the merchant characteristic comprises providing a providing merchant competitive format for the merchant, the providing merchant competitive format exhibiting direct competitors for the providing merchant.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the merchant feature comprises initiating merchant competition patterns of the initiating merchant, the initiating merchant competition patterns exhibiting direct competitors of the initiating merchant.

20. A method for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for an obtaining user to purchase goods or services at a providing merchant, the goods or services being associated with indicia captured by an initiating user from the initiating merchant and communicated to the obtaining user, the multi-party transaction being conducted at least at a provider in selective communication with a central processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by the central processor, the indicia and the transacted purchase price from the providing merchant;

determining, by a central processor, factors associated with a multi-party transaction, the factors selected from the group consisting of:

a purchase price for the good or service, an identity of the providing merchant, any applicable promotions offered by the providing merchant, an identity of the initiating merchant, any applicable promotions offered by a manufacturer of the good or service, characteristics of the initiating user, characteristics of the obtaining user, a location of the purchase transaction, a type of the purchase transaction, a value communicated to pay for the purchase transaction, an amount of time elapsed between the initiating user capturing the indicia and the obtaining user purchasing the good or service, a competitive format between the initiating merchant and the providing merchant;

calculating, based at least in part on the factors:

providing a commission fee for the merchant-if any; and

initiate a commission for the merchant-if any.

21. A system for determining commission amounts in a multi-party transaction for purchase of goods or services by an obtaining user, the goods or services being associated with indicia captured by an initiating user from an initiating merchant and communicated to the obtaining user, the system comprising:

a commission generation engine comprising:

a merchant interface configured to selectively communicate with at least a providing merchant;

a data storage, comprising:

information identifying merchants and features associated with such merchants;

information identifying competitive patterns for such merchants;

information associated with a promotion offered by a providing merchant or an originating merchant;

a commission calculation module configured to: calculating the commission fees due to the provided merchants, if any, and the commission fees of the initiated merchants, if any; the calculation is based on a purchase price of the transaction, information received in the indicia, available from the indicia, and/or information from a database.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the merchant interface is configured to selectively communicate with an originating merchant.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the data store further comprises: information associated with a manufacturer of goods or services.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the calculation of the commission calculation module is based at least in part on: the amount of time that elapses between the initiating user capturing the indicia from the initiating merchant and the transaction at the providing merchant.