Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02949493 2016-11-24
METHOD FOR PRODUCT AND SERVICES OFFERING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field on-line display, and coordination
of
purchase, of goods and services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] All of the publications, patents and patent applications cited
within this
application are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same
extent
as if the disclosure of each individual publication, patent application or
patent was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
[0002] There has been an ever expanding number of goods and services
available for purchase through on-line retailers and service providers using
computers connected to a network, the most common being an Internet. As users
of
the network connected computers become more accustomed to purchasing of goods
and services on-line, and as more on-line retailers, service providers, and
intermediaries become available; it is becoming important for retailers,
service
providers and intermediaries to distinguish themselves in the on-line
marketplace.
[0003] Small vendors, such as individuals, may have a need for such payment
systems, such as when they cannot afford processing fees associated with other
payment systems, cannot accept the risk of certain payment systems, or do not
want
to undertake complicated registration processes for other payment systems. For
example, a seller of movie memorabilia may register with one of the on-line
payment
processing systems and may have others send them money for each sale. Such a
user may also develop a web page that permits users to click on items to
select, and
that carries out an ordering and payment process for such users.
[0004] Concurrent with the expansion of availability and acceptance of on-
line
retailers has been an increase of awareness and desire of individuals to
support
social and charitable organizations. The ability to learn of, and further
provide
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financial support to, social and charitable organizations using on-line
resources has
lead directly to such an increase.
[0005] The art is in need of a method for bringing together the ability to
purchase
goods or services through a computer network, such as an Internet; with the
desire of
users to support social or charitable organizations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides for a method for offering services
for
purchase using a client system, the method comprising:
- Displaying information identifying the services at the client computer
system;
- Receiving from a user information uniquely identifying the recipient of
the services, the information uniquely identifying the recipient being a
client
system generated unique, and persistent, unique identifier;
- Displaying an indication of an action that is to be performed by the
user to order the services;
- In response to the indicated action being performed, sending to a
server system an indication that the service is to be ordered and the unique
identifier of the service recipient; and
- Executing a debit transaction through a third party computing system
in network communication with the recipient and the client system which upon
successful debiting of a credit account of the recipient to the credit of the
owner of the client system and provides notice to the client system;
Whereby when the server system receives notice of successful debiting of the
recipient's credit account; directs a portion of the credit to the owner of
the client
system to a charity or not-for-profit of the provider of said services
choosing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
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[0007] The method of the present invention describes the novel
and beneficial
feature of providing an opportunity for providers of goods and services to
disclose
and commit to the provision of charitable donations, through the use of an
intermediary marketplace.
[0008] In accordance with the methods of the present invention,
a provider of
goods or services requests an intermediary marketplace, available through a
digital
communications network such as an internet; to advertise the goods or services
within the marketplace. Concurrent with the request to advertise the goods or
services, the provider of the goods or services directs the intermediary
marketplace
to remove a portion of the payment received by a third party purchaser of the
goods
or services, and direct that portion of the payment to a social or charitable
organization. It is contemplated that the direction to the intermediary
marketplace be
irrevocable once the goods or services have been purchased by third party.
[0009] The intermediary marketplace may then advertise and
generally make
available the goods or services, and may include the direction of the provider
of the
goods or services to make a donation to a social or charitable organization;
allowing
the potential purchasers of said goods or services to make purchase choices
based,
in part, upon the support of said social or charitable organizations. Should a
third
party accessing the intermediary marketplace elect to purchase a good or
service;
then a debit transaction with a third party payment processor is initiated,
using any of
the means, methods or procedures commonly known in the art. It is contemplated
to
use any payment system which results in the debiting of the third party
purchaser of
the goods or services account, with a concurrent crediting of the intermediary
= marketplace account.
[0010] Following the crediting of the intermediary marketplace
account, the
intermediary marketplace will then direct a portion of the credited amount to
a social
or charitable organization in accordance with the direction of the provider of
the
goods or services. The means for direction of such amounts is contemplated to
include direct transfer of the credited amount through the same payment
processor
used to receive the credit from the third party purchaser; conversion of the
credited
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amount to a currency for transfer to the social or charitable organization;
creation of a
negotiable instrument for communication to the social or charitable
organization; or
any method, process or procedure resulting in the transfer of value from the
intermediary marketplace to a social or charitable organization. Optionally
the
intermediary marketplace may deduct a portion of the credited amount for its
services
before transferring the remainder to the provider of the goods or services.
[0011] It is specifically contemplated that amounts transferred to a social
or
charitable organization at the direction of a provider of goods or services be
transferred in the name of the provider of the goods or services; so as to
allow the
provider of the goods or services to receive a receipt or recognition of their
transfer to
the social or charitable organization. It is contemplated that receipt of
recognition
may include a charitable receipt in form acceptable by taxation authorities
relevant to
the supplier of the goods or services.
[0012] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are
possible within the scope of the invention and are intended to be included
herein. It
will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and
adjustments to
this invention, not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit of
the
invention as demonstrated through the exemplary embodiments. The invention is
therefore to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
