WO2001004773A2 - Method for purchasing products - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selling products to a buyer including displaying product information on a product and an initial rebate associated with the product to a buyer through an interactive communications device. An order for a product is received from the buyer, and the buyer is notified of an award of an initial rebate, along with an opportunity to earn an additional rebate through playing a game. A game is provided to the buyer, and the additional rebate is awarded to the buyer based upon a score obtained in the game.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:

METHOD FOR PURCHASING PRODUCTS

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application is a claims priority of United States Patent Application

Serial No. No. 09/350,891 , filed on July 12, 1999 and United States Patent

Application Serial No. No. 09/560,001 , filed on April 28, 2000. The subject

matter of these earlier filed applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Field of the Invention:

The present invention generally relates to a method for purchasing

products through an automated system, wherein the purchaser of the respective

products receives an initial rebate upon completion of the product purchase, and

subsequently is offered an opportunity to win an additional rebate on the product

purchase through completion of a game of skill.

Description of the Related Art:

The processes associated with buying and selling of goods and services

dates back to the earliest civilizations. However, through the advent of

technology, the dynamics of buying and selling have changed substantially.

Many goods and services that were previously only available for purchase from

the premises of the seller are now sold in numerous ways that do not require a

buyer to visit the physical premises of seller. Examples include catalog

merchandising, wherein buyers may communicate purchases to sellers over the

telephone; mail order purchases, wherein purchasers view products in a

publication, and send purchase orders through mail to the seller; and electronic

commerce, where a buyer terminal or buyer connects to a seller or seller's computer to place product orders or make purchases. Recent technological

developments have further facilitated buying and selling through electronic

means. These enhancements may generally be categorized as: 1 ) allowing wide

and inexpensive dissemination of information on items for sale or desired to be

purchased; 2) secure electronic connections for transmission of sensitive

financial information between the buyer to the seller; and 3) determining and

disseminating information on buyer preferences for targeted on-line advertising

or discounts. Examples of such enhancements include on-line e-commerce web

sites, wherein items are cataloged and sold or auctioned on-line, in real time.

Another enhancement is the tracking of buyers' preferences at point of sale

terminals and printing coupons that provide discounts based on those

preferences. A system performing these functions is disclosed in U.S. Patent

No. 5,642,485.

Still another example of providing discounts is disclosed in U.S. Patent

No.'s 5,269,521 and 5,620,182. These patents disclose an expected value

payment method and system for reducing the expected per unit costs of paying

for and/or receiving a given amount of a commodity. Basically, a random

number generator is used to give a buyer a single chance of winning additional

units of a commodity that the buyer desires to purchase. According to the

method, a buyer and a seller enter into a single bet, the outcome of which may

result in a lower per unit cost of the desired commodity for the buyer if the buyer

wins. However, if the buyer loses the bet, the buyer loses money that the buyer

paid to participate in the bet and, depending on the bet, the buyer may not

receive any or as many units of the commodity. U.S. Patent Nos.4,815,741 and 4,669,730 disclose systems to encourage

use of automatic teller machines ("ATM") in which users of ATMs are

automatically entered into a game of chance upon using an ATM card. The user

may be awarded a prize based upon the outcome of the game of chance. In

these systems, unlike the present invention, the user does not purchase any

product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

This invention, for a method, apparatus, system and computer program,

involves a buyer-seller transaction in which the item's price is divided into slices,

and a draw or a game is conducted, typically with each slice. Each slice is a

portion of the price (although it is contemplated that one slice could be used, in

which case the value of the slice would be the same as the product's price). The

game and/or draw, which are described in more detail below, can be won based

on the outcome of a random data generator, based on the correct answer to a

skill-based contest, or based on a buyer successfully matching an object, color,

or position in a table.

Items offered for sale may be one or more goods or services. Selling

according to the present invention may take place in real time over a

communications medium, such as the internet or a telephone network.

Alternatively, selling may be arranged with a financial services provider, such as

a cash, credit or debit card company or a leasing company, to be done

automatically with the results being communicated to the buyer.

According to the invention, selling an item to a buyer includes steps of

providing conducting and determining. In the providing step, a number of

"slices" are provided for subscription to the buyer. Each slice has a value representing a portion of a value of the item. In the conducting step, at least one

draw or game is conducted for at least one of the slices. It is within the scope

of this invention that draws or games could be conducted on alternate slices or

every third slice, etc. In the determining step, an award to the buyer is

determined based on the outcome of the draw or game. The award may be a

reduction in price of an item the buyer has selected to purchase. Alternatively,

the award may be unrelated to the selected item. Illustrations of the invention

are presented below.

The present invention is further directed to a method for selling products

to a buyer, wherein the method includes the steps of displaying product

information on a product, displaying an initial rebate associated with the product,

and displaying an additional rebate associated with the product to a buyer

through an interactive communications device. An order is received for the

product from the buyer, which is generally conducted directly through a merchant

who is a member of the method service provider of the present invention, and

the buyer is notified of an award of the initial rebate and provided with an

opportunity to earn an additional rebate through playing a game. A game is

provided to the buyer, and an initial rebate is awarded to the buyer based upon

a score in the game.

The present invention is also directed to a method for selling a product

to a buyer, wherein the method includes providing an interactive web site, the

interactive web site displaying product information on a selected product to the

buyer, along with an initial rebate associated with the selected product. The

method further includes selling the selected product to the buyer through the

interactive web site and crediting the initial rebate associated with the selected product to the buyer thereafter. Then the buyer is notified of an opportunity to

play a game for an additional rebate, a game is provided, and an additional

rebate is awarded based upon a score in the game.

The present invention further provides a method for selling a product to

a buyer, wherein the method includes the steps of providing an interactive web

site, where the web site has at least one link to a merchant web site. Thereafter,

selling a selected product to the buyer through the interactive web site and

crediting a predetermined initial rebate associated with the selected product to

the buyer. Subsequent to the selling, offering the buyer an opportunity to obtain

an additional rebate through playing a game, providing the game to the buyer,

and awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained in

the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood

with reference to the following description and the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for enhancing the

experience of purchasing according to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an internal view of an embodiment of the payment

computer according to the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates an internal view of an embodiment of the buyer

terminal according to the present invention;

Figure 4A - 4F illustrates an embodiment of a purchase protocol

according to the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment according to the present invention

using a credit card, in which the entire value of the product is debited to the card at the beginning of the transaction;

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of the initial steps that a user of the method

service provider must go through to utilize the method service provider's web

site.

Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of the selection and purchasing steps of

the present invention;

Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart of the rebate steps of the present invention;

Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart of the gaming steps of the present

invention; and

Figure 10 illustrates a structural embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

One embodiment of the invention involves a buyer-seller transaction, in which

the item's purchase price is divided into "slices," and a game is played. The

game, which is generally selected by the player, can be a game of chance, a

draw, or game of skill, and is played with respect to each slice, or for the entire

purchase price of the item. Although each slice represents a portion of the

purchase price of the item, it is contemplated that one slice could be used, in

which case the value of the slice would be the same as the product's purchase

price. The games, which are described in more detail below, can be won based on the outcome of a random data generator, based on the correct answer to a

skill-based contest, based on a buyer successfully matching an object, color, or

position in a table, and numerous other types of games.

Items offered for sale may be one or more goods or services. Selling

according to the present invention may take place in real time over a

communications medium, such as the Internet or a telephone network.

Alternatively, selling may be arranged with a financial service provider, such as

a cash, credit or debit card company or a leasing company, to be done

automatically with the results being communicated to the buyer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, selling an item to a buyer

can include the steps of providing, conducting, and determining. In the providing

step, a number of "slices" are provided for subscription to the buyer. Each slice

has a value representing a portion of a value of the item. In the conducting step,

at least one game is played for at least one of the slices. It is within the scope

of this invention that games of skill could be conducted on alternate slices or

every third slice, etc. In the determining step, an award to the buyer is

determined based on the outcome of the game. The award may be a reduction

in price of an item the buyer has selected to purchase. Alternatively, the award

may be unrelated to the selected item.

Example 1

On March 1^st, a buyer has elected to purchase an item offered for sale on

a web site implementing the method according to the present invention. The

item costs $1000.00. The deadline for purchasing this item is April 30^th. In a

purchase plan, the buyer subscribes to this item in ten installments or slices. Each slice is thus worth $100.00. When payment for each slice is due, a

payment computer debits the buyer an amount equal to the price of each slice.

The buyer selects number 7 in a random draw and pays for slices one at

a time to participate in successive draws or games.

Outcome A

The buyer's selected number 7 is equal to a random data generated by

the payment computer on the third draw. Therefore, the buyer wins the draw on

his third slice. At this point, the buyer has paid for three slices totaling $300.00

(3 times $100.00). The buyer's award for winning the draw is the reduced price

for the item. Specifically, the award entitles the buyer to receive the item for a

total cost of $300.00 vs. $1000.00, the price of the item.

Outcome B

The buyer subscribes to ten slices and is offered nine free draws. The

buyer pays for each slice and participates in all nine draws, which take place

every six days; but the buyer's number does not come up in any of the draws.

In this case, the buyer will have paid for ten slices totaling $1000.00 (10 times

$100.00). The buyer has completed the purchase plan without receiving an

award. However, the buyer has bought the item, without having paid more for

the item than its value.

Example 1a

In this example of the invention, the seller permits a 20% downpayment

to be made when payment for each slice is due. Assume payment for each slice

is due at the first of each month, for ten months. (The payment deadline is now

January of the following year). On April 1 , the buyer pays his first downpayment, $20 (20% of $100).

This payment enables him to participate in a draw. Although he participates, he

does not win the draw. On May 1 , he pays his downpayment, but does not win

the draw. This continues until August 1. On August 1 , he pays his

downpayment and wins the draw. He has paid five downpayments ($100) and

owes a total of $500 (five slices of $100 each).

The buyer will receive the product, which is worth $1000, if he pays the

difference between the downpayments already received ($100) and total due

($500). Thus, if he pays $400, he will get the product. This represents a $500

discount from the price of the item.

Example 2

This example illustrates an embodiment of the invention adapted to a

traditional in person-type retail transaction.

Here, both the seller.computer and payment computer are in a retail store

(they may be combined in a cash register for example) and the buyer pays at the

cash register using the buyer's debit card. The terminal reads the debit card and

prompts the buyer to pick a space on a 3 X 3 grid.

Outcome A

The payment computer (or the customer) selects ten slices, and the

computer generates random spaces on the grid for each of the ten slices. On

the fifth slice, the buyer wins, the system determines the space match; and he

is awarded a discount on the price of the item. The payment computer then

collects from the financial network a $500.00 payment (5 times $100.00) by

debiting an account corresponding to the buyer's debit card number.

Outcome B The payment computer generates random spaces on the grid for each of

the ten slices. On the fifth slice, the system indicates the space the buyer

selected has matched the space generated by the system. The buyer is entitled

to an award, which in this case can be, for example, a free trip to Bermuda. The

payment computer informs the buyer that he has won a free trip and prints

relevant information, such as a telephone number to call and a confirmation

number, that is provided to the buyer by a sales clerk at the register. The

payment computer completes the transaction by collecting from the financial

network a $1000.00 payment (10 times $100.00) by debiting an account

corresponding to the buyer's debit card number. Example 3

This is an example of the present invention where the entire price of the

item is billed at the beginning of the transaction.

The payment computer is located at a financial services company that has

issued a credit card to the buyer. The buyer selected a number, for example,

1134, in the buyer's application for the credit card. The card is then issued, and

thereafter, the buyer purchases the item described above using the credit card.

Outcome A

The credit card issuer debits the buyer's account $1000.00 for the

purchase. The credit card issuer then conducts ten games using the number

1134 as a seed number for a random data generator. On the fifth draw, the

payment computer generates random data that match the predetermined

winning data. The payment computer therefore issues a credit in the amount of

$500.00 (5 times $100.00) to the buyer's credit card account. Outcome B

The credit card issuer debits the buyer's credit account $1000.00 for the

purchase. The credit card issuer then conducts 10 draws or games using the

number 1134 as a seed number for a random data generator. After 10 draws or

games, the payment computer has not generated random data that matches the

winning data. The payment computer, therefore, does not issue any credit to the buyer's account.

Figure 1 illustrates a system 10 for enhancing the experience of

purchasing according to one embodiment of the present invention. System 10

includes a payment computer 12, a plurality of buyer terminals 14, a

communications medium 15, at least one seller computer 16, a data entry center

18 and a financial network 19. Payment computer 12 is coupled with buyer

terminal 14 and seller computer 16 over communications medium 15. Payment

computer 12 communicates with data entry center 18, which may communicate

with communications medium 15 and financial network 19.

Buyers interacting with buyer terminals 14 communicate with the seller

computer 16 or a seller over the communications medium 15 using, for example,

data messages, telephone calls, or real time speech. Seller computer 16

communicates items offered for sale from the seller computer 16 to the buyer at

the buyer terminal 14 over the communications medium 15. A buyer may

communicate, over the communications medium 15, an item or items selected

for purchase and a method of payment using the buyer terminal 14. When the

buyer selects to pay pursuant to a method of the present invention, payment

computer 12 receives notification from seller computer 16 over communications

medium 15. Subsequently, payment computer 12 communicates with the buyer at buyer terminal 14, seller computer 16, and financial network 19 according to

the description in Figs. 4A-4E, which will be further discussed herein.

Communications medium 15 permits communication among the buyer or seller, or any type of buyer terminal 14, seller computer 16, data entry center 18

or payment computer 12. For example, the communications medium 15 can

include: normal human communication modes such as talking, an electrical,

optical or wireless serial or parallel link or bus, a data or voice network, a

broadcast medium, a wide area network, or other various combinations of these

options. Voice networks may include a plurality of interconnected

telecommunications switches. The interconnection may be accomplished in any

convenient manner, including by electric, optic, or wireless transmission over one

or more communications channels. Typically, the voice networks will be the

public switched telephone networks (PSTN). However, a PBX, key telephone

system, or any other voice network may be used. Data networks may include

a plurality of server computers, which may be interconnected in a well-known

manner in a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)

configuration. Data networks may also include the plurality of interconnected

servers, routers and backbones collectively called the Internet. Data messages

communicated over communications medium 15 may be transmitted pursuant

to any convenient communications protocol, illustratively including the hypertext

transfer protocol (http), telnet, file transfer protocol (ftp), and simple mail transfer

protocol (SMTP). Data messages may also include voice data.

In another embodiment of the invention, buyer terminals 14 are

computers, and seller computer 16 and payment computer 12 include web

pages stored in one or more databases. The web pages, which may include information on items offered for sale or purchase plan options, are

communicated or served to buyer terminals 14 over communications medium 15 via the http protocol. Buyer terminals 14 then interact with the web pages and

communicate relevant data as data messages pursuant to the http protocol back

to seller computer 16 or payment computer 12 over communications medium 15,

as appropriate.

Alternatively, the buyer terminal 14 may be a telephone and buyers may

communicate with the seller computer 16 and the payment computer 12 during

a telephone call. For example, the payment computer 12 may be equipped with

a voice response unit that plays voice message prompts to the user of the buyer

terminal 14 and correlates responses of the user with commands or data. The

user of the buyer terminal 14 may respond by speaking a number corresponding

to an action presented in the prompt, speaking word(s) or pressing a button

thereby sending a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tone over the voice network

15.

There are many other suitable alternatives for the buyer terminal 14,

including, in the simplest case, an input/output device connected directly via a

wire or bus, which is the communications medium 15 in this case, to the payment

computer 12 or seller computer 16. This arrangement may be used, for

example, when the terminal is located at a point of sale (POS) terminal. Buyer

terminal 14 may also be an analog or digital cellular telephone, an electronic

organizer device, or any other device capable of two-way communication.

Financial network 19 is typically a credit or debit network that authorizes

and settles financial transactions. The transactions are typically credit card,

debit card, or check transactions. Financial networks suitable for the financial network 19 are well known, and illustratively include the federal reserve

automated clearing house ("ACH") network and the Mastercard RPS network.

Data messages may be exchanged with the network 19 using any available

financial protocol, including the CICS or MQ protocols. Similarly, various

electronic message formats, such as OSX and GOLD, may be used.

Figure 2 illustrates an internal view of either the payment computer 12 or

the seller computer 16 according to the present invention. The payment

computer 12 may be physically separate from the seller computer 16.

Alternatively, the seller computer 16 and the payment computer 12 may be the

same. The latter embodiment is depicted in Figure 2. For convenience, the

depicted entity of Figure 2 is hereinafter referred to as either the payment

computer 12 or the seller computer 16 as appropriate.

Referring to Figure 2, in one embodiment of the invention, the payment

computer 12 includes a central processor 20 coupled over a system bus 21 to

a data interface 22, a voice interface 24, a voice response unit 26, a memory 28,

and databases 30-36. The central processor 20 may also communicate with a

display 38, other input/output devices 39 such as a microphone and speaker,

and a keyboard 40.

Memory 28 may include random access memory (RAM) or read only

memory (ROM) and other storage devices for storing information on and reading

information from a computer useable medium. The other storage devices may

illustratively include hard and floppy disk drives, tape drives, and compact disk

(CD) ROM and video disk drives. The memory 28 stores program instructions

for commanding the central processor 20 of the payment computer 12 to conduct

transactions. Instructions may be uploaded to memory 28 through a computer usable medium, such as a floppy disk, CD ROM disk, or via the data or voice

interface 22 or 24 respectively. During operation of the payment computer 12,

the central processor 20 retrieves program instructions from the memory 28 and

conducts the transaction according to the instructions.

Data interface 22 and voice interface 24, as shown in payment computer

12 within Figure 2, are disposed in communication with the communications

medium 15. The data interface may be an analog or digital modem, a local area

network card, such as an Ethernet card, or any other means of communicating

data/information from one point to another. Data interface 22 operates to

exchange digital data/information between central processor 20 and other

devices disposed in communication with system bus 21 and communications

medium 15. The digital data exchanged with communications medium 15 may

be data or digitized voice data. The voice interface is typically a modem. The

voice interface may, for example, convert digital data from the bus to analog data

pursuant to a communications protocol for transmission over the

communications medium 15. Similarly, voice interface 24 may convert analog

data received from communications medium 15 to digital data for further

transmission over system bus 21 to central processor 20 and other devices

disposed in communication with system bus 21.

Voice response unit 26 is disposed in communication with system bus 21

and may exchange voice data with system bus 21. Voice response unit 26

includes prerecorded messages for playing to a buyer or someone interested in

learning about the payment method according to the present invention. Voice

response unit 26 becomes active upon payment computer 12 receiving a

telephone call from communications medium 15. In response, voice response unit 26 may play one of the prerecorded messages to the caller. Furthermore,

voice response unit 26 may prompt the caller to press a button on the phone or

to make an utterance corresponding to a call processing option. Voice response

unit 26 permits the payment computer 12 to receive instructions, purchase plan

selections and payment information from a telephone 14 operated by a buyer.

Databases 30-36 are also disposed in communication with system bus 21

and may transmit data to and receive data from central processor 20 and the

other devices disposed in communication with system bus 21. Databases 30-36

may be single or separate databases. Moreover, databases 30-36 may be part

of memory 28 or may be remotely located and disposed in communication with

central processor 20 over communications medium 15. The information stored

in each of the databases is described with reference to the flowcharts discussed

herein.

Keyboard 40 is disposed in communication with central processor 20 and

may be used to enter information relating to, for example, items for sale, price,

availability, purchase plan or payment information. For example, the employees

at data entry center 18 receive information from buyers through any

communications medium, for example, including the internet, electronic mail,

regular mail, the telephone, or live visits from buyers. The employees may then

enter information via keyboard 40 for storage in one or more of databases 30-36.

Display 38 may be coupled directly to the processor or system bus 21 , and may

be used by employees at data entry center 18 to monitor the progress of a

transaction. Keyboard 40 and display 38 are shown as part of payment computer

12. Payment computer 12 may be located at the data entry center, thereby

permitting employees of the data entry center to use these facilities. Alternatively, the data entry center may be remotely located and data entered

may be transmitted to payment computer 12 over communications medium 15.

Figure 3 depicts an illustrative view of buyer terminals 14, which may be used by buyers to communicate with seller computers 16 and payment computer

12 pursuant to a method of the present invention. In a simple case, buyer

terminal 14 may be a telephone. In this scenario, the buyer may place telephone

calls over communications medium 15 in a conventional manner to payment

computer 12. This engages voice response unit 26 of payment computer 12,

which facilitates collecting and storing item and purchase plan selection,

registration information and payment information in the appropriate database of

the payment computer 12 for subsequent processing.

Alternatively, buyer terminal 14 may be a computer, as is also shown in

Figure 3. In this embodiment, the terminal may include a processor 50 disposed

in communication with a communications interface 52, a memory 54, a storage

device 56, a display 60, a keyboard 62 and other input/output devices 64, which

may include lights, tactile indicators, speakers and microphones.

Communications interface 52 is disposed in communication with communications

medium 15 and may be configured to connect directly to the seller computer 16

or payment computer 12 through a dial-up connection, or may connect indirectly,

for example, by establishing a connection with a universal resource locator

(URL) corresponding to payment computer 12 or seller computer 16 over the

Internet. Once connected to payment computer 12, communications interface

52 exchanges data between system bus 21 at the terminal and payment

computer 12. Memory 54 may include random access memory (RAM) or read only

memory (ROM) and other storage devices 56 for storing information on and

reading information from a computer useable medium. The other storage

devices 56 may illustratively include hard and floppy disk drives, tape drive,

compact disk (CD) ROM and video disk drives. Memory 54 stores program

instructions for commanding processor 50 of the terminal to run programs

enabling the terminal to interact with payment computer 12. In one embodiment

of the invention, the programs illustratively include an operating system, an

Internet browser for displaying and interacting with web pages over the Internet,

electronic mail applications, text editors and multi-media presentation

applications, such as real time audiovisual players. The programs may be

uploaded to memory 54 or storage devices 56 from a computer usable medium,

such as, for example a floppy or CD ROM disk 58 or communications medium

15, respectively.

In one embodiment of the invention, sellers may distribute a catalog of

items for sale on, for example, CD ROM 58 or a web page sent over

communications medium 15. The catalog may include a textual or multi-media

presentation concerning the items for sale and details concerning the inventive

payment method. CD ROM 58 may further include a program or data for

uploading to memory 54 which facilitates establishing a connection with seller

computer 16 or payment computer 12 over communications medium 15

automatically. Display 60 and keyboard 62 are disposed in communication with

processor 50 and enable the buyer to monitor and to interact with payment

computer 12. Figure 4A illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the present

invention. In step 100, a seller communicates available items to buyers in any

convenient manner. When the buyer terminal 14 is a computer, the seller may

communicate available items by serving a web page from seller computer 16

over communications medium 15 to buyer terminal 14. The web page may

include item information that may be included in the web page itself or in a

separate page or file linked to the web page. Seller computer 16 accesses the

item information for the web page from the item and price information database

30. The items may include any goods, such as consumer electronics, furniture,

appliances, automobiles, music, computer software, etc. The items may also

include services such as airline tickets, vacation packages, etc. An illustrative

view of entries in the item and price information database 30 is presented in the

table below:

Alternatively, when the buyer calls the seller computer using a telephone,

then in step 100, then the item information may be communicated to the buyer

terminal 14 using the voice response unit 26 of the seller computer. Any other

method of communicating items for sale may be used in step 100 including, for

example, broadcasting available items over radio, television, data or data/voice

networks, distributing magazines, newspapers, fliers, or letters listing the items,

distributing electronic media such as floppy disks or CD ROMs which include information about the available items. In addition, a seller may communicate the

available items in person to the buyer by having them on display, listed on a sign

or described by a sales person to the buyer. The seller or provider of services

according to the present invention may further communicate items for sale and

information on television shopping channels or through mail order companies.

In step 102, payment computer 12 receives a request from the buyer to

purchase an item using a method of the present invention. When buyer terminal

14 is a computer, the request may be an electronic message received from the

buyer terminal pursuant to a selection on one of the seller's web pages. This

may be accomplished illustratively as follows. The buyer may view items, using

a browser program, that are presented in a first web page or web site served

from a seller computer 16. The buyer may select items to purchase from the first

web page or web site. The first web page or web site may also include a manual

or automatic link to a second web page that is used to facilitate payment

according to the present invention. The second web page may be served from

the payment computer 12, which may be physically the same as or a separate

entity from the seller computer 16.

For example, the first web page may be maintained by a first company

that owns or leases the seller computer 16. The first company may be in the on¬

line sales business. The first company may further have an agreement with a

second company that offers services according to the present invention. The

second company would maintain the second web page or web site that is linked

to the first web page or web site. In response to the buyer selecting the link from

the first web page or web site to the second web page or web site, the Internet browser of the buyer terminal 14 issues a request, via an internet service

provider or other server computer, for the content of the second web page or

web site which in turn is transmitted via the Internet service provider or other server to the buyer terminal 14.

In this embodiment the buyer would purchase the product at the first web

site and be offered the opportunity to pay for it using the present invention. The

buyer would then be transferred to a web site maintained by a service provider

contracted to implement the present invention and would pay for the product

according to the method of the present invention. Alternatively, the buyer could

go directly to the web site maintained by the owner of the present invention, and

select at this site which product to purchase.

Information concerning the particular item selected for purchase from the

first web page or web site may be stored on buyer terminal 10 and

communicated to the payment computer 12 by the browser program of buyer

terminal 14. Alternatively, information about the item selected may be

transmitted from seller computer 16 to payment computer 12. In each scenario,

in step 102 payment computer 12 receives information identifying which items

are selected for purchase. When seller computer 16 and payment computer 12

are one in the same, the second web page or web site may be served from the

same computer and may be maintained by the same entity.

When the buyer terminal 14 is a telephone, the request may be a DTMF

tone or voice signal received from the buyer terminal 14 over the voice network

15. However, regardless of the particular embodiment of buyer terminal 14, a

signal is received from buyer terminal 14 over communications medium 15 that

indicates to the payment computer to begin step 104. In step 104, payment computer 12 can prompt the buyer to log on or register as a new user. If the

buyer is a new user, payment computer 12 may communicate a contract to the

buyer over communications medium 15, in step 106. In step 108, payment

computer 12 determines whether the buyer accepts the terms of the contract

based on a response received from the buyer terminal 14. If not, then in step

109, the buyer is offered the option to log off payment computer 12 and be

transferred back to a web page served by seller computer 16, if necessary. If in

step 109 the buyer accepts the terms of the contract, then in step 110, the

payment computer prompts the buyer for and receives registration information.

The registration information is typically then stored in the registered user

database 34 of the payment computer. An illustrative entry in the registered user

database 34 is shown in the table below:

In step 112, the payment computer generates and provides the new

registrant the registrant's user id and password. Alternatively, the payment

computer may allow the registrant to provide either or both the user id and

password. The payment computer 12 also may retrieve the email address of the

newly registered user from the database 34 and send an electronic mail

message to the email address confirming the user id and password of the new

registrant. Subsequently, step 118 begins. If in step 104 the buyer is a registered user, the buyer enters a user id and

password in step 114. In step 116, the payment computer queries the registered

user database 34 to verify that the user id and password entered are valid. If so,

then step 118 begins. In step 118, the buyer terminal 14 logs onto the payment

computer 12. After step 118, the buyer may select to play or review accounts

if the buyer is not a new registrant. If the buyer selects to play, then step 120

begins. If the buyer selects to review accounts, then step 180, shown in Figure

4F, begins and the buyer may choose to resume the process of purchasing the

item for which slices have already been subscribed to.

In another embodiment, the buyer goes from step 102 directly to the play

protocol as shown by line 102(a). This may allow the buyer to participate in one

or more games according to the present invention without first identifying himself

to the payment computer 12.

Referring to Figure 4B, in step 120, payment computer 12 retrieves

purchase plan options from purchase plan database 32 and communicates the

purchase plans to buyer terminal 14 over communications medium 15.

Purchase plans may be provided by the seller or the operator of payment

computer 12. Alternatively, the purchase plan may be, within limitations,

specified by the buyer. The purchase plan options may vary from plan to plan

according to various criteria. For example, each purchase plan can require

payment of the cost of the item in multiple payments called "slices," where the

cumulative value of the series of slices equals the cost of the item. Each slice

in the series may have the same value, or the value may be different among

slices in the series. For example, the value of each slice may progressively

increase, decrease or fluctuate randomly within the series. The value of slices may be specified by the seller, buyer or an operator of payment computer 12.

However, there may be only one slice, and therefore, that single slice would

represent the total cost of the item.

The purchase plan may also specify a downpayment for each slice as, for

example, a percentage of the value of each slice. The percentage may vary

from 0 to 100% and may be different or constant within a series of slices. The

purchase plan may also specify a minimum dollar value, for example $40.00, for

a slice, and may also specify payment options, such as payment by credit, cash

or debit card. Typically, each purchase plan also specifies either the number of

slices into which the payment will be divided or specifies a range of acceptable

numbers of slices from which the buyer must select a desired number of slices.

The purchase plan may also specify a frequency for paying each slice.

Alternatively, payment of each slice may occur at a time specified by either the

buyer or the seller. The timing of payments for slices may also be set at the

beginning of the purchase plan, or at another time during the plan. For example,

all payments for slices and all draws and games might be done in one day at the

beginning of the purchase plan, or they might be done over one year.

The purchase plan may also specify that the buyer receives the item upon

payment for the first slice. Alternatively, the purchase plan may specify that the

buyer receives the item at any time during the buyer's participation in the

purchase plan, at the buyer's choice, at the seller's choice, or upon the

occurrence of an unrelated event. If the buyer hasn't previously received the

item, the buyer can receive the item at the end of the purchase plan.

The purchase plan may also specify how the costs of shipping, taxes and

other incidental costs are shared between the seller and buyer (0% to 100%). Alternatively, these costs may be included in the item's price. The purchase plan

may provide gifts for the buyer after payment for each slice. The purchase plan

may also provide that the buyer is reimbursed from 0% to 100% of the cost of

each slice if he withdraws from the purchase plan before completion, and may

also impose a service fee. The purchase plan may allow insurance in favor of

the buyer and may assign responsibility to the buyer, seller or credit card

provider for loss or damage. The purchase plan may further award additional

draws or games to the buyer at any time, for example, when the buyer provides

the names and email addresses of friends to the seller, when the buyer correctly

answers questions, the plan also may randomly award games, or award them

at periodic intervals. The purchase plan may further allow the buyer to win

discounts for each winning draw or game in a series of draws or games. The

discounts may be cumulative. The purchase plan may further specify, for

example, that a customer who completes a draw or game without winning

receives a credit toward future purchases.

The purchase plan may allow the designation of a third party to receive

the item at the conclusion of the purchase plan. The plan may also have an

independent third party verify the fairness of the draws or games, and may have

a custodian bank where payments collected pursuant to the purchase plan are

deposited.

In step 122, the payment computer 12 communicates the purchase plan

options over the communications medium 15 to the buyer terminal 14 and

prompts the buyer to select a payment option. This may be done as an

electronic message or web page or as a voice prompt when the buyer terminal

is a telephone. In step 124, the payment computer 12 receives the purchase plan selected by the buyer and stores the plan information selected along with

the buyer's user id or account number as a record in the purchase plan database 32.

In step 126, the payment computer 12 prompts the buyer to select the

number of slices that the buyer wishes to purchase or "subscribe" to and

receives the buyer's selection. Typically, but not necessarily the prompt will

provide a range of acceptable numbers of slices from which the buyer must select the number. In step 128, the payment computer determines the

cumulative value of the requested slices subscribed to. In step 130, payment

computer 12 then retrieves payment information from the purchase plan

database 32 regarding the financial vehicle that the buyer has specified to settle

the transaction. For example, the buyer may have specified that payment is to

be made using the buyer's credit card. Payment computer 12 retrieves the credit

card number and expiration date from purchase plan database 32 and verifies

over financial network 19, in a well known manner, that the user's credit card

account has sufficient available credit to cover the amount. Verification typically

takes place by exchanging data messages between payment computer 12 and

financial network 19, which can include, for example, the federal reserve ACH

network and the MasterCard RPS network. Subsequently, in step 130, payment

computer 12 may collect the downpayment for each slice subscribed to by

communicating an electronic message over financial network 19 causing the

financial network to debit the buyer's credit card account by a specified amount

and deposit the amount in an account belonging to the owner of payment

computer 12, or its affiliate. In step 132, the game protocol shown in Figure 4C begins. In step 132,

the payment computer 12 optionally prompts the buyer for information to use in

the game and receives the buyer's response. The information may be a seed

number entered by the buyer or any other input including, for example, pressing

of a button, speaking a word, selecting an icon from a group of icons on the

display, selecting a space on a table presented to the buyer, selecting a color,

image or letter. The information also may be a buyer's response to a game of

skill, for example, the buyer's response to a trivia question or other game.

Alternatively, payment computer 12 may automatically and randomly generate

a seed number or other information used in the draw or game or may generate

a seed number or other information for the draw or game upon the buyer's

request.

In step 134, the payment computer 12 conducts the game for a slice that

has been subscribed to. As used herein, the term "game," includes games of

chance, games of skill. Games of skill include contests and games presented

to the buyer, the outcome of which depends upon the skill of the buyer. For

example, the game may be a still or animated video game, or one or more trivia

questions where the game has a binary win/lose outcome or where an outcome

is based upon a score achieved, for example, based on a number of correct

answers to trivia questions. Other games contemplated by this invention include

asking the buyer numerous questions, answering one correctly would give the

buyer an award, and providing a quiz in which the right answer must be given

within a set time.

The game in step 134 may be conducted by the central processor 20

running a random data generating program or collecting input from a source of random data. The random data-generating program may use data received from

the buyer in step 132 as a seed that affects the random data generated. In

alternate embodiments, the random data generated may correspond to spaces

on the same table on which the buyer selected a space, colors or icons. In

another embodiment, conducting the game or game may involve retrieving

known answers to trivia questions or responses to skill games.

In step 136, processor20 determines whetherthe random data generated during the draw or game or game is a winning number, winning space on the

table, winning color or icon. This may be done by determining whether the

random data generated is equal to a predetermined number or numbers or

determining whether a winning space on the table is the space selected by the

buyer. Alternatively, step 136 may determine whether the buyer won the game

of skill by comparing the buyer's answer or response with the correct response.

The odds of winning the draw or game or game may be constant for every slice

of every item sold. Alternatively, the odds of winning the draw or game or game

for each slice may vary. The odds of winning may also be fixed for each slice

in the series of slices or may vary within the series of slices by, for example,

increasing, decreasing or varying randomly or based on a degree of difficulty or

skill of the buyer. If in step 136, processor 20 determines that the buyer has won

the draw or game, then step 146 begins.

If in step 136, processor 20 determines that the buyer has not won the

draw or game, then in step 137, the buyer is notified that the buyer did not win

the draw or game on that particular slice. This notification may be by email, a

textual message, a sound, a tactile indicator, a spoken message or any other

convenient output. In step 138, the payment computer 12 determines whether the buyer has remaining subscriptions to slices for which there has not been a

draw or game. If so, then step 132 begins again and the buyer is optionally

prompted for another number or information for the next draw or game. If no

slices remain as determined in step 138, then step 140 begins. In step 140, the

payment computer determines whether the d raw or game just completed was for

the last slice in the purchase plan. If so, then step 162 begins. If not, then step

142 begins. In step 142, the payment computer 12 prompts the buyer to buy

more slices. If the buyer communicates that he would like to purchase additional

slices, then step 126 begins again. If the buyer communicates that he does not

wish to purchase more slices, then step 144 begins. In step 144, the payment

computer 12 communicates a summary of payments to the buyer over the

communications medium 15 and then offers the buyer the option to log out of the

system. The payment computer also stores a record of the payments in memory

28 and the payment database 36.

Step 146 begins when the buyer has won a game. In step 146, payment

computer 12 communicates to the buyer that the buyer has won the game on a

particular slice. In one embodiment of the invention, the buyer pays the full price

of the slice when each payment is due. In this embodiment, after step 146, step

160 begins.

In another embodiment of the invention, the buyer pays part of the price

of the slice (a "downpayment") when payment for each slice is due. In this

embodiment, steps 146-158 are used. In step 148, processor 20 calculates the

difference between the value of the slices subscribed to before and including the

slice on which the draw or game was won and the value of the downpayments

made. (See Example 1a above). In step 150, the payment computer 12 communicates an offer to the buyer to purchase the item for the difference. The

difference may be zero. Alternatively, the seller may be willing to provide the

product to the buyer for the price of the downpayment. The difference may be immediately due, or due when the credit card provider, the buyer, or the seller

decides. In step 152, the payment computer determines whether the buyer has

communicated an acceptance. If not, then in step 154 the payment computer

12 records the transaction history in payment database 36 and offers the buyer

the option to log out. If the buyer agrees to pay, then step 158 begins. In step

158, the payment computer collects the difference by settling the transaction

over the financial network 19.

Funds collected are deposited into an account maintained by the

proprietor of the payment computer 12, or an affiliated seller of account

maintenance services. In step 160, the payment computer offers the buyer the

choice to log out of the system and may return the buyer's terminal to the seller

computer via a hypertext link for selection by the buyer. In this step, payment

computer 12 may communicate an electronic message to the seller computer 16

indicating that the item has been paid for. Subsequently, seller computer 16

may prompt the buyer to provide information for shipping and to pay for the shipping in any convenient manner. Alternatively, this information may be

provided by the buyer in his registration form, and this information would be

transmitted to the seller computer by the payment computer automatically.

Step 162 begins when games have been conducted on all of the slices

of the purchase plan. In step 162, payment computer 12 communicates to the

buyer terminal over the communications medium 15 that the buyer has not won

any of the games, if this is the case, and that no slices remain. In step 164, the payment computer 12 calculates the difference between the value of the item

and the value of the downpayments made. In step 166, the payment computer

12 communicates an offer to sell the item to the buyer for the calculated

difference. If the buyer declines to accept the offer in step 168, then, in step

170, the buyer is offered the option to log out of the system. If in step 168 the

buyer accepts the offer to buy, then, in step 174, payment computer 12 collects

the difference when the buyer's funds are verified by settling the transaction over

the financial network 19. Funds collected are deposited into an account

maintained by the proprietor of the payment computer 12 or its affiliated seller.

In step 176, the payment computer 12 offers the buyer the option to log out and

returns the buyer's terminal 14 to the seller computer 16.

Payment computer 12 may also communicate an electronic message to

the seller computer 16 in step 176 indicating that the item has been paid for.

Subsequently, the seller computer 16 may prompt the buyer to pay for the

shipping in any convenient manner. Alternately, these costs may be included in

the item's price. A buyer may choose to review accounts by selecting, for

example, an account icon, typically after logging on as shown in Figure 4A after

step 118. Referring to Figure 4F, in step 180, the payment computer 12

transmits information about the buyer's purchases that are in progress to the

buyer for review. Information transmitted in step 180 is retrieved from the

payment database 36, based on the buyer's user id, and illustratively may

include the following information for each item:

item description, including value;

the number of slices subscribed to, paid for and remaining;

the price of each slice; the cost of each payment, including optional downpayments;

total amount of payments, including optional downpayments made;

balance due to complete purchase plan; and

deadline to complete purchase plan.

Also, the payment computer may send an electronic mail message to the

buyer informing the buyer of an imminent deadline for purchase. The buyer's

email address is retrieved from database 34. Processor 20, at periodic intervals,

issues queries to the payment database 36 to determine approaching deadlines

for items being purchased. In step 184, the buyer is presented with an option to

resume paying for a purchase in progress. If the buyer declines to pay for

additional slices, he is offered the option to log off in step 186. If the buyer

chooses to resume paying, then step 126 begins and he is prompted for the

number of slices to buy.

Figure 5 depicts an embodiment of the present invention which may be

implemented by a financial institution, such as a pre-paid card, cash, credit,

electronic-cash or debit card issuer. In step 200, the data entry center 18

receives an application for a credit card which implements a method according

to the present invention. In response, an employee of the data entry center

enters data via the keyboard 40 into central processor 20 of payment computer

12. In step 202, the processor processes and stores a drawing plan chosen by

the card holder in purchase plan database 32. The drawing plan represents the

number of slices in which the purchase can be divided, and therefore, the

number of draws that could be carried out for a particular purchase.

Alternatively, the drawing plan may be chosen by an operator at the data entry center or may be fixed by the credit card issuer. The drawing plan illustratively

includes the following information:

the number of slices into which a purchase is divided; the value of each slice;

an optional number selected by the buyer; and

the number of draws or games offered by the operator in which the buyer

will participate.

In step 204, processor 20 determines whether there has been a new

purchase charged to the cardholder's account. If not, then step 204 begins

again. If so, then step 206 begins. In step 206, the payment computer debits

the account for the full value of a purchase. In step 208, processor 20 conducts

draws or games to determine whether the cardholder has won the right to pay

a lesser amount for the purchase. The number of draws or games conducted

may be determined by the number of slices in the cardholder's purchase plan

retrieved from purchase plan database 32. The games may be conducted by

central processor 20 running a random data generating program stored in

memory 28. The time period for draws or games can vary. For example, all can

be conducted at the same time while a buyer is logged onto a web site, or over

a period of months. The random data generating program may use the number

received from the buyer and stored in the purchase plan database 32 as a seed

which affects the random data generated.

In step 210, processor 20 determines whetherthe random data generated

during the draw or game is a winning number. This may be done by determining

whetherthe random data generated is equal to the number or a predetermined

number or numbers. The odds of winning the draw or game may be constant for every slice of every item sold. Alternatively, the odds of winning the draw or

game for each slice may vary based on the value of the item. The odds of

winning may also be fixed for each slice in the series of slices or, for example,

may vary by increasing, decreasing or varying within the series of slices.

If a winning number is found in step 210, then in step 212, the payment

computer 12 reimburses the customer's account for the difference between the

amount and the value of the amount won. For example, if the cardholder won

on slice 3/10, where the value of each slice is $100.00, then payment computer

12 would credit $700.00 to the account. If the customer does not win in step

210, then step 204 begins and another draw or game is conducted upon receipt

of a new charge to the cardholder's account.

An alternative method for enhancing the sale of products to consumers

is provided in another embodiment of the present invention. The method of this

embodiment generally includes the steps of registering a consumer/purchaser

with a method service provider; selling one or more products to the consumer

through the method service provider; disclosing a predetermined initial rebate to

the consumer at the time of the consumer's purchase; notifying the consumer of

the completion of the purchase and the award of an initial rebate, along with the

opportunity to play a game for an additional rebate; and providing the consumer

with the opportunity to play a game of skill with the possibility of winning an

additional rebate, which will be compounded with the initial rebate.

In this particular embodiment, consumers gain access to the method

service provider through an interactive media source, preferably an Internet web

site. However, the present invention contemplates that an interactive media

source includes numerous methods of communication, inclusive but not limited to facsimiles, mail, electronic mail, telecommunications networks and systems,

personal communication, and others. The method service provider maintains a

generally accessible web site on a wide area network (WAN), such as the

internet, through which consumers are able to view various types of information,

such as, products for sale, registration information, account information, rebate

information, and information on various games of skill that the consumer can

play to obtain an additional rebate. Although basic information about the

services provided by the method service provider are to be publicly available on

the web site, access to the actual services of the site will be limited to registered

users/members of the method service provider.

In order for a consumer to register with the method service provider, and

therefore have full access to the services provided on the web site, the

consumer can be requested to provide, for example, certain biographical and

financial information to the method service provider. Examples of biographical

information that may be required for registration include the member's name,

address, telephone phone number, e-mail address, birth date, and/or mother's

maiden name. Examples of financial information may include a credit card

account number and an expiration date with the accompanying cardholder

name, or a bank account number and a bank routing number with an account

holder name. This information is used to set up the financial services portion of

the present embodiment, such as the member's account with the method service

provider, which receives both the members initial rebates and additional rebates.

Additional information that may be requested by the method service provider at

the time of registration includes the consumer's product preferences, the

consumer's hobbies and/or interests, and any other marketing related information that may be used by the method service provider to plan targeted

advertising of products to the specific member. Such targeted advertising could

be viewed by the consumer during utilization of the method service provider's

web site, through electronic mailings, or through other known methods of

communication. Further, the registration process can include the user selecting

a unique username and password, which will be used to log on to the web site

of the method service provider.

In the present embodiment, access to the method service provider is

obtained through the Internet. Buyer terminals 14 mentioned in the previous

embodiments can be replaced with the individual computers 114 of the

consumers. These computers 114 would include as standard features, for

example, the elements of the buyers terminal 14, such as a communications

interface 52, memory 54, storage devices 56, a processor 50, a display 60, a

keyboard, 62, and one or more I/O devices 64. As such, through the use of the

present embodiment, consumers are not restricted to using the services provided

by the method service provider at any specific buyer terminal location, as the

method service provider web site is accessible from any terminal or personal

computer that has access to the Internet and includes the above noted standard

features. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, registered members

of the method service provider can utilize the services of the web site from home,

the office, or any computer that has Internet access through an internet service

provider or other known means for accessing the Internet. Further, in the

present embodiment, the communications medium 15 of the previous

embodiments is essentially replaced by the consumer connection to the Internet

115, as the consumer's computer 114, which is serving as the buyer terminal 14, can electronically communicate with the seller computer 116, financial network

119, and payment computer 112 through the internet connection 115. It is also

contemplated that the present embodiment may utilize a direct dial-type of

access for consumers that do not have access to the internet through an internet

service provider. However, direct-dial access to the method service provider or

seller computer 116, which would then communicate with the remainder of the

system 110, would still require the consumer's personal computer to have a

communication interface 152, such as a modem, and access to a

communications medium, such as a telephone line.

In similar fashion to the previously discussed embodiments, the present

embodiment includes each of the elements shown in Figure 10; however, as

stated above, the buyer terminals 14 noted in the previous embodiments are

replaced with the individual consumer's computers 114 and the communications

medium 115 is represented by the Internet in the present embodiment. The

present embodiment includes a payment computer 112 and a data entry center

118, as shown in Figure 2, at least one seller computer 116, and a financial

network 119. Payment computer 112 is coupled with seller computer 116 over

communications medium 115, which can represent an Internet connection or a

previously disclosed communication source in the present embodiment.

Payment computer 112 communicates with data entry center 118, which is in

communication with communications medium 115 and financial network 119.

Buyers interacting with system 100 in the present embodiment

communicate with the seller computer 116 or a seller through the method service

provider web site, in similar fashion to the previous embodiments. Specifically,

the buyer's personal computer generally communicates with the seller's computer 116 through an Internet connection or a direct dial connection. This

connection allows for the products for sale to be viewed by the buyers at their

personal computers through the Internet or direct-dial connection. The products

can be displayed on the seller's web site via a frame in the method service

provider's web site, which the consumer using the method service provider can

access via a link to the seller's computer or web site from the method service

provider web site. Alternatively, it is also contemplated that the products can be

displayed through the method service provider's web site directly. When a link

to the seller's web site from the method service provider's web site is used, seller

computer 116 communicates items offered for sale from the seller computer 116

to the buyer interacting with the method service provider web site through

communications medium 115, which can again be an Internet connection or

another data transfer method. A buyer may communicate, over the

communications mediunt 115, an item or items selected for purchase and a

method of payment using their personal computer 114. When the buyer selects

to purchase a product pursuant to a method of the present invention, payment

computer 112 receives notification from seller computer 116, or an alternative

third party intermediary providing financial services, over communications

medium 115. Subsequently, payment computer 112 communicates with the

buyer's personal computer 114, seller computer 116, and financial network 119

according to the description recited in the previous embodiments to complete the

financial portion of the transaction.

Therefore, the method of the invention shown in the present embodiment

can generally be described as an internet-based rebate program, wherein

registered members can earn multiple rebates by purchasing eligible items from sellers or participating merchants through the method service provider's web

site. When a member makes a purchase of an eligible item from a participating

merchant through the method service provider's web site, the merchant's web

site notifies the method service provider. Thereafter, the method service

provider credits the purchasing member's account with a previously disclosed

initial rebate, and notifies the member of an opportunity to obtain an additional

rebate through playing a game of skill. Although this particular embodiment

includes electronically notifying the member of various steps related to the

present invention, it is contemplated that member notification could take place

via numerous known methods, such as the mailing of a statement to the

member, for example. The details of this method are shown in Figures 6 - 9.

Figure 6 shows a flowchart of the initial steps that a user of the method

service provider must go through to utilize the method service provider's web site

product purchasing features. At step 601 the user or potential buyer connects

to the internet through their own personal computer and accesses the home

page of the method service provider web site. This general access to the

method service provider's web site home page does not require a member

username or password, as the home page contains only general information.

Further, the user is allowed to access various general information areas of the

method service provider web site at step 601 without logging on to the method

service provider's web site. However, when the user elects to log on to the

method service provider's web site, or alternatively, when the user selects an

area of the method service provider's web site that is for registered members

only, then the method continues to step 602. At step 602 the method service

provider determines if the user is registered for service with the method service provider. If the user is a registered member, then the logic continues to step

608, where the user is prompted to enter a valid userid and password. At step

609 the userid and password entered by the user are verified, and the method

continues to the logon step of 610. If the userid and password are not verified,

then the method returns to the prompt for a valid userid and password. In similar

fashion to commonly known web access techniques, access to the method

service provider web page can be disabled upon a member entering an incorrect

userid and/or password a predetermined number of times.

If it is determined that the user is not registered for service with the

method service provider at step 602, then the method asks the user if they would

like to become a member at step 602a. If the user elects to become a member

at step 602a, then the method proceeds to step 603, where a membership

service contract is transmitted to the user for review and acceptance prior to

allowing the unregistered user access to the site. If the user does not elect to

become a member at step 602a, then the user is logged out of the method

service provider's system and/or returned to the general access home page at

step 605. After sending the contract to the user at step 603, at step 604 the

logic determines if the user accepts the terms and conditions of the method

service provider contract. If the user does not accept the terms and conditions

of the service contract, then the method simply logs the user out of the web site

and/or returns the user to the general information home page at step 605.

Alternatively, if the user accepts the terms and conditions of the service contract,

then the logic continues to step 606, where the user is prompted to enter the

previously mentioned registration information. The registration information,

which is mentioned above as the biographical and financial information, is used to set up the users account with method service provider. Further, in addition to

the biographical and financial information, the method can request that the new

user/member choose a unique userid and password, or alternatively, randomly

assign an available userid and password. At step 607 the registration

information entered by the user is processed by the method service provider and

the user/new member's registered userid and password is sent to the member.

Thereafter, the logic continues to step 610, where the user is logged on to the

method service provider network as a registered member.

Upon completion of the member logging on to the method service provider

web site in step 610, the method continues to step 611 , which corresponds to

step 700 in Figure 7. Step 700 leads directly to step 701 , where the

member/buyer is presented with a selection of manufacturers, merchants,

service providers, and/or product categories. Upon review of these factors, the

buyer selects the desired category, merchant, or manufacturer that corresponds

to products that the buyer desires to purchase. At step 702, subsequent to the

buyer's selection of a category, the buyer's personal computer is linked or routed

to the selected merchant's web site through commonly known Internet linking

techniques. At step 703 the buyer is linked to the merchant's web site and the

items of interest to the buyer are displayed for viewing by the buyer through a

frame in the method service provider's web site, such that the buyer can choose

which items to purchase. Further, a predetermined initial rebate is displayed

along with the name of each selected merchant. Upon reviewing the relevant

items and their associated initial rebates on the merchant's web site, the buyer

selects one or more items for purchase, and electronically notifies the merchant's

computer/seller computer 16 of the buyer's selection at step 704. During step 704, the merchant's web site receives an item selection from the buyer

representing the item(s) that the buyer desires to purchase. The item selection

information received from the buyer is processed by the merchant's computer

116, and a summary of the purchase information is sent to the buyer for

acceptance at step 706. This step is merely a confirmation step to determine if

the purchase information entered by the purchaser is correct. If the buyer does

not accept the merchant's confirmation of the purchase at step 705, then the

buyer is presented with the options of logging out of the system or returning to

step 701 to select alternative product items. If the buyer selects to terminate the

purchase and log out of the system, then the method continues to step 711

where the buyer is logged out of the method service provider web site. If the

buyer merely desires to change the item to be purchased, then the method

returns to the product selection step, step 701 , at step 712.

If the buyer accepts the purchase at step 706, then the method continues

to step 707 where the buyers purchase is finalized. At this stage, as discussed

above in the previous embodiments, the merchant's computer finalizes the

financial information relative to the transaction with the merchant's chosen

commercial financial transaction method, as discussed in the previous

embodiments. Once the purchase is finalized at step 707, the method service

provider is notified by the merchant's computer, or a third party intermediary

providing financial services, that the respective member has purchased a

product that is eligible for an initial rebate at step 708. Thereafter, the method

continues to steps of issuing the initial rebate to the buyer, notifying the buyer of

a possibility to play a game for an additional rebate, and playing a game for the additional rebate. These steps are generally illustrated in step 709, which is

further detailed in Figure 8.

Figure 8 shows a detailed flowchart of the method steps relative to step

709 in Figure 7. The method steps within Figure 8 begin with step 801 , where

method service provider credits the initial rebate earned by the buyer through the

purchase of an eligible product to the buyer's account with the method service

provider. The initial rebate is not generally deducted from the purchase price of

the item purchased. Rather, the monetary value of the rebate is placed in the

buyers account in the present invention. The initial rebates, therefore, act as a

cash back-type rebate system that accumulates in the member's account with

every purchase. The accumulated account balance is periodically returned to

the member through a credit to the member's credit card, through the issuance

of a check for the account balance, wire transfer, electronic means of payment,

or any other accepted means of payment. Upon crediting the initial rebate to the

member's account in step 801 , the method continues to step 802, where the

purchasing member is notified of the initial rebate being credited to the member's

account, and additionally, the member is notified that the method service

provider is offering an opportunity for the member to earn an additional rebate

on the purchase of the eligible item through playing a game of skill. This

notification is conducted at essentially no additional cost to the method service

provider, as the notification is generally through an electronic communication

means. At step 803 the member selects whether or not to play a game of skill

for the offered additional rebate. If the member chooses not to play a game of

skill for an additional rebate, then the user may continue to use the services of

the method service provider in the current session. If the member chooses to play a game of skill with the opportunity of earning an additional rebate, then the

method continues to step 804, which is further detailed in Figure 9.

Figure 9 shows the gaming steps of the method of the present

embodiment. Figure 9 begins with step 900, which corresponds to step 804 of

Figure 8, where the buyer has elected to play a game of skill for an additional

rebate. However, prior to playing the game of skill, the buyer must be logged on

to the method service provider's web site. Therefore, it is contemplated that the

notification and choosing steps, steps 802 and 803 respectively, may include a

link to the method service provider's web site. Therefore, if the buyer chooses

to play a game of skill for an additional rebate at step 803, then the buyer will

automatically be linked to the method service provider's web site. The buyer will

be required to logon to the site and select the appropriate area of the web site

containing the game to be played. Subsequent to selecting to play a game and

logging on the method service providers web site, the buyer is prompted to

select a game of skill to play for an additional rebate from a list of games

provided by the method service provider at step 901. At step 902 the buyer

selects a game of skill to play and plays the game. Upon completion of the

game, the buyer's score is determined at step 903, and the method continues

to step 904. At step 904 the method determines if the buyer's score is sufficient

to earn an additional rebate. This determination can be made based upon the

buyers score alone via comparison of the buyers score to a predetermined

threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold may also represent a

comparison of the buyers score to other players in a gaming session. Upon

completion of the determination in step 904, the method presents the buyer with

a summary of the additional rebate earned as a result of the game score, if any, at step 905. Upon presenting the buyer with the summary of the additional

rebate earned, the method continues to step 906, where the method credits the

additional rebate earned by the buyer to the buyer's account with the method

service provider. Thereafter, the buyer has the option of returning to the product

selection steps beginning with step 700 or logging out of the system.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of selling to a buyer, comprising the steps of:

providing a number of slices to the buyer, each slice having a value

representing a portion of a value of an item;

conducting at least one draw for at least one of the slices; and

determining an award to the buyer based on an outcome of the draw.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buyer has a fixed time limit

to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a buyer has no fixed time limit

to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the number of slices is

selectable by the buyer.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

serving a web page to a buyer terminal, the web page providing

information about the number of slices.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the buyer information for the draw; and

affecting an outcome of the draw based on the received information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

offering the item to the buyer, after receiving payment for all slices.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of collecting

a down payment from the buyer for each slice.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a probability of winning the

draw for each slice is not constant.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the award is a reduction in price

of the item.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reduction in price is based

on an aggregate value of each slice for which at least one draw was

conducted.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the value of each slice is

constant.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the value of each slice is

variable.

14. An apparatus for increasing sales, comprising: at least one interface disposed in communication with a buyer terminal

and a communications medium;

a database for storing purchase plans for the purchase of an item;

a processor, disposed in communication with the at least one interface,

the processor configured to: a) provide to a buyer the ability to buy a number

of slices pursuant to a purchase plan retrieved from the database, each slice

having a value representing a portion of a value of the item; b) conduct at

least one draw for at least one of the slices; and c) determine an award to the

buyer based on an outcome of the draw.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the buyer has a fixed time

limit to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the buyer has no fixed time

limit to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the number of slices is

selectable by the buyer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a server computer coupled to a processor over the communications

medium, the server computer serving a web page to a buyer terminal, the

web page providing information about the number of slices.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further

configured to:

d) receive from the buyer terminal information for the draw; and

e) affect an outcome of the draw based on the received information.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an interface is coupled to a

financial network, and wherein the processor is further configured to collect a

payment for each slice from the buyer using the financial network.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a probability of winning the

draw for each slice is not constant.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the award is a reduction in

the price of the item.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reduction in price is based on an

aggregate value of each slice for which at least one draw was conducted.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the value of each slice is

constant.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the value of each slice is

variable.

26. A computer program product for causing a payment computer to collect

payment from a buyer, comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored

therein, wherein the computer program logic comprises:

providing means for causing the payment computer to provide a

number of slices, each slice having a value representing a portion of a value

of an item;

conducting means for causing a computer to conduct at least one draw

for at least one of the slices; and

determining means for causing a computer to determine an award to

the buyer based on an outcome of the draw.

27. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the buyer

has a fixed time limit to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

28. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the buyer

has no fixed time limit to pay for all of the slices provided for the item.

29. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the number

of slices is selectable by the buyer.

30. The computer program product according to claim 26, further comprising

sending means for sending a web page to a buyer terminal via a server

computer, the web page providing information about the number of slices.

31. The computer program product according to claim 26, further comprising:

receiving means for causing the payment computer to receive from the

buyer terminal information for the draw; and

affecting means for causing the computer to affect the outcome of the

draw based on the received information.

32. The computer program product according to claim 26, further comprising:

offering means for causing the computer to offer the item to the buyer,

after collecting payment for all of the slices.

33. The computer program product according to claim 26, further comprising:

collecting means for causing the computer to collect a payment from

the buyer for each slice subscribed to.

34. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein a

probability of winning each draw is not constant.

35. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the award

is a reduction in price of the item.

36. The computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the

reduction in price is based on an aggregate value of each slice for which at

least one draw was conducted.

37. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the value

of each slice is constant.

38. The computer program product according to claim 26, wherein the value

of each slice is variable.

39. A business method of selling an item to a buyer, comprising the steps of:

providing to a buyer the ability to buy a number of slices, each slice

having a value representing a portion of a value of the item;

conducting at least one draw for at least one of the slices; and

determining an award to the buyer based on an outcome of the draw.

40. A system for selling an item to a buyer, comprising:

a buyer terminal;

a seller computer communicating with the buyer terminal over a

communications medium for presenting items to a buyer at the buyer terminal;

and a payment computer communicating with the buyer terminal and seller computer

over the communications medium, the payment computer being configured to:

a) receive from the seller computer information about the item selected by the

buyer; b) provide, over the communications medium, to a buyer the ability to buy

a number of slices, each slice having a value representing a portion of a value of the selected item; c) conduct at least one draw for at least one of the slices,

and d) determine an award to the buyer based on an outcome of the draw.

41. A method for selling products to a buyer, said method comprising

the steps of:

displaying product information on a product and an initial rebate

associated with the product to a buyer through an interactive communications device;

receiving an order for the product from the buyer;

notifying the buyer of an award of the initial rebate and providing the

buyer with an opportunity to earn an additional rebate through playing a game;

providing the game to the buyer; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained

in the game.

42. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said interactive

communication device further comprises an Internet web site.

43. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said game further comprises a game of skill.

44. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said game further

comprises a game of chance.

45. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein said step of displaying

product information to the buyer further comprises providing at least one link

from the Internet web site to at least one merchant web site having products

displayed thereon.

46. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein said step of receiving an

order for a product further comprises the steps of: receiving the order for the product on said at least one merchant web site;

finalizing the order for the product; and

notifying the Internet web site of the finalized order.

47. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said step of displaying an

initial rebate associated with the product further comprises displaying the initial rebate to the buyer prior to the buyer purchasing the product.

48. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said step of notifying the

buyer of an award of the initial rebate further comprises the steps of:

crediting the initial rebate to an account with the Internet web site

associated with the buyer; and

sending an electronic message to the buyer notifying the buyer of the

crediting of the initial rebate to the account.

49. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said step of providing the

buyer a possibility to earn an additional rebate further comprises sending an

electronic message to the buyer informing the buyer of the possibility to earn the

additional rebate.

50. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said step of providing a

game further comprises:

providing a list of games to a player;

receiving a selected game from the player;

playing the selected game; and

scoring the players performance in the game.

51. A method as recited in claim41 , wherein said step of awarding the

additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained in the game further

comprises comparing a buyers score in the game to scores of other players;

determining if the buyer has earned the additional rebate; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon the determination.

52. A method for selling a product to a buyer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive web site, said interactive web site displaying

product information on a selected product to a buyer, along with an initial rebate

associated with the selected product;

selling the selected product to the buyer through the interactive web site;

crediting the initial rebate associated with the selected product to the

buyer;

notifying the buyer of an opportunity to play a game for an additional

rebate;

providing the game to buyer;

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score in the

game.

53. A method as recited in claim 52, said method further comprising

the step of registering the buyer as a user of the interactive web site.

54. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein said registering step

further comprises the steps of:

receiving biographical and financial information from the buyer; and

providing an account to the buyer for receiving rebates.

55. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said step of selling a

selected product to the buyer further comprises the steps of:

providing a selection of on-line merchants on the interactive web site; receiving a selected merchant from the buyer;

linking the buyer to a web site of the selected merchant;

receiving an order to purchase the selected product from the buyer on the

web site of the selected merchant;

finalizing the order; and

notifying the interactive web site of the finalized order.

56. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said step of crediting the

initial rebate further comprises the steps of:

receiving notification that a buyer purchase is final; and

crediting the initial rebate associated with the buyer purchase to a buyer

account.

57. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said step of notifying the

buyer of an opportunity to play a game for an additional rebate further comprises

the step of sending an electronic message to the buyer.

58. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said game further

comprises a game of skill.

59. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said step of providing a

game further comprises the steps of:

listing available games to the buyer;

receiving a selected game from the buyer;

playing the selected game; and

determining a score for the selected game.

60. A method as recited in claim 59, wherein said step of awarding the

additional rebate to the buyer further comprises the steps of: comparing the score determined for the selected game to a predetermined threshold;

determining if the buyer has earned the additional rebate based upon the comparing; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon the determining.

61. A method for selling a product to a buyer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive web site, said web site having at least one link to

a merchant web site;

selling a selected product to the buyer through the interactive web site;

crediting a predetermined initial rebate associated with the selected

product to the buyer;

offering the buyer an opportunity to obtain an additional rebate through

playing a game;

providing the game to the buyer; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained

in the game.

62. A method as recited in claim 61 wherein said step of selling a

selected product to a buyer through the interactive web site further comprises

the steps of:

linking the buyer to a selected merchant web site;

receiving an order for a purchase from the buyer on the selected

merchant web site;

finalizing the order received; and

notifying the interactive web site of the finalized order.

63. A method as recited in claim 61 , wherein said step of awarding the additional rebate further comprises:

determining the score for the buyer in the game;

comparing the score for the buyer to a predetermined threshold;

determining if the buyer has earned the additional rebate; and

awarding the additional rebate.

64. A method as recited in claim 61 , wherein said game further comprises a game of skill.

65. A method as recited in claim 61 , wherein said game further

comprises a game of chance.

66. A method for selling products to a buyer, said method comprising

the steps of:

displaying product information on a product and an initial rebate

associated with the product to a buyer;

receiving an order for the product from the buyer;

notifying the buyer of an award of the initial rebate and providing the

buyer with an opportunity to earn an additional rebate through playing a game;

providing the game to the buyer; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained

in the game.

67. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein said game further

comprises a game of skill.

68. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein said game further

comprises a game of chance.

69. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein said step of providing the

buyer a possibility to earn an additional rebate further comprises sending a

notification message to the buyer informing the buyer of the possibility to earn

the additional rebate.

70. A method as recited in claim 66 wherein said step of providing a

game further comprises:

providing a list of games to a player;

receiving a selected game from the player;

playing the selected game; and

scoring the players performance in the game.

71. A method as recited in claim 66, wherein said step of awarding the

additional rebate to the buyer based upon a score obtained in the game further

comprises

comparing a buyers score in the game to scores of other players;

determining if the buyer has earned the additional rebate; and

awarding the additional rebate to the buyer based upon the determination.

72. A method for offering rebates to a buyer or a consumer, said

method comprising the steps of:

displaying a statement to a buyer or consumer;

providing the buyer or consumer with an opportunity to earn a rebate

through playing a game;

providing the game to the buyer or consumer; and

awarding the rebate to the buyer or consumer based upon a score

obtained in the game.

73. A method as recited in claim 72, wherein said game further comprises a game of skill.

74. A method as recited in claim 72, wherein said game further comprises a game of change.

75. A method as recited within claim 72, wherein said step of providing

the buyer or consumer with an opportunity to earn a rebate through playing a

game further comprises sending a notification message to the buyer or

consumer informing the buyer or consumer of a possibility to earn an additional

rebate.

76. A method as recited in claim 72, wherein said step of providing the

game further comprises the steps of: providing a list of games to the buyer or consumer;

receiving a selected game from the buyer or consumer;

playing the selected game; and

scoring the buyer or consumers performance in the game.

77. A method as recited within claim 72, wherein said step of awarding

the rebate to the buyer or consumer based upon a score obtained in the game

further comprises the steps of:

comparing a buyer or consumers score in the game to scores of other

buyers or consumers;

determining if the buyer or consumer has earned the rebate; and

awarding the rebate to the buyer or the consumer based upon the

determination.