CA2949493A1 - Method for product and services offering - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method of advertising and making available goods or services provided which includes disclosure of a direction of a portion of the proceeds received in exchange for the goods or services to a social or charitable organization.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCT AND SERVICES OFFERING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field on-line display, and coordination of purchase, of goods and services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] All of the publications, patents and patent applications cited within this application are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if the disclosure of each individual publication, patent application or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] There has been an ever expanding number of goods and services available for purchase through on-line retailers and service providers using computers connected to a network, the most common being an Internet. As users of the network connected computers become more accustomed to purchasing of goods and services on-line, and as more on-line retailers, service providers, and intermediaries become available; it is becoming important for retailers, service providers and intermediaries to distinguish themselves in the on-line marketplace.

[0003] Small vendors, such as individuals, may have a need for such payment systems, such as when they cannot afford processing fees associated with other payment systems, cannot accept the risk of certain payment systems, or do not want to undertake complicated registration processes for other payment systems. For example, a seller of movie memorabilia may register with one of the on-line payment processing systems and may have others send them money for each sale. Such a user may also develop a web page that permits users to click on items to select, and that carries out an ordering and payment process for such users.

[0004] Concurrent with the expansion of availability and acceptance of on-line retailers has been an increase of awareness and desire of individuals to support social and charitable organizations. The ability to learn of, and further provide financial support to, social and charitable organizations using on-line resources has lead directly to such an increase.

[0005] The art is in need of a method for bringing together the ability to purchase goods or services through a computer network, such as an Internet; with the desire of users to support social or charitable organizations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides for a method for offering services for purchase using a client system, the method comprising:
- Displaying information identifying the services at the client computer system;
- Receiving from a user information uniquely identifying the recipient of the services, the information uniquely identifying the recipient being a client system generated unique, and persistent, unique identifier;
- Displaying an indication of an action that is to be performed by the user to order the services;
- In response to the indicated action being performed, sending to a server system an indication that the service is to be ordered and the unique identifier of the service recipient; and - Executing a debit transaction through a third party computing system in network communication with the recipient and the client system which upon successful debiting of a credit account of the recipient to the credit of the owner of the client system and provides notice to the client system;
Whereby when the server system receives notice of successful debiting of the recipient's credit account; directs a portion of the credit to the owner of the client system to a charity or not-for-profit of the provider of said services choosing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] The method of the present invention describes the novel and beneficial feature of providing an opportunity for providers of goods and services to disclose and commit to the provision of charitable donations, through the use of an intermediary marketplace.

[0008] In accordance with the methods of the present invention, a provider of goods or services requests an intermediary marketplace, available through a digital communications network such as an internet; to advertise the goods or services within the marketplace. Concurrent with the request to advertise the goods or services, the provider of the goods or services directs the intermediary marketplace to remove a portion of the payment received by a third party purchaser of the goods or services, and direct that portion of the payment to a social or charitable organization. It is contemplated that the direction to the intermediary marketplace be irrevocable once the goods or services have been purchased by third party.

[0009] The intermediary marketplace may then advertise and generally make available the goods or services, and may include the direction of the provider of the goods or services to make a donation to a social or charitable organization;
allowing the potential purchasers of said goods or services to make purchase choices based, in part, upon the support of said social or charitable organizations. Should a third party accessing the intermediary marketplace elect to purchase a good or service;
then a debit transaction with a third party payment processor is initiated, using any of the means, methods or procedures commonly known in the art. It is contemplated to use any payment system which results in the debiting of the third party purchaser of the goods or services account, with a concurrent crediting of the intermediary = marketplace account.

[0010] Following the crediting of the intermediary marketplace account, the intermediary marketplace will then direct a portion of the credited amount to a social or charitable organization in accordance with the direction of the provider of the goods or services. The means for direction of such amounts is contemplated to include direct transfer of the credited amount through the same payment processor used to receive the credit from the third party purchaser; conversion of the credited amount to a currency for transfer to the social or charitable organization;
creation of a negotiable instrument for communication to the social or charitable organization; or any method, process or procedure resulting in the transfer of value from the intermediary marketplace to a social or charitable organization. Optionally the intermediary marketplace may deduct a portion of the credited amount for its services before transferring the remainder to the provider of the goods or services.

[0011] It is specifically contemplated that amounts transferred to a social or charitable organization at the direction of a provider of goods or services be transferred in the name of the provider of the goods or services; so as to allow the provider of the goods or services to receive a receipt or recognition of their transfer to the social or charitable organization. It is contemplated that receipt of recognition may include a charitable receipt in form acceptable by taxation authorities relevant to the supplier of the goods or services.

[0012] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention and are intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to this invention, not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as demonstrated through the exemplary embodiments. The invention is therefore to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A
computer implemented method for offering services for purchase using a client system, the method comprising:
- Displaying information identifying the services at the client computer system;
- Receiving from a user information uniquely identifying the recipient of the services, the information uniquely identifying the recipient being a client system generated unique, and persistent, unique identifier;
- Displaying an indication of an action that is to be performed by the user to order the services;
- In response to the indicated action being performed, sending to a server system an indication that the service is to be ordered and the unique identifier of the service recipient; and - Executing a debit transaction through a third party computing system in network communication with the recipient and the client system which upon successful debiting of a credit account of the recipient to the credit of the owner of the client system and provides notice to the client system;
Whereby when the server system receives notice of successful debiting of the recipient's credit account; directs a portion of the credit to the owner of the client system to a charity or not-for-profit of the provider of said services choosing.