WO2001011483A2

WO2001011483A2 - Supplemental offers wherein a buyer takes possession at a retailer of a primary product purchased through a purchasing system

Info

Publication number: WO2001011483A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/016039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew S. Van Luchene; Jay S. Walker; Magdalena Mik; Kathleen M. Van Luchene; Daniel E. Tedesco
Original assignee: Walker Digital, Llc
Priority date: 1999-08-09
Filing date: 2000-06-12
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: AU5481200A; WO2001011483A8

Abstract

Supplemental offers are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a primary product at a retailer. A purchasing system arranges through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller. The purchasing system also generates primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product and supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer. The supplemental offer may be based, at least in part, on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

Description

SUPPLEMENTAL OFFERS WHEREIN A BUYER TAKES POSSESSION AT A RETAILER OF A PRIMARY PRODUCT PURCHASED THROUGH A

PURCHASING SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/337,906 filed June 22, 1999 and entitled "Purchasing Systems and Methods Wherein a Buyer Takes Possession at a Retailer of a Product Purchased Using a Communication Network" (99-013), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Applications Serial No. 08/889,503 filed July 8, 1997 and entitled "System and Process for Local Acquisition of Products Priced Online" (97-032); Serial No. 08/889,319 filed July-8, 1997 and entitled "Conditional Purchase Offer Management System" (96-008X), which is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 09/190,744 filed November 12, 1998 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for A Cryptographically Assisted Commercial Network System Designed to Facilitate Buyer-Driven Conditional Purchase Offers" (96-008XXX), which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Number 5,794,207, filed September 4, 1996; and Serial No. 09/083,345 filed May 22, 1998 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Managing Remote Vending Machine Transactions" (97-554). The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present application is also related to the subject matter of U.S. Patent Applications Serial No. 08/943,483 filed October 3, 1997 and entitled "System and Method for Facilitating Acceptance of Conditional Purchase Offers" (97-072); Serial No. 08/858,738 filed May 19, 1997 and entitled "System and Process for Issuing and Managing Forced Redemption Vouchers Having Alias Account Numbers" (96-139); Serial No. 08/997,680 filed December 23, 1997 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Issuing and Managing Gift Certificates" (96-139X); Serial No. 09/316,546 filed May 21, 1999 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Processing Credit Card Transactions" (99-012); Serial No. 09/285,201 filed April 1, 1999 and entitled

"Method and System for the Presentation and Redemption of Reward Offers" (99- 003); and Serial No. 08/997,677 filed December 23, 1997 and entitled "System for Providing Driving Directions with Visual Cues" (97-324). The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the sale of products. In particular, the present invention relates to a supplemental offer provided to a buyer based at least in part on the purchase of a primary product through a purchasing system.

Description of the Related Art

Typically, a buyer visits one or more retailers to shop for a product. When the buyer finds the product he or she is looking for, at a reasonable price, the buyer purchases the product from the retailer. This traditional method of providing products to buyers, however, may require that the buyer visit a number of retailers to determine what should be considered a reasonable price for the product.

Moreover, the traditional method of selling a product to a buyer requires that a retailer attract buyers, such as by spending money on advertising. For example, when a new retail store opens for business, many buyers will not know what products the store sells. In addition, traditional methods do not let a product manufacturer establish a pricing relationship directly with buyers when the product is provided to buyers through one or more retailers. For example, a manufacturer may sell a product to a retailer (perhaps through a distributor) that ultimately decides the price at which the product is sold to buyers.

Recently, products have been sold to buyers through communication networks, such as with online transactions completed through the Internet. Internet sales have been growing steadily over the past few years, and are expected to continue increasing because buyers are attracted to the ease and convenience of shopping online. For example, a buyer can shop online from the comfort of home at any time of day or night. Another advantage of online shopping is that pricing comparisons are more efficient. For example, a Web service can compile prices from various sources (e.g., Web merchants and/or retail stores that are not online) for various products. This lets a buyer easily find and select, for example, a retail store that offers the lowest price for a product. Although this will save a buyer time, only regular retail prices (which the buyer would eventually be able to find without the Web site) are typically reported - without providing any other pricing advantage. As price information becomes more accessible, buyers are growing more price sensitive and demand that products be sold at lower prices. Having a product shipped to a buyer, which is the conventional mode of delivering a product purchased online, presents several drawbacks. For example, many buyers are not home during the day and cannot sign for, or otherwise arrange to receive, the product from a delivery service. In addition, the shipping service itself presents an additional cost that, depending on the product, may offset any savings made possible by shopping online. Finally, some products simply cannot be delivered at all, such as a service provided to buyers.

With respect to a buyer, another disadvantage of online shopping is the delay involved with receiving a product. The online shopping community has not effectively captured the impulsive and impatient buyer market because a buyer is more likely to impulsively purchase a product when he or she can take immediate possession (instead of waiting several days for delivery). In other words, a buyer who wants a product immediately is likely to visit a retailer and not buy the product online.

With respect to retail stores that are not online, online shopping presents additional problems. For example, the store is typically left completely out of any online shopping transaction. In addition to losing the potential profit from the sale of the product itself, the store loses any chance of selling the buyer additional items during a visit, such as complementary products or even unrelated products that attract the buyer's attention while he or she is in the store. This would still be a problem even if the store invested the time and money required to establish an online shopping service. Moreover, the store's online service may simply shift sales that would have otherwise occurred at the actual store (as opposed to attracting new buyers). With respect to manufacturers, the availability of online shopping does little to solve the problem of establishing a pricing relationship directly with buyers. Some manufacturers have attempted to establish such a relationship by establishing an online shopping service. However, manufacturers that establish such a service compete directly with their retailer's traditional distribution channel and therefore risk alienating retailers that also sell the manufacturer's product. Additionally, establishing such a service requires a manufacturer to take on additional cost and responsibility in attracting and servicing customers directly.

In U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/337,906 filed June 22, 1999 and entitled "Purchasing Systems and Methods Wherein a Buyer Takes Possession at a Retailer of a Product Purchased Using a Communication Network" (99-013), applicants disclose methods and systems wherein a purchasing system solves many of the problems discussed above. When a buyer purchases a primary product using such a purchasing system, further systems and methods to provide and redeem supplemental offers would be advantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To alleviate the problems inherent in the prior art and to facilitate the provision and redemption of supplemental offers, the present invention introduces supplemental offers provided to buyers based at least in part on the purchase of primary products through a purchasing system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a purchasing system arranges through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller. The purchasing system also generates primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product. In addition, supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer is also generated. The supplemental offer may be based, at least in part, on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

In one embodiment of the present invention the buyer may be provided with a number of supplemental offers. For example, a first retailer may provide the buyer with a first supplemental offer that is only redeemable if the buyer takes possession of the primary product at the first retailer, while a second retailer provide the buyer with a second supplemental offer that is only redeemable if the buyer takes possession of the primary product at the second retailer.

In another embodiment of the presenting invention, a supplemental offer may only be redeemable after the buyer has taken possession of the primary product.

With these and other advantages and features of the invention that will become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the several drawings attached herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A is a block diagram overview of a purchasing system in which a buyer takes possession of a primary product at a retailer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. IB illustrates a purchasing system voucher, including supplemental offer information, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a buyer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B are block schematic diagrams of purchasing system devices according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram of a seller device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a tabular representation of a portion of a seller database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a tabular representation of a portion of a retailer database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a tabular representation of a portion of a primary offer database according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a tabular representation of a portion of a supplemental offer database according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a tabular representation of a portion of a rules database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a tabular representation of a portion of a transaction database according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a supplemental offer method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method of sending supplemental offer information to a buyer that may be performed by a purchasing system according to a routing embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining whether a supplemental offer will be provided to a buyer that may be performed by a seller or a retailer according to the routing embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a supplemental offer that may be performed by a purchasing system, a retailer or a seller according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a supplemental offer that may be performed by a purchasing system, a retailer or a seller according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a method of preventing a buyer from redeeming a supplemental offer before taking possession of the primary product according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to supplemental offers wherein a buyer takes possession of a primary product at a retailer. Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 A is a block diagram overview of a system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 includes a number of buyer devices 200 coupled to a purchasing system device 300 through a communication network 100. As used herein, a "communication network" may be, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or an Internet Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet, an intranet or an extranet. Moreover, as used herein, communications include those enabled by cellular, satellite, or radio technology.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the buyer device 200 communicates with a remote Web-based purchasing system device 300 (e.g., a server) through the Internet. Although embodiments of the present invention will be described with respect to information exchanged using a Web site, according to other embodiments of the present invention information may instead be exchanged using, for example: a telephone; a facsimile machine; e-mail; a WebTV® interface; a cable network interface; or a wireless device.

Information exchanged between a buyer and the purchasing system device 300, as well as between a retailer or seller and the purchasing system device 300, may also use a Voice Response Unit (VRU) or Interactive VRU (IVRU). Examples of IVRUs include the Vision 2001 and the Insight IVR/Web from Interactive Voice Technologies, Corp. and the OmniVox for Windows NT from APEX Voice

Communications. In general, an IVRU lets a user of a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi- Frequency) tone generating telephone, also known as "push button" telephone, communicate with a computer. The DTMF signals received from a user's telephone are interpreted by the IVRU, which may also send information to the user, such as a list of IVRU menu options.

The buyer devices 200 may be, for example, Personal Computers (PCs), portable Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), wired or wireless telephones, one-way or two-way pagers, kiosks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), watches enabled to communicate through a network, or any other appropriate communication device. The purchasing system device 300 is also in communication with a plurality of retailer devices 400 and a plurality of seller devices 500. The retailer devices 400 and the seller devices 500 may be in communication with the purchasing system device 300 over a direct network or through the network 100. The retailer devices 400 and seller devices 500 may comprise a computer or any other device adapted to perform the functions described herein. In one embodiment, the retailer acts as a seller and some of the functions of a seller device 500 may be performed by a retailer device 400.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 receives a buyer offer, including a buyer-defined offer price, related to a primary product to be purchased. The buyer offer may be "binding" in that a buyer cannot revoke an offer that has been accepted by a seller. One example of a buyer offer, called a Conditional Purchase Offer (CPO), is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,794,207 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/889,319, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A buyer offer may be, for example, an electronic message from a buyer including an offer price for a primary product. If a seller agrees to the buyer offer, the buyer pays the offer price to the purchasing system, and the buyer takes possession of the primary product at a retailer. The purchasing system, in turn, provides a payment to the retailer for providing the primary product to the buyer. Such a payment to the retailer will be referred to herein as a "settlement" price or amount, and may be equal to, less than or more than the retail price the retailer typically charges a customer for the primary product. According to other embodiments of the present invention, a purchasing system price can be established using any method, including seller-determined pricing models. In addition to an offer price, the buyer offer can include other information, such as a primary product category, a primary product class, a primary product manufacturer and model number, or primary product features. For example, the buyer offer may indicate that the buyer will pay $500 (the offer price) for a television (the primary product category) made by a well-respected manufacturer and having a 32 inch screen (the primary product class) and surround sound (a primary product feature).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 communicates with the buyer device 200 through the communication network 100 to establish a first price for a primary product between the buyer and a seller. The purchasing system device 300 also arranges for the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the primary product for sale at a second price. Verification information, which enables the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the primary product, is transmitted from the purchasing system device 300 to a retailer device 400. The verification information may be, for example, a one way hash function transmitted to the retailer (either once or periodically). The retailer may then evaluate a redemption code provided by the buyer, using the one way hash function, to determine if the buyer is authorized to take possession of the primary product. The verification information may also be, for example, a response to information (sent from the retailer device 400 to the purchasing system device 300) about an attempt to take possession of a primary product, or a batch of authorized codes sent to the retailer device 400 on either periodically (e.g., each night) or on a non-periodic basis. The buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the primary product at the retailer. The purchasing system, in turn, provides payment to the retailer for allowing the buyer to take possession of the primary product. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 arranges for a buyer to purchase a primary product and transmits redemption information, including a "redemption code," to the buyer device 200, such as through the communication network 100. As used herein, a "redemption code" may be, for example, a unique alphanumeric sequence of digits. In general, however, the redemption code may be anything capable of being identified, such as a one or two dimensional bar code, that represents the right of the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer. As used herein, the phrase "bar code" includes any machine readable information. The redemption information can also include information that enables the creation of a voucher. For example, a printer attached to the buyer device 200 may be used to print a voucher including the redemption code. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, information related to an attempt to take possession of the primary product, including the redemption code, is sent from a retailer device 400 to the purchasing system device 300. In this case, the purchasing system device 300 can send back a verification, authorizing the buyer to take possession of the primary product, to the retailer device 400. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the purchasing system device 300 may communicate with the retailer device 400 through the same communication network 100 used by the buyer device 200 or a different communication network may be used instead.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 arranges for the buyer to purchase the primary product from a "seller," such as a product manufacturer, a retailer, the purchasing system or any other party. In other words, the seller may be, for example, an individual or entity not normally be associated with making or selling the product that is able to obtain a discount, not normally available directly to buyers, with respect to that product. This may be accomplished, for example, by having the purchasing system device 300 communicate with a number of seller devices 500. The purchasing system device 300 also arranges for the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer.

It should be noted that, as used herein, a "product" (including a primary product or a supplemental offer product) may be, for example, a new or used consumer product such as an electronic device. A product may also be any other good or service that a buyer can take possession of at a retailer. In the case of a service, the product may be, for example, a car tune-up that the buyer "takes possession of at (i.e., receives the service from) a car service center. A product may also be a package of multiple items and/or services. For example, a product may be a television and a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR). In this case, the purchasing system could arrange for the buyer to take possession of both items at a single retailer or at different retailers. As used herein, a "retailer" may be any entity capable of providing a product to a buyer. For example, a retailer might be a single retail shop, a chain of consumer electronic "superstores," one or more retail stores within a chain, a franchisee, a franchiser, or even a warehouse where products are stored.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 aπanges for the buyer to purchase a primary product when a buyer offer is received from the buyer device 200. Based on the buyer offer (such as a price, a primary product category and a primary product class), the purchasing system device 300 selects a particular primary product (perhaps by identifying a primary product manufacturer and model number) from a plurality of possible primary products. In addition to the buyer offer, the purchasing system device 300 may consider other factors when selecting a particular primary product, such as, for example: (i) the expected availability of primary products at retailers; (ii) the actual availability of primary products at retailers - which may be done by communicating with the retailer devices 400; (iii) retail prices of primary products at various retailers - which again may be done by communicating with the retailer devices 400; (iv) subsidy information associated with primary products; and (v) retailer settlement prices. As used herein, a "subsidy" is an amount a party is willing to contribute towards the buyer ' s purchase of a primary product.

By way of example, consider a buyer who sends the purchasing system device 300 an offer to purchase a 35 millimeter (mm) camera for $150. The purchasing system device 300 and/or the seller devices 500 may determine that cameras produced by two different manufacturers can be used to fulfill the buyer's offer. Both cameras are available at a retailer for the same settlement price of $ 175. One of the manufacturers, however, has agreed to provide a $35 manufacturer subsidy for each camera sold. In this case, the purchasing system device 300 may select the camera produced by that manufacturer to accept the buyer's offer and realize a $10 gain (i.e., the buyer's offer price of $150 less the retailer's settlement price of $175 plus the manufacturer subsidy of $35).

The purchasing system device 300 may likewise select one or more retailers from a plurality of possible retailers. In this case, the purchasing system device 300 may consider, for example: (i) the location of the buyer; (ii) the location of the retailers; (iii) the expected availability of the primary product at various retailers; (iv) the actual availability of the primary product at various retailers; (v) retail prices of the primary product at various retailers; (vi) retailer subsidy information; and (vii) retailer settlement prices.

To determine if and how the buyer offer will be accepted (e.g., which primary product at which retailer), the purchasing system device 300 may compare the offer price with one or more settlement prices associated with a primary product that successfully meets the buyer's offer information. A potential seller may also have a minimum acceptable price, which is the lowest price that the seller (as opposed to the retailer) will let the primary product be sold for (e.g., to prevent brand name dilution). In making this comparison, the purchasing system device 300 may also take into account supplemental price information, such as a manufacturer subsidy amount, a retailer subsidy amount, a purchasing system subsidy amount, or a "third-party" subsidy amount associated with the primary product. As used herein, a third-party subsidy amount may be, for example, an amount that a third-party agrees to provide in exchange for a promise regarding the buyer, an action by the buyer, or information about the buyer. The purchasing system device 300 also aπanges for the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer. This may be done, for example, by sending to the buyer redemption information, including a redemption code such as a "pseudo" credit card number, debit card number or a checking account number. A redemption code may be a "pseudo" credit card number if, for example, it can be entered into (and processed by) a retailer device, such as a Card Authorization Terminal (CAT), in the same manner as a traditional credit card number.

The redemption information can also include a condition that must be met by the buyer, such as a geographic limitation or an expiration date. Penalty information, such as a 10% increase in the price of the primary product, may also be included in the event the buyer violates a condition associated with the sale. The redemption information can also enable the creation of a voucher. For example, the redemption information may let the buyer print a voucher that can be presented to the retailer when taking possession of the primary product.

Note that the redemption information may include information associated with a number of primary products, as well as a number of retailers. For example, a single voucher might indicate that the buyer can take possession of a VCR at any of three local retailers. In this case, the voucher may be redeemable for one of several different primary products, depending on the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. Accordingly, the redemption information (e.g., a voucher), may include several different Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) numbers, model names and/or model numbers. According to another embodiment, the voucher may include several separate primary products (e.g., a television or a VCR) or several equivalent primary products (e.g., several different television brands, more than one of which may be available at a single retailer).

Supplemental Offers

According to the present invention, at least one additional or "supplemental" offer is also provided to the buyer. The supplemental offer may be provided, for example, by a product manufacturer, a retailer, the purchasing system, or a third party. The supplemental offer may be selected from a group of possible supplemental offers based at least in part on, for example, information about the sale of the primary product to the buyer (e.g., information about a buyer offer). For example, the primary product, the seller of the primary product, or the retailers at which the buyer may take possession of the primary product can be considered when selecting one or more supplemental offers to provide to the buyer. As will be explained, there are at least two methods by which a supplemental offer can be selected. According to one method, referred to herein as the "routing" method, a communication link between the purchasing system device 300 and a supplemental offer provider (e.g., a seller or retailer) is used to communicate information about the buyer's purchase. In this method, the supplemental offer provider may use a database containing predefined supplemental offers, or may instead evaluate information related to the buyer's purchase to determine a supplemental offer in substantially real time. The supplemental offer provider then transmits the supplemental offer information to the purchasing system device 300. In another embodiment, referred to herein as the "local determination" method, the purchasing system device 300 maintains a local database of predefined supplemental offers available from one or more supplemental offer providers. The information can be updated to add new supplemental offers, to modify existing supplemental offers or to delete supplemental offers. The updates may be periodic (e.g., once a week) or non-periodic (e.g., when a supplemental offer provider has excess inventory of a particular product). When the purchasing system device 300 aπanges for a buyer to purchase a primary product, the appropriate supplemental offers can then be retrieved.

Note that the party supplying a supplemental offer through the purchasing system device 300 is not necessarily the seller of the primary product. For example, the purchasing system device 300 may transmit information about an accepted buyer offer to any number of sellers and retailers (e.g., those that sell related products, or even those that sell unrelated products).

Consider, for example, supplemental offers provided by a retailer. Such offers may depend on the specific retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. The buyer may receive, for example, a supplemental offer for a discount on another product sold by that retailer, thus potentially increasing the retailer's profit. In choosing a supplemental offer, the retailer may consider, for example: (i) products that are likely to be purchased with the accepted primary product; (ii) products that would be profitable to sell at a discounted price based on the margin of the primary product and/or the margin of the supplemental product; or (iii) products the retailer wants to sell quickly.

By way of example only, suppose that a buyer offers to purchase a particular class of television through the purchasing system device 300 for $150. During the processing of the buyer offer, the purchasing system device 300 determines: (i) the particular primary product to be supplied to the buyer (e.g., a television made by a particular manufacturer); (ii) the price the buyer agreed to pay for the primary product ($150); and (iii) three retailers at which the buyer may take possession of the primary product.

According to the routing embodiment, the purchasing system device 300 transmits information about the accepted buyer offer to the three retailers. Each retailer then queries a supplemental offer database to select one or more supplemental offers to be provided to the buyer. One retailer offers a $3.00 discount off of the retail price of a movie when any product made by the manufacturer of the primary product is purchased. Another retailer offers a $20 discount off of the retail price of a particular video game system when any television is purchased. The third retailer offers to sell the buyer a VCR for $100. The purchasing system device 300 can include all three of the supplemental offers in the information transmitted to the buyer (or instead may select a subset of the offers for the buyer). In the local determination embodiment, purchasing system device 300 itself selects the three supplemental offers to be provided to the buyer (i.e., without routing information to the three retailers). Note that multiple supplemental offers may be provided to a buyer (including offers from both manufacturers and retailers). In this case, the buyer may be allowed to redeem, for example, all of the supplemental offers, or only one of the supplemental offers.

As previously mentioned, supplemental offers may be provided by a product manufacturer. In this case, the purchasing system device 300 may select supplemental offers for products made by the manufacturer of the primary product. The products may be purchased: (i) at the retailer where the buyer takes possession of the primary product; or (ii) at another retailer.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, supplemental offers may also be selected based on the type of primary product being purchased. For example, when a buyer agrees to purchase a washing machine, a supplemental offer for a dryer or for laundry detergent may be provided. Similarly, supplemental offers can be selected based on the margin of the primary product. As previously described, in one embodiment of the present invention the buyer determines the price of the primary product. The buyer-defined price (e.g., less than the retail price, about the same as the retail price, or more than the retail price) may be of interest to those providing supplemental offers. If the retailer is also acting as the seller of the primary product, for example, the profit from the sale of the primary product may be considered when selecting a supplemental offer. In other words, a primary product that provides the seller or retailer with a high profit margin may encourage the seller or retailer to provide a supplemental offer that has a lower profit margin.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, supplemental offers are selected based on the buyer's history (e.g., past purchases made through the purchasing system) or on other buyer information that is received by the purchasing system device 300 (e.g., demographic or geographic information). For example, a buyer that has frequently made purchases through the purchasing system device 300 may be provided with more valuable supplemental offers.

In either the routing or local determination embodiment, the selected supplemental offer is added to the information transmitted to the buyer. This information may be used by the buyer, for example, to print a purchasing system voucher, such as the one described with respect to FIG. IB.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the buyer presents such a voucher to a retailer, the retailer device 400 sends information related to an attempt to take possession of the primary product (such as a primary product redemption code included on the voucher) to the purchasing system device 300.

Similarly, the retailer device 400 can send information related to an attempt to redeem a supplemental offer (such as a supplemental offer redemption code included on the voucher) to the purchasing system device 300.

A retailer device 400 may comprise, for example, Point Of Sale (POS) devices, such as a POS controller that communicates with one or more POS terminals and the purchasing system device 300 during the redemption process. A POS terminal may include an optical bar code scanner (to read bar codes on products or vouchers) and a card reader (to read cards, such as cards that have magnetizable strips on which data can be recorded). One such card reader is the OMNI™ 1450 payment terminal, manufactured by VeriFone, Inc., which includes a built-in, magnetic-stripe reader, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) entry pad (e.g., one used buy a buyer to enter a debit card PIN) and an integrated smart card reader. The retailer devices 400 also may comprise, for example, inventory systems that periodically update the purchasing system device 300. The purchasing system device 300 may communicate with the retailer device

400 in substantially real time during the redemption of a purchasing system voucher. That is, a POS controller may connect to the purchasing system device 300 when a buyer is attempting to take possession of the primary product or when the buyer attempts to redeem a supplemental offer. In another embodiment, the retailer device 400 and the purchasing system device 300 communicate periodically (e.g., every night at midnight). For example, the purchasing system device 300 can periodically communicate with each retailer device 400 regarding redemption codes (for both primary products and supplemental offers), redeemable at the retailer, that have been issued. Likewise, the retailer device 400 can in turn transmit to the purchasing system device 300 a list of the redemption codes that have been redeemed at the retailer during the day. In some embodiments, the retailer is also the seller who accepts a buyer's offer. In such an embodiment, the retailer device 400 may perform the function of, or be in communication with another server that performs the function of, a potential seller device 500.

When the retailer device 400 sends information related to an attempt to take possession of the primary product (such as a redemption code) to the purchasing system device 300, the information can be used to authorize the buyer to take possession of the primary product. In the same way, when the retailer device 400 sends information related to an attempt to redeem a supplemental offer to the purchasing system device 300, the information can be used to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer. For example, the purchasing system device 300 may evaluate if the buyer has already, or is presently, taking possession of the primary product or if the supplemental offer has expired.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the retailer device 400 sends an authorization request to the purchasing system through a credit card processing system device 100. The credit card processing system device 100 may be, for example, a server operated by an entity that manages financial accounts and/or authorizes transactions, such as First Data Corp. The purchasing system device 300 can send a verification back to the retailer device 400 authorizing the retailer to let the buyer take possession of the primary product. The purchasing system device 300 may also provide a payment to the retailer in exchange for providing the primary product to the buyer. In this case, of course, the amount paid to the retailer may or may not be equal to the offer amount paid by the buyer. For example, suppose the purchasing system arranges for a buyer to purchase a television for $300, and the buyer takes possession of the television at a retailer (one of several indicated on the voucher) that typically sells that television for $320. In this case, the purchasing system may pay the full retail price (i.e., $320) to the retailer. A similar process may be used when the buyer redeems a supplemental offer. If the supplemental offer voucher includes a pseudo payment identifier associated with the supplemental offer, the voucher may also serve as a Record of Charge (ROC) that the retailer may submit to receive payment of an appropriate amount. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a supplemental offer may only be redeemed after the buyer takes possession of the primary product. This may be performed, for example, by only issuing the supplemental offer redemption code to the buyer when the buyer takes possession of the primary product. In this case, the supplemental offer identifier may be, for example, displayed to the buyer, printed on a receipt, or separately provided to the buyer, such as by using a system available from Catalina Marketing Corporation in St. Petersburg, Florida. In such an embodiment, the supplemental offer may be selected based on conditions (e.g., inventory) at the time the buyer takes possession of the product as opposed to the time the buyer arranged to purchase the product through the purchasing system. According to another embodiment, the buyer may have to again access a Web page operated by the purchasing system after taking possession of the primary product to receive the supplemental offer redemption code.

According to still another embodiment, only a portion of the supplemental offer redemption code may be provided to the buyer when the buyer arranges to purchase the primary product. The remaining portion of the supplemental offer redemption code may be provide after the buyer takes possession of the primary product. The entire supplemental offer redemption code may be provided to the buyer when the buyer aπanges to purchase the primary product, but the purchasing system or retailer may not activate the code until the buyer takes possession of the primary product.

Note that, if desired, the supplemental offer may also be redeemable at the time the buyer takes possession of the primary product (i.e., in the same transaction). If the buyer is provided with supplemental offers, a second supplemental offer may, according to one embodiment, only be redeemable after a first supplemental offer is redeemed. Moreover, a single supplemental offer may require that the buyer take possession of a number of primary products, perhaps purchased through the purchasing system at different times. For example, a buyer may receive a ticket to a movie theater when the buyer has taken possession of three primary products purchased through the purchasing system, or, in another embodiments, any number of primary products such that the total of the buyer prices for the primary products is more than $100.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer may only be redeemable a predetermined period of time after the buyer takes possession of the primary product (e.g., the next day) to encourage the buyer to return to the retailer. According to another embodiment, a supplemental offer may, for example, automatically register the buyer in a retailer's "frequent buyer program," such as a frequent buyer program that provides a member with discounts.

Note that, according to embodiments of the present invention, the buyer may provide a payment associated with the supplemental offer to either the purchasing system or the retailer at which the supplemental offer is redeemed.

Note that some or all of the actions associated with the purchasing system device 300 may be performed by a retailer, a primary product manufacturer, or a party other than the retailer and primary product manufacturer.

Purchasing System Vouchers

As previously noted, the purchasing system device 300 may output redemption information, including information enabling a retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the primary product. The information can be transmitted to the buyer, for example, such that the buyer can use the information to print a voucher. As shown in FIG. IB, which illustrates a purchasing system voucher 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, information about a supplemental offer can also be included on the voucher.

In general, the information printed on the purchasing system voucher 20 can include: the name of the buyer 21 ; a description of the primary product being purchased 22 (perhaps with an identifier, such as a bar code, not shown in FIG. IB); a field 23 listing an issue date, an offer identifier and a redemption code associated with the voucher 20; and an expiration date and/or penalty information 24. Note that a number of different primary products 2220 may be listed on a voucher. This may be necessary, for example, if multiple primary products are being purchased or if different retailers use different bar codes, model names, etc. for a single primary product.

The buyer may have the option of going to a number of different retailers listed on the voucher 2200 to take possession of the primary product. For example, the voucher 20 shown in FIG. IB lists a number of different retailers 25a, 25b and associated retailer identifiers 26a, 26b. Of course, when the seller is a retailer the voucher 20 may only be redeemable through that retailer (e.g., a specific retail store, a subset of retail stores in a national chain, or all retail stores in a national chain).

A bar code on the voucher (not shown in FIG. IB) may also include a primary product identifier. In such an embodiment, a cashier at a retailer device 400 can scan the voucher 20 along with the primary product and, if the primary product identifier encoded into the bar code is associated with the scanned primary product identifier, the transaction can be locally authorized. In such an embodiment, additional information from the buyer, such as the buyer's name, address and/or credit card number may also be verified. Alternatively, a bar code may serve as a pointer to a record in a database, either stored locally at the retailer or remotely at the purchasing system device 300. Using this bar code, the transaction may be authorized based on whether the data stored in a database matches the cuπent transaction (i.e., the voucher is redeemable at that retailer for that primary product).

Instead of a printed voucher 20, the redemption information may instead simply be a number or alphanumeric identifier provided to the buyer. In this case, the buyer could write the information down (such as when receiving the information over the telephone) and bring the number to the retailer when taking possession of the primary product.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, redemption information may be, for example, information encoded using, for example, cryptographic techniques. Applicable encryption techniques are described in Bruce Schneier, "Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C" (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2nd Ed. 1996). The information may also be stored electronically, such as in a smart-card type device, a PDA or a removable memory device. A single voucher 20 may be redeemable at a number of different retailers 25a, 25b - or separate vouchers can be printed for each retailer. In this case, when one voucher is redeemed the remaining vouchers can be made invalid.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system voucher 20 also includes supplemental offer information 27, such as the terms of one or more supplemental offers. The voucher 20 may also include one or more supplemental offer expiration dates 28 and supplemental offer redemption codes 29, if desired. Note that the supplemental offer information may be included on the same voucher as the primary product information, or may be on a different voucher. Moreover, information about a number of supplemental offers may be included on a single voucher. In general, the information about the supplemental offer may include any of the information described herein with respect to the primary product (e.g., penalty information, bar codes).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system voucher 20 may also include directions from, for example, the buyer's home address to a retailer. One type of directions that may be provided to the buyer (e.g., on the voucher or through the buyer device 200) is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/997,677 filed December 23, 1997 and entitled "System for Providing Driving Directions with Visual Cues" (97-324).

The devices comprising the redemption system 10 will now be explained in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Buyer Devices

FIG. 2 illustrates a buyer device 200 that is descriptive of the device shown in FIG. 1 A according an embodiment of the present invention. As will be appreciated, portions of the descriptions of the various elements described with respect to FIG. 2 will also be applicable to the other devices comprising the redemption system 10. The buyer device 200 comprises a processor 220, such as one or more Pentium® processors, coupled to: a communication port 240 configured to communicate through a communication network (not shown in FIG. 2); an input device 242 (e.g., a keyboard or mouse); a display 246; and a printer 244. The communication port 240 may be used to communicate with, for example, the purchasing system device 300 to submit an offer to purchase a product and to receive supplemental offer information. The processor 220 is also in communication with a memory device 230. The memory device 230 may comprise any appropriate storage device, including combinations of magnetic, optical or semiconductor memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM).

The memory device 230 stores a program for controlling the processor 220. The processor 220 performs instructions of the program, and thereby operates in accordance with the present invention. For example, the processor 220 may execute a browser application to access a Web page associated with the purchasing system.

The program may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The program furthermore includes program elements that may be necessary, such as an operating system, a database management system and "device drivers" used by the processor 220 to interface with peripheral devices. Appropriate device drivers and other necessary program elements are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in detail herein.

The printer 244 may be used to a print a purchasing system voucher, such as a voucher including supplemental offer information. If the buyer device 200 does not include a printer 244, the buyer may write down a supplemental offer redemption code or store the code in the buyer device 200 or another device, such as a PDA. For example, the buyer may write down a supplemental offer redemption code and input the code at a retailer kiosk or POS numeric entry pad. The retailer kiosk may, for example, communicate with the purchasing system device 300 to access a database record associated with the transaction. The retailer kiosk could then print a voucher for the buyer, if desired. The buyer may instead recite the supplemental offer redemption code to a POS terminal operator. The operator can enter the supplemental offer redemption code using the POS terminal. If the buyer stores the supplemental offer redemption code in a portable buyer device (e.g., a PDA), the buyer may communicate the code directly from the buyer device to the POS terminal 450, such as by using an Infra-Red (IR) communication link.

Purchasing System Device The operation of the purchasing system device 310 will now be described in greater detail with respect to two embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that these embodiments are merely illustrations and that many other embodiments of the present invention are possible.

FIG. 3A illustrates a purchasing system device 300 that is descriptive of the device shown in FIG. 1 A according to the local determination embodiment of the present invention. The purchasing system device 300 comprises a processor 320 coupled to: a communication port 340 configured to communicate through a communication network (not shown in FIG. 3 A); an input device 342; a display 346; and a printer 344. The communication port 340 may be used to communicate with, for example: (i) a plurality of seller devices 500; (ii) a plurality of buyer devices 200; (iii) a plurality of retailer devices 400; and a plurality of credit card processing system devices.

The buyers may comprise individuals who access a Web site and submit offers to purchase products. Such a Web site could be, for example: (i) hosted by a server at the purchasing system device 300; or (ii) hosted by a server coupled to the purchasing system device 300.

The processor 320 is also in communication with a data storage device 330. The data storage device 330 comprises an appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM) and/or a hard disk drive. The processor 320 and the storage device 330 may be, for example: (i) located entirely within a single computer or other computing device; or (ii) connected by a remote communication medium, such as a serial port cable, telephone line or wireless frequency transceiver. In one embodiment, the purchasing system device 300 may comprise one or more computers that are connected to a remote database server. The data storage device 330 stores a program 325 for controlling the processor 320. The processor 320 performs instructions of the program 325, and thereby operates in accordance with the present invention. For example, the purchasing system device 300 may aπange through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller. The purchasing system device 300 may also generate primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 also generates supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer (e.g., by locally generating supplemental offer information or by receiving supplemental offer information from another party), and the supplemental offer is based, at least in part, on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer. Such a process may be initiated, for example, when the purchasing system device 300 receives and accepts a buyer offer from a buyer.

Note that, as used herein, information may be "received" by, for example: (1) the purchasing system device 300 from a buyer device 200; or (2) a software application or module within the purchasing system device 300 from another software application, module or any other source.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the storage device 330 also stores: a seller database 550 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 5); a retailer database 600 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 6); a primary offer database 700 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 7); a supplemental offer database 800 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 8); a rules database 900 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 9); and a transaction database 1000 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 10). The schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of the databases presented herein are exemplary, and any number of other database aπangements could be employed besides those suggested by the figures.

As will now be described, the purchasing system device 300 shown in FIG. 3 A lets a buyer establish a price for a product using a communication network (e.g., through the Internet) with a seller (e.g., a product manufacturer or a retailer) before taking possession of, or "picking up," the product at a convenient retailer. The purchasing system device 300 may issue the buyer a redemption code, such as a code included on a printed voucher, that is redeemable for the product at one or more "participating" local retailers. That is, the purchasing system may have agreements with these retailers such that the retailers agree to honor purchasing system vouchers (either generally or only for specific products). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 also arranges for a supplemental offer to be provided to the buyer. For example, the purchasing system device 300 may select one or more supplemental offers from a plurality of "possible" supplemental offers. A used herein, a "possible" supplemental offer may refer to, for example, either: (i) all supplemental offers (e.g., regardless of any supplemental offer rules as will be explained) or (ii) only the supplemental offers that may be provided to the buyer (e.g., those offers with rules satisfied by the buyer's purchase of the primary product), at the discretion of the purchasing system.

The selection of the supplemental offer may be based, at least in part, on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer is based, at least in part, on information associated with the purchase of the primary product by the buyer (e.g., the buyer price or the type of primary product being purchased). According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer is based, at least in part, on the existence of the purchase of the primary product by the buyer (e.g., the supplemental offer is only provided when the buyer aπanges to purchase the primary product or when the buyer takes possession of the primary product).

For example, consider a buyer that purchases a television (i.e., the primary product) through the purchasing system. The buyer may be told that he or she may take possession of the television at either a first or second retailer. The first retailer may provide the buyer with five free movie rentals from a video store as a supplemental offer if the buyer takes possession of the television at the first retailer. Similarly, a manufacturer of the television may provide the buyer with a coupon for a 20% discount as a supplemental offer if the buyer also purchases a VCR made by the same manufacturer (regardless of the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the television). The supplemental offer may be selected based on the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. In this case, different retailers may provide a buyer with different supplemental offers in an attempt to influence where the buyer takes possession of the primary product. Inventory data may also be considered (e.g., such that a supplemental offer is only provided if a product associated with the supplemental offer is available at the retailer). Similarly, supplemental offers may be provided based on sales information, such as to encourage a buyer to purchase a product that is otherwise selling poorly.

The purchasing system device 300 may also select the supplemental offer based on the manufacturer of the primary product. In this case, the manufacturer may provide a buyer with a supplemental offer for another product made by the manufacturer

Moreover, the purchasing system device 300 may select the supplemental offer based on a stored relationship between the primary product and the supplemental offer. For example, a supplemental offer for two free Compact Discs (CDs) may be provided to a buyer that purchases a CD player.

The supplemental offer may also be based on the buyer. For example, a buyer that frequently purchases primary products through the purchasing system may be rewarded with more valuable supplemental offers. Demographic information associated with the buyer, such as age or income, may also be used to determine which supplemental offer should be provided to the buyer. Similarly, the buyer's home address may be used to target a supplemental offer to buyers in a particular geographic region. Likewise, the frequency at which the buyer uses the purchasing system or redeems supplemental offers may be used to select a supplemental offer. Supplemental offers can also be selected based on, for example, a price associated with the primary product (e.g., a retail price, a settlement price, a buyer- defined price or a seller-defined price) such as by providing more supplemental offers that are more valuable to buyers purchasing primary products having higher prices. Likewise, a primary product that provides the seller or retailer with a high profit margin may encourage the seller or retailer to provide a supplemental offer that has a lower profit margin (or the other way around). Note also that, for example, a retailer may be willing to accept a first settlement price if the buyer does not redeem a supplemental offer and a second settlement price if the buyer does redeem the supplemental offer (e.g., because of a profit margin associated with the supplemental offer). In this case, the second settlement price may be previously agreed to by the retailer and the purchasing system or dynamically determined (e.g., based on the profit margin of the primary product or the supplemental offer).

In addition, the purchasing system device 300 can consider an incentive from a third party (e.g., $1 from a credit card company for each supplemental offer provided to a buyer) or profitability data (e.g., the purchasing system earns a $5 profit if the buyer accepts the supplemental offer) when selecting a supplemental offer.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer can only be redeemed at the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer can be redeemed at a second retailer different than the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. The purchasing system device 300 could also aπange for a buyer to accept the supplemental offer. That is, the offer may be presented to the buyer through a Web page, and the buyer may agree to purchase, for example, a supplemental product using the same payment identifier associated with the buyer's purchase of the primary product. Note that according to one embodiment of the present invention, a buyer may "accept" a supplemental offer, and therefore accept being charged an additional amount, by redeeming the offer.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the buyer is presented with a number of supplemental offer choices when the buyer aπanges to purchase the primary product through the purchasing system. Based on the supplemental offer selected by the buyer, the purchasing system may authorize the buyer to take possession of the primary product at, for example, only the retailer providing the supplemental offer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, primary product redemption information and supplemental offer information are sent together to the buyer through a single communication network. This information may instead be sent separately or through different communication networks. The supplemental offer information may comprise information about a plurality of supplemental offers. In this case, the supplemental offer information may include a plurality of supplemental offer product identifiers, each identifier being associated with a different retailer. For example, a plurality of Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) numbers, model names, and model numbers may be included in the supplemental offer information.

A supplemental offer provided to a buyer may be, for example, an offer for a supplemental product in addition to the primary product. The supplemental product may be offered to the to the buyer, for example, for free or discounted a predetermined amount or percentage amount from the retail price. A supplemental offer could also be for a substitute product in place of the primary product. For example, a buyer may be presented with an offer to pay $50 more for a larger television. A supplemental offer may instead involve a service associated with a primary product (e.g., a specific wireless telephone service when a wireless phone is purchased or discounted cable television service when a television is purchased), insurance for the primary product, or a waπanty for the primary product. By way of example only, a supplemental offer may also include discounts on hotel services (in- room dining service, pay-per-view movies) when a hotel room is purchased.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the buyer may instead use a supplemental offer code, for example, to receive a discount from an online retailer. According to still another embodiment, a supplemental offer code provided when the buyer takes possession of the primary product enables the buyer to access a Web site and receive further information about the supplemental offer. Note that U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/285,201 filed April 1, 1999 and entitled "Method and System for the Presentation and Redemption of Reward Offers" (99- 003) discloses a system in which a code is provided to a buyer at a retailer.

Note that the supplemental offer provider does not need to be the seller of the primary product or the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product. Also note that, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer provider may provide a commission to, for example, the purchasing system, the seller or the retailer when the buyer redeems the supplemental offer.

The supplemental offer may also include a discount on the price of the primary product. For example, a buyer may be provided with a supplemental offer such that the buyer will receive a $10 or 10% discount (e.g., to be applied to the buyer's credit card) on the purchase of a television if the buyer completes an online survey or a survey at the retailer POS. Note that U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/316,546 filed May 21, 1999 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Processing Credit Card Transactions" (99-012) discloses a system operable to process a credit card transaction in a manner which provides the buyer the opportunity to receive one or more charge enhancement offers, which may coπespond to either a reduction or an increase in the buyer purchase amount, on a ROC provided at a POS terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 sends to the retailer (e.g., to the retailer device 400) supplemental offer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer. This verification information may be, according to one embodiment, the same information the retailer uses to authorize the buyer to take possession of the primary product. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 sends supplemental offer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize a plurality of buyers to redeem a plurality of supplemental offers.

When the buyer presents, for example, a supplemental offer voucher to the retailer, the retailer device 400 may transmit information about the buyer's attempt to redeem the supplemental offer to the purchasing system device 300. The purchasing system device 300 can determine, for example, if the supplemental offer is expired or if the buyer has not yet taken possession of the primary product. The purchasing system device 300 then sends to the retailer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the creation of a purchasing system voucher, including the supplemental offer information. For example, the information may let a buyer print a coupon-like purchasing system voucher. The supplemental offer information can also include expiration information or a redemption condition associated with the buyer's right to redeem the supplemental offer. For example, the supplemental offer information may inform the buyer that the supplemental offer must be redeemed within seven days from the day the buyer takes possession of the primary product. The supplemental offer information can also include penalty information associated with a failure to satisfy the redemption condition. For example, if the buyer does not redeem the supplemental offer within a predetermined time, the buyer may be required to pay a percentage or predetermined penalty, or even lose the right to redeem the supplemental offer.

As with the primary product, the supplemental offer information may also include a supplemental offer redemption code, such as an alphanumeric code, a visual code or a bar code. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the supplemental offer redemption code is a payment identifier, such as a pseudo credit card number, debit card number or checking account number uniquely associated with the purchase of the primary product by the buyer. In this case, the retailer may enter the pseudo payment identifier using a standard CAT.

For example, the pseudo payment identifier may be a sixteen digit pseudo credit card number, and the first four digits may be associated with the purchasing system as being the credit card "issuer." In this case, the purchasing system device 300 would receive the pseudo payment identifier (acting as a supplemental offer redemption code) from a credit card processing system and may send an authorization to the retailer device 400 if the purchase price is more than a first minimum spending amount and less than a first maximum spending amount. The first minimum spending amount and the first maximum spending amount might be, for example, $190 and $210 in the case of a buyer redeeming a supplemental offer for a $200 VCR. Such a "window" may be useful, for example, if a tax or penalty amount may be imposed when the buyer redeem the supplemental offer. Moreover, the sending of the verification information may also performed if the purchase price is more than a second minimum spending amount and less than a second maximum spending amount. The second minimum spending amount and the second maximum spending amount may be, for example, $330 and $470 in the case of a buyer taking possession of a $200 television (as the primary product) and redeeming a supplemental offer voucher for a $150 VCR (i.e., a "window" may be provided around the total price of $200 + $150 = $350).

The purchasing system device 300 may select a plurality of possible supplemental offers and let the buyer select one of the possible supplemental offers. This may be done, for example, when the buyer accesses a purchasing system Web site. This may also be done, for example, by sending all of the supplemental offers to the buyer. When a number of supplemental offers are provided to a buyer, the purchasing system device 300 may, for example, only allow the buyer to redeem a single supplemental offer. In this case, when the buyer redeems one supplemental the purchasing system device 300 can invalidate the remaining offers. Note that, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a second supplemental offer may be made available only after a first supplemental offer has been redeemed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the purchasing system device 300 itself selects a supplemental offer from a group of possible supplemental offers, such as by evaluating the supplemental offers based on profitability to the purchasing system. The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3 A is refeπed to as the local determination embodiment because the purchasing system device 300 determines supplemental offer information without routing information to (and receiving supplemental offer information from), supplemental offer providers for each time a buyer purchases a primary product. According to one embodiment, supplemental offer information is sent from a supplemental offer provider to the purchasing system device 300 comprises, for example, conditions or rules. An example of a rule is to "always provide a supplemental offer for an extended waπanty when a buyer purchases a television." This type of supplemental offer information may be received by the purchasing system device 300 either periodically (e.g., each night at midnight) or on a non-periodic basis (e.g., whenever a condition or rule changes). The routing embodiment of the purchasing system device 300 is shown in FIG. 3B. According to this embodiment, the purchasing system device 350 comprises a processor 370 coupled to: a communication port 390; an input device 392; a display 396; a printer 394; and a storage device 380 storing a program 375. However, unlike the local determination embodiment, the purchasing system device 350 stores the following databases: a seller database 550 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 5); a retailer database 600 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 6); a primary offer database 700 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 7); and a transaction database 1000 (described in detail with respect to FIG. 10). In other words, in this embodiment the purchasing system device 350 does not store the supplemental offer database 800 or the rules database 900. This information is instead stored by, for example, one or more supplemental offer providers (e.g., manufacturers, retailers or third parties). According to this embodiment, the purchasing system device 300 sends information about the purchase of the primary product by the buyer (e.g., buyer offer information) to the supplemental offer providers. The supplemental offer providers select the supplemental offers that will be provided to the buyer and send the supplemental offer information to the purchasing system device 300. The purchasing system device 300 would then send supplemental offer information to the buyer device 200. Note that a combination of the local determination and routing embodiments may be used, if desired (e.g., the purchasing system routes information to some supplemental offer providers but makes a local determination with respect to other supplemental offer providers). Also note that in either local determination or routing embodiment, the purchasing system may send supplemental offer verification information to retailer devices 400 enabling the authorization of buyers to redeem supplemental offers.

Seller Devices

FIG. 4 illustrates a seller device 500 that is descriptive of the seller devices shown in FIG. 1 A according an embodiment of the present invention. The seller device 500 comprises a processor 520 coupled to: a communication port 520; an input device 542; a display 546; a printer 544; and a storage device 530 storing a program 525. The seller device 500 may use the communication port 520, for example, to send supplemental offer information to the purchasing system device 300.

Moreover, in the routing embodiment, the storage device 530 also stores the supplemental offer database 800 and the rules database 900. In this way, when the seller device 500 receives information about the purchase of a primary product (e.g., buyer offer information) from the purchasing system device 300, the seller device can select one or more supplemental offers. The selection of a supplemental offer may be based on any of the considerations described in detail with respect to the local determination embodiment of the purchasing system device 300 (e.g., the seller may consider factors similar to those considered by the purchasing system when determining a supplemental offer). When one or more supplemental offers are selected, information about those supplemental offers can be provided to the purchasing system device 300. Note that a seller device 500 may determine that no supplemental offer will be made to the buyer. This may be done, for example, by not responding to the purchasing system device 300 or by sending a signal to the purchasing system device 300.

Examples of databases that may be used in connection with the redemption system 10 will now be described in detail with respect to FIGS. 5 to 10.

Seller Database

Referring to FIG. 5, a table 550 represents one embodiment of the seller database that may be stored at a purchasing system device 300. The table 550 includes entries identifying sellers that sell products through the purchasing system. The table 550 also defines fields 552, 554, 556, 558 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a seller identifier 552; a seller name 554; a seller type 556; and a seller address 558. In general, this database may be used, for example, to identify a potential supplemental offer provider. The seller identifier 552 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a particular seller or a particular purchasing system transaction, and may or may not be based on the seller identifier 818 stored in the primary offer database 700. The seller address 558 may be and Internet Protocol (IP) address that is used by the purchasing system device 300 to exchange information, such as buyer offer information and supplemental offer information, with seller devices 500. In an embodiment where buyer offers are transmitted to a plurality of potential sellers, this address may also be used to communicate offers and acceptances. The seller type 556 and seller address 558 may also be used, for example, to determine: (i) the sellers to which information about the purchase of a primary product should be routed (e.g., only those sellers within 50 miles of the buyer's home address); or (ii) the supplemental offers themselves.

Retailer Database

Referring to FIG. 6, a table 600 represents one embodiment of the retailer database that may be stored at a purchasing system device 300. The table 600 includes entries that identify retailers at which a buyer may take possession of a product purchased through the purchasing system. The table 800 also defines fields 602, 604, 606 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a retailer identifier 602; a retailer name 604; and a retailer location 606.

The retailer identifier 602 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a particular retailer or a particular purchasing system transaction. The retailer name 604 and retailer location 606 may be used, for example, to create supplemental offer information to be printed on a voucher. The retailer location 606 may also be used by the system to determine if a retailer is close enough to a buyer to be included on a voucher (including as a provider of a supplemental offer), using algorithms which are well known in the art.

Primary Offer Database

Referring to FIG. 7, a table 700 represents one embodiment of the primary offer database that may be stored at a purchasing system device 300. The table 700 includes entries identifying buyer offers that have been accepted by the purchasing system (including those that have been accepted by a seller or retailer through the purchasing system). The table 700 also defines fields 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a primary offer identifier 702; a buyer identifier 704; a product identifier 706; a buyer e-mail 708; a primary offer price 710; retailer identifiers 712, 714, 716; a seller identifier 718; and a payment identifier 720.

The primary offer database 700 stores information related to a buyer offer that has been submitted to the purchasing system and accepted. The primary offer identifier 702 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a particular purchasing system transaction. The buyer identifier 704 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with the buyer purchasing the primary product associated with the product identifier 706 for the primary offer price 710.

The buyer e-mail 708 may be used, for example, to let the purchasing system device 300 communicate with the buyer, such as to send supplemental offer information.

The retailer identifiers 712, 714, 716 may be, for example, alphanumeric codes uniquely associated with particular retailer at which the buyer may take possession of the primary product. This information may also be used to select supplemental offers or to evaluate if a buyer should be allowed to redeem a supplemental offer. Note that not all of the fields need to contain information for each record (e.g., the first record in FIG. 7 illustrates that the buyer may only take possession of the product at two, and not three, retailers).

The seller identifier 718 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with the seller that sold the primary product to the buyer (including a merchant code issued by a credit card association such as VISA, etc.). This information may be used by the purchasing system device 310 to select supplemental offers.

The payment identifier 820 may be, for example, the buyer's credit card number and may, according to one embodiment of the present invention, be used by the purchasing system device 300 to receive payment for the primary product or the supplemental offer. That is, a retailer may not need to receive any payment directly from the buyer when the buyer redeems the supplemental offer. Instead, the payment identifier associated with the purchase of the primary product may be charged an appropriate amount (e.g., when the buyer has previously indicated that he or she agrees to such a charge).

Supplemental Offer Database

Referring to FIG. 8, a table 800 represents one embodiment of the supplemental offer status database that may be stored at the purchasing system device 300 according to the local determination embodiment of the present invention. In the routing embodiment, this database may instead be stored at the seller device 500. The table 800 includes entries identifying supplemental offers that may be provided to a buyer. The table 800 also defines fields 802, 804, 806, 808, 810 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a retailer identifier 802; a supplemental offer identifier 804; a supplemental offer description 806; a rule identifier 808; and a supplemental offer status 810.

The retailer identifier 802 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a particular retailer at which a supplemental offer may be redeemed. The supplemental offer identifier 804 may be, for example, an alphanumeric code uniquely associated with a particular supplemental offer as described by the supplemental offer description 806. The supplemental offer may be provided to the buyer if one or more rules, as identified by the rule identifier 808, are satisfied. The supplemental offer status 810 indicates whether or not the supplemental offer is "available."

The supplemental offer database 800 may be used, for example, to select supplemental offers to provide to the buyer. For example, consider the buyer that made a purchasing system transaction is illustrated in the first record of FIG. 7. The buyer may take possession of the primary product at retailers identified as "R031-29" and "R718-93." As shown in FIG. 8, the first retailer has two possible supplemental offers that may be evaluated (the first two records in the database) while the second retailer has no possible supplemental offers stored in the database. The purchasing system device 300 may then access the rules associated with the rule identifier using the rules database 900 to determine which of the possible supplemental offers should be provided to the buyer.

Rules Database

Referring to FIG. 9, a table 900 represents one embodiment of the rules database that may be stored at the purchasing system device 300 according to the local determination embodiment of the present invention. In the routing embodiment, this database may instead be stored at the seller device 500. The table 900 includes entries identifying supplemental offer rules that may be applied when generating supplemental offer information for a buyer. The table 900 also defines fields 902, 904 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a rule identifier 902; and a rule condition 904.

In general, this database is used along with the supplemental offer database 800 to select the supplemental offers that will be provided to a buyer. Consider again the example described with respect to FIG. 8. The purchasing system device 300 has two possible supplemental offers to evaluate: one associated with rule "R-101" and one associated with both rule "R-102" and rule "R-105." By accessing the rules database 900, the purchasing system device 300 may determine whether or not these supplemental offers should be provided to the buyer. Note that, in the routing embodiment a retailer may not have access to the buyer's historical purchase information, and thus some of the rules listed in the figure would not apply. According to another embodiment, the buyer historical purchase information could be routed to sellers along with the accepted buyer offer information. Note also that the product margin rule may be, for example, the buyer's primary product purchase price (or the retailer's settlement price) less the retailer's cost.

Transaction Database

Referring to FIG. 10, a table 1000 represents one embodiment of the transaction that may be stored at a purchasing system device 300. The table 1000 includes entries that identify transactions made through the purchasing system (e.g., products purchased by buyers). The table 1000 also defines fields 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016 for each of the entries. The fields specify: a redemption code 1002; a primary offer identifier 1004; a primary offer status 1006; a payment identifier 1008; a supplemental offer status 1010; a supplemental offer retailer identifier 1012; a supplemental offer status 1014; and a supplemental offer redemption condition 1016. This database stores information related to a purchasing system transaction including information 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016 associated with a supplemental offer. Note that the supplemental offer status 1014 may be used to prevent a buyer from redeeming a supplemental offer multiple times. Also note that one or more supplemental offer redemption conditions 1016 may determine whether or not the purchasing system device 300 will authorize a buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

Methods that may be used in connection with the system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with respect to FIGS. 11 to 15.

Supplemental Offer Methods

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a supplemental offer method 1100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flow chart in FIG. 10, as well as the other flow charts discussed herein, is not meant to imply a fixed order to the steps, and embodiments of the present invention can be practiced in any order that is practicable. At 1102, the purchasing system device 300 aπanges through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller. Primary product redemption information (e.g., a primary product redemption code) enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer is generated at 1104. Supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer is generated at 1106. The supplemental offer is based at least in part on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method of sending supplemental offer information to a buyer 1200 that may be performed by the purchasing system according to a routing embodiment of the present invention. At 1202, the purchasing system device 300 accepts a buyer offer for a primary product. Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention the purchasing system may simply aπange for the buyer to purchase the product (e.g., with a seller-set price). The purchasing system device 300 retrieves the retailer identifiers associated with the retailers at which the buyer may take possession of the product at 1204.

Information about the accepted buyer offer is transmitted to the retailers at 1206. In other words, the purchasing system device 300 may transmit the information to the retailers as a request to receive supplemental offer information. If no supplemental offer information is received at 1208 (or if all retailers indicate that they decline to make a supplemental offer), the accepted buyer offer information is transmitted to the buyer at 1210 (e.g., a primary product a redemption code).

If, on the other hand, supplemental offer information is received at 1208, the accepted buyer offer information (e.g., a primary product redemption code) and supplemental offer information (e.g., a supplemental offer redemption code) is transmitted to the buyer at 1212. The information is also stored (e.g., in the transaction database 1000) by the purchasing system device 300 at 1214.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining whether a supplemental offer will be provided to a buyer 1300 that may be performed by a seller or retailer according to the routing embodiment of the present invention. Information about an accepted buyer offer is received from a purchasing system at 1302. At 1304, a rules database 900 is queried to determine which rules (if any) are satisfied by the accepted buyer offer information. The result of this query is used to retrieve the appropriate supplemental offers that may be provided to the buyer at 1306. If no such supplemental offer is found at 1308, no supplemental offer information is sent to the purchasing system at 1310.

If at least one supplemental offer is found at 1308, supplemental offer information is retrieved at 1312 (e.g., by accessing the supplemental offer database 800 and the rules database 900) and transmitted to the purchasing system at 1314. Either all of the appropriate supplemental offer may be transmitted, or only a limited number (e.g., the first one or the first three) may be transmitted. Of course, there are any number of other ways that the supplemental offer may be selected (e.g., based solely on a product identifier, a product category, cuπent inventory).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a supplemental offer 1400 that may be performed by the purchasing system, the retailer or the seller according to another embodiment of the present invention. A retailer identifier is retrieved at 1402 based on the accepted buyer offer information. Supplemental offers with a status of "available" that are associated with the retrieved retailer identifier are retrieved at 1404 and are used to select those offers with conditions that are met by the accepted buyer offer information at 1406. Such supplemental offers are stored in association with the accepted buyer offer at 1408.

If at 1410 there is another retailer to be evaluated, the above steps 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408 are repeated. If at 1410 there is not another retailer to be evaluated, the buyer offer information and supplemental offer information are output to the buyer at 1412. Such information may enable the buyer to print a voucher that includes information related to both (i) the buyer taking possession of the primary product at a retailer; and (ii) the supplemental offer.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a supplemental offer 1500 that may be performed by the purchasing system, the retailer or the seller according to another embodiment of the present invention. Supplemental offers having an associated rule condition that is a product identifier, and that product identifier matches the product identifier of the primary product being purchased by the buyer, are retrieved at 1502. At 1504, supplemental offers having an associated rule condition that is a manufacturer identifier, and that manufacturer identifier is associated with the manufacturer of the primary product being purchased by the buyer, are retrieved at 1504.

At 1506, supplemental offers having an associated rule condition related to a buyer history requirement satisfied by the buyer purchasing the primary product being purchased, are retrieved. Finally, at 1508 supplemental offers having an associated rule condition that is a price range, and the price of the primary product being purchased by the buyer is within that price range, are retrieved at 1510. In other words, the method illustrated in FIG. 15 is one way of selecting supplemental offers that may be provided to the buyer that arranges to purchase a primary product through a purchasing system.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a method of preventing a buyer from redeeming a supplemental offer before taking possession of the primary product 1600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a buyer purchases a product through the purchasing system, the primary offer status 1006 in the transaction database 1000 is set to "pending" at 1602 and the supplemental offer status 1014 for each supplemental offer is set to "not available." In an embodiment where the buyer may not immediately be able to redeem the supplemental offer, this step may may mark the beginning of a period after which the supplemental offer is redeemable (e.g., when the supplemental offer cannot be redeemed until two weeks after the buyer takes possession of the primary product).

That is, a buyer would not be allowed to redeem a supplemental offer at this time. Note, however, that according to one embodiment of the present invention, a supplemental offer may be redeemed before the buyer takes possession of the primary product. The supplemental offer status 1014 for such a supplemental offer would, in this case, be set to "available."

When the buyer take possession of the primary product at a retailer, the primary offer status 1006 is set to "redeemed" in the transaction database 1000 and the supplemental offer status 1014 for each supplemental offer is set to "available." Note again, that according to one embodiment of the present invention a supplemental offer may only be redeemable if the buyer takes possession of the primary product at a particular retailer (e.g., as may be indicated by a supplemental offer redemption condition 1016). If so, this condition would also determine whether or not the supplemental offer status 1014 is set to "available." That is, only the status of the supplemental offer associated with the retailer at which the buyer took possession of the product would be set to "available" while any other supplemental offers would retain the status of "not available."

When the buyer redeems a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer status 1014 coπesponding to that supplemental offer is set to "redeemed" at 1606. The supplemental offer status 1014 for the remaining supplemental offers is set to "not available" at 1608. That is, in this case, the buyer is only allowed to redeem a single supplemental offer. According to other embodiment of the present invention the buyer may be allowed to redeem more than one supplemental offer. If so, one or more of the supplemental offer status 1014 entries may in fact remain "available" after the buyer has redeemed the first supplemental offer.

FIGS. 1A to 16 describe only some of possible embodiments according to the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that there are many more applications of the present invention consistent with the present disclosure. Further, although the following examples are briefly described for clarity, those skilled in the art will understand how to make any changes, if necessary, to the above-described apparatus and methods to accommodate these and other embodiments and applications limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising: aπanging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller; generating primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; and generating supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer being based at least in part on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting the supplemental offer from a plurality of possible supplemental offers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on at least one of:

(i) the retailer; and (ii) a manufacturer of the primary product and a supplemental product associated with the supplemental offer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on a stored relationship between the primary product and the supplemental offer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on at least one of:

(i) the buyer; (ii) a history associated with the buyer; (iii) demographic information associated with the buyer; and (iv) an address associated with the buyer.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on at least one of: (i) a profit margin associated with the primary product; and (ii) a profit margin associated with the supplemental offer.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on a price associated with the primary product, the price being one of: (i) a retail price; (ii) a settlement price; (iii) a buyer-defined price; and (iv) a seller-defined price.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting is further based on at least one of: (v) an incentive from a third party; and (vi) profitability data.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on retailer inventory data, and the supplemental offer is only provided to the buyer if a supplemental product associated with the supplemental offer is available at the retailer.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting is based on sales information related to a supplemental product associated with the supplemental offer.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental offer can only be redeemed at the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer can be redeemed at a second retailer different than the retailer at which the buyer takes possession of the primary product.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer can be redeemed at any of a plurality of retailers.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer cannot be redeemed before the buyer takes possession of the primary product at the retailer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the supplemental offer information is not provided to the buyer before the buyer takes possession of the primary product at the retailer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental offer information is provided to the buyer by the purchasing system.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental offer information is provided to the buyer at the retailer when the buyer takes possession of the primary product.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer can not be redeemed until a predetermined period of time after the buyer takes possession of the primary product at the retailer.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a first part of the supplemental offer information to the buyer before the buyer takes possession of the product at the retailer.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating additional supplemental offer information associated with a second supplemental offer, wherein the second supplemental offer may not be redeemed before the first supplemental offer is redeemed.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises information about both: (i) a first supplemental offer that can be redeemed at a first retailer; and (ii) a second supplemental offer that can be redeemed at a second retailer different from the first retailer.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information to the buyer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the supplemental offer information is sent to the buyer separately from the primary product redemption information.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising: aπanging through the communication network for the buyer to accept the supplemental offer.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating supplemental offer information comprises: receiving third party supplemental offer information from at least one third party.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said third party supplemental offer information is received periodically.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said third party supplemental offer information is received on a non-periodic basis.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising: sending information about the buyer purchasing the primary product to the third party, wherein the third party supplemental offer information is received in response to said sending.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the third party comprises: (i) the seller; (ii) the retailer; and (iii) a manufacturer of the primary product.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said generation of the supplemental offer information comprises: generating supplemental offer information locally at the purchasing system.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said local generation comprises accessing at least one database containing predefined third party supplemental offer information.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said local generation comprises evaluating third party supplemental offer rules in substantially real time.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises information about a plurality of supplemental offers.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises a plurality of supplemental offer product identifiers, each identifier being associated with a different retailer.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of supplemental offer product identifiers comprise at least one of a plurality of: Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) numbers; model names; and model numbers.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises: an offer for a supplemental product.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the supplemental product is offered to the buyer for: (i) free; (ii) a predetermined amount; (iii) a predetermined percentage less than a retail price associated with the supplemental product; and (iv) a predetermined amount less than the retail price.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer comprises a payment to the buyer based on an action taken by the buyer.

39. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buyer agrees to provide payment of a first price in exchange for the primary product, and the supplemental offer comprises a reduction in the first price based on an action taken by the buyer.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises: an offer for a substitute product in place of the primary product.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises at least one of: (i) an offer for a service associated with the primary product; (ii) an offer for insurance for the primary product; and (iii) an offer for a waπanty for the primary product.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending to the retailer supplemental offer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the supplemental offer verification information comprises the primary product verification information.

44. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending supplemental offer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize a plurality of buyers to redeem a plurality of supplemental offers.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to redeem a supplemental offer; determining if the buyer has taken possession of the primary product; and if the buyer has taken possession of the primary product, sending to the retailer verification information enabling the retailer to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

46. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from a second retailer, different than the first retailer, information related to an attempt to redeem a supplemental offer; determining if the buyer has taken possession of the primary product; and if the buyer has taken possession of the primary product, sending to the second retailer verification information enabling the second retailer to authorize the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the creation of a purchasing system voucher including the supplemental offer information.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the buyer to print the purchasing system voucher.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the purchasing system voucher is printed at one of: (i) a printer attached to a buyer device; and (ii) a printer at the retailer.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the buyer to print the purchasing system voucher at a printer remote from the purchasing system, the retailer and the seller.

51. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the buyer to create a supplemental offer voucher

52. The method of claim 51 , wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the buyer to print the supplemental offer voucher separate from a purchasing system primary product voucher.

53. The method of claim 51 , wherein the supplemental offer voucher is printed at one of: (i) a printer attached to a buyer device; and (ii) a printer at a retailer kiosk.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising storing information associating the supplemental offer voucher and the purchasing system primary product voucher.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information enable the buyer to print the supplemental offer voucher at a printer remote from the purchasing system, the retailer and the seller.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises expiration information.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises a redemption condition associated with the buyer's right to redeem the supplemental offer.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the redemption condition comprises at least one of: (i) a date by which the buyer must redeem the supplemental offer; and (ii) a predetermined time within which the buyer must redeem the supplemental offer.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises penalty information associated with a failure to satisfy the redemption condition.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the penalty information comprises information related to at least one of: (i) a predetermined amount; (ii) a percentage amount; and (iii) voiding the right of the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer.

61. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises a supplemental offer redemption code.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the supplemental offer redemption code comprises at least one of: (i) an alphanumeric code; (ii) a visual code; and (iii) a bar code.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the supplemental offer redemption code comprises a payment identifier.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the payment identifier comprises at least one of a pseudo: (i) credit card number; (ii) debit card number; and (iii) checking account number.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the payment identifier comprises a pseudo credit card number, and wherein the supplemental offer information further enables the creation of a voucher, including the pseudo credit card number, that serves as a record of charge.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary product redemption information comprises a primary product redemption code that also serves as a supplemental offer redemption code.

67. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the retailer information related to an attempt to take possession of the primary product; and sending to the retailer verification information authorizing the buyer to take possession of the primary product.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the information received from the retailer comprises a pseudo payment identifier uniquely associated with the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said receiving from the retailer the pseudo payment identifier comprises receiving the identifier through a credit card processing system.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the information related to an attempt to take possession of the primary product further comprises a purchase price, and said sending of the verification information is performed if the purchase price is more than a first minimum spending amount and less than a first maximum spending amount, the first minimum spending amount and the first maximum spending amount being established based on a price associated with the primary product.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the first maximum spending amount is further established based on a price associated with a supplemental offer.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said sending of the verification information is also performed if the purchase price is more than a second minimum spending amount and less than a second maximum spending amount, the second minimum spending amount and the second maximum spending amount being established based on the price associated with the primary product and a price associated with a supplemental offer.

73. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the buyer payment of an amount associated with the supplemental offer.

74. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating supplemental offer information comprises: selecting a plurality of possible supplemental offers; and receiving from the buyer the supplemental offer selected from the plurality of possible supplemental offers.

75. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating supplemental offer information comprises selecting a plurality of possible supplemental offers; evaluating the plurality of possible supplemental offers based on the profitability of the possible supplemental offers to the purchasing system.

76. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer information comprises a plurality of supplemental offers and further comprising: receiving information that the buyer has redeemed one of the plurality of supplemental offers; and invalidating the remaining supplemental offers.

77. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging for the buyer to purchase the primary product comprises: receiving a buyer offer, including a buyer-defined price and information about the primary product, from the buyer; and determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said determining if the offer will be accepted comprises at least one of: (i) sending information about the buyer offer to at least one seller; and (ii) locally determining if the buyer offer will be accepted.

79. The method of claim 1, wherein the retailer agrees to provide the primary product to the buyer in exchange for a first settlement price if the buyer does not redeem the supplemental offer and a second settlement price if the buyer does redeem the supplemental offer, wherein the first settlement price is different than the second settlement price.

80. The method of claim 1, wherein said aπanging for the buyer to purchase the primary product comprises receiving an indication from the buyer that a payment identifier may be used to charge a first amount in exchange for the primary product, and further comprising: receiving an indication from the buyer that the payment identifier may be used to charge a second amount if the buyer redeems the supplemental offer.

81. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing the buyer with a plurality of supplemental offer choices; and receiving from the buyer a selection from the plurality of supplemental offer choices.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the retailer at which the buyer may take possession of the primary product is determined based at least in part on the selection.

83. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental offer is provided to the buyer by a supplemental offer provider and the supplemental offer provider provides a commission payment to at least one of: (i) the purchasing system; (ii) the retailer; and (iii) a seller of the primary product.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the commission payment is only provided if the buyer redeems the supplemental offer.

85. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising: aπanging through a communication network for a first buyer to purchase a primary product; generating first primary product redemption information, the first primary product redemption information enabling the first buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; generating first supplemental offer information; aπanging for a second buyer to purchase the primary product; generating second primary product redemption information, the second primary product redemption information enabling the second buyer to take possession of the primary product; and generating second supplemental offer information, wherein the second supplemental offer information is different from the first supplemental offer information.

86. A method of operating a purchasing system, comprising: aπanging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller; generating primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; generating supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer; sending the primary product redemption information and the supplemental offer information to the buyer, the primary product redemption information and supplemental offer information enabling the buyer to print a purchasing system voucher at a printer remote from the purchasing system; receiving information associated with an attempt to redeem the supplemental offer; and sending verification information enabling the buyer to be authorized to redeem the supplemental offer.

87. A purchasing system device, comprising: a processor; and a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: aπange through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller; generate primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; and generate supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer being based at least in part on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

88. A purchasing system apparatus, comprising: means for arranging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller; means for generating primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; and means for generating supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer being based at least in part on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

89. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for operating a purchasing system, said method comprising: aπanging through a communication network for a buyer to purchase a primary product from a seller; generating primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling the buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; and generating supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer, the supplemental offer being based at least in part on the purchase of the primary product by the buyer.

90. A method of using a purchasing system, comprising: aπanging through a communication network to purchase a primary product from a seller; receiving primary product redemption information, the primary product redemption information enabling a buyer to take possession of the primary product at a retailer; and receiving supplemental offer information associated with a supplemental offer.

91. A method of fulfilling a supplemental offer to a buyer using a purchasing system, comprising: receiving supplemental offer information from a buyer; sending information related to an attempt to redeem the supplemental offer to the purchasing system; receiving verification information enabling authorization of the buyer to redeem the supplemental offer; and fulfilling the supplemental offer for the buyer.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising: receiving from the buyer payment of an amount associated with the supplemental offer.

93. A purchasing system voucher, comprising: an offer identifier associated with the sale of a primary product to a buyer; a redemption code configured to be transmitted to a purchasing system to allow the purchasing system to verify that the buyer is authorized to take possession of the primary product; and supplemental offer information.