The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 06, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2011
Jay S. Walker, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Daniel E. Tedesco, Huntington, CT (US);
Michiko Kobayashi, Stamford, CT (US);
Andrew P. Golden, Jamaica Plain, MA (US);
Scott B. Allison, Stamford, CT (US);
Geoffrey M. Gelman, Brooklyn, NY (US);
Timothy A. Palmer, Burbank, CA (US);
James A. Jorasch, New York, NY (US);
Elizabeth Delamater, Greenwich, CT (US);
Jay S. Walker, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Daniel E. Tedesco, Huntington, CT (US);
Michiko Kobayashi, Stamford, CT (US);
Andrew P. Golden, Jamaica Plain, MA (US);
Scott B. Allison, Stamford, CT (US);
Geoffrey M. Gelman, Brooklyn, NY (US);
Timothy A. Palmer, Burbank, CA (US);
James A. Jorasch, New York, NY (US);
Elizabeth Delamater, Greenwich, CT (US);
Walker Digital, LLC, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car. It is also arranged for the customer to provide a security deposit. When the customer performs the task by test driving the car, arrangements are then made to return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer.