System for utilizing redemption information

Abstract

A system to determine offers and/or to determine the acceptability of offers based on received information relating to product redemption at a third party. According to one embodiment, the system includes arrangement for a customer to redeem a product from a third party, reception of information relating to a redemption of the product by the customer, reception of an offer to purchase a product for an offer price, determination to accept the offer based on the received information relating to the redemption, determination of an assigned third party at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information, and transmission of an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned third party.

1 . A method comprising: 
 arranging for a customer to redeem a product from a third party;    receiving, via a communication network, information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred, wherein the information at least comprises information indicative of (i) a retail price of the product during the redemption and (ii) an amount of the product redeemed at the redemption; and    determining an offer based on the received information; and    presenting the offer to a second customer.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information further comprises a time of the redemption.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information further identifies the third party.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information further comprises information concerning other products purchased during the redemption.  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 arranging for a customer to redeem a product from a third party;    receiving, via a communication network, information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred, wherein the information at least comprises information indicative of (i) a retail price of the product during the redemption and (ii) an amount of the product redeemed at the redemption; and    determining, based on the received information, an assigned third party at which an agreement product may be redeemed.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising receiving an offer to purchase the agreement product.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the offer is received from the customer.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the agreement product and the product are a same product.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the offer is received from a second customer.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the agreement product and the product are a same product.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the information further comprises a time of the redemption.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the information further identifies the third party.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the information further comprises information concerning other products purchased during the redemption.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the determining step comprises comparing a present market share associated with the third party to a target market share associated with the third party.  
     
     
         15 . A method for a sales transaction, comprising: 
 receiving a redemption identifier from a customer;    providing a product to the customer according to an agreement associated with the redemption identifier;    transmitting, via a communication network, information relating to the providing step to an entity, the information indicating that the product has been provided to the customer; and    receiving authorization from the entity to provide a product according to a second agreement, the authorization based on the transmitted information.    
     
     
         16 . A method for redeeming a product, comprising: 
 receiving a redemption identifier;    presenting the redemption identifier to a product retailer;    redeeming a product from the product retailer based on the redemption identifier; and    transmitting, via a communication network, redemption information to a third party for use in determining to accept a received offer, the redemption information relating to a redemption of the product that has occurred.    
     
     
         17 . A method for a sales transaction, comprising: 
 arranging for a customer to redeem a product from a retailer;    receiving, via a communication network, information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred;    receiving an offer to purchase an offer product from a second customer; determining to accept the offer based on the received information;    determining an assigned retailer at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information; and    transmitting an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned retailer to the second customer.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of determining an assigned retailer comprises comparing a present market share associated with a conforming retailer to a target market share associated with the conforming retailer.  
     
     
         19 . A system comprising: 
 a controller comprising: 
 a controller memory storing processor-executable controller process steps; and  
   a controller processor;    wherein the controller processor is operative with the controller process steps to: i) transmit a redemption identifier to a customer for use in redeeming a product at a retailer; ii) receive information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; iii) receive an offer to purchase an offer product from a second customer; iv) determine to accept the offer based on the received information; v) determine an assigned retailer at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information; and vi) transmit an acceptance of the offer, an indication of the assigned retailer, and a second redemption identifier to the second customer;    a retailer device comprising: 
 a retailer device memory storing processor-executable retailer device process steps; and  
 a retailer device processor;  
   wherein the retailer device processor is operative with the retailer device process steps to: i) receive the redemption identifier from the customer; ii) determine whether to provide a redemption based on the redemption identifier; and iii) authorize redemption of the product by the customer; and    a customer device comprising: 
 a customer device memory storing processor-executable customer device process steps; and  
 a customer device processor;  
   wherein the customer device processor is operative with the customer device process steps to: i) submit the offer to purchase the offer product; and ii) receive the acceptance of the offer, the indication of the assigned retailer, and the second redemption identifier.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for preparing for a customer to redeem a product from a third party;    means for obtaining information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred;    means for creating an offer based on the obtained information; and    means for transmitting the offer to a second customer.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for preparing for a customer to redeem a product from a third party;    means for obtaining information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; and    means for identifying, based on the obtained information, an assigned third party at which an agreement product may be redeemed, wherein the means for identifying comprises means for comparing a present market share associated with the third party to a target market share associated with the third party.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for obtaining a redemption identifier from a customer;    means for providing a product to the customer according to an agreement associated with the redemption identifier;    means for delivering information relating to the providing step to an entity, the information indicating that the product has been provided to the customer; and    means for obtaining authorization from the entity to provide a product according to a second agreement, the authorization based on the delivered information.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for redeeming a product, comprising: 
 means for obtaining a redemption identifier;    means for transmitting the redemption identifier to a product retailer;    means for obtaining a product from the product retailer based on the redemption identifier; and    means for delivering redemption information to a third party for use in determining to accept a received offer, the redemption information relating to the obtainment of the product that has occurred.    
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for use in a sales transaction, comprising: 
 means for preparing for a customer to redeem a product from a retailer;    means for obtaining information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred;    means for obtaining an offer to purchase an offer product from a second customer;    means for deciding to accept the offer based on the obtained information;    means for identifying an assigned retailer at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the obtained information; and    means for presenting an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned retailer to the second customer, wherein the means for identifying an assigned retailer comprises means for comparing a present market share associated with a conforming retailer to a target market share associated with the conforming retailer.    
     
     
         25 . A device comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor,    wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) arrange for a customer to redeem a product from a third party,; ii) receive information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; and iii) determine to accept an offer based on the received information.    
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein the offer is received from a second customer.  
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein the processor is further operative with the processor-executable process steps to determine, based on the received information, a third party at which an offer product may be redeemed according to the accepted offer.  
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein the information comprises a retail price of the product during the redemption.  
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 28 , wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to determine to accept an offer by: 
 calculating a difference between an offer price included in the offer and the retail price; and    accepting the offer if the difference is less than a threshold amount.    
     
     
         30 . A device comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor, 
 wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) arrange for a customer to redeem a product from a third party,; ii) receive information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; iii) determine an offer based on the received information; and iv) present the offer to a second customer.  
   
     
     
         31 . A device comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor, 
 wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) receive information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; ii) determine, based on the received information, an assigned third party at which an agreement product may be redeemed; and iii) compare a present market share associated with the third party to a target market share associated with the third party.  
   
     
     
         32 . A device for a sales transaction, comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor, 
 wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) receive a redemption identifier from a customer,; ii) provide a product to the customer according to an agreement associated with the redemption identifier, iii) transmit information relating to the providing step to an entity, the information indicating that the product has been provided to the customer; and iv) receive authorization from the entity to provide a product according to a second agreement, the authorization based on the transmitted information.  
   
     
     
         33 . A device for redeeming a product, comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor, 
 wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) receive a redemption identifier, ii) present the redemption identifier to a product retailer, iii) redeem a product from the product retailer based on the redemption identifier, and iv) transmit redemption information to a third party for use in determining to accept a received offer, the redemption information relating to the redemption of the product that has occurred.  
   
     
     
         34 . A device for a sales transaction, comprising: 
 a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and    a processor, 
 wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps to: i) arrange for a customer to redeem a product from a retailer,; ii) receive information relating to a redemption, of the product and by the customer, that has occurred; iii) receive an offer to purchase an offer product from a second customer,; iv) determine to accept the offer based on the received information,; v) determine an assigned retailer at which the offer product may be redeemed based on the received information,; vi) transmit an acceptance of the offer and an indication of the assigned retailer to the second customer; and vii) compare a present market share associated with a conforming retailer to a target market share associated with the conforming retailer.