Method of Delivering Goods and Services Via Media

Abstract

A method for distributing a prescription pharmaceutical product includes recording a unique identifier in a database that identifies a medium and a prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. The database is provisioned with criteria that establish different potential values for the medium. Thus, the medium has a variable value that varies according to the criteria provisioned in the database. A holder of the medium then presents the medium to a provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product. Upon receipt the medium, the provider communicates the unique identifier associated with the medium. Based on the unique identifier of the medium and the variable value criteria provisioned in the database, the value of the medium is determined and communicated to the provider. The holder then utilizes the determined value to purchase the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A system, comprising:
 at least one computing station configured to:   associate a plurality of media with at least one good or service in a database;   assign an inactive status to the plurality of media and record the inactive status of each of the plurality of media in the database, the inactive status of each of the plurality of media indicating that each of the plurality of the media may not be redeemed for the at least one good or service associated with each of the plurality of media;   activate at least some of the plurality of media by changing a status of the at least some of the plurality of media from the inactive status to an active status and recording the active status of the at least some of the plurality of media in the database; and   vary a value of the at least some of the plurality of media according to selected conditions.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the media are distributed to a plurality of holders who present the media to providers of the at least one good or service for the purpose of obtaining the at least one good or service associated with the media. 
     
     
         31 . The system of claim  1  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 receive a request to activate at least some of the plurality of media. 
 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 identify each of the plurality of media with a unique identifier in the database, wherein each unique identifier is associated with the at least one good or service. 
 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 receive a request from a provider of the at least one good or service for authorization to deliver the at least one good or service to a holder of the media. 
 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 identify each of the plurality of media with a unique identifier in the database, wherein each unique identifier is associated with the at least one good or service; and 
 receive a request for authorization to deliver the at least one good or service to a holder of the media, the request including the unique identifier associated with one of the plurality of media. 
 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 apply the value of one of the plurality of media to a purchase price of the at least one good or service; and 
 send authorization to a provider of the at least one good or service to deliver the at least one good or service to a holder of the media. 
 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 receive confirmation from a provider of the at least one good or service that the at least one good or service was delivered to a holder of the media; and 
 update the database to reflect that the at least one good or service was delivered to the holder. 
 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 deactivate at least some of the plurality of media by changing the status of the media from the active status to the inactive status. 
 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 reactivate at least some of the plurality of media after the media has been deactivated. 
 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the at least one computing station is further configured to:
 provision the database with criteria for establishing each of a plurality of different potential values for the media. 
 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the at least one good or service comprises one or more pharmaceutical prescription products and wherein the criteria for establishing potential values for the media includes copayments owed by holders of the media for the one or more pharmaceutical prescription products. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 29  wherein at least some of the plurality of media comprise machine readable cards. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the plurality of media are used to track and manage the distribution of the at least one good or service. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the selected conditions relate to one or more of a manner of activation of the media, a location of a provider of the at least one good or service, an identity of a holder of the media or an identity of a provider of the at least one good or service.