Prepaid subscription voucher
AssigneeTime Inc.
InventorEdythe Dickson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer-implemented method is provided for initiating a subscription to a periodical. The method comprises the steps of: purchasing a subscription voucher, wherein the voucher includes a plurality of periodical titles and a single monetary value. The purchaser then selects one of the plurality of periodical titles and indicates a recipient of the periodical on the face of the voucher. Next, the purchase sends the voucher to a fulfillment service bureau that then initiates a subscription to the periodical for the recipient identified.
Claims18
1-6. (canceled)
A method of selling subscriptions to periodicals comprising the steps of:
- buying a voucher having a fixed monetary value, a list of periodical titles a subscription to any one of which is available for the fixed monetary value and means for a subscriber to initiate a subscription to a title selected from the list;
- and
- re-selling the voucher at the fixed monetary value.
8-12. (canceled)
A computer-implemented method for creating a voucher for initiating a subscription to a periodical, comprising:
- defining in a first memory location, a subscription voucher record having a field for specifying a plurality of periodical titles, a field for specifying a cost of the voucher, and a field for specifying a periodical subscriber;
- loading said periodical identification field with at least two periodical titles;
- loading said face value field with a single monetary value;
- and
- storing a completed voucher record in a second memory location.
(canceled)
A method of selling items comprising the steps of:
- buying a voucher at a price, the voucher having:
- a fixed monetary value greater than the price,
- a list of items, each available for the fixed monetary value, and
- selection means for a customer to select an item from the list for purchase;
- and
- re-selling the voucher at the fixed monetary value.
A voucher for use in selling items, the voucher comprising:
- a fixed face value;
- a list of items available for purchase at the fixed face value;
- and
- instructions for selecting one item to purchase including contact information for a seller of the one item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.