System and method for coordinating event participation and payment
AssigneeSoftech, Inc.
InventorsColin Nelson, Jesse Bischoff, Spencer Eriksen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for coordinating participation in, and payment for, events. In particular, the invention allows a person to initiate a group event without exposing themselves to a full cost of the event, even where full payment is traditionally collected through a single bill or prior to the event. In some aspects, the invention provides a method of organizing an event that includes broadcasting information about an event to potential participants, receiving a commitment to pay from participants, and charging each participant their share while paying a full event cost, so that no one person must pay the full cost.
Claims34
A method for coordinating participation in an event, the method comprising:
- receiving information about an event and storing the information in a tangible, non-transitory memory in a computer system;
- sharing the information with a participant;
- receiving, in the computer system, an acceptance from the participant;
- initiating, by the processor, payment of a total cost of the event;
- and
- charging an event leader and the participant an allocated cost.
A method of organizing an event, the method comprising:
- broadcasting, through the operation of a processor, information about an event;
- receiving a commitment to pay from participants;
- and
- initiating, by means of the processor, charging credit cards of the participants.
A method for planning an event, the method including using a computer comprising a memory coupled to processer to perform the following steps:
- sending an invitation regarding an event;
- initiating payment of a total cost of the event;
- and
- paying an amount less than a total cost of the event.
A method of planning an event, the method comprising, by means of a computer:
- broadcasting an invitation;
- receiving from a participant a commitment to pay a share of a total cost;
- and
- initiating a full payment to a vendor while paying less than the total cost, wherein the full payment includes the share contributed by the participant.
A system for coordinating participation in an event, the system comprising:
- a computer device comprising a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to a processor and configured to:
- send, at the initiative of a leader person, an invitation to one or more participants;
- receive, a communication from at least one participant indicating an intention to participate in an event and a commitment to pay;
- and
- initiate payment for a cost of the event, wherein payment comprises a contribution from each of the one or more participants and the leader of an amount less than the cost of the event.
A computer system for coordinating events comprising:
- a server computer comprising a processor coupled to a tangible, non-transitory memory and configured to:
- relay a communication from a leader person to a participant person, the communication including information about an event;
- receive from a participant a digital signal indicating a willingness to pay to participate in the event;
- initiate payment for a full cost of the event;
- and
- initiate charging a partial cost of the event to the leader person and a allocated partial cost of the event to the participant person.
A method for making a purchase, the method comprising:
- receiving information about a purchase and storing the information in a tangible, non-transitory memory in a computer system;
- sharing the information with a participant;
- receiving, in the computer system, an acceptance from the participant;
- initiating, by the processor, payment of a total cost of the purchase;
- and
- charging an event leader and the participant an allocated cost.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.