# US 2014/0156446 A1 · Method of selling a custom product as an over-the-counter commodity item

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- Number: US 2014/0156446 A1
- Document ID: US20140156446A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/960,578
- Filed: 2013-08-06
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2006-11-09
- Assignees: Qmm, LLC
- Inventors: Timothy R. McGrath; Patrick T. Moore
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156446A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0621: {by configuring or customising goods or services}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G06Q 30/0239: {Online discounts or incentives}
- G06Q 30/0603: {Catalogue creation or management}
- G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping}
- G06Q 10/083: Shipping
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of selling a supplier's product to a consumer, wherein the method includes providing a physical representation of a product to the consumer. The physical representation includes a temporarily concealed first unique identifier corresponding to the physical representation of the product. The method further includes selling the physical representation to the consumer, providing a network location to the consumer for facilitating the redemption of the product with the first unique identifier, and shipping the product to the consumer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of selling a supplier's product to a consumer, the method comprising:
(a) creating a physical representation of a product, the physical representation of a product comprising:
(i) temporarily concealed first, second, and third unique identifiers corresponding to the physical representation of the product;
(ii) a visible fourth unique identifier corresponding to the physical representation of the product;
(b) providing a first computing device in communication with a network location;
(c) processing, by the first computing device, an order for at least one physical representation of a product in exchange for payment of a first predetermined value;
(d) storing, by the first computing device, the fourth unique identifier of each of the at least one physical representation of a product ordered product in an internal listing of unique identifiers in a database of the first computing device;
(e) storing, by the first computing device, the corresponding first, second, and third unique identifiers for the at least one physical representation of a product in the internal listing of unique identifiers in a database of the first computing device;
(f) activating, by the first computing device, the first, second, and third unique identifiers within the database;
(g) providing the at least one physical representation of a product to a retailer;
(h) selling the at least one physical representation to the consumer in exchange for payment of a second predetermined value;
(i) providing, by the first computing device, a network location accessible by a second computing device for facilitating redemption of the product that allows a consumer to:
(i) input the first, second, and third unique identifiers;
(ii) input customizable information about the product; and
(iii) input shipping information for receiving the product;
(j) processing, by the first computing device, the information input by the consumer to authenticate the first, second, and third unique identifiers;
(k) updating, by the first computing device, the internal listing of unique identifiers in the database to reflect the redemption of the product corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth unique identifiers;
(l) creating and shipping the product to the consumer; and
(m) deactivating, by the first computing device, the first, second, third, and fourth unique identifiers within the database.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the physical representation comprises an insert temporarily sealed within a package, the first, second, and third unique identifiers displayed on an interior portion of the insert.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the fourth unique identifier is displayed on an exterior portion of the insert that is visible through the package.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the retailer creates a listing of the fourth unique identifier of each of the at least one physical representation of a product to track the inventory of the at least one physical representation of a product at the retailer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the retailer communicates the listing of fourth unique identifiers to the supplier such that the supplier may track, by the first computing device, the inventory levels of physical representations of a product at the retailer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the supplier sends at least one physical representation of a product to the retailer when the inventory level of physical representation of a product at the retailer falls below a predetermined level.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the retailer provides the supplier with the fourth unique identifier of a corresponding physical representation of a product that is stolen from the retailer, and wherein the supplier, by the first computing device, deactivates the corresponding first, second, and third unique identifiers of the stolen physical representation of a product within the database if the product has not yet been redeemed, and wherein the supplier sends the shipping information of the consumer to the retailer if the product has been redeemed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the insert includes an authentication seal displayed on an interior portion of the insert that corresponds to the physical representation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the supplier provides the physical representation to a retailer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing a network location to the consumer for facilitating the redemption of the product by the consumer includes generating Web pages that allow a consumer to:
(a) input the first, second, and third unique identifiers;
(b) input the customizable information about the product; and
(c) input the shipping information for receiving the product.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing a network location to the consumer for facilitating the redemption of the product by the consumer includes:
(a) providing, by the first computing device, a first input mechanism at the network location that enables the consumer to input the first, second, and third unique identifiers;
(b) providing, by the first computing device, a second input mechanism at the network location that enables the consumer to input the customizable information about the product;
(c) providing, by the first computing device, a third input mechanism at the network location that enables the consumer to input the shipping information for the product; and
(d) receiving, by the first computing device, requests at the first, second, and third input mechanisms to provide the supplier with information for creating and shipping the product.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third input mechanisms are text boxes embedded on a Web page that are available at the network location.