Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions
AssigneeWalker Digital, LLC
InventorsJay S. Walker, Magdalena Mik, James A. Jorasch, Andrew S. Van Luchene, Michiko Koyabashi, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Russell P. Sammon, Andrew P. Golden, Adam Stevenson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription may be established after receiving information that identifies a product. Terms of a subscription for the product are established, such as a frequency and a duration of the subscription.
Claims24
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller device from a customer, via a web site, information that identifies a product;
- establishing, by the controller device, a subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the subscription include:
- a subscription price of the product, and
- a frequency of the subscription that indicates a period of time,
- in which in order to comply with the frequency of the subscription the customer is required to purchase at least one unit of the product in each of a plurality of the periods of time;
- determining, via the controller device, that the customer is in compliance with the frequency of the subscription;
- authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the subscription price;
- and
- tracking, by the controller device, fulfillment of the subscription.
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured such that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor to perform:
- receiving, via a web site, information that identifies a product;
- establishing a subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the subscription include:
- a subscription price of the product, and
- a frequency of the subscription that indicates a period of time,
- in which in order to comply with the frequency of the subscription the customer is required to purchase at least one unit of the product in each of a plurality of the periods of time;
- determining that the customer is in compliance with the frequency of the subscription;
- authorizing purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the subscription price;
- and
- tracking fulfillment of the subscription.
A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions configured to direct a controller to perform a method, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller device from a customer, via a web site, information that identifies a product;
- establishing, by the controller device, a subscription of the customer for the product, in which terms of the subscription include:
- a subscription price of the product, and
- a frequency of the subscription that indicates a period of time,
- in which in order to comply with the frequency of the subscription the customer is required to purchase at least one unit of the product in each of a plurality of the periods of time;
- determining, via the controller device, that the customer is in compliance with the frequency of the subscription;
- authorizing, by the controller device, purchase by the customer of a unit of the product at the subscription price;
- and
- tracking, by the controller device, fulfillment of the subscription.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.