Remittance Method And System For Services

Abstract

Tokens containing a unique identification code that allow admission / access to entertainment or personal services are distributed. A seller-distributor node on a computer network affects transactions that exchange tokens for payment. The tokens represent remittance for services provided by service providers. For each token obtained through the seller-distributor node, the system allows a variable rate of redemption at the service providers upon use by the (ticket) holder / user. The ticket holder / user selects which one of the providers to request remittance for services at the respective provider's rates. Different rates exist for a same or equivalent service across at least some of the service providers. Rendering of the token enables remittance for service by the ticket holder / user selected service provider at the selected service provider rate. The token may be in the form of an electronic ticket, bar code, email message, electronic message, code number, or machine readable data / code.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 778,423, filed Jul. 16, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 641,304, filed Dec. 19, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,337,949, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 204,803, filed Aug. 15, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,294, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 827,737 filed on Apr. 20, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,383.[0002]The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates to marketing and distributing services, especially participatory sports or entertainment services, by collecting a prepayment and issuing to a customer a ticket or similar indicia that can be redeemed for a particular services. The service is one that can be obtained at the customer's option from any of a plurality of distinct service providers, including providers that normall...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention allows service providers to offer tickets to their services for one-time use, instead of a standard price. The tickets can be used at multiple providers, and the service providers are paid in a normal manner when the ticket is redeemed. The ticket can be recognized by existing credit card systems and can be used for immediate payment to the service provider's account. This allows ticket holders to use the service as customers who might remit cash currency. The invention is beneficial for both the service providers and the ticket holders.

Problems solved by technology

The differences between available offerings of goods and services generally boil down to differences in the costs and benefits of available goods and services that consumers have the option to choose.

It is not possible for the purchaser of a gift ticket for a given increment of services from one establishment to redeem the gift ticket at another establishment for comparable services, because the services are not likely to be of the same value to consumers, or offered at the same price by suppliers.

Such an arrangement would not likely be practical, or at least would be less practical than using cash currency, and would require a network of behind-the scenes fund transfers in varying amounts per transaction, between establishments at which the gift tickets are sold to customers and establishments at which the customer redeems the tickets for more or less expensive entertainment services.

There is no practical way in which to supply a given service, such as a round of golf or a theater ticket, that is free of association with a particular supplier and might be redeemed by the customer at any of a plurality of possible suppliers, even though their pricing may differ, without relying on a backup funds transfer network associated with the point of sale.

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