System and Method for Pooled Electronic Purchasing

Abstract

A method executable by a computer system for making joint purchases. The preferred embodiment of the present invention enables customers to establish purchase terms, interactively with the server system, which ensure that the correct amount will be raised (i.e. there will be no surplus or shortfall) and that the participants will contribute appropriate amounts to the overall total through the use of various contribution methods. The preferred embodiment uses the mechanism of direct debit pre-authorized payments to ensure there is no value transfer until the purchase terms have been satisfied, and to guarantee access to the promised funds when they required.

1 . A computer executable method, comprising:
 a computer receiving proposal data from a gift organizer including terms for the joint purchase of a specific gift at a fixed price by identified invitees;   said computer causing said terms to be communicated to said invitees;   said computer receiving response data from said invitees, including respective payment data and authorizations to process respective payment amounts;   said computer processing said respective payment amounts;   whereby the sum of payment amounts processed must equal said fixed price.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing said respective payment amounts includes:
 said computer obtaining at least one direct debit pre-authorization by communicating with a banking system; and   said computer processing respective payment amounts by initiating a payment request for each previously obtained direct debit pre-authorization amount.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computer executes programmed instructions to assess said received proposal data for logical consistency, and causes said invitations to be communicated to said invitees only if said joint purchase is capable of being completed in accordance with said terms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proposal data includes a proposed contribution amount for each said identified invitee. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said computer is configured only to process payment data that are consistent with the proposed contribution amount of each said respective invitee. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the computer receiving proposal data includes said computer making available to said gift organizer a choice of contribution schemes, with each said contribution scheme being a different way for said gift organizer to specify said proposed contribution amounts. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of contribution schemes includes:
 a scheme which enables said organizer to specify proposed contribution amounts that are all equal; and   a scheme which enables said organizer to specify contribution amounts that are not all equal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the communication with said banking system is co-ordinated by a payment gateway system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said proposed contribution amount includes a range of amounts for each said identified invitee to contribute. 
     
     
         10 . Computer readable storage storing thereon program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 a computer receiving proposal data from a gift organizer including terms for the joint purchase of a specific gift at a fixed price by identified invitees;   said computer causing said terms to be communicated to said invitees;   said computer receiving response data from said invitees, including respective payment data and authorizations to process respective payment amounts;   said computer processing said respective payment amounts;   whereby the sum of payment amounts processed must equal said fixed price.   
     
     
         11 . Computer readable storage of  claim 10 , wherein processing said respective payment amounts includes:
 said computer obtaining at least one direct debit pre-authorization by communicating with a banking system; and   said computer processing respective payment amounts by initiating a payment request for each previously obtained direct debit pre-authorization amount.   
     
     
         12 . Computer readable storage of  claim 10 , wherein said computer executes programmed instructions to assess said received proposal data for logical consistency, and causes said invitations to be communicated to said invitees only if said joint purchase is capable of being completed in accordance with said terms. 
     
     
         13 . Computer readable storage of  claim 10 , wherein said proposal data includes a proposed contribution amount for each said identified invitee. 
     
     
         14 . Computer readable storage of  claim 13 , wherein said computer processes only payment data that is consistent with the proposed contribution amount of each said respective invitee. 
     
     
         15 . Computer readable storage of  claim 13 , wherein the computer receiving proposal data includes said computer making available to said gift organizer a choice of contribution schemes, with each said contribution scheme being a different way for said gift organizer to specify said proposed contribution amounts. 
     
     
         16 . Computer readable storage of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of contribution schemes includes:
 a scheme which enables said organizer to specify proposed contribution amounts that are all equal; and   a scheme which enables said organizer to specify contribution amounts that are not all equal.   
     
     
         17 . A system for organizing the purchase of a group gift, comprising:
 a server that serves code to a client device to enable a gift organizer using said client device to send proposal data to the server, said proposal data including terms for the joint purchase of a specific gift at a fixed price by multiple invitees contributing specific proposed amounts;   said server causing invitations containing said terms to be communicated to client devices used by said invitees,   said server receiving response data from said invitees, including respective payment data and authorizations to process respective payment amounts; and   said server transmitting said payment data to a banking system server to process respective payment amounts, and to process said payment amounts   whereby the total of payment amounts processed equals said fixed price.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein transmitting payment data to a banking system server is co-ordinated by a payment gateway system. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein processing of said payment amounts includes:
 said server requesting at least one direct debit pre-authorization through communication with said banking server;   said server later initiating a payment request for each previously obtained direct debit pre-authorization amount.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein retail server computer is configured only to process payment data that is consistent with the proposed contribution amount of each said respective invitee.