Network-based marketplace service for facilitating purchases of bundled services and products

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating purchases of services and products includes an application server providing a network service and maintaining a service offer database that comprises a plurality of information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers. Each information record comprises an indication of a primary service, a purchase price, a payment amount for the primary service, and compensation information for the primary service. At least one of the service offers is for a bundled set that includes the primary service and one or more products. Upon being accessed by user operating a client system, the network service is operable to receive an indication of a service offer being selected for purchase by the user, receive purchase information from the user specifying a funding source, and issue a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price of the information record associated with the service offer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for facilitating purchases of healthcare services and products offered by healthcare providers, the apparatus comprising:
 an application server providing a network service that is accessible to a plurality of users through a plurality of client systems communicatively coupled to the application server via a network; and   a data storage system storing a service offer database that is maintained by the application server, the service offer database comprising a plurality of service offer information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers, each service offer information record comprising an indication of a primary healthcare service of the associated service offer, a purchase price for the associated service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service, a payment amount for the primary healthcare service, and compensation information for the primary healthcare service, the plurality of service offers including at least one service offer for a bundled set that includes the primary healthcare service of the associated service offer and one or more healthcare products, and   wherein, upon being accessed by a user of one of the client systems, the network service is operable to receive an indication from the client system of a selected service offer being selected from the plurality of service offers for purchase by the user,   wherein, upon receiving purchase information for the user specifying a funding source to use for purchasing the selected service offer from the client system, the network service is operable to issue a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price included in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to process a purchase of the selected service offer by the user, and   wherein the network service is operable to, upon processing the purchase of the selected service offer by the user:   generate a respective purchase information record for the purchase that comprises a unique confirmation number for the purchase, an indication of the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, an indication of whether the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service, and an indication of whether, for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product,   store the respective purchase information record for the purchase within a transaction information database that is maintained within the data storage system by the application server, and   transmit a set of voucher information to the client system generated based on the respective purchase information record for the processed purchase for rendering a voucher for the user within a user interface implemented at the client system that specifies the unique confirmation number for the purchase, the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, and the corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, upon receiving a notification from one of the client systems that the primary healthcare service of the selected service offer has been performed by the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service, the network service operates to access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the compensation information for the primary healthcare service in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the payment amount for the primary healthcare service to the financial account. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each service offer information record associated with a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products further comprises, for each of the one or more healthcare products, an indication of the healthcare product, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product, a payment amount for the healthcare product, and corresponding compensation information for the healthcare product. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, if the selected service offer is a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products, upon receiving a notification from one of the client systems that any healthcare product has been provided by the corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product, the network service operates to access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the corresponding compensation information for the healthcare product in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the payment amount for the healthcare product to the financial account. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one service offer for bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products further includes one or more secondary healthcare services associated with the primary healthcare service of the service offer,
 wherein each service offer information record associated with a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more secondary healthcare services further comprises, for each of the one or more secondary healthcare services associated with the primary healthcare service of the associated service offer, an indication of the secondary healthcare service, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the secondary healthcare service, a payment amount for the secondary healthcare service, and corresponding compensation information for the secondary healthcare service, and   wherein, if the selected service offer is a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more secondary healthcare services, upon receiving a notification from one of the client systems that any secondary healthcare service associated with the primary healthcare service of the selected service offer has been performed by the corresponding healthcare provider for the secondary healthcare service, the network service operates to access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the corresponding compensation information for the secondary healthcare service in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the payment amount for the secondary healthcare service to the financial account.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one service offer information record associated with a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products further includes an indication of a facility for performing the primary healthcare service, a facility fee for the facility, and compensation information for the facility fee, and wherein, if the selected service offer is a service offer for a bundled set for which the associated service offer information record includes an indication of a facility for performing the primary healthcare service, upon receiving a notification from one of the client systems that the primary healthcare service of the selected service offer has been performed, the network service operates to access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the compensation information for the facility fee in the service offer information record to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the facility fee to the financial account. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one service offer information record associated with a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products further comprises an indication that at least one of the healthcare products of the bundled set is an optional product, and wherein, if the selected service offer is a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products for which at least one of the healthcare products is an optional product, the network service is further operable to receive an indication from the user of the client system, for each healthcare product of the service offer that is an optional product, of whether the healthcare product is to be included in the purchase of the selected service offer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the data storage system stores a profile database that is maintained by the application server, the profile database comprising a respective account information record for each of a plurality of user accounts registered with the application server, the plurality of user accounts including a plurality of customer accounts and a plurality of provider accounts, the account information record for each user account comprising information for authorizing a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems to access the network service in association with the user account. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the network service is operable to allow a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a provider account to create a service offer for purchase via the network service by submitting a set of information for the service offer to the network service and, in response to receiving the set of information for the service offer, establish a service offer information record associated with the service offer and the provider account within the service offer database. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of provider accounts includes a plurality of physician accounts, a plurality of practice group accounts, and a plurality of pharmacy accounts, wherein the account information record for each practice group account comprises an indication of one or more of the physician accounts being affiliated with the practice group account and an indication of zero or more of the pharmacy accounts being affiliated with the practice group account, and wherein the network service provides functionality for allowing a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a practice group account to create a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products for purchase via the network service in which the set of information for the service offer submitted to the network service specifies one of the physician accounts affiliated with the practice group account as the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service and one of the pharmacy accounts affiliated with the practice group account as the corresponding healthcare provider for each of the one or more healthcare products. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the transaction information database comprises a respective purchase information record for each processed purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer that has been created by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a provider account, the respective purchase information record for each processed purchase comprising an indication of the service offer information record associated with the purchased service offer and, for each of the primary healthcare service, any secondary healthcare service, and any healthcare product of the service offer, an indication of whether the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the healthcare service or product. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the network service, upon being accessed by a user of one of the client systems to process a purchase of a service offer, accesses the transaction information database to set the purchase information record for the processed purchase to indicate that, for each of the primary healthcare service, any secondary healthcare service, and any healthcare product of the purchased service offer, the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the healthcare service or product. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein each service offer information record that is associated with a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products further comprises, for each healthcare product included in the bundled set, an indication of whether a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product,
 wherein the respective purchase information record that is generated by the network service upon processing each purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer for a bundled set that includes at least one healthcare product for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product further comprises, for each healthcare product included in the bundled set for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, an indication of whether a prescription has been received for the healthcare product,   wherein the network service, upon being accessed by a user of one of the client systems to process a purchase of a service offer, accesses the transaction information database to set the purchase information record for the processed purchase to indicate that, for each of any healthcare product of the purchased service offer for which the purchase information record indicates that a prescription has not been received, the purchase cannot be redeemed with respect to the healthcare product, and   wherein the network service, for each purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer for a bundled set that includes at least one healthcare product for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, is operable to, for each healthcare product included in the bundled set for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, upon receiving a notification that a prescription has been received for the healthcare product, accesses the transaction information database to set the purchase information record for the processed purchase to indicate that a prescription has been received for the healthcare product and that the purchase can be redeemed with respect to the healthcare product.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of provider accounts includes a plurality of physician accounts and a plurality of pharmacy accounts, and wherein the network service, for each purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer for a bundled set that includes at least one healthcare product for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, is operable to, for each healthcare product included in the bundled set for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, receive a notification that a prescription has been received for the healthcare product from a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with the customer account, a physician account that is specified in the service offer information record associated with the service offer as the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service, or a pharmacy account that is specified in the service offer information record associated with the service offer as the corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, for each purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products, the network service is operable to, upon receiving a notification from one of the client systems that any healthcare product has been provided by the corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product, access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the corresponding compensation information for the healthcare product in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the payment amount for the healthcare product to the financial account, and
 wherein, for each purchase, by a user accessing the network service from one of the client systems in association with a customer account, of a service offer for a bundled set that includes one or more healthcare products, the network service, for each healthcare product included in the bundled set for which a prescription is required to purchase the healthcare product, is not operable to receive a notification that the healthcare product has been provided by the corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product unless the purchase information record for the processed purchase indicates that the purchase can be redeemed with respect to the healthcare product.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application server implements a web application to provide the network service, and wherein each client systems implements a client application configured to provide a web-based user interface for accessing the network service provided by the application server via the web application. 
     
     
         18 . A method for facilitating purchases of healthcare services and products offered by healthcare providers, the method comprising:
 providing, at an application server, a network service that is accessible to a plurality of users through a plurality of client systems communicatively coupled to the application server via a network;   maintaining, in a data storage system, a service offer database comprising a plurality of service offer information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers, where each service offer information record comprises an indication of a primary healthcare service of the associated service offer, a purchase price for the associated service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service, a payment amount for the primary healthcare service, and compensation information for the primary healthcare service, and where the plurality of service offers include at least one service offer for a bundled set that includes the primary healthcare service of the associated service offer and one or more healthcare products;   receiving, from one of the client systems being operated by a user to access the network service, an indication of a selected service offer being selected from the plurality of service offers for purchase by the user and purchase information for the user specifying a funding source purchasing the selected service offer;   issuing a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price included in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to process a purchase of the selected service offer by the user;   generating a respective purchase information record for the purchase that comprises a unique confirmation number for the purchase, an indication of the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, an indication of whether the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service, and an indication of whether, for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product;   storing the respective purchase information record for the purchase within a transaction information database that is maintained within the data storage system; and   transmitting a set of voucher information to the client system generated based on the respective purchase information record for the processed purchase for rendering a voucher for the user within a user interface implemented at the client system that specifies the unique confirmation number for the purchase, the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, and the corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer.   
     
     
         19 . A system for facilitating purchases of healthcare services and products offered by healthcare providers, the system comprising:
 an application server providing a network service;   a plurality of client systems configured to communicatively couple to the application server via a network to access the network service; and   a data storage system storing a service offer database that is maintained by the application server, the service offer database comprising a plurality of service offer information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers, each service offer information record comprising an indication of a primary healthcare service of the associated service offer, a purchase price for the associated service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service, a payment amount for the primary healthcare service, and compensation information for the primary healthcare service, the plurality of service offers including at least one service offer for a bundled set that includes the primary healthcare service of the associated service offer and one or more healthcare products, and   wherein, upon being accessed by a user through operation of one of the client systems, the network service is operable to receive an indication from the client system of a selected service offer being selected from the plurality of service offers for purchase by the user,   wherein, upon receiving purchase information for the user specifying a funding source for purchasing the selected service offer from the client system, the network service is operable to issue a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price included in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to process a purchase of the selected service offer by the user, and   wherein the network service is operable to, upon processing the purchase of the selected service offer by the user:   generate a respective purchase information record for the purchase that comprises a unique confirmation number for the purchase, an indication of the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, an indication of whether the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the primary healthcare service, and an indication of whether, for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer, the purchase has been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product that is initially set to indicate that the purchase has not been redeemed with respect to the healthcare product,   store the respective purchase information record for the purchase within a transaction information database that is maintained within the data storage system by the application server, and   transmit a set of voucher information to the client system generated based on the respective purchase information record for the processed purchase for rendering a voucher for the user within a user interface implemented at the client system that specifies the unique confirmation number for the purchase, the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, and the corresponding healthcare provider for each of any healthcare products of the purchased service offer.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for facilitating purchases of healthcare services and products offered by healthcare providers, the apparatus comprising:
 an application server providing a network service that is accessible to a plurality of users through a plurality of client systems communicatively coupled to the application server via a network; and   a data storage system storing a service offer database that is maintained by the application server, the service offer database comprising a plurality of service offer information records respectively associated with a plurality of service offers, each service offer information record comprising an indication of a healthcare service of the associated service offer, a purchase price for the healthcare service, an indication of a corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare service, a payment amount for the healthcare service, compensation information for the healthcare service, and an indication of each of any offers for a healthcare product that is associated with the service offer, and   wherein, upon being accessed by a user of one of the client systems, the network service is operable to receive an indication from the client system of a selected service offer being selected from the plurality of service offers for purchase by the user,   wherein, upon receiving purchase information for the user specifying a funding source to use for purchasing the selected service offer from the client system, the network service is operable to process a purchase of the selected service offer by the user by issuing a request to the funding source for funds corresponding to the purchase price included in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer and, for each of any offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the selected service offer and being purchased by the user in conjunction with the purchase of the selected service offer, funds corresponding to a purchase price included in a product offer information record that is associated with the offer for the healthcare product and maintained within the data storage system by the application server, and   wherein the network service is operable to, upon processing the purchase of the selected service offer by the user:   access a servicer for a financial account indicated by the compensation information for the healthcare service in the service offer information record associated with the selected service offer to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to the payment amount for the healthcare service to the financial account indicated by the compensation information for the healthcare service, and   access, for each purchase of any offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the selected service offer, a servicer for a financial account indicated by compensation information for the healthcare product that is included in the product offer information record associated with the offer for the healthcare product to direct a disbursement of funds corresponding to a payment amount for the healthcare product that is included in the product offer information record associated with the offer for the healthcare product to the financial account indicated by the compensation information for the healthcare product.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the network service is further operable to, upon processing the purchase of the selected service offer by the user:
 generate a respective purchase information record for the purchase of the selected service offer that comprises a unique confirmation number for the purchase, an indication of the corresponding healthcare provider for the primary healthcare service for the purchased service offer, and, for each offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the selected service offer, and indication of whether the offer for the healthcare product was purchased in conjunction with the purchase of the selected service offer,   generate, for each purchase of any offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the selected service offer, a respective purchase information record for the purchase of the offer of the healthcare product that comprises a unique confirmation number for the purchase, an indication of the corresponding healthcare provider for the healthcare product, and the unique confirmation number for the purchase of the selected service offer, and   store the respective purchase information record for the purchase of the selected service offer and for each purchase of any offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the selected service offer within a transaction information database that is maintained within the data storage system by the application server.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein, for each indication included in a service offer information record of an offer for a healthcare product that is associated with the respectively associated service offer for the service offer information record, the product offer information record that is associated with the offer for the healthcare product is either included in the service offer information record or within a product offer database that is maintained within the data storage system by the application server.