Invention Grant
- Patent Title: System and method for payment structures in the purchase and distribution of consumables, including heating oil or propane
- Patent Title (中): 消耗品购买和分配中的支付结构的系统和方法,包括取暖油或丙烷
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Application No.: US13560610Application Date: 2012-07-27
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Publication No.: US08972294B2Publication Date: 2015-03-03
- Inventor: Philip J. Baratz
- Applicant: Philip J. Baratz
- Applicant Address: US FL Fort Lauderdale
- Assignee: Philip J. Baratz
- Current Assignee: Philip J. Baratz
- Current Assignee Address: US FL Fort Lauderdale
- Agency: Sprinkle IP Law Group
- Main IPC: G07B17/00
- IPC: G07B17/00 ; G06F19/00 ; G06Q10/00

Abstract:
A new ecosystem may comprise a central system operable to monitor the consumption of a commodity at the premises of a consumer, interface with suppliers and retailers of the commodity and perhaps tank monitors, process data collected therefrom, and implement a payment structure that can alleviate the burden of consumers having to pay for an entire delivery of the commodity—the consumer is only responsible for paying for the amount actually consumed during a time period at a prevailing price during that time. The payment structure can also significantly reduce a retailer's working capital required to float the purchase of the commodity before it is paid by its consumers. The central system may provide a web based user interface through which a consumer can lock in a price to pay for the commodity. Alternatively, the price may be fixed when the commodity was delivered to the consumer's tank.
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