Abstract: A system and method that enables a LBS provider to provide a location-based marketplace for third-party businesses to market or advertise location- and/or need-based offers to users while keeping the users' information confidential from both the LBS provider and the third party businesses is provided. While the LBS provider is able to identify a user, it cannot learn his/her needs. The third party businesses can learn the user needs, but not the identity of the users with the need. A business can compare its target location for a marketing/advertising campaign to the user's location, such that it can learn when a user is currently at a target location. However, the business will fail to learn the identity of a user in the target location, or any information about the user's current location when outside of the target location.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining the privacy of consumers wishing to make a purchase while enabling them to benefit from a group discount is provided. Consumers register with a service provider that maintains their personal information in private. When a consumer is interested in purchasing a product or patronizing a traditional “brick and mortar” establishment, the consumer provides information to the service provider regarding such interest. The service provider can query other registered consumers to determine if there are others that have a similar interest. Using the leverage of all the consumers that respond to the query, the service provider can negotiate with one or more merchants to provide some type of group offer, without having to disclose the consumers' personal information. Upon successful negotiation of a group offer, the consumers will be provided with the offer.

Abstract: A business reply mail payment system and method is provided. A business reply mail payment system establishes a master account with the postal system for the payment of business reply mail. A plurality of mailers each establish a separate account with the payment system and transfer control of payment for business reply mail accepted under their respective permit imprints to the payment system. When the mailer will be receiving business reply mail, a request for payment of postage is made to the payment system, which processes the information related to the business reply mail. The post office acceptance site communicates with the payment system as the business reply mail is received and compares the received business reply mail with the information processed by the payment system to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. If the business reply mail is accepted, the master account is debited for payment.

Abstract: A business reply mail payment system and method is provided. A business reply mail payment system establishes a master account with the postal system for the payment of business reply mail. A plurality of mailers each establish a separate account with the payment system and transfer control of payment for business reply mail accepted under their respective permit imprints to the payment system. When the mailer will be receiving business reply mail, a request for payment of postage is made to the payment system, which processes the information related to the business reply mail. The post office acceptance site communicates with the payment system as the business reply mail is received and compares the received business reply mail with the information processed by the payment system to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. If the business reply mail is accepted, the master account is debited for payment.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining an item includes retrieving consolidated data concerning an item from a provider infrastructure, the consolidated data including data elements from a source of the item and data elements concerning a mobile user of the provider infrastructure. Verifiable authorization is retrieved from the provider infrastructure for the mobile user of the provider infrastructure to obtain the item from the source of said item consistent with the consolidated data. The consolidated data may have various data elements specific to the source of the items such as price offers, rebates, incentives and discounts and location of the item and various data elements specific to the mobile user such as gift certificates, loyalty programs, buyers' group participation and location of the mobile user in relation to the specific source.

Abstract: A payment system and method is provided. A buyer establishes an account with the payment system. The buyer makes a request for payment for a transaction to the payment service. The request includes information related to the transaction. The payment system processes the information related to the transaction and issues a payment approval identification number. At the point of sale, access to the payment system is gained utilizing an access device not associated with the buyer, and information related to transaction and the identification number are provided to the payment system. The payment system will verify the information provided at the point of sale related to the transaction with the information provided by the buyer when payment was authorized. If the identification number is verified by the payment system, funds for the transaction will be passed from the buyer's account directly to the merchant's account.