U.S. patent application number 13/094622 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for promotional processing system.
Invention is credited to James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade.
Application Number | 20120130788 13/094622 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46065199 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120130788 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Winslade; Christopher C. ;
et al. |
May 24, 2012 |
Promotional processing system
Abstract
A system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption provides customers making online purchases the advantage
of automatically retrieving and redeeming all applicable rebates
and coupons during an online purchase. Purchase orders from
customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the
customers either by the system for online sales with automatic
rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer
environments. In one embodiment, the system makes purchases from
merchants or manufacturers using all applicable coupons and rebates
and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings
to them. In another embodiment, the system makes it possible to
automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping
cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic
mall or an online merchant site. It also makes it possible to
retrieve manufacturer's and merchant's coupons prior to an online
purchasing activity for subsequent submission to an online merchant
during a subsequent purchasing activity. In addition, the system
provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on
customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and
merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing
sales and volume of customer activity.
Inventors: |
Winslade; Christopher C.;
(Chicago, IL) ; Bennett; James D.; (Austin,
TX) |
Family ID: |
46065199 |
Appl. No.: |
13/094622 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09687499 |
Oct 13, 2000 |
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13094622 |
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09547162 |
Apr 11, 2000 |
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09687499 |
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60130084 |
Apr 19, 1999 |
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60130082 |
Apr 19, 1999 |
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60130083 |
Apr 19, 1999 |
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60131008 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
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60144584 |
Jul 19, 1999 |
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60146208 |
Jul 28, 1999 |
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60147062 |
Aug 4, 1999 |
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60159388 |
Oct 14, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.23 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A method of processing a promotion, the method comprising:
receiving, by a system of a promotion entity, information from or
about a merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant; electronically
identifying, by the system of the promotion entity, a plurality of
potential buyers of the good or service, based on profile
information of the plurality of potential buyers obtained by the
system of the promotion entity during an electronic registration
process for each of the plurality of potential buyers;
electronically communicating, by the system of promotion entity, an
offer to the plurality of potential buyers of the promotion
relating to the good or service being offered for sale by the
merchant; receiving, by the system of the promotion entity,
electronic payments from at least a portion of the plurality of
potential buyers, in connection with the good or service being
offered for sale by the merchant; electronically communicating, by
the system of the promotion entity, to the at least a portion of
the plurality of potential buyers, coupons to be used by the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers in connection
with obtaining the good or service being offered for sale by the
merchant; and paying, by the promotion entity, to the merchant an
amount less than the electronic payment amounts received by the
system of the promotion entity from the at least a portion of the
plurality of potential buyers.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information received from
or about a merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises an
identification of the type or a description of the good or the
service.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the information received from
or about a merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises an amount
to charge the plurality of potential buyers.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the information received from
or about a merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises a
quantity of coupons desired to be distributed.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically identifying,
by the system of the promotion entity, of the plurality of
potential buyers of the good or service is also based on the
information received by the system of the promotion entity from or
about the merchant.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises information related to the
geographical location of the plurality of potential buyers.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises email information.
28. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically identifying,
by the system of the promotion entity, of the plurality of
potential buyers of the good or service is also based on
information about the merchant.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information about the
merchant comprises information related to a geographical region for
the promotion.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises information related to the
geographical location of the plurality of potential buyers.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises email information.
32. The method of claim 31, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity, a website that enables the plurality of
potential buyers to review and select the promotion.
33. The method of claim 32, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of the electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the website enables the
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
38. The method of claim 21, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity, a website that enables the plurality of
potential buyers to review and select the promotion.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the website enables the
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons.
40. The method of claim 38, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
41. The method of claim 38, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
42. The method of claim 38, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
43. The method of claim 38, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of the electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using credit card information.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using account transfer information.
46. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, an offer to
the plurality of potential buyers of the promotion relating to the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises
communicating via email.
47. The method of claim 46, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity, a website that enables the plurality of
potential buyers to review and select the promotion.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the website enables the
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons.
49. The method of claim 47, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
50. The method of claim 47, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
51. The method of claim 47, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
52. The method of claim 47, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of the electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using credit card information.
54. The method of claim 52, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using account transfer information.
55. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, an offer to
the plurality of potential buyers of the promotion relating to the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises
communicating via a website.
56. The method of claim 55, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
57. The method of claim 55, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
58. The method of claim 55, wherein the website enables the
plurality of potential buyers to review and select the
promotion.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
61. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using credit card information.
62. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the
electronic payments occur using account transfer information.
63. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises emailing the coupons.
64. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the coupons comprises a
bar code.
65. The method of claim 21, comprising generating, by the system of
the promotion entity, authentication information related to the
electronically communicated coupons.
66. The method of claim 65, comprising communicating, by the
promotion entity, the authentication information related to the
electronically communicated coupons, to the merchant.
67. The method of claim 21, comprising determining, by the system
of the promotion entity, buying habits or patterns of the plurality
of potential buyers.
68. The method of claim 21, comprising generating, by the system of
the promotion entity, a list of the at least a portion of the
plurality of potential buyers to enable coupon authentication.
69. The method of claim 21, wherein each electronic registration
process comprises receiving, by the system of the promotion entity,
information related to the geographical location of and email
information of a potential buyer.
70. A method of processing a promotion, the method comprising:
receiving, by a system of the promotion entity, information from or
about a merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant, the information
including the geographical region for the promotion; electronically
identifying, by the system of the promotion entity, a plurality of
potential buyers of the good or service, based on profile
information of the plurality of potential buyers obtained by the
system of the promotion entity from each of the plurality of
potential buyers; electronically communicating, by the system of
the promotion entity, an offer to the plurality of potential buyers
of the promotion relating to the good or service being offered for
sale by the merchant; receiving, by the system of the promotion
entity, electronic payments from at least a portion of the
plurality of potential buyers, in connection with the good or
service being offered for sale by the merchant; electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, coupons to be
used by the at least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers
in connection with obtaining the good or service being offered for
sale by the merchant; and paying, by the promotion entity, to the
merchant an amount less than the electronic payment amounts
received by the system of the promotion entity from the at least a
portion of the plurality of potential buyers.
71. The method of claim 70, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises information related to the
geographical location of the plurality of potential buyers.
72. The method of claim 70, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises email information.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, an offer to
the plurality of potential buyers of the promotion relating to the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises
communicating via email.
74. The method of claim 73, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity, a website that enables the plurality of
potential buyers to review and select the promotion.
75. The method of claim 74, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
76. The method of claim 74, wherein the website enables the
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons.
77. The method of claim 76, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
78. The method of claim 76, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
79. The method of claim 76, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of the electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
81. The method of claim 79, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
82. The method of clam 70, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, an offer to
the plurality of potential buyers of the promotion relating to the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, comprises
communicating via a website.
83. The method of claim 82, comprising providing, by the system of
the promotion entity via the website, one or more images of the
good or service being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to
one or more images of the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant.
84. The method of claim 82, wherein the website enables the
plurality of potential buyers to review and select the
promotion.
85. The method of claim 84, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
86. The method of claim 84, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
87. The method of claim 84, wherein the website enables the
receiving, by the system of the promotion entity, of electronic
payments from the at least a portion of the plurality of potential
buyers.
88. The method of claim 87, wherein the website enables the
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, of the
coupons.
89. A method of processing a promotion, the method comprising:
receiving, by a system of the promotion entity, information from a
merchant regarding a promotion relating to a good or service being
offered for sale by the merchant, the information including the
geographical location of the promotion; electronically identifying,
by the system of the promotion entity, a plurality of potential
buyers of the good or service, based on profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers obtained by the system of the
promotion entity from each of the plurality of potential buyers;
electronically communicating, by the system of the promotion entity
via email, an offer to the plurality of potential buyers of the
promotion relating to the good or service being offered for sale by
the merchant; providing, by the system of the promotion entity, a
website that includes one or more images of the good or service
being offered for sale by the merchant, a link to one or more
images of the good or service being offered for sale by the
merchant, and/or a link to content of the merchant, wherein the
website enables the plurality of potential buyers to review and
select the promotion; receiving, by the system of the promotion
entity via the website, electronic payments from at least a portion
of the plurality of potential buyers, in connection with the good
or service being offered for sale by the merchant; electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers, coupons to be
used by the at least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers
in connection with obtaining the good or service being offered for
sale by the merchant; and paying, by the promotion entity, to the
merchant an amount less than the electronic payment amounts
received by the system of the promotion entity from the at least a
portion of the plurality of potential buyers.
90. The method of claim 89, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises information related to the
geographical location of the plurality of potential buyers.
91. The method of claim 89, wherein the profile information of the
plurality of potential buyers comprises email information.
92. The method of claim 89, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling download of the coupons via the
website.
93. The method of claim 89, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises enabling printing of the coupons via the
website.
94. The method of claim 89, wherein the electronically
communicating, by the system of the promotion entity, to the at
least a portion of the plurality of potential buyers of the
coupons, comprises emailing the coupons.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/547,162 filed Apr. 11, 2000, which is based
on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
60/130,084 (filed Apr. 19, 1999), 60/130,082 (filed Apr. 19, 1999),
60/130,083 (filed Apr. 19, 1999), 60/131,008 (filed Apr. 23, 1999),
60/144,584 (filed Jul. 19, 1999), 60/146,208 (filed Jul. 28, 1999),
60/147,062 (filed Aug. 4, 1999), and 60/159,388 (filed Oct. 14,
1999). The above-identified applications are all hereby
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and constitute
part of the present application.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates generally to online sales and
marketing, and, more specifically, to the dispensing of rebates and
coupons to customers on the Internet and to the redemption of the
rebates and coupons for customers by a system for online sales
during online purchase on the Internet.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Coupons have been traditionally dispensed by manufacturers
and retailers to customers by means of inserts in newspapers. Some
manufacturers also mail coupons to customers. Rebates have
traditionally been offered by manufacturers to push the volume of
sales of specific products. Such products are typically those for
which the manufacturers have excess inventories or those that are
being phased out.
[0006] Of late Internet based sales have increased in volume. Some
manufacturers have made it possible for a potential customer to
obtain rebate forms or coupons from their web site. These rebate or
coupons can be downloaded and printed by customers to be redeemed
in traditional neighborhood stores.
[0007] In general, there are several problems associated with
dispensing and redeeming coupons in online sales and marketing
activities. These include the frequent inability of a customer to
use a coupon placed by an advertiser or merchant in a newspaper or
brochure during the activity of online product purchase due to the
remoteness of the merchant or vendor. That is because traditional
coupon delivery and redeeming methods do not integrate well with
Internet based sales where a customer visits a vendor or merchant's
web site rather than a store for purchases. The customer and the
vendor are also typically located in different cities and it is not
possible to redeem traditional coupons in such a scenario.
[0008] These problems are also true for manufacturer's rebates.
Such rebates are typically dispensed in traditional neighborhood
stores and are to be mailed back to manufacturers with receipts for
the related purchases. Customer's seldom redeem them as redemption
requires making a photocopy of their receipts and mailing the
receipts along with the rebates to the manufacturer and waiting a
few weeks for a check from the manufacturer.
[0009] Sellers often provide coupons and rebates as an incentive to
promote sales of specific products. A manufacturer attempts to
identify the amount and quantity of each rebate or coupon and the
time period during which such offer will be valid. Such rebates and
coupons are typically delivered in a paper form to distributors and
retailers. Distributors receiving such rebates and coupons further
forward the rebates and coupons to their associated retailers.
[0010] To use the rebates and coupons online, the retailer often
has to modify the product database, web server content, and,
possibly, its sales application. This burden along with the burden
of having to collect from the manufacturer dissuades the retailer
from participating in the rebate and coupon process. Without
knowing whether or to what extent the retailers will participate, a
manufacturer may under or overestimate the number or amount of
rebates or coupon offerings.
[0011] An overestimation may, for example, cause a manufacturer to
over sell a product beyond an inventory. Similarly, an
underestimation may fail to move an inventory before the value of
such inventory plummets. Complicating this problem, a manufacturer
by law must honor any coupon or rebate once distributed at least
for a period of time identified on the rebate or coupon.
[0012] In addition to the difficulties associated with integrating
rebates and coupons into their online sales systems, retailers have
monetary disincentives to do so. In particular, a retailer
typically purchases goods expecting a certain profit margin upon
selling such goods. To apply a manufacturer's coupon or rebate at
the time of the sale requires the retailer to seek at least a part,
if not all of their profit from the manufacturer 30-90 days after
making the sale.
[0013] Some online retailers offer their own "coupons and rebates",
hoping to capture the attention of price conscience buyers. Such
online retailers who post their own coupons or rebates are
typically suspect in creating a facade pricing scheme.
[0014] Because retailers have little incentive to provide support
for manufacturer's coupons and rebates on-line, buyers are left
with coupon rebate options. In some cases, buyers may still use
such coupons and rebates but must do so via post (snail mail) and
subsequently receive the redemption value via return post.
[0015] After receiving a product, if a buyer is interested in
redeeming a coupon or rebate and/or registering the product, for
technical support or update reasons, the buyer must typically fill
out a form, which they mail via post to the manufacturer. Upon
receipt, the manufacturer will have to read the handwriting of the
buyer to add the buyer's information from the form to their
database. If the good purchased is software, only registration
information may be gathered during installation. The buyer is still
forced to interact with the manufacturer via post for coupons or
rebates. The entire process fails if the buyer misplaces the
receipt or the coupon or rebate or fails to file the same within a
required timeframe. Upon receipt of such information the
manufacturer must determine whether or not to honor a coupon or
rebate. To do so, they must determine whether the coupon or rebate
applies to a specific good that has been sold to the specific
buyer. Because this process is difficult, it is not only time
consuming but is also subject to fraud. Such fraud may involve a
purported buyer operating independently, a buyer and retailer
operating together, or a retailer operating independently.
[0016] To combat fraud, manufacturers apply complicated approaches
to attempt to link the coupon or rebate to the specific good, often
confusing and disappointing buyers and retailers. For example, a
fifteen digit model number may appear to correspond to a coupon
being offered and causing a sale even though one digit may be off
and only identified after a manufacturer's rejection has been
received. If this happens to a retailer, the retailer may lose
money on the sale of the item. If it happens to the buyer, the
buyer may be angry with the retailer and/or the manufacturer and
avoid their businesses in the future.
[0017] With large distributed channels, manufacturers typically do
not know the identity of their retailers. This further complicates
the rollout of coupon or rebate offering.
[0018] Many other problems and disadvantages associated with prior
systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art upon review
of such prior systems and in light of the teachings herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Various aspects of the present invention can be found in an
online promotion system supporting buyers, sellers and promoters.
Generally, a first party, such as a seller, offers one or more item
online for sale, each item having a sales price amount. A promotion
of a second party is associated with at least one of the sales
items. A purchase request from a buyer for the item being offered
online is received. In response, a buyer is required to pay a
purchase amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the
promotion amount for the item. The second party electronically pays
to the first party an amount corresponding to the promotion amount.
Then, the first party fulfills the purchase request after receiving
an amount corresponding to the purchase amount and the payment
amount. Such promotions may involve, for example, coupon or rebate
functionality or both.
[0020] In other embodiments, in addition to (or instead of)
promotions involving a decrease in a sales price as experienced by
a buyer, a promotional system in accordance with the present
invention processes promotions offering alternate value, such as an
offering of additional or different goods or services for free or
at a discount rate in exchange for one or more purchases of an
item. For example, a first party ("promoter") may offer one or more
items online for sale. A promotion of a second party is associated
with at least one of the sales items. A purchase request from a
buyer for the item being offered online may be received. In
response, the buyer is required to pay a purchase amount
corresponding to the sales price amount for the item. Thereafter,
the first party receives an indication that the payment occurred.
In response, the first party delivers the promotion value to the
buyer.
[0021] Many other aspects and variations of the promotion system of
the present invention can be appreciated by one of skill in the art
through review of the detailed description, corresponding drawings,
and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS
[0022] The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention
may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference
to the accompanying figures in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of an online buyer using a
computer, interacting with a system for online sales with automatic
rebate and coupon redemption, via the Internet, to obtain savings
from the automatic redemption of rebates and coupons that can apply
towards his online purchases;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the various inputs and outputs
of the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows the various elements contained in a rebate or a
coupon in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing exemplary components of
the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of an online sales
environment having a promotional server that interacts with online
seller or non-seller, buyer, and issuer systems for offering
promotional services;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating rebate processing
functionality of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating coupon processing
functionality of another embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the application of
various aspects of the present invention to any promotional
processing functionality including that of rebate and coupon
processing;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the application of
various aspects of the present invention to any promotional
processing wherein the promotion may involve more than a discount
off a purchase price;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the exemplary
operation of a retail product or service sales server with a client
and with a plurality of manufacturer servers to support a promotion
such as a rebate or coupon; and
[0033] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of exemplary system
level interaction that illustrates the functionality described in
relation to FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of an online buyer using a
computer 5, interacting with an online rebate and coupon dispensing
and redeeming system 15, via the Internet 10, to obtain savings
from the automatic redemption of rebates and coupons that can apply
towards his online purchases. The system 15 is typically associated
with a web server 20 that provides Internet-based web hosting
services. In addition, the system 15 is linked via appropriate
connections 45 to information systems at one or more manufacturer
or merchant environments 25. Such information systems include
appropriate Internet web hosting services.
[0035] The system 15 performs many functions. Among other
functions, in many embodiments, the system 15: (1) verifies that a
manufacturer's rebate or coupon applies to an independent
retailer's offering; (2) instantly applies such rebates or coupons;
(3) places control in the manufacturer for designing and defining
the number, amount and, if desired, applicable timeframe of coupons
or rebates in real time; (4) places control in the manufacturer for
changing, replacing or canceling of coupons or rebates; and (5)
supports advertising of rebates and coupons on many web servers by
providing corresponding coupon and rebate processing. Thus, the
system 15 automates the traditional human intensive coupon and
rebate processing.
[0036] The system 15 supports automatic and manual adjustments of
promotional offerings, i.e., coupons, rebates, etc. Automatic
adjustments may be triggered by a variety of parameters such as the
amounts of coupons and rebates distributed, the amount of coupons
and rebates redeemed, current product inventory levels of the
manufacturer or the distributor or retailer, the shelf life of
products in inventory, etc. Adjustments may include increasing or
decreasing the promotional value, i.e., the amount of the coupon or
rebate, the quantity of coupons or rebates to be distributed, the
term of the coupon or rebate, the goods to which the coupon or
rebate may apply, or any other coupon or rebate parameter. The
automatic adjustment parameters may be set up by the manufacturer,
retailer, distributor, or system administrator via a web browser
interface. Such interface may also be used to: modify such
automatic adjustment parameters; change the coupon or rebate
parameters; or withdraw the coupon or rebate.
[0037] Customers are presented with a catalog of products to choose
from, by the web server 20 associated with the system for online
sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15, when they
visit the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15. If the customer selects one or more products from
the catalog or list of products available at the system for online
sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15, they are
provided with the option of purchasing the products with the
automatic retrieval and application of rebates and coupons. They
are also provided with the option of downloading them for
purchasing those products at a future time.
[0038] If the customer elects to purchase the selected products
from the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15, all applicable rebates and coupons are applied to
the customer's purchases by the system 15 in the determination of a
final purchase price for the customer. The customer can consummate
the purchase by using a credit card for payment. The system 15
processes customer's credit cards for sales processing.
[0039] Customer profiles, typically provided by customers during a
customer profile generation activity, are selectively used by the
system 15 to complete sales transactions and to ship products.
Customer profile includes shipping address, credit card related
information, etc. Once a customer profile is created, it is used to
expedite subsequent customer purchases. Customers who choose not to
have a profile created for them may be required to enter their
shipping address, credit card related information, etc. during each
purchasing activity.
[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, a customer using
the computer 5 and the Internet connection 30, accesses one or more
rebate and coupon dispensing web pages presented by a server
environment 20 associated with, and communicatively coupled with
the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15. In this embodiment, the customer would retrieve one
or more coupons and rebates for one or more products that the
customer plans to purchase, by browsing through several categories
of products presented by the system for online sales with automatic
rebate and coupon redemption 15. The rebates and coupons for
products are also located by searching for them via a searching
interface. The customer then activates a purchase button to
purchase the products. The system 15 completes a purchase order for
the customer incorporating all the products selected by the
customer and applying all applicable rebates and coupons. It also
performs order fulfillment operations aimed at assigning products
from its inventory to the customer.
[0041] In one embodiment, the inventory of some of the products
purchasable from the system 15 is selectively maintained by the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25. For such products, to perform
order fulfillment activities, the system 15 interacts with the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25, over the connection 45, in
one of two approaches. In the first approach, the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 receives purchase orders to
some products currently available in their inventory from the
system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption
15, along with rebate and coupon information, in order to perform
order fulfillment for the customer. The customer profile, or a
subset thereof, is visible to the manufacturer/merchant environment
25 which then ships the products to the customer. In effect, the
customer pays the manufacturer/merchant environment 25 directly for
the products purchased from it.
[0042] In the second approach, the system 15 purchases the products
using all associated coupons and rebates from the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 on behalf of the customer and
has the purchased products shipped directly to the customer. In
this scenario, the system 15 acts as a purchaser and pays for the
products purchased from the manufacturer/merchant environment 25.
It then bills the customer for the actual purchase price that
incorporates relevant rebates and coupons. Thus, the customer
benefits from the instantaneous redemption of coupons and rebates
facilitated by the coupon dispensing and redemption system 15.
[0043] In one embodiment, the system 15 serves as a front end to
the e-commerce sites of manufacturers and merchants wherein
customers purchase products from the system 15 and reimburse it,
say via credit cards, for the products purchased online. The system
15 in turn acquires the products purchased by the customer from
designated suppliers such as manufacturers, distributors or retail
merchants. A supplier is selected based on the product category,
the inventories of products at the various suppliers, the business
arrangements made with various suppliers and other criteria. In
effect, the supplier sells the products to the system 15 which
ensures the redemption of all available coupons and rebates for the
purchases. The system 15 sells those products back to the customer
passing most of the savings from rebates and coupons to the
customer. The system 15 selectively charges the suppliers a
transaction fee for generating their business. The customer is also
selectively made to pay a service charge to the system 15 for its
seamless and automatic rebate and coupon redemption.
[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the customer
retrieves rebates and coupons from the system 15 and then saves
these rebates and coupons, preferably in his browser software or on
the hard disk of his computer 5. Such rebates and coupons are
preferably saved in electronic form, for subsequent submission to
the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15, or to the manufacturer/merchant environment 25,
during a purchasing activity. When presented with such coupons
during any purchasing activity, the manufacturer/merchant
environment 25 presents them, over the connection 45, to the system
15 for selective coupon and rebate authentication and selective
redemption.
[0045] In another exemplary scenario, the online customer using the
personal computer 5 accesses the Internet via a connection 30
employing a modem on his computer and a browser software on his
computer. He then, using his browser software, navigates to a
manufacturer/merchant environment 25, such as an electronic mall,
to purchase one or more items of his choice. A connection 50
established over the Internet between the computer 5 and the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 allows user selection of
purchasable items, optionally via a catalog of items presented to
the customer by the manufacturer/merchant environment 25. After
selecting the desired items into a shopping cart, the customer
invokes a rebate and coupon button on a screen presented by the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 that results in the submission
of the shopping cart to the system 15 via a connection 45. In
response, the system 15 selectively returns all applicable coupons
to each of the items in the customers shopping cart. This includes
manufacturer's coupons, retailer's coupons etc. In addition, if any
items in the shopping cart are not specific enough to unambiguously
identify a manufacturer, the system 15 returns coupons for multiple
manufacturers of similar products for the customer to choose from.
The returned rebates and coupons are automatically applied by the
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 in the determination and
display of a final price for the customer.
[0046] To submit online information on coupons to the system 15 so
that they can be dispensed to customers, one or more
manufacturer/merchant environments 25 employ a connection 55, which
is some cases, such as the Internet, may be the same as the link 45
used by the manufacturer/merchant environment 25 to extract coupons
on behalf of a customer from the system for online sales automatic
rebate and coupon redemption 15.
[0047] The system 15 selectively provides manufacturers and
merchants information on the customer's region, the volume of
sales, the material velocity of the products, etc. thus giving
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 the ability to change coupons
based on their sales goals and other criteria.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the various inputs and outputs
of the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15. The system 15 receives Request for Rebates and
Coupons From Online Customers 105 and, in response, returns Rebates
and Coupons To Online Customers 110. In addition, it receives a
List of Purchases or Shopping Cart 115 from online merchants or
online malls and, in response, it returns Rebates and Coupons 120.
It also receives Scheduled and Unscheduled Update of Rebates and
Coupons 125 from manufacturers and retailers. To automatically
provide rebates and coupons to customers periodically, the system
15 performs Targeted Online Delivery 130, typically via email.
[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system 15
receives a List of Purchases or Shopping Cart 115 from customers.
In response, it prices the shopping cart and automatically applies
all relevant rebates and coupons to the various products in the
shopping cart. It then performs order fulfillment activities to
ship the products to the customer.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows the various elements contained in a rebate or a
coupon in accordance with the present invention. The coupon 300
dispensed by the system 15 are each a structured collection of
information including an identification 305, information on the
value of the coupon 320, an expiry date 325, images or links to one
or more images 330 for display purposes, links to a product
manufacturer 310, and links to product information 315. Other
information such as a product code 335, a geographic region code
340, etc. may also be selectively included. Some of the information
presented in a coupon may selectively be encrypted for subsequent
decryption and/or display either by the software at a customer's
computer 5 or at a manufacturer/merchant environment 25. In this
embodiment, the coupon is presented as an HTML document with
appropriate links to some of its elements as described above. The
coupon may be stored in other document types also, as appropriate.
Rebates are also structured similarly to coupons, and they
typically contain all the elements described here for coupons.
[0051] In general, coupons and rebates dispensed by the system 15
may be selectively saved by customers for subsequent redemption.
Saved coupons and rebates have an associated expiry date. The
manufacturer/merchant environment 25 may choose not to honor
coupons that have expired. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the manufacturer/merchant environment 25 interacts with
the system 15 to determine if an expired rebate or coupon should
automatically be replaced by a newer one.
[0052] In another embodiment, the coupons and rebates being
dispensed are generated in Extensible Manipulation Language (XML)
format. The customer's computer may or may not be able to process
such XML documents. If, for example, the customer's browser cannot
process the coupon information, then it does not display such
information properly and gives the customer the option to save the
coupon in the computer's 5 hard disk. Such XML coupons may not be
processed by the manufacturer/merchant environment 25 either if the
information systems at their web site are not capable of processing
XML based coupons. In such situations, the XML based coupons and
other coupons that cannot be processed are returned to the system
15 by the manufacturer/merchant environment 25 for processing and
for redemption.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing exemplary components of
the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon
redemption 15. The system 15 includes a browsable catalog 480
through which customers can select one or more products for
purchasing, a search engine 485 for searching for specific products
based on one or more criteria, an Authentication Manager 405 for
verifying the authenticity of coupons and rebates presented to it
for redemption, and a Dispenser 410 which dispenses coupons and
rebates generated by a Generator 420. It also includes a Customer
Profile Manager 415 which is used to gather profile information of
customers and an optional Tracking Manager 425 that is used to
track user buying patterns over a long term. An optional Statistics
Reporting Unit 435 provides various statistical information to
manufacturers and online merchants periodically or on-demand.
[0054] When customers decide to purchase products from the system
for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15, a
pricing manager 470 provides pricing functionality that
incorporates calculation of prices based on several factors
including available rebates and coupons. The pricing manager 470
also includes a credit card processing unit that processes credit
card based customer sales, and a sales support unit that provides
quote generation features. An order fulfillment manager 475
provides information on available inventory of products. If a
product purchased by a customer is not in stock or not stored
locally at the system for online sales with automatic rebate and
coupon redemption 15, the order fulfillment manager 475 makes it
possible to purchase that product from the manufacturer,
distributors or merchants. Such purchases are done in one of two
ways--seamlessly where the customer does not realize that the
product is being acquired from a manufacturer or merchant 460, or
explicitly where the customer is aware of the participation of a
manufacturer or merchant in the fulfillment of his purchase
order.
[0055] Online Customers 450 access the system 15 over the
connection 455. They can browse through the online browsable
catalog of products and services 480 or search for a specific
product or service based on criteria such as product category,
geographical region, brand names, etc. Manufacturers and Online
Merchants 460 access the system 15 over the connection 465.
[0056] In one embodiment of the present invention, when providing
access to customers who want to download coupons and rebates, the
system 15 contains a browsable indexed selection software making it
easy for the customer to locate or search the required coupon or
rebate. It also provides vectors to advertising placed by
manufacturers or online merchants located either at the web server
20 or at an external web server. In addition, it can provide
vectors to sales points such as online merchants or electronic
malls where the associated products may be available for sale if it
is not currently available for sale at the system for online sales
with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15. Moreover, the
dispensed coupons and rebates can be automatically incorporated
into the pricing logic of a merchant or manufacturer's electronic
commerce system to which the system 15 provides links for customer
access.
[0057] In a similar embodiment of the present invention, coupon
verification is performed by the electronic commerce software of
the manufacturer or online merchant to which a customer migrates to
from the browsable indexed coupon selection software, along with a
coupon and/or rebate for one or more products. This implies that a
customer can consummate a purchase of a product at a merchant or
manufacturer's e-commerce site following the selection of a coupon
or rebate from the system 15 and subsequent vectoring with a coupon
and/or rebate to the e-commerce site.
[0058] The system 15 provides a circular path for identifying the
users of dispensed coupons and rebates when coupons previously
downloaded by customers are returned by online merchants or
manufacturers for redemption. Thus, buying habits and patterns of
coupon access of individual customers can be determined. Such
information may be used in the generation of appropriate coupons
for individual customers as well as for creating marketing plans by
online merchants and manufacturers.
[0059] Downloaded coupons may be printed as bar-coded coupons by
customers for subsequent redemption at traditional neighborhood
merchant shops. The printing is facilitated by a print engine that
is either available at the customer's computer or can be easily
downloaded to the customer's computer. The same is true for coupons
and rebates emailed to customers by the system 15 as part of a
"targeted coupons dispensing activity" in which individual
customers are targeted to receive appropriate coupons based upon
their shopping behavior, as determined by system for online sales
with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15. Automatic targeting
of customers by the system 15 is based on customer's buying habits,
current marketing promotions, etc., via for e.g., electronic mail
(email). Customers have the ability to redeem them without having
to print it, as is typically done for purchases from online
merchants.
[0060] In one embodiment, the system 15 provides credit to
customers for coupons redeemed by the customers. It subsequently
dispenses further coupons to those customers based on their credits
earned. Such coupons may be used by the customers either for
further online purchases or for purchases at a traditional store.
In addition, coupons are obtained at a traditional neighborhood
store redeemable during the customer's next online purchase. Such
coupons are redeemed by customers during online purchases where
they are provided with the opportunity to specify information about
the coupons.
[0061] Coupons typically have an associated expiry date. Vendors
assign expiry dates to not only the advertisements of products but
also for their associated coupons. While browsing the web server 20
for products and coupons, when customers are presented with an
advertisement, they are also presented with a coupon for it. A
displayed advertisement vectors seamlessly, via a link, to an
associated manufacturer's or merchant's online information website.
If a customer activates such a link to a online merchant's
e-commerce site, if necessary, in order to facilitate the expected
sale. Information carried by the coupon(s) may be employed by
pricing and quote generation components of a merchant's e-commerce
software.
[0062] In general, the system 15 integrates with sales force
automation (SFA) software employed by manufacturers and merchants.
It also integrates with e-commerce platforms that provide
multi-vendor sales. For the multi-vendor platforms where similar
products from multiple vendors are available for sale, the system
15 selectively dispenses "generic" coupons that will apply towards
a product from any of the participating vendors. Such generic
coupons may be provided to a customer along with a vendor-supplied
coupon, if any.
[0063] In one embodiment of the present invention, information
related to the geographical location of a customer is selectively
used by system 15 in determining the type and/or value of coupon to
dispense. For example, a manufacturer may desire to provide coupons
of different value and expiry dates for the same product in
different sales regions. The system 15 makes it possible to
customize the different attributes of a coupon such as its value,
expiry date etc. to specific geographical zones or to specific user
types. For example, a corporate customer may be provided a
different coupon from those provided to non-corporate
customers.
[0064] The system 15 optionally charges manufacturers and online
merchants for its services. These charges may be levied by one of
several different methods, some of them related to the number of
customers who download coupons, some related to the number of
customers who redeem those coupons, and others related to both
these attributes. For example, local small businesses may provide a
coupon and they are charged based on the number of coupon's
accessed or redeemed.
[0065] The system 15 captures the list of people who access it and
download coupons. The local small businesses that employ the
services of the system 15 pay a charge based on such a list. They
can also update their coupons automatically via an interface to the
coupon generation component of the system for online sales with
automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15.
[0066] To facilitate location of a coupon for a product by a
customer, in one embodiment, the system 15 provides a web interface
where coupons are categorized into different product categories and
a customer browses, using a web browser, through categories and
sub-categories of products to locate one or more coupons. The
system 15 also categorizes coupons by manufacturers and merchants.
If a customer purchases one or more products on the system for
online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15, the
rebates and coupons, if any, are automatically applied to the final
price for the customer.
[0067] Internet portals, such as Yahoo, and Internet web services,
such as Internet service providers (ISPs), can provide an automatic
connection to the system for online sales with automatic rebate and
coupon redemption 15, so as to provide their readers information on
available coupons on one or more products associated with the
currently displayed web page. Such coupon related links or
information is displayed in one of the frames displayed on the
customer's web browser. Alternatively, these portals can route web
browsers automatically to the system 15 to retrieve associated
coupons if necessary, say in a pop-up screen (or frame)
automatically created by the currently visible web-page provided by
the portal. Thus, readers of web content provided by web page hosts
and portals can retrieve coupons while they browse product
information.
[0068] To facilitate the creation of coupons by manufacturers and
online merchants, the system 15 provides canned images and coupon
frames based on category, that may be further customized by
manufacturers and online merchants to suit their needs.
[0069] Customers search for coupons by category and region. In
general, four types of coupons are supported, coupons from
retailer, coupons from distributors, coupons from manufacturer, and
coupons from managers of point of sale devices. Other types of
coupons can be easily incorporated.
[0070] The online nature of the coupon system provided by system 15
makes it possible for merchants and manufacturers to devise a
coupon based marketing and sales strategy where the expiry date,
and the volume of coupons in a marketing campaign are dynamically
adjusted to meet goals. For example, current sales volume might
determine changes to coupons value and for expiry date. It would be
possible to stop coupons associated with a marketing campaign if
sales targets are met. It would also be possible to yank out a
coupon based marketing campaign if necessary.
[0071] The success of a rebate and/or coupon based marketing and
sales campaign can be dynamically and frequently ascertained.
Automatic reports on coupon distribution and the redemption rates
of coupons are provided to the manufacturers and merchants by the
system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption
15.
[0072] Identity of potential customers who access coupons and those
who redeem them are maintained by the system for online sales with
automatic rebate and coupon redemption 15. Such customer related
information can later be used for mass mailing/distribution of
coupons. Manufacturers and merchants provide information on their
mass mailing needs and system 15 mails (or emails) coupons based on
those needs and on online customer information collected
automatically. Once coupons are mailed to potential customers, they
are tracked to see if they are ever redeemed. Tracking of mailed
coupons provides information related to the efficacy of sales and
marketing strategy employed.
[0073] If a new product is being released by a manufacturer, the
system 15 is used to setup, manage and monitor promotional
activities based on coupons and/or rebates. The time frame for such
promotional activities, the number of coupons and/or rebates to be
dispensed, the duration and time frame for the promotional
activities, etc., are set by the manufacturer using the promotional
server 505. The manufacturer may modify the parameters of the
coupons and/or rebates (such as coupon or rebate amount, the
quantity, the duration, the applicable products, etc.) based on a
preset threshold quantity of dispensed coupons or rebates, based on
monitored sales activities, etc.
[0074] The system 15 can be used to adaptably move inventory by
managing the amount and quantity of rebates and coupons. Therefore,
the system 15 incorporates inventory tracking, coupon and rebate
amount management, marketing activities, sales tracking and other
business functions so as to make it possible to not only create
promotional material but also to manage/modify the promotional
activities based on buyer response to such promotional
activities.
[0075] The system 15 makes it possible to integrate coupon delivery
with software registration and product surveys. Customers who buy
and install software are often reluctant to register them with the
vendor. This situation is true for other types of products too. In
order to provide an incentive for registration of products, the
manufacturers or vendors of such products can integrate the system
15 with the registration process so that customers might be enticed
with coupons for their next purchase.
[0076] The system 15 also provides support for the retrieval of
coupons for products to be purchased at neighborhood stores. Such
retrieved coupons are printed on laser printers and taken by the
customers to the stores for redemption during a purchase.
[0077] An advantage of incorporating a coupon authenticator
component in the system 15 is the ability to verify if a coupon has
already been redeemed. This makes it possible to enforce a
redemption rule of one coupon per customer. Copies of a redeemed
coupon are disallowed, if necessary. Customers can be informed when
a coupon is being reused. For example, they can be told to get
newer ones rather than use old ones.
[0078] In one embodiment, coupons or rebates that have expired are
automatically exchanged with newer ones. If necessary, a 24-hour
grace period may be permitted for redemption of coupons to account
for time zones too.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of an online sales
environment 503 comprising a promotional server 505 that
facilitates: management of promotional material by manufacturers,
retailers and distributors via an issuer's web client 509;
participation in online promotional sales by non-seller web servers
513, affiliated seller's web and application server 517 and
third-party seller's web and application server 521; integration of
credit card companies 529; and registration by buyers via buyer's
web client 511. The promotional server 505 is selectively used by
issuer's of promotional material such as coupons, rebates, etc.: to
create and manage promotional material (in real time or in non-real
time) that are applicable to online and offline sales; to provide
an online coupon and rebate redemption service that is integrated
with their own online sales systems or with online sales system
managed by any other third parties; and to collect/retrieve
information related to online sales and the efficacy of their
online promotions.
[0080] Online buyer's register with the promotional server 505, via
buyer's web client 511, in order to: automatically register
products purchased online with the manufacturers, for warranties
and other services, with the help of the promotional server 505;
receive refunds due to the buyer from the application of coupons
and/or rebates to online purchases consummated by buyer on
third-party seller's web and application server 521; and to receive
information on product information, sales, discounts, product
recall, etc. via email or by other mechanisms.
[0081] The promotional server 505 hosts promotional offer posting
from a plurality of issuers. The issuers may be manufacturers of
goods, providers of services, distributors of manufactured goods,
online retailers, etc. The promotional offer postings hosted by the
promotional server 505 are coupons, rebates, etc. Promotional offer
postings are governed by parameters such as the manufacturer, the
associated product, the monetary amount of the promotional offer,
the quantity of the promotional offer, the time frame, and any
other parameters that may govern promotions. The issuers have the
ability to manipulate these parameters using the issuer's web
client 509. They also have the ability to create promotional offer
postings 507, manage them and manipulate the associated parameters
via an issuer's direct application interface 527.
[0082] In one embodiment, the promotional offer posting 507
comprises a portal that lists a plurality of promotions such as
coupons, rebates, etc. The promotions are categorized based on
types of goods and services being sold through the various seller's
web servers. A search engine is also provided to assist in locating
specific promotions from the plurality. For example, the buyer
through the web client 511 might browse to find the available
coupons and rebates for a hand held computer under the general
category of computer systems. Alternatively, the buyer might enter
the terms "hand-held computer" to direct a search through all of
the plurality of promotions to find promotions matching such
terms.
[0083] This search engine may also be used to supplement other
search engines of sellers, portals, etc. For example, on a first
search engine, a buyer may enter search terms which are used to
search a corresponding database for information, goods or services
that are offered for sale. Such search terms are also used by the
promotional server 505 to search the plurality of promotions stored
therein. Alternatively, the plurality of promotions may also be
stored in/along with the first search engine for searching through
the first search engine.
[0084] Typically, promotional offer postings are visually presented
to all users that invoke an associated "promotional element" on a
web page provided by non-seller web servers 513, affiliated
seller's web and application server 517 and third-party seller's
web and application server 521. However, some promotional offer
postings are selectively provided based on criteria specified by
issuers. Such criteria may include the number of past purchases of
the same or similar products by individual buyers, the random
selection of recipients of specific promotional material by
non-seller web servers 513, affiliated seller's web and application
server 517 and third-party seller's web or application server 521,
etc.
[0085] Buyers have the option of registering with the promotional
server 505 over the Internet using the buyer's web client 511.
During such online registration process, the buyer provides
personal information and credit card information that are stored by
the promotional server 505. The buyer's personal information is
selectively used by the promotional server 505 to: register
products subsequently purchased by the buyer with the associated
manufacturer; inform the buyer about product recalls, etc;
selectively forward promotional material to the buyer via email;
selectively enhance the value of promotional offer postings to
specific buyers or to specific category of buyers; etc.
[0086] In general, the promotional server 505 employs several
different processes to participate in the consummation of online
sales, depending upon the nature of integration of the services
offered by the promotional server 505 with the services offered by
other online sales systems such as the non-seller web servers 513,
affiliated seller's web and application server 517 and third-party
seller's web and application server 521. The specific process
employed by the promotional server 505 also determines the approach
by which a buyer redeems the amount associated with a coupon or
rebate. For example, in one embodiment, if the buyer consummates an
online purchase at the affiliated seller's web and application
server 517, the promotional server 505: reimburses the affiliated
seller's web and application server 517 or its associated merchant
account, either immediately or in deferred mode, for the amount of
the coupon or rebate exercised by the buyer towards the buyer's
purchase; conducts transactions with the issuer(s) of the coupon(s)
or rebate(s), in real time or in deferred mode, to redeem the
amount of the associated coupons or rebates; selectively charges
the issuers (such as manufacturers providing rebates) for services
rendered (such as those rendered during the buyer's transactions);
selectively registers products with associated manufacturers for
tech support and warranty purposes; and selectively updates buyer's
profile, if necessary, with the purchase related information.
[0087] The affiliated seller's web and application server 517 is
more tightly integrated with the promotional server 505 than is the
third-party seller's web and application server 521. This makes it
possible for the promotional server 505 to interact in more than
one way with the affiliated seller's web and application server 517
in completing a buyer's online purchases. For example, in one
embodiment, the affiliated seller's web and application server 517
charges the buyer only for the actual purchase price taking into
account any and all rebates or coupons that may apply towards the
buyer's purchases, and in turn conducts a transaction with the
promotional server 505 to recover the amount of coupon or rebate
that is not charged to the customer. The promotional server later
interacts with one or more associated issuer to recover the cost of
the coupons or rebates redeemed by the buyer. Such interaction is
selectively conducted in online interactive mode with issuers or in
a batch or deferred mode.
[0088] In another embodiment, the affiliated seller's web and
application server 517 charges the buyer only for the actual
purchase price taking into account any and all rebates or coupons
that may apply towards the buyer's purchases and recover such
amounts associated with the applied coupons and rebates later from
the promotional server 505 by billing the promotional server for
those amounts. In a variant of this approach, the affiliated
seller's web and application server 517 informs the promotional
server 505 of all rebates and coupons redeemed by its online buyers
and the promotional server 505 deposits money, such as via
electronic fund transfers, to any bank account associated or
managed by the affiliated seller's web and application server
517.
[0089] In another embodiment, the affiliated seller's web and
application server 517 retrieves a registered user's profile from
the promotional server to present the buyer, using the buyer's web
client 539, with a set of coupons and rebates tailored to the
buyer's interest based on the buyer's profile.
[0090] The non-seller web server 513 typically carries promotional
offer posting 515 that typically provide a vector to associated web
pages hosted by the promotional server 505. By activating the
promotional offer posting 515 on web pages provided by the
non-seller web server 513, the buyer can migrate to online sales
related web pages provided by the promotional server 505 and
purchase associated products, while also availing of rebates and/or
coupons associated with the purchased product(s). In completing the
online sales transaction with the buyer, the promotional server
505: prompts the buyer for credit-card information and shipping
information if the buyer is not a registered buyer; retrieves
coupon or rebate amount for the product(s) selected by buyer;
applies all coupons and rebates retrieved for the purchased
products; selectively interacts with a credit card processing
service 531 or credit card company 529 in order to process buyer's
credit card information; selectively interacts with the issuer of
associated promotional offer posting to inform issuer of sales
related information; and selectively interacts with the issuer to
charge the issuer for services provided during the sale.
[0091] The third-party seller's web and application server 521,
although not as integrated with the services provided by the
promotional server 505 as the affiliated seller's web and
application server 517, interacts with the promotional server 505
to inform the promotional server details of the buyer's online
purchases, such as the identification and quantity of the products
purchased by the buyer along with buyer information such as the
buyer's address or bank account, while charging the buyer for the
full amount for the products purchased without immediately applying
the coupons and rebates, if any. The promotional server 505 later
sends a check to the buyer via post or transfers money to the
buyer's bank account or credit card account if such buyer
information is provided by the third-party seller's web and
application server 521.
[0092] In one embodiment, the interaction between the promotional
server 505 and the issuer's is in real time. Such interaction is
typically facilitated by integration software on the issuer's
system 525. The promotional server 505 conducts transactions with
the integration software on the issuer's system 525 to send
information on redeemed coupons and/or rebates to the issuer and to
achieve reimbursement for coupons and rebates honored by the
promotional server 505.
[0093] In another embodiment, the promotional server 505
communicates a list of coupons and rebates honored by buyers to one
or more issuer's and the issuer's, in turn, transfer reimbursements
associated with those redeemed coupons and rebates to the
promotional server 505. Such reimbursements may be conducted
employing money transfer into an established bank account or by
other means such as electronic fund transfer, checks, etc. The
communication between the promotional server 505 and the issuer's
systems, such as the integration software on the issuer's system
525 or the issuer's direct application interface 527, regarding
redeemed coupons and rebates may be conducted in interactive mode
in real time, in non-interactive mode in real time, in batch mode
in deferred mode, batch mode in real-time, etc.
[0094] In one embodiment, a buyer, using the buyer's web client
541, interacts with the third-party seller's web and application
server 521 to conduct online purchases. The third-party seller's
web and application server 521 charges the buyer the full amount on
the purchased products including the amount on the rebates and
coupons, if any rebate or coupon are associated with the purchased
products, but displays the amount of coupons and/or rebates that
will be reimbursed to them. Such charges are made to the credit
card account provided by the buyer to the third-party seller's web
and application server 521. The third-party seller's web and
application server 521 then interacts with the promotional server
505 to communicate details of the online purchases made by the
buyer and buyer information, including the buyer's credit card
account information. The promotional server 505 then reimburses the
buyer the total of all the coupons and/or rebates that apply to the
buyer's purchases by conducting a transaction with the credit card
processing service 531 or the credit card company/companies 529.
Such reimbursement transactions with the credit card processing
service 531 or the credit card company companies 529 are
selectively conducted in real-time or in deferred mode after
batching one or more buyer redemptions.
[0095] In one embodiment, the third-party seller's web and
application server 521 does not provide any indication of the
completion of a buyer's online purchase to the promotional server
505. Instead, the promotional server 505 determines the completion
of online purchase by the buyer from the third-party seller's web
and application server 521 and determines the buyer information
details and details of products purchased from sales completion
document made available to the buyer from the third-party seller's
web and application server 521. Such sales completion document may
be an online purchase order provided to the buyer, or an online
order tracking web page presented to the buyer. Other mechanisms
for determining purchase order completion may be employed by the
promotional server to determine the completion of online purchases
by the buyer.
[0096] In one embodiment, manufacturers selectively use the
promotional server as a mechanism for providing up-sell information
to buyers when buyers, using buyer's web client 537, 539, 541,
access promotional offer posting 515, 519, 523 located at
non-seller web servers 513, affiliated seller's web and application
server 517 and third-party seller's web and application server 521,
respectively.
[0097] In another embodiment of the present invention, when a
buyer, using one of buyer's web clients 537, 539, 541, accesses a
specific promotional offer posting such as a coupon or rebate
presented by the non-seller web servers 513, the affiliated
seller's web and application server 517 or the third-party seller's
web and application server 521, respectively, the buyer is
presented with a list of promotional material for other products
that the buyer is deemed to be interested in by the promotional
server 505. Such a list of promotional material may include:
promotional materials for other similar products by the same
manufacturer; promotional materials that belong to the same
category of products as the one the buyer initially evinced
interest in; promotional materials for only those products that the
associated manufacturer considers relevant to the buyer;
promotional material for all competing or associated products from
the same or different manufacturers; or promotional material
determined to be useful to the buyer by the individual web servers
513, 517, 521.
[0098] In one embodiment, the buyer, using the affiliated seller's
web and application server 517, the buyer can assemble a shopping
cart of products that is presented and maintained by the affiliated
seller's web and application server 517. The buyer can then request
the affiliated seller's web and application server 517 to extract
all applicable coupons and rebates to the shopping cart. The
affiliated seller's web and application server 517 interacts with
the promotional server 505 to extract all applicable coupons and
rebates for the buyer's shopping cart. It then applies the
extracted coupons and rebates to the shopping cart.
[0099] In another embodiment, the buyer, using the buyer's web
client 537, assembles a shopping cart with online products at a
different online sales web server than the affiliated seller's web
and application server 517 and then transfers the shopping cart to
the promotional server 505 to extract all applicable coupons and
rebates. The transfer of the shopping cart by the buyer to the
promotional server 505 is implemented in one of several ways: by
the transfer of an XML file to the promotional server 505 via an
HTTP connection to the promotional server 505; by uploading
shopping cart information stored in a file or in memory at the
client computer to the promotional server 505 via upload web pages
provided by the promotional server; by sending a shopping cart in
an email to the promotional server, the shopping cart represented
as an XML document or as some other structured document; or by
other common techniques to transfer a shopping cart to the
promotional server 505. A buyer may choose to retrieve applicable
coupons and rebates based on their current shopping cart contents
by interacting with the promotional server 505 via the affiliated
seller's web and application server 517 or via the third-party
seller's web and application server 521. In both cases, the
promotional server facilitates the automatic redemption of rebates
and coupons that can apply towards the buyer's online purchases. In
some embodiments, the buyer is unaware of the promotional server
505 and presumes the automatic redemption of rebates and coupons to
be provided by the web server that the buyer conducts his purchases
from.
[0100] In a multi-functional embodiment of FIG. 5, the promotional
server 505 supports multiple processing approaches for facilitating
promotion redemption. When a buyer attempts to purchase a good or
service on a third-party seller's web and application server 521,
the third-party seller's web and application server 521 receives
full payment for the good or service offered. If the buyer's
account supports charge-back, then the promotional server 505 will
charge-back the promotional amount to the buyer's account after the
buyer has completed the purchase for the entire sales price.
Otherwise, the promotional server 505 will pay the third-party
seller's web and application server 521 the full sales price itself
and charge the buyer's account for the sales price less the
promotional amount. In either case, the promotional server 505 will
charge the issuer's account for the promotional amount.
[0101] Service charges can be applied to the issuer, or the
issuer's account, buyer's account, and/or to the third-party
seller's web and application server 521. Such surcharge (service
charges) can be used to collect value for services rendered by the
promotional server 505. In addition, the issuer and/or the buyer
may pay more than the promotional amount and/or sales price less
the promotional amount, respectively, as an incentive to the buyer
and/or the seller.
[0102] In such interaction, the third-party seller's web and
application server 521 need not be aware of the issuer's promotion
amount. Even if aware, the third-party seller's web and application
server 521 need not account for the promotion amount of the issuer
in the offering price of the item. In either case, however, the
promotional server 505 identifies when the transaction for the
promoted item has been completed.
[0103] Similarly, a buyer interacts through the promotional server
505 and the affiliated seller's web and application server 517 to
purchase a good and exercise a promotion. This is accomplished by
making two account transactions with the affiliated seller's web
and application server 517. Specifically, the buyer's account is
used to pay the sales price less the promotion amount, while the
issuer's account is used to pay the promotion amount.
[0104] The promotional server 505 also supports full payment of the
sales price of an item by the issuer's account. When so charged,
the promotional server 505 will assist in the payment from the
buyer's account to the issuer for the purchase price less the
promotion amount. Of course, surcharges and incentives might also
be applied in such transactions.
[0105] The buyer's account may comprise an account such as a credit
card or bank account that is independent of the promotional server.
Alternatively, the buyer's account may be a credit or deposit
account managed directly by the promotional server. Similarly, the
issuer's account might be a credit or deposit account managed
directly by the promotional server. Promotional server may bill an
issuer and/or buyer's account on a monthly basis or charge the
issuer and/or buyer's account immediately.
[0106] The promotional server 505 can perform credit or account
processing directly through the processing service 531 or allow
such processing to be performed by the servers 517 and 521 via the
corresponding services 533 and 535.
[0107] In another embodiment the promotional server 505 constructs
a promotional offer posting 507 from a plurality of issuers of
promotions and corresponding sales information retrieved from a
seller or the seller's web and application server. A buyer browses
(by category) or searches the sales information in the promotional
offer posting 507 to identify an item for purchasing. Upon
receiving a purchase request for such item from the buyer, the
promotional server 505 charges the buyer's account for the sales
price less the promotional amount, then uses the promotional
server's account (which may be set up by the issuer or through
contributions from the issuer, for example) to pay the full sales
price directly to the seller. Although, tighter integration may be
used, the promotional server 505 need only deliver its account
information, buyer's shipping information and the sales item(s)
information to the non-integrated seller's online sales system. The
seller's system need not distinguish this interaction with
traditional online sales interaction with a buyer without
promotions.
[0108] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating rebate processing
functionality of one embodiment of the present invention.
Specifically, at a block 609, a seller offers an item online for
sale at a sales price amount. At a block 613, a manufacturer's
rebate having a rebate amount is associated with the item. A
purchase request from a buyer for the item being offered online is
received at a block 617. In response, at a block 621, a buyer is
required to pay a purchase amount corresponding to the sales price
amount less the rebate amount for the item.
[0109] Of course, there are many variations and further processing
functionality that may be applied to this process. For example, the
purchase amount may comprise the sales price amount less the rebate
amount, and may further comprise a service charge amount. The
purchase amount may also comprise an amount lower than the sales
price amount, and greater than the sales price amount less the
rebate amount.
[0110] The manufacturer may also control the rebate. This may
involve adjusting a rebate parameter or canceling the rebate.
Rebate parameters may include, for example, a rebate amount,
quantity of rebates offered, rebate offering time frame, rebate
terms and conditions, goods or services associated with the rebate,
particular sellers to which the rebate applies, manufacturer and/or
distributors involved, the issuer, automatic thresholds and
conditions under which other rebate parameters will change,
passwords and other account information regarding the issuer or
other parties involved, etc.
[0111] In certain embodiments, associated with the block 621, the
purchase amount is electronically collected by the seller. The
purchase amount may comprise the sales price amount less the rebate
amount plus a service charge amount. Similarly, the manufacturer
may be electronically charged at least the rebate amount, which may
consist of the rebate amount plus a service charge amount. At least
a portion of the service charge amount, if not all, may be
distributed to the seller. Similarly, at least a portion of the
service charge amount, if not all, may be distributed to a
promotional system for services rendered.
[0112] An account of the buyer is charged the purchase amount in
the block 621, in some embodiments. At least a portion of the
charged amount may be directly delivering to the seller. In such
configurations, the charging may be performed via a promotional
system. Alternatively, the buyer's account may be charged an amount
corresponding to the sales price amount and credited an amount
corresponding to the rebate amount. The purchase amount may include
a service charge amount that is also charged to the buyer's
account. In various embodiments, the buyer interacts online to
cause payment to the seller of the sales price amount less the
rebate amount, and the manufacturer electronically pays the rebate
amount to the seller. A manufacturer's account may be used for
paying at least the rebate amount. The manufacturer's account may
be established in association with a promotional system or
independently. Such payments may be performed directly or via a
promotional system.
[0113] In Internet applications, a web server may be used to
deliver the manufacturer's rebate to a browser of the buyer. The
manufacturer's rebate may comprise one of a plurality of
manufacturer's rebates delivered by the web server. The web server
may operate as at least a part of a promotional system, a seller's
system, an affiliate's system or a third party's system. In any
case, the system may comprise a rebate system offering or
supporting only promotional items for sale.
[0114] Other extensions of the present invention involve the
selection of a potential buyer and delivering a manufacturer's
rebate to the selected buyer. Among other traditional delivery
infrastructures, delivery may be performed via email. Selection of
the potential buyer may be based on the previous purchase history
of the selected buyer and/or registration information. The
manufacturer through human interaction may make such selection with
information regarding each potential buyer, or automatically
pursuant to a manufacturer's defined set of filtering criteria.
More than one manufacturer's rebate may be sent to the selected
buyer.
[0115] The present invention also supports shopping cart
interaction. Shopping carts, or logical equivalents thereof, may
contain the item for sale and at least one other item for sale. The
promotional system may identify the item in the shopping cart.
After identifying the sales item, the purchase request may be
responded to.
[0116] A visual rebate element may be displayed for a buyer. The
element will typically contain at least one of the plurality of
rebate parameters. The visual rebate element can be involved in the
association of the rebate with the item for sale. Third party
systems may offer for a buyer's selection one or more visual rebate
elements. The elements may also direct the buyer to an item for
sale on a sales system of the seller. Visual rebate elements can be
banner ads or other advertisements, for example. Visual rebate
elements may also direct the buyer to other of the plurality of
rebate parameters.
[0117] In some implementations, the seller will not fulfill a
purchase request without receiving an amount corresponding to the
purchase amount and the rebate amount. The language "corresponding
to" (as used herein and throughout the application) attempts to
clarify that any such amount need not be exact. For example, a
seller may fulfill the purchase request by receiving the purchase
amount plus the rebate amount but less or plus a surcharge (e.g.,
for service rendered). Such surcharge may be applied through the
payment of the purchase amount, the rebate amount, both the
purchase and the rebate amounts, or along with both amounts if the
charges are paid to the seller in one transaction, etc. Therefore,
the use of the language "corresponding to" anticipates that the
exact amounts need not be paid to accomplish the payment
purpose.
[0118] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating coupon processing
functionality of another embodiment of the present invention. Such
processing may operate independently of rebate processing or may
operate together in a single system along with other promotional
functionality. At a block 709, a first party, such as a seller,
offers one or more items online for sale, each item having a sales
price amount. A coupon of a second party is associated with at
least one of the sales items at a block 713. A purchase request
from a buyer for the item being offered online is received at a
block 717. In response, a buyer is required to pay a purchase
amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the coupon
amount for the item, at a block 721. At a block 725, the second
party electronically pays to the first party an amount
corresponding to the coupon amount.
[0119] As with the rebate processing functionality, there are many
variations and further functionality that may be applied to such
coupon processing. In fact, the aforementioned variations and
further functionality of the rebate processing described with
reference to FIG. 6 can be applied to the coupon embodiment of FIG.
7. For example, the purchase amount may comprise the sales price
amount less the rebate amount and include a service charge amount,
either party may control the coupon and coupon parameters (which
parallel that of rebates), payments of the purchase amount and
coupon amounts may be electronically made to the first party, buyer
and third party accounts may be used, etc. Similarly, in Internet
applications, a web server may be used to deliver a coupon from one
or more coupons stored on the web server to a buyer's browser. The
web server may operate as at least a part of a promotional system,
a first party's system, a second party's system, an affiliate's
system or a third party's system. In any case, the system may
comprise a system supporting coupon processing alone or in
combination with other promotional activities such as rebates. Many
other extensions of the present invention as applied to coupon
processing can be found above in relation to the processing of
rebates as described above with reference to FIG. 6.
[0120] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the application of
various aspects of the present invention to any promotional
processing functionality including that of rebate and coupon
processing. Generally, at a block 809, a first party, such as a
seller, offers one or more items online for sale, each item having
a sales price amount. A promotion of a second party is associated
with at least one of the sales items at a block 813. A purchase
request from a buyer for the item being offered online is received
at a block 817. In response, a buyer is required to pay a purchase
amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the promotion
amount for the item, at a block 821. At a block 825, the second
party electronically pays to the first party an amount
corresponding to the promotion amount. Then, at a block 825, the
first party fulfills the purchase request after receiving an amount
corresponding to the purchase amount and the payment amount.
[0121] As with the rebate and coupon systems (which constitute
promotional systems) described in reference to FIGS. 6 and 7,
respectively the aforementioned variations and further
functionality can be applied to the general case promotional
embodiment of FIG. 8.
[0122] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the application of
various aspects of the present invention to any promotional
processing wherein the promotion may involve more than a discount
off a purchase price. In particular, at a block 909, a first party
(a "promoter") offers one or more items online for sale. A
promotion of a second party is associated with at least one of the
sales items at a block 913. A purchase request from a buyer for the
item being offered online is received at a block 917. In response,
a buyer is required to pay a purchase amount corresponding to the
sales price amount for the item, at a block 921. Thereafter, at a
block 925, the first party receives an indication that the payment
occurred. At a block 929, the first party delivers the promotion
value to the buyer.
[0123] In some embodiments, the delivery of the promotion value
will only occur after at least one promotion condition has been
met. For example, the promotion condition may require that several
of the items offered for sale is purchased; and/or such items are
purchased simultaneously or within a fixed time period. Many other
types of promotion conditions may be applied which parallel
traditional promotional techniques.
[0124] Nearly all of the aforementioned variations and further
functionality described with reference to FIGS. 6-8 applies to the
present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9. Further, the
functionality of FIGS. 6-9 may be combined into a single system to
support all types of promotions with both price discounting and
non-price value offerings.
[0125] With reference to the above-described figures, a method of
processing a manufacturer's rebate may comprise, for example, the
following. A manufacturer associates a rebate with an item, where
the rebate has a rebate amount. A seller offers the item online for
sale at a sales price amount that does not account for the rebate
of the manufacturer. A purchase request for the item being offered
online is received from a buyer. The purchase request is then
responded to by requiring the buyer to only pay a purchase amount
corresponding to the sales price amount less the rebate amount for
the item.
[0126] The purchase amount may be, for example, the sales price
amount less the rebate amount. In addition, the purchase amount may
also include a service charge amount. The purchase amount may
alternatively be, for example, an amount lower than the sales price
amount, but greater than the sales price amount less the rebate
amount.
[0127] In one embodiment, the manufacturer may control the rebate.
For example, the rebate amount or a parameter of the rebate may be
adjusted, or the rebate may be disassociated from the item for sale
altogether.
[0128] The seller may also electronically collect the purchase
amount, which again may be, for example, the sales price amount
less the rebate amount plus a service charge amount.
[0129] In addition, the manufacturer may be electronically charged
at least the rebate amount, which may comprise, for example, the
rebate amount plus a service charge amount. A portion of the
service charge amount may further be provided to the seller. Also,
at least a portion of the service charge amount may be provided for
services rendered by a promotion system.
[0130] In one embodiment, an account of the buyer is charged for
the purchase amount. In this case, at least a portion of the
charged amount may also be provided to the seller. The charging of
the buyer's account may be performed, for example, via a promotion
system.
[0131] When the buyer's account is charged an amount corresponding
to the sales price amount less the rebate amount, the account may
also be credited for an amount corresponding to the rebate amount.
In addition, when the purchase amount includes a service charge
amount, the buyer's account may additionally be charged for the
service charge amount.
[0132] In one embodiment, the buyer may interact online to cause
payment to the seller of an amount corresponding to the sales price
amount less the rebate amount. The manufacturer may then
electronically pay the rebate amount to the seller. Such paying may
be performed directly or via a promotional system.
[0133] In one embodiment, an account may be established for the
manufacturer for paying at least the rebate amount. Such payment
may be assisted by a promotion system. The account established for
the manufacturer may be associated with the promotional system or
be independent of the promotion system.
[0134] The method may also comprise delivering, by a web server,
the rebate to a browser of the buyer. Such rebate may be one of a
plurality of rebates delivered by the web server. The web server
may be that of a promotion system or a system of the seller. When
it is a system of the seller, the system may be an affiliate
system, a non-seller system or a rebate system offering only
promotional items for sale. In fact, in either case, the system may
be a rebate type system offering only promotional items.
[0135] The method may also comprise selecting a potential buyer,
and delivering the rebate to the selected buyer. Such delivery may
be performed, for example, via email. The selection may be, for
example, based on a previous purchase history of the selected buyer
or on a registration of the selected buyer. The manufacturer, for
example, may perform the selection.
[0136] The method may further comprise delivering the rebate to a
selected buyer with at least one other of the manufacturer's
rebates. Also, a shopping cart containing the item for sale and at
least one other item for sale may be constructed. A promotion
system, for example, may identify the item in the shopping cart,
and the response to the purchase request occurs after the item is
identified.
[0137] In one embodiment, the rebate comprises a plurality of
rebate parameters. At least one of the plurality of rebate
parameters may be displayed within a visual rebate element. At
least a portion of the associating by the manufacturer of the
rebate with the item may involve the visual rebate element. A buyer
may then select the visual rebate element provided by a third party
system (e.g., promotional system). The buyer may then be directed
to the item on a sales system of the seller. In addition, the buyer
may be directed to at least one of the plurality of rebate
parameters. The visual rebate element, may be, for example, a
banner ad.
[0138] In one embodiment, the seller may wait to receive an amount
corresponding to the purchase amount and the rebate amount before
fulfilling the purchase request.
[0139] Alternatively, a method of processing a coupon may comprise,
for example, the following. A first party offers an item online for
sale at a sales price amount. A coupon of a second party is
associated with the item, the coupon having a coupon amount. A
purchase request is received from a buyer for the item being
offered online. The purchase request is responded to by requiring
the buyer to pay a purchase amount corresponding to the sales price
amount less the coupon amount for the item. And the second party
electronically pays a payment amount corresponding to the coupon
amount to the first party.
[0140] The purchase amount may be, for example, the sales price
amount less the coupon amount. In addition, the purchase amount may
also include a service charge amount. The purchase amount may
alternatively be, for example, an amount lower than the sales price
amount, but greater than the sales price amount less the coupon
amount.
[0141] In one embodiment, the second party may control the coupon.
For example, the coupon amount or a parameter of the coupon may be
adjusted, or the coupon may be cancelled altogether.
[0142] The first party may also electronically collect the purchase
amount, which again may be, for example, the sales price amount
less the coupon amount plus a service charge amount.
[0143] In addition, the second party may be electronically charged
at least the coupon amount, which may comprise, for example, the
coupon amount plus a service charge amount. A portion of the
service charge amount may further be provided to the first party.
Also, at least a portion of the service charge amount may be
provided for services rendered by a promotion system.
[0144] In one embodiment, an account of the buyer is charged for
the purchase amount. In this case, at least a portion of the
charged amount may also be provided to the first party. The
charging of the buyer's account may be performed, for example, via
a promotion system.
[0145] When the buyer's account is charged an amount corresponding
to the sales price amount less the coupon amount, the account may
also be credited for an amount corresponding to the coupon amount.
In addition, when the purchase amount includes a service charge
amount, the buyer's account may additionally be charged for the
service charge amount.
[0146] In one embodiment, the buyer may interact online to cause
payment to the first party of an amount corresponding the sales
price amount less the coupon amount. The second party may then
electronically pay the rebate amount to the first party. Such
paying may be performed directly or via a promotion system.
[0147] In one embodiment, an account may be established for the
second party for paying at least the coupon amount. Such payment
may be assisted by a promotion system. The account established for
the second party may be associated with the promotion system or be
independent of the promotion system.
[0148] The method may also comprise delivering, by a web server,
the coupon to a browser of the buyer. Such coupon may be one of a
plurality of coupons delivered by the web server. The web server
may be that of a promotion system or a system of the first party.
When it is a system of the first party, the system may be an
affiliate system, a non-seller system or a coupon system offering
only promotional items for sale. In fact, in either case, the
system may be a coupon type system offering only promotional
items.
[0149] The method may also comprise selecting a potential buyer,
and delivering the coupon to the selected buyer. Such delivery may
be performed, for example, via email. The selection may be, for
example, based on a previous purchase history of the selected buyer
or on a registration of the selected buyer. The second party, for
example, may perform the selection.
[0150] The method may further comprise delivering the coupon to a
selected buyer with at least one other of the second party's
coupons. Also, a shopping cart containing the item for sale and at
least one other item for sale may be constructed. A promotion
system, for example, may identify the item in the shopping cart,
and the response to the purchase request occurs after the item is
identified.
[0151] In one embodiment, the coupon comprises a plurality of
coupon parameters. At least one of the plurality of coupon
parameters may be displayed within a visual coupon element. At
least a portion of the associating by the second party of the
coupon with the item may involve the visual coupon element. A buyer
may then select the visual coupon element provided by a third party
system (e.g., promotional system). The buyer may then be directed
to the item on a sales system of the first party. In addition, the
buyer may be directed to at least one of the plurality of coupon
parameters. The visual coupon element, may be, for example, a
banner ad.
[0152] In one embodiment, the first party may wait to receive an
amount corresponding to the purchase amount and the coupon amount
before fulfilling the purchase request.
[0153] The method may alternatively comprise, for example, the
following. A first party offers an item online for sale at a sales
price amount. A promotion of a second party is associated with the
item, the promotion having a promotion amount. A purchase request
is received from a buyer for the item being offered online. The
purchase request is responded to by requiring the buyer to pay a
purchase amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the
promotion amount for the item. The second party electronically pays
a payment amount corresponding to the promotion amount to the first
party. And the first party receives an amount corresponding to the
purchase amount and the payment amount before fulfilling the
purchase request.
[0154] In one embodiment, the promotion is a rebate and in another
the promotion is a coupon. The purchase amount may be, for example,
the sales price amount less the coupon amount. In addition, the
purchase amount may also include a service charge amount. The
purchase amount may alternatively be, for example, an amount lower
than the sales price amount, but greater than the sales price
amount less the promotion amount.
[0155] In one embodiment, the second party may control the
promotion. For example, the promotion amount or a parameter of the
promotion may be adjusted, or the promotion may be cancelled
altogether.
[0156] The first party may also electronically collect the purchase
amount, which again may be, for example, the sales price amount
less the promotion amount plus a service charge amount. In other
words, the first party may receive payment (e.g., the sales price
amount less the promotion amount) electronically.
[0157] In addition, the second party may be electronically charged
at least the promotion amount, which may comprise, for example, the
promotion amount plus a service charge amount. A portion of the
service charge amount may further be provided to the first party.
Also, at least a portion of the service charge amount may be
provided for services rendered by a promotion system.
[0158] In one embodiment, an account of the buyer is charged for
the purchase amount. In this case, at least a portion of the
charged amount may also be provided to the first party. The
charging of the buyer's account may be performed, for example, via
a promotion system.
[0159] When the buyer's account is charged an amount corresponding
to the sales price amount less the promotion amount, the account
may also be credited for an amount corresponding to the promotion
amount. In addition, when the purchase amount includes a service
charge amount, the buyer's account may additionally be charged for
the service charge amount.
[0160] In one embodiment, the buyer may interact online to cause
payment to the first party of an amount corresponding the sales
price amount less the promotion amount. The second party may then
electronically pay the promotion amount to the first party. Such
paying may be performed directly or via a promotion system.
[0161] In one embodiment, an account may be established for the
second party for paying at least the promotion amount. Such payment
may be assisted by a promotion system. The account established for
the second party may be associated with the promotion system or be
independent of the promotion system.
[0162] The method may also comprise delivering, by a web server,
the promotion to a browser of the buyer. Such promotion may be one
of a plurality of promotions delivered by the web server. The web
server may be that of a promotional system or a system of the first
party. When it is a system of the first party, the system may be an
affiliate system, a non-seller system or a promotion system
offering only promotional items for sale. In fact, in either case,
the system may be a promotion type system offering only promotional
items.
[0163] The method may also comprise selecting a potential buyer,
and delivering the promotion to the selected buyer. Such delivery
may be performed, for example, via email. The selection may be, for
example, based on a previous purchase history of the selected buyer
or on a registration of the selected buyer. The second party, for
example, may perform the selection.
[0164] The method may further comprise delivering the promotion to
a selected buyer with at least one other of the second party's
promotions. Also, a shopping cart containing the item for sale and
at least one other item for sale may be constructed. A promotion
system, for example, may identify the item in the shopping cart,
and the response to the purchase request occurs after the item is
identified.
[0165] In one embodiment, the coupon comprises a plurality of
promotion parameters. At least one of the plurality of promotion
parameters may be displayed within a visual promotion element. At
least a portion of the associating by the second party of the
promotion with the item may involve the visual promotion element. A
buyer may then select the visual promotion element provided by a
third party system (e.g., promotion system). The buyer may then be
directed to the item on a sales system of the first party. In
addition, the buyer may be directed to at least one of the
plurality of promotion parameters. The visual promotion element,
may be, for example, a banner ad.
[0166] Another method of processing a promotion may comprise the
following. A promotion of a second party is associated with an
item, the promotion having a promotion value. A first party offers
the item online for sale at a sales price amount without
advertising the promotion of the second party. A purchase request
is received from a buyer for the item being offered online. The
purchase request is responded to by requiring the buyer to pay a
purchase amount corresponding to the sales price amount. The
buyer's payment is responded to by electronically communicating an
indication of the buyer's payment to the second party. And the
second party delivers the promotion value to the buyer after
receiving the indication of the buyer's payment.
[0167] In one embodiment, the second party is a promotion system,
which may or may not be managed by a third party. The purchase
amount may be, for example, the sales price amount. In addition,
the purchase amount may also include a service charge amount.
[0168] In one embodiment, the second party may control the
promotion. For example, the promotion value or a parameter of the
promotion may be adjusted, or the promotion may be cancelled
altogether.
[0169] The promotion value may, for example, be delivered
electronically. In addition, the second party may be electronically
charged a service charge amount. A portion of the service charge
amount may further be provided to the first party. Also, at least a
portion of the service charge amount may be provided for services
rendered by a promotion system.
[0170] In one embodiment, an account of the buyer is charged for
the purchase amount. In this case, at least a portion of the
charged amount may also be provided to the first party. In the case
where the purchase amount includes a service charge amount, the
buyer's account may additionally be charged for the service charge
amount. The charging of the buyer's account may be performed, for
example, via a promotion system.
[0171] In one embodiment, the buyer may interact online to cause
payment to the first party of an amount corresponding to the sales
price amount. Such paying may be performed directly or via a
promotion system. The delivering of the promotion value may also be
assisted by a promotion system.
[0172] The method may also comprise delivering, by a web server,
the promotion to a browser of the buyer. Such promotion may be one
of a plurality of promotions delivered by the web server. The web
server may be that of a promotion system or a system of the first
party. When it is a system of the first party, the system may be an
affiliate system, a non-seller system or a promotion system
offering only promotional items for sale. In fact, in either case,
the system may be a promotion type system offering only promotional
items.
[0173] The method may also comprise selecting a potential buyer,
and delivering the promotion to the selected buyer. Such delivery
may be performed, for example, via email. The selection may be, for
example, based on a previous purchase history of the selected buyer
or on a registration of the selected buyer. The second party, for
example, may perform the selection.
[0174] The method may further comprise delivering the promotion to
a selected buyer with at least one other of the second party's
promotions. Also, a shopping cart containing the item for sale and
at least one other item for sale may be constructed. A promotion
system, for example, may identify the item in the shopping cart,
and the response to the purchase request occurs after the item is
identified.
[0175] In one embodiment, the coupon comprises a plurality of
promotion parameters. At least one of the plurality of promotion
parameters may be displayed within a visual promotion element. At
least a portion of the associating by the second party of the
promotion with the item may involve the visual promotion element. A
buyer may then select the visual promotion element provided by a
third party system (e.g., promotional system). The buyer may then
be directed to the item on a sales system of the first party. In
addition, the buyer may be directed to at least one of the
plurality of promotion parameters. The visual promotion element,
may be, for example, a banner ad.
[0176] The method may alternatively comprise the following. An item
is offered for sale on a first online system of a seller, where the
first online system requires payment of a sales price amount for
the item. A promotion having a promotion amount is associated with
the item. A purchase request is received from a buyer for the item
being offered online. The buyer is required to pay a purchase
amount corresponding to the sales price amount less the promotion
amount for the item. A second online system electronically
facilitates payment, through communicative coupling with the first
online system, of a payment amount corresponding to the promotion
amount. And the seller receives an amount corresponding to the
purchase amount and the payment amount.
[0177] In one embodiment the promotion is a rebate and in another
the promotion is a coupon. The purchase amount may be, for example,
the sales price amount less the promotion amount. In addition, the
purchase amount may further include a service charge amount.
[0178] The facilitation mentioned above may be achieved by the
gathering of sales transaction information from the first online
system. Such facilitation may further include the automatic
generation of an invoice corresponding to the sales transaction
information gathered.
[0179] Facilitation may also be achieved by the payment of an
amount corresponding to the promotion amount. Facilitation in this
case may further include the automatic generation of an invoice
corresponding to the promotion amount. In addition, it may include
the automatic generation of an offsetting accounting entry
corresponding to the promotion amount. Such offsetting accounting
entry may be, for example, a debit entry or a credit entry.
[0180] The method may also permit control of the promotion via the
second online system. In this case a service charge may also be
assessed for services rendered by the second online system.
[0181] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the exemplary
operation of a retail product or service sales server with a client
and with a plurality of manufacturer servers to support a promotion
such as a rebate or coupon. Specifically, a sales server waits for
a client, typically through web-browser interaction, to request
information about one or more products or services from one or more
manufacturers, suppliers or service providers. In a real time mode
of operation, when such a client request is received as indicated
by the block 1013, the sales server responds by performing the
operations within a block 1015.
[0182] In particular, the sales server identifies the servers of
the manufacturers, suppliers and/or service providers (hereinafter
"source servers") underlying the client request at a block 1017.
Thereafter, at a block 1019, the sales server establishes secure
communication with such source servers to retrieve promotion
information, including terms and conditions for such promotions as
"buy one item, get a different item for free," "buy 2 get one
free," coupons, rebates, etc., along with related sales
information, including, but not limited to pricing, inventory,
images, descriptions, warranty information, licensing information,
third party reviews, and links to further information.
[0183] In the real time mode of operation, the retrieval process
within the block 1015 occurs upon receiving each client request. In
a periodic mode of operation, the sales server only performs the
functions of block 1015, for example, once every 24 hour period. Of
course any period may be possible. In an aged mode of operation,
the sales server performs the functions of the block 1015 only if
the information underlying the client request has not been
retrieved for a period of time. In other words, if a client request
that occurred fifteen minutes earlier caused the retrieval of
information from a source server, then such information need not be
requested again by the source server at least for a predetermined
duration of time, such as for six hours. Thus, for example, a
single request from a client may cause the retrieval of locally
stored information (recently retrieved) regarding some products or
services along with remotely retrieved information regarding other
products or services (from source servers) that have old
information stored locally, with the old information being updated
in the process.
[0184] Regardless of the mode of operation of the sales server, at
a block 1021, the sales server uses the retrieved product and/or
service information to construct a web page which is delivered to
the client browser for viewing at a block 1023. Of course, such
construction and delivery may take any other form. For example, the
information may be constructed for printing, emailed, faxed, voice
synthesized for telephone playback, etc. Many other construction
and delivery mechanisms are well known and may be used.
[0185] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of exemplary system
level interaction that illustrates the functionality described in
relation to FIG. 10. A buyer (or client) accesses one of a
plurality of sales servers; such as sales servers 1117 and 1119,
via Internet by sending a request for a web page or web page
content through a buyer's browser 1121.
[0186] In response, the sales server 1117 (which may comprise one
or more servers) will respond by constructing the web page or page
content from product and/or service information underlying the
buyer's request. As mentioned in reference to FIG. 10, the sales
server 1117 may retrieve the required product and/or service
information (hereinafter "sales information") from one or more of a
plurality of source servers, such as source servers 1111, 1113 and
1115, and/or from memory local to the sales server 1117. The
specific timing of such retrieval of sales information depends
entirely on the mode of operation in which the sales server is
operating, as previously described.
[0187] To retrieve sales information, the sales server 1117
establishes a secure link with one or more of the source servers
1111, 1113 and 1115. Each sales server 1111 typically comprises,
among other things, a product or services database 1131 which
itself may contain images 1141, promotion information 1143, and
other sales information 1145, for example. Thus, after receiving a
request from the buyer via the buyer's browser 1121, the sales
server 1117, if operating in the aged mode, will respond by first
looking to local storage to determine whether the sales information
underlying the request exist locally. For portions of the sales
information that exists locally and is not too old, such
information is used in the construction of a response to be sent to
the buyer's browser 1121. For all portions of the sales information
that is too old or does not exist locally, the sales server 1117
establishes secured links with one or more of the source servers
1111, 1113 and 1115 to retrieve such information. Similar operation
for the other modes of operation is also possible.
[0188] Moreover, in some embodiments, the mode of operation of the
sales server is defined by the sales information itself. For
example, a buyer's request may require that two products from two
different manufacturers be displayed in a single web page. The
first product may require the aged mode of operation, while the
second product may require a real time mode. Similarly, any portion
of the sales information may define its own required mode. For
example, general image information may operate under a periodic
mode while the price or an associated promotion might require the
real time mode for control purposes.
[0189] Fall back modes are also contemplated when the desired mode
fails. For example, if a real time mode fails, the sales server may
be authorized to resort to an aged or periodic mode of operation,
so long as the conditions underlying conditions for use are met.
Other variations such as modified or combined versions of the modes
or fall back strategies identified above are also contemplated and
will be apparent to one skilled in the art after considering such
disclosed modes.
[0190] The secured communication from the sales servers to the
source servers may occur through an ASP architecture. A variety of
encryption and compression techniques can be used to provide secure
and minimal bandwidth utilization between servers.
[0191] The source servers 1111, 1113 and 1115 are thus able to
control and modify any of the sales content without worrying about
the buyer basing a purchase on outdated data existing at the sales
servers 1117 and 1119. For example, a coupon can be tracked by the
source server 1111 for a product sold by the sales servers 1117 and
1119. Once a certain volume is reached, as counted through direct
feedback from the sales servers 1117 and 1119 as sales occur, the
source server 1111 can remove the coupon, ending this promotion.
The source server 1111 can make this decision automatically based
on a predetermined number or a number calculated based on current
warehouse inventory, for example.
[0192] Although a system and method according to the present
invention has been described in connection with various embodiment,
it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth
herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
this disclosure and appended diagrams.
* * * * *