Information distribution and redemption system
First Claim
1. An information and redemption system comprising:
- a merchant;
a plurality of participating patrons; and
a clearinghouse;
wherein each participating patron has supplied an e-mail address for use by said clearinghouse;
wherein said clearinghouse provides electronic communications including information or promotional offers about said merchant to a subset of said participating patrons; and
wherein said electronic communications can be redeemed or responded to by said participating patrons.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An information and redemption system that actively uses targeted and highly personalized e-mail messages to develop and strengthen the affinity between a merchant and the merchant'"'"'s patrons and potential patrons. Unlike other computer-based marketing systems which passively wait for patrons to visit a web site, the present invention uses an active “push” approach to allow merchants to affirmatively approach those patrons interested in goods, services, or information relating to the merchant. Unlike other direct marketing systems, only patrons who “opt in” to the system participate, and all patrons are free to “opt out” any time. The present invention relies on providing patrons value with each e-mail such that the relationship between merchant and patron is strengthened. The present invention anticipates that the existence of information clearinghouses that can be separate and distinct from merchants. Such clearinghouses facilitate information sharing between merchants that will be mutually beneficial to both the merchants and to the targeted patron.
176 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An information and redemption system comprising:
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a merchant;
a plurality of participating patrons; and
a clearinghouse;
wherein each participating patron has supplied an e-mail address for use by said clearinghouse;
wherein said clearinghouse provides electronic communications including information or promotional offers about said merchant to a subset of said participating patrons; and
wherein said electronic communications can be redeemed or responded to by said participating patrons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An information and redemption system comprising:
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a merchant, a unique merchant code associated with said merchant;
a plurality of patrons, a unique patron code associated with each of said patrons; and
a clearinghouse;
wherein each patron participating in the system has supplied an e-mail address to either said merchant or said clearinghouse;
wherein said clearinghouse provides e-mail communications including information or promotional offers about said merchant to a subset of said patrons, said clearinghouse utilizing a profile associated with said patrons to create said subset;
wherein said e-mail communications can be redeemed by said patrons or said patrons can respond by sending a new e-mail communication to either said merchant or said clearinghouse; and
wherein said merchant has a unit that is able to communicate with said identification device and store information regarding a visit by said patron to said merchant when said patron activates said unit with said identification device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for developing an affinity relationship between a merchant and participating patrons comprising of:
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electronically maintaining a profile for each participating patron that each said participating patron can read and modify;
maintaining a database tracking patron behavior and communication with respect to said merchant;
sending targeted and personalized electronic communications to a subset of said participating patrons based on said patron profile; and
allowing each recipient of said electronic communication to redeem said electronic communications or send a reply to said merchant. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification