Online sales promotion method and device

• US 20010053998A1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Fujita, Takaya, Kohda, Youji, Nishiyama, Soichi, Murakami, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

The object of the invention is to perform a constructive exchange of information between a user and a provider of products in virtual reality. A user places a product 154 that he is considering buying in a cart, designates product providers, and gives notification thereto of the cart contents. A designated product provider 153, by seeing the cart contents, can learn in what products the user is interested. The product provider 153 can provide to the cart from which the designation arose additional information 155, such as advertisements for its products. The user, by receiving various types of additional information from a product provider that he trusts, can find products that meet his desires, and can enjoy more satisfactory network-based shopping.

Claims

1. An online sales promotion method used in a system to purchase a product over a network, said method comprising:

receiving product information on said product and designation information on a third party being able to supply additional information about said product from a first user;

associating said product information and designation information with cart identification information;

notifying said third party of said cart identification information and product information;

receiving said additional information from said third party;

associating said additional information with said cart identification information; and

notifying said first user of said product information, designation information and additional information associated by said cart identification information.

2. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

associating settlement information of said user needed for a purchase of said product over said network with said cart identification information;

receiving an instruction for said purchase of said product from said first user; and

selling said product to said first user, using said settlement information.

3. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 2

, further comprising:

storing whether or not said product is purchased; and

notifying said first user that said product is purchased or not purchased yet.

4. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 2

, further comprising:

associating said first user with said cart identification information;

receiving an instruction for assignment and second user information on a second user from said first user; and

associating said second user with said cart identification information.

5. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 2

, further comprising:

determining whether or not an incentive condition has been fulfilled based on said product information, designation information and settlement information, said incentive condition predetermined for awarding said first user for said purchase of said product; and

awarding said first user based on said determining.

6. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

notifying said third party of said additional information.

7. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

notifying said third party of competitor information on other third parties.

8. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

monitoring for an occurrence of a predetermined event based on said product information and designation information; and

notifying said third party of said occurrence when said predetermined event occurs.

9. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

determining whether or not said third party has fulfilled a fee charging condition based on said product information and designation information,

computing fee charging information for charging fees to said third party which has fulfilled said fee charging condition; and

storing said fee charging information for invoicing said third party.

10. An online sales promotion method in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

computing a relationship between product and product price based on said product information; and

supplying said relationship to said first user and/or said third party.

11. An online sales promotion apparatus used in a system to purchase a product over a network, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving product information on said product and designation information on a third party being able to supply additional information about said product from a first user;

means for associating said product information and designation information with cart identification information;

means for notifying said third party of said cart identification information and product information;

means for receiving said additional information from said third party;

means for associating said additional information with said cart identification information; and

means for notifying said first user of said product information, designation information and additional information associated by said cart identification information.

12. A computer-readable recording medium whereon is recorded an online sales promotion program, for use in a system to purchase a product over a network, said program executes:

(A) a step of receiving product information on said product and designation information on a third party being able to supply additional information about said product from a first user;

(B) a step of associating said product information and designation information with cart identification information;

(C) a step of notifying said third party of said cart identification information and product information;

(D) a step of receiving said additional information from said third party;

(E) a step of associating said additional information with said cart identification information; and

(F) a step of notifying said first user of said product information, designation information and additional information associated by said cart identification information.

13. An online sales promotion method comprising:

prompting a user to select a desired product and vendor from which said user intends to purchase said product;

notifying said vendor of said product selected;

receiving from said vendor advertisement information pertaining to said product and/or said vendor; and

distributing said advertisement information to said user.