Method and apparatus for offering promotional incentives on the World-Wide-Web

• US 20020016737A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Collins, Thomas M., Willcocks, Neil A., Chimel, Mark J., Izzo, Henry V., Tuttrup, Robert W., Rabinovitch, Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US09/855,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016737A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives

Abstract

A method of administering a promotional contest comprises the steps of: providing to a consumer a product the label of which includes the identification code, enabling the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system, validating the identification code, and determining whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.

Claims

1. A method of administering a promotional contest comprising the steps of:

providing to a consumer a product the label of which includes an identification code;

enabling the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system;

validating the identification code; and

determining whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code via the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code at a kiosk.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code by telephone.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step determines whether the code is a winning prize that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by comparing the validated identification code with stored winning numbers.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by placing the validated code in a virtual hat with other codes and drawing from the virtual hat.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by generating a random number using a random number generator and comparing one or more digits of the validated code with the random number.

8. A server operable to run a prize redemption program in which a consumer has previously been provided with a product the label of which includes an identification code, the server being operable to:

enable the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system;

validate the identification code; and

determine whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.

9. A server according to claim 8, wherein the server is on the Internet.

10. A server according to claim 8, wherein the server determines whether the code is a winning prize that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by comparing the validated identification code with stored winning numbers.

11. A server according to claim 8, wherein the server determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by placing the validated code in a virtual hat with other codes and drawing from the virtual hat.

12. A server according to claim 8, wherein the server determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by generating a random number using a random number generator and comparing one or more digits of the validated code with the random number.

14. Computer code according to claim 13, wherein the server is on the Internet.

15. Computer code according to claim 13, wherein the server determines whether the identification code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by comparing the validated identification code with stored winning numbers.

16. Computer code according to claim 13, wherein the server determines whether the identification code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by placing the validated code in a virtual hat with other identification codes and drawing from the virtual hat.

17. Computer code according to claim 13, wherein the server determines whether the identification code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by generating a random number using a random number generator and comparing one or more digits of the validated code with the random number.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code via the Internet.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code at a kiosk.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the consumer inputs the identification code by telephone.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the determining means determines whether the code is a winning prize that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by comparing the validated identification code with stored winning numbers.

23. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the determining means determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by placing the validated code in a virtual hat with other codes and drawing from the virtual hat.

24. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the determining step determines whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize by generating a random number using a random number generator and comparing one or more digits of the validated code with the random number.

13. Computer code executable on a server operable to run a prize redemption program in which a consumer has previously been provided with a product the label of which includes an identification code, the computer code comprising:

code for enabling the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system;

code for validating the identification code; and

code for determining whether the identification code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.

18. An apparatus for administering a promotional contest in which a consumer has been provided access to a product the label of which includes an identification code, the apparatus comprising:

means for enabling the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system;

means for validating the identification code; and

means for determining whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.