Pay-for-results based marketing

• US 20020095331A1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Osman, Anas, Usman, Azhar
• Application Number:
  US09/761,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.69
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of acquiring customers via a computer network includes receiving user input relating to a desired product. Then, a preferred product(s) is automatically determined from a plurality of products as a function of the user input. After the user performs an activity with a vendor, a payment is received from the vendor.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring customers via a computer network comprising:

receiving input from a user via a computer network, wherein the input relates to a plurality of products offered by one or more vendors;

automatically determining a preferred product from the plurality of products as a function of the input; and

determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of an activity between the user and the vendor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a fee comprises determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of a number of users that open an account with the vendor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a fee comprises determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of a number of users that open an account with the vendor over a computer network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a fee comprises determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of a number of users that log-in to a network site of the vendor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a fee comprises determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of a number of users that access a function of a network site of the vendor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a fee comprises determining a fee to be charged to a vendor as a function of a number of users that purchase a t least one product from the vendor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input comprises providing the user access to a decision engine via the computer network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the user access to a decision engine comprises providing the user access to vendor specific data relating to the vendors that offer the plurality of products.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein providing the user access to a decision engine comprises providing an interactive interface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises automatically determining a preferred product as a function of market trend data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises analyzing market trend data.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a prioritized list of a plurality of preferred products.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a prioritized list of a plurality of preferred products, wherein a first preferred product is offered by a first vendor and a second different preferred product is offered by a second vendor.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein charging a fee comprises charging a fixed amount for the activity between the user and the vendor.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein charging a fee comprises charging an amount for each of a plurality of activities between the user and the vendor, and wherein different amounts are received for a first activity and a second activity.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein charging a fee comprises charging an amount that is a function of the input of the user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein charging a fee comprises charging an amount that is further a function of market data.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a preferred financial service.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a preferred banking service.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a preferred credit card service.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein automatically determining a preferred product comprises determining a preferred brokerage service.

22. A customer acquisition server, comprising:

a decision engine that determines a preferred product from a plurality of products as a function of user input received via a computer network; and

a payment module operatively connected with the decision engine, the payment module generates a bill for a vendor of a product as a function of an activity of the user at a network site of the vendor.

23. The server of claim 22 wherein the activity comprises logging into a network site of the vendor.

24. The server of claim 22 wherein the activity comprises opening an account.

25. The server of claim 22 wherein the activity comprises modifying an account.

26. The server of claim 22 wherein the activity comprises purchasing a product.

27. The server of claim 22, wherein the plurality of products comprise financial services products.

28. The server of claim 22, further comprising a network interface that links the customer acquisition server to a distribution server to allow the user to access the customer acquisition server via the distribution server.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the distribution server further provides network portal services.

30. The server of claim 28, wherein the payment module generates a bill as a function of the input from the user.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein the payment module allocates a first portion of a receipt from the bill to a first operator of the customer acquisition server and a second portion of the receipt from the bill to a second operator of the distribution server.

32. A method of collecting preference data in a networked results-based marketing system, comprising:

providing a potential buyer access to a decision engine, wherein the decision engine receives inputs from the potential buyer relating to the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences;

matches the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences with products; and

charges the vendor a fee as a function of the potential buyer'"'"'s activities at a vendor network site; and

updating the decision engine as a function of the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the activities of the potential buyer include opening an account with the vendor.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing at least a portion of the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences to the vendors.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing a summary of at least a portion of the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences to the vendors.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing a summary of at least a portion of the potential buyer'"'"'s preferences to the vendors for a price.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein providing potential buyers access to an interactive decision engine includes providing access to a financial services related interactive decision engine.

38. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, said product comprising:

a decision engine module that selects a preferred product for a plurality of products as a function of preferences of a potential buyer received from the potential buyer via a network; and

a payment module that determines a fee for a vendor of the preferred product as a function of the potential buyer'"'"'s activities with the vendor.