Method for promoting products using a world wide web
First Claim
1. A method for promoting products with a central server over a computer network comprises:
- receiving a specification of a promotion for a product from a first computer, creating an electronic incentive in response to the specification;
transferring the electronic incentive to an application server across the computer network, the application server coupled to a merchant server;
receiving usage data of the electronic incentive from the application server, the usage data determined in response to a promotion usage condition indicated by the merchant server; and
generating a report in response to the usage data;
wherein data associated with the electronic incentive is transferred from the application server to the merchant server;
wherein the merchant server specifies rendering of the data associated with the electronic incentive; and
wherein the promotion usage condition is indicated in the merchant server when a user coupled thereto fulfills requirements of the electronic incentive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for promoting products with a central server over a computer network includes receiving a specification of a promotion for a product from a first computer, creating an electronic incentive in response to the specification, transferring the electronic incentive to an application server across the computer network, the application server coupled to a merchant server, receiving usage data of the electronic incentive from the application server, the usage data determined in response to a promotion usage condition indicated by the merchant server, and generating a report in response to the usage data, wherein data associated with the electronic incentive is transferred from the application server to the merchant server, wherein the merchant server specifies rendering of the data associated with the electronic incentive, and wherein the promotion usage condition is indicated in the merchant server when a user coupled thereto fulfills requirements of the electronic incentive.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for promoting products with a central server over a computer network comprises:
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receiving a specification of a promotion for a product from a first computer, creating an electronic incentive in response to the specification;
transferring the electronic incentive to an application server across the computer network, the application server coupled to a merchant server;
receiving usage data of the electronic incentive from the application server, the usage data determined in response to a promotion usage condition indicated by the merchant server; and
generating a report in response to the usage data;
wherein data associated with the electronic incentive is transferred from the application server to the merchant server;
wherein the merchant server specifies rendering of the data associated with the electronic incentive; and
wherein the promotion usage condition is indicated in the merchant server when a user coupled thereto fulfills requirements of the electronic incentive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a merchant server coupled to a client system comprises:
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requesting promotions from an application server coupled to the merchant server;
receiving a description of a promotion from the application server, the description including pre-conditions and a user benefit;
determining an output representation of the promotion in response to the description of the promotion;
thereaftertransmitting the output representation of the description to a client system for display to a user;
receiving a selection of at least one item from the client system;
transmitting the selection of the at least one item to the application server;
when the application server determines that the selection of the at least one item fulfills the pre-conditions, receiving an indication that the user is provided with the user benefit from the application server; and
thereafterstoring in a log a record that the user is provided with the user benefit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A method for an application server comprises:
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receiving an electronic incentive from a central server, the electronic incentive including a pre-condition and a benefit;
receiving a request from a merchant server for electronic incentives;
providing a description of the electronic incentive to the merchant server in response to the request, the description including a description of the pre-condition and the benefit;
receiving from the merchant server a selection by a user of at least one item;
determining whether the selection of the one item fulfills the pre-condition;
when the selection of the one item fulfills the pre-condition, providing the merchant server with the benefit; and
when the selection of the one item fulfills the pre-condition, recording that the electronic incentive has been used.
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Specification