Method and apparatus for defining routing of customers between merchants

• US 20020111867A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Van Luchene, Andrew S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.

Claims

1. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

selecting a soliciting merchant;

selecting an outputting merchant; and

providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

selecting a plurality of soliciting merchants.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a customer selection of a soliciting merchant of the plurality of soliciting merchants.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the step of providing an offer for a bonus comprises:

providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

selecting based on an activity rate of the soliciting merchant.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

selecting based on a predetermined rule.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

selecting based on at least one of

a current time,

an activity rate of the soliciting merchant,

a priority of the soliciting merchant,

an availability of the soliciting merchant,

a merchant class of the soliciting merchant, and

a number of offers provided on behalf of the soliciting merchant.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining the priority of the soliciting merchant based on at least one of;

an amount of funds paid by the soliciting merchant,

a current time,

a predetermined rule, and

an activity rate of the soliciting merchant.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

measuring an activity rate of the soliciting merchant;

selecting the soliciting merchant if the activity rate is less than a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the step of measuring an activity rate of the soliciting merchant comprises:

measuring an number of transactions per predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 9 in which the step of measuring an activity rate of the soliciting merchant comprises:

determining a number of sales of a predetermined product.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the step of providing an offer comprises:

providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for the predetermined product in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

selecting the soliciting merchant if the soliciting merchant is registered as an outputting merchant.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting a soliciting merchant comprises:

determining a budget amount of the soliciting merchant; and

selecting the soliciting merchant if the budget amount is greater than a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting an outputting merchant comprises:

selecting based on at least one of;

a current time,

an activity rate of the outputting merchant,

redemption of offers provided by the outputting merchant,

an availability of the outputting merchant,

a priority of the outputting merchant, and

a merchant class of the outputting merchant.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising

determining the priority of the outputting merchant based on an amount of funds paid by the outputting merchant.

17. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting an outputting merchant comprises:

determining a redemption of offers that were previously output by the outputting merchant.

18. The method of claim 17 in which the step of determining a redemption of offers comprises:

determining a first amount of offers that were previously output by the outputting merchant; and

determining a percentage of the offers that were redeemed.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting the outputting merchant if the redemption is greater than a predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 1 in which the step of selecting an outputting merchant comprises:

determining a redemption of offers that were previously output by each of a plurality of outputting merchants; and

selecting an outputting merchant having a maximal redemption of offers.

21. The method of claim 1 in which the step of providing an offer comprises:

determining a budget amount of the soliciting merchant; and

setting a value of the bonus based on the budget amount.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

freezing a portion of the budget amount, the portion being based on the value of the bonus.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

unfreezing the portion of the budget amount if the offer expires.

24. The method of claim 21 in which the bonus has a value that is based on an unfrozen portion of the budget amount.

25. The method of claim 1 in which the step of providing an offer comprises:

determining a value of the bonus;

determining a first portion of the value, the first portion to be paid by the soliciting merchant; and

determining a second portion of the value, the second portion to be paid by the outputting merchant.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

determining a outputting merchant budget amount of the outputting merchant; and

determining a soliciting merchant budget amount of the soliciting merchant.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

freezing a third portion of the soliciting merchant budget amount, the third portion being based on the first portion of the value to be paid by the soliciting merchant; and

freezing a fourth portion of the outputting merchant budget amount, the fourth portion being based on the second portion of the value to be paid by the outputting merchant.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

unfreezing the third portion of the soliciting merchant budget amount and the fourth portion of the outputting merchant budget amount if the offer expires.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a customer identifier that identifies the customer; and

in which the step of providing an offer is performed if the customer identifier is included within a set of predetermined customer identifiers.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving transaction data representing a transaction with the outputting merchant.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining a criterion for the outputting merchant; and

in which the step of providing an offer is performed if the transaction satisfies the criterion.

32. The method of claim 31 in which the criterion is based on:

transaction data for the customer,

an age of the customer, and

a credit card identifier of the customer.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving transaction data representing a transaction of the customer with the soliciting merchant; and

providing the bonus to the customer.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining a soliciting merchant budget amount of the soliciting merchant; and

adjusting the soliciting merchant budget amount based on the value of the provided bonus.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

determining an outputting merchant budget amount of the outputting merchant; and

adjusting the outputting merchant budget amount based on the value of the provided bonus.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining a condition for the soliciting merchant; and

in which the step of providing the bonus is performed if the transaction satisfies the condition.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

counting a number of redeemed offers.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing a supplemental bonus if the number of redeemed offers is less than a predetermined threshold.

39. The method of claim 33 in which the bonus comprises at least one of

a discount,

a line pass, and

a predetermined product.

40. The method of claim 33 in which the step of providing the bonus comprises:

crediting a credit card account.

41. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating an entry, the entry including an indication of the soliciting merchant and the outputting merchant.

42. The method of claim 41 in which the entry defines a criterion for the outputting merchant.

43. The method of claim 41 in which the entry defines a condition for the soliciting merchant.

44. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

measuring an activity rate; and

transmitting, if the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold, a request to have an outputting merchant output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

transmitting an indication of the bonus.

48. The method of claim 47 in which the charge amount is substantially equal to the bonus value.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

charging the outputting merchant a supplemental charge amount, the supplemental charge amount being based on the bonus value.

50. The method of claim 49 in which the bonus value is substantially equal to a sum of the charge amount and the supplemental charge amount.

46. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

receiving a request to output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a soliciting merchant; and

outputting an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

47. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

selecting a soliciting merchant;

selecting an outputting merchant;

creating an entry, the entry indicating the soliciting merchant and the outputting merchant;

providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant, the bonus having a bonus value;

receiving transaction data representing a transaction of the customer with the soliciting merchant;

providing the bonus to the customer; and

charging the soliciting merchant a charge amount, the charge amount being based on the bonus value.

51. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving an activity rate of a first merchant;

determining whether the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold; and

storing an entry that corresponds to the first merchant, the record defining a discount.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

offering to a customer of a second merchant the discount in exchange for consummating a transaction with the first merchant.

53. A computer-readable storage medium storing an entry created in accordance with the method of claim 51.

54. A computer-readable storage medium storing a table of entries, each entry created in accordance with the method of claim 51.

55. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

receiving a first activity rate of a first merchant;

determining whether the first activity rate is below a first predetermined threshold;

receiving a second activity rate of a second merchant;

determining whether the second activity rate is above a second predetermined threshold;

; and

creating an entry, the entry including an indication of the first merchant and the second merchant.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

providing to a customer of the second merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the first merchant.

57. A computer-readable storage medium storing an entry created in accordance with the method of claim 55.

58. A computer-readable storage medium storing a table of entries, each entry created in accordance with the method of claim 55.

59. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

participating in a first transaction with a first merchant;

receiving an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a second merchant;

participating in a second transaction with the second merchant after participating in the first transaction; and

receiving the bonus.

60. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

means for selecting a soliciting merchant;

means for selecting an outputting merchant; and

means for providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

61. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

select a soliciting merchant;

select an outputting merchant; and

provide to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

62. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:

selecting a soliciting merchant;

selecting an outputting merchant; and

providing to a customer of the outputting merchant an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

63. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

means for measuring an activity rate; and

means for transmitting, if the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold, a request to have an outputting merchant output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction.

64. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

measure an activity rate; and

transmit, if the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold, a request to have an outputting merchant output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction.

65. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:

measuring an activity rate; and

transmitting, if the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold, a request to have an outputting merchant output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction.

66. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

means for receiving a request to output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a soliciting merchant; and

means for outputting an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

67. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a request to output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a soliciting merchant; and

output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

68. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:

receiving a request to output an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a soliciting merchant; and

outputting an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

69. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an activity rate of a first merchant;

means for determining whether the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold; and

means for storing an entry that corresponds to the first merchant, the record defining a discount.

70. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an activity rate of a first merchant;

determine whether the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold; and

store an entry that corresponds to the first merchant, the record defining a discount.

71. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an activity rate of a first merchant;

determining whether the activity rate is below a predetermined threshold; and

storing an entry that corresponds to the first merchant, the record defining a discount.

72. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

means for receiving a first activity rate of a first merchant;

means for determining whether the first activity rate is below a first predetermined threshold;

means for receiving a second activity rate of a second merchant;

means for determining whether the second activity rate is above a second predetermined threshold; and

means for creating an entry, the entry including an indication of the first merchant and the second merchant.

73. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a first activity rate of a first merchant;

determine whether the first activity rate is below a first predetermined threshold;

receive a second activity rate of a second merchant;

determine whether the second activity rate is above a second predetermined threshold; and

create an entry, the entry including an indication of the first merchant and the second merchant.

74. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:

receiving a first activity rate of a first merchant;

determining whether the first activity rate is below a first predetermined threshold;

receiving a second activity rate of a second merchant;

determining whether the second activity rate is above a second predetermined threshold; and

creating an entry, the entry including an indication of the first merchant and the second merchant.

75. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

means for participating in a first transaction with a first merchant;

means for receiving an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a second merchant;

means for participating in a second transaction with the second merchant after participating in the first transaction; and

means for receiving the bonus.

76. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

participate in a first transaction with a first merchant;

receive an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a second merchant;

participate in a second transaction with the second merchant after participating in the first transaction; and

receive the bonus.

77. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:

participating in a first transaction with a first merchant;

receiving an offer for a bonus in exchange for consummating a transaction with a second merchant;

participating in a second transaction with the second merchant after participating in the first transaction; and

receiving the bonus.