Method for inserting promotional messages into an internet purchase transaction

• US 20020120528A1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EdgeCast Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EdgeCast Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutten, Curt A.
• Application Number:
  US10/001,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120528A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

The present invention may be regarded as a method for inserting promotional messages into an Internet purchase transaction. The method monitors a customer'"'"'s path of progression through a web site purchasing process. The method responds to the path selected by interjecting a plurality of promotional messages, each at a selected point in the path.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating Internet sales comprising:

monitoring a customer'"'"'s path of progression through a web site purchasing process; and

responding to the path selected to interject a plurality of promotional messages, each at a selected point in the path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective one of the promotional messages comprises a purchase order.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the purchase order is a warranty purchase order.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the purchase order is filled out with customer information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the customer information is obtained from a server side user profile developed from customer cookies.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a reminder promotional message subsequent to the customer'"'"'s path of progression through the web site purchasing process.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reminder promotional message is provided in response to a request by the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an initial promotional message is interjected when the customer selects a product of interest.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a follow-up promotional message is interjected when the customer requests information about a particular model of the product of interest.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a purchase promotional message for a related item is interjected when the customer requests a purchase of the particular model of the product of interest.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a purchase promotional message for a related item is interjected when the customer requests a purchase of the product of interest.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a respective one of the promotional messages comprises a purchase order.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the purchase order is a warranty purchase order.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the purchase order is filled out with customer information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the customer information is obtained from a server side user profile developed from customer cookies.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the server further comprises a reminder module configured to transmit a reminder promotional message to a respective customer computer subsequent to the customer'"'"'s path of progression through the web site purchasing process.

12. A system for facilitating Internet sales comprising:

a server configured to communicate with a plurality of customer computers over a network, the server comprising;

a monitor module configured to monitor a customer'"'"'s path of progression through a web site purchasing process; and

an interjection module configured to interject a plurality of promotional messages in response to the customer'"'"'s path of progression through the web site purchasing process.