Method for conveniently enabling a web server to provide commercial promotions using compiled code

• US 20020165908A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Trevathan, Matthew Bunkley, Lala, Ravesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An improved method for enabling an electronic commerce web server to provide commercial promotions. Modules of selectively executable compiled web server code are included within the web server'"'"'s larger body of compiled code. A database contains the terms of each promotion and an association of each promotion with one of the modules. When a commercial transaction arrives at the server, the transaction is checked for a qualifying value that matches one of the qualifying values of the promotions in the database. When a match is found, the associated module of selectively executable compiled web server code is executed, thereby providing the promotion.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, comprising the acts of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value; and

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, executing a module of selectively executable compiled web server code that provides the promotion.

2. A method for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, comprising the acts of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value;

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, determining a reward value of the promotion that includes the qualifying value; and

executing a module of selectively executable compiled code associated with the reward value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the module is associated with the reward value by a pointer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pointer is in the database.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the module is associated with the reward value implicitly.

6. The method of claim 2, further including the act of advancing a promotion counter in response to executing the module.

7. A method for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, comprising the acts of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value;

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active; and

when the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active, determining a reward value of the promotion that includes the qualifying value and executing a module of selectively executable compiled code associated with the reward value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active further includes the act of checking a start date.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active further includes the act of checking a stop date.

10. The method of claim 7, further including the act of advancing a promotion counter in response to executing the module.

11. Programmable media containing programmable software for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, the programmable software comprising the steps of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value; and

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, executing a module of selectively executable compiled web server code that provides the promotion.

13. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 12, wherein the module is associated with the reward value by a pointer.

14. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 13, wherein the pointer is in the database.

15. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 13, wherein the module is associated with the reward value implicitly.

16. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 13, further including the act of advancing a promotion counter in response to executing the module.

18. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 17, wherein the act of determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active further includes the act of checking a start date.

19. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 17, wherein the act of determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active further includes the act of checking a stop date.

20. The programmable media containing programmable software of claim 17, further including the act of advancing a promotion counter in response to executing the module.

12. Programmable media containing programmable software for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, the programmable software comprising the steps of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value;

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, determining a reward value of the promotion that includes the qualifying value; and

executing a module of selectively executable compiled code associated with the reward value.

17. Programmable media containing programmable software for enabling a web server to provide a commercial promotion, the programmable software comprising the steps of:

detecting a qualifying value of a commercial transaction;

checking a database of promotions for presence of a promotion that includes the qualifying value;

when a promotion that includes the qualifying value is present in the database, determining whether the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active; and

when the promotion that includes the qualifying value is active, determining a reward value of the promotion that includes the qualifying value and executing a module of selectively executable compiled code associated with the reward value.