On-line, interactive frequency and award redemption program

• US 20030195805A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Affinion Net Patents Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Affinion Net Patents Incorporated
• Inventors: Storey, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US10/420,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

An on-line frequency award program is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user'"'"'s credit and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates award points, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through an award catalog and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user'"'"'s award account.

Claims

1. An internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

a product presentation web page constructed and arranged to present a user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

a product selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select a product presented on said product presentation web page for purchase, wherein the user is issued award points in connection with purchasing the product selected with said product selection link; and

an award presentation web page constructed and arranged to present the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a product purchase link constructed and arranged to enable the user to purchase the product selected with said product selection link.

3. The system of claim 2, said product purchase link comprising means enabling the user to purchase merchandise selected with said product selection link.

4. The system of claim 2, said product purchase link comprising means for calculating the number of award points to be issued to the user when the user purchases the product with said product purchase link and for issuing the award points to the user after the user purchases the product with said product purchase link.

5. The system of claim 1, said product presentation web page being constructed and arranged to present the user with information relating to merchandise available for purchase.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an award selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select an award presented on said award presentation web page to exchange for a corresponding number of award points issued to the user.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an award points database web page constructed and arranged to provide the user with information relating to award points issued to the user.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising award selection means enabling the user to select an award presented on said award presentation means to exchange for a corresponding number of award points issued to the user.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising an award points means for providing the user with information relating to award points issued to the user.

8. An internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

a product presentation navigation link constructed and arranged to be activated by a user and direct the user to a product presentation web page which presents the user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

a product selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select a product presented on said product presentation web page for purchase, wherein the user is issued award points in connection with purchasing the product selected with said product selection link; and

an award presentation navigation link constructed and arranged to be activated by the user and direct the user to an award presentation web page which presents the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a product purchase link constructed and arranged to enable the user to purchase the product selected with said product selection link.

10. The system of claim 9, said product purchase link comprising means enabling the user to purchase merchandise selected with said product selection link.

11. The system of claim 9, said product purchase link comprising means for calculating the number of award points to be issued to the user when the user purchases the product with said product purchase link and for issuing the award points to the user after the user purchases the product with said product purchase link.

12. The system of claim 8, said product presentation web page being constructed and arranged to present the user with information relating to merchandise available for purchase.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising an award selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select an award presented on said award presentation web page to exchange for a number of award points issued to the user.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising an award points database navigation link constructed and arranged to be activated by the user and direct the user to an award points database web page which provides the user with information relating to award points issued to the user.

15. A method for providing an internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

providing a product presentation navigation link that can be activated by a user to direct the user to a product presentation web page which presents the user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

providing a product selection link that enables the user to select a product presented on the product presentation web page for purchase;

issuing award points to the user in connection with purchasing the product selected with the product selection link; and

providing an award presentation navigation link that can be activated by the user to direct the user to an award presentation web page which presents the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a product purchase link that enables the user to purchase the product selected with the product selection link.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the product purchase link comprises enabling the user to purchase merchandise selected with the product selection link.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the product purchase link comprises calculating the number of award points to be issued to the user when the user purchases the product with the product purchase link and issuing the award points to the user after the user purchases the product with the product purchase link.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an award selection link that enables the user to select an award presented on said award presentation web page to exchange for a number of award points issued to the user.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an award points database navigation link that can be activated by the user to direct the user to an award points database web page which provides the user with information relating to award points issued to the user.

21. An internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

product presentation means for presenting a user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

product selection means for enabling the user to select a product presented on said product presentation means for purchase, wherein the user is issued award points in connection with purchasing the product selected with said product selection means; and

award presentation means for presenting the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a product purchase means for enabling the user to purchase the product selected with said product selection means.

23. The system of claim 22, said product purchase means comprising means enabling the user to purchase merchandise selected with said product selection means.

24. The system of claim 22, said product purchase means comprising means for calculating the number of award points to be issued to the user when the user purchases the product with said product purchase means and for issuing the award points to the user after the user purchases the product with said product purchase means.

27. An internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

a product presentation web page constructed and arranged to present a user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

a product selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select a product presented on said product presentation web page for purchase, wherein the user is issued award points in connection with purchasing the product selected with said product selection link;

an award presentation web page constructed and arranged to present the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points; and

an award selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select an award presented on said award presentation web page to exchange for a corresponding number of award points issued to the user.

28. An internet-based product marketing incentive system comprising:

a product presentation web page constructed and arranged to present a user with information relating to one or more products available for purchase by the user;

a product selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select a product presented on said product presentation web page for purchase, wherein the user is issued award points in connection with purchasing the product selected with said product selection link;

an award presentation web page constructed and arranged to present the user with information relating to one or more awards for which the user can exchange award points;

an award selection link constructed and arranged to enable the user to select an award presented on said award presentation web page to exchange for a corresponding number of award points issued to the user; and

an award points database web page constructed and arranged to provide the user with information relating to award points issued to the user.