Method, system, and computer program product for tracing cross-channel customers
First Claim
1. A method of correlating the obtaining of an item at an off-line location with an on-line search session leading to the obtaining of said item, comprising the steps of:
- assigning a session identifier to said on-line search session when a session participant initiates said on-line search session;
presenting said session identifier to said session participant in connection with an incentive to obtain said item at said off-line location;
requiring said session participant to present said session identifier at said off-line location to obtain the benefit of said incentive;
correlating said obtaining of said item with said on-line search session based on said session identifier; and
storing the results of said correlation as a correlation data set for subsequent analysis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The unique session ID associated with a particular web session is presented to the website visitor in connection with an incentive for purchase of merchandise at an off-line store. The number can be recorded manually by the user, stored electronically, or can be presented in the form of a coupon which is printable on a printer attached to the computer or other device on which the user visits the website. To be eligible for the incentive, the user must present the session ID to personnel at the off-line store when completing the purchase. Once in possession of the session ID correlated to a particular purchase or purchases, the store/entity can use the session ID to review and analyze the operations performed and web pages visited during the session identified by the session ID, thereby giving the entity valuable information regarding what may have gone into the thought process of the user prior to making the purchase.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of correlating the obtaining of an item at an off-line location with an on-line search session leading to the obtaining of said item, comprising the steps of:
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assigning a session identifier to said on-line search session when a session participant initiates said on-line search session;
presenting said session identifier to said session participant in connection with an incentive to obtain said item at said off-line location;
requiring said session participant to present said session identifier at said off-line location to obtain the benefit of said incentive;
correlating said obtaining of said item with said on-line search session based on said session identifier; and
storing the results of said correlation as a correlation data set for subsequent analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of analyzing the effectiveness of a website in inducing the purchase of items at an off-line location, comprising the steps of:
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assigning a session identifier to an on-line search session on said website when a session participant initiates said on-line search session;
presenting said session identifier to said session participant in connection with an incentive to purchase at said off-line location an item identified during said on-line session;
requiring said session participant to present said session identifier at said off-line location to obtain the benefit of said incentive in connection with the purchase of said item;
correlating said purchase of said item with said on-line search session based on said session identifier and storing said correlation as a correlation item;
analyzing said correlation item to identify elements of said website to be modified to improve off-line sales generated from on-line searching; and
modifying said website to improve any identified elements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for analyzing the effectiveness of a website in inducing the purchase of items at an off-line location, comprising:
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means for assigning a session identifier to an on-line search session on said website when a session participant initiates said on-line search session;
means for presenting said session identifier to said session participant in connection with an incentive to purchase at said off-line location an item identified during said on-line session;
means for requiring said session participant to present said session identifier at said off-line location to obtain the benefit of said incentive in connection with the purchase of said item;
means for correlating said purchase of said item with said on-line search session based on said session identifier and storing said correlation as a correlation item;
means for analyzing said correlation item to identify elements of said website to be modified to improve off-line sales generated from on-line searching; and
means for modifying said website to improve any identified elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product for analyzing the effectiveness of a website in inducing the purchase of items at an off-line location, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:
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computer-readable program code that assigns a session identifier to an on-line search session on said web site when a session participant initiates said on-line search session;
computer-readable program code that presents said session identifier to said session participant in connection with an incentive to purchase at said off-line location an item identified during said on-line session;
computer-readable program code that requires said session participant to present said session identifier at said off-line location to obtain the benefit of said incentive in connection with the purchase of said item;
computer-readable program code that correlates said purchase of said item with said on-line search session based on said session identifier and storing said correlation as a correlation item;
computer-readable program code that analyzes said correlation item to identify elements of said website to be modified to improve off-line sales generated from on-line searching; and
computer-readable program code that modifies said website to improve any identified elements. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification