System and method for attracting online viewers through distribution of hidden-award substrates redeemable at an online site
First Claim
1. A method for attracting visitors to an online site through offline distribution avenues comprising the steps of:
- distributing a plurality of substrates, wherein each substrate comprises a unique account number and at least one hidden image;
directing recipients of the substrates to one or more online site participants, each online site participant providing at least one revealing screen that reveals one or more awards from the hidden image when the one or more hidden images are placed in front of the revealing screen; and
accepting recipient information including at least the unique account number of the substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for attracting visitors to an online site through use of a hidden-award substrate. In particular, a system and method of distributing substrates containing a hidden image to a plurality of offline content recipients is disclosed. The hidden image may be revealed by placing the substrate in front of a revealing screen, such as a portion of a web page. To either review the revealing screen, accept the award or redeem the award, the user may be requested to input visitor information including a unique account number associated with the substrate as well as other user identifying information to enable the system to determine the effectiveness of the distribution of these devices. The system may develop and manage risk and reward sharing agreements, including a back-end revenue model in which the online content providers may pay based on the number of offline content receivers that actually visit an online destination.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for attracting visitors to an online site through offline distribution avenues comprising the steps of:
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distributing a plurality of substrates, wherein each substrate comprises a unique account number and at least one hidden image;
directing recipients of the substrates to one or more online site participants, each online site participant providing at least one revealing screen that reveals one or more awards from the hidden image when the one or more hidden images are placed in front of the revealing screen; and
accepting recipient information including at least the unique account number of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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7. The method of claim I further comprising the steps of:
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creating a predetermined award schedule that determines when the awards corresponding to hidden images in the substrates change;
providing the predetermined award schedule to recipients of the substrates; and
providing a revealing screen that reveals an award associated with a substrate according to the predetermined award schedule to thereby attract the user back to the online site participant. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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19. A method for encouraging input of visitor information at an online site comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one revealing screen from that online site that reveals one or more awards when a user places a hidden-image substrate in front of the revealing screen; and
providing a visitor information input page to the user; and
receiving input of specified visitor information prior to enabling the user to visit one or more protected screens at the online site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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29. A system for attracting visitors to an online site through offline distribution avenues comprising:
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distribution means for distributing a plurality of substrates, wherein each substrate comprises a unique account number and at least one hidden image;
directing means for directing recipients of the substrates to one or more online site participants;
one or more online site participants that provide at least one revealing screen that reveals one or more awards from the hidden image when the one or more hidden images are placed in front of the revealing screen; and
account number accepting means for accepting recipient information including at least the unique account number of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 33, 34)
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40. A server system for encouraging input of visitor information from visitors to that server system that receive files from the server system over the Internet comprising:
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visitor information input means for interacting with a visitor to receive visitor information from the user; and
revealing screen means, interacting with the visitor information input means, for presenting at least one revealing screen to the visitor that reveals one or more awards; and
screen control means for limiting a visitor'"'"'s access to specified content of the server system until the visitor information has been received. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification