Lock-and-key consumer billing data protection for electronic marketing
First Claim
1. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and partial billing information, comprising the steps of:
- sending an electronic communication offer to a consumer corresponding to the consumer identification information stored in one of the plurality of consumer records;
receiving a return electronic communication containing a key from said consumer, said return electronic communication indicative that said consumer desires to purchase a product or service offered in said electronic communication offer, wherein said key completes said partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and
processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A “lock-and-key” consumer billing data protection capability is provided to electronic marketing systems which are based upon previously-acquired consumer lists. The lists contain partial billing information for each consumer, which is insufficient to access the consumer'"'"'s account. Thus, when a marketer employs this capability to communicate with a consumer, via an electronic message to offer them a product or service, the marketer remains “locked” out from accessing the consumer'"'"'s account. When the consumer wishes to authorize the purchase of an offered product or service, the consumer must “reach into their wallet” to provide the “key” to their account via a return communication. They “key” is the missing billing information not acquired from the list provider.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and partial billing information, comprising the steps of:
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sending an electronic communication offer to a consumer corresponding to the consumer identification information stored in one of the plurality of consumer records;
receiving a return electronic communication containing a key from said consumer, said return electronic communication indicative that said consumer desires to purchase a product or service offered in said electronic communication offer, wherein said key completes said partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and
processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system, comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and partial billing information;
enabling a marketer, utilizing the electronic marketing system, to access said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records;
enabling said marketer, utilizing the electronic marketing system, to send an electronic communication offer to a consumer corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records;
receiving a return electronic communication containing a key from said consumer, said return electronic communication indicative that said consumer desires to purchase a product or service offered by said marketer in said electronic communication offer; and
processing an order reflective of said product or service and billing for said order using said key. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and partial billing information, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a key, indicative that a consumer corresponding to the consumer identification information stored in one of the plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase an offered product or service, and wherein said key completes the partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records; and
processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system, comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and partial billing information;
enabling a marketer, utilizing the electronic marketing system, to access said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records;
receiving a key from a consumer, indicative that said consumer, who corresponds to said consumer identification information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service offered by said marketer; and
processing an order reflective of said product or service and billing for said order using said key. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information, comprising:
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means for sending an electronic communication offer to a consumer corresponding to the consumer identification information stored in one of the plurality of consumer records;
means for receiving a return electronic communication containing a key from said consumer, said return electronic communication indicative that said consumer desires to purchase a product or service offered in said electronic communication offer; and
means for processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the consumer identification information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in an electronic marketing system, comprising:
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storage means for storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information;
means for enabling a marketer, utilizing the electronic marketing system, to access said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records;
means for enabling said marketer, utilizing the electronic marketing system, to send an electronic communication offer to a consumer corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records;
means for receiving a return electronic communication containing a key from said consumer, said return electronic communication indicative that said consumer desires to purchase a product or service offered by said marketer in said electronic communication offer; and
means for processing an order reflective of said product or service and billing for said order using said key. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification