Methods and apparatus for evaluating a user's affinity for a property

• US 20040043372A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas Schoellkopf Jebb, James Everett Byrne
• Original Assignee: Douglas Schoellkopf Jebb, James Everett Byrne
• Inventors: Jebb, Douglas Schoellkopf, Byrne, James Everett
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for facilitating or allowing a user'"'"'s affinity for a property to be evaluated, recognized, rewarded and/or monetized. A user may access a Web site, computer system, kiosk, or other resource operated by, for or on behalf of a property. For example, a server may implement a Web site on behalf of one or more properties. The user may then provide or authorize a payment that allows the user to receive or take a test directed to examining the user'"'"'s knowledge of a property and/or to receive information regarding one or more actions that the user may complete to demonstrate the user'"'"'s affinity for the property. A user demonstrating affinity for the property may receive recognition or other benefit associated with the property.

Claims

1. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

identifying a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property;

receiving a payment associated with said user and said test;

establishing said test;

allowing said user to take said test; and

providing a certification designation if said user passes said test.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property includes receiving a request from said user to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of said property.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a payment associated with said user and said test includes receiving a notification that said user has made said payment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing said test includes selecting a set of questions from a larger plurality of potential questions and using said set of questions for said test.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing said test includes selecting a first set of questions having a first difficulty rating and a second set of questions having a second difficulty rating and using said first set of questions and said second set of questions for said test.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing said test includes sending a request for a test and receiving said test in response to said request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said test includes a set of questions and said allowing said user to take said test includes one of the following:

providing all of said set of questions to said user at approximately the same time; and

providing said questions to said user one at a time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a certification designation if said user passes said test includes at least one of the following:

providing a communication that includes an electronic version of said certification designation;

providing a communication that said user is entitled to said certification designation;

providing a tangible item, said tangible item including an indication of said certification designation; and

providing a tangible item, said tangible item including an indication of said property and an indication of said user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said certification designation comprises at least one of the following:

a score on said test;

a photograph of said user;

a date said certification designation is earned by said user;

a date said certification designation is provided to said user;

a time period of validity associated with said certification designation;

an identifier associated with said user;

an identifier associated with said property;

an indication of a certifying entity associated with said test;

an indication of a certifying entity associated with said certification designation;

an indication of a certifying entity associated with said property; and

a certification level associated with said property.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said certification designation comprises a tangible item provided to said user, said tangible item including an identifier of said user and an identifier of said certification designation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing said test occurs before said receiving a payment associated with said user and said test.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a score indicative of said user'"'"'s taking of said test.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying said property.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying said certification designation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said certification designation is based on said user'"'"'s performance on said test.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining said payment.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment is based, at least in part, on at least one of the following:

said test;

said property;

said user; and

said certification designation.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one attribute of said user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said certification designation has an associated time period of validity.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said test is based, at least in part, on at least one of the following:

said payment;

said property;

an attribute of said user; and

said certification designation.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a list of users, each of which has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

making public a list of users, each of which has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein a finite time is allowed for said user to take said test.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said property has an associated subject and an associated certifying entity.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a passing score associated with said test.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a passing score associated with said certification designation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said passing score is based, at least in part, on said payment.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said passing score is based, at least in part, on an attribute of said user.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing said user to receive a tutorial regarding said property.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing said user to take another test regarding said property if said user fails said test.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing said user to receive a tutorial regarding said property if said user fails said test.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing said user to demonstrate affinity for said property by completing at least one action associated with said property.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication of at least one action that said user can complete to demonstrate affinity for said property.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one action that said user can complete to demonstrate affinity for said property.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one activity that said user has completed and that demonstrates said user'"'"'s affinity for said property.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said user passed said test.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a result of said user taking said test.

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of said user'"'"'s score on said test.

39. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a communication indicative of said certification designation to a party.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said communication includes a message provided by said user.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving an indication of said party from said user.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one of the following from said user;

a photograph of said user;

a text message;

an electronic copy of said user'"'"'s autograph; and

an indication of an identifier associated with said user.

43. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

identifying a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property;

establishing said test;

allowing said user to take said test; and

providing an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining said certification designation.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a payment associated with said user.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said certification designation is based, at least in part, on said payment.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing said certification designation.

48. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

receiving a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property in order to demonstrate affinity for said property;

determining a test applicable to said user;

providing said test in response to said request;

receiving an indication of a result of said user taking said test; and

providing a certification designation if said user passes said test.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said receiving a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property includes receiving said request from said user.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein said determining a test applicable to said user includes basing at least one question for said test on an attribute of said user.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing said test in response to said request includes providing said test to said user.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing a certification designation if said user passes said test includes providing said certification designation to said user.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a payment associated with said user and said test.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a payment associated with said user and said certification designation.

55. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a notification that said user has made a payment.

56. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

assigning an identifier to said user.

57. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

allowing said user to select an identifier.

58. The method of claim 48, wherein said certification designation has an associated expiration date.

59. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining if said user has passed said test.

60. The method of claim 48, wherein what constitutes passing of said test is based, at least in part, on said certification designation.

61. The method of claim 48, wherein what constitutes passing of said test is based, at least in part, on an attribute of said user.

62. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

receiving a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s affinity for a property;

determining a test applicable to said user;

providing said test in response to said request;

receiving an indication of a result of said user taking said test; and

providing an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

63. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

receiving a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property;

determining a test applicable to said user;

providing said test in response to said request;

determining results of said user taking test; and

providing an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

64. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

identifying a user who wants to demonstrate affinity for a property;

determining at least one action that said user may complete to demonstrate affinity for said property;

determining that said user has completed said at least one action; and

providing a certification designation regarding said user and said property.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

providing an indication of said at least one action.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a payment associated with said user.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein said at least one action includes said user taking a test regarding said property.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein said at least one action includes said user taking a test associated with said property and said user completing a task associated with said property.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein said user completes said at least one action prior to said determining at least one action.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein said certification designation has an associated time period of validity.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein said at least one action is based, at least in part, on an attribute of said user.

72. A method for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

identifying a user who wants to demonstrate affinity for a property;

determining at least one action that said user may complete to demonstrate affinity for said property;

determining that said user has completed said at least one action; and

providing an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

74. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

providing an indication of said at least one action.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein said certification designation has an associated time period of validity.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein said at least one action is based, at least in part, on an attribute of said user.

73. The method of claim 73, wherein said user has completed said at least one action prior to said determining at least one action.

77. A system for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

a memory;

a communication port; and

a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;

determine a user who wants to demonstrate affinity for a property;

determine at least one action that said user may complete to demonstrate affinity for said property;

determine that said user has completed said at least one action; and

provide an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

78. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

first instructions for identifying a user who wants to demonstrate affinity for a property;

second instructions for identifying at least one action that said user may complete to demonstrate affinity for said property;

third instructions for identifying that said user has completed said at least one action; and

fourth instructions for sending an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

79. A system for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

a memory;

a communication port; and

a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;

receive a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property;

determine a test applicable to said user;

provide said test in response to said request;

determine results of said user taking test; and

provide an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.

80. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for determining a user'"'"'s affinity for a property, comprising:

first instructions for obtaining a request for a test for a user who wants to take a test regarding said user'"'"'s knowledge of a property;

second instructions for establishing a test applicable to said user;

third instructions for sending said test in response to said request;

fourth instructions for identifying results of said user taking test; and

fifth instructions for sending an indication that said user has earned a certification designation associated with said property.