Connecting internet users

• US 20050273351A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrian B. Danieli, James P. Currier, Stan Chudnovsky
• Original Assignee: Adrian B. Danieli, James P. Currier, Stan Chudnovsky
• Inventors: Currier, James P., Chudnovsky, Stan, Danieli, Adrian B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users. In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a set of profiles of users. The apparatus further includes a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users. The apparatus also includes an interface between vendors and the database. The interface is to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a machine-readable medium embodying instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users. In still another embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving an offer as a connector from a vendor. The method also includes propagating the offer to associated users through a network.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium embodying instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing an offer to a connector;

receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector; and

completing the transaction with the users.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a group offer.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a circulating coupon.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a progressive coupon.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the connector is selected based on a profile of the connector.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a sponsored offer.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the transaction is completed with users conditioned on analysis of contents of associated profiles of the users.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

identity of the connector is provided to the vendor responsive to receipt of a fee.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a set of profiles of users;

a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users;

an interface between vendors and the database, the interface to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries.

10. A method, comprising:

providing an offer to a connector;

receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector; and

completing the transaction with the users.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the offer is a group offer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the offer is a circulating coupon.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the offer is a progressive coupon.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the connector is selected based on a profile of the connector.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the offer is a sponsored offer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the transaction is completed with users conditioned on analysis of contents of associated profiles of the users.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein:

identity of the connector is provided to the vendor responsive to receipt of a fee.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

rewarding the connector in proportion to a quantity of the responses.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving an offer as a connector from a vendor; and

propagating the offer to associated users through a network.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving responses from the users.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

forwarding responses from the users to the vendor.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the connector receiving a reward responsive to the responses.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the offer is a group offer.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the offer is a circulating coupon.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the offer is a progressive coupon.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the offer is a sponsored offer.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the transaction is completed with users conditioned on analysis of contents of associated profiles of the users.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the connector is selected based on a profile of the connector.