SOFTWARE AGENT FOR FACILITATING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS THROUGH DISPLAY OF TARGETED PROMOTIONS OR COUPONS
First Claim
1. A method for use in presenting on-line promotions to users, comprising:
- monitoring a user'"'"'s network interaction;
determining whether to present an available promotion to the user based upon user profile data and criteria related to the user'"'"'s network interaction;
selectively presenting the available promotion to the user based upon the determining;
recording an indication of the presentation of the promotion to the user; and
confirming the occurrence of an off-line transaction related to the promotion by accessing transaction data obtained for the user in connection with a payment made over a third-party payment network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A software agent for locally tracking a user'"'"'s network interaction, such as web browsing, and providing targeted promotions with optional coupons to the user. The monitoring involves use of a downloaded file of network addresses and words potentially tailored to each individual user. The software agent locally compares network addresses and content of web sites accessed and search terms entered against the stored addresses and key words in the file. Upon detecting a match, the software agent contacts a system server to obtain a promotion with an optional coupon for the match, and displays an indication of the promotion or coupon to the user, providing the user with the option to view, decline, save, or defer the promotion. The user is provided with redeemable credits for viewing promotions, visiting the site of a merchant offering the promotion, completing a transaction, and spending at least a threshold dollar amount. The coupons can include coupons targeted to users geographically close to particular merchants so that the coupons can be printed and redeemed at the merchant'"'"'s establishment. Transactions related to the promotions, whether completed online or in-store, are confirmed to demonstrate the efficacy of the promotions, award additional loyalty rewards to a user'"'"'s account, or to compensate an advertiser or affiliate. Confirmation of in-store transactions may be accomplished by accessing transaction data routed through third-party payment networks used for credit and debit card transactions and cellular phone transactions and the like.
168 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for use in presenting on-line promotions to users, comprising:
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monitoring a user'"'"'s network interaction;
determining whether to present an available promotion to the user based upon user profile data and criteria related to the user'"'"'s network interaction;
selectively presenting the available promotion to the user based upon the determining;
recording an indication of the presentation of the promotion to the user; and
confirming the occurrence of an off-line transaction related to the promotion by accessing transaction data obtained for the user in connection with a payment made over a third-party payment network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for use in presenting on-line promotions to a user, comprising:
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storing a plurality of network addresses and key words associated with available promotions based upon user related criteria;
monitoring the user'"'"'s network interaction;
locally determining whether the user'"'"'s network interaction satisfies any of the stored plurality of network addresses and key words;
downloading, based upon the determining, a promotion associated with one of the plurality of network addresses and key words satisfied by the user'"'"'s network interaction;
presenting, based upon the determining, an indication of the downloaded promotion to the user;
presenting the promotion to the user based upon the user'"'"'s election to view the promotion; and
confirming the occurrence of an in-store transaction related to the presented promotion by accessing transaction data logged for the user in connection with a payment made over a third-party payment network.
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13. A method of confirming a transaction related to an on-line promotion, the method comprising:
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providing on-line a promotion to a user;
confirming an occurrence of an off-line transaction related to the on-line promotion by accessing transaction data obtained for the user in connection with a payment made over a third-party payment network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification