Online loyalty program
First Claim
1. A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising a server computer hosting a Web site, wherein the server computer is configured to:
- enable a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access the Web site over a computer network through a client computer;
store data in a database, wherein the data comprises;
a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user; and
one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing a first activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing a second activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts; and
enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising a server computer hosting a Web site. The server computer enables a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access the Web site over a computer network through a client computer and stores data in a database, including a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user, and one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user. The server computer enables the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account and to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account. The server computer enables the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts and enables the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising a server computer hosting a Web site, wherein the server computer is configured to:
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enable a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access the Web site over a computer network through a client computer;
store data in a database, wherein the data comprises;
a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user; and
one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing a first activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing a second activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts; and
enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising:
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providing a server computer accessible over a computer network;
storing data on the server computer in a database, wherein the database comprises;
a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a user; and
one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a sub-user affiliated with the user;
crediting one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;
transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points from the user account to at least the one affiliated sub-user account;
crediting one or more reward points to at least the one affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;
redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points from at least the one affiliated sub-user account to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. Storage media having embodied therein a plurality of machine-readable instructions, wherein, when a processor executes the instructions, the instructions provide for:
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storing data on a server computer in a database, wherein the database comprises;
a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a user; and
one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a sub-user affiliated with the user;
crediting one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;
transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points from the user account to at least the one affiliated sub-user account;
crediting one or more reward points to at least the one affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;
redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points from at least the one affiliated sub-user account to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.
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34. Storage media having embodied therein a plurality of machine-readable instructions adapted to be executed by a computer processor, to:
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enable a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access a Web site over a computer network through a client computer;
store data in a database, wherein the data comprises;
a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user; and
one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing a first activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing a second activity defined by the sponsor;
enable the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts; and
enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.
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35. A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand, comprising a server hosting an online environment accessible by a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user, wherein the server is configured to:
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enable the user to supervise the online activities of the affiliated sub-user;
issue one or more reward points to the user;
enable the user to transfer one or more reward points from the user to the affiliated sub-user;
issue one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity specified by the online environment;
enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points in exchange for branded merchandise from an owner of the brand;
provide an online forum enabling the affiliated sub-user to communicate with one or more other sub-users, wherein the server is configured to enable the user to;
supervise the content of messages sent and received by the affiliated sub-user through the online forum;
control to which of the one or more other sub-users the affiliated sub-user may transmit messages through the online forum; and
control from which of the one or more other sub-users the affiliated sub-user may receive messages through the online forum;
maintain a database storing interests associated with the affiliated sub-user and at least one of the one or more other sub-users; and
enable the affiliated sub-user to access the database to select other sub-users whom the affiliated sub-user desires to engage in communication.
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36. A method for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising:
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providing a server hosting an online environment, wherein the online environment enables a user to supervise the activities of an affiliated sub-user within the online environment;
issuing one or more reward points to the user;
transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points of the user to the affiliated sub-user;
issuing one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity specified by the sponsor;
redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points of the affiliated sub-user in exchange for branded merchandise from an owner of the brand;
providing an online forum enabling the affiliated sub-user to communicate with one or more other sub-users, the online forum enabling the user to;
review the content of messages transmitted and received by the affiliated sub-user;
select other sub-users to whom the affiliated sub-user may transmit messages; and
select other sub-users from whom the affiliated sub-user may receive messages;
maintaining a database on a computer accessible over a computer network, wherein the database includes interests associated with the affiliated sub-user and at least one of the one or more other sub-users;
enabling the affiliated sub-user to access the database using the online environment; and
enabling the affiliated sub-user to select other sub-users with whom the affiliated sub-user desires to exchange messages using the online forum.
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Specification