DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION GATHERING AND INCENTIVE AWARD SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070265920A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MyPoints.com, Inc. (Prodege)
• Original Assignee: MyPoints.com, Inc. (Prodege)
• Inventors: Muller, Craig, BISTRICEANU, Virgil
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A method of providing an incentive award to a user for visiting a participating web site includes registering a user with the information gathering system which maintains an award point account associated with the user and where award points are specific to the information gathering system, making award points available for purchase to a web site proprietor which operates the participating web site, awarding a predetermined amount of award points by the web site proprietor to the registered user for a visit conforming to a predefined rule to the participating web site, updating the award point account associated with the registered user, and exchanging award points associated with the registered user for a good or a service.

Claims

1. A method of providing an incentive award to a user for visiting a participating web site, the method comprising:

registering a user with the information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system maintains an award point account associated with the user and wherein award points are specific to the information gathering system;

making award points available for purchase to a web site proprietor, wherein the web site proprietor operates the participating web site;

awarding a predetermined amount of award points by the web site proprietor to the registered user for a visit to the participating web site, wherein the visit conforms to a predefined rule;

updating the award point account associated with the registered user;

exchanging award points associated with the registered user for a good or a service.