Method and system for tracking conversions in a system for targeted data delivery

• US 20080103971A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus LLC (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vennelakanti, Ravigopal, Lukose, Rajan Mathew
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A system and method for tracking conversions. Specifically, the method includes collecting user information about a user and generating a user profile based on the user information. The user profile is stored such that the user profile is used to achieve delivery of data that is targeted to the user based on the user profile without requiring a release of user information in the user profile. The method determines that the user has performed an action. A unique payment option is associated with the action, wherein the unique payment option is generated in response to the action. Notification is received that the user has made a payment to an online merchant using the unique payment option. The payment is associated with a conversion of the action without cooperation of the online merchant.

Claims

1. A method for tracking conversions in a system for targeted data delivery, comprising:

collecting user information about a user from at least one electronic device that is associated with said user;

generating a user profile based on said user information;

storing said user profile, wherein said user profile is used to achieve delivery of data, which can be targeted to said user based on said user profile without requiring a release of any of said user information in said user profile;

determining that said user has performed an action;

associating a unique payment option with said action, wherein said unique payment option is generated in response to said action;

receiving notification that said user has made a payment to an online website using said unique payment option; and

associating said payment with a conversion of said action without cooperation of said online merchant; and

rewarding said user for said conversion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that that said user has performed an action comprises:

receiving information that said user has clicked on a sponsored link advertisement as said action.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating a unique payment option with said action comprises:

receiving information necessary to generate a VCC number as said unique payment option;

sending said information to a corresponding issuing financial institution; and

receiving said VCC number from said issuing financial institution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating a unique payment option with said action comprises:

associating said action with a session; and

notifying an issuing financial institution of said unique payment option of said session, such that said issuing financial institution issues said unique payment option in association with said session, and wherein said notifying comprises associating said unique payment option with said session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a value of said payment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said rewarding said user further comprises:

generating a reward for said conversion; and

delivering said reward to said user

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving notification that said user has made a payment comprises:

receiving said notification from a client device associated with said user.

8. A method for tracking conversions, comprising:

determining that a user has performed an action;

associating a unique payment option with said action, wherein said unique payment option is created in response to said action;

receiving notification that said user has made a payment to an online merchant using said unique payment option; and

associating said payment with a conversion of said action without cooperation of said online merchant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining that a user comprises:

receiving information that said user has clicked on a sponsored link advertisement as said action.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said associating a unique payment option with said action comprises:

associating said unique payment option with said action, wherein said unique payment option comprises a virtual credit card (VCC) number.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said associating said unique payment option with said action comprises:

associating said action with a session; and

notifying an issuing bank of said VCC number of said session, such that said issuing bank issues said VCC number in association with said session, and wherein said notifying comprises associating said VCC number with said session.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a value of said payment.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a reward for said conversion; and

delivering said reward to said user

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving notification that said user has made a payment comprises:

receiving said notification from a client device associated with said user.

15. Application instructions on a computer-usable medium where said application instructions when executed effect a method for tracking conversions, comprising:

collecting user information about a user from at least one electronic device that is associated with said user;

generating a user profile based on said user information;

storing said user profile, wherein said user profile is used to achieve delivery of data, which can be targeted to said user based on said user profile without requiring a release of any of said user information in said user profile;

determining that said user has performed an action;

associating a unique payment option with said action, wherein said unique payment option is generated in response to said action;

receiving notification that said user has made a payment to an online merchant using said unique payment option; and

associating said payment with a conversion of said action without cooperation of said online merchant.

16. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein said instruction for determining that said user has performed an action comprises additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for tracking conversions, said additional instructions further comprising:

receiving information that said user has clicked on a sponsored link advertisement as said action.

17. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein said instruction for associating a unique payment option with said action comprises additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for tracking conversions, said additional instructions further comprising:

receiving information necessary to generate a virtual credit card (VCC) number as said unique payment option;

sending said information to a corresponding issuing bank; and

receiving said VCC number from said issuing bank.

18. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein said instruction for associating a unique payment option with said action comprises additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for tracking conversions, said additional instructions further comprising:

associating said action with a session; and

notifying an issuing financial institution of said unique payment option of said session, such that said issuing financial institution issues said unique payment option in association with said session, and wherein said notifying comprises associating said unique payment option with said session.

19. The application instructions recited in claim 15, further comprising additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for tracking conversions, said additional instructions comprising:

receiving a value of said payment.

20. The application instructions recited in claim 15, further comprising additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for tracking conversions, said additional instructions comprising:

generating a reward for said conversion; and

delivering said reward to said user