Systems and Methods for Delivering Affinity or Loyalty Reward Programs to Network Subscribers
First Claim
1. A computer system for providing an affinity program from a network service provider, the system comprising:
- an affinity program that comprises at least one affinity program member having at least one affiliate advertiser;
a first Internet appliance that provides a redirect IP address in response to a request from a subscriber for a URL, a web site, or a search word or term;
a server at the redirect IP address that provides a landing page comprising search results from the affiliate advertiser(s); and
a second Internet appliance that monitors IP address assignments from the network service provider to subscribers and passes information correlating IP addresses and unique identifying information for subscribers to the first Internet appliance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for an affinity rewards program, also called a loyalty rewards program, that is administered by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The system and method of the invention, as implemented by an ISP, provide many advantages over current affinity programs, which are administered by third party providers as distinct services from the services provided by ISPs. Among the advantages to the ISP subscribers are ease of use and ease of determining best prices for goods and services. Among the advantages to the ISP is an increase in subscribers and an increase in subscriber loyalty and satisfaction. Among the advantages to retailers is an increase in traffic at web sites, an increase in sales over the Internet, and an increase in the ability to personally market to program participants.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A computer system for providing an affinity program from a network service provider, the system comprising:
-
an affinity program that comprises at least one affinity program member having at least one affiliate advertiser; a first Internet appliance that provides a redirect IP address in response to a request from a subscriber for a URL, a web site, or a search word or term; a server at the redirect IP address that provides a landing page comprising search results from the affiliate advertiser(s); and a second Internet appliance that monitors IP address assignments from the network service provider to subscribers and passes information correlating IP addresses and unique identifying information for subscribers to the first Internet appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
-
-
9. (canceled)
-
12. A method of providing an affinity program to a network service provider subscriber, said method comprising:
-
providing a subscriber to a network service provider the ability to receive affinity program services from one or more affinity program members, wherein the affinity program members are managers of affinity programs not under the control of the network service provider; providing affinity program services users access to one or more affinity program services without requiring the users to manually provide account information to access the services; and providing a landing page that comprises affinity program services in response to a user'"'"'s request for services; wherein providing the subscriber affinity program services includes monitoring IP address assignments from the network service provider to users and correlating IP addresses with unique identifying information for the users. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
15. (canceled)
-
19. A method of doing business using a computer, said method comprising:
-
providing an affinity program to a network service provider subscriber, wherein the affinity program is provided by the subscriber'"'"'s network service provider, and wherein the affinity program comprises providing the subscriber the ability to receive affinity program services from one or more affinity program members, wherein the affinity program members are managers of affinity programs not under the control of the network service provider; and generating revenue from an Internet search performed by the subscriber; wherein the step of providing an affinity program includes monitoring IP address assignments from the network service provider to users and correlating IP addresses with unique identifying information for the users. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification