Upsell system embedded in a system and controlled by a third party

• US 20090182677A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RetailDNA LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: RetailDNA LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew, Otto, Jonathan, Mueller, Michael R., Mueller, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US11/985,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182677A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method of determining compensation, including the steps of: generating, using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software program stored in a memory element of the general-purpose computer and offered by a first business entity, at least one sales offer; transmitting the at least one sales offer using an interface element for the general-purpose computer; tracking, using the processor and a second software program stored in the memory element and supplied by a third business entity, the at least one sales offer and respective acceptances of sales offers from the at least one sales offer, the respective acceptances received by the interface element; determining, using the processor and the second software program, revenue from the respective acceptances; and calculating, using the processor and the second software program, compensation for use of the product or service, based on the revenue.

Claims

1. A method of determining compensation, comprising the steps of:

generating, using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software program stored in a memory element of the general-purpose computer and provided by a first business entity, at least one sales offer for a second business entity;

transmitting said at least one sales offer using an interface element for said general-purpose computer;

tracking, using said processor and a second software program stored in the memory element and provided by a third business entity, said plurality of sales offers and respective acceptances of sales offers from said at least one sales offer, wherein said respective acceptances are received by said interface element;

determining, using said processor and the second software program, revenue from said respective acceptances; and

,

calculating, using said processor and said second software program, compensation for use of said first software program, based on said revenue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining revenue further comprises determining, using the second software program, incremental revenue from said respective responses attributable to said use of said first software program, and wherein calculating compensation further comprises calculating said compensation at least partly with respect to said incremental revenue.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein generating at least one sales offer further comprises generating respective base portions and upsell portions for said at least one sales offer, wherein tracking said at least one sales offer and respective acceptances of sales offers further comprises tracking respective acceptances of said respective base portions and upsell portions, wherein determining incremental revenue from said respective responses further comprises determining revenue due to said respective acceptances of said upsell portions, and wherein calculating said compensation at least partly with respect to said incremental revenue further comprises calculating compensation based at least partly on said revenue due to said respective acceptances of said upsell portions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second software applications are a single software application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and third business entities are a single business entity.

6. A method of determining compensation for use of a software application, comprising the steps of:

generating at least a portion of a retail offer for a first business entity using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software application stored in a memory element of said general-purpose computer and provided by a second business entity;

transmitting said retail offer using an interface element for said general-purpose computer;

determining, using said processor and a second software application stored in the memory element and provided by a third business entity, incremental revenue associated with a response to said retail offer, said response received by said interface element and said incremental revenue attributable to said use of said first software application to generate said retail offer; and

,

calculating, using said processor and said second software application, compensation to said second business entity for use of said first software application by said first business entity, based at least partly on said incremental revenue.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein generating at least a portion of a retail offer further comprises generating a base portion of said retail offer and an upsell portion of said retail offer, wherein determining incremental income further comprises tracking, using said processor, an acceptance of said base portion and said upsell portion, and wherein calculating compensation further comprises calculating compensation based on said acceptance of said upsell portion.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second software applications are a single software application or the second and third business entities are a single business entity.

9. A method of determining compensation for use of a software application, comprising the steps of:

generating a base portion of a retail offer and an upsell portion of said retail offer for a first business entity using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software application in a memory element of said general-purpose computer, said first software application provided by a second business entity;

transmitting said retail offer using an interface element for said general-purpose computer;

tracking, using said processor and a second software application stored in the memory element and provided by a third business entity, an acceptance of said base portion and said upsell portion, said acceptance received by said interface element; and

,

calculating, using said processor and said second software application, compensation for said second business entity for use of said first software application by said first business entity, based on said acceptance of said upsell portion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second software applications are a single software application or the second and third business entities are a single business entity.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein generating an upsell portion further comprises generating an incentive to accept said upsell portion.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said incentive is a discount.

13. A system for determining compensation, comprising:

a generating element, in a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer, arranged to generate, using a first software application offered by a first business entity, at least one sales offer for a second business entity;

an interface element for said general-purpose computer arranged to transmit said at least one sales offer;

a tracking element in said processor arranged to track said at least one sales offer and respective acceptances of sales offers from said at least one sales offer using a second software program supplied by a third business entity and stored in the memory element, wherein said respective acceptances are received by said interface element;

a determining element in said processor arranged to determine, using the second software program, revenue from said respective acceptances; and

,

a calculating element in said processor arranged to calculate, using the second software program, compensation to said second business entity for use of said first software program, based on said revenue.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said determining element is arranged to determine incremental revenue from said respective responses attributable to said use of said software application, and wherein said calculating element is arranged to calculate said compensation at least partly with respect to said incremental revenue.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said generating element is arranged to generate respective base portions and upsell portions for said at least one sales offer, wherein said tracking element is arranged to track respective acceptances of said respective base portions and upsell portions, wherein said determining element is arranged to determine revenue due to said respective acceptances of said upsell portions, and wherein said calculating element is arranged to calculate compensation based at least partly on said revenue due to said respective acceptances of said upsell portions.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the first and second software applications are a single software application.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the first and third business entities are a single business entity.

18. A system of determining compensation for use of a software application, comprising:

a generating element in a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer arranged to generate at least a portion of a retail offer for a first business entity using a first software application stored in a memory element of said general-purpose computer and offered by a second business entity;

an interface element for said general-purpose computer arranged to transmit said retail offer;

a determining element in said process arranged to determine, using a second software program stored in the memory element and provided by a third business entity, incremental revenue associated with a response to said retail offer, said response received by said interface element and said incremental revenue attributable to said use of said first software application to generate said retail offer; and

,

a calculating element in said processor arranged to calculate, using the second software program, compensation to said second business entity for use of said software application by said first business entity, based at least partly on said incremental revenue.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said generating element is arranged to generate a base portion of said retail offer and an upsell portion of said retail offer, wherein said determining element is arranged to track, using said processor and said second software application, an acceptance of said base portion and said upsell portion, and wherein said calculating element is arranged to calculate compensation based on said acceptance of said upsell portion.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second software applications are a single software application or the second and third business entities are a single business entity.