METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR FACILITATING A TRANSACTION BETWEEN A CUSTOMER, A MERCHANT AND AN ASSOCIATE

• US 20090228341A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inmar-Youtech LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Comb, Michael, Bunger, Mark, Reiling, Carolee A., McCaffery, Michael, Bank, Edward, Reiling, Michael, Velten, Juan Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, at least one associate is provided. The method includes the steps of the associate processing device transferring into the user processing device a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device. The first merchant link is framed with associate information. The user selects the first merchant link. The associate processing device transfers into the user processing device information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site. The user selects the first product to purchase. The user provides purchase information for purchasing the first product. The user processing device transfers the purchase information to the associate processing device. The associate processing device adds promotional information to the purchase information responsive to the user identification value. The associate processing device transfers the promotional information and the purchase information to the merchant processing device.

Claims

1. A method of encouraging an individual to purchase a product or service, the method comprising:

receiving, from a processing device associated with an individual, a selection of an electronic media corresponding to a product or a service;

accessing an account associated with the individual;

receiving information associated with a token;

recording the received information associated with the token;

incrementing a number of recorded tokens; and

if the number of recorded tokens equals a threshold value, presenting an incentive to the individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of an electronic media comprises receiving a selection of one or more of the following:

a URL address; and

a hyperlink to a corresponding webpage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing an account comprises:

accessing previously transmitted instructions from the processing device associated with the individual, wherein the instructions identify the individual; and

using the instructions to access the account associated with the individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the token is associated with one or more of the following:

an online merchant; and

an offline merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting one or more instructions to the processing device associated with the individual; and

using the one or more transmitted instructions to electronically identify the individual.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more transmitted instructions comprise a cookie.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information associated with the token comprises data indicative of where a product associated with the token was purchased.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data indicative of where a product associated with the token was purchased comprises a tracking number.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the individual with one or more survey questions, wherein the survey questions inquire about one or more of the individual'"'"'s buying habits, buying patterns and personal information; and

if a response to each survey question is received, providing the individual with a second incentive.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting the individual with one or more survey questions comprises sending the individual an email comprising a link to the one or more survey questions.

11. A system of encouraging an individual to purchase a product or service, the system comprising:

a first processing device;

a second processing device in communication with the first processing device;

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the second processing device, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for;

receiving, from the first processing device, a selection of an electronic media corresponding to a product or a service,

accessing an account associated with the individual,

receiving information associated with a token,

recording the received information associated with the token,

incrementing a number of recorded tokens, and

if the number of recorded tokens equals a threshold value, presenting an incentive to the individual.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programming instructions for receiving a selection of an electronic media comprise instructions for receiving a selection of one or more of the following:

a URL address; and

a hyperlink to a corresponding webpage.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programming instructions for accessing an account comprise one or more programming instructions for:

accessing previously transmitted instructions from the processing device associated with the individual, wherein the instructions identify the individual; and

using the instructions to access an account associated with the individual.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programming instructions further comprise one or more programming instructions for:

transmitting one or more instructions to the processing device associated with the individual; and

using the one or more instructions to electronically identify the individual.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more instructions comprise a cookie.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more programming instructions further comprise one or more programming instructions for:

presenting the individual with one or more survey questions, wherein the survey questions inquire about one or more of the individual'"'"'s buying habits, buying patterns and personal information; and

if a response to each survey question is received, providing the individual with a second incentive.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more programming instructions for presenting the individual with one or more survey questions comprise one or more programming instructions for sending the individual an email comprising a link to the one or more survey questions.