SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY

• US 20100023391A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frank C. Hudetz
• Original Assignee: Frank C. Hudetz
• Inventors: Hudetz, Peter R., Hudetz, Frank C.
• Application Number:
  US12/180,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.410
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method tracking commercial activity that can be initiated by a print or electronic media provider and that includes creating an insert that contains unique code information and associating the code information with a particular recipient for tracking consumer transactions by imaging a code or applying electromagnetically-readable media onto an insert and applying recipient information onto a mailing host. The code and recipient information are maintained on a relational database and the mailing host and insert are delivered to a recipient. When the recipient takes some action with the insert, the insert use information by the particular recipient is collected and the relational database is used to identify the recipient. A marketing database is then created from the insert use information by the particular recipient. In one method, the code information on the insert and the recipient information are recorded by a publisher during binding and processing of a magazine, catalogue, or loose leaf mailing.

Claims

16. A method for tracking consumer transactions using inserts having random codes thereon, the method comprising:

a) scanning the random code on an insert;

b) applying recipient information onto a mailing host, associating the random code with the recipient information, and creating a file log;

c) associating the insert with the mailing host;

d) delivering the mailing host and the insert to a recipient;

e) receiving the random code and using the log file to identify the recipient; and

f) creating a marketing database.

1. A method for tracking advertising effectiveness by a mailing originator, the method comprising:

a) pre-imaging a code onto an insert;

b) applying recipient information onto a mailing host, associating the code with the recipient information, and creating a log file;

c) delivering the mailing host and the insert to the recipient;

d) collecting insert use information by the recipient and using the log file to identify the recipient; and

e) creating a marketing database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a marketing database comprises creating files identifying a particular recipient and the insert use information by the recipient.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting at least selected files to marketing entities.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the selected files to marketing entities comprises transmitting the selected files to marketing entities identified with the insert.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying recipient information onto a mailing host comprises imaging recipient name and address information on the mailing host.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein imaging recipient name and address information on the mailing host comprises imaging recipient name and address information on a publication.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising binding the publication.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein imaging recipient name and address information on the mailing host comprises imaging recipient name and address information on one of an envelope, a loose sheet, or an overwrap.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising scanning the random code by a third party, and wherein collecting insert use information comprises receiving the random code from the third party.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein pre-imaging a code comprises imaging a bar code containing one or more of a random number or a sequence number.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein pre-imaging a code comprises imaging a customized URL onto the insert.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein collecting insert use information comprises monitoring an electronic file server for contacts identifying the customized URL.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein pre-imaging a code comprises imaging a customized electronic messaging code onto the insert.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein collecting insert use information comprises monitoring an electronic file server for contacts identifying the electronic messaging code.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein using the log file to identify the recipient comprising downloading the log file into a mailing host computer system and creating a relational database.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein pre-imaging a code onto an insert comprises feeding a roll of inserts, each insert having a code thereon, and finishing the inserts.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein pre-imaging a code onto an insert comprises:

a) feeding a roll of inserts;

b) imaging an individual code onto each insert; and

c) gathering the inserts.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein grouping the cover sheet with additional sheets comprises binding the cover sheet and the additional sheets.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein grouping the cover sheet with additional sheets comprises attaching the cover sheet to an envelope inserting the additional sheets and the insert into the envelope.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein associating the insert with the mailing host comprises applying the cover sheet and the insert to a product.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein scanning the random code and receiving the random code comprises scanning the code from an RF tag positioned on the insert and transmitting the code to a receiver.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein scanning the random code receiving the random code comprises reading the code from a magnetic strip positioned on the insert and transmitting the code to a receiver.

17-1. The method of claim 16, wherein applying recipient information onto a mailing host comprises tracking the random code and the insert through a collation line and feeding a cover sheet from a feeder through an imaging system to image recipient name and address information on the cover sheet.

18-2. The method of claim 17, wherein associating the insert with the mailing host comprises grouping the cover sheet with additional sheets and inserting the insert with the additional sheet.

25. A method for tracking commercial activity, the method comprising:

a) imaging an insert with dynamic information;

b) associating the insert with a mailing host, applying recipient identification information to the mailing host, and creating a log file;

c) delivering the mailing host and the insert to the recipient;

d) collecting the dynamic information and using the log file to identify the recipient; and

e) creating a marketing database.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein imaging an insert with dynamic information comprises unwinding a web and imaging sections of the web with printed information.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising cutting the web and organizing the inserts as groups of sheets suitable for use in collating a publication.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising taking up the imaged sections of the web and storing the web for later use.