PERSISTENCE MECHANISM FOR FACILITATING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS

• US 20120245997A1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Winslade, Christopher C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 : Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance

Abstract

A method for supporting online transactions which may include selecting a product being offered for sale, storing information regarding the selected product, determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met, and if so, notifying the buyer regarding the selected product information. The method may also allow the buyer to reestablish a prior transaction regarding the product.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input comprising a selection of product information;

storing an identification of the selected product information;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an email to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the selected product information, the email including a link;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising a selection of the link; and

responsive to the second input, delivering or supporting delivery of a web page to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input, the web page including the selected product information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

15. The method of claim 11, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

16. The method of claim 11, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the promotion is included in the email.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the email includes at least a portion of the product information.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored as a pending transaction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the link comprises a transaction reference number.

22. The method of claim 11, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the selected product information before sending the email, and if so, identifying the changes in the email.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

25. The method of claim 22, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more products that are related to a product corresponding to the selected product information.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more products is identified in the email.

27. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input initiating but not completing a transaction relating to one or more products;

identifying the transaction as a pending transaction;

storing information regarding the pending transaction;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an electronic communication to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the pending transaction;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising an interaction via the electronic communication; and

responsive to the second input, delivering or supporting delivery of a web page reestablishing the pending transaction to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information regarding the pending transaction is stored in a buyer profile.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the information regarding the pending transaction is stored in a buyer profile.

31. The method of claim 27, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving the one or more products.

32. The method of claim 27, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving the one or more products.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the promotion is included in the electronic communication.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the promotion is included as part of the reestablished transaction.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic communication includes at least a portion of the information regarding the pending transaction.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic communication comprises a transaction reference number.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic communication comprises an email.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the interaction comprises a single mouse click.

40. The method of claim 27, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the information regarding the pending transaction before sending the electronic communication, and if so, identifying the changes in the electronic communication.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

42. The method of claim 27, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the information regarding the pending transaction, and if so, updating the information regarding the pending transaction based on the changes.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein updating the information comprises including a better price.

44. The method of claim 42, comprising communicating the updated information regarding the pending transaction when reestablishing the pending transaction.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein a promotion is included as part of the updated information.

46. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

47. The method of claim 27, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more additional products that are related to the one or more products.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the one or more additional products is identified in the electronic communication.

49. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input comprising a selection of product information;

storing an identification of the selected product information;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an email to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the selected product information, the email including a link;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising a selection of the link; and

wherein, responsive to the second input, a web page is delivered to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input, the web page including the selected product information.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored in a buyer profile.

53. The method of claim 49, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

54. The method of claim 49, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving a product corresponding to the selected product information.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the promotion is included in the email.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the email includes at least a portion of the selected product information.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein the identification of the selected product information is stored as a pending transaction.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the link comprises a transaction reference number.

60. The method of claim 49, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the selected product information before sending the email, and if so, identifying the changes in the email.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

63. The method of claim 60, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more products that are related to a product corresponding to the selected product information.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the one or more products is identified in the email.

65. A method performed by a first server system of a first entity in support of online transactions, the method comprising:

receiving first input from a computing device of a buyer, the first input initiating but not completing a transaction relating to one or more products;

identifying the transaction as a pending transaction;

storing information regarding the pending transaction;

determining whether one or more predefined conditions has been met;

if the one or more predefined conditions has been met, sending an electronic communication to the buyer reminding the buyer regarding the pending transaction;

receiving second input from a computing device of the buyer, the second input comprising an interaction via the electronic communication; and

wherein, responsive to the second input, a web page is delivered to the computing device of the buyer corresponding to the received second input, the web page reestablishing the pending transaction.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the storing is based on input from the buyer.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the information regarding the pending transaction is stored in a buyer profile.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the information regarding the pending transaction is stored in a buyer profile.

69. The method of claim 65, comprising receiving input completing a transaction involving the one or more products.

70. The method of claim 65, comprising offering a promotion to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer as an incentive to the buyer to complete a transaction involving the one or more products.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the promotion is included in the electronic communication.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the promotion is included on the web page.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the promotion is included as part of the reestablished transaction.

74. The method of claim 65, wherein the electronic communication includes at least a portion of the information regarding the pending transaction.

75. The method of claim 65, wherein the electronic communication comprises a transaction reference number.

76. The method of claim 65, wherein the electronic communication comprises an email.

77. The method of claim 65, wherein the interaction comprises a single mouse click.

78. The method of claim 65, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the information regarding the pending transaction before sending the electronic communication, and if so, identifying the changes in the electronic communication.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein identifying the changes comprises identifying a better price.

80. The method of claim 65, comprising determining whether one or more changes have occurred to the information regarding the pending transaction, and if so, updating the information regarding the pending transaction based on the changes.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein updating the changes comprises identifying a better price.

82. The method of claim 80, comprising communicating the updated information regarding the pending transaction when reestablishing the pending transaction.

84. The method of claim 65, wherein the one or more predefined conditions comprises a time threshold.

85. The method of claim 65, comprising identifying to the buyer via the computing device of the buyer, one or more additional products that are related to the one or more products.

83. The method of claim 83, wherein a promotion is included as part of the updated information.

86. The method of claim 86, wherein the one or more additional products is identified in the electronic communication.