METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WORD OF MOUTH SELLING VIA A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented associated product or service server system comprising:
- a receiving module that receives a request for content from a user regarding at least one product or service associated with at the identity of at least one individual or group of individuals that is a member of an online community, the request indicating a desire for content relating to the individuals or groups of individuals and indicating an identifier of the individuals or groups of individuals whose content is being requested;
a retrieving module that retrieves additional information regarding the associated product or service purchased or desired by the user; and
a transmitting module that transmits the content and additional information to the user, wherein the associated products or services have been authorized by the individuals or groups of individuals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selling method and system that allows individuals or groups to interactively select associate products and services with their online presence in exchange for the online service, as part of an online service, or for some reward, monetary or otherwise. Individuals or groups select products and services from a pool of partner e-commerce retailers or import them from their purchasing histories based on personal preference and may use them as a means of expression for their online audience as part of an online service. This provides e-commerce retailers with self-selected targeted marketing and referral selling to affinity groups, the online version of word of mouth selling. E-commerce retailers share revenue and pay for referrals that occur via this word of mouth selling framework. Online services that have any form of user identity within the context of a larger audience may utilize this form of user based referral selling as a revenue generating tool.
14 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented associated product or service server system comprising:
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a receiving module that receives a request for content from a user regarding at least one product or service associated with at the identity of at least one individual or group of individuals that is a member of an online community, the request indicating a desire for content relating to the individuals or groups of individuals and indicating an identifier of the individuals or groups of individuals whose content is being requested; a retrieving module that retrieves additional information regarding the associated product or service purchased or desired by the user; and a transmitting module that transmits the content and additional information to the user, wherein the associated products or services have been authorized by the individuals or groups of individuals. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A computer implemented system of online referral based selling comprising:
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a computer-readable user information module adapted to provide information identifying individuals or groups of individuals of an online community and their associated content to a requesting member of the online community; a database module organizing content relating to the individuals or groups of individuals, said content including identities associated with self-determined product or service information and said data being associated with each identity in exchange for a reward, the database module being searchable to obtain word of mouth referrals of products or services; a computer accessible view request module adapted to receiving requests from members of the online community to view an individual'"'"'s associated content; a computer accessible data access module adapted to access said database and provide said content information and said associated product or service information to a requesting member in response to a request for said selected individual'"'"'s associated content; and a computer-readable information receipt module adapted to receiving information requests for product or service information based on the self-determined product or service information correlated with a particular individual or group of individuals in the database module, the computer-readable information receipt module further providing the product or service information, including information regarding associated selling service providers, to a requester of the product or service information; wherein said data associated with each identity are products and services that have not been purchased by the individual or group. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An advertising method comprising:
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allowing a plurality of agents to create self-determined profile on an online selling platform, wherein each agent endorses a product or service in their profile in exchange for the possibility of a reward, the agent being rewarded upon the purchase by another member of the online selling platform of the product or service endorsed by the agent; displaying the agent'"'"'s profile to a viewer; receiving a request from the viewer viewing the agent'"'"'s profile to view the product or service associated with the agent'"'"'s profile; displaying content related to the product or service to the viewer and providing the viewer with an option to purchase the good or service; crediting the agent'"'"'s profile with a reward upon achievement of a milestone consisting of one of viewing the content related to the product or service and purchasing the product or service. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification