METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SALE OFFER OVER AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20130317915A1
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyklos Entertainment Srl
• Original Assignee: Black Tower SA
• Inventors: FORLAI, Luigi
• Application Number:
  US13/962,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20130317915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• 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 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for presenting sale offers over an electronic network system. In one implementation, a system is provided that comprises at least one network-communications interface that receives at least one offer for a good or service from a third party and an acceptance of the at least one offer from at least one of a plurality of user devices over a communications network. The system also includes at least one processor that executes a set of instructions to electronically present, over a communications network, the at least one offer to the plurality of user devices, wherein the at least one offer is presented at a time unpredictable to each user of each of the plurality of user devices and can only be accepted before the expiration of a limited duration that is preset according to a length of time or a quantity of goods or services.

Claims

1-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A system the comprising:

at least one network-communications interface that receives (i) at least one offer for a good or service from a third party and (ii) an acceptance of the at least one offer from at least one of a plurality of user devices over a communications network;

at least one processor that executes a set of instructions; and

at least one computer-readable medium that stores the set of instructions, the set of instructions being executable by the at least one processor to;

electronically present, over the communications network, the at least one offer to the plurality of user devices, wherein the at least one offer is presented at a time unpredictable to each user of each of the plurality of user devices and can only be accepted before the expiration of a limited duration that is set according to a length of time or a quantity of goods or services;

determine whether the acceptance was received from the at least one user device before the expiration of the limited duration; and

if the acceptance was received before the expiration of the limited duration, sending, over the communications network using the at least one network-communications interface, a unique identifier to the at least one user device to enable delivery of the good or service by the third party.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the unique identifier is sent after payment information is accepted or processed.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

electronically present the at least one offer to the plurality of user devices based upon targeting information.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the targeting information comprises profile information.

66. The system of claim 62, further comprising a database that stores tracking data for each of the users.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the tracking data comprises the unique identifier and a timestamp.

68. The system of claim 62, wherein the plurality of user devices comprise one or more of a computer, an interactive TV device, a wireless phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

69. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a server including at least one processor, at least one offer for a good or service from a third party;

electronically presenting, by the server and over a communications network, the at least one offer to a plurality of user devices, wherein the at least one offer is presented at a time unpredictable to each user of each of the plurality of user devices and can only be accepted before the expiration of a limited duration that is preset according to a length of time or a quantity of goods or services;

receiving, by the server and over the communications network, an acceptance of the at least one offer from at least one of the plurality of user devices;

determining, by the server, whether the acceptance was received from the at least one user device before the expiration of the limited duration; and

if the acceptance was received before the expiration of the limited duration, sending, over the communications network, a unique identifier for the at least one user device to enable delivery of the good or service by the third party.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the unique identifier is sent after payment information is accepted or processed.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein electronically presenting the at least one offer to the plurality of user devices is based upon targeting information.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the targeting information comprises profile information.

73. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

storing, in a database, tracking data for each of the users.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the tracking data comprises the unique identifier and a timestamp.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein the plurality of user devices comprise one or more of a computer, an interactive TV device, a wireless phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

76. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method comprising:

receiving at least one offer for a good or service from a third party;

electronically presenting, over a communications network, the at least one offer to a plurality of user devices, wherein the at least one offer is presented at a time unpredictable to each user of each of the plurality of user devices and can only be accepted before the expiration of a limited duration that is preset according to a length of time or a quantity of goods or services;

receiving, over the communications network, an acceptance of the at least one offer from at least one of the plurality of user devices;

determining whether the acceptance was received from the at least one user device before the expiration of the limited duration; and

if the acceptance was received before the expiration of the limited duration, sending, over the communications network, a unique identifier for the at least one user device to enable delivery of the good or service by the third party.

77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the unique identifier is sent after payment information is accepted or processed.

78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the method performed by the one or more processors further comprises:

electronically presenting the at least one offer to the plurality of user devices based upon targeting information.

79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 78, wherein the targeting information comprises profile information.

80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the method performed by the one or more processors further comprises:

storing, in a database, tracking data for each of the users.

81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 80, wherein the tracking data comprises the unique identifier and a timestamp.

82. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the plurality of user devices comprise one or more of a computer, an interactive TV device, a wireless phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

83. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

a communications interface;

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions that are executed by the at least one processor to;

receive, by the communications interface, at least one offer for a good or service from a third party;

electronically present the at least one offer on the display at a time unpredictable to the user of the mobile device, wherein the at least one offer can only be accepted before the expiration of a limited duration that is preset according to a length of time or a quantity of goods or services;

accept the at least one offer before the expiration of the limited duration; and

receiving a unique identifier to enable delivery of the good or service by the third party.

84. The mobile device of claim 83, wherein the set of instructions are further executed by the at least one processor to:

electronically present, on the display, a pop-up notification including information concerning the offer.

85. The mobile device of claim 83, wherein the set of instructions are further executed by the at least one processor to:

electronically present, on the display, a banner notification including information concerning the offer.