AFFILIATE MARKETING SYSTEM: METHOD AND APPARATUS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- a) during a sales transaction at a retailer, wirelessly receiving from a mobile electronic device through a physical interface of a point-of-sale system an electronic coupon whose contents include(i) a consumer identifier (ID), identifying a consumer,(ii) an affiliate ID, identifying an affiliate of the retailer, and(iii) an offer pertaining to the retailer and one or more products covered by the coupon, where goods and services are considered products;
b) applying the coupon, thereby reducing the cost to the consumer of covered products sold by the retailer to the consumer by a discount amount D;
c) calculating by a processing system a total amount TA received from the consumer for products sold to the consumer during the transaction;
d) recording D, by the processing system, in nontransitory computer-readable storage;
e) calculating by the processing system a commission amount C applicable to the sales transaction, wherein the commission amount is equal to TA*R minus D, and R is a fraction or percentage, where 0<
R<
1; and
f) transmitting, by the processing system through a physical network interface, an accounting, directed to the affiliate, which includes the commission amount.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and system for marketing by an affiliate of a retailer using electronic coupons. Data in the electronic coupon may include an affiliate ID, a consumer ID, and an offer to discount one or more products from the retailer. The electronic coupon is accessed by the retailer, either through a point-of-sale system in a store, by accessing information on a mobile device of the consumer, or online. A commission is applied by a processing system to products purchased during the transaction, but the affiliate is responsible to reimburse the retailer for the amount of any discount attributable to the coupon that would otherwise financially impact the retailer.
20 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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a) during a sales transaction at a retailer, wirelessly receiving from a mobile electronic device through a physical interface of a point-of-sale system an electronic coupon whose contents include (i) a consumer identifier (ID), identifying a consumer, (ii) an affiliate ID, identifying an affiliate of the retailer, and (iii) an offer pertaining to the retailer and one or more products covered by the coupon, where goods and services are considered products; b) applying the coupon, thereby reducing the cost to the consumer of covered products sold by the retailer to the consumer by a discount amount D; c) calculating by a processing system a total amount TA received from the consumer for products sold to the consumer during the transaction; d) recording D, by the processing system, in nontransitory computer-readable storage; e) calculating by the processing system a commission amount C applicable to the sales transaction, wherein the commission amount is equal to TA*R minus D, and R is a fraction or percentage, where 0<
R<
1; andf) transmitting, by the processing system through a physical network interface, an accounting, directed to the affiliate, which includes the commission amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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a) transmitting wirelessly, by a processing system of an affiliate of a retailer and through a physical interface, an electronic coupon, directed to a mobile electronic device, the contents of the electronic coupon including (i) a consumer identifier (ID), identifying a consumer associated with the mobile electronic device, (ii) an affiliate ID, identifying the affiliate, and (iii) an offer pertaining to a retailer and to one or more products covered by the coupon, where goods and services are considered products; and b) receiving by the processing system through a physical network interface, an accounting from the retailer, which includes a commission amount pertaining to a sales transaction in which the consumer applied the coupon to at least one covered product, wherein the commission amount is equal to a percentage of a total sales amount of the transaction, minus a total discount amount due to application of the coupon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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a) a mobile electronic device that includes a processing system; b) a software application, which (i) is wirelessly received by the device through a physical interface of the device; (ii) is accessed by the processing system from tangible nontransitory storage of the device, and executed by the processing system; (iii) causes the device to wirelessly receive an electronic coupon from an affiliate of a retailer, wherein the electronic coupon includes a representation of (A) a consumer identifier (ID), identifying a consumer, (B) an affiliate ID, identifying the affiliate, and (C) an retailer ID, identifying the retailer, and (D) an offer by the affiliate specifying a discount to be provided by the retailer, on a product covered by the coupon, at a store of the retailer, where goods and services are considered products, and (iv) when the mobile device is proximate to a point-of-sale system at the store, accesses the electronic coupon from the storage, and transmits the electronic coupon through a physical interface of the device.
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Specification