Handling Data from Online Retail Transactions
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a researcher computer system to obtain data identifying purchases made online by a consumer having a consumer email address, the method comprising:
- providing a redirection email address for provision to a retailer computer system in place of the consumer email address, the researcher computer system being the addressee of emails sent to the redirection email address;
receiving a purchase record, sent from the retailer computer system to the redirection email address, the purchase record recording purchases made by the consumer online using the retailer computer system;
forwarding at least some of the content of the purchase record to the consumer email address for receipt by the consumer; and
extracting data relating to the purchases from the purchase record.
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Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for operating a panel of online consumers. A redirection email address is generated and provided to a retailer computer system in substitution for a consumer email address. As part of an online transaction, the retailer forwards a purchase record to the consumer, but uses the redirection email address. A researcher computer system which is the addressee of the redirection email address is therefore able to intercept the purchase record for analysis, and pass the purchase record on to the consumer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a researcher computer system to obtain data identifying purchases made online by a consumer having a consumer email address, the method comprising:
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providing a redirection email address for provision to a retailer computer system in place of the consumer email address, the researcher computer system being the addressee of emails sent to the redirection email address; receiving a purchase record, sent from the retailer computer system to the redirection email address, the purchase record recording purchases made by the consumer online using the retailer computer system; forwarding at least some of the content of the purchase record to the consumer email address for receipt by the consumer; and extracting data relating to the purchases from the purchase record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A method of monitoring online consumer purchases by providing a redirection email address to an online retailer in substitution of a consumer email address, receiving purchase information from the online retailer at the redirection email address for analysis, and forwarding the purchase information to the consumer email address.
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14. A researcher computer system for automatically obtaining data identifying purchases made online by a customer having a consumer email address, the computer system being arranged to:
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provide a redirection email address for provision to a retailer computer system in substitution for the consumer email address, the researcher computer system being the addressee of emails sent to the redirection email address; receive a purchase record, sent from the retailer computer system to the redirection email address, the purchase record recording purchases made by the consumer online using the retailer computer system; forward at least some of the content of the purchase record to the consumer email address for receipt by the consumer; and extract data relating to the purchases from the purchase record. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable medium comprising computer program code arranged to carry out the following steps when executed on a researcher computer system connectable by a network to a retailer computer system and a consumer:
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provide a redirection email address for provision to the retailer computer system in substitution for a consumer email address of the consumer, the researcher computer system being the addressee of the redirection email address; receive a purchase record, sent from the retailer computer system to the redirection email address, the purchase record recording purchases made by the consumer online using the retailer computer system; forward at least some of the content of the purchase record to the consumer email address for receipt by the consumer; and extract data relating to the purchases from the purchase record.
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Specification