Method for allocating commissions over the internet using defined exclusive sales areas

• US 6,782,369 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benedor LLC
• Original Assignee: Careau & Co.
• Inventors: Carrott, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEWITT II, CALVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/475,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/40, 705/30, 705/59, 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/7.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A computer system and method of allocating commissions for sales made over the Internet and for dividing an otherwise indivisible Internet into defined geographic areas includes processes for: defining exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas with respect to the World Wide Web, the Internet, and e-commerce; selling exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas; recording sales of goods delivered to the exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through an Internet web site; determining a value of the goods delivered to each of the geographic distribution/representation areas, and allocating the commissions based solely on the value of the goods delivered to each of the geographic distribution/representation areas.

Claims

1. A method of allocating commissions comprising:

providing exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

recording sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through an Internet web site;

determining a value of said sales to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

allocating said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein said providing includes selling said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

3. The method in claim 2, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

4. The method in claim 2, wherein only one particular Web partner program can be owned within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

5. The method in claim 2, further comprising maintaining records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs through a single centralized system.

6. The method in claim 2, further comprising using funds generated by said providing to operate said Web partner programs.

7. The method in claim 1, wherein said providing includes verifying a sale of said exclusive distribution/representation areas through digital recording of an oral agreement.

8. A method of allocating, to the Internet, defined geographic areas comprising:

establishing exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

recording sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through an Internet web site;

determining and tracking the value of said sales to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

allocating said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

9. The method in claim 8, wherein said establishing includes selling said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

10. The method in claim 9, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

11. The method in claim 9, wherein only one particular Web partner program can be owned within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

12. The method in claim 9, further comprising maintaining records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs through a single centralized system.

13. The method in claim 9, further comprising using funds generated by said establishing to operate said Web partner programs.

14. The method in claim 8, wherein said establishing includes verifying a sale of said exclusive distribution/representation areas through digital recording of an oral agreement.

15. A method of developing Internet Web sites comprising:

providing exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

recording sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through an Internet web site;

determining a value of said sales to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

allocating said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

16. The method in claim 15, wherein said providing includes providing said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

17. The method in claim 16, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

18. The method in claim 16, wherein only one entity can own a particular Web partner program within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

19. The method in claim 15, further comprising maintaining records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs through a single centralized system.

20. The method in claim 15, further comprising using funds generated by said providing to operate said Web partner programs.

21. The method in claim 15, wherein said providing includes verifying a sale through digital recording of an oral agreement.

22. A method of using a computer program on a computerized system to allocate commissions comprising:

using said computer program to sell exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

using said computer program to record sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through an Internet web site;

using said computer program to determine a value to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

using said computer program to allocate said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

23. The method in claim 22, wherein said providing includes using said computer program to sell said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

24. The method in claim 23, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

25. The method in claim 23, wherein only one entity can own a particular Web partner program within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

26. The method in claim 22, further comprising using said computer program to maintain records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs through a single centralized system.

27. The method in claim 22, further comprising using said computer program to utilize funds generated by said providing to operate said Web partner programs.

28. The method in claim 22, wherein said providing includes using said computer program to verify a sale through digital recording of an oral agreement.

29. A system for allocating commissions comprising:

an Internet Web site providing exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

a memory for recording sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through said Internet web site;

a calculation unit determining a value of said sales to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

a decision unit allocating said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

30. The system in claim 29, wherein said Internet Web site sells said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

31. The system in claim 30, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

32. The system in claim 30, wherein only one particular Web partner program can be owned within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

33. The system in claim 30, further comprising a centralized record keeping unit maintaining records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs.

34. The system in claim 30, further comprising a funds allocator using funds generated by providing said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas to operate said Web partner programs.

35. The system in claim 29, wherein said Internet Web site verifies a sale of said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area through digital recording of an oral agreement.

36. A system for allocating, to the Internet, defined geographic areas comprising:

an Internet Web site providing exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas;

a memory for recording sales to said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas placed through said Internet web site;

a calculation unit determining a value of said sales to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas; and

a decision unit allocating said commissions based solely on said value of said sales delivered to each of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

37. The system in claim 36, wherein said Internet Web site sells said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area for one of a plurality of Web partner programs in one of said geographic distribution/representation areas.

38. The system in claim 37, wherein each of said Web partner programs is associated with a distinct product line.

39. The system in claim 37, wherein only one particular Web partner program can be owned within a given exclusive geographic distribution/representation area.

40. The system in claim 37, further comprising a centralized record keeping unit maintaining records of said sales for said plurality of Web partner programs.

41. The system in claim 37, further comprising a funds allocator using funds generated by providing said exclusive geographic distribution/representation areas to operate said Web partner programs.

42. The system in claim 36, wherein said Internet Web site verifies a sale of said exclusive geographic distribution/representation area through digital recording of an oral agreement.