Method and apparatus for defining routing of customers between merchants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:
- determining a set of soliciting merchants, each soliciting merchant of the set comprising a soliciting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus;
selecting, by a computing device, a soliciting merchant from the set of soliciting merchants;
selecting, by the computing device, an outputting merchant;
determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity; and
providing, upon determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity and to a customer of the outputting merchants, an offer for a bonus not yet earned by the customer, the bonus to be earned in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.
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Abstract
A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected if its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:
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determining a set of soliciting merchants, each soliciting merchant of the set comprising a soliciting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; selecting, by a computing device, a soliciting merchant from the set of soliciting merchants; selecting, by the computing device, an outputting merchant; determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity; and providing, upon determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity and to a customer of the outputting merchants, an offer for a bonus not yet earned by the customer, the bonus to be earned in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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34. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:
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means for determining a set of soliciting merchants, each soliciting merchant of the set comprising a soliciting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; means for selecting a soliciting merchant from the set of soliciting merchants; means for selecting an outputting merchant; means for determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity; and means for providing, upon determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity and to a customer of the outputting merchant, an offer for a bonus not yet earned by the customer, the bonus to be earned in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.
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35. An apparatus for providing an offer for a bonus, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to; determine a set of soliciting merchants, each soliciting merchant of the set comprising a soliciting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; select a soliciting merchant from the set of soliciting merchants; select an outputting merchant; determine that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity; and provide, upon determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity and to a customer of the outputting merchant, an offer for a bonus not yet earned by the customer, the bonus to be earned in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.
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36. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method performed by a computer for providing an offer for a bonus, the method comprising:
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determining a set of soliciting merchants, each soliciting merchant of the set comprising a soliciting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; selecting a soliciting merchant from the set of soliciting merchants; selecting an outputting merchant; determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity; and providing, upon determining that the soliciting merchant is experiencing a period of low activity and to a customer of the outputting merchant, an offer for a bonus not yet earned by the customer, the bonus to be earned in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.
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Specification