Method and system for cross-marketing products and services over a distributed communication network

• US 7,333,948 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Fernandes, Stuart Bell, Vincent D'Agostino
• Original Assignee: Richard Fernandes, Stuart Bell, Vincent D'Agostino
• Inventors: D'Agostino, Vincent, Fernandes, Richard, Bell, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg; Yogesh C.
• Application Number:
  US10/998,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 709/217, 715/513, 463/29
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A method and system for cross-marketing products and services to customers of specific merchant web sites on the Internet by a merchant loyalty service provider web site on the Internet, provides a hyperlink to a merchant loyalty service provider web site from a merchant web site whereby customers can access the merchant loyalty service provider web site directly from the merchant web site. The merchant loyalty service provider web site makes to customers of the merchant customer loyalty benefit offers related to the business of said merchant web site, to build customer loyalty to the merchant web site.

Claims

1. A method for cross-marketing a specific product and/or service to a customer of a merchant over a distributed communication network by a merchant loyalty service provider hosting site, comprising:

providing a selectable connection to said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site on said network from a merchant site on said network whereby a customer can access said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site through said merchant site;

providing at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site a customer loyalty benefit offer, wherein said customer loyalty benefit offer presents to a customer an offer for said specific product and/or service, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of said specific product and/or service, wherein said benefit award is redeemable as a result of activity at said merchant site by the customer who accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site;

receiving at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site an acceptance of said customer loyalty offer by the customer; and

providing said customer loyalty benefit award to the customer in response to said acceptance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a customer is required to make a purchase of said specific products and/or services presented by said offer in order to receive said customer loyalty benefit award.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a customer'"'"'s next order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a subsequent order by the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site is transparent to a customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site comprises graphics which make said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site appear similar to the merchant site from which a customer accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said customer loyalty benefit award comprises sending to the customer at least one of a gift certificate, check, voucher, discount certificate, discount code, policy certificate, code and coupon.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is sent via mail, electronic mail or facsimile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said customer loyalty benefit award comprises providing an amount of insurance coverage for the customer, and sending to the customer a certificate of insurance.

10. A method for cross-marketing a specific product and/or service to a customer of a merchant on the Internet by a merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site, comprising:

providing a selectable connection to said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site on the Internet from a merchant web site on the Internet whereby a customer can access said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site through said merchant web site;

providing at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site a customer loyalty benefit offer that presents to a customer an offer for said specific product and/or service, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of said specific product and/or service, wherein said benefit award is redeemable as a result of activity at said merchant web site by the customer who accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site;

receiving at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site an acceptance of said customer loyalty offer by the customer; and

providing said customer loyalty benefit award to the customer in response to said acceptance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a customer is required to make a purchase of said specific products and/or services presented by said offer in order to receive said customer loyalty benefit award.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a customer'"'"'s next order.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a subsequent order by the customer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site is transparent to a customer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site comprises graphics which make said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site appear similar to the merchant web site from which a customer accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting web site.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein providing said customer loyalty benefit award comprises sending to the customer at least one of a gift certificate, check, voucher, discount certificate, discount code, policy certificate, code and coupon.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is sent via mail, electronic mail or facsimile.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein providing said customer loyalty benefit award comprises providing an amount of insurance coverage for the customer, and sending to the customer a certificate of insurance.

19. A method for cross-marketing a specific product and/or service to a customer of a merchant over a distributed communication network by a merchant loyalty service provider hosting site, comprising:

providing a selectable connection to said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site on said network from one or more merchant sites on said network whereby a customer can access said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site through said one or more merchant sites;

providing at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site a customer loyalty benefit offer, wherein said customer loyalty benefit offer presents to a customer an offer for said specific product and/or service, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of said specific product and/or service, wherein said benefit award is redeemable at any of one or more merchant sites and/or redeemable as a result of activity by the customer who accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site;

receiving at said merchant loyalty service provider an acceptance of said customer loyalty benefit offer by the customer; and

providing said customer loyalty benefit award to the customer in response to said acceptance.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a customer'"'"'s initial, next or subsequent order.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is at least one of a gift certificate, check, voucher, discount certificate, discount code, policy certificate, code and coupon.

22. A system for cross-marketing a specific product and/or service to a customer of a merchant over a distributed communication network, comprising:

a merchant loyalty service provider hosting server operatively connected to said network, wherein said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server is accessible via a selectable connection from a merchant site whereby a customer can access said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server through said merchant site;

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server comprising a customer loyalty benefit offer, said customer loyalty benefit offer being presented to a customer accessing said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server through said merchant site, wherein said customer loyalty benefit offer presents to a customer an offer for said specific product and/or service, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of said specific product and/or service, wherein said benefit award is redeemable as a result of activity by the customer who accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server;

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server receiving an acceptance of said customer loyalty benefit offer by the customer; and

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server providing said customer loyalty benefit award to the customer in response to said acceptance.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said network is the Internet.

24. A system for cross-marketing a specific product and/or service to a customer of a merchant over a distributed communication network, comprising one or more merchant servers including a communication server module for communication over said network;

one or more client-user devices including a client application module for communication over said network, said client application module interfaces with said communication server module over said network;

a merchant loyalty service provider hosting server operatively connected to said network, wherein said client-user device accesses said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server via said merchant server;

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server further comprising a customer loyalty benefit offer, said customer loyalty benefit offer being presented at said client-user device accessing said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server via said merchant server, wherein said customer loyalty benefit offer presents to a customer an offer for said specific product and/or service, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of said specific product and/or service, wherein said benefit award is redeemable at any of said one or more merchant servers and/or redeemable as a result of activity by said customer that accessed said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server;

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server receiving an acceptance of said customer loyalty benefit offer from said client-user device; and

said merchant loyalty service provider hosting server providing said customer loyalty benefit award to a customer in response to said acceptance.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said network is the Internet.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is redeemable upon a customer'"'"'s initial, next or subsequent order.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said customer loyalty benefit award is at least one of a gift certificate, check, voucher, discount certificate, discount code, policy certificate, code and coupon.