Method, system, and computer readable medium for facilitating a transaction between a customer, a merchant and an associate

• US 7,801,766 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inmar-Youtech LLC
• Original Assignee: YOU Technology LLC
• Inventors: Comb, Michael, Bunger, Mark, Reiling, Carolee A., McCaffery, Michael, Bank, Edward, Reiling, Michael, Velten, Juan Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haider; Fawaad
• Application Number:
  US09/822,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20020174018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,462 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/78, 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, at least one associate is provided. The method includes the steps of the associate processing device transferring into the user processing device a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device. The first merchant link is framed with associate information. The user selects the first merchant link. The associate processing device transfers into the user processing device information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site. The user selects the first product to purchase. The user provides purchase information for purchasing the first product. The user processing device transfers the purchase information to the associate processing device. The associate processing device adds promotional information to the purchase information responsive to the user identification value. The associate processing device transfers the promotional information and the purchase information to the merchant processing device.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, and at least one associate, the method comprising:

receiving, by an associate processing device, an associate card value from a user processing device, wherein the associate card value is included in a package of a product purchased from an offline merchant;

receiving information representing an address for an associate Web site on the associate processing device;

transferring, to the user processing device, a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device;

receiving a selection of the first merchant link;

transferring, to the user processing device, information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site;

receiving a selection of the first product;

receiving purchase information for purchasing the first product;

converting the associate card value to promotional information;

applying the promotional information to the received purchase information responsive to the associate card value;

transferring, to the merchant processing device, the promotional information and the purchase information; and

providing a user with the first product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the associate processing device is a proxy server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the first product from the first merchant Web site is framed with associate information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional information includes a key value associated with the first merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associate card value is a promotional card number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring the first merchant link for the first merchant Web site includes transferring a second merchant link for a second merchant Web site.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the associate card value is an alphanumeric code that is located inside the package of the product.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

providing a list of merchant links responsive to the associate card value and a pass code value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the associate processing device includes a data base having a relation between the promotional information and the associate card value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the promotional information includes a plurality of key values associated with the first merchant.