Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction

• US 7,831,470 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Packes, Jr., John M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tri V
• Application Number:
  US09/219,267
• Time in Patent Office: 4,339 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/40, 705/14.1, 705/14.11, 705/14.23, 705/14.34, 705/14.36, 705/14.38, 705/14.39, 705/26, 705/300
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• 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 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A merchant server of a first merchant receives an indication of items that a customer is to purchase via a web site. The indication may be, for example, a signal indicating that the customer is ready to “check out” his shopping cart of items on the web site. In response, the merchant server provides an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant. The offer is provided before the items are purchased, and thus the offer is not provided unless and until the customer has manifested an intent to make a purchase from the first merchant. A response is received from the customer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, then the subsidy is applied to the items purchased. For example, the total price paid for the items may be reduced, or the items may even be provided to the customer without charge. In exchange, the customer agrees to participate in a transaction with the second merchant. For example, the customer may be required to switch service providers (e.g. long distance telephone service) or initiate a new service agreement (e.g. sign up for a credit card account).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication that a customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of at least one item from a merchant via a web site, the at least one item having an associated total price for only the at least one item,

in response to the received indication,

transmitting a web page including

an indication of the at least one item to be purchased,

an indication of the associated total price for the at least one item,

a first selectable button associated with a first option for the customer to pay the associated total price for the at least one item, and

a second selectable button associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer for a reduction of the associated total price;

after transmitting the web page,

receiving a signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page;

in response to the received signal,

automatically selecting by a computer device, from a database that includes a plurality of offers, an offer for a reduction in the total price in exchange for applying for a credit card account with a credit card issuer,

in which the credit card issuer is not the merchant;

after receiving the signal,

providing the selected offer to the customer via the web site before the at least one item is purchased,

whereby the selected offer is not provided to the customer unless and until the signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page is received;

after receiving the signal and before the at least one item is purchased, receiving, from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a credit card account; and

after receiving the signal, selling, by the merchant, the at least one item to the customer for less than the total price in accordance with the selected offer.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of receiving, from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a credit card account comprises:

receiving, from the customer, information for use in applying for a credit card account.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting to the customer a form for receiving information for use in applying for a credit card account.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the customer already has a credit card account with the credit card issuer.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the step of providing the offer is only performed if it is determined that the customer does not already have a credit card account with the credit card issuer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the credit card issuer for an amount of payment.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the step of selling comprises:

selling the at least one item to the customer for an amount that is based on a difference between the total price and the amount of payment charged to the credit card issuer.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a merchant server in communication with at least one customer terminal, an indication that a customer is initiating a checkout process to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

receiving information about the customer,

in which the information about the customer does not include information about the purchase;

selecting, by the merchant server, a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

in response to receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make the purchase from the first merchant,

transmitting customer information to the second merchant;

after receiving the indication and after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

receiving, from the second merchant, a description of a subsidy to be applied to the purchase;

in response to receiving the description of the subsidy,

providing, by the merchant server to the customer, an offer for the subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make a purchase from the first merchant and only after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the indication is received;

receiving an acceptance of the offer by the customer;

applying, by the merchant server, the subsidy to the purchase during the checkout process in response to the acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

initiating a new service agreement between the second merchant and the customer for a service to be provided by the second merchant to the customer.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the service comprises Internet service.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the service comprises a banking service.

12. The method of claim 9, in which the service comprises an insurance service.

13. The method of claim 9, in which the service comprises a satellite television service.

14. The method of claim 9, in which the service comprises a cable television service.

15. The method of claim 8, in which providing to the customer an offer for the subsidy from the second merchant comprises:

transmitting a web page to the customer, the web page including;

the offer for the subsidy from the second merchant to have the purchase provided to the customer free of charge in exchange for the customer agreeing to sign up for a first service with the second merchant, and

an offer for a subsidy from a third merchant to have the purchase provided to the customer free of charge in exchange for the customer agreeing to sign up for a second service with the third merchant.

16. A method, comprising:

generating an interface for allowing a customer to access a web site that permits purchases from a first merchant, the interface including a button;

receiving a first indication that a customer is willing to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

activating the button in response to receiving the indication;

after activating the button, receiving a signal that the customer has clicked the button;

selecting a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

providing, in response to the received signal, an offer for a subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the signal that the customer has clicked the button,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the signal is received;

receiving from the customer a response to the offer;

applying the subsidy to the purchase if the response indicates acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.

17. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of at least one item from a merchant via a web site, the at least one item having an associated total price for only the at least one item,

in response to the received indication,

transmitting a web page including

an indication of the at least one item to be purchased,

an indication of the associated total price for the at least one book,

a first selectable button associated with a first option for the customer to pay the associated total price for the at least one item, and

a second selectable button associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer for a reduction of the associated total price;

after transmitting the web page,

receiving a signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page;

in response to the received signal,

automatically selecting by a computer device, from a database that includes a plurality of offers, an offer for a reduction in the total price in exchange for applying for a credit card account with a credit card issuer,

in which the credit card issuer is not the merchant;

after receiving the signal,

providing the selected offer to the customer via the web site before the at least one item is purchased,

whereby the selected offer is not provided to the customer unless and until the signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page is received;

after receiving the signal and before the at least one item is purchased,

receiving, from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a credit card account; and

after receiving the signal,

selling, by the merchant, the at least one item to the customer for less than the total price in accordance with the selected offer.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving an indication that a customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of at least one item from a merchant via a web site, the at least one item having an associated total price for only the at least one item,

in response to the received indication,

transmitting a web page including

an indication of the at least one item to be purchased,

an indication of the associated total price for the at least one item,

a first selectable button associated with a first option for the customer to pay the associated total price for the at least one item, and

a second selectable button associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer for a reduction of the associated total price;

after transmitting the web page,

receiving a signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page;

in response to the received signal,

automatically selecting by a computer device, from a database that includes a plurality of offers, an offer for a reduction in the total price in exchange for applying for a credit card account with a credit card issuer,

in which the credit card issuer is not the merchant;

after receiving the signal,

providing the selected offer to the customer via the web site before the at least one item is purchased,

whereby the selected offer is not provided to the customer unless and until the signal indicating selection by the customer of the second selectable button of the web page is received;

after receiving the signal and before the at least one item is purchased,

receiving, from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a credit card account; and

after receiving the signal,

selling, by the merchant, the at least one item to the customer for less than the total price in accordance with the selected offer.

19. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a merchant server in communication with at least one customer terminal, an indication that a customer is initiating a checkout process to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

receiving information about the customer,

in which the information about the customer does not include information about the purchase;

selecting, by the merchant server, a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

in response to receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make the purchase from the first merchant,

transmitting customer information to the second merchant;

after receiving the indication and after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

receiving, from the second merchant, a description of a subsidy to be applied to the purchase;

in response to receiving the description of the subsidy,

providing, by the merchant server to the customer, an offer for the subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make a purchase from the first merchant and only after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the indication is received;

receiving an acceptance of the offer by the customer;

applying, by the merchant server, the subsidy to the purchase during the checkout process in response to the acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving an indication that a customer is initiating a checkout process to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

receiving information about the customer,

in which the information about the customer does not include information about the purchase;

selecting a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

in response to receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make the purchase from the first merchant,

transmitting customer information to the second merchant;

after receiving the indication and after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

receiving, from the second merchant, a description of a subsidy to be applied to the purchase;

in response to receiving the description of the subsidy,

providing to the customer an offer for the subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the indication that the customer is initiating the checkout process to make a purchase from the first merchant and only after transmitting the customer information to the second merchant,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the indication is received;

receiving an acceptance of the offer by the customer;

applying the subsidy to the purchase during the checkout process in response to the acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.

21. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

generating an interface for allowing a customer to access a web site that permits purchases from a first merchant, the interface including a button;

receiving a first indication that a customer is willing to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

activating the button in response to receiving the indication;

after activating the button, receiving a signal that the customer has clicked the button;

selecting a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

providing, in response to the received signal, an offer for a subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the signal that the customer has clicked the button,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the signal is received;

receiving from the customer a response to the offer;

applying the subsidy to the purchase if the response indicates acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

generating an interface for allowing a customer to access a web site that permits purchases from a first merchant, the interface including a button;

receiving a first indication that a customer is willing to make a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant,

activating the button in response to receiving the indication;

after activating the button, receiving a signal that the customer has clicked the button;

selecting a second merchant from a plurality of merchants;

providing, in response to the received signal, an offer for a subsidy from the second merchant, the step of providing the offer being performed before the purchase is consummated but only after receiving the signal that the customer has clicked the button,

whereby the offer is not provided unless and until the signal is received;

receiving from the customer a response to the offer;

applying the subsidy to the purchase if the response indicates acceptance of the offer; and

selling the at least one item of the purchase to the customer.