Connecting internet users

• US 7,881,963 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrian B. Danieli, James P. Currier, Stan Chudnovsky
• Original Assignee: Adrian B. Danieli, James P. Currier, Stan Chudnovsky
• Inventors: Currier, James P., Chudnovsky, Stan, Danieli, Adrian B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORNESKY, ADAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/116,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/10, 705/14.49, 705/14.66, 705/14.67, 705/14.73, 705/14.16
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users.

In another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a set of profiles of users. The apparatus further includes a database of connectors, connectors of the database selected from the users based on the profiles associated with the users. The apparatus also includes an interface between vendors and the database. The interface is to receive queries from the vendors and to return connector identities responsive to the queries.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is a machine-readable medium embodying instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes providing an offer to a connector. The method also includes receiving responses from users to the offer, the users having received the offer from the connector. The method further includes completing the transaction with the users.

In still another embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving an offer as a connector from a vendor. The method also includes propagating the offer to associated users through a network.

Claims

1. A non-volatile storage storing executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving offer data for propagation;

extracting offer characteristics from the received offer data;

determining a propagation user group based on correlating extracted offer characteristics and common user profile characteristics, wherein the user profile characteristics are aggregated through progressive testing;

selecting a high proliferate user from the correlated user group as a connector user;

providing the offer to the connector user for propagation to the group of users; and

facilitating a transaction based on the propagated offer provided by the connector user.

2. The non-volatile storage of claim 1, wherein:

accessing a database to determine correlated user profile characteristics of users that have taken an initial test with initial testing results used to determine subsequent tests as progressive testing; and

updating user profile characteristics with progressive test results.

3. The non-volatile storage of claim 2, wherein:

processing progressive test results to identify similar user profile characteristics.

4. The non-volatile storage of claim 3, wherein:

the statistical results include user-created information, related-user information, and historical usage information.

5. The non-volatile storage of claim 4, wherein:

compensating the connector user with a predetermined benefit upon completion of the transaction.

6. The non-volatile storage of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a group offer or a circulating coupon or a progressive coupon.

7. The non-volatile storage of claim 6, wherein:

the offer requires a predetermined number or percentage of acceptances to be activated.

8. The non-volatile storage of claim 1, wherein:

the offer is a sponsored offer.

9. The non-volatile storage of claim 1, wherein:

the transaction is completed with users conditioned on analysis of contents of associated profiles of the users.

10. The non-volatile storage of claim 1, wherein:

identity of the connector user is provided to a vendor sponsoring the offer responsive to receipt of a fee.

11. An apparatus for offer distribution, comprising:

a memory;

a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to;

receiving offer data for propagation;

extracting offer characteristics from the received offer data;

determining a propagation user group based on correlating extracted offer characteristics and common user profile characteristics, wherein the user profile characteristics are aggregated through progressive testing;

selecting a high proliferate user from the correlated user group as a connector user;

providing the offer to the connector user for propagation to the group of users; and

facilitating a transaction based on the propagated offer provided by the connector user.

12. A computer implemented method for offer distribution, comprising:

receiving offer data for propagation;

extracting offer characteristics from the received offer data;

determining, via the computer, a propagation user group based on correlating extracted offer characteristics and common user profile characteristics, wherein the user profile characteristics are aggregated through progressive testing;

selecting a high proliferate user from the correlated user group as a connector user;

providing the offer to the connector user for propagation to the group of users; and

facilitating a transaction based on the propagated offer provided by the connector user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

accessing a database to determine correlated user profile characteristics of users that have taken an initial test with initial testing results used to determine subsequent tests as progressive testing; and

updating user profile characteristics with progressive test results.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

processing progressive test results to identify similar user profile characteristics.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the offer is a group offer or a circulating coupon or a progressive coupon.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the offer requires a predetermined number or percentage of acceptances to be activated.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the offer is a sponsored offer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the transaction is completed with users conditioned on analysis of contents of associated profiles of the users.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein:

identity of the connector user is provided to a vendor sponsoring the offer responsive to receipt of a fee.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

rewarding the connector user in proportion to a quantity of the responses from the group of users.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the statistical results include user-created information, related-user information, and historical usage information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

compensating the connector user with a predetermined benefit upon completion of the transaction.