Method and system for implementing a search engine with reward components and payment components

• US 8,078,496 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US12/103,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method for implementation of product searches via a search engine over a networked computer system such as the Internet. In particular, a user may execute a search for product offers that are accompanied with reward components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.) and/or those that allow payment in whole or in part with payment components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for a search computer to enable a user to execute an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. the search computer providing to a user device a search entry web element adapted to allow a user to enter a search term associated with a desired product;

b. the search computer receiving from the user device a search query comprising the search term associated with a desired product entered by the user;

c. the search computer performing a search for products that match said search term;

d. the search computer returning to said user device a list of products that match said search term from said search;

e. the search computer receiving from the user device a purchase request to purchase from a merchant computer a product selected from the list of products that match said search term,

f. the search computer providing to the user device an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

g. the search computer receiving from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and

h. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the in merchant computer, the search computer communicating with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment request received by the search computer additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

and wherein the search computer, in response to receiving the payment request, additionally communicates with the additional reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the additional designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the additional reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards in the additional designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product.

4. A search computer adapted to enable a user to execute an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system, said search computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to:

a. provide to a user device a search entry web element adapted to allow a user to enter a search term associated with a desired product;

b. receive from the user device a search query comprising the search term associated with a desired product entered by the user;

c. perform a search for products that match said search term;

d. return to said user device a list of products that match said search term from said search;

e. receive from the user device a purchase request to purchase from a merchant computer a product selected from the list of products that match said search term,

f. provide to the user device an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

g. receive from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and

h. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer, communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.

5. The search computer of claim 4 wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card.

6. The search computer of claim 4 wherein the payment request received by the search computer additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward accounts stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

and wherein the search computer, in response to receiving the payment request, additionally communicates with the additional reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the additional designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the additional server computer to rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional amount;

(ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the additional designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product.

7. A computer-implemented method for executing an online purchase transaction over a networked computer system comprising the steps of:

a. a search computer providing to a user device over a networked computer system a search entry web element adapted to allow a user to enter a search term associated with a desired product

b. a user operating a user device entering a search query comprising the search term associated with a desired product;

c. the user device transmitting the search query to the search computer over the networked computer system;

d. the search computer performing a search for products that match said search term;

e. the search computer returning to said user device a list of products that match said search term from said search;

f. the user operating the user device selecting a product for purchase from a merchant computer from the list of products that match said search criteria;

g. the user device transmitting a purchase request to purchase the selected product;

h. the search computer providing to the user device an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

i. the user operating the user device generating a payment request to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

j. the user device transmitting the payment request to the search computer; and

k. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising, the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer, the search computer communicating with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the payment request additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward serer computer that is different from the merchant computer;

and wherein the search computer, in response to receiving the payment request, additionally communicates with the additional reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the additional designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the additional reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the additional designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product.

10. A networked computer system for executing an online purchase transaction comprising

A. a search computer comprising processing circuitry programmed to:

a. provide to a user device a search entry web element adapted to allow a user to enter a search term associated with a desired product;

b. receive from the user device a search query comprising the search term associated with a desired product entered by the user;

c. perform a search for products that match said search term;

d. return to said user device a list of products that match said search term from said search;

e. receive from the user device a purchase request to purchase from a merchant computer a product selected from the list of products that match said search term;

f. provide to the user device an option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

g. receive from the user device a payment request to pay for the selected product, said payment request comprising an election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and

h. in response to receiving from the user device the payment request comprising the election of the option to cause payment to be made to the merchant computer, communicate with the reward server computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the designated user reward account in order to at least partially pay for the selected product by

(i) requesting the reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the designated user reward account by a designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the designated user reward account; and

(iii) conveying consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay the merchant computer for the selected product; and

B. a user device comprising processing circuitry programmed to;

a. receive from the search computer the search entry web element;

b. transmit to the search computer the search query;

c. receive from the search computer the list of products that match said search term from said search;

d. transmit to the search computer the purchase request to purchase a product selected from the list of products that match said search term;

e. receive from the search computer an option to cause payment to he made to the merchant computer for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from a designated user reward account stored on behalf of the user on a reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer; and

f. transmit to the search computer the payment request to pay for the selected product.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the rewards comprise reward points issued by a credit card issuer based on prior purchases with a credit card.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the payment request received by the search computer additionally comprises an election to pay for the selected product at least partially by reducing rewards from at least one additional designated user reward accounts stored on behalf of the user on an additional reward server computer that is different from the merchant computer;

and wherein the search computer in response to receiving the payment request, additional communicates with the additional reward serves computer to arrange for the reduction of rewards from the addition designated user reward account in order at least partially pay for the select product by

(i) requesting the additional reward server computer to reduce the rewards in the additional designated user reward account by an additional designated amount;

(ii) receiving from the additional reward server computer consideration corresponding to the rewards reduced in the additional designated user reward account and

(iii) conveying additional consideration to the merchant computer to at least partially pay for the selected product.