System and method for providing automated secondary purchase opportunities to consumers

• US 8,112,356 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Inventors: Schultz, Roger Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan, Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US12/686,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• 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 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase.

Claims

1. A system for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising:

a. a database for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers;

b. an electronic receipt generator for;

i. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a hyperlink associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;

ii. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;

iii. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the hyperlink within the electronic receipt; and

iv. in response to the activation of the hyperlink, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from a third-party seller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from one of the plurality of sellers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiating step comprises completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiating step comprises:

transmitting to the computing device a page presenting an offer regarding the secondary purchase;

receiving on the computing device a second signal from the user, indicating that the user has accepted the offer; and

completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product usable as an accessory to the first product.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product in the same field as the first product.

8. A method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a database;

b. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a hyperlink associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;

c. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;

d. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the hyperlink within the electronic receipt; and

e. in response to the activation of the hyperlink, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from a third-party seller.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from one of the plurality of sellers.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating step comprises completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating step comprises:

transmitting to the computing device a page presenting an offer regarding the secondary purchase;

receiving on the computing device a second signal from the user, indicating that the user has accepted the offer; and

completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product usable as an accessory to the first product.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product in the same field as the first product.

15. A computer program product having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a database;

b. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a hyperlink associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;

c. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;

d. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the hyperlink within the electronic receipt; and

e. in response to the activation of the hyperlink, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.

16. A system for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising:

c. a database for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers;

d. an electronic receipt generator for;

i. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a link associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;

ii. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;

iii. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the link within the electronic receipt; and

iv. in response to the activation of the link, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase. ,

17. A method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a database;

b. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a link associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;

c. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;

d. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the link within the electronic receipt; and

e. in response to the activation of the link, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.