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

• US 8,234,164 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• 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: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Packes, Jr., John M., Jorasch, Jr., James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tri V
• Application Number:
  US12/938,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.1, 705/14.11, 705/14.23, 705/14.34, 705/14.36, 705/14.38, 705/14.39, 705/26.1, 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

Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

allowing a second merchant to intervene in a purchase by a customer of at least one item selected by the customer from a first merchant by providing an offer, associated with the purchase, for a subsidy from the second merchant, via a web site before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

transmitting to the customer an indication of the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of a cost to the customer for the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of an associated first cost to the customer for the at least one item;

receiving, by the merchant server, an indication that the customer accepts the offer associated with the purchase for the subsidy from the second merchant to be applied in association with a purchase of the at least one item from the first merchant, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

in response to receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, reducing by the merchant server a cost of the at least one item for the customer from the first cost to a second cost, the second cost being less than the first price;

after receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, selling the at least one item to the customer;

after selling the at least one item to the customer, determining by the merchant server that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to; and

in response to determining that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, assessing by the merchant server a penalty against the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

cancelling the subsidy to the customer.

3. The method of claim 1, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

charging a penalty fee to the customer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the customer returned at least one purchased item to the first merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving customer information from the customer; and

determining that the customer information is not accurate.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the additional transaction comprises:

signing up for a service from the second merchant.

19. The method of claim 1, in which the additional transaction comprises:

at least one additional purchase by the customer from the second merchant.

7. A data storage device storing instructions configured to direct a server device to perform a method, the method comprising:

allowing a second merchant to intervene in a purchase by a customer of at least one item selected by the customer from a first merchant by providing an offer, associated with the purchase, for a subsidy from the second merchant, via a web site before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

transmitting to the customer an indication of the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of a cost to the customer for the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of an associated first cost to the customer for the at least one item;

receiving, by the merchant server, an indication that the customer accepts the offer associated with the purchase for the subsidy from the second merchant to be applied in association with a purchase of the at least one item from the first merchant, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

in response to receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, reducing by the merchant server a cost of the at least one item for the customer from the first cost to a second cost, the second cost being less than the first price;

after receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, selling the at least one item to the customer;

after selling the at least one item to the customer, determining by the merchant server that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to; and

in response to determining that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, assessing by the merchant server a penalty against the customer.

8. The data storage device of claim 7, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

cancelling the subsidy to the customer.

9. The data storage device of claim 7, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

charging a penalty fee to the customer.

10. The data storage device of claim 7, the instructions being configured to direct the server device to perform:

receiving an indication that the customer returned at least one purchased item to the first merchant.

11. The data storage device of claim 7, the instructions being configured to direct the server device to perform:

receiving customer information from the customer; and

determining that the customer information is not accurate.

12. The data storage device of claim 7, in which the additional transaction comprises at least one of:

signing up for a service from the second merchant, and

at least one additional purchase by the customer from the second merchant.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a data storage device in communication with the processor, the data storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

allowing a second merchant to intervene in a purchase by a customer of at least one item selected by the customer from a first merchant by providing an offer, associated with the purchase, for a subsidy from the second merchant, via a web site before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

transmitting to the customer an indication of the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of a cost to the customer for the at least one item;

transmitting to the customer an indication of a first cost to the customer for the at least one item;

receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer associated with the purchase for the subsidy from the second merchant to be applied in association with a purchase of the at least one item from the first merchant, the offer requiring the customer to agree to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant;

in response to receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, reducing a cost of the at least one item for the customer from the first cost to a second cost, the second cost being less than the first price;

after receiving the indication of the acceptance of the offer, selling the at least one item to the customer;

after selling the at least one item to the customer, determining that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to; and

in response to determining that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, assessing a penalty against the customer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

cancelling the subsidy to the customer.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which assessing the penalty comprises:

charging a penalty fee to the customer.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, the instructions being configured to direct the processor to perform:

receiving an indication that the customer returned at least one purchased item to the first merchant.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, the instructions being configured to direct the processor to perform:

receiving customer information from the customer; and

determining that the customer information is not accurate.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the additional transaction comprises:

signing up for a service from the second merchant.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the additional transaction comprises:

at least one additional purchase by the customer from the second merchant.