Network commerce system with lead-based feedback

• US 20080162203A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Heidema, Jason M., Shirk, Valerie K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/06 Arrangements for sorting, selecting, merging, or comparing data on individual record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A network commerce system comprises a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products provided by a third-party vendor in a pay-per-lead format. A pay-per-lead tracking module is operable to track consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor; and a feedback system enables at least one of the consumer and the third-party vendor to leave feedback regarding a lead tracked via the pay-per-lead tracking module.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products or services provided by a third-party vendor;

a pay-per-lead tracking module operable to track consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor; and

a feedback system operable to enable at least one of the consumer and the third-party vendor to leave feedback regarding a lead tracked via the pay-per-lead tracking module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pay-per-lead tracking module is further to bill the third party vendor for tracked consumer leads.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pay-per-lead tracking module is to track qualified consumer leads.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a qualified lead comprises a minimum level of communication between the consumer and the third party vendor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the minimum level of communication comprises at least one of an e-mail message, a text message, a voice call, or a video call.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the minimum level of communication comprises communication of at least a minimum size or duration.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein feedback may be left only for qualified consumer leads.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein feedback may be left only after a transaction resulting from the tracked lead has been completed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein feedback may be left only after a transaction resulting from the tracked lead results in a sale agreement.

10. A method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor, comprising:

presenting a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products or services provided by a third-party vendor;

tracking consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor in a pay-per-lead tracking module; and

receiving feedback from at least one of the consumer and the third party vendor regarding a lead tracked via the pay-per-lead tracking module.

11. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 10, further comprising billing the third party vendor for tracked consumer leads.

12. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 10, wherein the pay-per-lead tracking module is operable to track qualified consumer leads.

13. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 10, wherein the method is performed in a network server.

14. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 13, wherein a qualified lead comprises a minimum level of communication between the consumer and the third party vendor.

15. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 14, wherein the minimum level of communication comprises at least one of an e-mail message, a text message, a voice call, or a video call.

16. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 14, wherein the minimum level of communication comprises communication of at least a minimum size or duration.

17. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 13, wherein feedback may be left only for qualified consumer leads.

18. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 10, wherein feedback may be left only after a transaction resulting from the tracked lead has been completed.

19. The method of facilitating a transaction between a consumer and a third-party vendor of claim 10, wherein feedback may be left only after a transaction resulting from the tracked lead results in a sale agreement.

20. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized system to:

present a product sale listing searchable by a consumer and comprising one or more products or services provided by a third-party vendor;

track consumer leads provided to the third-party vendor in a pay-per-lead tracking module; and

receive feedback from at least one of the consumer and the third party vendor regarding a lead tracked via the pay-per-lead tracking module.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, the instructions when executed further operable to bill the third party vendor for tracked consumer leads.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the pay-per-lead tracking module is operable to track qualified consumer leads.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein a qualified lead comprises a minimum level of communication between the consumer and the third party vendor.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein feedback may be left only for qualified consumer leads.

25. A data structure, comprising:

a first set of data comprising identities of parties to a network commerce system, the parties including third party vendors providing sale listings in a pay-per-lead format; and

a second set of data associated with the first set of data and comprising feedback associated with leads provided to the third party vendors.

26. The data structure of claim 25, further comprising a third set of data associated with the first set of data and comprising leads provided to third party vendors for which feedback may be left.

27. The data structure of claim 26, further comprising a third set of data associated with the first set of data and comprising qualified leads provided to third party vendors for which feedback may be left.