METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFINING ROUTING OF CUSTOMERS BETWEEN MERCHANTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus;
selecting a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants; and
outputting an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant.
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Abstract
A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.
86 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; selecting a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants; and outputting an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer readable medium for storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
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receive transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; select a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants; and output an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An apparatus, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor operatively connected to the storage device, wherein the storage device includes a program configured to direct the processor to; receive transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus; select a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants; and output an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant.
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Specification