System for Online Sales With Automatic Rebate and Coupon Redemption

• US 20120150618A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enpulz LLC
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Winslade, Christopher C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 : Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance

Abstract

An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

Claims

1. A method performed by a seller'"'"'s computer via a promotion interface, the seller'"'"'s computer supporting interaction by a seller at a premises of the seller, the promotion interface being provided by a server system that supports promotion services between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, via the communication network, a promotion interface at the seller'"'"'s computer, the promotion interface for creation of a promotion offer;

providing, via the promotion interface, seller input comprising an identification of a plurality of parameters that define the promotion offer;

selecting, via the seller interface, content to be used in a visual representation of the promotion offer; and

completing, via the communication network, creation of the promotion offer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises an amount or value of the promotion offer and one or more goods and/or services associated with the promotion offer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a quantity of the promotion offer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises one or more geographical regions to which the promotion offer applies.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a time limit or expiration date of the promotion offer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the completing, modifying, via the seller interface, one or more of the plurality of parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via the seller interface, one or more conditions that when met, cause automatic modification of one or more of the plurality of parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise one or more of:

a volume of acceptance corresponding to the promotion offer, a sales volume or target, and expiration of a time period.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the completing, cancelling, via the seller interface, the promotion offer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, via the seller interface, one or more conditions that when met, cause automatic cancellation of the promotion offer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise one or more of:

a volume of acceptance corresponding to the promotion offer, sales volume, a sales target, and expiration of a time period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the seller interface comprises one or more web pages.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or both of images and/or frames.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.

15. A method performed by a seller'"'"'s computer via a promotion interface, the seller'"'"'s computer supporting interaction by a seller at a premises of the seller, the promotion interface being provided by a server system that supports promotion services between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, via the communication network, a promotion interface at the seller'"'"'s computer, the promotion interface for creation of a promotion offer;

providing, via the promotion interface, seller input comprising an identification of a plurality of parameters that define the promotion offer, the plurality of parameters comprising;

an identification of one or more goods and/or services;

a geographical identification; and

one or more dispensing criterion;

selecting, via the seller interface, content to be used in a visual representation of the promotion offer; and

completing, via the communication network, creation of the promotion offer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more dispensing criterion comprises an amount or value of the promotion offer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more dispensing criterion comprises a quantity of the promotion offer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the geographical identification comprises one or more geographical regions to which the promotion offer applies.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more dispensing criterion comprises a time limit or expiration date of the promotion offer.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising, after the completing, modifying, via the seller interface, one or more of the plurality of parameters.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing, via the seller interface, one or more conditions that when met, cause automatic modification of one or more of the plurality of parameters.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise one or more of:

a volume of acceptance corresponding to the promotion offer, a sales volume or target, and expiration of a time period.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising, after the completing, cancelling, via the seller interface, the promotion offer.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing, via the seller interface, one or more conditions that when met, cause automatic cancellation of the promotion offer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise one or more of:

a volume of acceptance corresponding to the promotion offer, sales volume, a sales target, and expiration of a time period.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the seller interface comprises one or more web pages.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the content comprises one or both of images and/or frames.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.