Method and apparatus for facilitating and tracking personal referrals

• US 6,968,313 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TopProspect Incorporated
• Original Assignee: H Three, Inc.
• Inventors: Oran, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US09/441,191
• Time in Patent Office: 2,199 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/26, 705/10, 705/14, 705/1, 705/9, 707/1, 707/5
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

The present invention facilitates and tracks personal referrals made via electronic networks. In a preferred embodiment, using electronic mail delivered to a participant interface 110, a central controller 100 provides a Web page through which an individual may enter the electronic-mail addresses of those whom he or she wishes to refer. This spares the individual the inconvenience of generating his or her own electronic-mail referrals, and also enables the central controller to determine the format and tone of the referral. The address or contents of the Web page includes a unique identifier that is exclusively associated with that individual and a specific offer 120. In this way, the series of referrals may be tracked, duplicate referrals to the same electronic-mail address may be eliminated, offers may be withdrawn or modified, and referrals about an expired or withdrawn offer may be prevented.

Claims

1. A method for tracking personal referrals related to an employment offer, the method comprising:

generating a unique identifier that is associated exclusively with the pairing of an individual and the employment offer;

sending to said individual an electronic-mail message that provides a hyperlink to or contains a Web page whose address or contents includes said unique identifier or a transformation thereof;

providing in said Web page a means to allow the individual to provide the electronic-mail (email) address of persons to whom said individual wishes to refer the employment opportunity;

tracking the referral by;

receiving from said individual the email addresses for the persons to whom said individual referred,

updating at least one database to associate the individual with the electronic-mail addresses of the persons whom the individual wishes to refer, and

for each electronic-mail address of persons whom said individual wishes to refer, returning to generating a unique identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said unique identifier or a transformation thereof is included in a uniform resource locator.

3. The method of claim 1, where sending includes:

determining whether said individual has previously been sent an electronic-mail message about said offer, and,

sending when said individual has not previously been sent an electronic message about said offer.

4. The method of claim 1, where sending includes:

determining whether said individual has previously opted out of receiving all such electronic-mail messages, and,

sending when said individual has not previously opted out of receiving such electronic-mail messages.

5. The method of claim 1, where sending includes:

determining whether said individual has previously opted out of receiving electronic-mail messages pertaining to said offer, and,

sending when said individual has not previously opted out of receiving electronic-mail messages pertaining to said offer.

6. The method of claim 1, where sending includes:

determining the party whose referral caused said offer to be made to said individual and whether said individual has previously opted out of receiving electronic-mail messages pertaining to offers referred by said party.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing in said Web page a means of accepting said offer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

notifying the sponsor of said offer in case of an acceptance by said individual.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing in said Web page a means of opting out of receiving electronic-mail messages pertaining to one or more categories of such offers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing in said Web page a means of opting out of receiving electronic-mail messages pertaining to offers referred by the party whose referral caused said offer to be made to said individual.

11. The method of claim 1, where sending includes:

determining whether said offer is still valid, and

sending the latest version of said offer if a new version is available.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing in said Web page a means of opting out of receiving all such electronic-mail messages.