Method and apparatus for providing cross-benefits based on a customer activity
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- before receiving an indication of at least one item selected by a customer for purchase from a first vendor, receiving, by a controller in communication with at least one subsidizing vendor server via an electronic network, information relating to customer activity of the customer with the first vendor,in which the information indicates interest of the customer in purchasing at least one item from the first vendor;
receiving, by the controller from a customer terminal via the electronic network, an indication of at least one item selected by the customer for purchase from the first vendor, the at least one item having an associated total price;
after receiving the indication of at least one item selected by the customer for purchase from the first vendor, providing to the customer via the customer terminal, in response to the received information, an indication of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor,wherein the offer for the subsidy is an offer for a reduction in price relative to a total price of a purchase from the first vendor,wherein the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor requires commitment to a service agreement in order to receive the reduction in price relative to the total price of the purchase from the first vendor;
receiving an indication of acceptance by the customer of the offer; and
selling to the customer at a second price the at least one item selected for purchase after the offer is accepted, the second price being less than the associated total price.
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Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives information relating to customer activity with a first vendor (e.g., via a Web page that a customer accesses). The controller further receives an indication of items the customer desires to purchase, the items having an associated total price. The controller determines, based on any of various criteria, whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the information relating to customer activity. The offer for a subsidy is from a second vendor (a subsidizing vendor), and may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for the item and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. If the customer accepts the offer, he is charged a second price for the items. The second price is less than the total price, and may even be zero.
342 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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before receiving an indication of at least one item selected by a customer for purchase from a first vendor, receiving, by a controller in communication with at least one subsidizing vendor server via an electronic network, information relating to customer activity of the customer with the first vendor, in which the information indicates interest of the customer in purchasing at least one item from the first vendor; receiving, by the controller from a customer terminal via the electronic network, an indication of at least one item selected by the customer for purchase from the first vendor, the at least one item having an associated total price; after receiving the indication of at least one item selected by the customer for purchase from the first vendor, providing to the customer via the customer terminal, in response to the received information, an indication of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor, wherein the offer for the subsidy is an offer for a reduction in price relative to a total price of a purchase from the first vendor, wherein the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor requires commitment to a service agreement in order to receive the reduction in price relative to the total price of the purchase from the first vendor; receiving an indication of acceptance by the customer of the offer; and selling to the customer at a second price the at least one item selected for purchase after the offer is accepted, the second price being less than the associated total price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving via an electronic network an indication that an item has been placed in a shopping cart of a Web site of a first vendor, in which the item has an associated price; determining whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the received indication; after receiving the indication, determining an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor, in which the offer includes a requirement to participate in a transaction directly with the second vendor, in which the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor is an offer for a reduction in the associated price of the item, in which the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor requires commitment to a service agreement in order to receive the reduction in the associated price of the item; after receiving the indication, displaying an indication of the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor, in which the offer is displayed via a Web page; receiving input representing a click of a button on the Web page; determining, from the input, an acceptance of the offer for the subsidy; and selling, during the transaction, the item for a second price after the offer is accepted, in which the second price is less than the associated price of the item.
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22. A method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving via an electronic network an indication that an item has been placed in a shopping cart of a Web site of a first vendor, in which the item has an associated price; determining whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the received indication; determining an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor, in which the offer includes a requirement to participate in a transaction with the second vendor, in which the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor is an offer for a reduction in the associated price of the item, in which the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor requires commitment to a service agreement in order to receive the reduction in the associated price of the item; determining a subsidy amount; displaying, during a transaction, an indication of the offer for the subsidy from the second vendor, in which the offer is displayed via a Web page; receiving input representing a click of a button on the Web page; determining, from the input, an acceptance of the offer for the subsidy; determining a second price based on the associated price of the item and the subsidy amount; and selling, during the transaction, the item for the second price after the offer is accepted, in which the second price is less than the associated price of the item.
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Specification
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Current AssigneePayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeWalker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
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InventorsPackes, Jr., John M., Tedesco, Daniel E., Alderucci, Dean P., Bemer, Keith, Tulley, Stephen C., Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., O'Shea, Deirdre
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Primary Examiner(s)Stamber, Eric W
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Assistant Examiner(s)Nguyen, Tri V
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Application NumberUS09/282,747Time in Patent Office4,234 DaysField of Search705/10, 705/14, 705/26, 705/400, 705/14.1, 705/14.11, 705/14.23, 705/14.34, 705/14.36, 705/14.38, 705/14.39, 705/300US Class Current705/14.33CPC Class CodesG06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g...G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for elect...G06Q 30/00 CommerceG06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e....G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods ...G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequ...G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed pur...G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit o...G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward receive...G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
