Patent ID: 7725350
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a database in a host computer system, comprising: A. retaining data for a plurality of consumers, comprising, for each consumer, B. retaining data for a plurality of manufacturers, wherein each manufacturer is a member of the host computer system, and, at the direction of the manufacturer, the host computer system promotes the manufacturer by at least one of allowing manufacturer's data to be viewed by consumers at the host website, and generating and distributing manufacturer's data by the host computer system, wherein each manufacturer is a business that manufactures or packages tangible products intended for consumers, wherein each manufacturer creates and delivers products to businesses that maintain an inventory of the manufacturer's products, wherein the consumer may obtain the manufacturer's product from a business possessing the inventory, wherein the consumer transfers currency or equity representing currency to the business possessing the manufacturer's products in exchange for unencumbered ownership of the manufacturer's products, and wherein retaining data, for each manufacturer, comprises: C. retaining data for a plurality of retailers, wherein each retailer is a member of the host computer system, and, at the direction of the retailer, the host computer system promotes the retailer by at least one of allowing retailer's data to be viewed by consumers at the host website, and generating and distributing retailer's data by the host computer system, wherein each retailer sells products or services to consumers in exchange for currency or equity representing currency, wherein retaining data, for each retailer, comprises: (2) providing a host website, comprising: A. presenting manufacturer interactive data entry forms for the plurality of individual manufacturers, wherein the manufacturer interactive data entry forms are configured to receive a manufacturer's input and subsequently save data for each manufacturer into the database, wherein presenting manufacturer interactive data entry forms comprises: B. presenting retailer interactive data entry forms for the plurality of retailers, wherein the retailer interactive data entry forms are configured to receive a retailer's input and subsequently save data for each retailer into the database, wherein presenting retailer interactive data entry forms comprises: C. presenting consumer interactive data entry forms and links for the plurality of consumers, wherein the consumer interactive data entry forms and links are configured to receive and subsequently save data for each consumer into the database, wherein presenting the consumer interactive data entry forms and links comprises: (3) providing a host printer to convert data from the database into printed promotional materials, comprising the steps: A. performing queries to the database, solely by the host computer system, for each consumer in the database, to retrieve previously saved records, wherein the records returned by each query identify one ConsumerID, wherein a ConsumerID represents one consumer, wherein the identified consumer will be the recipient of printed promotional materials from the host computer system on behalf of one or more manufacturers and retailers, wherein performing queries to the database comprises: (4) distributing promotional materials generated by the host computer system to a specific consumer on behalf of one or more manufacturers and retailers, the promotional materials comprising coupons, mail-in rebates, sweepstakes, giveaways, and other materials promoting the manufacturers and retailers and their products, wherein distributing the promotional materials comprises: A. distributing promotional materials printed by the host computer system, comprising B. distributing electronic promotional materials via email, email attachment, webpage, fax or other electronic means, comprising at least one of: (5) providing a tracking mechanism, performed after the consumer redeems a host computer system-generated coupon, comprising the steps of: A. performing a coupon tracking process of the manufacturer's coupon that was generated by the host computer system on behalf of the manufacturer, subsequently distributed by the host computer system to the consumer, and subsequently provided value to the consumer by redeeming the manufacturer's coupon at a manufacturer coupon redeemer, wherein the consumer transfers possession of the host computer system-generated manufacturer's coupon to the manufacturer coupon redeemer, wherein the manufacturer coupon redeemer seeks reimbursement of the value the manufacturer coupon redeemer provided to the consumer at a manufacturer coupon redeemer's point-of-sale, wherein the coupon tracking process comprises: B. performing a coupon tracking process of the retailer's coupon that was generated by the host computer system on behalf of the retailer, subsequently distributed by the host computer system to the consumer, and subsequently provided value to the consumer by redeeming the retailer's coupon at the retailer, wherein the consumer transfers possession of the host computer system-generated retailer's coupon to the retailer, wherein the retailer, or a retailer's representative, submits the host computer system-defined consumer identification codes data printed on the redeemed host computer system-generated retailer's coupon to the database, and the submission of the data activates a host computer system process to save a record to the database, wherein the coupon tracking process comprises: