Abstract:
A method and system to incentivize a user to perform an incentivized activity relating to a network-based marketplace in a timely manner. A user is informed of an award for performing the incentivized activity, wherein a value of the award decreases in value as time elapses after a referenced time and before the performance of the incentivized activity. The performance of the incentivized activity is detected; and the value of the award is determined based on an amount of time elapsed after the referenced time and before the performance of the incentivized activity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of online promotions and, more specifically a method and a system to incentivize a user to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Sellers have traditionally utilized promotional games to incentivize buyers to perform a commercial activity. For example, a seller may offer a prize or an opportunity to win a prize in response to the buyer purchasing a product or sampling a service.  
           [0003]    One challenge faced by a network-based marketplace is a buyer or seller that slows a commercial transaction by failing to perform a required commercial activity in a timely manner. For example, a buyer may purchase an item or submit a winning bid for an item but hold-up shipment by failing to submit payment in a timely manner. Conversely, another example might include a buyer that submits prompt payment but nevertheless must wait an unjustified period of time to receive the purchased item or service.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A method to incentivize a user to perform an incentivized activity relating to a network-based marketplace in a timely manner includes informing the user of an award for performing the incentivized activity, wherein a value of the award decreases in value as time elapses after a referenced time and before the performance of the incentivized activity; detecting the performance of the incentivized activity; and determining the value of the award based on an amount of time elapsed after the referenced time and before the performance of the incentivized activity.  
           [0005]    The invention extends to a machine-readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the, machine to execute any one of the methods described herein. Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based marketplace machine, client machine, and a third party service machine;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating software and hardware components utilized by an exemplary network-based marketplace;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary client application program;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application program interface utilized for receiving a batch file and communicating messages;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary election module and an exemplary listing module for presenting exemplary user interfaces;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary detection module and an exemplary award module utilized for promotion-related processing in the network-based marketplace;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database maintained and accessed via a database engine server that supports the network-based marketplace;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a listing table within a database maintained by the exemplary network-based marketplace;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an activity table and an exemplary award table within a database maintained by the exemplary network-based marketplace;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of Java script variables embedded in a bid confirmation web page;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a user table within a database maintained by the exemplary network-based marketplace;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary notice of payment message;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate an online promotion in a network-based marketplace;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating the method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate an online promotion relating to a network-based marketplace;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 15 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a user to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace in a timely manner;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method to record an activity and determine if an activity should be awarded;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 17 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating the method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a user to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace in a timely manner;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 19 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 20 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating the method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 21 is an interactive flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to collect seller configured incentives relating to a network-based marketplace;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 22-31 illustrates user interface screens relating to a network-based marketplace; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 32 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]    Methods and systems to facilitate online promotions in a network-based marketplace are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.  
         [0031]    In general, embodiments described below feature a network-based marketplace that allows users of the marketplace to transact products or services identified in listings, that are offered for sale by sellers. In addition, various embodiments of the network-based marketplace additionally allow users to post and view listings that may be transacted outside the electronic marketplace.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a network-based service that may be accessed through, for example, the Internet using a client application program such as a web browser. In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a network-based service that provides an application program interface that may be accessed through, for example, the Internet using a client application program such as a seller software tool.  
       Hardware and Software Components  
       [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components that may form part of a exemplary network-based marketplace  8 . A client machine  10 , a network-based marketplace machine  12 , and a third party service machine  14  are coupled via a network  16 . In some embodiments, users may participate in the marketplace using the mobile client machines  18 , or the base client machines  20  coupled to the network  16  via a satellite connection  19 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary software and hardware components. The client machine  10  hosts a client application program  22 , (e.g., a web browser, seller application, etc) and also stores and displays a communication in the exemplary form of a web page  24  a storage component  26  (e.g., a dish device) is also shown coupled to the client machine  10 .  
         [0035]    The client application program  22  may be embodied as a browser (for example, a Microsoft Internet Explorer browser developed by Microsoft™ Corporation of Richmond, Wash. or Navigator™ browser developed by Netscape of Mountain View, Calif.). The client application program  22  executes under an operating system (for example, Microsoft™ Windows developed by Microsoft™ Corporation or MacOS X developed by Apple Computers of Cupertino, Calif.). The client application program  22  may also be embodied as seller software enabling a seller to configure listings that encourage buyers to participate in various network-based marketplace activities. The client application program  22  may read the web page  24 , which may include information that is written to the storage component  26 . The client application program  22  may store information on the storage component  26  in the form of a cookie  28 . Further, the web page  24  may include a one-by-one invisible pixel  30  in the form of HTML code that does not visibly appear on the web page  24  and directs the browser to perform various operations.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the network-based marketplace machine  12  is shown, in one embodiment to include one more of a number of types and servers, for example communication servers in the exemplary form of application program interface (API) servers  32 , page servers  34  that deliver web pages (e.g., markup language documents), picture servers  36  that dynamically deliver images to be displayed within web pages, listing servers  38 , processing servers in the exemplary form of CGI (or ISAPI) servers  40  that provide an intelligent interface to back-end servers, and search servers  42  that handle search requests to the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The e-mail servers  44  provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to users of the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The back-end servers include a database engine server  46 , a search index server  48 , and a credit card database server  50 , each of which maintains and facilitates access to a respective database.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture of the client application program  22 . The client application program  22  includes a logic component  54 , the storage component  26  and a communications component  56 . The client application program  22  executes under the control of an operating system on the client machine  10 , as previously described, and may be embodied as a browser, seller tool or some other application that is utilized to facilitate electronic commerce in the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary application program interface in the form of an application program interface module (APIM)  58 . The APIM  58  executes on the API server  32  and under kernel operating software to receive a batch file that is created by a seller and that is utilized to facilitate electronic commerce in the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an election module  59  and a listing module  60 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, utilized for communicating user interfaces. The election module  59  and the listing module  60  operate under the control of kernel system software on the listing server  38 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a detection module  62  and an award module  64  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The detection module  62  is utilized to detect events related to promotions and to record user-associated information. The award module  64  is utilized to determine the value of an award and award a user. The detection module  62  and the award module  64  operate under the control of kernel system software on the ISAPI/CGI server  40 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 7 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database  66  maintained and accessed via a database engine server  46  that supports the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The database  66  may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, the database  66  may be implemented as a collection of objects in an object-oriented database.  
         [0042]    The database  66  includes a user table  68 , which contains a record for each user of the network-based marketplace machine  12 . A user may operate as a seller, buyer, or both, within the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The database  66  also includes a listings table  70  that may be linked to the user table  68  and a listing association table  72 . A record in the user table  68  is associated with a user and may be linked to multiple items that are being, or have been, transacted via the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0043]    The database  66  also includes a note table  74  populated with note records that may be linked to one or more listing records within the listing table  70  and/or to one or more user records within the user table  68 . Each note record within the note table  74  may include, inter alia, a comment, description, history or other information pertaining to an item or service being auction via the network-based marketplace machine  12 , or to a user of the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0044]    A number of other tables are also shown to be linked to the user table  68 , namely a user past aliases table  76 , a feedback table  78 , a bids table  80 , an accounts table  82 , and an account balances table  84 .  
         [0045]    A master categories table  86  stores records for listing categories presented across multiple views (or presentations) of listing categories via regional or community sites presented by the network-based marketplace machine  12 . A site categories table  88  stores records indicating which listing categories are to be presented for respective regional or community sites, (e.g., a country, region or city specific site) presented by the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0046]    The database  66  is also shown to include an activity table  89  and an award table  90  to enable an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The activity table  89  and the award table  90  are utilized to associate a user activity to an elapsed time and an award.  
       Method to Facilitate an Online Promotion Relating to a Network-based Marketplace  
       [0047]    [0047]FIG. 13 is an interactive flow chart illustrating a method  92 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate an online promotion in a network-based marketplace. Client and server operations are illustrated.  
         [0048]    At box  102 , the election module  59  on the listing server  38  in the network-based marketplace machine  12  generates and communicates an opt-in web page  103  to the user at the client machine  10 . In one embodiment, the opt-in web page  103  is communicated to the user in response to the user selecting a promotion screen element that may appear on various pages presented by the network-based marketplace or other third-party services. In other embodiments, the opt-in web page  103  is communicated in response to a predetermined user activity.  
         [0049]    At box  104 , the communications component  56  at the client machine  10  receives and displays the opt-in web page  103  to the user. FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the opt-in web page  103  that includes an exemplary user-provided election in the form of an opt-in box  107 . The opt-in web page  103  informs the user that each time a bid is submitted in an auction they will receive an exemplary online promotion in the form of a promotion game card  125  that appears in a pop-up window screen at the client machine  10  and enables the user to win a prize. FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary promotion game card  125  in the form of a virtual scratch card game whereby the user wins a prize by “scratching” out the squares covering the faces of Manny, Moe and Jack. Other embodiments of the promotion game card  125  may include a watch and win promotion game card that provides a code to the user. The user must then watch a television program to see if the provided code corresponds to a code displayed during the television program.  
         [0050]    Returning to FIG. 13, at box  106 , the user asserts an election to opt-in to a promotional contest by selecting the opt-in box  107  “Yes! I want to win!!!” Otherwise the user implicitly opts-out.  
         [0051]    At box  108 , the logic component  54  on the client machine  10  writes the contents (e.g., a yes/no indication) of the opt-in box  107  into a cookie  28  located on the storage component  26  on the client machine  10  and ends.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 14 is an interactive flow chart further illustrating a method  92 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate an online promotion in a network-based marketplace  8 . Client and server operations are illustrated.  
         [0053]    At box  110 , the listing module  60  communicates a bid confirmation web page  117 , an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 25, in response to the user at the client machine  10  performing an exemplary triggering event in the form of submitting a bid. Other embodiments may include communicating a web page in response, for example, to the user entering a listing, making a purchase, updating user profile information or any other activity performed by the user in a network-based marketplace  8 . As illustrated in FIG. 10, the bid confirmation web page  117 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes exemplary user information in the form of JavaScript that contains bid confirmation variables  118  including a bid confirmation referencing URL  120  that identifies bid confirmation activity that is utilized by the third party service machine  14  to verify that the information received from the client machine  10  indeed originates from a trusted source (e.g., the network-based marketplace machine  12 ); a bid confirmation unique identifier  121  that is utilized by the third party service machine  14  and the network-based marketplace machine  12  to identify the user associated with the client machine  10 ; a bid confirmation time and date stamp  122  that is utilized to perform qualification checks (e.g., restricting a number of contest entries within a predetermined time period); a bid confirmation listing number  124  that is utilized to identify the item or service associated with the bid confirmation and the one-by-one invisible pixel  30 .  
         [0054]    Returning to FIG. 14, at box  112 , the communications component  56  at the client machine  10  receives and displays the bid confirmation web page  117 . The communications component  56  passes control to the logic component  54  that reads the one-by-one invisible pixel  30  from the HTML CODE of the bid confirmation web page  117 . The one-by-one invisible pixel  30  directs the communications component  54  to read the cookie  28  from the storage component  26  and determine if the user has elected to participate in the online promotion. If the user has elected to participate in the online promotion then the logic component  54  invokes the communications component  56  and processing continues at box  116 . Otherwise processing ends.  
         [0055]    At box  116 , the communications component  56  reads the one-by-one invisible pixel  30  which directs the communications component  56  to generate a non-visible pop-up window (e.g., to display the online promotion), to request the online promotion from the third party service machine  14  and to communicate the bid confirmation variables  118  to the third party service machine  14  including the bid confirmation referencing URL  120 , the bid confirmation unique identifier  121 , the bid confirmation time and date stamp  122 , and the bid confirmation listing number  124 . In one embodiment, the client machine  10  communicates the bid confirmation variables  118  as URL parameters to the third party service machine  14 . In other embodiments the client machine  10  may communicate the bid confirmation variables  118  in a network message.  
         [0056]    At decision box  126 , the third party service machine  14  utilizes the bid confirmation time and date stamp  122  and the bid confirmation unique identifier  121  to identify if the request for a promotional game will cause the user at the client machine  10  to exceed the maximum number of promotional games in a predetermined period of time. If the user has exceeded the maximum number of promotional games, then the promotional game card  125  is not sent to the user and processing continues at box  130 . Otherwise, at box  128 , the third party service machine  14  records an additional promotional game played by the user in a database at the third party service machine  14  and communicates the promotion game card  125  to the client machine  10 .  
         [0057]    At box  129 , the communication component  56 , at the client machine  10 , receives and populates the pop-up screen with the promotion game card  125  thereby enabling the user to view and participate in the online promotion.  
         [0058]    At box  130 , the third party service machine  14  communicates the bid confirmation variables  118  and promotional information  127  regarding the promotion (e.g., number of games played by the user, number of prizes won by the user, etc.) to the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0059]    At box  131 , the detection module  62 , at the network-based marketplace machine  12 , receives the bid confirmation variables  118  and promotional information  127 . The detection module  62  utilizes the bid confirmation variables  118  and the promotional information  127  to search the database  66  in the network-based marketplace machine  12  and obtain additional information for the purpose of generating management, demographic, and marketing reports.  
         [0060]    An alternate embodiment of the above method may include testing the maximum number of promotional games at the client machine  10  or at the network-based marketplace machine  12 . Further, another embodiment of the present invention may present the user at the client machine  10  an opt-out election instead of the opt-in election. In this embodiment, user action is required to not participate in the promotion. Otherwise, the user is automatically prompted to complete a registration form and presented with an online promotion game. FIG. 24 illustrates a user interface screen with an opt-out election box  109 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       Method to Incentivize a Seller to Perform an Activity Relating to a Network-based Marketplace In a Timely Manner  
       [0061]    [0061]FIG. 15 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating a method  134 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a user to promptly perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace in a timely manner. Client and server operations are illustrated.  
         [0062]    At box  136 , the listing module  60 , at the network-based marketplace machine  12 , communicates an exemplary user-interface in the form of a bid confirmation web page  117  to the user at the client machine  10 . Further, the bid confirmation web page  117  includes JavaScript bid confirmation variables  118 , as previously described. In the present example the bid confirmation variables  118  include a reference time that chronicles the moment of bid confirmation in the form of the bid confirmation time and date stamp  122  that is utilized by the network-based marketplace machine  12  to compute an elapsed time.  
         [0063]    At box  138 , the client machine  10  receives and displays the bid confirmation web page  117  to the user on the client machine  10 . FIG. 25 illustrates the bid confirmation web page  117  as viewed by the user at the client machine  10 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the present example, the bid confirmation web page  117  informs the user at the client machine  10  that bidding is closed and the user at the client machine  10  is the winner of the auction for a book entitled, “Fun With Ballet for Future Ballerina Dancers.” In the present example, the bid confirmation web page  117  informs the buyer that the seller requires payment prior to shipment of the book. To encourage quick payment, the bid confirmation web page  117  informs the user that prompt payment is awarded and that the value of the award may be maximized by making payment in a timely manner.  
         [0064]    Returning to FIG. 15, at box  140 , bid confirmation activity is recorded at the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating the processing executed in box  140 .  
         [0066]    At decision box  142 , the detection module  62  determines if bid confirmation is an activity that should be recorded. The detection module  62  receives the bid confirmation variables  118  and utilizes the bid confirmation referencing URL  120  to search an activity table  89  to a match an activity URL  145  as illustrated in FIG. 9. The activity URL  145  is associated with an activity index  151 . Returning to FIG. 16, the detection module  62  compares the bid confirmation referencing URL  120  with the activity URL  145 . The detection module  62  branches to box  144  if a match is found. Otherwise the method ends.  
         [0067]    At box  144 , the detection module  62  records the activity in one or more entries in the user table  68  as illustrated in FIG. 11. The user table  68  includes a user entry  147  for each user in the system. Each user entry  147  also includes an activity history table  167  that may include multiple entries of activity information  150 . Further, a set of index pointers (not illustrated) are maintained such that the most recent activity information  150  is maintained. Thus, the activity information  150  is entered into the activity history table  148  in a round robin fashion where the most recent entry overwrites the oldest entry, presuming the activity history table  148  is full. In the present embodiment the activity information  150  includes the bid confirmation variables  118  and the associated activity index  151 ; however, it will be appreciated that other embodiments may include additional or different information.  
         [0068]    Returning to FIG. 16 and box  144 , the detection module  62  utilizes the bid confirmation listing number  124  to identify the appropriate listing entry in the listings table  70  and extract the corresponding user identification index  182  (e.g., entry of the seller). The detection module  62  utilizes the user identification index  182  to write the bid confirmation variables  118  into the activity information  150  entry in the activity history table  148  associated with the seller. Further, the detection module  62  utilizes the bid confirmation unique identifier  121  to write the bid confirmation variables  118  into the activity history table  148  associated with the buyer. Finally, the detection module  62  invokes the award module  64  for the buyer and the seller.  
         [0069]    It will be appreciated that for other activity the detection module  62  may update the activity history table  148  for a single user. For example, a seller creating a listing for an item or service would cause the detection module  62  to update activity information  150  only for the seller and not a buyer (e.g., no buyer yet).  
         [0070]    At decision box  146 , the award module  64  determines if an award should be awarded based on activity information  150  in the respective activity history table  148  for which it was invoked. In the present example the bid confirmation is the most recent activity entered into the activity history table  148 . Thus the logic for bid confirmation is utilized to analyze the other entries in the table (e.g., activity that has chronologically preceded the bid confirmation). In the present example, no other activity has preceded the bid confirmation, therefore the award module  64  ends. Processing within decision box  158  is discussed in greater detail upon the detection of a second activity.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 17 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating the method  134 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a user to promptly perform an activity related to a network-based marketplace. Processing of two servers and a client are illustrated.  
         [0072]    At box  167 , the third party service machine  14  communicates a payment confirmation web page  149 , as illustrated in FIG. 26, to the client machine  10 . The payment confirmation web page  149  is received at the client machine  10  in response to the user utilizing the third party service machine  14  to pay for an item or service that was listed on the network-based marketplace machine  12 . Merely for example, the third party service machine  14  may deploy a service embodied in the form of the PayPal online payment service, provided by Ebay Corporation of San Jose, Calif. The PayPal service enables a business or consumer with an email address to send and receive payments online.  
         [0073]    Returning to FIG. 17 at box  169 , the third party service machine  14  communicates a notice of payment message  171  to the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The notice of payment message  171  includes a set of payment confirmation variables  173  obtained from JavaScript variables that are included in the payment confirmation web page  149 . FIG. 12 illustrates the payment confirmation variables  173  including a pay referencing URL  141  that identifies the payment confirmation web page  149  and is utilized by the network-based marketplace machine  12  to identify payment confirmation as an activity; a pay unique identifier  143  that is utilized by the network-based marketplace machine  12  to identify the user at the client machine  10 ; an exemplary reference time that chronicles the moment of payment confirmation in the form of a pay time and date stamp  183  and is utilized by the network-based marketplace machine  12  to compute an exemplary elapsed time; and a pay listing number  185  that is utilized by the network-based marketplace machine  12  to identify the listing associated with the payment confirmation.  
         [0074]    Returning to FIG. 17 at box  152 , an application program interface module  58  receives the notice of payment message  171 , extracts the payment confirmation variables  173  and invokes the detection module  62 .  
         [0075]    At box  140 , the payment confirmation activity is recorded and a determination is made regarding whether to award the user.  
         [0076]    Returning to FIG. 16, at decision box  142  the detection module  62  determines if payment confirmation is an activity that should be recorded. The detection module  62  receives the notice of payment message  171  including the payment confirmation variables  173 . The detection module  62  utilizes the pay referencing URL  141  to search the activity table  89  and to match the corresponding activity URL  145 , thereby identifying payment confirmation as the activity to be recorded.  
         [0077]    At box  144 , the detection module  62  records the payment confirmation activity in the buyer and seller activity history tables  148  in the user table  68 . In the present embodiment the activity information  150  in the activity history table  148  and is updated with the payment confirmation variables  173  included in the notice of payment message  171  and the associated activity index  151 ; however, other embodiments may include additional or different information. Finally, the detection module  62  invokes the award module  64  for the activity history table  148  associated with the buyer and the activity history table  148  associated with the seller.  
         [0078]    At decision box  146  the award module  64  determines if an award should be awarded. In the present example the payment confirmation activity is the most recent entry in the activity history table  148 . Thus the logic for the payment confirmation is utilized to analyze the other activity entries in the table (e.g., activity that has preceded the payment confirmation) to determine if an award should be awarded. It will be appreciated that each activity has unique logic to determine if an award should be awarded. In the present example, the logic executed upon detecting payment confirmation causes the award module  64  to search the activity history table  148  associated with the buyer for corresponding bid confirmation activity (e.g., the same listing number, the same unique identifier, etc.). Upon detecting corresponding bid confirmation activity the award module  64  computes an exemplary elapsed time by subtracting the bid confirmation time and date stamp  122  associated with the bid confirmation activity from the pay time and date stamp  183  associated with the payment confirmation activity. For example, the award module  64  may compute elapsed time in seconds, minutes, hours, days or any standard unit of time. Next, the award module  64  determines the award based on the elapsed time by utilizing an award table  90 . FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the award table  90 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The award table  90  is a two dimensional array indexed by the activity index  151 . The activity index  151  for the first activity is used by the award module  64  to identify a first activity column  153  in the award table  90 . The activity index  151  for the second activity is used by the award module  64  to identify a second activity row  155  in the award table  90 . Each intersected first activity column  153  and second activity row  155  represents a first and second activity combination that is associated with a set of elapsed times  154  that correspond to a set of award values  156 . In the present example, the set of elapsed times  154  (e.g., 0, 1 and 2 days) corresponds to award values  156  (e.g., 2, 1 and 0 online promotions). Thus, the award table  90 , in the present example, is configured to award fewer online promotions in proportion to an increase in elapsed time (e.g., 2 virtual scratch card games are delivered to a user that submits payment on the same day of bid confirmation).  
         [0079]    It will be appreciated that a set of elapsed times  154  and award values  156  may be configured for any combination of network-based marketplace activities including a first activity and second activity with the same activity index  151 .  
         [0080]    Returning to FIG. 16 and decision box  146 , the award module  64  utilizes the award table  90  as described above to determine if the user has indeed won an award and also the value or quantity of the award.  
         [0081]    At box  158 , the award module  64  awards the user for promptly performing an activity. In the present example, the award value  156  corresponds to a quantity of online promotions in the form of virtual scratch card games. In other embodiments the award value may correspond to a discount percentage or a number of free listings or a percentage reduction in fees or any other benefit that may provide an incentive to the user.  
         [0082]    The present embodiment illustrates a buyer that performs a first activity (e.g., a bid confirmation) and is awarded for promptly performing a second activity (e.g., submitting payment using a third party service). In another embodiment, the buyer may be awarded for using a third party service for payment; however, receiving an award could additionally require the buyer to utilize a bank account as a source of payment rather than a credit card account.  
         [0083]    Further, it will be appreciated that first and second activities might be any two activities performed by any user in the network-based marketplace. For example, a buyer that purchases a first item may be awarded for promptly purchasing a second item (e.g., from the same or different seller; from the same or different category; utilizing the same or different purchasing method including auctions, purchasing, etc.). In another example, a seller might list a first item and be awarded for promptly listing a second item (in the same or different category; for approximately the same or different prices, etc.). Indeed any first user activity that is performed in a network-based marketplace might be rewarded for timely performing any second user activity that is performed in a network-based marketplace including a second activity that is the same type as the first.  
         [0084]    It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments both the buyer and the seller may be awarded. Further, other embodiments may award the buyer and the seller for an activity performed by the seller and an activity performed by the buyer. Thus, the buyer and the seller are awarded for cooperating to complete the first activity and the second activity in a timely manner.  
       Method to Incentivize a Seller to Perform an Activity Relating to a Network-based Marketplace  
     Seller Enters Listing  
       [0085]    [0085]FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating a method  320 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace. At box  322 , a listing module  60  on the network-based marketplace machine  12  informs a seller at client machine  10  that an award may be obtained. The listing module  60  informs the seller by communicating a user interface screen in the exemplary form of a sweepstakes promotion screen  324 , as illustrated in FIG. 29. Specifically, the seller is informed, via a text  326 , that by performing a first activity, in the exemplary form of entering a listing for an item or service on the ABC Network-based Marketplace, that a first activity award may be received when the buyer of the listed item or service wins an award in an Instant Win Instant Sweepstakes. Specifically, the seller is informed, via a text  328 , that they will win a first activity award in the exemplary form of promotion game cards  125  when the buyer is awarded promotion game cards  125 . FIG. 23 illustrates the promotion game card  125  in the form of a virtual scratch card game whereby the seller and/or buyer may win a prize by scratching out the squares covering the faces of Manny, Moe and Jack. Returning to FIG. 29, the seller is further informed, via a text  330 , that the seller may win a first activity award if the buyer plays the promotion game card  125  and wins. The seller may win the first activity award in the exemplary form of sharing in the proceeds awarded to the buyer or by receiving an award independent of the proceeds of the buyer. Nevertheless, the text  328  and the text  330  indicate that the seller receives an award when the buyer receives an award.  
         [0086]    The seller is further informed, via a text  332 , of the activity that must be performed by the buyer to qualify the buyer to receive an award in the form of promotion game cards  125 . The buyer may receive an award by paying for the item or service with the “XYZ Payment Service” as described by a text  332 . It will be appreciated that other activities related to a network-based marketplace may also result in awarding the buyer the promotion game cards  125  (e.g., submitting the winning bid, paying for the item or service by identifying a bank account as a source of payment, etc.).  
         [0087]    Returning to FIG. 18, at box  334 , the seller receives a listing description form  336  that is utilized by the seller to enter a description of an item or a service that is listed on the network-based marketplace machine  12 . FIG. 30 illustrates the listing description form  336 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The listing description form  336  includes a window  338  to enter a listing description. Returning to FIG. 18, the seller at the client machine  10  enters the listing description thus completing the listing description form  336 , which is subsequently communicated to the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0088]    The listing module  60  at the network-based marketplace machine  12  receives the listing description form  336  and creates a listing description web page  339  that is stored in the listing information field  184  in the listings table  70 . FIG. 31 illustrates the listing description web page  339  that describes a Book entitled “Fun with Ballet for Future Ballerina Dancers.” Returning to FIG. 18, the listing module  60  writes the listing description webpage  339  to the listings table  70  and invokes the detection module  62 .  
         [0089]    The detection module  62  updates the listing table  70 . FIG. 8 illustrates the listing table  70 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The listing table  70  includes multiple listing entries that are accessed with a listing index  181 . Among other fields, each listing entry includes a prompt buyer flag  180  that is not utilized in the present embodiment and described below. Further, each listing entry includes a user identification index  182  that is utilized to associate the listing entry to the seller that created the listing entry and a listing information field  184  that is utilized to store the listing description form  336 , as previously described. Returning to FIG. 18, the detection module  62  ends after updating the user identification index  182 .  
         [0090]    At box  340 , the detection module  62  detects that a buyer has paid for an item or service with the “Easy to use XYZ Payment Service.” Further, by utilizing the payment service the buyer has become qualified to win promotion game cards  125 . The detection module  62  detects the payment and the qualification to receive promotion game cards  125  by receiving a message from a third party service machine  14  (e.g., a promotional marketeer) that provides online gaming services to the network-based marketplace machine  12 . A promotional marketeer interfaces with the network-based marketplace machine  12  to monitor, process and award user activity on the network-based marketplace machine  12 . For example, online gaming services may be provided by Maritz® of Fenton, Mo. or Milepoint® of Minneapolis, Minn. or Fairmarket of Woburn, Mass. In an alternate embodiment, the online gaming services may be provided by the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0091]    The detection module  62  extracts the listing index  181  included in the message from the third party service machine  14  to access the listing table  70  and extract the user identification index  182  thereby identifying the seller. Finally, the detection module  62  ends after invoking the award module  64  with the user identification index  182 .  
         [0092]    At box  342 , the award module  64  awards the seller for entering the listing on the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The award module  64  communicates a message to the third party service machine  14  (e.g. promotional marketeer) that includes the user identification index  182  and triggers the third party service machine  14  to award promotion game cards  125  to the seller identified by the user identification index  182 . Other embodiments may award the seller with discounted fees, a free listing, a prize or any other benefit that might provide an incentive to the seller.  
         [0093]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention the buyer may perform the second activity by winning proceeds from an online promotion. For example, a promotional marketer may communicate to the network-based marketplace machine  12  that the buyer has been awarded proceeds by scratching off the faces of Manny, Moe and Jack on a virtual scratch card (e.g., promotion game card  125 ). In this embodiment the associated seller may also receive an award. The seller may receive a percentage of the buyer&#39;s proceeds or receive an award in addition to the buyer&#39;s proceeds.  
         [0094]    In yet another embodiment, the seller may be awarded when the buyer uses a third party service to pay for the service or item and uses a bank account as a source of payment rather than a credit card account.  
       Seller Elects to Promote  
       [0095]    [0095]FIG. 19 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating a method  166 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace  8 . Client and server operations are illustrated.  
         [0096]    At box  168 , the seller receives a listing description form  170  that is utilized by the seller to enter a description of an item or service that is listed on the network-based marketplace machine  12 . FIG. 27 illustrates the listing description form  170 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The listing description form  170  includes a window  172  to enter a listing description; a message  174  informing the seller of an award that may be obtained in the form of the promotion game card  125  for performing a first activity in the exemplary form of prompting a potential buyer to use the XYZ Payment Service to pay for the seller&#39;s item; and an election box  176  enabling the seller to elect to encourage the buyer to use the XYZ Payment Service for payment. Returning to FIG. 19 and box  168 , the seller at the client machine  10  enters the listing description and elects to encourage the buyer to use the XYZ payment service by marking the election box  176  thus completing the listing description form  170 , which is subsequently communicated to the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0097]    At box  178 , the listing module  60  at the network-based marketplace machine  12  receives the listing description form  170  and creates a listing description web page  186  that is stored in the listing information field  184  in the listings table  70 . In the present embodiment, the listing module  60  inserts a text string into the listing description web page  186  upon detecting an affirmative election recorded by user at the client machine  10  in the election box  176 . FIG. 28 illustrates the listing description web page  186  that describes a Book entitled “Fun with Ballet for Future Ballerina Dancers” and encourages the potential buyer to “Try the easy use XYZ Payment Service to pay for this item”. Other embodiments may encourage to the potential buyer by inserting a graphic, an illustration, a streaming video, an audio recording or any other media form capable of prompting the buyer to perform an activity. Note that the seller has exclusive control over the appearance of the listing, as illustrated by the listing description web page  186 , and that encouragement to use the XYZ Payment Service will not appear without the seller&#39;s permission. Thus, the network-based marketplace machine  12  enlists the advertising support of the seller by offering an incentive in the form of one or more promotion game cards  125 .  
         [0098]    Returning to FIG. 19, the listing module  60  writes the listing description web page  186  to the listings table  70  and invokes the detection module  62 .  
         [0099]    At box  179 , the detection module  62  updates the listing table  70 . Each listing entry includes a prompt buyer flag  180  that is utilized to record the seller&#39;s election as recorded by the election box  176 . The detection module  62  ends after copying the election as recorded in the election box  176  into the prompt buyer flag  180  and updating the user identification index  182 .  
         [0100]    [0100]FIG. 20 is an interactive flow chart partially illustrating the method  166 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to incentivize a seller to perform an activity relating to a network-based marketplace  8 . Client and server operations are illustrated.  
         [0101]    At box  192 , the buyer performs an exemplary second activity by paying for the item or service with a third party service. The buyer may enter the third party service by selecting a third party service button which appears on one of the web pages provided by the network based marketplace machine  12 . A buyer that has not previously joined the third party service may do so by utilizing a graphical representation and reference describing how to join the service. Once the buyer has joined the service, the buyer may pay for the item or service by using the third party service machine  14 .  
         [0102]    The client machine  10  communicates an authorization of payment  194  that includes the listing index  181  and other information, to the third party service machine  14 . It will be appreciated that the buyer may acquire the item service from the seller in different ways. In one embodiment the buyer may submit a winning bid in an auction. In another embodiment the buyer may purchase the item from the seller.  
         [0103]    At box  196 , the third party service machine  14  receives and processes the authorization of payment  194  by debiting the account of the buyer and crediting the account of the seller.  
         [0104]    At box  198 , the third party service machine  14  communicates a notification of authorized payment  199  to the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The notification of authorized payment  199  includes the listing index  181  in addition to other information.  
         [0105]    At box  200 , the detection module  62  detects the notification of authorization of payment  199  associated with the listing index  181 .  
         [0106]    At box  202 , the detection module  62  associates the notification of authorization of payment  199  with a seller by utilizing the listing index  181  to extract the user identification index  182  of the seller from the listing table  70 . Further, the detection module  62  invokes the award module  64  upon identifying an asserted prompt buyer flag  180  in the listing table  70 .  
         [0107]    At box  204 , the award module  64  awards the seller for encouraging the buyer to pay for the item or service with the XYZ Payment Service. In the present example, the seller is awarded the opportunity to win a prize by receiving a promotion game card  125  in the form of a virtual scratch card game as illustrated in FIG. 23. Further, in the present embodiment, the award module  64  delivers the award to the seller by communicating a message to the third party service machine  14  (e.g., promotional marketeer).  
         [0108]    In another embodiment the award module  64  may count the number of successful referrals to the third party service made by the seller and award the seller proportionately. For example, the seller may receive three promotion game cards  125  in response to a third buyer using the XYZ Payment Service where each buyer (e.g., first, second and third) has been encouraged by the seller to use the XYZ Payment Service and has used the XYZ Payment Service. Still other embodiments may reward the seller in forms other than the promotion game card  125  (e.g., cash back, fee discounts, free listings, or any benefit which may provide an incentive to the seller).  
         [0109]    Other embodiments may award the seller from the network-based marketplace machine  12  (e.g., award the seller with discounted fees, a free listing, or any other benefit that might provide an incentive to the seller).  
         [0110]    [0110]FIG. 21 is an interactive flow chart illustrating a method  300 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, to collect seller configured incentives for a network-based marketplace  10 . Client processing is illustrated on the left and server processing is illustrated on the right. The method  300  enables a user to input large quantities of item or service listings and elect to prompt the prospective buyer to perform an activity thus reducing interactions with the network-based marketplace machine  12 . The method  300  may be embodied as the client application program  22  executing on the client machine  10  or the mobile client machine  18 .  
         [0111]    At box  302 , the seller inputs an item or service listing description including an election to encourage the potential buyer to perform an activity via the listing description form  170 . As previously described the listing description form  170  includes the window  172  to enter a listing description, the message  174  that informs the seller of an opportunity to receive a game card for encouraging a potential buyer to use the XYZ third party payment service and the election box  176  that enables the seller to elect to encourage the buyer to use the XYZ third party payment service.  
         [0112]    The client application program  22  receives the listing description form  170  via a communications component  56  and communicates the listing description form  170  to a logic component  54 .  
         [0113]    At box  304 , the logic component  54  of the client application program  22  updates a batch file in a storage component  26  on the client machine  10  with the contents of the listing description form  170  including the contents of the window  172  and the election box  176 .  
         [0114]    At decision box  305 , the logic component  54  of the client application program  22  ends upon determining that the seller does not wish to complete another listing description form  170 . Otherwise the logic component  54  branches to box  302 .  
         [0115]    At box  306 , the seller transmits the batch file via the client application program  22 . The communications component  56  receives the request to transmit the batch file from the seller and invokes the logic component  54 . The logic component  54  reads the batch file from the storage component  26  and communicates the batch file to an application program interface module (APIM)  58  at the network-based marketplace machine  12 .  
         [0116]    At box  308 , on the server side, the APIM  58  receives the batch file, extracts the listing information from the batch file and invokes the listing module  60  for each listing description form  170 .  
         [0117]    At box  310 , the listing module  60  creates a listing description web page  186  for each listing description form  170  and stores the newly created listing description web page  186  in the listings table  70 . In the present embodiment, the listing module  60  inserts a text string into the listing description page upon detecting an affirmative election recorded by user at the client machine  10  in the election box  176 . FIG. 28 illustrates the listing description web page  186  as previously described. Other embodiments may encourage the potential buyer by inserting a graphic, an illustration, a streaming video, an audio recording or any other media form capable of communicating a message to the potential buyer. Returning to FIG. 21, the listing module  60  writes the newly created listing description web page  186  to the listings table  70  and invokes the detection module  62 .  
         [0118]    At box  312 , the detection module  62  copies the election as recorded in the election box  176  into the prompt buyer field  174  of the listing table  70  and ends.  
         [0119]    [0119]FIG. 32 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system  400  within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.  
         [0120]    The exemplary computer system  400  includes a processor  402  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory  404  and a static memory  406 , which communicate with each other via a bus  408 . The computer system  400  may further include a video display unit  410  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  400  also includes an alpha-numeric input device  412  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  414  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  416 , a signal generation device  418  (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device  420 .  
         [0121]    The disk drive unit  416  includes a machine-readable medium  422  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  424 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software  424  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  404  and/or within the processor  402  during execution thereof by the computer system  400 , the main memory  404  and the processor  402  also constituting machine-readable media.  
         [0122]    The software  424  may further be transmitted or received over a network  426  via the network interface device  420 .  
         [0123]    While the machine-readable medium  492  is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.  
         [0124]    Thus, methods and systems to facilitate online promotions in a network-bases marketplace have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.