Internet system for producing electronic reward cards

A system to build and provide an immediate electronic reward to a consumer's PC, Web-TV, Pager (or other electronic media) in return for some action taken by the consumer on the Internet. Typically the reward is manifested in the image of an Electronic Phone Card that contains free long distance calling minutes. The amount of the reward and the nature of the accompanying marketing message (printed and audio) are built in real time according to the consumer's actions or answers to survey questions on the Internet, thus making this an "intelligent" system. Free long distance calling may be added to an existing card or may be delivered in the form of a new card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This improvement invention relates to the unique use of an Internet System
 in rewarding Web Site visitors who access a Web Site, with a reward of an
 electronic free telephone calling card (or other electronic reward debit
 card) or adding free long distance calling minutes to an existing calling
 card, or adding value to another type of existing debit card. A subset of
 the Electronic Phone Card System allows important and personally tailored
 healthcare messages to be automatically delivered to patients via E-Mail
 based upon information the patient supplied when visiting a particular web
 site. An individual's unique E-mail address is used in a security function
 to prevent system abuse (ie: multiple requests for a reward by one
 individual).
 2. Description of Prior Art
 Phone Cards have been in use for several years now. The cards are generally
 either sold to the public through retail outlets (ie: 7-Eleven, etc:) or
 given away by businesses as a promotional tool. One of the applicants has
 been engaged in this business for the past three years. Although phone
 cards and the Internet have both been in existence for several years, no
 one, prior to this invention, has seen how to tie the two together, while
 expanding the capabilities of both.
 One of the problems with the current distribution of phone cards is that
 consumers have to wait to receive their cards (rewards) by mail.
 Occasionally consumers (after purchasing a product) have to mail in UPCs
 and wait 6-8 weeks to receive a card. Or consumers might perform some
 other function such as taking a survey, participating in a focus group,
 etc: and still have to wait several weeks for their phone card to be
 mailed to them. This delay tends to have a detrimental effect on the whole
 promotion. The present invention eliminates this "delay" problem and
 solves many others (described in the Summary of the Invention).
 U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,752, 5,368,125 and 4,850,007 are examples of immediate
 reward systems not involving phone card rewards or other features of the
 invention to be described.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is an improvement on the Electronic Free Calling Card
 or other electronic debit card reward which is generated by an Internet
 System for collecting consumer and survey data, delivering targeted
 marketing messages, and distributing Personal Identification Numbers
 (PINs) via the Internet, Web-TV and related electronic media as disclosed
 in said patent application Ser. No. 09/060,783 dated Apr. 15, 1998. In the
 case of a calling card, the result is manifested in an electronic image of
 a free telephone calling card that incorporates the marketing message, 800
 number for fulfillment and the PIN number, all delivered by a secure
 Internet server. The Electronic Free Calling Card is given as an immediate
 reward for taking a specific action on the Internet such as completing an
 on-line survey. The invention disclosed in the above application permits,
 for the first time, the ability to send a premium to a consumer that can
 be used immediately without even printing something out. The consumer need
 only write down the 800 number and his/her personal PIN number, and can
 immediately make free long distance calls.
 It should be noted that if a consumer already has a calling card, in
 accordance with one aspect of the present improvement invention whether it
 be an Electronic version from this system, or a physical card received in
 the mail for example, free calling minutes can be added to the card rather
 than issuing a new card. The improvement invention thus includes the
 methodology and software to construct transactions on the Internet that
 can be transmitted to the phone company's FTP and are subsequently used to
 update the phone company's internal computers to reflect the addition of
 free calling minutes to a particular PIN number. The basic invention and
 improvement also allows other premiums and debit/credit cards to be
 transmitted to consumers such as, but not limited to: gasoline cards, ATM
 cards, Smart cards (cash debit system), credit cards, movie rental cards,
 cards providing free Internet access time or free access to a particular
 Web site and activities at that site, and airline cards. Further the
 improvement inventionallows value to be added to any of these types of
 debit cards in a manner similar to that described above for adding free
 calling minutes to existing calling cards.
 The turnkey EPC survey and free calling card system of the basic invention
 includes: survey design and phrasing of questions for maximum market
 research effectiveness, programming the survey to run on a Web server,
 maintaining the survey data securely, electronically processing and
 delivering PIN numbers securely, preventing system abuse by only allowing
 one PIN # per unique E-mail address (an improvement to the basic
 invention) or by employing "cookies" technology, providing the long
 distance minutes, adding free calling minutes to an existing card (also an
 improvement to the present invention), providing a facsimile image of a
 phone card (the Electronic Free Calling Card) with imprinted PIN number
 and tailored marketing message (which the consumer can print out on his
 user station/PC), playing audio messages that match the marketing messages
 printed on the phone card image, interacting with the caller via an
 Interactive Voice Response System (IVR), survey database management and
 survey reports.
 A subset of the improvement invention concerns sending important healthcare
 messages to patients via E-mail. The basic invention captures each
 patient's unique E-mail address when they are applying for a free calling
 minutes. This address is stored in the system's database along with the
 patient's name and medical condition. This information is matched against
 healthcare information (ie: information on taking medicine) previously
 stored in the client database. Then for example, if you indicated that you
 were suffering from asthma, you would receive a variety of information via
 E-Mail about your condition. Typical information might include symptoms to
 watch for, questions to ask your doctor, how to find a specialist in your
 area, side effects of various medications, etc:.
 The following description is one example of the use of the present basic
 invention and the improvement invention in the pharmaceutical/medical
 health care industry:
 The ADF Pharmaceutical Company (fictitious) has a web site devoted to its
 prescription drug product ADZORP, a new cholesterol-lowering drug. It
 wishes to promote the benefits of this drug to prescribing physicians,
 pharmacists, and consumers and learn more about how to market its product
 to these audiences. To do this, ADF will develop a survey and use it to
 collect valuable market data as well as get qualified leads for their
 sales reps. Realizing that people may be reluctant to fill out such a
 survey without inducements, ADF will offer the Electronic Free Calling
 Card to each person who completes the on-line survey. Also, ADF wishes to
 offer different premiums (ie: phone cards with varying amounts of free
 calling minutes) and marketing messages to each audience depending upon
 their responses on the survey.
 ADF, utilizing the invention, implements a survey on the secure server.
 Banners and links to the survey are placed on the ADF web site and on
 other web sites such as PharmInfoNet (http://www.pharminfo.com/). The
 survey is programmed in a way that encourages a complete and truthful
 response from each person surveyed. The survey is linked to a database of
 physician DEA numbers and pharmacist ID numbers to verify whether the
 respondent is a physician or pharmacist. The survey program uses cookies
 (tracks previous activity on an individual's user station/PC) and other
 Internet technology to prevent the same person from filling out the survey
 more than once in order to get multiple PIN numbers and defraud the
 system. In the improvement invention, the PIN # is sent to an individual's
 E-mail address. In this way, abuse is minimized by limiting PIN #
 transmissions to one per E-Mail address.
 As soon as the user successfully completes the survey, he or she is
 presented with the EPC reward page consisting of an image of the phone
 card including the ADZORP logo and customized marketing message, an 800
 number and in the exemplary invention disclosed in said application a PIN
 number that can be used to redeem the free long-distance calling minutes.
 This transaction is handled automatically by the system's secure web
 server, but can also be implemented on the client's (ADF's) server. The
 system also provides for distribution of a variable amount of free calling
 minutes depending upon answers to questions in the survey (this feature is
 possible only with the Electronic Free Calling Card technology). For
 example, physicians may be rewarded with 20 minutes of free long-distance
 calling, whereas pharmacists get 15 minutes, and consumers 10 minutes.
 (Note: the reward minutes may be in the form of a new calling card or in
 the improvement invention if the consumer enters a valid PIN # from an
 existing card, minutes can be added to that card.) Rewards depend upon the
 survey objectives and which audience is most critical to the advertiser as
 well as the budget allocated. The marketing message on the reward screen
 which is incorporated into the EPC image can also be tailored to the
 respondent's answers on the survey (another unique feature only available
 with the Electronic Phone Card). For example, a physician who, on the
 survey, indicates a willingness to substitute a generic for ADZORP can be
 presented with a marketing message that underscores ADZORP's superior
 features over the generic product. Also, when the physician uses the phone
 card, he will hear audio messages that match the marketing messages
 printed on the phone card.
 It should be noted that the software guides the consumer through the
 process, encouraging truthful and complete responses. Responses are
 analyzed, a custom reward is built, and finally transmitted to the
 consumer's PC, Web-TV, Pager, or other electronic media. All PIN activity
 pertaining to adding free calling minutes to the card (in the improvement
 invention) is transmitted to the telephone company via an FTP so that
 their computer records are automatically and electronically updated. In
 this manner, the phone cards are ready for immediate use by the recipient.
 As previously mentioned, in the improvement invention if the applicant is a
 patient, the system captures the name, address, medical condition an
 E-mail address. This data is matched against previously stored information
 about various medical conditions. When there is a match, important
 healthcare messages are E-mailed to the patient.
 In summary, although standard phone cards and the Internet have been around
 for many years, it has not been obvious, until this invention, that the
 two could be brought together in ways that would enhance both. Advantages
 over prior art are as follows:
 1. Phone Card rewards can be transmitted immediately (electronically) to
 consumers.
 2. The immediacy of rewards is critical to the success of Internet
 advertising and promotion.
 3. Eliminates the need and cost of manufacturing a phone card
 4. Rewards (ie: number of free long distance calling minutes) can be
 tailored on the spot, depending upon the action performed by the consumer
 5. Messages to consumers can be customized and printed on the electronic
 image of the phone card.
 6. Entire promotion campaigns can be changed electronically overnight
 (prior art requires that all print advertising be re-done, a costly and
 tedious process)
 7. Since consumer names and address may be gathered during the Internet
 Survey, the advertiser can continue to promote to those people who have
 visited their Web site.
 8. Each time the consumer uses the phone card, he bears audio messages
 tailored to his specific needs (based upon his survey answers). These
 audio messages match the marketing messages printed on the phone card.
 9. Proprietary filters prevent abuse of the system (previously, consumers
 could claim multiple cards/rewards, as there was no check) Limiting
 consumers to one PIN per E-mail address (in the improvement invention) in
 conjunction with "cookies" technology minimizes system abuse.
 10. Eliminates the problem of theft of physical phone cards that had to be
 stored in warehouses for distribution to consumers.
 11. Previously, standard phone cards were thrown away by consumers after
 the minutes were used up. Now, the consumer, in the improvement invention
 can take his standard card to the Web Site, enter his PIN number and
 receive additional free calling minutes in return for providing
 information or making purchases. This enhances a sponsor's ability to run
 consumer "Continuity" Programs (ie: on-going contact with the consumer).
 Also, in the improvement invention, by transferring reward data
 immediately and electronically to the telephone company via an FTP, the
 consumer may use his reward immediately.
 12. The Electronic Phone Card also replaces the Business Reply Card (BRC)
 as it is used in product registrations. The consumer can come to a Web
 Site, enter his purchasing information, become immediately registered, and
 receive his phone card reward.
 13. The phone card and Internet system in the improvement invention has now
 become a useful medical education tool in that it sends automatically,
 personalized healthcare messages to each patient's E-mail address.
 Another aspect of the invention is that it allows the advertiser offering
 the Electronic Phone Card to make immediate changes to the entire program.
 For example, with the current art, if you mail a phone card to a consumer
 and decide that you made an error or want to change the look or message of
 the card, it is an expensive and time consuming process (probably 8-16
 weeks minimum). With the Electronic Phone Card, you can change the look,
 message, offer, etc: within minutes, and your revised program is
 immediately available to the consumer world. Part of the invention is the
 software that allows you to do this.
 The main hardware component of the system is an Internet secure server
 (computer). The software element consists of licensed and proprietary
 software written in HTML, Cold Fusion, and SQL Data Base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 FIGS. 1A-1R demonstrate what the consumer sees (on his PC or Web TV) as he
 goes through the Survey/Reward process. The programming code to accomplish
 this appears at the end of this specification.
 The purpose of this demonstration is to show the "intelligence" of the
 process. The first series of pages (FIGS. 1A-1G) takes you from the banner
 ad appearing on any Web Site (FIG. 1A), through the survey, to a rejection
 because the consumer (patient) has previously received this reward (the
 system uses "cookies" technology and other proprietary software to prevent
 abuse by users--in particular, in the improvement invention when sending
 new cards to consumers, PIN numbers can be E-mailed thereby limiting
 consumers to one PIN per E-Mail address). The detailed steps are: in FIG.
 1A the consumer sees a banner ad offering a free reward and clicks on it.
 The consumer is automatically transferred to FIG. 1B which is a Welcome
 Message and explanation. Next the consumer clicks on the "click here" icon
 and is transferred to FIG. 1C where he may be asked for a password or ID
 and is also asked if he is seeking a new card or in the improvement
 invention having minutes added to an existing card. He clicks on "submit"
 and next sees FIG. 1D which is the beginning of the survey. The survey
 continues in FIGS. 1E-1F and the consumer clicks on the "submit" icon. In
 1G and as part of the improvement invention, this particular consumer sees
 a message that his application is rejected because he has already received
 a reward (ie: a PIN # had previously been sent to his E-mail address which
 he entered in 1C).
 The second set of screens (FIGS. 1A-1C and 1H-1K) takes you through the
 process again. However, this time the user is a doctor, who is asked a
 customized set of questions (FIGS. 1I and 1J). In this case, the questions
 are answered completely, and the doctor receives his free electronic phone
 card (FIG. 1K). Note that the reward is 20 free minutes of long distance
 calling (in the next case, a patient receives only 10 minutes, indicating
 the "intelligence" of the system). Also notice the marketing message at
 the top of the Electronic Phone Card: it is tailored to doctors and
 invites them to call for further information. Further, each time the
 doctor uses the card, he hears audio messages that match the printed
 marketing messages, another "intelligent" feature.
 In the third set of screens (FIGS. 1A-1C and 1L-1O), a patient successfully
 completes the survey process (FIGS. 1L-1N) and receives an Electronic
 Phone Card (FIG. 10) with 10 free minutes of long distance calling. On
 this card, the marketing message is different from the doctor's message.
 Also each time the patient uses the card, he will hear audio messages that
 match the printed marketing message.
 In the last set of screens (FIGS. 1A-1C and 1P-1R), it is shown how the
 system guides consumers through the survey process (1P and 1Q) and
 encourages complete and truthful answers. In this case, the consumer is a
 friend of a patient who is looking for information. While filling out the
 survey, the consumer neglects to answer a question about his healthcare
 provider and the system points out the error (FIG. 1R). Instructions are
 then provided (FIG. 1R) to correct the situation. Note on FIGS. 14 and 15
 of the improvement invention that if this reward is adding time to an
 existing card, such a message is delivered rather than the image of a new
 card. Also, in the improvement invention on a new card the PIN # may be
 sent to an E-mail address rather than displaying it on the phone card
 image. As mentioned before, this is a security step that can limit rewards
 to one PIN per E-mail address.
 Now refer to FIG. 2 which is a system flowchart overview and describes the
 components and functionality of the electronic phone card reward system.
 The block numbers in FIG. 2 match the Block numbers below.
 In Block 1--(On-Line Electronic Form), the consumer fills out the on-line
 Form from his User Station (ie: PC, Web TV, etc:). This Form could be a
 survey, application, registration, subscription, or other task defined by
 an advertiser who wishes to deliver rewards and/or debit/credit cards via
 the Internet or other electronic media. The Form will contain information
 defined by the advertiser ("advertiser" is defined as a business which
 uses the Internet as an advertising medium and wishes to use the
 Electronic Phone Card to improve return on investment).
 The consumer also indicates here whether he is seeking a new phone card (in
 which case he enters his name and E-mail address) or in the improvement
 invention if he is adding time to an existing phone card (in which case he
 enters the PIN number from his existing card). This will determine what
 type of reward messages are sent to the consumer's display screen.
 Once completed, the consumer submits the form electronically to the
 system's secure server by clicking the "submit" icon on his user station
 screen. Transmission can be done through either wire or wireless
 communications. In Block 2--(Form Filter), the submitted Form is parsed by
 proprietary software against the advertiser's defined criteria. The Form
 must meet minimum defined criteria to be accepted and rewarded. The Form
 is designed to be "intelligent," that is to encourage truthful and
 complete response from the consumer. For example, if an applicant
 indicates that he/she is a doctor, then their supplied DEA number must
 match the table of valid numbers. If a patient indicates that they are on
 prescription medication for a particular condition, then in another part
 of the survey they must indicate the name of the medication. Also, the
 name field must be alphabetic, title or job description must be valid, zip
 code must be valid and match the indicated state and city, telephone
 number must be present and valid, and all designated questions must have
 been answered. (See "Description of Survey and Phone Card Reward Process"
 document, which is a part of this application).
 In Block 3--(Validation Filter), the submitted Form is parsed by a
 proprietary software program against phone card verification criteria
 which is defined by the advertiser. Verification employs a combination of
 licensed and proprietary software technologies created for the electronic
 phone card. The software filter is designed to prevent wrongful
 distribution of PIN numbers (i.e. system abuse). It accomplishes this by
 checking an individual's previous PC activity (cookie technology) and
 rejecting the application if he/she has previously received a reward for
 this particular promotion. Additionally in the improvement invention, it
 may check the individual's E-mail address against a database of E-Mail
 addresses that have previously received a PIN #. Any "matches" are
 rejected. It also compares demographic data supplied by the individual
 against a database of consumers responding to other promotions.
 Differences prompt a request for clarification from the consumer before
 proceeding. The Form must meet minimum verification (ie; all questions
 answered, all demographic data properly filled out, no inconsistencies
 between answers to different questions, etc:) criteria to be accepted and
 rewarded (done in blocks 6-9 and 10-11).
 In Block 4--(Validate Request), if either block#2 or #3 filter criteria are
 not met, then the proprietary software denies the request in blocks#4 and
 5. If criteria in #2 and #3 are met, then the applicant's proprietary
 software performs reward fulfillment in block#6.
 In Block 5--(Deny Request Response), if the Form fails either #2 or #3
 filter criteria, then the proprietary software returns a customized
 message denying the reward request. Deny messages vary depending upon
 which filter criteria was not met.
 In Block 6--(Fulfillment), if the Form is accepted, proprietary software
 performs reward fulfillment. The approved Form is added to the Form
 Relational Database (in block #7) and a unique PIN number is assigned to
 the approved Form (when issuing a new card) from the PIN database (#8). If
 in the improvement invention free calling minutes are being added to an
 existing card, the system is signaled (such as shown in FIG. 8B) to add
 time to an existing PIN rather than creating a new card. A transaction is
 created in the improvement invention to indicate this and is transmitted
 to the phone company in FIG. 8A.
 In Block 7--(Form Relational Database), data from the approved Form is
 added to the relational database. The design of the database incorporates
 advertiser defined data, consumer demographics, assigned PIN numbers and
 the free calling minutes associated with each. This information allows
 advertisers to track who is using the premium and thereby modify their
 campaign accordingly. Each Form has a unique database associated with it.
 In Block 8--(PIN Number Database), a unique PIN number is assigned to the
 approved Form and is E-Mailed to the consumer's E-mail address when a new
 card is created. This PIN is added to the Form Relational Database (block
 #7) and assigned to the Electronic Phone Card image or is E-Mailed (FIGS.
 106-22). Each On-Line Electronic Form (#1) is given a list of unique PIN
 numbers. This is a restricted list of numbers that is stored on the
 system's secure server. PINs from existing cards are also stored in the
 database. If in the improvement invention consumers indicate in 1-5F that
 they are adding time to an existing card, the system checks to make sure
 it is a valid PIN (in 1-5H) or else the consumer is sent an error message
 and must submit a valid PIN to continue.
 In Block 9--(PIN Numbers from Service Provider-Telephone Company), PIN
 numbers for the PIN Database (block #8) are downloaded either from
 removable medium or secure BBS. These PIN numbers are provided by the
 service provider or telephone company. They consist of PINs for new cards
 and PINs for existing cards.
 In Block 10--(Customized Rewards and Marketing Messages),--based on Form
 information stored in Database (#7), a proprietary software program
 assembles a unique marketing message (printed and audio) for each reward
 distributed (See FIGS. 14 & 15). These marketing messages are customized
 based upon the advertiser's criteria. Also customized is the size of the
 reward based upon answers to the Form (ie: 10 free calling minutes for
 patients, 20 free minutes for doctors, 30 free minutes for pharmacists,
 etc:).
 All of the assets of the customized marketing messages are stored on the
 secure server (computer where the web site exists) including healthcare
 messages that are used in the sub-sytem described in FIG. 2A. These assets
 consist of text, graphics, animation, audio and video information. The
 customized messages will comprise some combination of these assets. All
 assets for the reward can be changed easily, based upon demographic
 information, as well as advertiser need. There is no limit to the number
 and type of customized messages that can be created by the software
 program for the reward (block 11).
 In summary, a unique element of the software is that it permits a tailored
 reward to be custom built in real time (electronically and totally
 automated) whether it be a calling card or some other consumer reward
 debit card, depending upon the particular promotion and the consumer's
 answers to the survey or Form. It determines the appropriate number of
 free calling minutes to be rewarded or other reward to be given, the
 appropriate marketing messages to be printed on the facsimile of the phone
 card or other debit card, and if the reward is a phone card the
 appropriate audio messages to be played to the consumer each time he/she
 uses the phone card (see examples FIGS. 14 & 15). Uniquely, the system can
 create new cards or in the improvement invention add minutes to existing
 cards, all accomplished immediately and electronically.
 In Block 11--(Reward), the Form's reward is delivered in real-time by
 electronic means. Distribution is through a secure wire (ie: Internet) or
 wireless (ie: Pager) transfer. The digital nature of the reward permits
 immediate changes to the Form or reward at any point in the program's
 usage cycle. The reward may be in the form of a new card or in the
 improvement invention a message indicating free calling time has been
 added to an existing card.
 Now refer to FIG. 3 which is a detailed flowchart of Block 1 in FIG. 2 and
 shows the program steps from when the consumer turns on his use station
 (PC or Web TV) until he is presented with appropriate data to view.
 Block 1-1. Consumer or professional logs onto Internet via his User Station
 (ie: PC, Web-TV, Pager, or other electronic media). Consumers may, for
 example, be logging on because: they saw a print or TV ad advertising a
 free electronic phone card or, have received a phone card in the mail and
 they are logging on to have time added to their card, or they are looking
 for specific information, or they are just "surfing."
 Block 1-2. Consumer sees banner ad (on the Internet) offering free
 electronic phone card and "clicks" on the ad.
 Block 1-3. Consumer is transferred automatically to the system's secure
 server (defined as a computer with proprietary software).
 Block 1-4. System determines which ad consumer has clicked on and retrieves
 appropriate assets for this particular program. Assets include the survey
 form for this particular promotion, graphics, marketing messages, audio
 messages, and animation.
 Block 1-5. Serve transfers appropriate survey and messages to consumer's PC
 screen or Web-TV. The transfer is accomplished with existing Internet
 software.
 Now refer to FIG. 4 which is a continuation of FIG. 3 and shows the steps
 of the consumer beginning to answer questions from the survey presented to
 him.
 Block 1-6 and 1-5A-5L. Consumer follows instructions on the screen for
 filling out the survey. (See exhibit entitled "Description of Survey and
 Phone Card Reward Process.") As an example, the consumer may be asked for
 his/her name & address, telephone, medical condition (if a medical
 program), current medication and type of health insurance coverage.
 Certain fields may be optional. However, others may be mandatory and the
 consumer will not be eligible for a reward if mandatory fields are not
 completed. If the consumer has an e-mail address, it is entered in 1-5B
 and can be used later (in 6-22B) to securely transmit his/her reward (ie:
 PIN number). If the consumer does not have an e-mail address, then the
 reward (PIN number) appears on their display screen. When the survey is
 completed, consumer is instructed to click on a "Send" banner and the
 survey is transmitted to our secure server. The consumer also indicates
 here whether he is seeking a new phone card or is seeking to have free
 calling minutes added to an existing card. The system sets switches to
 record the choice made and determines if the PIN # being entered as an
 existing card is valid.
 Block 1-7. The consumer's survey is isolated in a work area and client
 criteria is retrieved from the asset database (block 10). The survey will,
 in the next block, be evaluated for accuracy according to this client
 criteria.
 Block 1-8. A key element of the system is that it "intelligently" evaluates
 the survey form for completeness and accuracy. In other words, it
 encourages truthful answers. In this block, each field is checked for
 completeness. For each mandatory field that is incomplete, a switch is set
 and the system goes to Block 1-9 where correction takes place. If the
 survey is complete, the system goes to Block 2-1.
 Block 1-9. Determine which switches were set in Block 1-8. Move the
 appropriate error message to the work area and transmit to the consumer.
 The consumer makes the correction and is re-entered into the system at
 Block 1-6.
 Now refer to FIG. 5 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 2 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates some validity checks on the consumer's answers to
 the survey.
 Block 2-1. The survey is, at this point, determined to be complete.
 "Intelligent" assets are now retrieved which will evaluate the form for
 truthfulness and logic.
 Block 2-2. Although the survey may be medical or non-medical, as an
 example, we will use medical survey criteria for purposes of this
 flowchart. In this block, if the person filling out the survey indicated
 that he/she is a doctor, then their ID number is matched against a table
 of valid ID numbers. If the number is valid, they are passed to Block 2-3.
 If the number is invalid, an error switch is set indicating an invalid ID
 number, and they are passed to Block 1-9 where correction takes place.
 Block 2-3. If, for example, the consumer has indicated that he/she is
 taking a particular medication, the medication is matched against a table
 of approved conditions (ie: is this medication approved for this
 condition?). If the medication does not match the condition (also
 indicated by the consumer in a different part of the survey), an error
 switch is set and they are passed to Block 1-9 where correction takes
 place. As indicated previously, the system is "intelligent" in that it
 compares answers from different parts of the survey and notes
 incongruities for correction. Ultimately, if the answers are not
 corrected, the transaction is terminated without a reward being delivered
 to the consumer.
 Block 2-4. In this block, the name and address is evaluated. The name must
 be all "alpha" characters. If a title has been given, it must match the
 list of client approved titles for this particular promotion. Zip code
 must be present and numeric. It must also be consistent with the indicated
 city and state. Switches are set according to the error found and the
 consumer is passed to Block 1-9 where correction takes place. If there are
 no errors, the system proceeds to Block 3-1.
 Now refer to FIG. 6 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 3 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates various filters to verify the consistency of
 consumer answers to the survey.
 Block 3-1. In this block, additional advertiser criteria is applied against
 the consumer's answers to the survey. In addition, some of the data is
 passed against the Relational Database. The database contains an
 historical record of all activity that has taken place in this, and other
 promotions. After the criteria is retrieved, the consumer is passed to
 Block 3-2 where specific survey answers are checked.
 Block 3-3. Additional consistency checks are made here according to client
 criteria. For example, if the consumer indicates high blood pressure, was
 he/she able to provide a valid numeric reading (ie: 150/100)? Whenever an
 inconsistency occurs, a switch is set to indicate the particular error,
 and the consumer is passed to Block 1-9 where correction takes place.
 Otherwise the consumer is passed to Block 3-4.
 Block 3-4. In this block a demographic check takes place. For example, if
 the banner "ad" indicated to the consumer that they have to be between
 40-50 years old, live on the east coast, and have been on allergy medicine
 for at least two years, then their survey must meet all of this criteria
 to qualify for the reward. If the survey fails the demographic test, a
 switch is set, and the consumer is passed to Block 4-1 where they are
 advised if ineligibility. Otherwise the process continues at Block 3-5.
 Block 3-5. At this point, the survey has passed the "intelligent" test and
 a customized reward can be built. The consumer is passed to Block 6-1 for
 reward fulfillment.
 Now refer to FIG. 7 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 4 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates how consumers can re-start the process if they have
 given invalid answers.
 Block 4-1. All consumers passed to this point were determined to be
 ineligible because of one or more survey answers, or because they had
 previously received a reward for this particular promotion. At the time
 the problem was detected, a switch was set to indicate the particular
 situation. In this block, the "Deny Request" message is retrieved from a
 table based upon the switch setting.
 Blocks 5 & 4-2. In these two blocks, the "Deny Request" message is
 transmitted to the consumer's screen with the appropriate explanation.
 Block 4-4. After reviewing the message, the consumer may decide if they are
 still eligible and have simply made a mistake in answering the survey. If
 that is the case, they can click on the banner "ad" again and re-start the
 entire survey. If not, the transaction is terminated in Block 4-3 (see
 diagram).
 Block 4-5. At this point, the consumer has decided to re-start the entire
 process. He/she has clicked on the banner "ad" again and is re-entered
 into the system at Block 1-2.
 Now refer to FIG. 8 which shows the detailed flowchart step of Block 6 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates how different rewards are calculated according to
 the consumer's status and answers.
 Block 6-1. One of the most novel aspects of the system takes place in Block
 6. It is in this block that a customized reward is built for the consumer,
 in real time, and transmitted for immediate use. In preparation for the
 building of the reward, the consumer's survey answers are moved to the
 fulfillment work area.
 Block 6-2. Again, the application of the entire system might pertain to a
 medical or non-medical promotion. However, for explanation, we are using a
 medical example. The first determination (based upon survey answers) is
 whether the applicant is a physician or not. If he/she is a physician, the
 system goes to Block 6-2A. Otherwise the system proceeds to Block 6-2B.
 Block 6-3. At this point we know the applicant is a physician. By
 retrieving the client's reward rules from the asset database (block 10),
 it is determined that qualified physicians, in this promotion, get 20
 minutes of free long distance calling. The system consequently goes to the
 PIN database (block 8) and retrieves a PIN containing 20 minutes of
 calling time if this is a new card as indicated by step 6-2A. Also a
 reward page is established to transmit to the physician. Note: In block 8
 the system receives PINs from the telephone company. The PINs are
 generally 12 digits in length and each one has a different number of long
 distance minutes associated with it. These PINs are stored in the PIN
 database for use as needed. If this is not a new card, but an attempt to
 add time to an existing card, steps 8A1-8A5 are performed and go to Block
 6-7. Else go to Block 6-4.
 Block 6-4. At this point we still know that the applicant is a physician.
 Consequently the system goes to the asset database and retrieves the
 physician "marketing message" (ie: the printed message that the client
 wants the physician to see). Then the marketing message, the PIN, and the
 number of calling minutes are moved to the reward page (in real time) to
 ultimately be displayed on the physician's PC, Web-TV, Pager or other
 electronic device. Remember, the PIN # may optionally not be on the reward
 page but may be sent via E-mail as a security provision. Go to block 6-4A.
 Block 6-4A. Since we still know that the applicant is a physician, a switch
 is set to indicate this to the system at a later point. Go to Block 6-7.
 Block 6-5. Non-physicians (consumers) arrive at this block from block 6-2.
 By retrieving the advertiser's reward rules for consumers from the asset
 database (block 10), it is determined that in this promotion, consumers
 get 10 free minutes of long distance calling. The system consequently goes
 to the PIN database (block 8) and retrieves a PIN containing 10 minutes of
 calling time. (See note in block 6-3). Again, if time is being added to an
 existing card, steps 6-2C and 6-2D are performed to handle this. Go to
 block 6-6 if this is a new card or 6-7 if time is being added to an
 existing card.
 Block 6-6. Since at this point, the system knows the applicant is a
 consumer, it retrieves the consumer "marketing message" from the asset
 database. Then the marketing message, the PIN, and the number of calling
 minutes 10) are moved to the reward page (in real time) to ultimately be
 displayed on the consumer's PC, Web-TV, Pager or other electronic device.
 Again, the PIN # may be sent via E-Mail. Go to block 6-7.
 Block 6-7. In this block the system checks both the physician's and
 consumer's answer to the survey medication question. If the consumer does
 not take the medication in question, or the physician does not generally
 prescribe the medication, the system goes to block 6-9, else to block 6-8.
 Block 6-8. If the consumer takes the particular medication, or the
 physician generally prescribes it, 10 additional free long distance
 minutes are added to the reward page. The addition of minutes is noted in
 the PIN database (8-3). Go to block 6-8A.
 Block 6-8A. Set a switch to indicate a positive answer to the medication
 question and go to block 6-9.
 Now refer to FIG. 8A which sets up a transaction to send to the phone
 company indicating the amount of time that is to be added to a unique PIN
 #.
 Now refer to FIG. 8B which shows how a switch is set to indicate that the
 current transaction is not a new card but rather an existing card, in
 which case calling time will be added to the existing PIN # if it was
 determined to be valid.
 Now refer to FIG. 9 which is a continuation of FIG. 8 and shows how
 different marketing messages are delivered to the consumer based upon his
 status and answers.
 Block 6-9. In this block the system checks both the physician's and
 consumer's answer to the Clinical Trial question. For the physician, the
 question was whether you have recently enrolled any patients in the
 current clinical trial for this particular medication. For the consumer,
 the question was whether you are currently participating, or would be
 interested in participating in the current clinical trial. If either of
 the answers is "yes", go to block 6-10. Else go to block 6-12.
 Block 6-10. Since either the physician or consumer has answered "yes" to
 the clinical trial question, 20 additional free long distance calling
 minutes are added to the reward page. The addition of the minutes is noted
 in the PIN database (8-3). Go to block 6-11.
 Block 6-11. Set a switch to indicate a positive answer to the clinical
 trial question and go to block 6-12.
 Block 6-12. In block 6-4A, a switch was set to indicate that this
 particular applicant was a physician. If the switch is set, go to block
 6-13. Else go to block 6-14.
 Block 6-13. Since the switch was set to indicate a physician, retrieve the
 physician marketing message from the asset database and move it to the
 reward page. Reset the physician switch and go to block 6-21.
 Block 6-14. Since the physician switch was not set, the applicant is a
 consumer. Retrieve the consumer marketing message from the asset database
 and move it to the reward page. Go to block 6-15.
 Block 6-15. In block 6-8A, a switch was set to indicate a positive answer
 to the medication question. If the switch is set, go to block 6-16, else
 go to block 6-18.
 Block 6-16. Since the switch was set to indicate a positive answer to the
 medication question, retrieve the medication marketing message from the
 asset database and move it to the reward page. Go to block 6-17.
 Block 6-17. Select the appropriate "medication" audio message (ie: these
 are audio messages heard by the consumer or physician when using the phone
 card reward) from the asset data base and make note of it in the PIN
 database (8-3). When this PIN database is transmitted to the telephone
 company, it tells them how many free calling minutes to give to the card
 holder and which audio messages to play (Audio messages are pre-recorded
 and stored at the telephone company and the system software tells the
 phone company which recording to play based upon the consumer's profile
 and survey answers. The recordings match the printed marketing message on
 the phone card). Reset the medication switch and go to block 6-18.
 Now refer to FIG. 10 which is a continuation of FIG. 9 and shows how the
 system builds the phone card reward and assembles it for transmission to
 the consumer's user station.
 Block 6-18. In block 6-11 a switch was set to indicate a positive answer to
 the clinical trial question. If the switch is set, go to block 6-19, else
 go to block 6-22.
 Block 6-19. Since the switch was set to indicate a positive answer to the
 clinical question, retrieve the clinical trial marketing message from the
 asset database and move it to the reward page. Go to block 6-20.
 Block 6-20. Select the appropriate "clinical trial" audio message (ie:
 these are audio messages heard by the consumer or physician when using the
 phone card reward) from the asset data base and make note of it in the PIN
 database (8-3). When this PIN database is transmitted to the telephone
 company, it tells them how many free calling minutes to give to the card
 holder and which audio messages to play. Reset the clinical trial switch
 and go to block 6-22.
 Block 6-21. This block was arrived at from block 6-13 at which point the
 system knew the applicant was a physician. Select the appropriate
 "physician" audio message (these are audio messages heard by the consumer
 or physician when using the phone card reward) from the asset data base
 and make note of it in the PIN database (8-3). When this PIN database is
 transmitted to the telephone company, it tells them how many free calling
 minutes to give to the card holder and which audio messages to play. Go to
 block 6-18.
 Block 6-22, A, B. Go to the asset database, retrieve the appropriate 800#
 for this promotion, and move it to the reward page. This 800# is the
 number that phone card users dial to get their free long distance calling.
 If client criteria indicates that PIN security is required in 6-22A and an
 e-mail address is available (see 1-5B), remove the PIN from the reward
 page and transmit it to the consumer's E-mail address (only one PIN per
 E-mail address is allowed). Otherwise leave the PIN number on the reward
 page to be displayed on the user's display screen. Go to block 6-23.
 Block 6-23. Go to the asset database, retrieve the appropriate client logo
 for this promotion, and move it to the reward page. Go to block 6-24.
 Block 6-24. At this point the reward page has been fully assembled and is
 ready for transmission to the consumer's PC, Web-TV, Pager or other
 electronic device. Using standardized Internet transmission software, the
 phone card image is transmitted to the consumer in real time, and ready
 for immediate use. Go to block 8-3.
 Now refer to FIG. 11 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 7 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates how all pertinent data from the transaction is
 stored in the system's relational data base, including demographics.
 Block 7-1. At this point, the reward has been given to the consumer. The
 system now stores all known information about the consumer and his/her
 answers to the survey questions. Since the consumer may have answered
 other promotions, the database may contain multiples of information about
 him/her. Demographic information from this particular promotion is moved
 to the relational database. Go to block 7-2.
 Block 7-2. If the consumer has not participated in other promotions on this
 server, a permanent ID number is assigned. Go to block 7-3.
 Block 7-3. Move the PIN number (described in block 6-3) and total number of
 free calling minutes awarded to the relational database. Go to block 7-4.
 Block 7-4. Move the marketing messages (appearing on the customized reward
 page) and the audio message codes (discussed in block 6-17) to the
 relational database. (Audio messages are pre-recorded and stored at the
 telephone company; and the system software tells the phone company which
 recording to play based upon the consumer's profile and survey answers).
 Go to block 7-5.
 Block 7-5. Move the consumer's survey answers to the relational database.
 This information will be useful in fixture promotions (ie: determining
 truthfulness of answers). It will also be useful should the client wish to
 do direct mail campaigns in conjunction with an electronic phone card
 program.
 Block 7-6. The promotion code for this particular program is stored in the
 relational database.
 Block 7-7. End of transaction.
 Now refer to FIG. 12 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 8 in
 FIG. 2 and illustrates how PIN numbers are secured from the telephone
 company and stored in the data base for use in the phone card reward.
 Block 8-1. PIN numbers are requested from the telephone company. PINs are
 generally 12 digits in length and identify the number of free calling
 minutes available on a particular phone card. The PIN (which appears on
 the image transmitted to the consumer or is sent via E-mail) has
 associated with it, audio messages to be played when the card is used. The
 telephone company transmits these PIN numbers to the server for storage
 until required. Existing PINs are also transmitted from the phone company
 so that they can be verified when consumers indicate they are attempting
 to add time to an existing card.
 Block 8-2. PINs, upon being received, are stored in the PIN database along
 with their associated number of free calling minutes.
 Block 8-3. Here we ascertain whether a consumer is adding time to an
 existing card or attempting to obtain a new card. If they are adding time,
 go to 7-1. Else go to 8-3A
 Block 8-3A. If the consumer is receiving a new card, the PIN number is
 assembled into a transaction and transmitted to the phone company in 8-4.
 Block 8-4. The information assembled in 8-3A is transmitted to the
 telephone company. With this information, the telephone company will know
 to activate this PIN # in case it has not been previously activated. Go to
 block 8-5.
 Block 8-5. All PIN numbers transmitted are coded as "unavailable" to the
 system. Go to 7-1.
 Now refer to FIG. 13 which shows the detailed flowchart steps of Block 10
 in FIG. 2 and illustrates how all information about the advertiser's
 program is stored in the system's asset data base including marketing
 messages and rules for rewards.
 Blocks 10-1,2,3. The database built here is described throughout the
 flowchart as the asset database. The purpose of the database is to store
 all the information about the promotion that will be needed in assembling
 the consumer's reward (electronic phone card). All of the assets are
 stored on the secure server. These assets consist of text, graphics,
 animation, audio and video information. The final reward page will
 comprise some combination of these asset. All assets for the reward can be
 changed easily, based upon demographic information, as well as client of
 applicant need.
 In summary, a unique element of the software is that it permits a tailored
 reward to be custom built in real time (electronically and totally
 automated) depending upon the particular promotion and the consumer's
 answers to the survey or Form. It determines the appropriate number of
 free calling minutes to be rewarded, the appropriate marketing messages to
 be printed on the facsimile of the phone card, and the appropriate audio
 messages to be played to the consumer each time he/she uses the phone
 card.
 Now refer to drawings FIGS. 14 and 15 which are examples of an Electronic
 Phone Card reward as it appears on the consumer's user station screen. The
 examples are complete with: 800 access number, personal PIN number,
 printed marketing message, targeted audio message (heard when using the
 card), and showing the number of minutes of free calling rewarded.
 Now refer to FIG. 16 which describes the components and functionality of
 the Patient Information System which is a subset of the Electronic Phone
 Card System. The block numbers in FIG. 2A (overview) match the Block
 numbers below.
 Block 16-1. Patient E-mail addresses that were stored in the system's
 relational database (FIG. 7) are retrieved.
 Block 16-2. Patient medical information is retrieved from the system's
 relational database (FIG. 7). This data is matched against the asset
 database (FIG. 13) and healthcare messages are extracted from the asset
 database where they match the patient's stated medical condition or drugs
 they are taking.
 Block 16-3. All information from 16-2 is assembled into an E-mail message
 to be sent to the patient.
 Block 16-4. The personalized healthcare message is E-mail to the patient's
 E-mail address. Information in the message may include but is not limited
 to: side effects of a particular medication or type of medication,
 questions to ask your doctor, how to find a specialist in your area,
 symptoms to watch for, importance of self-care and importance of staying
 on your medication, etc:
 The information to follow is the preferred system software written in HTML,
 Cold Fusion, and SQL Database for producing the screen images displayed to
 consumers in FIGS. 1A-1R.