Abstract:
Method of searching and inserting sales campaigns records into a consumer diary associated with a consumer. The steps include a computer searching a repository for active sales campaign records satisfying search criteria received from a consumer through a browser executing on a device; the computer displaying a list of sales campaign records which satisfies the search criteria; the computer receiving a click indication from the consumer using the browser executing on the device, selecting a sales campaign record from the list; the computer inserting the sales campaign record into the consumer diary; and the computer recording an identification of the consumer from which the click indication originated, a time, and the sales campaign record selected. If the sales campaign record inserted into the consumer diary is not eligible for free inserts into the consumer diary, the computer deducting an amount from a merchant budget coupled to the sales campaign record.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 13/240,201, filed Sep. 22, 2011, entitled “PAY PER INSERT”. The aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention pertains to the field of marketing. More particularly, the invention pertains to a pay per insert system and method of preventing fraudulent marketing charges to merchants from fraudulent clicks. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Currently consumers receive sales flyers that are mailed to them by marketing agents paid to represent merchants. The consumers have to organize or file the sales flyers to remind them of various sales events they may want to participate with. 
         [0006]    Alternatively, a consumer can search the Internet for sales and copy and paste the information about sales events in an electronic format into a document or a personal calendar. 
         [0007]    Both of the above conventional methods, namely mailing and searching for sales through the Internet, cannot be automatically updated if the sales event information or sales campaign changes. 
         [0008]    If changes occur to the original sales event or sales campaign, the merchant may have to mail or use an electronic message to inform the consumer about the changes. In some cases, the merchant may not be able to track and update if a consumer was interested in a sale and if the consumer marked the sale information in their own document or personal calendar. The end result is that information about the sales campaign is fragmented and the consumer may need to piece together information from several locations or sources to take advantage of the sales campaign any updates related to that sales campaign. Additionally, these conventional methods limit the means to find out if consumers received the updated sales campaign. Electronic calendar based actions are not user friendly to both the consumer and the merchant, even though the sales campaigns are time sensitive. Furthermore, vendors providing electronic calendar service use industry acceptable standards or protocols such as iCalendar® and they don&#39;t seamlessly integrate with each other as is evident in IBM Lotus Notes Reference. In any case, the merchant has no easy means of confirming or reliably updating consumers that receive the original sales campaign. 
         [0009]    Most merchants who advertise through the Internet pay for advertising through either a pay per click (PPC) advertising model, where the merchant pays for a click-based event caused by the consumer or a pay per action (PPA) advertising model where the merchant pays for each specified action, such as a purchase and/or a form submission. The PPA model covers only predefined actions, such as sale, completion of registration, download, receipt of subscription and order placement. The action in a PPA advertising model may be “cost per acquisition” (CPA), where the merchant typically pays for a completed sale involving a payment transaction. In “pay per lead” (PPL), such as PPC, the merchant pays only for qualifying leads (a non-cash conversion event, such as a signup involving contact and demographic information). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A method of searching and inserting sales campaigns records into a consumer diary associated with a consumer. The steps comprise a computer searching a repository for active sales campaign records satisfying search criteria received from a consumer through a browser executing on a device; the computer displaying a list to the consumer through the browser comprising at least one sales campaign record which satisfies the search criteria; the computer receiving a click indication from the consumer using the browser executing on the device, selecting a sales campaign record from the list; the computer inserting the sales campaign record into the consumer diary associated with the consumer; and the computer recording an identification of the consumer from which the click indication originated, a time, a location and the sales campaign record selected. If the sales campaign record inserted into the consumer diary is not eligible for free inserts into the consumer diary, the computer deducting an amount from a merchant budget coupled to the sales campaign record. If the merchant budget coupled to the sales campaign record is depleted, the computer deactivating the sales campaign record in the repository. 
         [0011]    A computer system for searching, inserting, and updating sales campaigns records in a consumer diary. The computer system comprises: at least one processor coupled to at least one computer-readable memory; a sales campaign repository in at least one computer-readable memory, comprising a plurality of sales campaign records for at least one merchant; a merchant diary repository in at least one computer-readable memory, comprising at least one merchant diary with at least one inserted sales campaign record from the sales campaign repository; a consumer diary repository in at least one computer-readable memory, comprising a plurality of consumer diaries, with at least one of the plurality of consumer diaries comprising at least one inserted sales campaign record from the sales campaign repository; a diary manager coupled to the at least one merchant diary in the merchant diary repository and the plurality of consumer diaries in the consumer diary repository for updating the sales campaign records in the consumer diaries and the merchant diaries; and a campaign manager coupled to the diary manager and the sales campaign repository. The campaign manager comprises: a browser interface for searching the sales campaign repository for sales campaign records; a sales campaign record interface for receiving campaign attributes and a budget per insertion of the sales campaign record into the consumer diary from the merchant; a budget monitor for monitoring the budget specified by the merchant for each sales campaign record inserted into the consumer diary; an insert monitor for monitoring which consumers insert which sales campaign records into the consumer diary; and a click and insert reporter for logging and reporting attributes, location and time for each click indication related to a sales campaign selected through the browser interface that resulted in an insertion of the sales campaign record into the consumer diary and which click indications did not result in the insertion of the sale campaign record into the consumer diary. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows depicts a pictorial representation of a network of computers in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart for a method of creating a sales campaign. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a flowchart for a method of updating a sales campaign. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5-6  show flowcharts for a method of searching and subscribing to campaigns and determining if fraudulent clicks have been made. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a conceptual diagram of create and update page for campaign ads of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a conceptual diagram of an advanced search page of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a conceptual diagram of a user page diary of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for an interface with external message sources. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  show flowcharts for methods of dynamically managing private consumer subscription lists to campaigns. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  show flowcharts for a method of incorporating sales campaigns into the consumer diary that were not created using the campaign manager. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  shows a flowchart for a method of creating a report of events to the consumer through the consumer diary. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  shows internal and external components of a client computer and a server computer in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram of a possible data processing environment in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 1  is only exemplary and is not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environments may be made. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , network data processing system  51  is a network of computers in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Network data processing system  51  contains network  50 , which is the medium used to provide communication links between various devices and computers connected together within network data processing system  51 . Network  50  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. 
         [0027]    In the depicted example, a client computer  52  for merchant use, a client computer for consumer use  53 , and a server computer  54  connect to network  50 . In other exemplary embodiments, network data processing system  51  may include additional client computers, storage devices, server computers, and other devices not shown. Client computers  52 ,  53  each includes a set of internal components  800   a  and a set of external components  900   a , further illustrated in  FIG. 14 . Client computers  52 ,  53  may be, for example, a mobile device, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a netbook, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or any other type of computing device. Client computers  52 ,  53  each may contain an interface  60 . 
         [0028]    Through interface  60 , searches of active campaigns may be performed and results of the searches may be displayed to consumer users. Additionally, through interface  60 , campaigns may be managed and monitored by merchant users. Interface  60  may accept commands and data entry from users, such as “clicks”. Interface  60  can be, for example, a command line interface, a graphical user interface (GUI), or a web user interface (WUI) through which a user can access a diary manager program  66  and/or a campaign manager program  67  on the client computer  52  or server computer  54  and just the diary manager program  66  and an event message program  68  on the client computer  53  for consumer use. Server computer  54  includes a set of internal components  800   b  and a set of external components  900   b  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0029]    It should be noted that the client computer  52  of a merchant has access to both the diary manager program  66  and the campaign manager program  67 , but the client computer  53  of the consumer has access to the diary manager program  66  only through interface  60 . 
         [0030]    It should also be noted that the client computer  53  for consumer use has access to the event message program  68  through interface  60  and the client computer  52  for merchant use does not. 
         [0031]    Program code and programs, such as a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67 , may also be located in network data processing system  51  and may be stored on one or more repositories or computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  shown in  FIG. 14 , on one or more portable computer-readable tangible storage devices  936  as shown in  FIG. 14 , or downloaded to a data processing system or other device for use. For example, program code and programs such as a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , or a campaign manager program  67  may be stored on one or more tangible storage devices  830  on server computer  54  and downloaded to client computers  52 ,  53  over network  50  for use on client computer  52  or client computer  53 . Alternatively, server computer  54  can be a web server, and the program code and programs such as a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68  and a campaign manager program  67  may be stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices  830  on server computer  54  and accessed on client computer  52  or client computer  53 . A diary manager program  66  and a campaign manager program  67  can be accessed on client computer  52  for merchant use through interface  60 . In other exemplary embodiments, the program code and programs such as a diary manager program  66  and a campaign manager program  67  may be stored on one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  on client computer  52  or distributed between two or more servers. The diary manager program  66  and the event message program  68  can be accessed on client computer  53  for consumer use through interface  60 . In other exemplary embodiments, the program code and programs such as a diary manager program  66  and a event message program  68  may be stored on one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  on client computer  53  or distributed between two or more servers. 
         [0032]    In the depicted example, network data processing system  51  is the Internet with network  50  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, governmental, educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system  51  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as, for example, an intranet, local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation, for the different illustrative embodiments. 
         [0033]    The system described herein utilizes two levels of electronic diaries—consumer diaries and merchant diaries. In a pay per insert (PPI) advertising model, a merchant pays for each time a consumer inserts sales campaign information about one of the merchant&#39;s campaigns into their electronic consumer diaries  110 . In addition, merchant electronic diaries  104  provide a means of reliably communicating with the consumers that inserted the sales campaign into their electronic consumer diaries  110 . 
         [0034]    Unlike existing PPC models, where consumers can click using any device through the Internet without confirming their identities, in the PPI model, consumers have to confirm their identities by logging into a system before they can click to insert a campaign into their diary. A consumer can generate only one PPI event per campaign, since subsequent attempts to insert the same campaign are ignored, thereby preventing fraudulent charges being levied on the merchant. 
         [0035]    The PPI advertising model keeps track of consumers, and tracks inserts into electronic diaries that are performed for the first time for every sale campaign by every consumer. Thus, the system can detect multiple or fraudulent inserts, minimizing incidents where the merchant pays more than once for the same insertion. 
         [0036]    The system of the present invention, a PPI advertising model, includes two-fold protection against fraudulent clicks and enables merchants to detect legitimate sources of clicks. First, the consumer is required to confirm their identities by logging into the system, where information regarding the consumer&#39;s login session is saved on servers. A white list including a list of IP addresses of servers that have login session information may be used to verify clicks that may seem fraudulent. Second, the system keeps track of the number of inserts into electronic diaries that are performed for every campaign by every consumer. Only one insert per campaign per consumer is allowed. Thus, the system can detect multiple or fraudulent inserts, minimizing incidents where the merchant pays more than once for the same insertion. 
         [0037]    In the present application, the term “electronic diary” or “diary” refers to a listing of events where subscribed events are stored on a time or date basis. Events can be updated and can produce reminders to the user for time sensitive campaign data. 
         [0038]    The term “white-list” refers to a list of servers or devices which are used to save login session information about consumers and track the number of times a consumer attempts to insert campaign information into their diaries. 
         [0039]    The term “campaign” or “sales campaign” refers to one or more advertisements or marketing messages used by merchants to promote their products or services. Typically, a sales campaign will also contain additional promotional information such as discounts, sales information, coupons, and catalogs. 
         [0040]    The term “merchant” may refer to a seller of goods and/or services. The term “merchant” also includes advertisers or agents or affiliates working on behalf of the merchant. Such advertisers or agents or affiliates normally provide the consumer with the impression that they are purchasing the goods and/or services directly from the merchant. 
         [0041]    The term “consumer” refers to an actual or potential customer who might be interested in events or goods or services provided by a merchant. 
         [0042]    The term “click” refers to selecting, using an electronic interface, usually accomplished by pressing a button on a control device such as a mouse, or by touching a designated spot on a touch screen, or an equivalent action. 
         [0043]    The term “subscription list” refers to a listing of merchant group subscriptions where subscribed merchants are stored and may be identified by attributes including, but not limited to name, promotion, brand, location and time of sale. 
         [0044]    The term “external messages” refers to sales campaigns or messages regarding sales that were not created using the campaign manager and may be messages that are sent to the event message translator  1201  via the Internet. The external messages preferably include campaign attributes for sales campaign records  103  in a field of the message. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0046]    Sales campaign records  103  are managed by a campaign manager  101 , preferably through a campaign manager program  68  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The merchant creates and maintains sales campaign records  103  in a sales campaign repository  113  for each sales campaign a merchant wishes to execute through the system. Sales campaign attributes can be set by the merchant using a sales campaign record interface shown in  FIG. 7 . Sales campaign records  103  preferably include, but are not limited to, attributes such as merchant ID and campaign ID, which are automatically assigned by the system and other attributes such as title  801 , description  802 , search keywords  803 , location  805 , budget “per click”  810 , budget “per insert”  811 , total budget “per insert”  812 , discount %  808 , active duration  806 , category  804 , coupons or catalogs  807 , and images  809  which are set by the merchant. 
         [0047]    For each sales campaign record  103 , the merchant assigns a total amount of money to pay per insertion of the sales campaign by a consumer. The total amount of money per insertion may be a fixed rate or determined by the highest bid. The highest bid is determined by merchants competing with each other to pay a high price for specific search keywords. A merchant that “won” the highest bid or paid a higher price may have only their campaign displayed when specific keywords are searched or have their campaign appear or list before those merchants that paid a lower price. 
         [0048]    The total amount of money per insertion may also be capped at a specific threshold based on criteria such as per insert, time interval, or total amount available. Merchants can also use the campaign manager  101  to update current campaign records  103 , manage a budget for a specific campaign, alter duration of specific campaigns and activate campaigns. 
         [0049]    The campaign manager  101  may include, but is not limited to, subsystems such as a budget monitor  106 , an insert monitor  107 , a keyword optimizer  102 , and a click and insert reporter  114 . 
         [0050]    The budget monitor  106  keeps track of the amount of money allocated by the merchant for each sales campaign insert into an electronic consumer diary, and the total budget for inserts per campaign. If the total of payments per insert increases to the budget cap set by the merchant, then the sales campaign is deactivated. The merchant is notified and given the option to increase the budget and therefore extend the campaign duration. 
         [0051]    The insert monitor  107  tracks which consumers insert which campaigns into their consumer diaries  110 . 
         [0052]    The keyword optimizer  102  suggests optimized keywords associated with each sales campaign for easy searching by the consumer. These suggestions may be made using synonyms or by determining the traffic and demand for each word in the list of keywords. 
         [0053]    The click and insert reporter  114  reports the white-list attributes, location and time for each click related to a campaign through a promotion browser or interface  111 . The interface  111  may also be the interface  60  as shown in  FIG. 1  The click and insert reporter  114  also tracks and provides statistical and analytical information including, but not limited to which clicks resulted in an insert of a sales campaign into an electronic consumer diary  110  and which clicks did not result in an insert into an electronic consumer diary  110 . Merchants may use this statistical and analytical information to improve their sales campaigns and businesses either by discontinuing or improving sales campaigns that did not meet their targets and continuing sales campaigns that met or exceeded their targets. 
         [0054]    Linked to the campaign manager  101  is a promotion browser  111 , providing an interface between the consumer and the campaign manager  101 . The promotion browser  111  is used as search tool by consumers to search and find sales campaigns. Only active sales campaigns are displayed to the user through the promotion browser  111 . A consumer can conduct an advanced search of the sales campaigns as shown in  FIG. 8  based on attributes including but not limited to, description/keywords  901 , location  904 , discount value  906 , time to start  907 , time to end  908 , category  903 , with/without coupons  905 , popularity  909  based on the number of clicks and/or inserts, rating based on feedback score from other consumers, and with/without comments based on feedback from other consumers. 
         [0055]    The results displayed through promotion browser  111  include an insert option  116  for the consumer to insert the sales campaign  103  into an electronic consumer diary  110 . It should be noted that merchant may display sales campaign information such as catalogs and coupons directly on the promotion browser interface  111  or restrict specific details regarding a sales campaign until the consumer inserts the specific sales campaign into a consumer electronic diary  110 . The restriction may also be lifted by requiring the consumer or merchant to use paid account upgrades. 
         [0056]    A diary manager  105  is in communication with the campaign manager  101  and manages the merchant diaries  104  in merchant diary repository  109  and the electronic consumer diaries  110  in consumer diary repository  108 , preferably through a diary manager program  67  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The two repositories—merchant  109  and consumer  108  could be implemented in the same physical repository, or in separate repositories, as desired. 
         [0057]    The diary manager  105  is linked to the campaign manager  101 , such that changes to campaign records  103  are coordinated with the appropriate merchant diary  104 . The diary manager  105 , through the campaign manager  101 , may limit the number and types of updates that a merchant can make to the sales campaign record  103 . For example, the merchant may only be allowed to make a certain number of updates that include but are not limited to adding more locations and extending the discount period—but not altering the discount itself 
         [0058]    The diary manager  105  may also track whether the consumer has agreed to automatic inserts of sales campaigns for a specific merchant when future campaigns are activated by the merchant and insert said future sales campaigns. 
         [0059]    Using known suggestive selling methods, the diary manager  105  may also suggest complementary products and services based on what sales campaigns have already been inserted into their electronic consumer diaries  110 . 
         [0060]    Unlike conventional electronic calendars, the electronic consumer diary  110  does not depend on the creation of invitations or appointments, where the initial list of invitees and their contact addresses need to be known in advance. Here the merchant creates a campaign with open or limited invitation to consumers. The list of invitees grows organically as each consumer subscribes to and/or inserts the campaign information into their electronic consumer diary  110 , even if the merchant did not create an initial list of invitees for the sales campaign record  103 . 
         [0061]    An electronic consumer diary  110  includes a listing of subscribed or inserted sales campaign events that may be updated by the merchants through the campaign manager  101  and diary manager  105 . Reminders may be generated based on entries in the electronic consumer diary to remind consumers of sales campaign deadlines. Inserted sales campaign events may be listed and viewed by day, week, or month  1001 . The inserted sales campaign events may be further sorted based on campaign attributes in a report  1212 . Additional actions preferably include, but are not limited to share with friends  1002 , view coupons  1003 , provide feedback  1004 , and remove inserted sales campaigns  1005 . 
         [0062]    In an alternate embodiment, the entire sales campaign record  103  or portions of the sales campaign record  103  does not need to be included within the electronic consumer diary  110 , instead a link to the sales campaign or event in a merchant diary  104  may be used, thereby eliminating the need to maintain numerous copies of an event across both the merchant diary  104  and the electronic consumer diaries  110 . Sales campaign events from the electronic consumer diary  110  may also be shared with a consumer&#39;s social network  1002 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for a merchant creating a sales campaign  103 . Prior to the start of the flowchart of  FIG. 3 , a merchant would register and login with the campaign manager  101  and the diary manager  105  and create a merchant diary  104 . The campaign manager  101 , which may for example be the campaign manager program  68 , receives sales campaign attributes  103  and details from the merchant (step  200 ). The campaign manager  101  creates a sales campaign record  103  in the repository  113  based on the campaign attributes entered by the merchant (step  201 ). The sales campaign record  103  is stored in repository  113 , for example  936 ,  830  of  FIG. 8 . A corresponding diary entry is inserted into a merchant diary  104  (step  202 ) using the diary manager  105 , preferably through the diary manager program  66 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a method of a merchant updating an existing sales campaign record  103  in the repository  113 . 
         [0065]    The campaign manager  101 , which may for example be the campaign manager program  68 , receives changes or an update to an existing sales campaign record  103  from the merchant (step  301 ). 
         [0066]    The method checks to see if an overwrite of the sales campaign record  103  is permitted (step  302 ), and if it is, the campaign manager  101  updates or overwrites the existing sales campaign record  103  in the repository  113  and sends the changes to the diary manager  105  (step  303 ). The diary manager  105  updates or overwrites the entry within the merchant diary  104  (step  304 ), preferably through the diary manager program  66 . 
         [0067]    The diary manager  105  can notify all consumers with the sales campaign record  103  inserted in their consumer electronic diaries  110  and/or subscribed to the merchant group (step  305 ), and the method ends. 
         [0068]    The consumers&#39; are notified that the sales campaign record  103  was updated and the sales campaign record  103  in their diary  110  is updated automatically or by a consumer action to allow the update of the sales campaign record  103  in the consumer diary  110 . 
         [0069]    Consumers that don&#39;t like the update may choose to delete the sales campaign record  103  from their diaries  110 . Such deletions from consumers&#39; diaries  110  will not delete the corresponding sales campaign record  103  in the merchant diary  104 . Only the merchant that created the sales campaign record  103  can delete the sales campaign record  103 . If the merchant were to delete a sales campaign record  103 , the diary manager would indicate that the particular deleted sales campaign record  103  as “canceled” in all the consumer electronic diaries  110  in which the record was inserted. 
         [0070]    If overwrite of the sales campaign record  103  is not permitted (step  303 ), the merchant is informed or contacted (step  306 ) and the method ends. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 5-6  show a flowchart for a method of searching and subscribing to sales campaigns and determining if fraudulent clicks have been made. Through the promotion browser interface  111 , this may for example be interface  60  shown in  FIG. 1 , a consumer searches for active sales campaign records within the repository  113  (step  401 ). The promotion browser interface  111  displays a list of active sales campaign records  103  that satisfy the search criteria of the consumer (step  415 ). The consumer selects a sales campaign record through a “click-based” event or by clicking (step  402 ). The insert monitor  107  of the campaign manager  101  logs and saves traffic details regarding the device that originated the click or indication (step  403 ). 
         [0072]    If the campaign manager  101  receives an indication that the consumer is not logged in (step  404 ), display message to consumer to log in consumer (step  405 ), and return to step  404  of whether the consumer is logged in. 
         [0073]    If the campaign manager  101  receives an indication that the consumer is logged in (step  404 ) and the consumer has already inserted the sales campaign record into their electronic consumer diary  110  (step  406 ) from the diary manager  105 , display message indicating that the sales campaign record is already present within their electronic consumer diary  110  (step  407 ) and the method ends. 
         [0074]    If the campaign manager  101  receives an indication that the consumer has not already inserted the sales campaign record into their electronic consumer diary  110  (step  406 ), then the diary manager  105 , preferably through the diary manager program  66  inserts the sales campaign record into the electronic consumer diary (step  408 ). 
         [0075]    The step of insertion of the sales campaign record into the electronic consumer diary (step  408 ) may use information from logs generated during inserts of sales campaign record  103  inserts (step  409 ) to trigger additional events including, but not limited to incrementing a popularity counter that displays the number of people that prefer the merchant&#39;s campaign, the number of people that are participating in the merchant&#39;s campaign, incrementing counters that display the time within which a number of people sign up for a merchant&#39;s sales campaign and the number of people are fans of the merchant. Information ascertained from logs generated during step  409  may be displayed in a variety of locations including, but not limited to popularity  909 , merchant&#39;s business site and third party sites as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0076]    The insert monitor  107  or the click and insert reporter  114  of the campaign manager logs information including, but not limited to the consumer ID that originated the click or selection, the time, location and the campaign ID (step  409 ). 
         [0077]    If the sales campaign record  103  inserted into a consumer&#39;s electronic diary  110  is eligible for free insertions (step  410 ) the method ends and the merchant is not charged. 
         [0078]    If the sales campaign record  103  is not eligible for free insertions (step  410 ), deduct amount per insert from merchant budget for the sales campaign (step  411 ). 
         [0079]    If the budget of the sales campaign record  103  associated with the campaign ID is not depleted or exhausted (step  412 ), the method ends. 
         [0080]    If the budget of the sales campaign record  103  associated with the campaign ID is depleted or exhausted (step  412 ), deactivate the sales campaign record linked to the campaign ID to prevent further insertions (step  413 ) and contact the merchant in regards to the budget of the sales campaign record  103  associated with the campaign ID (step  414 ) and the method ends. 
         [0081]    In another embodiment, the diary manager  105  may also automatically insert active sales campaigns for similar services and/or products from the same or other merchants within the same category or location. For example, consumers may subscribe to a merchant subscriber group and receive an automatic insert within the electronic consumer diary  110  based on their subscription to the merchant group as discussed in  FIGS. 10   a - 13 . 
         [0082]    Current event subscription solutions for promotion messages require the inviter to have identifiable information from invitees such as location, email address and phone number to create electronic invitations and appointments. The present invention removes the requirement of identifiable information because the diary manager  105  and campaign manager  101  may act as brokers between the merchant, which are the inviters, and the consumers, which are the invitees, so that no identifiable information needs to exchanged between merchants and consumers for the electronic consumer diary  110  to work seamlessly with merchant diary  104 . As a result, the present embodiment also provides a dynamic method of protecting the privacy of consumers&#39; identifiable personal information so they can subscribe for promotions without revealing their identities to merchants. 
         [0083]      FIG. 10  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for an interface with external message sources, allowing updates to campaigns based on external messages and subscriptions. Reference numerals for elements which also appear in other figures are the same in this figure, and include features and attributes discussed above. The handling of external messages from an external message source is preferably used in conjunction with the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0084]    An event message translator  1201  processes messages from external message sources  1202 , for example through an event message program  68 . Prior to sending external messages, merchants may be required to apply for approval, if approved, a unique merchant ID will be assigned to each merchant and the merchant ID will be added to the approved merchant list  1209 . The external messages include a message envelope or envelope record with identifiable information for creating a sales campaign for a specific merchant. For example, the message envelope record  1206  may include attributes such as location, status indicating if the message is public or private, merchant ID, campaign ID, description, keywords, budget, discount, duration, category, limitations, and images, all of which is set by the merchant. 
         [0085]    The processing of external messages may include, but is not limited to, verifying if the message envelope record  1206  attributes have all the necessary campaign record  103  attributes and verifying if the message is from an approved merchant list  1209 . The event message translator  1201  also parses details in the message envelope record  1206  of the external messages for all messages targeted to the consumer by approved merchants. Approved merchants are merchants that create sales campaign records  103  using the campaign manager  101  or external message source  1202 . A list of the approved merchants  1208  is preferably stored in the sales campaign repository  113 . 
         [0086]    The diary manager  105 , preferably through a subscription manager  1205 , manages subscription lists for consumers, which enables it to act as a broker between merchants and consumers. The subscription list  1204  includes a consumer approved list of merchants from which the consumer wishes to receive campaigns. The details of the subscription list  1204  preferably are not visible or accessible to the merchant. 
         [0087]    The diary manager  105 , through the subscription manager  1205 , uses the subscription list  1204  to determine whether the consumer should be notified about new or updated campaigns from a merchant within the approved merchant list  1208 . The subscription list  1204  preferably includes at least the merchant ID. This system improves the privacy for consumers. 
         [0088]    For each consumer, the subscription manager  1205  also maintains a list of merchants that are not approved to insert campaigns into their consumer diary  110  or a list of blocked merchants  1207  based on the consumer&#39;s preferences. The subscription manager  1205  updates the blocked list  1207  and subscription list  1204  based on consumer input received, preferably through the diary manager program  66  as described in Figures  11   a - 11   b . The blocked list  1207  preferably includes at least the merchant ID. 
         [0089]    If a merchant is present in the blocked list  1207  and subscription list  1204 , then the merchant is blocked from inserting campaigns into the consumer diary  110  and the campaign manager  101  will not notify the consumer regarding the specific merchant and the discrepancy between the blocked list  1207  and the subscription list  1204 . 
         [0090]    Again, to improve privacy of the consumers, the blocked list  1207  and subscription list  1204  are preferably in the consumer diary repository  108  and may not accessible to merchants, merchant diaries  104  or the merchant diary repository  109 . 
         [0091]    It should be noted that the diary manager  105  does not provide any consumer related information to the campaign manager  101 . All requests to insert or update the consumer diary  110  with campaigns are handled by diary manager  105 , which matches the campaign ID and merchant ID to the insert, subscribe or block commands it receives from a consumer. 
         [0092]    An event dashboard  1203  is in communication with the diary manager  105  and the consumer diary repository  108 . The event dashboard  1203  converts a list of events into a report  1212  by applying filters that include, but are not limited to, categories like promotional  1209  or non-promotional  1210 , time parameters such as day, week and month, and promotion categories  804 . The report  1212  is displayed to the consumer within the consumer diary  110  by the diary manager  105 . 
         [0093]    The message inbox  1208  is a placeholder for messages that are not event related or cannot be saved in consumer diary  110 . The message inbox  1211  may be any message forwarding service. 
         [0094]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   b  show flowcharts for alternative methods of dynamically managing private subscription lists to campaigns from merchants. 
         [0095]      FIG. 11   a  shows a flowchart for a method of managing a private subscription list based on feedback regarding a pre-generated subscription list. The subscription manager  1205 , for example through the diary manager program  66  generates a subscription list for the consumer and sends the generated subscription list to the consumer (step  1101 ). The generated subscription list is preferably based on campaign attributes of campaigns in which the consumer already has inserted into their consumer diary  110  or could be based on the merchant offering the campaigns within the consumer diary  110 . The subscription manager  1205  receives a selection of merchants or merchant groups from the consumer of the generated subscription list (step  1102 ). The consumer may select all of the merchants, some of the merchants or none of the merchants from the generated subscription list. The subscription manager  1205 , for example through the diary manager program  66 , updates the subscription list  1204  based on the consumer selections and stores the subscription list in a repository, for example the consumer diary repository  108  (step  1103 ). The consumer is notified of the changes to the subscription list (step  1104 ). 
         [0096]      FIG. 11   b  shows a flowchart for a method of managing a private subscription list based on consumer selection of attributes in a campaign record. The subscription manager  1205  receives consumer selections of attributes of a campaign record and stores the selections in a repository (step  1105 ). The subscription manager, for example through the diary manager program  66 , updates the subscription list based on the consumer selection of attributes in a campaign record in their consumer diary  110  and stores the subscription list in a repository, for example the consumer diary repository  108  (step  1106 ). The consumer is notified of the changes to the subscription list (step  1107 ). 
         [0097]    It should be noted that either or both methods of managing a private subscription list—based on consumer selection of attributes in a campaign record and based on feedback regarding a pre-generated subscription list—may be used within the present invention. 
         [0098]      FIGS. 12   a - 12   b  show flowcharts for a method of incorporating sales campaigns into the consumer diary that were not created using the campaign manager, for example from external sources. The event message translator  1201  receives at least one message from external sources (step  1301 ). If the message envelope of the message does not have a merchant ID (step  1302 ), the message is sent to a message inbox  1211  (step  1303 ) and the method ends. 
         [0099]    If the message envelope of the message does have a merchant ID (step  1302 ) and the merchant is not approved (step  1304 ) or found on the approved merchant list  1208 , the message is discarded (step  1305 ) and the method ends. 
         [0100]    If the message envelope of the message does have a merchant ID (step  1302 ) and the merchant is approved (step  1304 ) or found on the approved merchant list  1208 , the message is sent to the campaign manager  101 . The campaign manager  101  then searches the campaign sales repository  113  for the campaign ID of the message envelope and if the campaign ID of the message does not match a campaign ID already present in the campaign sales repository  113 , a campaign record based on attributes in the message is created and stores in the campaign sales record in the campaign sales repository  113  (step  1308 ), preferably through the campaign manager program  67 . If the campaign ID of the message matches a campaign ID already present in the sales campaign repository  113 , the campaign sales record based on attributes in the message is updated and stored in the campaign repository (step  1309 ). 
         [0101]    After the updated or newly created campaign sales record has been stored in the campaign repository, either in step  1308  or step  1309 , the updated campaign sales record is sent to the diary manager  105  (step  1310 ). If the message in which the campaign sales record is based is not private (step  1311 ), the sales campaign record is indicated as being searchable through the promotion browser and the merchant diary  104  is updated with the public sales campaign record (step  1312 ) and the method proceeds to step  1313 . 
         [0102]    If the message in which the campaign sales record is based is private (step  1311 ), the campaign sales record is inserted into the consumer diary (step  1313 ), preferably through the diary manager  105 , and the consumer is notified regarding the sales campaign inserted into the consumer diary and the merchant group subscribed to (step  1314 ). 
         [0103]      FIG. 13  shows a flowchart for a method of creating a report of events to the consumer through the consumer diary. The diary manager  105  through the consumer diary receives a request to view the consumer diary from the consumer (step  1401 ). The request preferably includes a time selection and other parameters. The diary manager searches for envelopes of messages that fit the time selection and other parameters that are eligible for viewing based on the day, week or month  101  selection made by the consumer within the event dashboard  1203  (step  1402 ), for example by the diary manager program  66 , and the results are stored in a repository, for example the consumer diary repository  108 . The eligible envelopes are sorted based on time selection and other parameters such as event categories (step  1403 ), for example by the diary manager program  66 . The categories preferably include, but are not limited to priority, expiration, and location. A report of the eligible, matching envelopes and the associated information is created and displayed based by the diary manager within the consumer diary to the consumer (step  1404 ). 
         [0104]      FIG. 14  illustrates internal and external components of client computers  52 ,  53  and server computer  54  in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. In  FIG. 14 , client computers  52 ,  53  and server computer  54  include respective sets of internal components  800   a ,  800   b , and external components  900   a ,  900   b . Each of the sets of internal components  800   a ,  800   b  includes one or more processors  820 , one or more computer-readable RAMs  822  and one or more computer-readable ROMs  824  on one or more buses  826 , and one or more operating systems  828  and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices  830 . The one or more operating systems  828 , a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67  are stored on one or more of the computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  for execution by one or more of the processors  820  via one or more of the RAMs  822  (which typically include cache memory). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  is a magnetic disk storage device of an internal hard drive. Alternatively, each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  is a semiconductor storage device such as ROM  824 , EPROM, flash memory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that can store a computer program and digital information. 
         [0105]    Each set of internal components  800   a ,  800   b  also includes a R/W drive or interface  832  to read from and write to one or more portable computer-readable tangible storage devices  936  such as a CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk or semiconductor storage device. A diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67  can be stored on one or more of the portable computer-readable tangible storage devices  936 , read via R/W drive or interface  832  and loaded into hard drive  830 . 
         [0106]    Each set of internal components  800   a ,  800   b  also includes a network adapter or interface  836  such as a TCP/IP adapter card. A diary manager program  66  and a campaign manager program  67  can be downloaded to client computer  52  for merchant use and server computer  54  from an external computer via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area network or other, wide area network) and network adapter or interface  836 . The diary manager program  67  and the event message program  68  can be downloaded to client computer  53  for consumer use from an external computer via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area network or other, wide area network) and network adapter or interface  836 . From the network adapter or interface  836 , a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67  are loaded into hard drive  830 . The network may comprise copper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. 
         [0107]    Each of the sets of external components  900   a ,  900   b  includes a computer display monitor  920 , a keyboard  930 , and a computer mouse  940 . Each of the sets of internal components  800   a ,  800   b  also includes device drivers  840  to interface to computer display monitor  920 , keyboard  930  and computer mouse  940 . The device drivers  840 , R/W drive or interface  832  and network adapter or interface  836  comprise hardware and software (stored in storage device  830  and/or ROM  824 ). 
         [0108]    A diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67  can be written in various programming languages including low-level, high-level, object-oriented or non object-oriented languages. Alternatively, the functions of a diary manager program  66 , event message program  68 , and a campaign manager program  67  can be implemented in whole or in part by computer circuits and other hardware (not shown). 
         [0109]    Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method and program product have been disclosed for inserting sales campaigns into electronic consumer diaries and preventing fraudulent charges to merchants. However, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and not limitation.