Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020116257?dq=mirroring+data+in+a+remote+data+storage+system
Timestamp: 2014-09-21 21:31:53
Document Index: 162810781

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 600', 'art 700', 'art 1000', 'art 1100', 'art 1100', 'art 1200', 'art 1300', 'art 1699']

Patent US20020116257 - On-line advertisement enhancement and incentive system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsAn electronic on-line advertisement enhancement and incentive method and apparatus which offers an incentive to an incentive user over an electronic computer network is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The method includes the steps of electronically awarding an incentive to an incentive...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020116257?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020116257 - On-line advertisement enhancement and incentive systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20020116257 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/312,697Publication dateAug 22, 2002Filing dateMay 17, 1999Priority dateMay 17, 1999Publication number09312697, 312697, US 2002/0116257 A1, US 2002/116257 A1, US 20020116257 A1, US 20020116257A1, US 2002116257 A1, US 2002116257A1, US-A1-20020116257, US-A1-2002116257, US2002/0116257A1, US2002/116257A1, US20020116257 A1, US20020116257A1, US2002116257 A1, US2002116257A1InventorsArthur HelbigOriginal AssigneeArthur HelbigExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (36), Classifications (18), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetOn-line advertisement enhancement and incentive systemUS 20020116257 A1Abstract An electronic on-line advertisement enhancement and incentive method and apparatus which offers an incentive to an incentive user over an electronic computer network is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The method includes the steps of electronically awarding an incentive to an incentive user over the electronic computer network, the incentive preferably being in the form of an electronic incentive awarded by an incentive issuer, electronically storing over the network the incentive in a incentives administration server, and electronically redeeming over the network the incentive at the incentive user's discretion. Additional aspects of the invention include associating logo representations of incentives to be awarded with on-line advertisements and thereby encouraging incentive users to click through such advertisements to incentive issuer sites, where, on such issuer sites, they may select electronic incentive symbols and be awarded incentives or be awarded incentives for purchasing. Images(16) Claims(72)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0040] A preferred embodiment of the electronic incentive system 100 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the particular incentive being awarded and redeemed may be in the form of a certificate, voucher, stamp, sticker, fanciful or arbitrary object or any other similar representation of an available incentive. The use of any particular form of an incentive in this description is exemplary only, and specifically contemplates all other similar incentive representations. [0041] In the electronic incentive system 100, the network nodes: 104, which represents a consumer, incentive user node; 105 which represents a customer services node; and 106 which represents an incentive administration operations center, are defined as general-purpose digital computers or similar devices connected to a public computer network 103, which, in the preferred embodiment, is the Internet. The connection may be made over digital and/or analog lines, utilizing, for example, dial-up telephone lines or direct phone lines through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or integrated services digital network (ISDN), fiber optic cable access, cable television coaxial cable access (such as a cable modem), a digital subscriber link (DSL) line, etc. Any node in the electronic incentive system 100 may communicate using Internet Protocol (IP). Internet Protocol (IP) RFC 791, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) RFC 793, the TCP/IP protocol suite which is described in RFC (Request For Comments) 1122, and associated other RFCs mentioned below are all available from SRI International, DDN Network Information Center, Room EJ291,333 Ravenwood Avenue, Menlo Park, Calif. 94025. However, other communication devices, such as personal communicators coupled to a public computer network through wireless transmissions are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. [0042] As shown in FIG. 1, nodes 104, 105 and 106 are coupled to an incentive administration server 107 and an incentive issuer server 101 via the Internet 103. The administration server 107 may be a single general-purpose computer or an interconnected collection of general-purpose digital computers which serve as an �Internet host� (e.g., appearing to incentive users as an incentive program Web site) as described in the Internet Protocol RFC 791. The administration server 107 contains records of electronic incentives 400 (FIG. 4), records of printed incentives 500 (FIG. 5), and a member database 113 which tracks individual incentive users registered with the administration server 107. The administration server 107 also includes a product/issuer database 114 which tracks the incentive issuers who dispense incentives (e.g., merchants or advertisers), tracks products that are available to incentive users for redemption of their accumulated incentives, and tracks vendors who provide the products for redemption. The administration server 107 further includes a queue database 112 which tracks various transactions that require communication and routing within the administration server 107 and to other systems. [0043] In addition, the incentive administration server 107 also includes one or more Internet tier servers 109, which are general-purpose digital computers that respond to requests for interactive communication. Administration server 107 optionally includes a router 108. The router 108 is an electronic device designed to optimize throughput by evenly distributing the volume of incoming communications messages amongst the Internet tier servers 109. Administration server 107 also includes one or more business tier servers 111, which are general-purpose digital computers that execute the business object modules and implement the computerized functions and methods of stamp administration. The router 110 is an optional electronic device designed to evenly distribute the volume of incoming requests for stamp administration processing from the Internet tier servers 109. [0044] Also shown in FIG. 1 is an incentive issuer server 101 which represents the independently owned and operated Internet sites of those parties, such as merchants, who enter into agreements with the incentive program operator to become issuers of incentives. The issuer server 101 includes at least one incentive symbol 115 which could be an electronic depiction of a stamp or other incentive voucher, wherein an incentive user may be awarded a predetermined amount of incentives by clicking on the symbol 115. [0045] In contrast to related art systems, clicking on the incentive symbol 115 is simple yet flexible. As described below, the method of the present invention allows the incentive issuer (who may be the topic site of an on-line advertisement) to disperse electronic incentive symbols (buttons) throughout their site in as many places and with as many different parameters as they wish. Each symbol site can have its own rules with regard to how many incentives are issued for a user's clicking on the symbol and how often. This encourages the incentive user to extensively browse the incentive issuer's site, spending a lot more time at the site than may occur with related art schemes. [0046] Network node 104 may be one or more incentive user or potential user sites. Node 104 may connect to various other components of the electronic incentive system 100 via the public network 103. These users are typically consumers who are members of the incentive program administered by server 107 (possibly in combination with customer services node 105 and operations center node 106, described below). These consumer members visit merchant sites (e.g., node 101), collecting incentives at such sites and accessing, via the network, the storage and redemption features, among others, administered by administration server 107. User node 104 may include an optional membership symbol 116, whereby an individual who is not yet a member of the incentive program (and thus not yet an incentive user) and who has visited node 104, may click on the membership symbol 116 and be connected to the electronic incentive system 100. As a reward for this referral of a potential incentive user, the user at node 104 may be awarded incentives when the potential new member clicks on the membership symbol 116. [0047] Additionally, FIG. 1 shows a redemption product vendor node 102 which represents the independently owned and operated Internet sites of those parties who enter into agreements (e.g., with the operators of the incentive administration site) to become providers of products that are redeemed by consumers with incentives. As is more fully discussed below, users may redeem their incentives for products using the redemption product vendor server 102 to generate orders for products. Specifically, the user 104 interacts with the administration server 107 to see products available for redemption, to choose one or more products, and submit orders for the chosen product. Upon receiving completed orders, the administration server 107 then employs the queue server 112, which stores the information needed to fulfill the orders, to interact with (transmit the order to) the redemption product vendor server 102 to complete the order fulfillment process. In this embodiment, the user 104 does not communicate directly with the redemption product vendor server 102 in the order process. The user 104 can, however, navigate to a redemption product vendor server 102 site through hyperlinks on the administration server site 107. [0048]FIG. 1 also shows a customer services node 105 and an operations center node 106, which may be general-purpose digital computers. The customer services node 105 includes one or more computers used by customer relations personnel to access the incentive administration server 107 on behalf of incentive users who make inquiries about their accounts (preferably via telephone or E-mail). The operations center node 106 includes one or more computers used by operations personnel to periodically maintain the information in the databases of the administration server 107, including the actions of adding, changing and deleting various data records pertaining to incentive users, incentive issuers, entities who distribute or sell incentives to issuers, and redemption product vendors. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the nodes 105 and 106 could be administered by outsourced personnel separate from the administration site 107; in an alternative embodiment the functions of nodes 105 and 106 could be accomplished by administration server 107. [0049]FIG. 2 shows an overview of a typical computer architecture which may be used for the electronic incentives administration server node, which is an N-tier-type architecture. The electronic incentive administration server node 200 includes an incentive user browser 104, an Internet information server tier 208, a MICROSOFT Transaction Server tier 220, and a plurality of SQL Server databases 226 (a database administration system also available from Microsoft Corporation). The user browser 104 is an Internet browser, and may be any type of common Internet browser that gives suitable Internet access. The Internet information server tier 208 processes all of the requests from incentive users 104, customer service node 105, administration operations center 106, and incentive issuers 101. Requests fall into the two main categories, namely, requests by users for new on-line electronic incentive issues, and home site processing wherein users can find new sites offering incentives and/or redeem incentives that they have accumulated. Scalability in this tier will be handled via routers that will assign requests to individual Internet information servers 208. The Internet information servers will execute the Active Server Pages (ASP) and HTML (hypertext mode link, a common Internet language) coded pages that support the system. Active Server Pages is a scripting language available from Microsoft that allows developers to program Web site interactions that run under IIS (Internet Information Servers), which, in turn, run under Microsoft NT (New Technology) operating system servers. ASP allows developers to create dynamic web pages as opposed to static ones that are written in HTML. The ASP code dynamically generates HTML pages that are unique to each interaction with a user who is operating a browser 104. [0050] The transaction servers 220 execute the custom objects that implement business rules and access to the administration server 107. The transaction servers 220 are a subset of the administration server 107 which is a collection of various servers, including transaction servers 220. The transaction servers 220 act in conjunction with Internet Information Servers 208 on the graphical user interface (GUI) end and with the SQL server databases 226 on the backend where the SQL server databases 226 reside. The transaction servers 220 are scaled by virtue of their attachment to the Internet information servers 208 that have been scaled via routers. Scaling, therefore, allows the incentives administration server node to be increased in size such that it could handle additional users' requests simultaneously, while retaining the desired functionality. Scaling of the use of Component Object Model (COM) objects is a standard function within the transaction servers 220 through database connection pooling, etc. [0051] The Component Object Model is an industry-standard term used to define the programming practices that allow parcels of computer programs to be used interchangeably through a well-defined, and documented interface that remains unchanged over time, i.e., an object-oriented programming model that defines how objects interact within a single application or between applications. (Connection pooling is a performance optimization based on using collections of pre-allocated resources, such as objects or database connections.) [0052] The SQL server database 226 provides the database function and data storage for large quantities of information, such as incentive user information, incentive issuer information, incentive issuance information, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the SQL server database 226 will be scaled via a separation of accounts by the first two characters of the user membership IDs. This allows distribution of user membership records across a plurality of nodes and a plurality of disk drives. [0053]FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the internal details of an incentive administration server 300. The administration server 300 is a variation on the electronic incentive system as shown in FIG. 1. It is contemplated that the electronic incentive system 100 may be comprised of various independent nodes working together, such as in FIG. 1, or may have all relevant functions in one node, as shown in FIG. 3. It should be understood that the two implementations differ only in the convenience of implementation, and achieve the same function. The administration server 300 includes a computer network interface 332, an I/O (input/output) device 336, an incentive user database 339, an incentive issuer database 344, a user info database 348, an incentive database 352, a redemption database 353, and a processor 355. [0054] The processor 355 is coupled to all of the other above-described components and regulates all activities within the node 300. The processor 355 regulates all operations and conducts communications between the network 103 and any internal data storages, and reads and writes to each individual database according to a control software. [0055] The network interface 332 connects the administration server 300 to the network 103, such as, for example, the Internet, and relays all communications. [0056] The I/O device 336 allows the administration server to be accessed for purposes of programming, downloading data, monitoring, etc. [0057] The user database 339 contains information about each registered user. The user database may contain multiple entries and multiple users. The user database 339 may contain information for each incentive user, such as, for example, a user name, a user I.D., a user password (password protection may be required for user access), and the number of incentives awarded. It is contemplated that other entries may be added, although it may be desirable to keep the user database 339 relatively small with regard to the number of individual fields in a record. It is a consideration that potential users not have to provide to much information when registering as members of the electronic incentive system, as this may be burdensome or otherwise off-putting to potential users. Data regarding user preferences can be accumulated by records of site visits and redemptions, as described below. [0058] The issuer database 344 contains information pertaining to each incentive issuer (again, these issuers are typically merchants, but could be advertisers). The issuer database 344 may contain multiple entries and multiple issuers. The issuer database 344 may contain entries for each incentive issuer, such as an issuer I.D., a number of allocated incentives, an entry for incentives already issued, a date available (maturity date), and a time rule wherein the issuer may specify how frequently an incentive user can be awarded incentives. [0059] The user info database 348 may accommodate information for a plurality of incentive users and may include additional information gathered at the time of an incentive award. It is contemplated that this database will only be updated when an incentive user redeems awarded incentives, and may be used to gather demographic data regarding the user such as name, age, gender, occupation, and any other desired demographic data. [0060] The incentive database 352 is a table that records and tracks the generation and sale of all incentives. Entries in the preferred embodiment are organized according to each incentive issuer so that each issuer will have a separate entry in the database 352. In the preferred embodiment, the database 352 includes a record for each issued incentive, including information such as the identity of the incentive issuer, the identity of the incentive user who received it, when the incentive was awarded to the user, and the number of incentives received in the award. Through the use of the database 352, all transactions can be tracked and a total number of incentives issued and redeemed may be recorded and tracked. [0061] The redemption database 353 may contain a description of products or services that may be redeemed. In addition, it may contain the number of electronic incentives required to redeem each product or service. [0062]FIG. 4 shows a transaction record 400 that may be stored in the incentives administration server 107. In one embodiment, the record 400 is used to track and control electronic incentives from issuance to redemption. The record 400 may include a user ID 407, an incentive issuance date and time 412, and an incentive symbol ID 418. The user ID 407 is a unique identifier assigned to incentive users when they register as members of the incentive program with the administration server 107. The issuance date and time 412 is a time stamp created at the initial allocation of a lot of incentives to a incentive issuer, and remains unchanged for the life of the incentive. The incentive symbol ID 418 is a unique identification of each incentive symbol (�clickable� button) in the electronic incentive system 100. Because each issuer may have multiple incentive symbols on his or her site, each such incentive symbol needs an identifier so that all incentive awards may be tracked. The identification of the incentive issuer as well as, for example, the number of incentives issued, can be obtained from the incentive symbol ID 418. [0063]FIG. 5 shows a record 500 that may be generated and stored for printed incentives which are physically shipped to issuers or printed at issuer's sites, and then, in turn, distributed by the issuer to users. Users who receive the printed incentive may then manually record the incentive (by accessing server administrator node 107) into their incentive account. Because printed incentives are generated and distributed as part of the electronic incentive system and later manually entered (e.g., by a user) into the incentive system for processing by the administrator node, the record 500 contains only partially similar data to that in record 400. As in record 400, record 500 contains a user ID 407 and an issuance date and time indicator 412. Record 500 may also contain an issuer ID 404 and an indicator of the number of incentives issued 423 (although these indicators could also be obtained from an incentive symbol ID as in record 400). Record 500 also contains an incentive serial number 519 and an incentive lot number 524. The serial number 519 and the lot number 524 are generated upon the manufacture of the printed incentives, and allow verification of authenticity before an incentive is accepted and credited to an incentive user. The printed incentives can thus be distributed through conventional channels, yet converted to electronic incentives for storage and redemption. [0064] When a user records their awarded incentive into their account, they do so by entering the incentive serial number (printed on the incentive) into their incentive account. In a preferred embodiment, the serial number is concealed on the printed incentives, and the user must scratch off a protective coating or lift a flap in order to view the serial number. The printed incentives may be manufactured in various values for convenience. Tampering or fraud may be discouraged by using serial numbers with enough digits so that only a small number of possible serial numbers are ever used. This scheme ensures that a counterfeit incentive may be easily detected. In the preferred embodiment, the incentives employ a 12 character serial number. By employing 26 lowercase letters and the numbers 0 through 9, a possible 4.738381338322e+18 (4,738,381,338,322,000,000) combinations may be generated. Planning for uniqueness of each number in an average block of a 1,000,000,000 possible IDs, 4,738,381,338 electronic incentives can be safely randomized. That means that many printed incentives can be issued while still ensuring that someone trying to guess a valid serial number would have only a one in one billion chance on a single try. [0065] In an alternative embodiment for a printed incentive, the record 500 contains the site address of an incentive issuer. As described below in connection with the discussion of FIG. 16, an incentive user may convert such a printed incentive to an electronic incentive by visiting the issuer's site 101 and selecting (clicking on) a modified incentive symbol at the site (rather than by accessing the administration server node 107). Such a printed incentive would further motivate incentive users to visit issuer sites. [0066]FIG. 6 shows a flowchart 600 of a first embodiment of the present invention. In Step 601, an electronic incentive is electronically awarded to a consumer/incentive user. The award is in response to the selection of an electronic incentive symbol (i.e., �clicking on� the symbol) at a network site 101 of a participating issuer (merchant or advertiser) and/or for purchasing goods or services from an issuer. That is, the user can be awarded electronic incentives for clicking on the incentive symbol, as those symbols appear at various portions of an issuer's Web site during surfing of that Web site, and/or for actually purchasing goods or services. [0067] In the preferred embodiment, an incentive logo design may be displayed as part of an on-line advertisement, such as a banner ad, advertising an issuer's site. This display is to entice the user to click on the advertisement to visit the site mentioned in the advertisement and does not, itself, effect the award of stamps. Rather, the logo design lets the user know that he or she will find incentive symbols, which do award incentives, at the site to be visited. Once at the issuer's site, users locate incentive symbols throughout the site and are awarded incentives for clicking on the symbols. Each incentive symbol on an issuer's site can have its own rules with regard to how many incentives are issued and how often. This encourages the incentive user to extensively browse the issuer's site, spending more time at the site than that typically spent pursuant to current incentive programs. [0068] In an additional embodiment, the incentive awarding Step 601 also includes electronically displaying a pop-up type advertisement upon the user's being awarded their selected incentives. The pop-up type advertisement may be a pop-up window containing a message regarding advertiser or merchant products or may be a banner-type advertisement. The invention thus enables additional and varied advertising opportunities. [0069] The issuer site 101 (FIG. 1) is preferably a Web site on the Internet, but alternatively may be a site on a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), electronic bulletin board service (BBS) or any other electronic computer network. The amount of the incentive award may be governed by a predetermined rule, so that the electronic incentive award may be automated and granted electronically. It is contemplated that the participating merchant site 101 will be a computer capable of being accessed over a network, such as the Internet, for example. Potential incentive users may access the merchant site via their own computers (node 104) linked to the network 103. [0070] In Step 602, which is an optional step in the process, incentives may be earned by a current user by referral of a non-user. A incentive user displays an electronic incentives membership symbol 116 (FIG. 1) on his or her site, and if a non-incentive user clicks on the membership symbol 116, the user may receive an award of a predetermined amount of incentives. In this manner, current users are encouraged to recruit additional users. [0071] In Step 603, which is also an option in the process, printed incentives, for example, those received by a user from a merchant who has shipped selected product, may be electronically registered and converted into electronic incentives for future use by the incentive user. The conversion of printed incentives to electronic incentives is discussed below in the text accompanying FIG. 16. [0072] In Step 604, the incentive is electronically stored in an account database attached to the network 103. Therefore, a incentive user can access his or her incentive account to view the contents, add more incentives, or redeem any accumulated incentives. In the preferred embodiment, the database is a central database containing information concerning all user accounts and information regarding all participating incentive issuers. In a alternative embodiment, incentives may be stored at the issuer's site. [0073] In Step 608, the user electronically redeems the awarded incentives by requesting redemption. In the preferred embodiment, a user 104 (FIG. 1) interacts with the administration server 107 to place a redemption order. Server 107 then communicates the order to redemption product vendor server 102 which then forwards products or services directly to the user. (Alternatively the redemption may be performed by the administration server 107, acting as a broker for products or services.) The number of incentives required for a particular redemption is established by and displayed to the user by the administration server 107. Redemption product vendor server 102 may feature goods and services of all issuers. The redemption may take the form of free goods or services, price discounts, favorable treatment in purchasing of goods or services, extended warranties, or any other benefit desired to be awarded by the participating issuer. The redemption product vendor server 102 may purchase goods and services from participating issuers, and may arrange to purchase the same at a price below a retail price. [0074] In an alternate embodiment of Step 608, the administration server 107 may offer goods and services for redemption. In another alternate embodiment, issuers 101 may themselves redeem electronic incentives from the users. [0075]FIG. 7 shows a flowchart 700 of a second embodiment of the present invention. In Step 703, users are electronically registered in a users database in the administration server 107 (FIG. 1). This step may be performed over a network. In the preferred embodiment, to participate in the incentive system, all users must be registered (must be members). The registration step ensures that records are available for incentive awards and redemptions. [0076] In optional Step 705, incentives may be earned by referral. A user may display an electronic membership symbol 116 on his or her site, and if a non-incentive user clicks on the membership symbol 116 and completes the membership process, the user may receive an incentive award of a predetermined amount of incentives. In this manner, current member users are encouraged to recruit new member users. [0077] In Step 707, a registered user is granted an incentive account, preferably in the administration server 107. In the preferred embodiment, the centralization of all records in the administration server 107 ensures that records are dutifully kept and lessens the likelihood of tampering or fraud. [0078] In Step 709, an incentive symbol is displayed at all issuer sites. The symbol notifies all site visitors that a particular network site is indeed an electronic incentive issuer, and that a registered user may be able to pick up an electronic incentive award from the site. Preferably, each site will continuously display the incentive symbol. [0079] In Step 712, the incentive administration server 107 awards a predetermined amount of incentives to a user who selects (or �clicks on�) the incentive symbol. As discussed earlier, the user can be awarded electronic incentives for clicking on the symbols encountered while surfing various portions of an issuer's Web site, and for purchasing the goods or services. The predetermined award amount may be set by a rule in the issuer's site, or may be set by a rule in the issuer's account. The award amount is preferably set when incentives are purchased by the issuer, and is preferably stored in the administration server 107. The award amount is the number of incentives awarded to users who visit the issuer's site and click on the symbol or who purchase goods or services. In this manner, site visitors or �surfers� are rewarded for visiting the sites of participating incentive issuers and/or for purchasing goods or services. As an additional benefit, information may be gathered from, for example, the frequency and nature of particular incentive awards and used to evaluate the effectiveness of various incentive symbol placement and presentation strategies, issuer Web site design or advertising, etc. [0080] In optional Step 713, printed incentives may be electronically registered and converted into electronic incentives for future use by the user. The conversion of printed incentives to electronic incentive of the system 100 is discussed in the text accompanying FIG. 16. [0081] In Step 716, after the user has clicked on the incentive symbol, the predetermined number of incentives are credited to the user's account. The issuer's site includes a programmed link from the issuer's Internet address to an address of the incentives administration server 107. Coupled with the link is an electronic identification that is transmitted to the administration server 107 and identifies the particular incentive issuer. This electronic identification may be verified against an identification stored in the administration server 107. Activation of the link by a user via the computer network initiates an incentive issuance software program that not only identifies the issuer but also identifies the user. The issuance software then confirms whether the user is eligible to receive the award, and if eligible credits the user's account and debits the account of the issuer. The issuer is then notified of the successful award, and the transaction is recorded in the administration server 107. [0082]FIG. 8 shows a screenshot 800 of a main menu screen which is displayed by the administration server 107 to a user's computer screen upon initial access to the server 107 by the user. The main menu screen 800 may include selections such as clicking to locate issuer's sites having incentive symbols, checking user account status, redeeming incentives, and responses to common questions and other information about the incentive system capabilities and features. [0083]FIG. 9 shows a second such screenshot displaying buttons which can be selected by the user in order to search for sites of issuers awarding incentives, specific issuers, or for specific goods or services offered by issuers. [0084]FIG. 10 shows a flowchart 1000 of a third embodiment of the present invention. In Step 1003, incentives are electronically sold, e.g., by the administrator operator, to the various issuers. The incentives sold may be recorded in both an issuer database 114 (FIG. 1) (or 344, FIG. 3) and an incentive database 352, FIG. 3 in the administration server. [0085] In Step 1006 the serial numbers of the issued incentives are recorded in the administration server 107. In a preferred embodiment (for electronic incentives), incentives are issued and sold in lots, and individual incentives are not tracked. Instead, after issuance, the system tracks the particular button (incentive symbol) from which the incentives were issued (and, therefore, also tracks via a database link, the issuer on whose site the symbol was placed), along with the user ID and the date and time of incentive issuance. In an alternative embodiment, the serial number of each incentive may be tracked from purchase by an issuer, through award to a user, and to redemption for goods or services. [0086] In Step 1008, users are electronically registered in a users database 113. This step is performed over the network 103. In the preferred embodiment, to participate in the incentive system, all users must be registered. The registration step ensures that records are available for incentive awards and redemptions. [0087] In optional Step 1009, incentives may be earned by referral. A user may display an electronic incentive membership symbol 116 on his or her site, and if a non-incentive user clicks on the membership symbol 116, the user may receive an award of a predetermined amount of incentives. In this manner, current member users are encouraged to recruit new member users. [0088] In Step 1011, a registered incentive user is granted an incentive account in the administration server 107. The account is used to accumulate all incentives awarded to the particular user. [0089] In Step 1013, an incentive symbol is displayed at all participating issuer sites. The symbol notifies all site visitors that a particular site is indeed an electronic incentive issuer, and that a user may be able to pick up an electronic incentive award from the site. Preferably, each issuer site will continuously display the incentive symbol. [0090] In Step 1016, a predetermined amount of incentives are granted to a user who selects (�clicks� on) an incentive symbol. The user can be awarded electronic incentives for clicking on symbols that appear while surfing the issuer's Web site, and for purchasing goods or services. The predetermined amount may be governed by a rule in the issuer's site. This number is preferably set when incentives are purchased by the issuer, and is preferably stored in the administration server 107. [0091] In optional Step 1019, printed incentives may be electronically registered and converted into electronic incentives for future use by the user. The conversion of printed incentives to electronic ones is discussed in the text accompanying FIG. 16. [0092] In Step 1020, after the user has clicked on the incentive symbol, the predetermined number of incentives are issued and credited to the user's account. In the preferred embodiment, the administration server 107 adds the number of incentives issued to a field that tracks the total amount of incentives issued by a particular issuer. When this field is compared with the total amount of incentives originally allocated to the issuer, one arrives at the new incentive amount available to be issued. Correspondingly, the user's account is credited with the number of incentives issued. [0093] In Step 1023, a user who has accumulated electronic incentives can redeem same for valuable goods, services, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the incentives are redeemed by the redemption product vendor server 102, via the user's selection of goods and services presented on the administration server 107 (the server 107 then communicates same to vendor server 102). Alternatively, in another embodiment, either the administration server 107 or the individual issuers may have the capability to redeem and display items to be redeemed. [0094] Also in step 1023, any item selected to be redeemed through the use of electronic incentives may be placed in an electronic shopping cart which may be used to accumulate items to be purchased or redeemed. This is shown in the screenshot 1100 of FIG. 11. The electronic shopping cart generally displays information about selections, and displays individual selections that the user has selected. For example, the shopping cart 1100 may display a product title, a product description, and may display a redemption price in electronic incentives. In addition, multiple items chosen for redemption may be displayed and the shopping cart 1100 may display a cumulative total. The user may thereby decide what combination of items to redeem in order to make optimum use of any accumulated incentives. [0095]FIG. 12 shows a flowchart 1200 of the purchase of electronic incentives by an issuer such as a merchant. In Step 1202, the process checks to see whether the issuer is currently in the issuer database 114 in the administration server 107. If the issuer currently is registered in the issuer database 114, the method proceeds to Step 1208, otherwise it branches to Step 1204. In Step 1204, the prospective issuer may be registered as an electronic incentive issuer. This may include adding the issuer to the incentive issuer database 114 and assigning an issuer I.D. and recording other pertinent information described above. [0096] In Step 1208, a requested quantity of incentive is added to an incentives table within the administration server 107. In addition, other details such as maturity date of the electronic incentives (i.e., when they become effective), an allotment size, and a status are also added. The status of purchased or allocated incentives will be recorded as pending until the maturity date, at which time they may be transferred to an active status. [0097] In Step 1214, the administration server 107 monitors to see when the incentive lot becomes mature. If the maturity date has not been reached, Step 1214 repeats until the maturity date has been reached for the particular lot. When the maturity date has been reached, the method proceeds on to Step 1217. [0098] In Step 1217, the mature quantity of incentives are added to the incentive issuer's allocated incentives. For a new issuer, the allocated incentive number will be zero. However, for previously registered issuers, there may be a remaining number of unused and unawarded incentives, and any new incentive purchase will be added to that number. In Step 1223, the status of the purchased incentives is changed in the incentive payable from a pending status to an issued status. [0099] In Step 1229, a time period between allowed awards is set in the issuer database 114. The time period in the preferred embodiment will be set by the issuer. The time period is a rule that prevents a user from getting an award of incentives more often than a certain frequency. For example, a rule may say that each user may only get one award of incentives per week for clicking on the incentive symbol. So when an user is surfing through the incentive issuer's site, the issuer may award incentives for just surfing. However, issuers won't want to allow a user continuous access and the possibility of ringing up an unreasonably large total of incentives. This, of course, may not apply to actual purchase of items, for which incentives may always be awarded. [0100]FIGS. 13A and 13B show a flowchart 1300 of the method of electronically awarding incentives to a member user. In Step 1302, a user clicks on the incentive issuer's electronic incentive symbol in order to get an award of electronic incentives. Again, generally, the user can be awarded electronic incentives for clicking on the incentive symbol while surfing the issuer's Web site or for purchasing issuer goods or service. [0101]FIG. 14A shows representative incentive symbols 1403 that would be displayed at various locations on an incentive issuer's Web site 101. Users click on the symbol 1403 while performing actions on the issuer's site, and thereby receive incentives. In the preferred embodiment, the incentive symbol is in a Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) format, but alternatively other formats may be used, and various types of data compression may be employed. FIG. 14B shows representative incentive logo designs 1406 placed within a banner-type advertisement to let user's know that they will find incentive symbols (and thus incentive awards) on the issuer site referenced in the ad. Again, in the preferred embodiment, awards are not given by a user's simply clicking on the banner ad, but rather, only when once arriving at the site, the user browses the site locating incentive symbols 1403 and clicking on them. (Of course, in alternative embodiments, an incentive user could receive an award by clicking on an incentive symbol embedded in a banner ad, but that is less preferred.) [0102] In Step 1307, certain incentive user information may be obtained by the administration server 107 after the user clicks on the electronic incentive symbol 1403. Such user information may include user name or I.D., and survey-type user feedback from issuer's sites. Other user information collected for demographic purposes, such as age, gender, occupation, preferences in terms of purchases from the particular incentive issuer, etc. is typically collected during the initial user membership sign-up process. [0103] In Step 1319, the administration server subtracts the awarded incentives from the issuer's incentive allocation. [0104] In Step 1323, it is determined whether the issuer has enough allocated incentives to award. If the issuer does not have enough incentives to award, the method branches to Step 1379, else it proceeds on to Step 1327 and the transaction continues. [0105] In Step 1327, the process checks to see whether the user is eligible to receive the incentive award. For example, this step in the preferred embodiment checks to see whether the incentive user is registered and may not proceed with the transaction if the user is not registered. Alternatively, in a lesser preferred embodiment, the user's status may not matter, and the award may still proceed. If the user is not eligible, the process branches to Step 1379, otherwise it proceeds to Step 1331. [0106] In Step 1331, the process checks to see whether incentive user information is available. In the preferred embodiment, this is a check to see whether a user cookie has been procured from the user's browser. In a typical Internet browser, any visited Web site may store information on the user's browser to be employed subsequently for purposes of bringing up pertinent information. This is referred to as a �cookie.� If a user cookie is not available, the process branches to Step 1336, else it proceeds ahead to Step 1340. [0107] In Step 1336, the user is prompted for his or her name. In the preferred embodiment, this is the name (or handle) that a user provides during the membership sign-up process. This step may also include a provision for capturing incentive award information for non-members. For example, if a non-member clicks on an incentive symbol, he or she could be prompted to enter contact information, such as an e-mail address, so that instructions regarding membership may be forwarded to them; awards of incentives would be finalized upon their completing the membership process. [0108] In Step 1340, the process displays to the incentive user the user's name as being the recipient of the incentive award. [0109] In optional Step 1345, the process would prompt the user for an optional name for the incentives to be awarded to. For example, in one embodiment, the user may donate his or her electronic incentive award to another user, such as a family member or a friend. If the user desires to give the award to another, the process branches to Step 1356, else it proceeds to Step 1368. In optional Step 1356 (assuming Step 1345 is performed), the user is prompted for a recipient name of the person he or she wishes to give the incentive award to. In the preferred embodiment, the recipient must be another registered user, but alternatively the recipient may be anyone. It is noted that if the processes of Steps 1345 et seq. are performed, suitable precautions must be in place to prohibit fraudulent use of incentives. [0110] In Step 1368, the administration server 107 determines whether the user is time eligible to receive an incentive award. Because a time rule may be given by each issuer to prevent frequent and repeated awards by users, the electronic incentive system 100 must verify that the particular user is time eligible. For example, the issuer may designate that surfing awards will only be given out once per week for all incentive users. Therefore, if a user returns to the same site in less than a week and clicks on the incentive symbol that gives electronic incentives just for surfing the site, the award will be denied until at least a week has lapsed. If the member is not time eligible, the process will branch to Step 1379, otherwise, it will proceed to Step 1371. [0111] In Step 1371, the value of the awarded incentives will be added to the appropriate entry in the user database 113 in the administration server 107. Each registered user will have their own entry and each user will therefore have their own awarded incentive total, and the awarded incentives will therefore be added cumulatively. [0112] In Step 1375, the administration server 107 may display to the user the current incentive total after the incentive award. [0113] In Step 1379, an error message may be displayed signifying that the award transaction cannot or will not be completed. For example, the display may read �Please try again later� or other suitable message. [0114]FIG. 15 shows a screenshot 1500 displayed on a member computer of such an award statement showing total incentives accumulated, total incentives that have been redeemed, and an amount currently available to be redeemed. In addition, other information may be presented on the screen, such as a breakdown of individual awards, sources of awards, dates of awards, and other relevant information. [0115]FIG. 16 shows a flowchart 1699 of a method for converting a printed incentive (such as that received by a consumer from a product provider with a shipped product) into an electronic incentive of the electronic incentive system 100. [0116] In Step 1600, a user accesses the administration server 107. This may be done over the Internet. The administration server 107 preferably includes a printed incentive registration page. [0117] In Step 1601, the user uncovers a serial number printed on the incentive. It should be understood that this step may occur at any time previous to the actual entry of the serial number into the electronic system 100. [0118] In Step 1602, the user enters the serial number into the incentive registration page. [0119] In Step 1604, the serial number is checked for authenticity. This may be done by comparing the printed incentive serial number to all issued serial numbers (see text accompanying FIG. 5). Specifically, each printed incentive will be recorded in a database in administrator node 107 prior to sale to an issuer (who will subsequently dispense the incentives). When an user, who has received the incentive, records the incentive serial number, the system will look the serial number up in the database. If the serial number does not exist, it will be logged as an error. If the serial number does exist, the system will make certain that the serial number has not already been claimed. If the serial number has not been claimed, then it will be marked as claimed in the current transaction. If the serial number is authentic, the method proceeds to Step 1606, else it branches to Step 1605. [0120] In Step 1605, it is determined whether an intrusion threshold has been exceeded. Specifically, to prevent a wayward user from attempting to manually guess serial numbers, or more importantly to prevent a hacker who attempts the same guessing process using a computer program, the incentive system 100 will track two totals of wrong entries. One tallies the grand total of all wrong entries. The second total tracks the number of most recent, consecutive wrong entries. For an individual wrong answer that does not break the predetermined threshold of consecutive wrong answers, the system will add to the totals, inform the user as in Step 1603, and allow a retry. If the threshold is reached, the system determines if this wrong answer has reached a second threshold of total wrong answers over the lifetime of the membership, using the first number described above to make this determination. If not, then the system applies a lockout for a predetermined period of time, during which time the user cannot make new entries. If the second threshold is reached, the user will be permanently barred from participating in this part of the program. Also, suitable thresholds will be set to allow for legitimate entry of wrong numbers. If the intrusion threshold described above has not been exceeded, the method branches to step 1603, where an entry error message is transmitted to the user and the user is allowed to re-enter the serial number back at Step 1602. If the intrusion threshold was exceeded, the method branches to Step 1607. [0121] In Step 1606, the user's account is credited with the printed incentive amount. [0122] In Step 1607, if the maximum allowable errors has been exceeded, the method proceeds to Step 1610, else it branches to Step 1608. [0123] In Step 1608, a temporary lockout is activated. The lockout prevents the user from accessing the incentive registration page for a predetermined period of time. In addition, the user is informed that he or she can retry the printed incentive registration process at a later time. [0124] In Step 1609, the user is prompted concerning whether more printed incentives are to be registered. If yes, the method branches back to the incentive entry of Step 1601. [0125] In Step 1610, because the maximum number of errors has been exceeded, the user is locked out from further registration of printed incentives. [0126] In an alternate method for converting a printed incentive into an electronic incentive, the printed incentive contains the site address of an incentive issuer. (This type of printed incentive could be an alternative to or an option in addition to the printed incentives described above.) The issuer site contains at least one modified electronic incentive symbol which may be accessed by the user's clicking on the symbol and used to enter the printed incentives into the user's electronic incentive account. Specifically, upon a user's accessing the issuer's site and selecting the modified electronic incentive symbol, a pop-up window appears on the issuer's site to dialog with the user. The user enters his or her user ID and the serial number of the printed incentive. Upon proper validation similar to that described in connection with FIG. 16, the incentives are accrued in the user's account residing on the administration node. [0127] In further embodiment of the invention, two types of incentives are issued to users. The first type of incentive (type 1) is that as described above, namely, an incentive that is redeemable for products and services. The second type of incentive (type 2) is different from a type 1 incentive in that it cannot be immediately redeemed for products and services. Instead, type 2 incentives may be exchanged for type 1 incentives when a purchase is made from an issuer. The type 2 incentives are typically rewarded for a user's non-purchasing activities, and when a user does make a purchase, the type 2 incentives may be used to match the redeemable type 1 incentives that are offered with the purchase. For example, a user may purchase an item for which 50 type 1 incentives are offered as a reward for doing so. If the user has a collection of type 2 incentives available at the time of this purchase, he/she will be able to convert up to 50 of the type 2 incentives to type 1 incentives, resulting in a total amount of 100 incentives available for redemption. Type 2 incentives increase a user's propensity to purchase products because as the user's available amount of type 2 incentives grows, these incentives represent an increasing value of purchases that have type 1 incentives associated with the purchases. Further, type 2 incentives, awarded essentially for free, are particularly protected from fraud as they are not immediately redeemable for products or services, but rather are used to match the type 1 incentives offered for a particular purchase. [0128] While the invention has been described in detail above, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments as described. It is evident that those skilled in the art may make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6820061 *Jun 27, 2003Nov 16, 2004Richard PostrelMethod and system for exchange and aggregation of reward points via a global computer networkUS6829586 *Aug 25, 2003Dec 7, 2004Richard PostrelMethod and system for aggregation of reward points for payment of auctioned itemsUS6842739 *Nov 24, 2003Jan 11, 2005Richard PostrelSystem for electronic barter, trading and redeeming points accumulated in frequent use reward programsUS6947898 *Jun 20, 2003Sep 20, 2005Signature Systems, LlcSystem for electronic barter, trading and redeeming points accumulated in frequent use reward programsUS7096190 *May 11, 2005Aug 22, 2006Signature Systems LlcSystem for electronic barter, trading and redeeming points accumulated in frequent use reward programsUS7171455 *Aug 22, 2000Jan 30, 2007International Business Machines CorporationObject oriented based, business class methodology for generating quasi-static web pages at periodic intervalsUS7174307 *Feb 20, 2001Feb 6, 2007Fujitsu LimitedGift mediating method and a computer productUS7194448 *Jul 31, 2001Mar 20, 2007Roseanne LuthMulti-layer surveying systems and methods with multi-layer incentivesUS7386571Dec 21, 2004Jun 10, 2008International Business Machines CorporationObject oriented based, business class methodology for performing data metric analysisUS7418459Aug 7, 2007Aug 26, 2008International Business Machines CorporationObject oriented based, business class methodology for performing data metric analysisUS7483955Oct 10, 2006Jan 27, 2009International Business Machines CorporationObject oriented based, business class methodology for generating quasi-static web pages at periodic intervalsUS7512551 *Feb 19, 2005Mar 31, 2009Signature Systems LlcMethod and system for implementing a search engine with reward components and payment componentsUS7925719Oct 8, 2008Apr 12, 2011International Business Machines CorporationObject oriented based, business class methodology for generating quasi-static web pages at periodic intervalsUS7979806 *Dec 15, 2006Jul 12, 2011Microsoft CorporationUn-intrusive display areasUS8287340Apr 17, 2003Oct 16, 2012Par Technology CorporationSystem and method for employee incentive gameUS8407087Feb 10, 2010Mar 26, 2013Signature Systems, LLC.Online reward point exchange method and systemUS8423402 *Jul 19, 2012Apr 16, 2013Signature Systems LlcMethod and system for electronic exchange of reward pointsUS8447650 *Jun 7, 2011May 21, 2013Signature Systems LlcSystem and method for designating accounts from which to trade rewardsUS8478640 *Oct 7, 2010Jul 2, 2013Signature Systems LlcSystem and method for using a card linked to a reward point exchange account for purchase transactionsUS8489497 *Jan 27, 2006Jul 16, 2013Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.Online interactive and partner-enhanced credit cardUS8600807 *Mar 4, 2013Dec 3, 2013Signature Systems LlcMethod and system for electronic exchange of reward pointsUS8612290 *May 23, 2013Dec 17, 2013Signature Systems LlcSystem and method for card linked reward exchange accountUS8615428Feb 10, 2010Dec 24, 2013Signature Systems, LLC.Point of sale device for online reward point exchange method and systemUS8725564 *Apr 2, 2013May 13, 2014Signature Systems LlcMethod and system for electronic exchange of reward pointsUS20080021761 *Jul 20, 2006Jan 24, 2008Factortrust, Inc.Transaction processing systems and methodsUS20080077504 *Sep 20, 2006Mar 27, 2008Ebay Inc.Listing generation utilizing catalog informationUS20100251344 *Jun 11, 2010Sep 30, 2010Gary Stephen ShusterControlling access to name service for a domain name systemUS20110078008 *Oct 7, 2010Mar 31, 2011Signature Systems LlcSystem for electronic barter, trading and redeeming points accumulated in frequent use reward programsUS20120143667 *Jun 7, 2011Jun 7, 2012Signature Systems LlcSystem and method for designating accounts from which to trade rewardsUS20120284109 *Jul 19, 2012Nov 8, 2012Richard PostrelMethod and system for electronic exchange of reward pointsUS20130085817 *Sep 29, 2011Apr 4, 2013Michael Collins PinkusDiscount offer system and method for use with for hire vehiclesUS20130246154 *Apr 2, 2013Sep 19, 2013Signature Systems LlcMethod and system for electronic exchange of reward pointsUS20130282467 *May 23, 2013Oct 24, 2013Signature Systems LlcSystem and method for card linked reward exchange accountUS20130307762 *May 17, 2012Nov 21, 2013Nokia CorporationMethod and apparatus for attracting a user's gaze to information in a non-intrusive mannerUS20130317900 *May 18, 2013Nov 28, 2013Theron Randy FennelSystem and method for providing reward programs as an electronically mediated serviceWO2002073371A2 *Mar 14, 2002Sep 19, 2002Clubmom IncSystems and methods for conducting a loyalty program* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification705/14.13, 705/14.25, 705/14.26, 705/14.36, 705/14.66International ClassificationG06Q30/00Cooperative ClassificationG06Q30/0225, G06Q30/0211, G06Q30/0224, G06Q30/0269, G06Q30/02, G06Q30/0236European ClassificationG06Q30/02, G06Q30/0224, G06Q30/0269, G06Q30/0211, G06Q30/0225, G06Q30/0236Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 10, 1999ASAssignmentOwner name: SOFTWARE CONSORTIUM, INC., MARYLANDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HELBIG, ARTHUR;REEL/FRAME:010224/0217Effective date: 19990713RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google