Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20090259549 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING FLOW - The present invention is a method of optimizing the flow of entities. The method includes the steps of:
| 10-15-2009 |
20090299847 | System for Multi-Tiered Allocation of Promotional Incentives - An interactive promotion platform for supplying a call center agent with promotional incentive information to provide to a customer. The interactive promotion platform includes a promotion database having a promotional incentive index into which a promoting entity inputs one or more promotional incentives for inclusion in the promotional incentive index. A promotion allocation dashboard displays to an allocator the promotional incentive index and enables the allocator to designate at least one promotional incentive from in the promotional incentive index and allocate the designated promotional incentive to one or more call center agents. A computer network including a network link connects the call center agent to the interactive promotion platform and provides substantially real time updated information on the designated promotional incentive to the call center agent. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307078 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING SEARCH, SELECTION, PREVIEW, PURCHASE EVALUATION, OFFERING FOR SALE, DISTRIBUTION AND/OR SALE OF DIGITAL CONTENT AND ENHANCING THE SECURITY THEREOF - A method for controlling the release of an as-rendered configuration of a digital work, comprising the steps of presenting said digital work as a composite of a plurality of layers comprising at least a first layer and a second layer; providing a rendering protocol interface which is adapted for defining said as-rendered configuration of the digital work by specifying a first rendering status of said first layer and a second rendering status of said second layer; providing a rendering protocol facility adapted for storing and controlling the release of said first and second rendering status of said first and second layers respectively in accordance with said as-rendered configuration; restricting unauthorized access to the rendering protocol interface, thereby preventing unauthorized modification of said as-rendered configuration; and releasing said digital work with said as-rendered configuration. The method has application in selling books, movies, software, music and other information products. A method of selling a preview version of an information product along with an option of purchase of the original version is described. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313111 | TRACK IMPRESSION OF ADVERTISEMENT UPON MEMORY - Oftentimes users can be exposed to media content such as advertisements while in a non-connective state. Advertisement providers can desire to obtain information related to the exposure and users can be rewarded for the exposure. Therefore, a record can be retained related to advertisement exposure and the record can be transmitted when it is determined that the user is in a connective state. Since personal information can be held upon the record and there can be motivation to alter the record, the record can be stored in hardware, such as a microcontroller of a flash memory device, prior to transmission. | 12-17-2009 |
20100036724 | Digital entertainment service platform - The present invention is directed to an open business platform that provides an end-to-end solution for managing, distributing, and/or retailing digital media assets from various content suppliers. In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides an integrated system that permits media content suppliers to deposit their media assets with the system where they are prepared by a content management system for distribution to consumers via a secure distribution system. The media content suppliers may then track and control the use of their media assets through a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content, and a royalty reporter for determining and reporting royalties to the various content suppliers. | 02-11-2010 |
20100262482 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SALES - Disclosed are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable storage media for conducting sales. The method embodiment receives a time agnostic inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifies one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifies comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presents one or more comparable groups, each comparable group including one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthers the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further including receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the sub-items with one of multiple payment types. The user can indicate a set of personalized comparable items. | 10-14-2010 |
20100332309 | EARLY-PAYMENT DISCOUNT FOR E-BILLING SYSTEM - An Early Payment Discount (EPD) mechanism that enables customers to automatically receive an early payment discount for paying their invoice electronically, e.g., via electronic funds transfer (EFT), through an e-Billing system within a designated number of days from on-line invoice post date. | 12-30-2010 |
20110010237 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED PAYMENT PRODUCTS - A method for generating and distributing a plurality of financial child products to a group of recipients that can then be used for payment transactions by each recipient. The method includes receiving a selection of a core account that provides financial backing for the financial child products, and receiving a list of recipients that defines the group of recipients to which the financial child products are distributed. The method further includes generating the financial child products, where each financial child product is structured with one or more control parameters that define user restrictions for the financial child product, and causing the financial child products to be distributed to at least one recipient included in the list of recipients. Advantageously, since creating, distributing, and redeeming of the financial child products is performed using existing legacy networks, financial institutions only need to minimally modify legacy payment processing infrastructure to support these distributed payment products. | 01-13-2011 |
20110029369 | INTERACTIVE DISPLAY - An interactive display for presenting an optical pattern spatially encoding an electronic voucher is described. The interactive display comprises: a display arranged to present an optical pattern; and a controller coupled to the display. The controller is arranged to (i) generate a unique code; (ii) combine the generated unique code with an electronic offer to create a new optical pattern spatially encoding an electronic voucher; and (iii) present the new optical pattern on the display in response to a renewal criterion being satisfied. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040610 | System and Methods for Ordering and Presenting Custom Electronic Advertisements - A system for ordering electronic advertisements includes a first interactive interface executable to run on a computing appliance connected to a network for configuring constraints relative to an advertisement service, and a second interactive interface executable to run on the computing appliance for displaying electronic advertisements from one or more advertisement stores connected to the network and associated with the advertisement service. A user operating the computing appliance inputs into the first interactive interface the types of goods and services desired and what pricing associated with those goods and services is acceptable and wherein the second interactive interface displays advertisements served to the computing appliance over the network that fit the user's input criteria. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047022 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CROSS-BENEFITS BASED ON A CUSTOMER ACTIVITY - In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second vendor (e.g., a subsidizing vendor). The offer may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for an item purchased from a first vendor and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. The customer is charged a second price for the items, which is less than the total price, and may even be zero. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054993 | ELECTRONIC COUPON MANAGEMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND RESERVATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Exemplary electronic coupon management, distribution, and reservation systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes an electronic coupon subsystem maintaining data representative of an electronic coupon in a repository of coupon data such that the electronic coupon is accessible to a plurality of access devices associated with a plurality of consumers, receiving a request to reserve the electronic coupon from an access device within the plurality of access devices, the access device associated with a consumer within the plurality of consumers, and reserving the electronic coupon for the consumer for a reservation time period such that the electronic coupon is unavailable to one or more other consumers within the plurality of consumers during the reservation time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054994 | INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MARKETING DISPARATE SERVICES - Methods for implementing a discount program directed to reducing costs to a consumer for first and second disparate services provided by first and second unrelated entities are described. A seller can sell addition of the consumer to the discount program, without requiring the consumer to purchase anything else from the seller to benefit from the program. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060639 | METHOD FOR FINANCING THE ACQUISITION OF AN ASSET FOR MEMBERS OF A GROUP - A system for financing the acquisition of an asset or service is provided herein. The system ( | 03-10-2011 |
20110071896 | VIDEO OFFER BROKERAGE SYSTEM - A video brokerage system provides a subscriber of a cable system access to a program in response to the subscriber entering a coupon code, where the program would otherwise not be viewable, or a discount is provided for viewing the program. In one embodiment, a coupon system interacts with a computer system operated by a merchant, which distributes the coupon code to the subscriber when acting as a customer of the merchant. The subscriber then provides the coupon code to the cable service provider when selecting a video-on demand program, allowing the subscriber to either receive a discount on a pay-per-view movie, or accessing a program that otherwise would not be accessible. Various validations tests are defined in conjunction with the cable service provider processing the coupon code, including checking: an expiration date of the coupon code, rating qualifiers, content provider qualifiers, etc. | 03-24-2011 |
20110145053 | SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Various systems, methods, apparatus and techniques for conducting interactions between and among consumers and sellers use a networked configuration of devices, where the network includes servers and memory storage apparatus. Consumers can provide various types of information and data via the network to be stored for later retrieval and to assist the sellers in helping consumers find discounted products and services and conduct shopping efficiently. Moreover, consumers can use the networked resources and information to create a consumer community and social networking apparatus, sharing recipes, ideas, experiences and the like. Marketing and promotional programs can be implemented via such networked participants and can be personalized to consumers based on information they have provided and data collected regarding consumer behavior and actions. Also, informational materials such as catalogs can be made available on the network and easily updated, changed, etc. by sellers. Consumers can download saved information using in-store devices that assist in shopping, comparing prices, tracking purchases and selections and in delivering information and discounts directly to consumers while shopping so that personalization of the shopping experience can be adjusted and delivered immediately. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153406 | Tracking and Processing Discount Cards - In one example, a stored value card system is modified to process discount cards that are capable of providing varying percentage discounts on an array of products or services that can be purchased by a consumer. Implementations of the stored value card system can include modifications that allow a transaction using the discount card to pass through as an authorized transaction in spite of, for instance, application software logic that otherwise rejects transactions for stored value cards having a zero balance. For example, when the modified stored value card system detects a transaction involving a discount card, an authorization system within the modified stored value card system can generate an alternative error code that prevents the point of sale system from rejecting the transaction due to a zero balance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153407 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND ESTABLISHING A PROGRESSIVE DISCOUNT BASED UPON CUSTOMER VISITS TO A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT - Methods, computer readable media and apparatus are disclosed for determining and applying a discount for a customer. In some embodiments, the process includes receiving transaction data that represents a current transaction, receiving a customer identifier of a customer, determining a current transaction time and a last transaction time, determining that a duration between the last transaction time and the current transaction time equals or exceeds a predetermined time period, and determining that the current transaction is a first instance of the customer equaling or exceeding the predetermined time period. Since it was the first time the customer equaled or exceeded the predetermined time period, a discount is applied to the current transaction. | 06-23-2011 |
20110173062 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EXCESS CAPACITY FOR RESTAURANTS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES DURING OFF-PEAK OR OTHER TIMES - A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays. | 07-14-2011 |
20110191159 | SAVINGS AND REWARDS PROGRAM - A method for providing a savings and rewards program includes receiving a selection of one or more transfer options for making automated funds transfers from a transferor account to a transferee account. A first amount of funds is transferred from the transferor account to the transferee account based on the selection. A determination is made, based at least in part on a comparison of a transferee account balance to a first threshold balance, regarding whether the customer is eligible for a first reward. The first reward is provided to a customer if it is determined that the customer is eligible. A determination is made regarding whether the customer has maintained a second threshold balance in the transferee account for a predetermined time period. The customer is provided with a second reward if it is determined that the customer has maintained the second threshold balance for the predetermined time period. | 08-04-2011 |
20110213653 | HOSTED DEMAND AGGREGATION - The demand aggregation system includes deal room sponsored by a third party host. The third party host facilitates commercial transactions between a plurality of buyers and at least one seller. In exchange for sponsorship of such a deal room, the third party host can receive an incentive such as a percentage of sales, seller discount or the like. Furthermore, mechanisms are provided to aid discovery of sellers and/or offers that can be included in a group buying event for a buying group. The buying group receives a greater discount as the total purchase amount in the group buying event increases. | 09-01-2011 |
20110238481 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION TO A MOBILE HANDSET - A method and apparatus for providing digital content to a mobile handset is provided. | 09-29-2011 |
20110264504 | VOUCHER PROCESSING SYSTEM - Computer systems for facilitating the sale and distribution of vouchers (e.g., restaurant vouchers) that may, for example, only be redeemable during a particular time window on a particular day. The system may display fixed prices for vouchers or allow consumers to bid on day and/or time-specific vouchers having a particular value. The system may sell the same day and/or time-specific voucher at different prices and set the price of the voucher based on, for example: (1) purchaser/bidder status; (2) the number of the vouchers that have already been sold; or (3) a substantially random methodology. The restaurant may set fixed criteria that must be satisfied before the system will award a bidding consumer a particular voucher. In other embodiments, in cases where a particular bid does not satisfy a pre-determined set of minimum bid criteria, the system may facilitate direct negotiations between the bidding consumer and the restaurant. | 10-27-2011 |
20110282726 | PROVIDING CONSUMERS WITH INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY EATING HABITS - A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual. | 11-17-2011 |
20110302021 | FUNDRAISING PROCESS USING POS TECHNOLOGY - The present invention provides a system that allows merchants to donate a portion of each sale to every customer participating in the discount program directly to the fundraiser chosen by the customer. Customers are incentivized to use the card at participating merchants because the discounts received from using the card can be significantly greater than the initial cost of the card. The system of the invention can be implemented on a card that can serve the dual purpose of being a discount card as well as a number of other cards utilized by customers. By having more than one function for the card, customers are encouraged to utilize the discount feature more routinely because of the convenience of carrying one card with multiple functions. | 12-08-2011 |
20110302022 | Systems and Methods for Closing the Loop between Online Activities and Offline Purchases - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to facilitate the identification of a transaction resulting from an activity occurring in a substantially separate context or environment, such as an offline transaction in a “brick and mortar” retail store resulting from an online advertisement or an online search. The computing apparatus may match information about the activity and information about the transaction to correlate the online activity and the offline transaction. The matching process may involve the use of an offer for a discount, an incentive, a rebate, a reward, reward points, cash back, a gift, etc. The offer is to be provided in the advertisement associated with an online activity and redeemed in a payment transaction, processed via the transaction handler, to correlate the advertisement and the transaction. | 12-08-2011 |
20110313839 | CONTROLLING COUPON PRINTING USING A DELEGATED IMAGE CLIENT - A coupon distributor controls coupon distribution via a centralized coupon distribution server. The server not only distributes coupons to the various computing devices, but also tracks the number of coupons printed for any given coupon offer. The server may use the coupon printing statistics it gathers to, for example, limit the number of times any given device may print a coupon for a given offer, limit the number of coupons printed for an offer in aggregate, or provide reports to the provider of the coupon offer. The server may control coupon distribution to any of a variety of device types, including personal computers, mobile devices, stand-alone printing devices, and in-store kiosks, the clients at some of which may be pre-authorized to print coupons. The server further controls distribution of coupons to devices on one or more private networks via an intermediary. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313840 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING LOCATION BASED DISCOUNT RETAILING - Systems and methods are disclosed that provide offers for goods or services based on the locations of potential customers and the geographic locations of the merchant. The offers may be limited in quantity and acceptance and redemption of the offers may be limited in time. A unique identifier may be associated with each accepted offer. A merchant may have at least some control over the creation and rendering of one or more offers for the merchant's goods and services. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320257 | DELIVERY, ORGANIZATION, AND REDEMPTION OF VIRTUAL OFFERS FROM THE INTERNET, INTERACTIVE-TV, WIRELESS DEVICES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS - Disclosed are methods and systems for redeeming virtual coupons by associating the coupons with a consumer and a payment system associated with the consumer. In some embodiments, the method includes distributing the enabled promotional offers, from one or more source sites, via the electronic contact addresses for the plurality of consumers, such that the promotional offers can be electronically accepted by at least some of the particular consumers with whom they are identified without redeeming the accepted offers. The method further includes electronically receiving a redemption of the promotional offer by means of the consumer's presentment of the associated payment system for purchasing the subject matter of the accepted promotional offer. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320258 | Store Solutions - Disclosed are systems and methods that time correlate input at a point of entry of consumer data of least two identifications for products, prescriptions, vouchers, or codes, uses positive correlation determinations for triggering output of predetermined information. The time correlation of identifications may be used to build a time correlation database, and thereafter use that database for targeted communications. Related inventions include an intelligent Y cable or the like to filter data transmitted from a scanner at a point of entry of consumer data, and a novel POS CS configured to receive bar codes that would otherwise cause the POS CS to enter an error condition. | 12-29-2011 |
20120030001 | RELAY DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR A RELAY DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR A COUPON ISSUING SYSTEM - A relay device, expansion board, coupon issuing system, control method for a relay device, and a program enable adding a coupon issuing function at a low cost. A coupon-issuing control unit that generates and outputs coupon print data corresponding to receipt print data to a printer provides a relay device that has an expiration information acquisition unit that acquires expiration information corresponding to a product code, a coupon-issuing period calculation unit that calculates a coupon-issuing period from the expiration information, a coupon print data generating unit that generates coupon print data when the current date and time is in the coupon-issuing period, and a coupon print data output unit that outputs coupon print data to the printer. | 02-02-2012 |
20120059705 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED CREATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF A TARGETED ADVERTISEMENT - A process, system and computer implemented method for making and deploying a coupon through a network to a client achieved by first entering coupon data into a plurality of fields by an advertiser; transmitting the coupon data through the network to a web server device where it is then transmitted to a application server device, the application server device transforms the data into the coupon which is stored in a database, where it is stored until retrieved. The application server device retrieves the coupon when parameters defined by the web server device, application server device, or advertiser computer are met. The coupon is then deployed to the web server device where it is then deployed through the network to the customer/requestor within a geographical region defined by the advertiser. | 03-08-2012 |
20120101893 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SHOPPING LIST - A shopping list generating system includes a coupon obtaining module, a keyword generator, a recipe obtaining module, and a shopping list generator. The coupon obtaining module obtains coupon information about one or more particular coupons from a coupon database. The keyword generator generates one or more keywords according to particular coupon information about the one or more particular coupons. The recipe obtaining module obtains recipe information about one or more recipes by querying the recipe database using the one or more keywords, and the shopping list generator generates a shopping list of ingredients according to the recipe information about the one or more recipes. | 04-26-2012 |
20120116863 | OPTIMAL SCHEDULING OF VENUE ATTENDANCE BASED ON QUEUE SIZE AND LOCATION - Embodiments of the invention provide for managing attraction attendance levels through tracking current attendance levels and notifying patrons of incentives to alter their attraction selections in real-time. Examples identify an attraction queue that has a customer wait time failing to meet a threshold and determine a geographic relationship of a tracking device associated with a registered customer to the queue. Accordingly, an incentive is created from metadata associated with the queue and offered to the registered customer to urge the registered customer to take a queue balancing action. The queue balancing action may be leaving the queue if the customer wait time exceeds a threshold maximum wait time and the tracking device is within the queue, or choosing to enter the queue if the customer wait time is less than a threshold minimum wait time and the tracking device is outside of the queue. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116864 | System, Method, and Computer Readable Medium for Improving e-Commerce through Appointment-based Advertisements - A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling the use of an appointment-based electronic ad that restricts or grants access to electronic advertising content based upon an appointed time frame. Access to the restricted advertised content is restricted based upon whether a user is attempting to access the restricted advertised content via an appropriate appointment-based electronic ad and during the appropriate time frame. Furthermore, the system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium enables the storage, retrieval, sharing, and manipulation of appointment-based electronic ads by an individual user in order to increase the likelihood of their use. | 05-10-2012 |
20120130795 | ON DEMAND DISCOUNT SYSTEM AND METHODS - A discount distribution system includes a discount generation unit having a processor and a memory with a program executing in the memory that performs the steps of gathering information pertaining to a product by an information gathering unit, generating a plurality of discounts associated with the product based on the information gathered, storing each of the generated discounts and associated product information in the memory of the discount generation unit, displaying a plurality of selected discounts on a display on an initiator device in response to a triggering event, distributing at least one of the plurality of discounts to a plurality of client devices based on a request from the initiator device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143670 | MARKETING METHOD - A server implements a marketing method. The server may receive a wireless call or message originating at a given facility and return a menu of choices particular to that facility. On receiving a choice selected from said menu, the server may return one or more messages with information particular to a part of said given facility. The information may be a marketing incentive, marketing information, or a promotion. | 06-07-2012 |
20120150616 | System and Method for Mass Non-Revenue Binding Retail Negotiation - A method for mass non-revenue binding retail negotiation. The method comprises identifying a targeted geographic area and selecting a plurality of merchants within the targeted geographic area and having a product or service in common. The method continues by assigning a package to the plurality of merchants in order to receive an offer from the plurality of merchants for the assigned package. The method includes receiving a plurality of offers for the package, applying a criteria to each offer received from the plurality of merchants in order to provide feedback to each merchant that provided an offer from the plurality of merchants. Receiving a final offer from the plurality of merchants and selecting at least one final offer received from the plurality of merchants. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150617 | System for Online Sales With Automatic Rebate and Coupon Redemption - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150618 | System for Online Sales With Automatic Rebate and Coupon Redemption - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 06-14-2012 |
20120197708 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING MECHANISMS FOR POWERED CARDS AND DEVICES - A card may receive and store one or more coupon offers (e.g., promotions, awards, rewards, or incentives). Coupon offers, associated details, and associated coupon detail updates may be displayed onto one or more displays of a card. A cardholder may monitor, purchase, and redeem such coupon offers automatically and/or by activating manual inputs (e.g., buttons) on the card. Cardholders and one or more components of a payment monitoring system may encourage increased patronage for merchants, since coupon redemption values may be qualified and/or increased through increased interaction of the members. Such increased interaction of the members may be monitored by each member through coupon detail updates displayed on each member's card. | 08-02-2012 |
20120203618 | IMAGE PRINTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An advertising-financed print service is enabled in which the printing of content by consumers is subsidized, in whole or in part, by the presentation of commercial content (e.g., coupons and offers) to the consumers. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203619 | MULTI-SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING OF GROUP GOALS - Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include incentivizing groups to meet goals. Various other embodiments are described. | 08-09-2012 |
20120215616 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISING LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES - A system for connecting businesses with a customer community stores business registration information associated with the businesses, including the type of service offered by each business, and customer registration information including services of interest and contact information. A server receives information from a business via a communication interface that an offer is available for a limited time at a discount price, and sends information on the offer to a plurality of customers for whom the offer is relevant, based on stored customer information. Interested customers receiving the offer reply to the offer through the system, the system sends the replies to the business, and the business is charged a predetermined fee for connecting the customers to the business based on the number of replies to the offer received by the business through the system. | 08-23-2012 |
20120215617 | LOCATION BASED VALUE DISSEMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer-implemented value dissemination method is provided. The method includes defining a physical location and detecting entrance of a mobile device associated with a user to the physical location. A value indication is generated in response to detecting the entrance to the physical location, and the value indication is rendered accessible to the user. A system for disseminating value is further provided. | 08-23-2012 |
20120215618 | System And Method For Implementing A Social Coupon String - A method and a system for an increased value of a Coupon are provided. The increased value is achieved by a first number of computing device users who have confirmed the Coupon. A second number of computing device users increases the value of the Coupon to a new value by confirming the Coupon. Confirmation of a Coupon can be achieved by activating a link. Confirmation can also be achieved by sending an e-mail. A first Coupon string contains contacts including a first user of a starting user. The first user becomes a starting user of a next string by activating a new string of contacts. Different coupon strings may achieve different end values of a Coupon. A Coupon may be associated with a special interest. A special interest may be a credit card. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221401 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME LOCATION IDENTIFICATION, TRANSMISSION OF DISCOUNT INFORMATION, AND TOUCH SCREEN PURCHASING AND REDEEMING THROUGH USE OF A PORTABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE - Example embodiments are electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both portable and non-portable devices, to deploy real-time location-based discount offers to users with the ability to purchase and redeem the same day. In addition, merchants (sellers) set up, edit, or cancel discount offers using portable and non-portable systems in real time. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221402 | ONLINE COUPON SYSTEM INCLUDING MERCHANT MANAGEMENT OF AN ACTIVE DEAL - A merchant interface for managing an online deal or coupon is described. The management interface can include controls to show the status of a deal, modify or monitor the progress of a deal, etc. In particular embodiments, alert notifications can be sent out using messages or postings. Merchants or other sellers can select to send messages or alerts to specific types of participants or interested parties. Other features are described. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221403 | MERCHANT INTERFACE FOR ONLINE COUPON SYSTEM - A merchant interface for creating an online coupon is described. The interface can include controls to specify a location, time interval and one or more deal terms. Various embodiments of the merchant interface can include other options and details such as the ability to specify multiple deal locations, enforce redemption by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) location, etc. | 08-30-2012 |
20120232983 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY OPTIMIZED INCENTIVES - A method for providing improved patient medication adherence may include receiving an indication of a current prescription based on claims data associated with a location at which the current prescription is fillable, generating an incentive for a patient associated with the current prescription, and providing the incentive to the patient via an electronically generated message. The incentive may be associated with a product available at the location. A corresponding apparatus is also provided. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239483 | TARGETED INCENTIVE ACTIONS BASED ON LOCATION AND INTENT - A method and a system offer an incentive to a user of a mobile device based on a geographic location of the mobile device and the intent of the user. A processor-implemented location identification module determines the geographic location of the mobile device of the user. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item specified by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device. A processor-implemented incentive module offers an incentive from at least one merchant within a predefined distance based on the identified item and the geographic location of the mobile device. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239484 | DEAL SCORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Prospective deals for a deal vendor's deal inventory may be scored according to one or more population-specific expected-yield scores, such as expected revenue yield, expected new customers yield, and the like. A prospective deal is categorized and characterized according to a number of yield-related characteristics. Some or all of the prospective deal's characteristics are mapped to yield components derived from completed deals that have been offered to a particular population. An expected-yield score for a prospective deal with regard to that population is obtained by combining the mapped yield components. | 09-20-2012 |
20120245993 | Discounted Pricing - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253916 | DELIVERING AD-INITIATED EMAILS TO A USER'S VISUAL EMAIL INBOX TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CONTENT - Techniques are described herein for delivering ad-initiated emails to a user's visual email inbox to provide access to content. Ad-initiated emails are emails that are generated by an ad server in response to a user's selection of an online advertisement that is served by the ad server. A visual email is an email that is represented using a creative. For instance, the visual email may include metadata that identifies the creative or that may be used to identify the creative. The creative may be an audio component, an image component, and/or a video component. A creative may be used to represent a single email or multiple emails. If a creative is used to represent multiple emails, selection of the creative may provide access to the various emails, information identified by the emails, and/or a list of the emails. Content may include a coupon, a file, an advertisement, etc. | 10-04-2012 |
20120265598 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating the Sale of Goods and/or Services Via Incentives - Systems and methods of the present invention facilitate the sale of products, such as goods and/or services. Specifically, merchants of products provide incentives for consumers that may be defined by time and geography to drives sales of the products, such as during low demand periods. Moreover, the present invention allows consumers to search for and claim time-sensitive incentives from merchants; specifically, incentives requiring instant or nearly instant acceptance and/or redeemability. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265599 | TEMPORAL TRACKING OF MOBILE USER BEHAVIOR WITH RESPECT TO WEB-BASED ADVERTISEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARY AND KEYED ID USE IN DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT - A method for tracking downloads of digital media content is disclosed. Digital media content, such as music, games and applications (“apps”) are widely available with the popularity of mobile computing. Content suppliers would appreciate it if their works were more widely disseminated and used. Users or customers may receive an incentive to purchase or to download an application. The incentive may be, for example, a free application, rewards points or a virtual currency. In one method, a user downloads digital media content and receives the incentive in two stages. In the first stage, a user who has expressed interest is sent a first web-based link offering the content and the incentive. In the second stage, after activating the link, the user is allowed to download the content and receive the inventive. The web-based link includes user identifiers that are matched for the user to receive the incentive. | 10-18-2012 |
20120265600 | Discounted Pricing - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 10-18-2012 |
20120278157 | Discounted Deal Pricing - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 11-01-2012 |
20120296729 | Card for Locals - Preferred embodiments of a combination group couponing and member-only product discounting system and methods. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296730 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GAMIFYING COUPON OFFERINGS - Techniques are provided which engage users and increase social interaction in group buying. Methods and systems may offer one or more discount coupons for sale in a plurality of geographic locations. The number of coupons sold in each geographic location may be determined, and the geographic locations where at least a predetermined minimum number of coupons have been sold may be selected. A discount amount for coupons sold in each of the selected geographic locations may be determined and set based at least in part on the number of coupons sold in each respective geographic location. | 11-22-2012 |
20120323668 | PROMOTION INFRASTRUCTURE HAVING DISPENSING CONTROLS - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 12-20-2012 |
20130006747 | System and method for providing online group-buying services - A system and method for providing online group-buying service is proposed. A group-buying company negotiates with a merchant to select a featured item to be sold on a group-buying website. The group-buying company and the merchant execute a binding agreement with regard to the feature item. The featured item is a product or service provided by the merchant to the group-buying company conditioned upon a first number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then advertises the feature item, and receives a number of orders from consumers purchasing the featured item. The group-buying company calculates a total number of sales and thereby determining a required remaining number of sales based on a second number of minimum sales. The group-buying company then processes the purchase orders if the required remaining number of sales has been reached. | 01-03-2013 |
20130013389 | MOBILE VOUCHER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for providing mobile vouchers are provided. The mobile voucher system provides provable in-store redemption, city wide vouchers, cross selling of deals at time of redemption and partial redemption of vouchers and proximity based pricing. | 01-10-2013 |
20130030902 | System and method for providing real-time discount merchant offers - A method for providing consumer discount offers from a merchant using a central computer host system including defining a discount offer associated with a merchant and prescribing consumer parameters for the discount offer. Consumer demographic parameters stored in the central computer host system are analyzed with the prescribed consumer parameters to identify those consumers to whom the merchant discount offer is applicable to. The identified consumers are provided in real-time the discount offer. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030903 | SIMULATED ENVIRONMENTS FOR MARKETPLACES, GAMING, SPORTING EVENTS, AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS - Systems and methods of simulated objects in simulated environments for marketplaces, gaming, sporting events and/or performance events are disclosed herein. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method to control a simulated object that is associated with a physical location in a real world environment. One embodiment includes enabling access of the simulated object in a simulated environment by a user via a device responsive to determining that a location data or timing data satisfies a criterion. The simulated environment can include a marketplace associated with the physical location in the real world environment where the simulated object represents virtual goods or real goods associated with the marketplace. | 01-31-2013 |
20130041740 | COUPONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The invention contemplates a website where various merchants may have their own sub-page(s) where they offer discounts and promotional materials on goods or services offered in their stores, which are typically brick and mortar retail locations. With the sub-pages, the merchants can design their own coupons or promotions and provide coupons or other documents that may be printed by the consumer. These coupons or other discounts will have traceable indicia, such as barcodes, so that when they are redeemed at the merchant location, the merchant can track information on their redemption. To be able to offer such coupons and discounts, the merchant simply needs to be a member of the site. | 02-14-2013 |
20130046610 | INDEPENDENT DISCOUNT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONSUMERS WITH A DISCOUNT-MAXIMIZED SHOPPING PLAN - A method for maximizing product discounts can begin with an independent discount management system receiving user-entered shopping data that includes a product selection and/or data for an existing discount. Applicable discount data and discount handling rules can be aggregated from discount providers. A discount-maximized shopping plan can then be synthesized. The discount-maximized shopping plan can define a combination of discount data, date, time, and retailer that affords a maximum discount for each product selection. Upon user-acceptance, an aggregate discount code can be generated for the user-accepted discount-maximized shopping plan and both can be stored. Notification can be received from the retailer that the aggregate discount code has been redeemed. Compensation between the retailer and corresponding discount providers can then be coordinated. | 02-21-2013 |
20130073371 | Location Aware Deals - In one embodiment, a computer system, in response to a first user's request, creates a location-triggered gift for a second user and for a particular vendor location, determines the second user's location, and transmits information for redeeming the location-triggered gift at the particular vendor location to the second user if the second user is at the particular vendor location. | 03-21-2013 |
20130091004 | System and Method for Generating Electronic Combined Source Promotions - In exemplary embodiments of a system and method for generating electronic combined source promotions, a server is typically provided in communication between at least a user and a merchant. A graphical user interface allows a user to submit a video content item which includes a personal review or recommendation by the user relevant to a product, service or business of the merchant. A graphical merchant interface allows the merchant to review the video and elect to incorporate it in a promotion, which combines the video with offer parameters entered by the merchant for the sale of a redeemable voucher. The promotion is then electronically published in a manner allowing a consumer to view the promotion and purchase the associated voucher. The user who uploaded the content item may be rewarded with cash, discounts or status points. A portion of the purchase price of the voucher is disbursed to the merchant. | 04-11-2013 |
20130117094 | Automated System for Optimizing Retail Savings Using Coupons - A computerized system for optimizing the use of store and manufacturer coupons by consumers. The system maintains a store profile database storing attributes of retail stores, including location and coupon policy rules, a coupon profile database storing the attributes of current and future coupons, a sale profile database storing attributes of sale events at the stores, and a subscriber profile database storing identifiers of stores preferred by the subscriber, subscriber preferences, and the like. A matchup process executed by the system interrogates the databases to identify matches among stores, coupons, and sale events, and provides the subscriber with a list of those matches, from which the subscriber can enter shopping list inputs that identify items that the subscriber wants to purchase, including coupons possessed by the subscriber. A transactionator process executed by the system uses the shopping list inputs to create suggested transactions for the subscriber that minimizes out-of-pocket cost, maximizes savings, or maximizes the value of items purchased within a spending limit. | 05-09-2013 |
20130124295 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING AND PRESENTING OFFERS THROUGH VIRTUAL CHANNELS - A sales offer organizing system comprising a content provider, a user terminal, and a server. The server is configured to receive a registration for at least one channel from said content provider, receive a subscription to said at least one channel from a user of said user terminal, receive a campaign associated with said channel from said content provider, said campaign comprising organization criteria, determine if said user is to be a recipient for the content based on the organization criteria, and if said user is a subscriber to said channel, and if so, send the campaign to said user terminal | 05-16-2013 |
20130124296 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER TO OFFER A REWARD AT A POINT OF RETURN - Computerized decision-making systems and methods are described for determining whether to provide one or more rewards, such as a coupon or instant discount, to a customer requesting to make a merchandise return at a store, and, if so, to determine the terms of the reward, such as value, expiration date/time and other terms that may be associated with a coupon. The reward determinations may be implemented in conjunction with a system for authorizing the requested merchandise return transaction. Information about the requested return may be used together with data about the customer's past purchase, return transactions, and other customer-related data. In some embodiments, the determinations are based, at least in part, on store-related information and policies. The reward may be printed with a receipt issued to the customer at the point of return and/or may be provided to the customer using a wide variety of other communications technologies. | 05-16-2013 |
20130138498 | FLASH SALE - A retail store computer identifies potential customers who are located in or near a merchant store at a point in time using communication with their personal mobile devices. GPS or presence technology may facilitate performing the location function. The potential customers are then grouped into a buying group by the computer based on a profile. The profile may include a customer segment, an action cluster, a demographic, or buying habits. The computer then makes an immediate dynamic buying opportunity via the personal mobile devices to the buying group based on the profile, store profitability, and current business drivers. Acceptance may be tracked to determine whether a pre-specified participation has been reached. | 05-30-2013 |
20130159088 | PROVIDING OFFERS THAT SPECIFY A VARIABLE DISCOUNT WITH RESPECT TO A PRICE OF A GOOD AND/OR SERVICE - Techniques are described herein for providing discounted offers for goods and/or services. In one example, the discounted offer may specify a variable discount. In an aspect of this example, an amount of the variable discount may decrease for each customer or group thereof who accepts the offer. In accordance with this aspect, customer(s) who accept the offer earlier than other customers may be given a greater discount. In another aspect, the amount of the discount may vary for successive predetermined time intervals. For instance, the amount of the variable discount may be greater for customer(s) who accept the offer during a predetermined time interval that occurs earlier than another predetermined time interval. Accordingly, the amount of the discount may decrease for temporally successive predetermined time intervals. In both aspects, once a specified number of customers accept the discounted offer, the discounted offer may thereafter specify a fixed discount. | 06-20-2013 |
20130173377 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING DYNAMIC OFFERS TO INCENT USER BEHAVIOR - Systems and methods to deliver dynamic context sensitive offers to incent user behavior are discussed. For example, a method to deliver a dynamic context sensitive offer can include operations for generating a dynamic offer, delivering the dynamic offer, receiving data associated with a user, updating a context input with data associated with the user, and adjusting the value of the dynamic offer. Generating the dynamic offer includes associating a rule for manipulating the value of the dynamic offer based on a context input. Updating the context input of the rule includes extracting context information from the data associated with the user. Adjusting the value of the dynamic offer can be based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input. | 07-04-2013 |
20130185137 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION-ENABLED PROMOTIONS AND COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS - Coupons and other promotions can be enabled using mobile computing devices with Near Field Communication (NFC) or other wireless communication capabilities. For example, a mobile device user can collect a coupon displayed during a cable TV show by tapping his NFC mobile device to a peripheral device in wireless communication with a cable TV receiver. Collected coupons can be stored in a coupon database at the mobile device. Coupons can be redeemed by tapping an NFC mobile device to an NFC point of sale terminal. Coupons can also be collected from advertisements in audio media and web pages, and can be collected at a mobile device from media displayed at the mobile device. Coupons can have time-based, location-based or other usage restrictions. Collecting information stored in NFC tags affixed to items in a scavenger hunt list can unlock downloadable content. | 07-18-2013 |
20130185138 | FEEDBACK BASED TECHNIQUE TOWARDS TOTAL COMPLETION OF TASKS IN CROWDSOURCING - The present disclosure provides a method for incenting potential contributors for creating content in response to a posting. The method comprises: posting a task to a first crowdsource with the task having a first expiry period of δ | 07-18-2013 |
20130218659 | SECURE MONEY TRANSFER VIA ELECTRONIC STAMP - A method of providing for a money transfer over a network includes the steps of: providing a stamp having a face value and a lifespan both indicated on the stamp, the stamp being a string that is a concatenation of two or more fields including the face value and the lifespan, with at least one of the fields calculated according to a prescription involving a hashing or encryption of a concatenation of others of the fields or of some other field not part of the stamp; affixing the stamp to an e-mail; and allowing the recipient of the e-mail to obtain value for the stamp if the stamp is presented to a predetermined entity (such as a stamp issuer) for the stamp value within the lifespan indicated on the stamp. The stamp may comprise a concatenation of a set of fields, including a lifespan, a stamp value; and hash/encryption. | 08-22-2013 |
20130231997 | UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC COUPON CARD - The present invention relates to consumer coupons, and more specifically to an electronic coupon card and system for managing coupon distribution and redemption. The instant invention provides a system and method of securely managing an electronic coupon database which implements and manages discounts for customers without requiring the customer to actively seek out, download and/or print the coupon. Additionally, the instant invention provides a system and method for managing electronic coupon discounts and payments to retailers for redeeming electronic coupons. | 09-05-2013 |
20130246155 | DIGITAL CONTENT PURCHASE OFFERS VIA SET-TOP BOX - A network device receives details of a purchase offer for digital content, where the purchase offer includes a price for the digital content at a required customer purchasing participation threshold, and where the required customer purchasing participation threshold includes a number of customers that must agree to purchase the digital content at the price for the purchase offer to be fulfilled. The network device targets multiple customers based on customer profile data, and presents the purchase offer to the multiple customers, via multiple different devices associated with respective ones of the multiple customers, during the offer period. The network device charges participating customers the purchase offer price, if the purchasing participation threshold is reached by expiration of the offer period; and notifies the participating customers of expiration of the purchase offer, if the purchasing participation threshold is not reached by the expiration of the offer period. | 09-19-2013 |
20130254010 | Server Dynamic Offers Subject To Mobile Device Holder Location - Systems, apparatus and methods that give selling actors the abilities and means to sell products and services by providing dynamic offers to buying actors subject to buying actors locations and information received by a selling actor sever. | 09-26-2013 |
20130254011 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - This disclosure provides a method and system for distributing digital content utilizing defined and dynamically displayed start and end dates for a sale, configurable pricing options, the dynamic display of sales data, the option to include a charity of choice and the setting of a sales goal or goals with incentives released or provided to purchasers when the sales goal or goals are achieved. | 09-26-2013 |
20130282472 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING CHARGE AVAILABILITY AND ROUTE PATHS FOR OBTAINING CHARGE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES - Methods and systems for providing charge options to drivers of electric vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving data concerning charge providing availability from charge locations and receiving a request from processing logic of an electric vehicle, the request identifying a desire to obtain charge. The method includes determining a current location of the electric vehicle and determining identification of charge locations in proximity to the electric vehicle. The method further includes determining any sponsored rewards offered by the charge locations and communicating to the electric vehicle a path to one of the charge locations, where the path is identified with a sponsored reward offered at the charge location if the path is selected and charge is obtained. The method can be processed by a server and paths are communicated to vehicles to alert drivers of the electric vehicles of rewards or discounts if charge is obtained from certain locations. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282473 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING SPECIAL PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES IN A SAVING AND PRE-PAY SYSTEM - A system comprising a selection engine configured allow a user to browse information related to a plurality of products and services that are related by a common theme in order to develop a personal plan; a calculator that allows the user to select certain products and services, an amount to be saved and a period associated with the saving act in accordance with the personal plan and to display the results of these selections in terms of contributions and timing; a credit calculator that allows the user to input credit information including balance and interest rate and configured to calculate how many payments, the amount thereof, and total interest paid for selected products and services, for comparison with the contributions and timing determined by the calculator; and a fund transfer engine configured to transfer the user's funds into a user account associated with the user in accordance with the selections input into the calculator. | 10-24-2013 |
20130297400 | OFFER MODIFICATION BASED ON CIRCUMSTANCES - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for modifying an offer having an initial offer value including the steps of determining a first time associated with initial offer acceptance, determining a period of time corresponding to a life of the offer, initiating a clock counting down the period of time, receiving a communication indicated that the offer has been redeemed, determining a second time associated with offer redemption, and calculating, in response to receiving the communication, a modified offer value based on the first time, the second time, the initial offer value and the life of the offer. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304563 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR FINDING, ORGANIZING, RANKING AND VISUALIZING COMBINABLE OFFERS - The present invention contemplates a variety of techniques including a computer implemented method. The method comprises receiving a plurality of offers from a plurality of entities, combining offers from the plurality of offers into an offer stack, wherein all offers of the offer stack can be applied jointly to a transaction and presenting the offer stack to a customer. Some of the entities can have one or more membership programs, and offers can be presented in one or more membership programs. | 11-14-2013 |
20140006137 | Event Control Schedule Management | 01-02-2014 |
20140032300 | Method and System for Debt Resolution Restricted Offer - Various systems, computer program products, and methods for resolving financial issues using conditional debt resolution offers are described. A method may include determining a debtor that is to receive a conditional debt resolution offer. In some implementations, the conditional debt resolution offer is subject to a condition for the conditional debt resolution offer to be valid. When valid and accepted by the debtor, the conditional debt resolution offer at least partially resolves the debt. In some implementations, the method may include causing the conditional debt resolution offer to be communicated to the debtor. In some implementations, the method may include determining whether the condition has been satisfied. In some implementations, the method may include validating the conditional debt resolution offer when the condition has been satisfied or invalidating the conditional debt resolution offer when the condition has not been satisfied. | 01-30-2014 |
20140040004 | IDENTIFYING A DEAL IN SHOPPING RESULTS - A shopping system can employ a computer-implemented method to determine whether an offer is a deal. The method comprises associating offers received for a product with the product in a database; associating a time for each of the offers noting when each particular offer was effective; receiving a current offer for the product; identifying the offers for the product in the database that are within a configured time period of the current offer; comparing the offers for the product in the database with the current offer for the product based on a set of parameters; identifying the current offer as a deal in response to a determination that the current offer satisfies all parameters compared to the offers for the product in the database. Various sets of parameters may be used to determine if the current offer is a deal with respect to previous offers. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046748 | OFFERS BASED ON PRE-PURCHASE INTENT - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for transmitting offers based on pre-purchase intent. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive a declaration of intent from a user, the declaration of intent being associated with an intended purchase; transmit the declaration of intent to at least one merchant; receive an offer from the at least one merchant, the offer being based on the declaration of intent, and the offer enabling the user to receive a discount or rebate on the intended purchase; and transmit the offer to the user. | 02-13-2014 |
20140067512 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LEVERAGING GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION IN SENDING ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS - According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a user account and a points balance associated with the user account. The apparatus may determine a geographic location of a user associated with the user account and communicate, based at least in part upon the geographic location, an offer for a product. The offer may be associated with an expiration time. The product may be associated with a points price. The points balance may be at least equal to the points price. The apparatus may receive a signal indicating an acceptance of the offer. The signal may be associated with a timestamp and with the user account. The timestamp may indicate a time that is at least as early as the expiration time. The apparatus may communicate a second signal indicating that the user can receive the product. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067513 | PLATFORMS, SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE, AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC RECAPTURE OF RETAIL SALES - Computer-based platforms, systems, software, and methods for dynamic recapture of retail sales in showrooming situations. | 03-06-2014 |
20140074582 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MOVES - Some embodiments of the invention may reduce the amount of time a consumer spends coordinating a move. A system is provided which may guide the consumer through the process of planning the move, including developing an inventory of items to be transported. Based on the consumer's plan, quotes for the move may be provided from multiple movers, and each quote may be an exact price that a mover will charge, rather than merely an estimate. To enable movers to provide exact quotes, some embodiments of the invention implement a standard pricing methodology. The system may allow movers to define pricing information in accordance with the methodology, and this information may be used to calculate a quote for a move when a consumer requests one. | 03-13-2014 |
20140108121 | Pay Per Appointment Advertising - In methods and systems for allowing a user to book an appointment with a service provider, and for charging the service provider a fee for a successfully booked appointment, a user provides a search request via a client computer. In response, a calendar system provides search results including a link corresponding to a service provider. Upon user selection of the link corresponding to the service provider, the calendar system provides a calendar view showing available time slots of the service provider. The user selects an appointment time and available service, which initiates an appointment request to schedule an appointment with the service provider. Upon determining that the appointment request can be accepted, the calendar system books the appointment. Then the calendar system charges the service provider a pre-arranged fee for the booked appointment. In some embodiments the calendar system also collects payments from the user for the services provided. | 04-17-2014 |
20140108122 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EXCESS CAPACITY FOR RESTAURANTS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES DURING OFF-PEAK OR OTHER TIMES - A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays. | 04-17-2014 |
20140129315 | Group Purchasing System - An e-commerce system for managing group buy operations has a group server ( | 05-08-2014 |
20140149202 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMBINED TIME AND LOCATION BASED OFFERS - A method for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer includes: storing coupons and locations, each location including at least one geographic position; receiving a location from a device at an entry time; identifying a specific location where the included geographic position is in proximity to the location of the device; identifying at least one stored coupon corresponding to the specific location; calculating an elapsed time based on the amount of time passed since the entry time; and distributing, to a consumer and/or the device, the at least one stored coupon when a time threshold for the coupon is met or exceeded by the elapsed time, where the calculating and distributing are performed until the device has left the geographic position. Coupons may also be distributed based on aggregated time at a location or category of locations, or aggregated time of a group of consumers. | 05-29-2014 |
20140156373 | Subscription-Based Access to Media Programs Distributed By Way of a Plurality of Different Media Distribution Models - An exemplary system 1) provides, based on a subscription of a user to a media service, the user of the media service with subscription-based access to media programs distributed by way of a subscription-based media distribution model that utilizes a digital media distribution channel, 2) issues, based on the subscription of the user to the media service, a subscription credit for selective use by the user to pay for transactional-based access to a physical copy of a media program distributed by way of a transactional-based media distribution model that utilizes a media vending kiosk distribution channel, and 3) provides at least one tool configured for use by the user to indicate whether the subscription credit will be applied as payment in a transaction to access the physical copy of the media program by way of the transactional-based media distribution model. Corresponding systems and methods are also described. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156374 | Directing Wireless Customers to a Network Service Using an Incentive - Architecture for offering enticements to cellular customers that will lead the customers to use the available services at times away from peak usage. For example, the provider can offer incentives (or enticements) that direct users to make phone calls during off-peak times of the hour or day. An incentive can include charging customers reduced minutes (e.g., 0.75 minutes) for each minute used from the customer plan when the customer uses services during off-peak time of the day. This applies to text messaging where users can attach files such as images and short video clips for communication to other cellular users, and to cellular devices via which users can access websites. In general, any services supported by the wireless provider can benefit by providing incentives to move users away from times of high network usage during the day. | 06-05-2014 |
20140172537 | TRANSACTION COST RECOVERY DISCOUNT OFFERING - Apparatus and methods for determining a transaction cost recovery amount are provided. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined for each of a plurality of locations. The locations may include point-of-sale terminals and/or checkout lanes. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on Merchant Category Code (“MCC”) information. When a customer leaves a first location associated with a first MCC, the customer may be informed of a transaction cost recovery amount at a second location. The second location may be associated with a second MCC. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on a product inventory. The transaction cost recovery amount may be imposed to maintain an inventory level above a critical level. The transaction cost recovery amount may be based on a decrease and/or increase in an inventory level. | 06-19-2014 |
20140188590 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPON DISPENSING BASED ON MEDIA CONTENT VIEWING - The present disclosure relates to dispensing coupons to viewers of media content and in particular, providing coupons to an individual to buy the product just after having viewed a commercial or other media program featuring that product. | 07-03-2014 |
20140222544 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Distributing Digital Media - Digital media is distributed to a list of subscriber addresses. The digital media is stored in a memory of a client device that is dedicated to content offered by a producer. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236699 | PERSONALIZED PRODUCT PRICING - Disclosed are various embodiments for a pricing application. Customer interest in unpurchased items is determined by a browsing history of a customer. A notification is communicated to a merchant of the item soliciting an offer for the item to be communicated to the customer. The offer is then communicated to the customer for redemption. | 08-21-2014 |
20140236700 | USER-MANAGED COUPONS IN A GEO-SPATIAL ENVIRONMENT - A method, apparatus, and system of user-managed coupons in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes automatically applying a location meta-data to a coupon when a user provides the coupon to a geospatial environment based on a geographic marker of the user, storing the coupon in a library of coupons, searching the library of coupons based on the location meta-data based on a user request and flagging certain coupons in the library of coupons as being expired based on a user response. The method may further include providing an incentive to the user who provides the coupon to the geo-spatial environment in exchange of providing the coupon and/or in exchange of sharing a content meta-data that tags and identifies a source, duration, a value, and/or a description of the coupon. | 08-21-2014 |
20140244376 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING OFF-PEAK SALES USING A PAYMENT CARD NETWORK - A method for processing a discount for an off-peak transaction includes: receiving an off-peak offer, the offer including a merchant identifier, start time, end time, and transaction modifier; identifying an offer identifier; storing the offer with offer identifier; transmitting the stored offer; receiving a discount request, the request including a consumer identifier and offer identification; identifying a selected offer where the offer identifier matches the offer identification; receiving an authorization request including a consumer identification, merchant identification, transaction time, and transaction amount; calculating a new amount based on the transaction amount and the transaction modifier for the selected offer if the consumer identification matches the consumer identifier, the merchant identification matches the merchant identifier, and the transaction time is within the start and end times; and transmitting an authorization response for the new amount, where the response is for a final authorization rather than a partial authorization. | 08-28-2014 |
20140316877 | METHODS OF PROMOTING PRINT DEVICE USAGE DURING NON-PEAK TIMES - A method and system for promoting usage of a print device during non-peak time periods is disclosed. A print device promotion system includes at least one print device, a processor in communication with the at least one print device and a computer readable storage medium. The storage medium is configured to store program instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to receive data corresponding to measurements of usage of a print device over a plurality of baseline time periods; identify at least one non-peak time period; select a promotion for the print device; receive data corresponding to measurements of usage of the print device over a plurality of additional time periods; determine whether the usage during the time window satisfied the one or more target usage criteria; and offer the consumer the consumable item at the reduced price. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316878 | INCREASING THE UTILITY OF OPPORTUNISTIC AND TIME CRITICAL GOODS AND SERVICES - Embodiments of the present invention provide a service to goods and/or service providers and consumers in the traditional context of a “first-come, first-served queue” or “class based” queue. A provider presents a listing of one or offerings to consumers to solicit bids for a good or service associated with the offering. After receiving an acceptable bid from a user, the provider provides feedback regarding the bid that indicates the ranking of the user with respect to other bidders in the bidding process. Based on the feedback, the user may submit a modified bid. Following confirmation of a bid by a user, a winning bid is determined and the user is notified. | 10-23-2014 |
20140351039 | Time-restricted Product sale Promotion System and Method thereof - A time-restricted product sale promotion system includes a promotion platform, at least one seller system, at least one buyer system and a promotion management unit. A time-restricted product sale promotion method includes: providing a time-restricted degressive mechanism on the promotion platform and connecting with a real-time price reporting system to generate a real-time price reference; a seller utilizing the mechanism to calculate optimum degressive sale prices within a restricted promotion time interval and sending the optimum degressive sale prices and the real-time price reference to a buyer; the buyer sending a purchase order to the promotion platform according to the promotion price; comparing the promotion price with the purchase order; displaying a bargain information on the promotion platform if the purchase order is verified. | 11-27-2014 |
20140379455 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SELF-MODIFYING SEMI-OPAQUE SALES - Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for semi-opaque sales with bundles of items. An example bundle can include hotel lodging and a bonus service, status, or item associated with that hotel. An system can identify a first bundle of a first base and bonus item, and a second bundle of a second base and bonus item. The system can present a semi-opaque offer comprising the first bundle, the second bundle, and a discount price, wherein the semi-opaque offer does not identify which of the first bundle and the second bundle will be sold at the discount price to the user upon acceptance of the semi-opaque offer, and wherein the discount price is a full price of the first base item. After receiving acceptance of the semi-opaque offer from the user, the system can disclose that the user has purchased the first bundle at the discount price. | 12-25-2014 |
20150032531 | TARGETED INCENTIVE ACTIONS BASED ON LOCATION AND INTENT - A method and a system offer an incentive to a user of a mobile device based on a geographic location of the mobile device and the intent of the user. For example, a machine determines a geographic location of a mobile device. The machine identifies an item specified at the geographic location of the mobile device via an optical input of the mobile device. The machine determines an offer from a merchant within a predefined geographic boundary. The determining of the offer may be based on the geographic location of the mobile device. The machine determines that the offer from the merchant does not correspond to the identified item, and redefines the predefined geographic boundary in response to the determining that the offer from the merchant does not correspond to the identified item. The redefining may result in a redefined geographic boundary. | 01-29-2015 |
20150046247 | Methods and Systems for Computer Application Incentivization Based on Reduced Advertisement - A notification of requirements to earn a reduced-ad reward is provided to a user of an ad-associated computer application (app). Actions of the user are monitored to determine whether or not requirements to earn the reduced-ad reward are satisfied by the user. Upon determining that requirements to earn the reduced-ad reward are satisfied by the user, the reduced-ad reward is provided to the user of the ad-associated app. The reduced-ad reward is a specified amount of time in which the user can execute a reduced-ad version of the ad-associated app without monetary cost to the user. | 02-12-2015 |
20150120430 | ELECTRONIC METHOD OF DELIVERING COUPONS - An electronic method for providing electronic coupons to a user comprises receiving a user input of a parking request into a parking application running on a user's mobile device, the parking request being associated with a parking period. The method also comprises providing access to one or more electronic coupons via the parking application running on the mobile device in response to the parking request, enabling the user to redeem the one or more electronic coupons via the parking application, and expiring the one or more electronic coupons with the parking application so that the one or more electronic coupons are no longer redeemable via the parking application if the one or more electronic coupons are not redeemed within the parking period. | 04-30-2015 |
20150294344 | Methods and Systems for Providing Interaction and Purchasing Within Online Chat - The invention is directed toward a computer implemented method of providing a group discount to a plurality of consumers comprising establishing a threshold number of consumers required for the implementation of a discount, generating an advertisement to present a discount offer to potential consumers, displaying the advertisement for potential consumers to review, receiving acceptances of the discount offer, determining if the threshold number of consumers has been attained, informing potential consumers whether or not the threshold number of consumers has been attained, activating a discount for one or more consumers who have accepted the discount offer when the threshold number of consumers has been attained or exceeded, accepting the activated discount for a predetermined period of redemption time when the discount is presented for redemption by a consumer during a transaction session, and deactivating the activated discount after the expiration of the predetermined period of redemption time. | 10-15-2015 |
20150302456 | TIME PERIOD DISTRIBUTION OF OFFER CODES - Provided are systems and processes for distribution of offer codes, including: obtaining a plurality of offer codes from a merchant, each offer code associated with a start date an expiration date and receiving, via a network, a plurality of requests for offer codes from a respective plurality of consumer user device, each request occurring during a respective time period. For each request, an offer code is selected from the plurality of offer codes based on the start date, the expiration date, and the respective time the request was received and the selected offer code is sent to the requesting consumer user. | 10-22-2015 |
20150317667 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC PRICING USING IN-STORE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - Methods and apparatuses for providing a notification of a discount price for an item are disclosed. For example, a method includes detecting a presence of a mobile device at a store, and sending the notification via a wireless communication to the mobile device, the notification comprising an identification of the item, the discount price for the item, an expiration date for the item and information associated with a location of the item within the store, wherein the discount price for the item is based upon the expiration date of the item. | 11-05-2015 |
20150332307 | System And Method For The Distribution Of Software Products - A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user's purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals. | 11-19-2015 |
20150363816 | LOCATION BASED DISCOUNT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus and method of delivering discounts and/or promotions to a consumer based on the presence of the consumer at a physical location. | 12-17-2015 |
20160005078 | TERMINAL, SERVER, SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM HAVING COMPUTER PROGRAM RECORDED THEREFOR - The present invention provides a terminal and a server, a system including the same, a control method thereof, and a computer readable medium having a computer program. The present invention can provide an efficient promotion in a specific area by sending out a pre-registered coupon and relevant product coupons corresponding to the coupon to a terminal sensed in a predetermined section, increase sale with additional promotions of relevant products, provides a function of managing poor stock, and improve usability as an offline promotion based on a beacon collection system. Further, present invention provides store information corresponding to a searched product on the basis of the price when the product is searched, additional services, the distance to move for purchasing, a royalty program of an additional discount and a mileage, information about stores having relevant products, and the like, and provides navigation information about a specific store selected by a user. | 01-07-2016 |
20190147481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE DELIVERY AND PAYMENT OF A PRODUCT OR A SERVICE | 05-16-2019 |