System and method for generating personalized offers through an information gathering system

An information gathering system disposed on the Internet and programmed to generate a personalized offer for a user visiting a participating web site, the system comprising:

• a profile server including a profile database storing a plurality of user profiles for a plurality of registered users, wherein each of the user profiles stores demographic information for one of the registered users;
• and
• a transaction server communicatively coupled to the profile server, the transaction server configured to receive an information request message associated with the user's visit to the participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system, wherein the information request message conforms to an Internet protocol, wherein the participating web site presents a hyperlink linking the participating web site to the information gathering system, wherein the user triggers the information request message by activating the hyperlink in order to access an original desired destination, the transaction server including:
• a demographics routine configured, in response to receiving the information request message, to:
• determine whether the user is one of the plurality of registered users;
• if the user is one of the plurality of registered users, generate a first destination personalized according to a profile of the user and the information request message;
• if the user is not one of the plurality of registered users, generate
• a second destination based on the information request message,
• wherein the second destination is distinct from the first destination;
• and
• a redirection routine to send a redirection message associated with the first destination or the second destination, wherein the redirection message conforms to the Internet protocol.

A method of generating a personalized offer for a user through an information gathering system disposed on the Internet, the method comprising:

• maintaining a plurality of user profiles for a plurality of registered users in a profile database associated with the information gathering system, including:
• storing demographic information as respective data records for each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the demographic information stored for at least some of the registered users includes the user's address and the user's gender;
• and
• storing a balance of incentive award points in the respective data records for each of the plurality of registered users, wherein the incentive award points are specific to the information gathering system and wherein the award points are redeemable for a product or service;
• receiving an information request message at the information gathering system, wherein the information request message conforms to an Internet protocol, wherein the request message is sent in response to the user activating a hyperlink presented on a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system and wherein the user activates the hyperlink in order to access an original intended destination distinct from the information gathering system;
• in response to receiving the information request message, executing a database query at the information gathering system to determine whether the user is one of the plurality of registered users;
• and
• when the user is one of the plurality of registered users:
• retrieving the user profile from the profile database;
• sending a redirection message from the information gathering system, wherein the redirection request message conforms to an Internet protocol, wherein the redirection message is personalized according to the profile of the user and to the information request message;
• and wherein the redirection message is one of a web page or a link to a web page operated independently from the information gathering system;
• and
• recording data associated with a transaction, to which the information request message corresponds, in a database;
• if the user is not one of the plurality of registered users:
• sending a forwarding message that directs the user to the original intended destination.

A method of generating a personalized offer for a user through an information gathering system connected to the Internet, the method comprising:

• storing a user profile as a respective data record for each of a plurality of registered users in a profile database operating in the information gathering system;
• receiving an information request message at the information gathering system, wherein the information request message conforms to an Internet protocol;
• wherein the information request message is sent in response to the user activating a hyperlink on a web site operated independently from the information gathering system, wherein the user activates the hyperlink in order to access an original intended destination distinct from the information gathering system;
• in response to receiving the information request message, executing a database query at the information gathering system to determine whether the user is one of the plurality of registered users;
• and
• if the user is one of the plurality of registered users:
• retrieving the user profile from the profile database;
• personalizing a redirection message according to the profile of the user;
• sending the personalized redirection message to the user from the information gathering system, wherein the personalized redirection message conforms to the Internet protocol and directs the user to a destination distinct from the original intended destination;
• and
• updating the user profile with a predefined amount of incentive award points for future redemption by the user if the user is one of the plurality of registered users, wherein the award points are specific to the information gathering system and wherein the award points are redeemable for a product or service;
• if the user is one of the plurality of registered users:
• sending a forwarding message that directs the user to the original intended destination.