# US 8,543,451 B2 · Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction

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- Number: US 8,543,451 B2
- Document ID: US8543451B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/559,591
- Filed: 2012-07-26
- Published: 2012-11-22
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 1197-12-01
- Assignees: Walker Digital, LLC
- Applicants: Jay S. Walker; Daniel E. Tedesco; John M. Packes, Jr.; James A. Jorasch, Jr.
- Inventors: Jay S. Walker; Daniel E. Tedesco; John M. Packes, Jr.; James A. Jorasch, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543451B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0222: {During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions}
- G06Q 10/101: Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
- G06Q 20/12: specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
- G06Q 20/387: {Payment using discounts or coupons (relating to marketing G06Q30/02)}
- G06Q 30/00: Commerce
- G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
- G06Q 30/0208: Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
- G06Q 30/0213: {Consumer transaction fees}
- G06Q 30/0234: Rebates after completed purchase
- G06Q 30/0236: {Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user}
- G06Q 30/0238: at point-of-sale [POS]
- G06Q 30/0239: {Online discounts or incentives}
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
- G06Q 30/0603: {Catalogue creation or management}
- G07G 1/0036: {Checkout procedures}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS

## Abstract

Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
transmitting, by a web server to a customer, an indication of at least one item;
transmitting, by the web server to the customer, an indication of a first cost to the customer for the at least one item;
receiving, by the web server, an indication that the customer is ready to purchase the at least one item from a first merchant;
determining, by the web server, in response to the received indication and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, a second cost to the customer for the at least one item based on a reduction amount, the second cost being less than the first cost;
transmitting, by the web server, in response to the received indication and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, an offer of a second merchant to reduce the first cost to the second cost in exchange for the customer agreeing to sign up for a service with the second merchant, the offer including an indication of the second cost and the reduction amount;
receiving, by the web server, an indication that the customer accepts the offer of the second merchant and agrees to sign up for a service with the second merchant;
selling the at least one item to the customer for the second cost;
determining by the web server that the customer did not sign up for a service with the second merchant as the customer agreed to; and
in response to determining that the customer for the second cost did not sign up for a service with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, assessing by the web server a penalty against the customer in exchange for the reduces associated total cost.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the offer comprises transmitting to the customer a web page including
a first selectable web page element associated with a first option for the customer to pay the first cost for the at least one item, and
a second selectable web page element associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer to reduce the first cost to the second cost.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which the service comprises a credit card service.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which receiving the indication that the customer is ready to purchase the at least one item from a first merchant comprises:
receiving an indication that the customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of the at least one item from the first merchant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
automatically selecting the offer from a database that includes a plurality of offers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by the web server, customer information from the customer; and
verifying accuracy of the customer information.

### Claim 7

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a data storage device in communication with the processor, the data storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
transmitting to a customer an indication of at least one item;
transmitting to the customer an indication of a first cost to the customer for the at least one item;
receiving an indication that the customer is ready to purchase the at least one item from a first merchant;
determining, in response to the received indication and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, a second cost to the customer for the at least one item based on a reduction amount, the second cost being less than the first cost;
transmitting, in response to the received indication and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, an offer of a second merchant to reduce the first cost to the second cost in exchange for the customer agreeing to sign up for a service with the second merchant, the offer including an indication of the second cost and the reduction amount;
receiving an indication that the customer accepts the offer of the second merchant and agrees to participate in an additional transaction sign up for a service with the second merchant;
selling the at least one item to the customer;
determining that the customer did not sign up for a service with the second merchant as the customer agreed to; and
in response to determining that the customer did not sign up for a service with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, assessing by the web server a penalty against the customer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, in which transmitting the offer comprises transmitting to the customer a web page including
a first selectable web page element associated with a first option for the customer to pay the first cost for the at least one item, and
a second selectable web page element associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer to reduce the first cost to the second cost.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, in which the service comprises a credit card service.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, in which receiving the indication that the customer is ready to purchase the at least one item from a first merchant comprises:
receiving an indication that the customer initiated a checkout process to consummate purchase of the at least one item from the first merchant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, the instructions being configured to direct the processor to perform:
automatically selecting the offer from a database that includes a plurality of offers.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, the instructions being configured to direct the processor to perform:
receiving, by the web server, customer information from the customer; and
verifying accuracy of the customer information.

### Claim 13

A method, comprising:
receiving, by a merchant server, an indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a merchant via a web site, the at least one item having an associated cost for the at least one item,
in response to receiving the indication,
transmitting, by the merchant server, a web page including
an indication of the at least one item to be purchased,
an indication of the associated total cost for the at least one item,
a first selectable button associated with a first option for the customer to pay the associated total cost for the at least one item, and
a second selectable button associated with a second option for the customer to receive an offer for a benefit to reduce the associated total cost;
receiving, by the merchant server, a signal indicating selection by the customer of the second option;
in response to the received signal and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer,
transmitting an offer for a benefit to reduce the associated total cost of the at least one item in exchange for applying for a service account with a service provider, in which the service provider is not the merchant;
after receiving the signal and before the at least one item is purchased by the customer, receiving by the merchant server from the customer, an indication of willingness to apply for a service account with a service provider;
after receiving the signal, selling the at least one item to the customer;
determining, by the merchant server, that the customer did not apply for a service account with the service provider; and
in response to determining that the customer did not apply for a service account with the service provider, assessing a penalty against the customer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, in which receiving the indication of at least one item that a customer is to purchase from a merchant comprises:
receiving an indication that the customer initiated a checkout process via the web site to consummate purchase of the at least one item from the merchant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
automatically selecting, by the merchant server, the offer from a database that includes a plurality of offers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving, by the merchant server, customer information from the customer; and
verifying accuracy of the customer information.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, in which assessing the penalty against the customer comprises charging the customer the associated total cost for the at least one item without providing the benefit to the customer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, in which the service account comprises a credit card account.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, in which transmitting the offer for the benefit comprises:
transmitting, by the merchant server via the web site, the offer for the benefit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which assessing the penalty against the customer comprises charging the customer the first cost for the at least one item without applying the reduction amount.

### Claim 21 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, in which assessing the penalty against the customer comprises charging the customer the first cost for the at least one item without applying the reduction amount.