# US 8,751,297 B2 · Method and apparatus for defining routing of customers between merchants

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- Number: US 8,751,297 B2
- Document ID: US8751297B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/111,637
- Filed: 2008-04-29
- Published: 2008-08-21
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 1998-10-05
- Assignees: Inventor Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Jay S. Walker; Andrew S. Van Luchene; Daniel E. Tedesco; Magdalena Mik; James A. Jorasch
- Inventors: Jay S. Walker; Andrew S. Van Luchene; Daniel E. Tedesco; Magdalena Mik; James A. Jorasch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751297B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0231: {Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled}
- G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group}
- G06Q 10/06316: {Sequencing of tasks or work}
- G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q 20/204: {comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit}
- G06Q 20/387: {Payment using discounts or coupons (relating to marketing G06Q30/02)}
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q 30/0201: Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
- G06Q 30/0211: Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
- G06Q 30/0219: {based on funds or budget}
- G06Q 30/0235: constrained by time limit or expiration date
- 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 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
- G06Q 30/0611: {Request for offers or quotes}
- G06Q 40/04: Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
- G07G 1/14: Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
- 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

A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
receiving, by a server in communication with a plurality of store controllers, transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received via a store controller of an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus,
the transaction data including an indication of a purchase by the customer of an item from the outputting merchant;
selecting, by the server, a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on the purchase and at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants;
outputting an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant;
determining, by the server, that the customer completed a second transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
providing, via the server, the bonus to the customer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which receiving the transaction data comprises receiving the transaction data via a web site of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, in which outputting the offer comprises transmitting a link to the customer for accessing the offer for the bonus.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the link comprises at least one of a hyperlink, a banner advertisement, or a new window.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the link provides access to a web site of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which receiving the transaction data comprises receiving the transaction data at a point of sale terminal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which outputting the offer comprises providing the offer to the customer at a point-of-sale of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the offer for the bonus is provided in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, in which providing the offer comprises displaying the offer at the point-of-sale to the customer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, in which providing the offer comprises printing the offer at the point-of-sale on a receipt to be provided to the customer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which outputting the offer comprises providing the offer to a customer of the outputting merchant while the customer is accessing a Web site of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, in which providing the offer comprises displaying an indication of the offer to the customer via the Web site.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, in which displaying an indication of the offer comprises providing a hyperlink to a Web site of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule is based on a class of soliciting merchant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule is used to select the soliciting merchant with the highest priority.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule is active during a predetermined time period.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which the at least one rule applies to an activity rate of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises a prioritization by merchant class.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises a prioritization by an amount of funds paid.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining that the customer completed a first transaction with the outputting merchant.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication from a point of sale terminal that the customer accepted the offer.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising:
receiving an indication that the customer completed a transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
providing the bonus to the customer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to outputting the offer for the bonus, determining that the customer satisfied predetermined criteria.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a budget amount associated with the soliciting merchant and defining the maximum aggregate value of offered bonuses.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to outputting the offer, determining a budget amount of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising setting the value of the bonus based on the budget amount.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising freezing a portion of the budget amount, the portion based on a value of the bonus.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising unfreezing the portion of the budget amount if the offer expires.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the store controller of the outputting merchant comprises a computer directing an online store.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the store controller of the outputting merchant comprises a web server.

### Claim 31

A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
receive, by a server in communication with a plurality of store controllers, transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received via a store controller of an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus,
the transaction data including an indication of a purchase by the customer of an item from the outputting merchant;
select, by the server, a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on the purchase and at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants;
output an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant;
determine, by the server, that the customer completed a second transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
provide, via the server, the bonus to the customer.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for receiving transaction data comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive the transaction data at a web site of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The computer readable medium of claim 32, in which the instructions for outputting the offer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit a link to the customer for accessing the offer for the bonus.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for receiving transaction data comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive the transaction data at a point of sale terminal.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for outputting the offer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide the offer to the customer at a point-of-sale of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor transmit instructions to provide the offer for the bonus in exchange for the consumer consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor transmit instructions to display the offer at the point-of-sale to the customer.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor transmit instructions to print the offer at the point-of-sale on a receipt to be provided to the customer.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for outputting the offer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide the offer to a customer of the outputting merchant while the customer is accessing a Web site of the outputting merchant.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The computer readable medium of claim 39, in which the instructions for providing the offer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to display an indication of the offer to the customer via the Web site.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The computer readable medium of claim 40, in which the instructions for displaying the offer comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide a hyperlink to a Web site of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for selecting the soliciting merchant further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to apply a rule based on a class of soliciting merchant.

### Claim 43 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for selecting the soliciting merchant further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to select the soliciting merchant with the highest priority.

### Claim 44 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for selecting the soliciting merchant further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to apply a rule based on an activity rate of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 45 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for selecting the soliciting merchant further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to apply a rule based on a prioritization by merchant class.

### Claim 46 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for selecting the soliciting merchant further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to apply a rule based on a prioritization by an amount of funds paid.

### Claim 47 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:
determine that the customer completed a first transaction with the outputting merchant;
determine that the customer completed a second transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
provide the bonus to the customer.

### Claim 48 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to receive an indication from a point of sale terminal that the customer accepted the offer.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The computer readable medium of claim 48, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:
receive an indication that the customer completed a transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
provide the bonus to the customer.

### Claim 50 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the offer for the bonus, determine that the customer satisfied predetermined criteria.

### Claim 51 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to receive a budget amount associated with the soliciting merchant and defining the maximum aggregate value of offered bonuses.

### Claim 52 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the offer, determine a budget amount of the soliciting merchant.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to set the value of the bonus based on the budget amount.

### Claim 54 (depends on 52)

The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to freeze a portion of the budget amount, the portion based on a value of the bonus.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The computer readable medium of claim 54, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to unfreeze the portion of the budget amount if the offer expires.

### Claim 56 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the store controller of the outputting merchant comprises a computer directing an online store.

### Claim 57 (depends on 31)

The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the store controller of the outputting merchant comprises a web server.

### Claim 58

An apparatus, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor operatively connected to the storage device, wherein the storage device includes a program configured to direct the processor to:
receive transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus;
receive transaction data from a customer, the transaction data received by an outputting merchant participating in a system for providing an offer for a bonus,
the transaction data including an indication of a purchase by the customer of an item from the outputting merchant;
select a soliciting merchant from a plurality of soliciting merchants participating in the system for providing an offer for a bonus, the selection based on the purchase and at least one rule for determining a respective priority for each of the plurality of soliciting merchants;
output an offer for a bonus to the customer of the outputting merchant on behalf of the soliciting merchant;
determine that the customer completed a second transaction with the soliciting merchant; and
provide the bonus to the customer.