Apparatus and method for anonymously presenting targeted advertisements and desirable media content in association with a virtual currency

An apparatus for attracting consumers to electronic electronic-based advertising media, the apparatus comprising:

• a communications network;
• a plurality of vendor computer systems, each associated with at least one advertising provider, the plurality of vendor computer systems being operably coupled to the communications network;
• a plurality of redeemer computer systems, each associated with at least one provider of goods or services, the plurality of redeemer computer systems being operably coupled to the communications network;
• at least one host computer system distinct from the vendor computer systems and the redeemer computer systems and operably coupled to the communications network;
• at least one user computer system associated with a consumer, the at least one user computer system being operably coupled to the communications network;
• means for identifying a consumer on the host computer as a registered user of the host computer system;
• means for detecting that the registered user has accessed electronic-based advertising media of a first advertising provider associated with a first vendor computer system, the electronic-based advertising media being communicated from the first vendor computer system to the at least one user computer system via the communications network;
• means for awarding the registered user a first predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency in exchange for the registered user accessing the electronic-based advertising media of the first advertising provider;
• means for storing on the at least one host computer system a stored value indicative of an aggregate amount of homogeneous electronic currency possessed by the registered user;
• means for incrementing the stored value by a first amount indicative of the first predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency;
• means for detecting that the registered user has accessed electronic-based advertising media of a second advertising provider associated with a second vendor computer system, the electronic-based advertising media being communicated from the second vendor computer system to the at least one user computer system via the communications network;
• means for awarding the registered user a second predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency in exchange for the registered user accessing the electronic-based advertising media of the second advertising provider;
• means for incrementing the stored value by a second amount indicative of the second predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency;
• means for detecting at the at least one host computer system that the registered user has requested particular goods or services of a first provider of goods or services via communication between the at least one user computer system and a first redeemer computer system via the communications network, the particular goods or services having an associated third predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency;
• means for determining at the at least one host computer system whether the third predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency has a value equal to or less than the stored value indicative of an aggregate amount of homogeneous electronic currency possessed by the registered user and stored on the at least one host computer system,
• means for detecting at the at least one host computer system that the registered user has requested particular goods or services of a second provider of goods or services via communication between the at least one user computer system and a second redeemer computer system via the communications network, the particular goods or services having an associated fourth predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency;
• and
• means for determining at the at least one host computer system whether the fourth predetermined quantity of homogeneous electronic currency has a value equal to or less than the stored value indicative of an aggregate amount of homogeneous electronic currency possessed by the registered user and stored on the at least one host computer system;
• wherein no personal identifying information identifying the registered user is conveyed to the at least one advertising provider, and no information identifying the advertising provider is provided to the at least one redeemer computer system.