WO2010085193A1

WO2010085193A1 - Method for providing an offer to a user

Info

Publication number: WO2010085193A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/051492
Authority: WO
Inventors: Samuel Young
Original assignee: Intertext Marketing Ab
Priority date: 2009-01-26
Filing date: 2009-12-22
Publication date: 2010-07-29

Abstract

A method for providing an offer from a merchant to a user in a network environment connecting a user terminal provided with a web browser operated by the user, a content server, and a merchant server. According to this design, a user interacting with a web page in a web browser may identify an active hyperlink, move a user controllable marker over the hyperlink after which an additional window is superimposed onto the initial web page. In the superimposed window an offer from a merchant is downloaded and displayed, and the user is allowed to listen to sample clips as well as directly purchase content. The present invention also relates to a corresponding system, and to a computer program product comprising code for performing a corresponding method.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN OFFER TO A USER

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for providing an offer from a merchant to a user in a network environment. The present invention also relates to a corresponding system, and to a computer program product comprising code for performing a corresponding method.

Technical Background

Conventionally, a user wishing to purchase a product or service marketed online will be required to visit the web-site of the merchant, and engage in a purchase process with the merchant's web-shop. A variety of such systems exist, for example based on a shopping-cart model where the user will first select a number of products, and then perform a "check-out procedure" during which he will provide payment details, delivery address, etc. Attempts have been made to simplify this model, most notably to simplify, or eliminate, the check-out procedure. For example, document US 5,960,411 describes how the purchase can be performed by one single input (one click), by storing all required delivery and payment details in a user profile that is stored on the client and is accessible to the merchant site. Additionally, there are issues with security. The handlings of payment and delivery details in many conventional systems do not fulfil the required security and integrity standards. In order to provide a more secure trading environment, technology has been developed that allows a third party to handle the transaction between a buyer and a seller. For example, WO 2007/062185 describes a system that provides a client computer with additional functionality, allowing a user to visit different merchant sites and use the same payment server. An example of such a system is the PayPal ® system by eBay.

US2008/0010148 describes a system that facilitates for a buyer to complete a purchase on-line, by actively placing advertisements for products or services selected as suitable for the user on available areas of a web page. The advertisements may include links to merchant sites, offering the selected products or services. However, conventional solutions for buying products or services on the Internet still require the user to visit a merchant site. A drawback with such technology is therefore that the user is forced to use different interfaces and different purchasing processes at different sites. This makes Internet based shopping (e-commerce) complicated and as a result the full potential of this marketplace has not been fully exploited.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to simplify the process of purchasing a product or service offered by a merchant over a network. A specific object is to provide improvements in the distribution of an offer to a user of a web browser for facilitating Internet based shopping. According to the present invention, the user does not visit the merchant site.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are achieved by a method for providing an offer from a merchant to a user in a network environment connecting a user terminal provided with a web browser operated by the user, a content server, and a merchant server, the method comprising requesting, initiated by a window of the web browser, a first content from the content server, displaying the first content within the window, receiving a first user input to the web browser selecting an activation element displayed in the window, in response to the first user input, displaying a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed in the window, requesting, initiated by the merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, displaying the second content within the merchant container, receiving a second user input to the to the web browser selecting a merchant offer in the merchant container, in response to the second user input, communicating from the web browser to the merchant server an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, and in the merchant server, retrieving details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicating a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser. According to the present invention, it may be possible for people in different environments on the Internet, such as for example blogs, chats etc., or in other digital environments such as text messages, E-mail etc., to use hyperlinks, pop-up windows, widgets or other viewing methods to mark-up text and connect this mark-up to different content. The mark-up may be done via plug-ins, hyperlinks, Java script or other similar methods. Preferably, the purchase confirmation content is displayed in the merchant container.

Through the invention, a user of a web page may take part of product information, such as for example cover art, sample music and sample video sequences without leaving the environment where the initial mark-up was inserted. Furthermore, the user may perform purchases and searches among different offers, products and recommendations that may be stored on a database of the merchant without leaving the environment where the mark-up was inserted. Additionally, it may be useful if the second content is at least one of a flash animation and a dynamic code section. Also, the second content may comprise at least one of cover art, sample music, sample video, product images, product information, artist information, song information, biography information, discography information or any other information related to a specific product, artist, genre, etc. Accordingly, the user may for example interact with a web page in a web browser, identify an activation element such as an identifiable hyperlink, move a user controllable marker, e.g. a mouse pointer, over the hyperlink after which an additional window is superimposed onto the initial web page. In the superimposed window an offer from a merchant is downloaded and displayed, and the user may also be allowed to listen to sample clips as well as directly purchase content. It may however also be possible to provide a separate banner or frame for providing the second content.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of integrating the activation element and the predefined merchant container in a content page and setting up a connection between the content page and the merchant container, for example by means of a plug-in provided by the content server. Accordingly, community services such as Facebook, Myspace, and similarly may provide simple plug-ins for allowing content creators such as blogger and the like to promote content, possibly related to a page content. That is, in one embodiment, a content creator (a blogger) is providing a content post on a web page hosted by the content server. By means of the plug-in provided by the content server the blogger is given the opportunity to relate the content of the post with a second content available for purchase. The purchase offer is then displayed to the user in a content container when being activated by means of for example a link in the post.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above- mentioned and other objects are achieved by a system for providing an offer from a merchant to a user, comprising a merchant server connected to a network environment, a user terminal connected to the network environment, including web browser software adapted to request, initiated by a window of the web browser software, a first content from the content server, display the first content within the window, receive a first user input to the web browser software selecting an activation element displayed in the window, in response to the first user input, display a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed is the window, request, initiated by the merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, display the second content within the merchant container, receive a second user input to the to the web browser selecting a merchant offer in the merchant container, and communicate, in response to the second user input, from the web browser to the merchant server an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, wherein the merchant server includes a data base adapted to store details of the offer and payment details of the user, and software adapted to retrieve details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicate a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser. As discussed above in connection with the first aspect of the present invention, the inventive system allows the user to listen to sample clips as well as directly purchase content without having to visit a homepage of the merchant. Various embodiments of, and effects obtained through this second aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above for the first aspect of the invention. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for causing a computer to provide a merchant service, wherein the computer program product comprises code for requesting a first content from a content server, code for displaying the first content within a graphical window, code for receiving a first user input for selecting an activation element displayed in the window, code for displaying a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed is the window in response to the first user input, code for requesting, initiated by a merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, code for displaying the second content within the merchant container, code for receiving a second user input for selecting an offer in the merchant container, code for communicating an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, and code for retrieving details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicating a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser. The computer is preferably a messaging server, and the computer readable medium is one of a removable non-volatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a similar computer readable medium known in the art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing currently preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of an computer system comprising a plurality of user terminals, a content server and a merchant server for performing the method according a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 is an example of a web page including a merchant container, and

Figure 4 is an example of a web page including a user interface for integrating a merchant container in a web page.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

Referring now to the drawings and to figure 1 in particular, there is depicted a computer system 100, comprising a plurality of user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108, a content server 110 and a merchant server 112. The computer system 100 may be provided with a communications path between the different parts, i.e. the user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108, the content server 110 and the merchant server 112, such as by means of a computer network 114 such as the Internet. The different parts may be connected to the computer network 114 by means of wired or wireless (or a combination thereof) connection techniques selected based on the specific implementation, for example by means of a PSTN (Publicly Switched Telephone Network), a LAN (Local Area Network) or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) connection.

Also, the user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108 may be different types of user terminals such as for example a combination of mobile phones, personal computers, laptops, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and other communication devices with a user interface and a capability of connecting to the computer network 114. Furthermore, the content server 110 and/or the merchant server 112 may comprise means for performing selected portions of the inventive method for providing an offer to a user. The method is described in more detail below in relation to figure 2. Furthermore, the content server 110 and/or the merchant server 112 may comprise processing means (not shown) such as a controller including a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device. The processing means can also be provided by a multipurpose server computer.

By way of example, the operational steps S1 - S9 preformed by the computer system 100 for providing an offer from a merchant to a user in a network environment connecting a user terminal provided with a web browser operated by the user, a content server, and a merchant server, are illustrated in figure 2.

In step S1 , the content server 110 awaits a request for a first content data from the user of one of the user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108. The request is generally a call to a specific web page made within a browser window of one of the user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108, e.g. by entering the address of a web page or by clicking a link provided as a result of a search request or from a stored web page favourite.

Subsequently in step S2, the request generates a response which in a general embodiment will be the transfer of a first content data from the content server 110 to be displayed in the browser window of one of the user terminals 102, 104, 106, 108. The first content data may for example be a web page containing text, images, and/or video clips. Within the first content data it may also be contained a link or some similar activation element that may be selected by the user. For example, the user may move a user controlled cursor over the link for activating the link (e.g. mouse over). This activation, step S3, may in turn activate a predefined merchant container to be displayed in the browser window, step S4. The predefined merchant container may be pre-loaded by initially "hidden" and only displayed (i.e. activated) when the user selects the activation element, e.g. the link displayed in the browser window. The merchant container may be displayed as superimposed onto the content displayed in the browser window, e.g. essentially covering a portion of the information initially displayed in the browser window. However, the merchant container may also be a pop-up window, i.e. displayed in a separate browser window or browser tab. By activating the predefined merchant container a specific merchant content is requested, step S5, from the merchant server 112 to be displayed, step S6, within the merchant container.

Subsequently, the user views the content in the merchant container and is given the option to preview an offer. For example, in an embodiment the offer is a song (music) or a video clip (movie). Thus, the user may be given the opportunity to listen to the song at a low bit rate, streamed or to listen to only a selected portion of the song. Similarly, if the offer is a video clip such as a movie, the user may be given the opportunity to watch a trailer or a selected portion of the movie, possibly at a lower resolution.

In step S7, the user selects to accept the offer. The acceptance generates a user input which in turn generates a communication request, step S8, to the merchant server 112. The request preferably comprises payment details, after which the merchant server 112 may generate a payment procedure and provide a delivery of the offer to the user. Preferably, the delivery of the offer may be included in a purchase confirmation which is displayed in the merchant container upon completion of the payment. The delivery may comprise a link for download of the offer in case of a song or a video clip, but may also include information regarding a physical delivery of for example a CD, a DVD, a Blue Ray disk or similar. The delivery may also be pushed and/or streamed to the user, using for example similar techniques as used for delivering music content using Spotify, video content using Voddler, etc.

As the offer is not limited to electronic media such as music or video clips but also to any other physical articles such as books and discs, the payment details may include not only the user's credit card number, bank account number or cash account number, but also the home or office address of the user.

In figure 3, it is shown an example of a browser 300 having a browser window 302 displaying a first content 306 and a merchant container 304. As discussed above in relation to figure 2, the merchant container 304 may me superimposed onto the first content 306 being displayed in the browser window 302 upon activating for example a link contained in the first content 306. In the illustrated embodiment, the offer to the user may be accepted in two separate forms, e.g. by only accepting the offer to buy a single song (by clicking the "Buy MP3 button" 308) or by buying the complete album (by clicking of the "Buy CD button" 310). Additionally, the user may be given the opportunity to preview the offer by pressing a play button 312 which in turn will activate a preview version of the offer. The preview version of the offer is preferably executed within the merchant container 304, e.g. by activating an embedded flash animation or an active script portion. The merchant container 304 may also include a preview window 314 for video clips or cover art relating to a song (music). Also, in case of not wanting to accept the offer, the user may select the close button 316 which will close the merchant container 304 and allow the user to return to the content 306 displayed in the browser window. It should be noted that the merchant container 304 also may close automatically when moving a user controlled cursor outside of the merchant container 304. The merchant container 304 may also be "moved around" within the browser window 302 by selecting a portion of the merchant container 304 and perform a "drag around procedure".

Finally, in figure 4 it is illustrated an embodiment wherein a publicist, such as a blogger or similar creator, is connecting a text portion 402 within for example a web based blog 400 with an offer to a viewer/reader of the blog. The user interface 404 for connecting the text portion 402 with the offer may for example be integrated by means of a plug-in within the blog post interface for example provided by the ISP hosting the blog, e.g. the host of the content server the content server 110. The user interface 404 may for example include the option to search for specific content related ID's, 406, or by means of a free text search 408. Based on the result of the search, related albums, 410, or songs, 412, may be displayed to the publicist for selection. When the publicist has done his selection, it may be possible to select the OK button, 414, after which the plug-in will handle the connection between the content of the blog and the offer, e.g. by means of included selected code portions within the code to be requested when requesting the first content 312. The user may also change his mind and select the cancel button, 416, and thereby return to the positing of the blog without including the offer to the user. It should be noted that it may be possible to include only a single or an unlimited number of offers with the first content 312.

It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a distribution server method, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD- ROMs, DVD-ROM's, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms, such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readable media may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular data processing system

Furthermore, the skilled addressee skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the computer system is of course not limited to only four user terminal, but more or less user terminals may be included in the computer system. Similarly, the merchant server and the content server may in some cases be combined into a single server positioned at one server station. However, the content and the merchant server are generally separated and positioned at different cites hosted by different server providers. Additionally, different means and methods may be used for implementing the inventive concept. Preferably, a mixed programming environment is used for implementing the inventive concept, including for example PHP, AJAX, Java/Java Script, Flash and HTML. Also, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Also, any biased reference in the text is made merely for the sake of brevity and convenience.

Claims

1. A method for providing an offer from a merchant to a user in a network environment connecting a user terminal provided with a web browser operated by the user, a content server, and a merchant server, the method comprising: requesting, initiated by a window of the web browser, a first content from the content server, displaying the first content within the window, receiving a first user input to the web browser selecting an activation element displayed in the window, in response to the first user input, displaying a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed is the window, requesting, initiated by the merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, displaying the second content within the merchant container, receiving a second user input to the to the web browser selecting a merchant offer in the merchant container, in response to the second user input, communicating from the web browser to the merchant server an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, and in the merchant server, retrieving details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicating a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the activation element is at least one of a hyper link, a mouse over action and a voice activated element.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the purchase confirmation content is displayed in the merchant container.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the merchant container is at least one of a pop-up window and an in-text window.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the second content is at least one of a flash animation and a dynamic code section.

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the second content comprises at least one of cover art, sample music, and sample video.

7. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the content server and the merchant server are positioned at different locations.

8. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined merchant container is provided as hidden information in the first content.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the activation element displayed in the window automatically selected based on corresponding offers stored on the merchant server.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the payment details stored in the merchant server comprises at least one of a credit card number, a bank account number and a cash account number.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of integrating the activation element and the predefined merchant container in a content page and setting up a connection between the content page and the merchant container.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the activation element and the predefined merchant container are integrated by means of a plug-in.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein plug-in is provided by the content server.

14. A system for providing an offer from a merchant to a user, comprising: a merchant server connected to a network environment, a user terminal connected to the network environment, including web browser software adapted to: request, initiated by a window of the web browser software, a first content from the content server, display the first content within the window, receive a first user input to the web browser software selecting an activation element displayed in the window, in response to the first user input, display a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed is the window, request, initiated by the merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, display the second content within the merchant container, receive a second user input to the to the web browser selecting a merchant offer in the merchant container, and communicate, in response to the second user input, from the web browser to the merchant server an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, wherein the merchant server includes a data base adapted to store details of the offer and payment details of the user, and software adapted to: retrieve details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicate a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the second content is at least one of a flash animation and a dynamic code section.

16. System according to claim 14, wherein the second content comprises at least one of cover art, sample music, and sample video.

17. System according to claim 14, wherein the content server and the merchant server are positioned at different locations.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for causing a computer to provide a merchant service, wherein the computer program product comprises: code for requesting a first content from a content server, code for displaying the first content within a graphical window, code for receiving a first user input for selecting an activation element displayed in the window, code for displaying a predefined merchant container being superimposed onto the first content displayed is the window in response to the first user input, code for requesting, initiated by a merchant container, a second content from the merchant server, code for displaying the second content within the merchant container, code for receiving a second user input for selecting an offer in the merchant container, code for communicating an identification of the offer and an identification of the user, and code for retrieving details of the offer and payment details of the user from a database, effecting payment using the details, and communicating a purchase confirmation content to be displayed in a window of the browser.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the computer readable medium is one of a removable non-volatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD-ROM.