EP1190358A1 - A system and method for discount distribution - Google Patents

A system and method for discount distribution

Info

Publication number
EP1190358A1
EP1190358A1 EP01920797A EP01920797A EP1190358A1 EP 1190358 A1 EP1190358 A1 EP 1190358A1 EP 01920797 A EP01920797 A EP 01920797A EP 01920797 A EP01920797 A EP 01920797A EP 1190358 A1 EP1190358 A1 EP 1190358A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
discount
consumer
client system
client
cookie
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01920797A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
James W. Barmettler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of EP1190358A1 publication Critical patent/EP1190358A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to electronic commerce and more particularly to a system and method for distributing discounts for products over networks of computer systems.
  • E-commerce Electronic commerce
  • Consumer items include both tangible and intangible commodities, such as, for example, products and services.
  • E-commerce is the conduct of commerce in consumer items with the assistance of electronic tools (such as a computer or television connected to the Internet; a telephone; and a facsimile machine).
  • electronic tools such as a computer or television connected to the Internet; a telephone; and a facsimile machine.
  • many businesses and merchants provide consumers with an opportunity to order consumer items at a web site provided on the Internet, an e-store.
  • Discounteds commonly referred to as either coupons or discount certificates
  • These discounts include specific instructions on how they can be used.
  • the "express checkout” is prevented because a consumer must enter a specific number unique to the consumer. A specific number is used for each consumer to prevent potential fraud from occurring should the discount be passed on to non-select customers.
  • the conventional mail/email with the discount also provides instructions on how to get to the web page on the Internet offering the product and how the specific number must be entered during the ordering process. This approach to providing discounts is used to get people to visit the Internet store that sends the discount.
  • a discount for a product is sent by a server system to a client system.
  • the server system sends an offer including the discount, a location where the offer can be redeemed and a message to a consumer using the client system.
  • an executable program included with the offer.
  • the executable program is run to set a cookie on the client.
  • the cookie contains the discount and location where the discount can be redeemed.
  • the offer is sent using email and the discount is encrypted.
  • a web browser is started on the client system using the location provided by the offer.
  • the cookie on the client is examined to verify that is has not expired and is valid before being used.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an overall system for providing discounts.
  • Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the general operational flow between a coupon server and a client system.
  • Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the general operational flow between the client system in Fig. 2 and a web server offering the product in the coupon.
  • Figs. 4-6 are exemplary user interfaces of a working example of the system and method of the present invention.
  • a more attractive method of providing discounts is provided by the invention to prevent consumers from having to remember and manually enter character strings from contemporary digital coupons and certificates sent through the mail or email.
  • the invention solves the memory and manual entry problem by sending an executable program with the discount, (e.g. coupon) along with a message.
  • the message and executable program are attached in an email message.
  • the executable program sets a cookie on a client system used by the consumer. If the cookie can not be set, the consumer is notified in a conventional fashion of where to redeem the discount and the secret numbers required for the discount. If set, the cookie contains the discount, preferably in an encrypted manner.
  • the amount of the discount is fixed, unique for each consumer based on the history of their purchasing decisions, or randomly selected.
  • the discount can be a fixed dollar amount, fixed percentage amount, or a variable discount range that becomes known once the consumer examines the product or other site specific information such as showcased items.
  • the discount can also include a date range during which the discount is available.
  • the cookies on the client are checked for expiration and validity. If the discount is expired, the cookie containing it is removed from the client. Otherwise, if encrypted, the discount is decrypted, presented, and applied to the purchase price offered for the product.
  • Fig. 1 is an exemplary block diagram of a computer system that embodies the invention.
  • a network 10 is used to operatively couple a client system 20, a coupon server 30, and a web server 40.
  • network 10 is the Internet; however, an intranet, office network, or other interconnections with protocols for sharing the interconnection can be used and still meet the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the network 10 is preferably wired but all or a portion of it is optionally wireless.
  • a consumer operates client 20.
  • Client 20 is preferably a personal computer or optionally another electrical device such as a portable computer, a personal data assistant, a TV set-top box, or cellular telephone.
  • the coupon server 30 is used by a product seller to select customers to provide product discounts, e.g.
  • the product seller hopes to entice the consumer to purchase the product offered or to at least draw the consumer to the seller's web site where other products are offered. If the consumer wishes to purchase the product, or examine its feature or other characteristics, the consumer can connect with web server 40 using an address location provided by the seller along with the discount.
  • Client 20 is connected to monitor 26 to allow the customer to have visual responses of the discount and to view the offered product.
  • Client 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 22 that is used for executing computer readable instructions from system memory 60.
  • System memory 60 includes read-only memory (ROM) 62 which typically contains the BIOS 64 used to control the basic input/output system functions of client 20.
  • ROM 62 is also envisioned to encompass other forms of non- volatile memory such as PROM, EPROM, EEPROMs, and Flash memory, to name a few.
  • System memory 60 also includes dynamic or static random access memory (RAM) 66 which typically contains executable software and data 68 running on the client 20.
  • the CPU 22 interfaces to monitor 26 using video interface 24.
  • a system bus 28 interconnects system memory 60, CPU 22, video interface 24 with I/O devices 50.
  • a typical client 20 will have several I/O devices, such as storage devices 54, modem 56, and network interface 58.
  • Other I/O devices 52 include keyboards, mice, touchpads, sound cards, and multi-media devices among others known to those skilled in the art.
  • Client 20 interfaces to network 10 using either modem 56 or network interface 58.
  • modem 56 is used when client 20 is remote from an office network and the network interface 58 is used when client 20 is at the office.
  • Coupon server 30 sends the web address location of the product for where to purchase the product and a discount to client 20 using network 10.
  • Coupon server 30 contains a conventional remote server 32, such as a Sun Microsystems Solaris based server, a Windows 2000 NT-based server, or preferably, a Hewlett-Packard 9000 HP- UX based e-commerce server. Other server systems known to those skilled in the art can be used and still meet the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • the remote server 32 is connected to a memory storage device 34, which contains software and data 36 for running on the remote server 32.
  • Web server 40 Also connected to network 10 is at least one web server 40 that is used by the seller to provide the consumer an opportunity to view the offer of the product, its prices, the discount, and the product features. Web server 40 is also used to take an order from the customer if the customer wishes to purchase the product. Web server 40 includes a remoter server 42 connected to memory storage device 42 containing software and data 46 that runs on remote server 42. Web server 40 and coupon server 30 can be the same or different server.
  • Fig. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram of the invention in which a discount is sent from coupon server 30 to client 20.
  • coupon server 30 begins by attaching an executable program to a message that has been created for the consumer.
  • the message is an email message and the step of attaching the executable program is performed within a common email program such as Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, and CC-Mail, to name a few.
  • the message, preferably email, with the attached executable is sent to client 20 in block 72 using network 10.
  • the client 20 receives the message and attached executable in block 74.
  • the attached executable is run on the client 20, preferably by the targeted consumer.
  • the executable When running on client 20, in block 78 the executable attempts to set a cookie with the discount, the address of the product and other information, preferably encrypted, in storage devices 54 of client 20 but optionally within system memory 60.
  • a cookie is information that a web page stores on a storage device so that it can remember something about the consumer.
  • consumers can set up their web browsing software to prevent cookies from being placed on their client machine.
  • the executable program determines if it was able to set the cookie. If not, then in block 82, the executable program provides the consumer with conventional instructions to order the product and the numbers to enter when accessing the ordering web page.
  • Fig. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram of another portion of the invention in which the consumer using client 20 access a web server 40 to view the product and discount.
  • the web browser software is started by the executable attachment running on client 20.
  • the consumer initiates the web browser software.
  • web page of the e-store selling the product is accessed.
  • the executable attachment passed the address location to the web browser software but optionally, the consumer enters the address into browser.
  • the web page downloads and executes a preferably Java-based ad wizard program to control accessing of the product's features, discount, and ordering to ensure that sufficient ad revenue or exposure is generated.
  • the ad wizard presents at least one advertisement to the consumer and requires the consumer to acknowledge viewing the advertisement before proceeding.
  • the browser software accesses the e-store web page using network 10 to reach the address of the web page at web server 40.
  • the web server 40 checks the cookies stored by it on the client 20 in block 90.
  • the web server 40 checks each cookie to see if it has expired. If expired, then in block 94 the expired cookie is removed from the client 20. Otherwise, in block 96 the cookies are checked to see if any current savings on products offered by the web site exist. If so, then in block 98, the web server notifies the consumer on client 20 of the savings available. After displaying the discounted savings, if any, the web server 40 proceeds displaying web pages in a conventional ordering process fashion in block 100 using the discount amount in the calculation of the ordered product as required.
  • Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are exemplary web pages illustrating several different examples of how a discount can be displayed and used.
  • Fig. 4 is an example where the discount amount is not reported but only that a particular product has a discount.
  • the consumer is notified that "You have a coupon for a Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 890 printer! ! ! .
  • the purpose of this type of discount presentation is to allow an optional ad wizard to prevent displaying the discount until the user actually examines the product offered.
  • the consumer is enticed into at least looking at the product's information. If the consumer is not interested in the offered product, the web page allows the consumer to select other products thereby keeping the consumer at the web site.
  • Fig. 5 is an exemplary web page, which displays the dollar amount of the discount. Because the consumer is also not given the actual price of the product offered, the consumer is enticed to view the product information. Also shown is another technique to pique the consumer's interest in the product. The time of expiration of the discount is shown and the consumer is asked to order now to lock in the savings. This encourages the consumer to at least examine the information of the offered product or else the opportunity might be missed.
  • Fig. 6 is an exemplary web page, which displays the range in which the actual discount is within. The actual discount is not shown until the consumer examines the offered product.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
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  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISCOUNT DISTRIBUTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to electronic commerce and more particularly to a system and method for distributing discounts for products over networks of computer systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic commerce (or "e-commerce") is quickly becoming a popular way to for consumers to order consumer items. Consumer items include both tangible and intangible commodities, such as, for example, products and services. E-commerce is the conduct of commerce in consumer items with the assistance of electronic tools (such as a computer or television connected to the Internet; a telephone; and a facsimile machine). For example, many businesses and merchants provide consumers with an opportunity to order consumer items at a web site provided on the Internet, an e-store.
Many e-stores on the Internet send discounts, commonly referred to as either coupons or discount certificates, through the postal mail or using email to select targeted customers. These discounts include specific instructions on how they can be used. Often times they are not allowed when using the "express checkout" purchasing systems. The "express checkout" is prevented because a consumer must enter a specific number unique to the consumer. A specific number is used for each consumer to prevent potential fraud from occurring should the discount be passed on to non-select customers. The conventional mail/email with the discount also provides instructions on how to get to the web page on the Internet offering the product and how the specific number must be entered during the ordering process. This approach to providing discounts is used to get people to visit the Internet store that sends the discount. However, because of the cumbersome manner in which the discount must be entered, many users do not take advantage of the offer or are discouraged and leave the e-store web site before ordering any product. Therefore, if a more attractive method of providing unique discounts to targeted customers can be found, the e- store's business can increase its sales.
SUMMARY
A discount for a product is sent by a server system to a client system. The server system sends an offer including the discount, a location where the offer can be redeemed and a message to a consumer using the client system. Also included with the offer is an executable program. When the consumer receives the offer on the client system, the message in the offer is displayed. The executable program is run to set a cookie on the client. The cookie contains the discount and location where the discount can be redeemed. Preferably, the offer is sent using email and the discount is encrypted.
To redeem the discount, a web browser is started on the client system using the location provided by the offer. On a server system accessed by the location, the cookie on the client is examined to verify that is has not expired and is valid before being used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an overall system for providing discounts. Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the general operational flow between a coupon server and a client system. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the general operational flow between the client system in Fig. 2 and a web server offering the product in the coupon.
Figs. 4-6 are exemplary user interfaces of a working example of the system and method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
In the following description of the Invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific example whereby the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
General Overview
A more attractive method of providing discounts is provided by the invention to prevent consumers from having to remember and manually enter character strings from contemporary digital coupons and certificates sent through the mail or email. The invention solves the memory and manual entry problem by sending an executable program with the discount, (e.g. coupon) along with a message. Preferably, the message and executable program are attached in an email message. The executable program sets a cookie on a client system used by the consumer. If the cookie can not be set, the consumer is notified in a conventional fashion of where to redeem the discount and the secret numbers required for the discount. If set, the cookie contains the discount, preferably in an encrypted manner. The amount of the discount is fixed, unique for each consumer based on the history of their purchasing decisions, or randomly selected. The discount can be a fixed dollar amount, fixed percentage amount, or a variable discount range that becomes known once the consumer examines the product or other site specific information such as showcased items. The discount can also include a date range during which the discount is available. On a server system which processes the ordering of the product offered, the cookies on the client are checked for expiration and validity. If the discount is expired, the cookie containing it is removed from the client. Otherwise, if encrypted, the discount is decrypted, presented, and applied to the purchase price offered for the product.
Structural Overview
Fig. 1 is an exemplary block diagram of a computer system that embodies the invention. A network 10 is used to operatively couple a client system 20, a coupon server 30, and a web server 40. Preferably, network 10 is the Internet; however, an intranet, office network, or other interconnections with protocols for sharing the interconnection can be used and still meet the spirit and scope of the invention. The network 10 is preferably wired but all or a portion of it is optionally wireless. A consumer operates client 20. Client 20 is preferably a personal computer or optionally another electrical device such as a portable computer, a personal data assistant, a TV set-top box, or cellular telephone. The coupon server 30 is used by a product seller to select customers to provide product discounts, e.g. coupons, and to send those discounts to the consumer. By providing discounts, the product seller hopes to entice the consumer to purchase the product offered or to at least draw the consumer to the seller's web site where other products are offered. If the consumer wishes to purchase the product, or examine its feature or other characteristics, the consumer can connect with web server 40 using an address location provided by the seller along with the discount.
Client 20 is connected to monitor 26 to allow the customer to have visual responses of the discount and to view the offered product. Client 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 22 that is used for executing computer readable instructions from system memory 60. System memory 60 includes read-only memory (ROM) 62 which typically contains the BIOS 64 used to control the basic input/output system functions of client 20. ROM 62 is also envisioned to encompass other forms of non- volatile memory such as PROM, EPROM, EEPROMs, and Flash memory, to name a few. System memory 60 also includes dynamic or static random access memory (RAM) 66 which typically contains executable software and data 68 running on the client 20. The CPU 22 interfaces to monitor 26 using video interface 24. A system bus 28 interconnects system memory 60, CPU 22, video interface 24 with I/O devices 50. A typical client 20 will have several I/O devices, such as storage devices 54, modem 56, and network interface 58. Other I/O devices 52 include keyboards, mice, touchpads, sound cards, and multi-media devices among others known to those skilled in the art. Client 20 interfaces to network 10 using either modem 56 or network interface 58. Preferably, modem 56 is used when client 20 is remote from an office network and the network interface 58 is used when client 20 is at the office. Coupon server 30 sends the web address location of the product for where to purchase the product and a discount to client 20 using network 10. Coupon server 30 contains a conventional remote server 32, such as a Sun Microsystems Solaris based server, a Windows 2000 NT-based server, or preferably, a Hewlett-Packard 9000 HP- UX based e-commerce server. Other server systems known to those skilled in the art can be used and still meet the spirit and scope of the invention. The remote server 32 is connected to a memory storage device 34, which contains software and data 36 for running on the remote server 32.
Also connected to network 10 is at least one web server 40 that is used by the seller to provide the consumer an opportunity to view the offer of the product, its prices, the discount, and the product features. Web server 40 is also used to take an order from the customer if the customer wishes to purchase the product. Web server 40 includes a remoter server 42 connected to memory storage device 42 containing software and data 46 that runs on remote server 42. Web server 40 and coupon server 30 can be the same or different server.
Operational Overview
Fig. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram of the invention in which a discount is sent from coupon server 30 to client 20. In block 70, coupon server 30 begins by attaching an executable program to a message that has been created for the consumer. Preferably, the message is an email message and the step of attaching the executable program is performed within a common email program such as Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, and CC-Mail, to name a few. The message, preferably email, with the attached executable is sent to client 20 in block 72 using network 10. The client 20 receives the message and attached executable in block 74. In block 76, the attached executable is run on the client 20, preferably by the targeted consumer. When running on client 20, in block 78 the executable attempts to set a cookie with the discount, the address of the product and other information, preferably encrypted, in storage devices 54 of client 20 but optionally within system memory 60. Generally, a cookie is information that a web page stores on a storage device so that it can remember something about the consumer. Typically, consumers can set up their web browsing software to prevent cookies from being placed on their client machine. In block 80, the executable program determines if it was able to set the cookie. If not, then in block 82, the executable program provides the consumer with conventional instructions to order the product and the numbers to enter when accessing the ordering web page.
Fig. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram of another portion of the invention in which the consumer using client 20 access a web server 40 to view the product and discount. In block 84, preferably the web browser software is started by the executable attachment running on client 20. Optionally, the consumer initiates the web browser software. In block 86, web page of the e-store selling the product is accessed. Preferably, the executable attachment passed the address location to the web browser software but optionally, the consumer enters the address into browser. In block 88, optionally the web page downloads and executes a preferably Java-based ad wizard program to control accessing of the product's features, discount, and ordering to ensure that sufficient ad revenue or exposure is generated. For example, the ad wizard presents at least one advertisement to the consumer and requires the consumer to acknowledge viewing the advertisement before proceeding. The browser software accesses the e-store web page using network 10 to reach the address of the web page at web server 40. When accessed, the web server 40 checks the cookies stored by it on the client 20 in block 90. In block 92, the web server 40 checks each cookie to see if it has expired. If expired, then in block 94 the expired cookie is removed from the client 20. Otherwise, in block 96 the cookies are checked to see if any current savings on products offered by the web site exist. If so, then in block 98, the web server notifies the consumer on client 20 of the savings available. After displaying the discounted savings, if any, the web server 40 proceeds displaying web pages in a conventional ordering process fashion in block 100 using the discount amount in the calculation of the ordered product as required.
Working Examples
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are exemplary web pages illustrating several different examples of how a discount can be displayed and used.
Fig. 4 is an example where the discount amount is not reported but only that a particular product has a discount. In this example, the consumer is notified that "You have a coupon for a Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 890 printer! ! ! . " The purpose of this type of discount presentation is to allow an optional ad wizard to prevent displaying the discount until the user actually examines the product offered. By not knowing what the discount amount is, the consumer is enticed into at least looking at the product's information. If the consumer is not interested in the offered product, the web page allows the consumer to select other products thereby keeping the consumer at the web site.
Fig. 5 is an exemplary web page, which displays the dollar amount of the discount. Because the consumer is also not given the actual price of the product offered, the consumer is enticed to view the product information. Also shown is another technique to pique the consumer's interest in the product. The time of expiration of the discount is shown and the consumer is asked to order now to lock in the savings. This encourages the consumer to at least examine the information of the offered product or else the opportunity might be missed.
Fig. 6 is an exemplary web page, which displays the range in which the actual discount is within. The actual discount is not shown until the consumer examines the offered product.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A method of providing a discount on a product, comprising the steps of: on a first server system: sending an offer to a consumer, the offer including the discount, a location where the discount can be redeemed, a message, and an executable program; on a client system coupled to the server system using a network: receiving the offer; displaying the message of the offer; and running the executable program wherein the executable program performs the step of setting a cookie on the client wherein the cookie contains the discount and the location.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sending an offer further includes the steps of: attaching the executable program to the message wherein the offer is an email document; and emailing the email document to a consumer, wherein the consumer operates the client system.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the client system steps of receiving and displaying are performed in an email program running on the client system.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sending an offer further comprises the step of encrypting the discount.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of running the executable program includes the steps of: attempting to set the cookie on the client; and if unable to set the cookie, providing the consumer with conventional instructions and numbers for redeeming the discount.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: on the client system, starting a browser program; and accessing a web page at the location on a second server coupled to the network.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of starting and accessing are preformed by the executable program.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: on the second server accessed by the web page, checking the client system for a redeemable cookie; and notifying the consumer on the client system of the discount.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second server further comprises the step of decrypting the discount.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second server further comprises the steps of: verifying the redeemable cookie has not expired; and if redeemable cookie has expired: removing the redeemable cookie from the client system.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the client system contains an ad wizard for notifying the consumer of the discount and wherein the second server system further comprises the step of: preventing the ad wizard from notifying the consumer of the discount until the consumer has acknowledged an advertisement presented by the ad wizard.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is the Internet.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is at least partially coupled using wireless technology.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the client system is at least one electrical device from the group consisting of personal computers, portable computers, personal data assistants, TV set-top boxes, or cellular phones.
15. A server system for sending a discount for a product to a consumer, comprising: means for attaching an executable program to an email message; and means for sending the email message with the attached executable program to a client system of a consumer wherein the executable program comprises means for setting a cookie on the client system wherein the cookie contains the discount.
16. The server system of claim 15 wherein the server system comprises: means for encrypting the discount amount.
17. The server system of claim 15 wherein the executable program further comprises: means for attempting to set the cookie on the client and wherein if unable to set the cookie, means for providing the consumer with conventional instructions and numbers for redeeming the discount.
18. A client system for receiving a discount for a product, the client system comprising: means for receiving email wherein the email message includes an attached executable program; and means for running the executable program wherein the executable program comprises means for setting a cookie on the client system with the discount.
19. The client system of claim 18 wherein the executable program further comprises means for decrypting the discount.
20. The client system of claim 18 wherein the executable program further comprises means for attempting to set the cookie on the client and wherein if unable to set the cookie, means for providing the consumer with traditional instructions and numbers for redeeming the discount.
21. The client system of claim 18 further comprising: means for browsing a web page on a remote server wherein the web page is selected by the executable program; and an ad wizard under the control of means for browsing wherein the ad wizard presents an advertisement to the consumer and wherein the discount is presented to the consumer after the consumer acknowledges viewing the advertisement.
22. A server system coupled to a client system on a network for redeeming a discount amount for a product, the server system comprising: means for examining a set of cookies each containing a discount for each of a set of respective products; and means for notifying the consumer on the client system of discount.
23. The server system of claim 22 further comprising: means for examining if any of the set of cookies on the client system have expired; and if so, means for removing expired cookies from the client system.
24. The server system of claim 22 further including means for purchasing the product by the client system wherein the discount is redeemed from the purchase price of the product.
25. A system for providing a discount on a product, the system comprising: a network; the server system of claim 14 coupled to the network, wherein the server system of claim 14 is a first server system; the client system of claim 17 coupled to the network; and the server system of claim 21 coupled to the network, wherein the server system of claim 21 is a second server system, and wherein the method of claim 1 is executed across the first server system, the client system, and the second server system.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the network is the Internet.
27. The system of claim 25 wherein the network is at least partially wireless.
EP01920797A 2000-03-27 2001-03-26 A system and method for discount distribution Withdrawn EP1190358A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US53682400A 2000-03-27 2000-03-27
US536824 2000-03-27
PCT/US2001/009721 WO2001072108A2 (en) 2000-03-27 2001-03-26 A system and method for discount distribution

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1190358A1 true EP1190358A1 (en) 2002-03-27

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01920797A Withdrawn EP1190358A1 (en) 2000-03-27 2001-03-26 A system and method for discount distribution

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1190358A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001247816A1 (en)
HK (1) HK1043847A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001072108A2 (en)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0172108A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1043847A1 (en) 2002-09-27
WO2001072108A2 (en) 2001-10-04
WO2001072108A8 (en) 2002-12-05
AU2001247816A1 (en) 2001-10-08

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