EP1311995A1 - Procede et systeme de definition d'une promotion - Google Patents

Procede et systeme de definition d'une promotion

Info

Publication number
EP1311995A1
EP1311995A1 EP01933200A EP01933200A EP1311995A1 EP 1311995 A1 EP1311995 A1 EP 1311995A1 EP 01933200 A EP01933200 A EP 01933200A EP 01933200 A EP01933200 A EP 01933200A EP 1311995 A1 EP1311995 A1 EP 1311995A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
promotion
server system
item
code
terms
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Withdrawn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
EP01933200A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Raviv Laor
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.)
Catalina Marketing International Inc
Original Assignee
Catalina Marketing International Inc
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 Catalina Marketing International Inc filed Critical Catalina Marketing International Inc
Publication of EP1311995A1 publication Critical patent/EP1311995A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR 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
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • This invention relates to method of and system for defining a promotion for a purchase transaction over a network and more particularly to a method and system that enables a manufacturer or retailer to remotely set up promotions for items offered for sale at online retail outlets.
  • This system enables the store to provide to a customer, who may not normally purchase the secondary item, an incentive for purchasing the secondary item, simply because the customer purchased the particular item that was linked to the secondary item.
  • the system thus potentially creates a new customer for the secondary item.
  • the invention is directed to a method of and system for defining a promotion for an item for sale on e-tail server systems, in which the manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer accesses a promotion server system over a communications network and defines the terms of the promotion.
  • the promotional server system prompts the user to input promotion terms such as the item to be promoted, the financial terms of the promotion, the rule defining the promotion and the duration of the promotion.
  • the promotional server then constructs the promotion for the item and makes the promotion available to e-tail servers that access the promotional server.
  • This method and system allow a promotion to be set up once on the promotional server, while enabling an unlimited number of unrelated e-tail servers to access the promotional server to offer the promotion to their customers.
  • a system for defining a promotion for a transaction over a network includes a promotion server system having a computer processor and associated memory, a commercial server system selectively coupleable to the promotion server over a network and at least one client system selectively coupleable to the commercial server system over the network.
  • the promotion server system includes promotion defining code responsive to requests from the commercial server system to interactively define the terms of a promotion, promotion display code responsive to signals from the client system to transmit data representative of the terms of the promotion to the client and pointer code that points the client system to data representative of the terms of the promotion.
  • the promotion defining code may include code for generating and transmitting to the commercial server system, in response to successive signals from the commercial server system, display screen data representative of requests for the identity of one or more items to be promoted in the promotion and requests for the terms of the promotion.
  • the terms of the promotion may include one or more of the duration of the promotion, the type of the promotion and financial terms of the promotion.
  • the promotion display code may include code for generating and transmitting screen data further representative of information related to the promoted item.
  • the item related information may include one or more of static images, dynamic images, audio clips, and links to related web sites.
  • a system for creating an item promotion over a network includes a promotion server system and a commercial server system selectively coupleable to the promotion server system.
  • the promotional server system includes promotion defining code for prompting the commercial server system to input terms of the item promotion and electronic coupon creating code for creating an electronic coupon representative of the item promotion based on the promotion terms input by the commercial server system.
  • the promotion defining code may include code for transmitting screen display data to the commercial server system, the screen display data including requests for the promotion terms.
  • the promotion terms may include the identity of the promotional item, the type of promotion, dates of the promotion, the quantity of promotions available and the value of the promotion.
  • the electronic coupon creating code may include code for incorporating one or more of static images, dynamic images, audio clips and links to related web sites into the electronic coupon.
  • the electronic coupon creating code may further include linking code that links the electronic coupon to data representative of the promotion terms.
  • the commercial server system may be selected form the group consisting of e-tail server systems, item manufacturer server systems and item distributor server systems.
  • a method of creating an item promotion over a network includes the steps of establishing a connection over the network between a promotion server system and a commercial server system, transmitting screen display code from the promotion server system to the commercial server system, the screen display code prompting the commercial server system to input promotion-defining terms to the promotion server system, the commercial server system inputting the promotion-defining terms to the promotion server system and the promotion server system creating an electronic coupon representative of the item promotion based on the promotion-defining terms.
  • the method may further comprise the step of linking the electronic coupon to data representative of the promotion-defining terms.
  • the promotion terms include the identity of the promotional item, the type of promotion, dates of the promotion, the quantity of promotions available and the value of the promotion.
  • the promotion server system may incorporate one or more of static images, dynamic images, audio clips and links to related web sites into the electronic coupon.
  • a system for creating an electronic coupon for an item over a network includes a promotion server system and a commercial server system selectively coupleable to the promotion server system.
  • the promotion server system includes code for generating the electronic coupon for the item based on promotion parameters input to the promotion server system by the commercial server system.
  • the promotion server may further include screen display code for prompting the commercial server system to input the promotion parameters.
  • the promotion parameters may include the identity of the item, the type of promotion, dates of the promotion, the quantity of promotions available and the value of the promotion.
  • the electronic coupon creating code may include code for incorporating one or more of static images, dynamic images, audio clips and links to related web sites into the electronic coupon.
  • the electronic coupon creating code may further include linking code that links the electronic coupon to data representative of the promotion parameters.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system for defining promotions in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of defining promotions in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGS. 3A-3E are diagrams of the screen displays for each of the steps involved in the method in accordance with the present invention.
  • the present invention is directed to a method of and system for defining promotions for items offered for sale on a communication network such as the internet.
  • a promotion server system includes screen display code that prompts a commercial server system to input the terms of a promotion for an item, including the duration of the promotion, the value of the promotion, the quantity of promotions and the requirement for taking advantage of the promotion. Once all of the promotional terms are input by the commercial server system, the promotion server creates an electronic coupon representative of the promotion. The electronic coupon is stored in a database in the promotion server, and is available to e-tail servers offering the item for sale.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a system 100 for defining promotions in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system 100 includes commercial server system 120 and promotion server system 130 connected to a common communications network 160.
  • a client system 150 may also be connected to the communications network 160.
  • the commercial server system 120, promotion server system 130 and client system 150 can each be a personal computer such as an IBM PC or IBM PC compatible system or an APPLE® MacINTOSH® system or a more advanced computer system such as an Alpha-based computer system available from Compaq Computer Corporation or SPARC® Station computer system available from SUN Microsystems Corporation, although a main frame computer system can also be used.
  • the communications network 160 is a TCP/IP- based network such as the Internet or an intranet, although almost any well known LAN, WAN or VPN technology can be used.
  • the client system 150 is an IBM PC compatible system operating an operating system such as the Microsoft Windows® operating system, and commercial server system 120 and promotional server system 130 are configured as web servers providing access to information such as web pages in HTML format via a protocol such as the HyperText Transport Protocol (http).
  • the client system 150 includes software to allow viewing of web pages, commonly referred to as a web browser, thus being capable of accessing web pages located on commercial server system 120 and promotional server system 130.
  • client system 150 can be any wired or wireless device that can be connected to a communications network, such as an interactive television system, such as WEBTV, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a cellular telephone.
  • a communications network such as an interactive television system, such as WEBTV, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a cellular telephone.
  • commercial server system 120 can be either an e-tail server offering a plurality of items for sale over the Internet, a distributor or a manufacturer or items and promotion server system 130 includes a database for storing the promotional terms that define electronic coupons and promotional linking code for linking items in the inventory to the promotional terms that define the electronic coupons. Promotional server system 130 also includes the sof ware necessary to authenticate electronic coupons prior to their redemption.
  • the items offered for sale by the e-tail server 120 can be products and/or services.
  • promotion server system 130 includes web server software that is adapted to produce an electronic coupon or a book of electronic coupons that is transferred to the client system 150 in the form of an electronic token, such as a cookie, that is stored in memory at the client system.
  • the electronic coupon is a data structure which can include any or all of the following information elements: data representative of an electronic coupon serial number or identification number; data representative of a unique key that can be used to validate or authenticate the coupon; data representative of the vendor that authorized the coupon and will redeem the coupon; and data representative of the nature of the discount or access provided by the coupon data representative of the server or entity that issued the coupon.
  • the electronic coupon can be issued as part of an electronic coupon book.
  • the coupon book can include data representative of a version number for the electronic coupon book and data representative of a serial number or identification number for the electronic coupon book.
  • the electronic coupon contains all the information necessary to redeem the coupon.
  • the electronic coupon identifies the grantor (i.e., the party or vendor that will redeem the electronic coupon), the nature of the discount or benefit provided and a unique serial number or other data structure that permits the electronic coupon to be authenticated or validated.
  • a server redeeming this type of electronic coupon can obtain all the information necessary to redeem from the electronic coupon.
  • the server can even include the software necessary to authenticate or validate the electronic coupon.
  • an electronic coupon book includes a unique serial number or identification number and data structure useful for authenticating or validating the electronic coupon book.
  • the actual content of the electronic coupon book can be determined for example, by visiting a website which reads the coupon book serial number and provides the user with listings of the coupons available.
  • a benefit to this configuration is the organization that issues the electronic coupon book can add vendors even after the electronic coupon book has been issued. Thus, if a vendor signs up with the organization that issues electronic coupon books after a particular coupon book has been issued to a client, the vendor can be added to the electronic coupon book at a later date.
  • the server that intends to redeem the electronic coupon must connect to an authentication server which will authenticate or validate the coupon book and indicate the nature of the benefit of the electronic coupon to the server requesting authentication/validation.
  • Another benefit of this configuration is that the coupons are relatively tamper-proof due to the authentication and validation facilities. In many prior art systems, coupons could be copied and/or altered by the user with relative ease; in the absence of validation/authentication schemes, few reliable methods for detection of such counterfeits exist.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram 200 of a method of defining promotions in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the commercial server system 120 FIG. 1, establishes a connection with the promotion server system 130 over communications network 160.
  • the commercial server system then initiates the creation of a promotion by logging on to the website hosted by the promotion server system, step 204.
  • promotion defining code on the promotion server system When logged on, promotion defining code on the promotion server system generates screen display data that prompts the commercial server system to input parameters to define the promotion.
  • the commercial server chooses the category of the item for which the promotion is to be created, step 206. Item categories include groceries, health and beauty aids, apparel, electronics, etc.
  • Each category includes several subcategories that help to narrow the item down to a specific class of item.
  • An example of the parameters input by the commercial server system is described below with reference to FIGS. 3A-3E.
  • the commercial server system chooses the type of promotion that is to be created.
  • the types of promotions include a value discount promotion, a percentage discount promotion, a "buy X get Y" promotion and a gift promotion, in which a client receives the promotional item free without having to satisfy any other purchasing requirements.
  • the commercial server system then inputs starting and expiration dates for the promotion, step 210, and the total number of promotions available for redemption, step 212.
  • the commercial server system then defines the rule for the promotion, step 214.
  • Defining the rule includes specifying the number of items that must be purchased to take advantage of the promotion and selecting specific item that must be purchased, step 216.
  • the value of the promotion is defined. In the case of a value discount promotion, the actual discount in dollars and cents is defined; in a percentage discount promotion, the discount as a percentage is defined; and in a "buy X get Y" promotion, the free item (Y) that is received if the promotional item (X) is purchased, is defined. In the case of a gift promotion, only the quantity and identity of the promotional item is defined.
  • the retail category of the item is then selected, step 220.
  • the commercial server system selects one or more e-tail server systems on which the promotion will be available, step 222. Once all of the promotion parameters have been input, the promotion is given a title, for storage on the promotion server system, step 224.
  • a static or dynamic image for the electronic coupon that will be created by the promotion server is then either selected from a database of images on the promotion server or input to the promotion server from an external input device, step 226. Alternatively, audio clips and links to related web sites may be incorporated into the promotion.
  • step 228 the promotion is launched and an electronic coupon is generated by code within the promotion server system, step 230.
  • the electronic coupon is stored on the promotion server and is available to be accessed by either an e-tail server system or a client system during the course of a purchase transaction between the client system and the e-tail server system.
  • the purchase transaction is initiated when the client system 150 establishes a connection with the commercial server system 120, which in this example is preferably an e-tail server system.
  • the client system 150 can trigger a promotion in a number of ways.
  • a promotion can be triggered simply by accessing the website hosted by the e-tail server system or by selecting or purchasing a promotional item.
  • the e-tail server system 120 establishes a connection with the promotion server system 130 and transfers information about the selected or purchased item to the promotion server system 130.
  • the promotion server system 130 searches its database to locate an electronic coupon that pertains to or is related to the selected or purchased item, as determined by the commercial server system that set up the promotion.
  • the promotional server transmits the electronic coupon to the client in the form of screen display data.
  • the promotion server system 130 includes pointer code that points the client system to the promotion terms stored in the database of the promotion server system when the client system 150 accesses to electronic coupon.
  • the purchase transaction is then modified based on the terms of the promotion that is represented by the electronic coupon
  • FIGS. 3A-3E are screen displays generated by the promotion server.
  • a promotion for a $0.20 discount for "DemoProductl" brand cola is created.
  • FIG. 3 A shows a first screen display 300 that is presented to the commercial server system after logging on to the website hosted by the promotion server system, steps 202 and 204, Fig. 2.
  • window 302 the category of the promotional item is selected, step 206.
  • the subcategory "cola” is contained in subcategories “sodas” and “beverages”, which are contained in general category “groceries”.
  • Window 304 prompts the commercial server to choose the type of promotion, step 208.
  • Windows 306 and 308 prompt the commercial server system to input the starting and expiration dates of the promotion, respectively, step 210, and window 310 prompts the commercial server system to input the total number of available promotions, step 212. In this example, 1,000 promotions will be created. The promotion server counts from this figure every time an electronic coupon is transmitted to a client system.
  • a second screen display 320, FIG. 3B the commercial server system is prompted to define the rule for the promotion, step 214. This is done by inputting the quantity of the promotional item that must be purchased to take advantage of the promotion in window 322 and inputting the brand name of the promotional item into window 324, step 216.
  • the quantity entered in window 322 is "1" and the brand name of the promotional item "DemoProductl" is input into window 324.
  • button 326 is "clicked” by the user of the commercial server system, a listing of all of the products in the promotion server systems database that are categorized in the category selected in step 206 are displayed. The user then selects the promotional item from the list and it is inserted into window 324.
  • the amount of the discount, $0.20 is input into window 328, step 218.
  • Fig. 3C shows a third screen display 330, including a window 332 which prompts the user to select the retail category of the promotional item, step 220.
  • the retail category "Groceries" is selected from the pull-down window that opens when arrow 334 of window 332 is "clicked".
  • Within each retail category stored on the database of the promotion server 130 is a listing of the e-tail server systems that offer the promotional item for sale and have access to the promotion server system. Once the retail category is selected, a list of the available e-tail server systems is displayed in window 336. Using selection buttons 338, the user then selects one or more of the e- tail server systems and adds them to window 340, step 222. In this example, e-tail server system "DemoSite" is selected and added to window 340.
  • screen display 350 prompts the user to input a title for the promotion into window 352, step 224.
  • the title "Buy 1 DemoProductl get US$0.20 off is input into window 352 for the current promotion.
  • a description of the promotional item is input into window 354.
  • an image is selected from window 356, which lists available images for the promotional item.
  • an image can be uploaded to the promotion server system through window 358. In this example, the image "DemoCola.gif ' is selected from window 356, step 226.
  • screen display 360 FIG. 3E
  • Screen display 360 includes all of the promotion parameters input to the promotion server system to define the promotion, including the resulting the image of the electronic coupon 362 that is presented to the client system during the course of a purchase transaction.
  • the user then confirms the promotion parameters, step 228, by "clicking" launch button 364.
  • the promotion server system Upon confirmation of the promotion parameters, the promotion server system generates the electronic coupon, step 230, which includes display code that is presented to the client system and pointer code that points the client system to the parameters associated with the promotion which are stored in the database on the promotion server system.
  • the present invention provides a method of and system for defining a promotion for a purchase transaction over a communications network.
  • the promotions are remotely defined by commercial server systems such as e-tailers, manufacturers and distributors.
  • the promotions and the electronic coupons that are created as a result of the definition of the promotions are stored on the promotion server system and are accessible to client systems that initiate a purchase transaction with an associated e-tail server system.

Abstract

Un système de définition d'une promotion d'article par le biais d'un réseau comprend un système de serveur de promotions et un système de serveur commercial que l'on peut coupler de manière sélective au système de serveur de promotions. Ce dernier comprend un code de définition de promotion servant à inciter le système du serveur commercial à entrer des termes de la promotion d'article, et un code de génération de coupon électronique permettant de générer un coupon électronique représentatif de la promotion d'article en fonction des termes de promotions entrés par le système du serveur commercial.
EP01933200A 2000-06-19 2001-05-09 Procede et systeme de definition d'une promotion Withdrawn EP1311995A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59666400A 2000-06-19 2000-06-19
US596664 2000-06-19
PCT/US2001/014879 WO2001098987A1 (fr) 2000-06-19 2001-05-09 Procede et systeme de definition d'une promotion

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1311995A1 true EP1311995A1 (fr) 2003-05-21

Family

ID=24388188

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01933200A Withdrawn EP1311995A1 (fr) 2000-06-19 2001-05-09 Procede et systeme de definition d'une promotion

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1311995A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2004505335A (fr)
AU (1) AU2001259642A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2412920A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001098987A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7912214B2 (en) 2007-07-20 2011-03-22 Amadeus S.A.S. Method and system for generating and controlling the distribution and use of personal promotion codes by targeted customers
FR2985215B1 (fr) 2011-12-28 2014-09-19 Saint Gobain Performance Plast Revetements polymeres deposes sur des substrats par des techniques de projection thermique

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5845259A (en) * 1996-06-27 1998-12-01 Electronic Consumer Concepts, L.L.C. Electronic coupon dispensing system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0198987A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2412920A1 (fr) 2001-12-27
AU2001259642A1 (en) 2002-01-02
WO2001098987A1 (fr) 2001-12-27
JP2004505335A (ja) 2004-02-19

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