ITMI20010001A1 - COMPUTER PROGRAM SYSTEM AND PRODUCT PROCEDURE TO PROVIDE A REAL TIME VERIFICATION TRACK OF REDEMPTION PROMOTIONS OF CONS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

"COMPUTER PROGRAM PROCESS, SYSTEM AND PRODUCT TO PROVIDE A REAL-TIME VERIFICATION TRACK OF CONSUMER REDEEMED PROMOTIONS"

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the use of a computer network and, more specifically, a computer program method, system and product for providing an audit trail for redeemed online or "online" customer offers or promotions. As used herein, the terms "offers" and "promotions" refer to any advertisement to induce a desired buying behavior or desired shopping habits and / or to foster the growth or development of something (e.g. customer loyalty to an Online or "offline" or offline retail store). A promotion or offer may take the form of a discount voucher or coupon, certificate, email or email, advertising messages, remuneration, purchase incentives, discounts, advertising campaigns, or any combination of these, for example.

Background Discussion

In recent years, systems and processes have been developed for distributing discount coupons or coupons across a computer or computer network. However, a potential difficulty with the distribution of coupons over a computer network is that manufacturers and retailers may view such a system as more susceptible to fraud than unconventional coupon or coupon distribution processes. The problem, of course, is that users can alter the image content of the coupon (such as the value of the coupon), or repeatedly print a coupon image, or constitute a fraudulent coupon from scratches or engravings. Printing coupons with a complex background pattern or design, or an extended barcode, makes unauthorized modification or creation of coupons more difficult, but there is still the potential for fraud.

Therefore, in U.S. Patent No. 6 014 634, incorporated by reference, a "token / voucher" system and related process are described in which, instead of a coupon, a "token" or token is generated by a computer. users after interacting with a distribution website. The user chooses from online incentive offers, but instead of a coupon being generated, a token is generated. This token includes encoded information, such as barcode information, stating that the user has visited the website and has selected one or more promotional items. Around the same time that the token is generated, the user also receives a shopping or shopping list that identifies the promoted items that have been inspected during the visit to the website, as well as any other selected items.

Although the token is not a coupon and has no value in itself, it constitutes a trigger mechanism that the user / consumer can present at a so-called "brick and mortar" retail store qualified to receive a "voucher" for a cumulative cash discount based on the promotional items purchased by the consumer. In this way, the "token and voucher" system and process provide increased security for promotions introduced by Web sites and which are redeemable at so-called brick and mortar retail stores.

There are several fundamental reasons for the success of the previously indicated system and related process in a general environment of so-called offline brick and mortar retail stores. First, they are a secure system and process for distributing purchase incentives (e.g. in the form of cash vouchers or cash) to consumers to purchase specific products from consumer package goods (CPG )" participants. Second, the system and process are safe from both consumer fraud and retailer fraud and redemption and / or bad redemption defects.

However, with the recent popularity of, for example, online grocery-grocery shopping websites, and other e-commerce or "e-commerce" websites there is a need to provide such promotional offers to consumers shopping as well at. online retail stores.

In addition, there are systems and procedures for monitoring network page views and / or related activity, capable of providing independent page and computer counting and / or software capable of reading recordings or so-called "logs" generated by a Web server. in a network to provide vision and activity stalking, etc. In addition, "banner" advertising service companies provide vision and activity tracking and other banner service software. Additionally, websites tracking page views and user activity on their respective website networks.

However, in some of the aforementioned tampering or pursuit systems, and related procedures, the accounting verification or "auditing" is performed with respect to files that are under the management and control of a computer network that must be monitored. Thus, both activity logs and transaction records or records are generated by the monitored network. However, there are independent systems and processes that measure activity on a network or measure an action taken by a user for a specific task or event. These systems and processes, however, do not provide a function of verifying or auditing a group of transactions created by the user.

Therefore, there is currently no system or method for providing increased security for promotions introduced by computer networks, such as the Internet, which are redeemable at online retail stores.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel computer program method, system and product for measuring user activity on a monitored computer network and for compiling an audit trail or "audit trail" of user activity. on the monitored computer network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer program method, system and product for generating a discrepancy report based on a comparison between an audit trail and transactions reported from a monitored computer network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer program method, system and product for transmitting verification data collected through interaction with a specific consumer device used to access a monitored computer network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method, system and computer program product for creating an audit record and for storing the audit record when each interaction is performed and placed in a data base .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method, system and computer program product for compiling an audit trail of user activity on a monitored computer network, including those pages which the user sees, those selections that are made or those activities that are performed by the user, timing of the user's views, selections and / or activities, and identification of a consumer device used to create the user's activity on the computer network monitored.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer program method, system and product for recording audit trail records through a database, for comparing audit trail records with transactions reported to a network. of monitored computers and to generate a discrepancy report based on audit trail records and transactions reported from the monitored computer network.

The foregoing and other purposes are achieved, according to the present invention, by providing a new method, system and computer program for generating an audit trail of user activity on a website server to be monitored. , including a content server configured to measure user activity on the monitored website server; and a database server coupled to the content server. The content server is configured to receive measured user activity from the content server, compare measured user activity against online purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server, and generate discrepancy information based on comparison. The content server is independent of the monitored website server. User activity includes at least one of a count of a number of web pages including a product subject to an offer presented to the user by the monitored website server, a count of a number of clicks by the user on products subject to offers on web pages presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of products subject to an offer included in a web page presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a user's shopping basket at the monitored website server, a count of a number of checkout baskets at the monitored website server that have a product subject to a offer therein, a count of offers deduced from a user's order in an order confirmation web page at the monitored website server, and an identification of a unique device used by the user to access the server of the monitored website.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete evaluation of the invention and many of the consequent advantages thereof can be readily obtained as it is better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for providing an audit trail for redeemed online customer promotions, according to the present invention;

Figures 2a, 2b and 3 are web page arrangements for implementing an audit trail function according to the present invention;

Figures 4a-4f are flow diagrams to describe the operation of the system of Figure 1, according to the present invention;

Figures 5a-5c are diagrams for describing data structures used in the system of Figure 1, according to the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a diagram of a general network system relating to the system of Figure 1, according to the present invention; And

Figure 7 is an exemplary computer system that can be programmed to perform one or more of the methods or processes of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts in the various views, and referring more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a schematic illustration of a system for providing an audit trail or "audit trail" for redeemed online customer promotions. The system includes an offer server 104, a website server 114, a content server 124, a database server 154, a clearing house 152, and a consumer device 134. The system provides an offer setting function. 102, a website real-time operations function 112, and a report operations function 138.

By means of the aforementioned system, the present invention can be applied to the rapidly developing industry such as online or online shopping for grocery-food items, commercial-electronic or e-commerce transactions, etc., offering a secure implementation. redemption of online offers / promotions. The system includes a monitoring component that allows the content server 124 to ensure security by monitoring consumer activity, such as viewing online offers, selections, redemptions, etc., performed by a consumer through the consumer's device 134 coupled to website server 114. The system also includes a clearing component, which enables payment, billing, and reporting by providing a discrepancy report 162 to the traditional 152 clearing house serving the CPG and retail grocery community . The discrepancy report 162 is generated by the database server 154, based on offers redeemed in a compensation file 140 generated by the website server 114 and consumer activity on the website server 114 collected by the content server 124 and stored in the database server 154.

In the above scenario, the website server 114 (i.e. an e-commerce partner and monitored network) implements an interface described in an application programming interface (API), as will be further discussed. Promotional offers 106 and corresponding universal product codes (UPC) 108, for example, provided on a daily basis, a weekly basis, a monthly basis, etc., are downloaded from the offer server 104 through 110 signal lines and are incorporated in the website server 114. When a consumer, through the consumer's surface 134, performs browser programming actions 116, purchases 118, checks 120, etc., products and / or services, such as grocery-food items, etc. , subject to offers 106, the server 124 of the content through the signal 122 monitors the activity of offers, such as presentations 126 of offers, "clicks" on products subject to offers 128, redeems offers 130, 11 device 134 of the single consumer by executing activity 132 of offers, etc., on the website server 114 on a real-time basis. The content server 124, via the signal lines 136 then transfers this consumer's observed data 156 to the database server 154, which stores the consumer's observed data 156. At the end of a predetermined period, such as for example a day, a week, a month, etc., the clearing archive 140 of redemptions 142 of online purchases is downloaded via the website server 104 to the database server 154 through signal lines 148 and to the designated clearing house 152 through signal lines 150. The database server 154 then generates the discrepancy report 162 based on clearing data 158 extracted from clearing file 140 and based on the data 156 observed by the consumer.

The present invention thus provides an independent process and system for recording web page views, consumer activity and actual consumer devices employed against offers 106 presented by the website server 114 in a manner enabling a comparison of transactions reported by the server 114. of the website in the clearinghouse 140. The server 114 of the website holds control over the flow of content, navigation, offers and presentation and activities on the network of the server 114 of the website. The servers 104, 114, 124 and 125 are any suitable server, work station, personal computer (PC), or other devices, etc., capable of carrying out the methods or processes of the present invention. The consumer device 134 is any suitable device capable of carrying out the methods of the present invention, such as a personal computer, a "lap top" computer, an interactive television, a so-called television set-top apparatus, a portable device, a personal digital assistant, a voice access device for telephony, a telephone, a mobile phone, a visual kiosk, a wireless device, etc. The servers 104, 114, 124 and 154 and the consumer device 134 communicate with each other using any suitable protocol and can be implemented using the computer system 70 of Figure 7, for example.

It is to be understood that the system of Figure 1 is for exemplary purposes only since many variants of the specific hardware employed to implement the present invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the functionality of the offer server 104, the content server 124 and the database server 154 can be implemented through one or more programmed computers. To implement these variants as well as other variants, a single computer (e.g. computer system 701 of Figure 7) can be programmed to perform the special purpose functions of the offer server 104, the content server 124, and the web server 154. database shown in Figure 1. On the other hand, two or more programmed computers can be substituted in place of any one of the website server 114, the offer server 104, the content server 124, and the base server 154 of data represented in Figure 1. Principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy and replication, can also be implemented as desired to increase system robustness and performance, for example.

The following discussion, provided in relation to Figures 2a, 2b, and 3, describes an application programming interface (API) including rules and procedures for the website 114 server (i.e. an online retail partner). to obtain, present and grant or assign offers 106 of the website server 114. By implementing the API, the server 114 of the website thus has the ability, for example, to offer consumers hundredths of dollars in product discounts (via UPC) or groups of products purchased online. An offer typically consists of a product (UPC) or product groups (of UPCs) which, when purchased online, the consumer will receive the offer quantity indicated as a discount on the purchase or online shopping order. Often, an offer has a minimum purchase quantity before the offer can be granted. Sometimes an offer requires the purchase of two or more products (UPC codes).

The website server 114 presents the offers 106 to the consumer device 134 for example in two ways as shown in Figures 2a and 2b. In Figure 2a, the website server 114 generates a Web page 202 including, for example, an offer page logo 204 and one or more offer logos or buttons 208. An amount of 214 offer savings is presented alongside a normal price 22 0 of a 206 product. Product 206 may include a product description, a link to a product description and / or a graphic image of the product. The offer 208 logo is placed next to each product 206 subject to an offer. Once product 206 has been selected to be placed in a shopping basket, the offers logo 208 is employed to track specific products displayed to the consumer to receive offer-based savings. Depending on the implementation of the website server 114, the offer logo 201 may be provided for display purposes only or constructed to accommodate both a purchase and a discount in a single click. Web page 202 may further include (i) one or more 210 products that are not subject to offers and a price 220 of them and (ii) a link 212 to identify the computer used to access Web page 202. The link 212 for identifying the computer used to access the Web page 202 can be implemented by employing common access interface scripts or "common gateway interface (CGI)" known in the field to perform a similar function or through so-called "cookies" stored on the consumer's device used to access Web page 202 or embedded as part of the process to retrieve and display the offer pages logo 204 and / or offer logo 208 as the experts in the field or related fields will understand.

In Figure 2b, the website server 114 generates a web page 202 including, for example, an offer page logo 204, one or more offer logos 208 and corresponding products 206, amount or amount of savings 214, and price 220, but not data related to products that are not subject to offers. Web page 202 can list offers grouped by category (eg categories of retailers) with a link to a page listing individual promoted products (UPCs). Except for the observed differences, the Web page 202 of Figure 2b works in a similar way to that of Figure 2a.

When the consumer is ready for the payment check-acknowledgment, or has acknowledged via the consumer's device 134, the website server 114 generates a web page 302, for example as shown in Figure 3. A similar web page 302 may be presented in an Online transaction confirmation stage (i.e. when a view of the contents of the shopping basket is presented) and / or in the final stage of the online transaction (e.g. when an online purchase confirmation receipt is presented). In each case, the 302 web page includes, for example, a 304 confirmation page logo and one or more 308 confirmation logos for 306 products subject to offers. For each product 306, a price 320 and an amount of savings 314 are included. Web page 302 may also include one or more products 310 that are not subject to an offer and respective prices 320 of them. Web page 302 also includes a total cost 316 of the online transaction, for example including state taxes, local taxes, etc. and a total 318 of the amounts of savings 314. Except for the observed differences, Web page 302 of Figure 3 works in a similar way to that of Figure 2a, including a link 312 and / or a cookie to identify the computer used to log in. to web page 302.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the look and feel of the presentations of the Web pages 202/302 described above are defined and maintained by the Web site server 114, provided that it includes the aforementioned features described with reference to the Figures 2a -3.

It is to be understood that the aforementioned features described with reference to Figures 2a-3 are for exemplary purposes only, since many variations of the specific features employed to implement the present invention will be readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the logo 208, 308, 204 and / or 304 could be implemented in such a way as to be invisible to the consumer observing and interacting with the website server 114 through the consumer's device 134.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a consumer purchasing a promoted product on the website server 114 receives the discount offered as a deduction of the line items on their order, as previously described. The discount appears on the order and is treated similarly to that of a partial return. Thus, each qualifying purchase with a selected offer is granted a discount of the corresponding online items on the order. Website server 114 is responsible for collecting redemption information and creating an electronic clearing file 140 for submission to database server 154 and its respective clearing house 152.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, offers are valid for one week and are in effect from Monday through Saturday, where the website server 114 manages the submissions of offers to coincide with them, for example. In addition, offers are limited, for example, to one per order, a minimum amount of purchases, etc., where the website server 114 is equipped with the language of offers made available to the consumer for reading and understanding. . Therefore, the software implementation of the website server 114 to handle the submission of bids typically must ensure that only one bid (by type) is allowed for each order. Furthermore, once an offer is granted, the website server 114 suppresses subsequent presentations of the offer or offers granted during the remainder of the same shopping session or for the same shopping basket.

The present invention further includes the following features which will be described in detail below: (i) the ability for the website server 114 to access a list or list of offers 106 from the offer server 104 via UPC numbers 108 for offers which are currently valid for presentation and granting of savings / incentives therein on the 114 server of the website, (ii) a mechanism for counting submissions of 202/302 pages of the website, (iii) a mechanism for counting a number of clicks from page 202 of the website to 206 products subject to offers, (iv) a mechanism to count a number of product presentations 206 that have an offer displayed, (v) a mechanism to count a number of selected products 206 subject to offers and places in a consumer's shopping basket, (vi) a mechanism for counting a number of checkout or "checkout" baskets that have one or more bidding products in them (vii) u n mechanism for counting each saving of online items deducted from the order,

(viii) a mechanism to count devices of unique consumers observing Web pages 202 and / or 302, and (ix) a mechanism to allow the Web site server 114 to collect and transfer the electronic clearing file 140 of granted offers, in where the electronic clearing file 140 is transmitted, for example, on a weekly basis, both to the database server 154 and to the clearing house 152.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a series of query screens are provided at the content server 124 and / or the database server 154 for reviewing the presentations of Web page 202 and / or Web page 302. , aggregate user counts and submitting offers, selected and granted by the website server 114, for example. In addition, a URL, an inbound registration name or "login" and a password or "password" are provided to the website server 114 to request offers 106 and corresponding UPC offers of products 108 from the offer server 104.

With respect to the implementation of accessing and transferring offers 106 and corresponding UPCs of products 108 from the offer server 104 to the website server 114, two exemplary methods will now be described including an online batch request and an FTP archive transfer of or batches. For a plurality of reasons for which reasons of scaling and reliability, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the batch or batch in-line application process is preferred. In addition, the website server 114 is typically responsible for establishing a relationship via a third party clearinghouse 152 and an archive format for the electronic clearing file 140 is presented next as an example of a clearinghouse format. archive known to be used in the electronic clearing of discount vouchers or coupons. Website server 114 will typically require you to ensure the suitability of that archive format with clearinghouse 152 being chosen by website server 114. Should website server 114 choose to change the format of the electronic clearing file 140, then the website server 114 will typically report such changes to the database server 154.

With respect to the batch inline query or batch inline query process, the website server 114 executes a batch query or query through an in-line query request to the offers server 104 which returns to the server 114 of the website offers 106 and UPC of 108 products as electronic data in ASCII, tabular or comma delimited XML data (tab or comma delimited). The website server 114 asks an in-line question such as:

www.offerserver.com/api.pst?From = partenername & Data = Offers & Type = (var) to request current offers 106 and current UPC products 108 from offer server 104, where www.offerserver.com is, for example, the offer server 104's web URL address and the From =, Data = and Type = parameters are replaced before connecting to offer server 104 and are detailed in the following Table 1. The data fields returned in requesting offers 106 and product UPCs 108 are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 1 - Description of the parameters

TABLE 2 - Fields deferred when requesting offer data

With respect to the demand for batches via FTP transfer of a data archive, the offer server 104 grants the website server 114 access to an FTP server or places a similar data archive on an FTP site of the website server 114 after 5pm PST every Friday for example. The offer server 104 website can be located at ftp.offerserver.com/pertenername/, where the "partenername" entry corresponds to a partner identifier assigned by the offer server 104 to the website server 114, for example example. As previously discussed, a userid (for example the assigned partner name) and a password are assigned to gain access to the partner name list or directory. The offer data store located in the aforementioned partner name directory listing is tab delimited ASCII, unless the website server 114 requires an alternate delimiter. There is a sub-list or "subdirectory" positioned within the list or directory of the names of the partners called "product" or "product" (for example ftp.offerserver .con / pertnername / product) storing a graphic archive of the "Product Shot" available for each active offering, where each "Product Shot" graphic archive is 75 x 75 pixels in size and is used to allow the Website 114 server to display consistent product graphics. Table 3 below describes the format of the aforementioned tender data archive.

TABLE 3 - Offer data archive format

Figure 4a is a flowchart to explain the operation of transferring offers from the offer server 104 to the website server 114. In Figure 4a, in step 402, a determination is made as to whether or not offers are required. from the server 104 of the offers through the server 114 of the website, through one or the other of the two procedures previously observed. If no offers are requested, the process returns to step 402. If, however, offers are requested, in step 704 the offers are transmitted through either of the two previously observed processes.

Figure 4b is a flowchart for explaining the general operation of the processes performed by the website server 114. In Figure 4b, in step 410 the website server 114 receives the offer data as previously described. In step 412, the website server 114 requests and receives logos 204, 208, 304 and 308 and links 206 and 306 of the UPC products from the content server 124. In step 414, the website server 114 processes orders and in step 416 it generates and transmits the clearing file 140 to the database server 154 and to the clearing house 152. After the clearing file 140 has been generated and transmitted, the process returns to step 410. The format of the electronic compensation file 140 is, for example, the following, in which all fields are fields of quoted characters, separated by commas:

Field Description

Number of Transactions

Date / Time

Record type

Operator

MFG number

Coupon number

Family Promotion Code

Coupon value

UPC trigger

Family Triggering Code

Price of the Trigger Item

Customer Card Number

Entry Indicator

Valid indicator

The following section describes a process for measuring bid activity as discussed above. The offer server 114 includes licensed content service software (such as Web Trend, etc.) that allows measurement of the presentation event, click and subsequent "actionable" event from presentation of a variety of formats. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the implementation is intended to employ the presentation of the graphics 204, 208 and 308 of the logos of the Web pages 202 and 302 as described with reference to Figures 2a, 2b and 3 for the measurement of bidding activity.

The mechanism for counting offer page submissions is as follows. Web site page 202 includes offer page logo 204 graphics located at the top of Web page 202 and served by content server 124. The content server 124 has the logo 204 and counts the number of these submissions to determine the number of submissions of the offer pages.

The mechanism for counting bid submissions and / or clicks from page 202 of the website to links 206 of UPC products subject to a bid and a number of links 206 present operations in a manner similar to those of the aforementioned implementation. Thus, each presentation of each product link 206 is served by the content server 124, thus enabling counting of presentations to links of UPC products 206 subject to an offer. If the implementation were to include click tracking or tracking then, when a consumer "clicks" on link 206 to view or view a qualifying product, the click on link 206 is counted. In this way, the content server 124 can count the number of link submissions 206 and, when implemented in the system, the number of clicks to links 206 to UPCs of qualifying products.

The mechanism for counting the number of product presentations 206 that have a logo or button 208 of the displayed offers operates as follows. The content server 124 serves the logo or button 208 placed alongside a qualifying product and counts the same.

When implemented in the system, the mechanism for counting the number of discounts of selected offers placed in a shopping basket of a consumer operates as follows. Once one or more qualifying products 206 have been presented to the consumer through Web page 202, the logo or button 208 that is served by the content server 124 is "clicked" to add product 206 and discount 214 to the shopping basket . The content server 124 measures a number of these "clicks" to count the number of discounts of the selected offers placed in a consumer's shopping basket. This method of measurement can be constructed to combine both buying and adding discount to the shopping basket through a single click of the logo or button 208 of the offers.

When implemented in the system, the mechanism for determining the number of checkout or control baskets that have one or more offers present in it operates as follows. When the consumer checks out and the checkout basket (i.e. Web page 302) contains one or more discounts 314, the display of the confirmation logo 304 is served by the content server 124. The content server 124 thus serves the logo 304 and counts the number of these presentations to determine the number of checkout baskets that have one or more offers present therein.

The mechanism for determining each offer granted and each online item deducted from the order operates as follows. The content server 124 serves a small logo 308 next to each of the discounts 314 granted when an order has been completed and page 302 of the completed order is displayed. This submission is known as an "ROI" submission and may be related back to the original bid submission (i.e. Web page 202), and / or clicks to link 206 to determine each bid granted and the online item inferred from the 'order.

The mechanism for determining the devices of unique consumers observing offers operates as follows. Offer web page 202, checkout basket, and / or order completed web page 302 include a link 212, 312 designed to count unique consumer devices, as previously described. In addition, cookies or portions of data must be stored on unique consumer devices to perform this function.

The flowcharts of Figures 4c-4f are employed to describe various processes performed by the content server 124, the database server 154, and the clearinghouse 152 in the aforementioned discussions. In Figure 4c, in step 420, the content server 124 determines whether or not the website server 114 has requested / selected logo 204, offer / confirmation pages 304, links UPC 206, 306, logo 208, offers 308 /confirmation. If it is determined that no requests / selections were made by the website server 114, then the processing returns to step 420. If, however, it is determined that requests / selections were made by the website server 114, then the count it is updated in step 422, the count is transmitted to the database server 154 in step 424, and the processing returns to step 420, completing the process.

In Figure 4d, in step 430, the content server 124 determines whether or not the consumer's web browser visiting the website server 114 through the consumer's device 134 has transmitted an IP address / cookie ID when accessing the web pages 202, 302. If it is determined that an IP address / cookie ID has not been passed, then processing returns to step 430. However, if it is determined that an IP address / cookie ID has been passed, in step 432, then the IP address / cookie ID is transmitted to the database server 154 and processing returns to step 430, completing the process. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the cookie ID process is implemented in the system, the consumer's web browser visiting the website server 114 through the consumer's device 134 is checked for the cookie ID by the content server 124. If no cookie ID is found, then a new cookie ID is transmitted to the consumer's web browser on the consumer's 314 device via the content server 124. However, if fraud or forgery of cookie IDs using the website's 114 server is not an issue, then the website's 114 server may be checking for the cookie ID and / or transmitting the new cookie ID.

In Figure 4e, in step 440, the database server 154 determines whether or not the count information and / or the IP address / cookie ID has been received by the content server 124. If it is determined that the count information and / or the IP address / cookie ID has not been received, then the processing returns to step 440. If, however, it is determined that the count information and / or the ID of the IP address / cookie has been received, in step 442, the counting information and / or the ID of the IP address / cookie in correspondence with the server 154 of the database. In step 144, the database server 154 determines whether or not the compensation file 140 has been received by the website server 114. If it is determined that the compensation file 140 has not been received, then the processing returns. to step 440. If, however, it is determined that the clearing file 140 has been received, the clearing file 140 is compared against the count and the IP address / cookie ID information in the can 446, the ratio 162 of discrepancy is generated by the database server 154 in step 448, and the processing returns to step 440, completing the process.

In Figure 4f, in step 450, the clearing house 152 determines whether or not the clearing file 140 has been received. If it is determined that the compensation file 140 has not been received, the processing returns to step 450. If, however, it is determined that the compensation file 140 has been received, in step 452, the compensation file 140 is processed by clearing house 152 and processing returns to step 450, completing the process.

The data structures of Figures 5a - 5c are employed to describe various data stored by the offer server 104, the website server 114, the content server 124, and / or the database server 154 in the above-mentioned discussions. In Figure 5a, the data structure includes fields 502.518 for storing offer data in the offer server 104, and the website server 114, as previously discussed. Therefore, the data structure includes a 502 field to store the offer identification number, a 504 field to store the number of classes, a 506 field to store the offer description, a 508 field to store the minimum quantity, a field 510 to store the amount of incentives, a 512 field to store the starting date, a 514 field to store the ending date, a 516 field to store the link to the product graphic and a 512 field to store the list of UPC codes.

In Figure 5b, the data structure includes fields 520-532 for storing consumer activity data in the content server 124 and / or the database server 154, as previously discussed.

Therefore, the data structure includes a field 520 to store the number of submissions of offer pages, a field 522 to store the number of clicks of UPC links, a field 524 to store the number of product submissions subject to offers, a field 526 to store the number of products subject to offers placed in a shopping basket, a field 528 to store the number of checkout or control baskets with one or more products subject to offers, a field 530 to store the number of offers granted and inferred online article and a 532 field to store the number of unique observing or sighted computers offered.

In Figure 5c, the data structure includes fields 540 - 566 for storing the data of the clearing file 140 at the website server 114 and / or the clearing house 152 as previously discussed. Therefore, the data structure includes a 14 0 field to store the number of transactions, a 542 field to store the date / time, a 544 field to store the record type, a 546 field to store the operator, a 548 field to store the manufacturer number, a 550 field to store the coupon number, a 552 field to store the familiar promotion code, a 554 field to store the coupon value, a 556 field to store the trigger UPC, a field 558 to store the familiar code for triggering, a field 560 to store the price of the trigger item, a field 562 to store the customer card number, a field 564 to store the entry identifier or indicator , a field 566 to store the valid flag. The data structures shown in Figures 5a - 5c are stored in databases and / or in any other suitable storage device of the respective servers 104, 114, 124 and 154.

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic of the general network system according to the present invention. In Figure 6, the system includes consumer device 134, offer server 104, website server 114, content server 124, database server 154, clearing house 152, and respective databases. 104a, 114a, 124a, 154a and 152a. The offer server 104 is coupled to the website server 114 through the communications network 602. The website server 114 is coupled to the content server 124, the database server 154, the clearing house 152, and the device 134. of the consumer via respective communications networks 604, 610, 606 and 612. The content server 124 is coupled to the database server 154 and to the consumer's device 134 through respective communications networks 608 and 614. The communications networks 602, 604 , 606, 608, 610, 612 and 614 can be implemented through one or more communication networks (for example the Internet, an Intranet and / or a combination of the Internet and Intranets) to satisfy aspects of privacy or privacy and / or security as will be understood by those skilled in the field or fields. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communications network or networks preferably employ electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals carrying digital data streams. As previously discussed, the consumer device 134 is any suitable device capable of carrying out the processes of the present invention such as a personal computer, lap top computer, interactive television, so-called set-top box or auxiliary device. television, portable device, personal digital assistant, telephony voice access device, telephone, cell phone, visual kiosk, wireless device, etc., as those skilled in the art or related fields will understand.

The present invention stores information relating to various processes described herein. The information is stored in one or more memories such as a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and / or a RAM, for example. One or more databases, such as databases 104a, 14a, 124a, 152a and 154a can store the information used to implement the present invention. Databases are organized using data structures (e.g. records, tables, matrices, fields, graphs, trees and / or lists) contained in one or more memories, such as the memories listed above or in any of the storage devices listed later in the discussion of Figure 7, for example.

The whole invention or a portion of the invention may be conveniently implemented using conventional general purpose or universal purpose computers or microprocessors programmed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the computer field. Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinary experience based on the teachings of this disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the field of software.

Figure 7 illustrates a computer system 701 on which an embodiment according to the present invention can be implemented. Computer system 701 includes a bus 703 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 705 coupled with bus 703 for processing the information. The computer system 701 also includes a main memory 707, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device (e.g. a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a synchronous DRAM ( SDRAM), a flash RAM) coupled to bus 703 to store information and instructions to be executed by processor 705. In addition, main memory 707 can be used to store temporary variables or other intermediate information during the execution of instructions that must be executed. be executed by the processor 705. The computer system 701 further includes a read-only memory (ROM) 709 or other static storage device (e.g., a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM)), and an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM)) coupled to the 703 bus to store static information and instructions for the 705 processor. A 711 storage device, such as a disk magnet ico or an optical disk, is provided and is coupled to bus 703 to store information and instructions.

Computer system 701 may also include special purpose logic devices (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) or configurable logic devices (e.g., a generic logic matrix (GAL) or reprogrammable field programmable gate arrays. (FPGA)). Other removable media devices (e.g. compact discs,

a tape, and removable magneto-optical media), or high-density fixed media drives, can be added to the computer system 701 using an appropriate device bus (e.g., a small computer system interface bus (SCSI), an enhanced integrated device electronics (IDE) bus, or an ultra-direct memory access (DMA) bus). The computer system 701 may additionally include a compact disc player, a compact disc read-write unit, or a compact disc jukebox, each of which may be connected to the same device bus or to another device bus. .

The computer system 701 can be coupled via bus 703 to a display 713, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) for displaying information to a computer user. The display 713 can be controlled by a display or graphics card. The computer system includes input devices, such as a keyboard 715 and a cursor control 717, for communicating information and command selections to the processor 705. The cursor control 717, for example, is a mouse, trackball or directional keys of the cursor for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 705 and for controlling cursor movement on display 713. In addition, a printer can provide printed lists of the data / information structures represented in Figures 2a, 2b, 5a, 5b r 5c or any other data stored and / or generated by the computer system 701.

The computer system 701 executes a portion of or all of the processing steps of the invention in response to the execution by the processor 705 of one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in a memory, such as the main memory 707. These instructions can be read into main memory 707 from another computer readable medium, such as a storage device 711. One or more processors in a multiprocessing arrangement may also be used to execute the instruction sequences contained in main memory 707. In Alternate embodiments, hard-wired circuitry can be employed in place of or in combination with software instructions. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software circuitry.

As previously indicated, the system 701 includes at least one computer readable medium or memory programmed in accordance with the teachings of the invention and for holding data structures, tables, records or other data described herein. Examples of computer readable media are compact discs, hard drives, flexible discs, tape, magneto-optical discs, PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM SRAM, SDRAM, etc. Stored on any of or a combination of computer readable media, the present invention includes software for controlling the computer system 701, for driving one or more devices to implement the invention, and for allowing the computer system 701 to interact with a human user (for example a consumer visiting the website server 114). This software may include, but is not limited to, piloting elements or device drivers, operating systems, development tools, and application software. These computer readable media further include the computer program product of the present invention for performing all or a portion (if the processing is distributed) of the processing performed in implementing the invention.

The computer code devices of the present invention can be any interpreted or executable code mechanism, including, but not limited to, writings, interpreters, dynamic link libraries, Java classes, and complete executable programs. Furthermore, parts of the processing of the present invention can be deployed for better performance, reliability and / or cost.

The term "computer readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium participating in providing instructions to the processor 705 for execution. A computer readable medium can take various forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical, magnetic and magneto-optical disks, such as storage device 711. Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as main memory 707. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and optical fiber, including the wires that make up the bus 703. The transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.

Common forms of computer readable media include, for example, hard disks, flexible disks, tape, magneto-optical disks, PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, or any other magnetic media, compact-disc (e.g. CD-ROM) or any other optical media, punched cards or cards, paper tape, or other physical media with hole patterns, a carrier wave (described below) or any other media from which a computer can read .

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor 705 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be brought to a remote computer's magnetic disk. The remote computer can load the instructions to implement all or a portion of the present invention remotely in a dynamic memory and transmit the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A local modem for the computer system 701 may receive data over the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data into an infrared signal. An infrared detector coupled to bus 703 can receive data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on bus 703. Bus 703 carries data to main memory 707, from which processor 705 retrieves and executes instructions. Instructions received from main memory 707 may optionally be stored on storage device 711 either before or after execution by processor 705.

Computer system 701 also includes a communications interface 719 coupled to bus 703. Communications interface 710 provides a bi-directional data communications coupling to a network link 721 which may be connected, for example, to a local network 723. For example, the communications interface 719 may be a network interface card for attachment to any packet-switched local area (LAN) network. As another example, the communications interface 719 may be an asymmetric digital subscriber line card (ADSL), an integrated services digital network card (ISDN), or a modem to provide a data communication connection. to a corresponding type of telephone line. Wireless links can also be implemented. In any such implementation, the communications interface 719 transmits and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals carrying digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 721 typically provides data communication across one or more networks to other data devices. For example, the network link 721 may provide a connection to a computer 725 through a local network 723 (e.g. a LAN) or through equipment operated by a service provider or provider, which provides communications services through a communications network 727. In preferred embodiments, the local network 723 and the communications network 727 preferably employ electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals carrying digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on the network link 721 and through the communications interface 719, which carry digital data to and from the computer system 701, are exemplary forms of carrier waves carrying the information. The computer system 701 can transmit notifications and receive data, including program codes, over the network or networks, the network link 721, and the communications interface 719.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the previous teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the protective scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced differently from what is specifically described herein.

1. A system for generating an audit trail or "audit trail" of user activity on a website server that needs to be monitored, comprising:

a content server configured to measure user activity on the monitored website server;

a database server coupled to the content server and configured to:

receive user activity measured by the content server,

compare measured user activity against online purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server, and generate comparison-based discrepancy information,

where the content server is independent of the monitored website server, and user activity includes at least one of:

a count of a number of web pages including a product subject to an offer presented to the user by the monitored website server,

a count of a number of clicks aside

Claims (60)

the user to products subject to offers on web pages presented to the user by the monitored website server, a count of a number of products subject to an offer included in a web page presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a user's shopping basket in correspondence of the monitored website server, a count of a number of checkout or "checkout" baskets at the monitored website server that have a product subject to an offer in them, a count of offers inferred from a user's order on an order confirmation web page at the monitored website server, and an identification of a unique device used by the user to access the monitored website server. System according to claim 1, wherein the content server and the database server comprise a single server. System according to claim 1, further comprising: an offer server coupled to the website server and configured to transfer data including a product subject to an offer to the website server. System according to claim 3, wherein the content server, the database server and the offer server comprise a single server. A system according to claim 1, wherein the purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server is in the form of a clearing file including offers granted for purchases made on the website server. A system according to claim 1, wherein the generated discrepancy information based on the comparison is in the form of a discrepancy report. 7. System according to claim 1, further comprising: a clearinghouse configured to receive at least one of the purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server and the discrepancy information generated by the database server. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the count of the number of web pages including a product subject to an offer by transmitting a logo to the server of the website displayed on each web page including a subject product to an offer and by billing a number of such transmissions. System according to claim 1, wherein the content server configured to determine the count of the number of clicks by the user has products subject to offers by transmitting logos to the server of the website displayed next to each product subject to a offer and by counting a number of clicks on the logo. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the count of the number of products subject to an offer by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer and counting a number of these transmissions. System according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the count of the number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a user's shopping basket by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer placed in the shopping basket and counting a number of these transmissions. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the count of the number of checkout or checkout baskets that have a product subject to an offer therein by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed in the basket checkout and counting a number of these transmissions. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the count of the number of offers deducted from a user's order by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer in the order confirmation web page and counting a number of these transmissions. The system according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine identification of a unique device employed by the user to access the monitored website server by including a link of common gateway interface scripts or " common gateway interface (CGI) "to identify the unique device used to access the monitored website server in a web page presented to the user by the monitored website server. System according to claim 1, wherein the content server is configured to determine the identification of a unique device used by the user to access the server of the monitored website by storing a portion of data or "cookies" on the unique device used to access the monitored website server. A system according to claim 14, wherein the unique device identification comprises a communications network address of the unique device. A system according to claim 15, wherein the unique device identification comprises a communications network address of the unique device. A system according to claim 16, wherein the communications network address of the unique device comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address of the unique device. A system according to claim 17, wherein the communications network address of the unique device comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the unique device. A system according to claim 1, wherein the unique device includes one of a personal computer, a lap top computer, an interactive television, an auxiliary appliance or television set-top box, a portable device, a personal digital assistant, a voice access device for telephony, a telephone, a cell phone, a visual kiosk, and a wireless device. 21. A process for generating a verification face or "audit trail" of user activity on a website server to be monitored, comprising the steps of: measure user activity on the monitored website server through a content server provided regardless of the monitored website server; couple a database server to the content server; configure the database server to perform the steps of: receive user activity measured by the content server, compare measured user activity against online purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server, and generate offset-based discrepancy information; And set user activity to include at least one of: a count of a number of web pages including a product subject to an offer presented to the user by the monitored website server, a count of a number of clicks by the user to products subject to web page offers presented to the user by the monitored website server, a count of a number of products subject to an offer included in a web page presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a user's shopping basket at the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of checkout baskets at the monitored website server that have a product subject to an offer in them, a count of offers inferred from a user's order on an order confirmation web page at the monitored website server, and an identification of a unique device used by the user to access the monitored website server. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the content server and the database server as a single server. 23. A method according to claim 21, further comprising: couple an offer server to the website server; And Configure the offer server to transfer data including a product subject to an offer to the website server. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the content server, the database server and the offer server as a single server. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server in the form of a compensation file including offers granted for purchases made on the website server. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of generating discrepancy information comprises generating a discrepancy report. A method according to claim 21, further comprising: configure a clearing house to receive at least one of the purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server and the discrepancy information generated by the database server. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of web pages including a product subject to an offer by transmitting a logo to the web site server displayed on each web page including a product subject to an offer and counting a number of these transmissions. 29. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of clicks by the user to products subject to offers by transmitting a logo to the server of the website displayed next to each product subject to a offer and counting a number of clicks to the logo. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of products subject to an offer by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer and counting the number of these transmissions. 31. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a user's shopping basket by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer and placed in the shopping basket and counting a number of these broadcasts. 32. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of checkout or checkout baskets that have a product subject to an offer therein by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed in the basket checkout and counting a number of these transmissions. 33. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of offers inferred from a user's order by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer in the order confirmation web page and counting a number of these transmissions. 34. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring the content server to determine the identification of a unique device employed by the user to access the monitored website server including a common access interface script link or " common gateway interface (CGI) "to identify the unique device used to access the monitored website server in a web page presented to the user by the monitored website server. 35. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the content server to determine the identification of a unique device used by the user to access the server of the monitored website by storing a portion of data or "cookies" on the unique device used to access from the monitored website server. The method of claim 34 further comprising configuring the unique device identification as a communications network address of the unique device. A method according to claim 35, further comprising configuring the unique device identification as a communication network address of the unique device. The method of claim 36, further comprising configuring the communications network address of the unique device as an Internet protocol (IP) address of the unique device. The method of claim 37 further comprising configuring the communications network address of the unique device as an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the unique device. 40. A method according to claim 21, further comprising configuring the single device as one of a personal computer, a lap top computer, an interactive television, an auxiliary device or "set-top box" of the television, a portable device, an assistant personal digital device, a voice access device for telephony, a telephone, a cellular telephone, a visual kiosk, and a wireless device. 41. Computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program embedded in the computer storage medium or memory for generating a user activity audit trail on a website server to be monitored, the computer program performing the steps of: measuring user activity on the monitored website server through a server of the expected content regardless of the monitored website server; couple a database server to the content server; configure the database server to perform the steps of: receive user activity measured by the content server, compare measured user activity against online purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server, and generate offset-based discrepancy information; And set user activity to include at least one of: a count of a number of web pages including a product subject to an offer presented to the user by the monitored website server, a count of a number of clicks by the user to products subject to offers on web pages presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of products subject to an offer included in a web page presented to the user by the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of selected products subject to offers placed in a user's shopping basket in correspondence the server of the monitored website, a count of a number of checkout baskets at the monitored website server that have a product subject to an offer in them, a count of offers inferred from a user's order on an order confirmation web page at the monitored website server, and an identification of a unique device used by the user to access the monitored website server. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the steps of configuring the content server and the database server as a single server. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the steps of; couple an offer server to the website server; And configure the offer server to transfer data including a product subject to an offer to the website server. A computer program product according to claim 43, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server, database server and offer server as a single server. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the purchase redemption information provided by the server of the monitored website in the form of a clearing file including granted offers for purchases made on the website server. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the step of generating discrepancy information comprises generating a discrepancy report. 47. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring a clearing house to receive at least one of the purchase redemption information provided by the monitored website server and the information discrepancy generated by the database server. 48. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of web pages including a product subject to an offer by broadcasting a logo to the website server displayed on each web page including a product subject to an offer and counting the number of these transmissions. 49. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of clicks by the user to products subject to offers by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer and counting a number of clicks to the logo. 50. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of products subject to an offer by transmitting a logo to the site server Web displayed next to each product subject to an offer and counting a number of these broadcasts. 51. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of selected products subject to offers and placed in a shopping basket of the 'user by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed next to each product subject to an offer and placed in the shopping basket and counting a number of these transmissions. 52. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of checkout baskets that have a product subject to an offer in they by transmitting a logo to the website server displayed in the checkout basket and counting a number of these transmissions. 53. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the count of the number of offers inferred from a user's order by transmitting a logo to the server of the website displayed next to each product subject to an offer on the order confirmation web page and counting a number of these transmissions. 54. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the identification of a unique device employed by the user to access the site server Monitored web including linking common gateway interface (CGI) common access interface writings to identify the unique device used to access the monitored web site server in a web page presented to the user by the monitored web site server. 55. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the content server to determine the identification of a unique device employed by the user to access the website server. monitored by storing a portion of data or cookies on the single device used to access the server of the monitored website. A computer program product according to claim 54, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the unique device identification as a communications network address of the unique device. A computer program product according to claim 55, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the unique device identification as a communications network address of the unique device. 58. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the communications network address of the unique device as an Internet protocol or "Internet protocol (IP)" address of the single device. 59. The computer program product of claim 57, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the unique device communications network address as a unique device Internet protocol address. 60. Computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program product further performs the step of configuring the unique device as one of a personal computer, lap top computer, interactive television, auxiliary or settop appliance television box, a portable device, a personal digital assistant, a voice access device for telephony, a telephone, a mobile phone, a visual kiosk and a wireless device.