WO2001027838A1 - Environnement de commerce integre (ice) un procede d'integration d'entreprise hors ligne et en ligne - Google Patents

Environnement de commerce integre (ice) un procede d'integration d'entreprise hors ligne et en ligne Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001027838A1
WO2001027838A1 PCT/US2000/028068 US0028068W WO0127838A1 WO 2001027838 A1 WO2001027838 A1 WO 2001027838A1 US 0028068 W US0028068 W US 0028068W WO 0127838 A1 WO0127838 A1 WO 0127838A1
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customer
profile
store
business
message
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PCT/US2000/028068
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English (en)
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L. Lee Hefner, Jr
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Hefner L Lee Jr
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Priority to AU10784/01A priority Critical patent/AU1078401A/en
Publication of WO2001027838A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001027838A1/fr

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    • 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

  • ICE Integrated Commerce Environment
  • the present invention relates generally to a method of enhancing electronic commerce.
  • the present invention relates to a means of using a computer-based network (1) to add convenience and value to the lives of shoppers, (2) improve the lifetime values of customers that shop in bricks-and-mortar retail stores, and (3) to add value to businesses that conduct sales electronically, including on the Internet.
  • Search engines rely on specific rules regarding key words to find a particular site.
  • a typical user trying to find a site concerning a specific topic might type in a key word related to the topic, and receive back references to hundreds of thousands or even millions of sites that all contained that key word.
  • Even a Boolean combination of several keywords may still commonly return thousands of site references, thus making it difficult for a business owning a site to attract the attention of viewers as a result of competition from other sites.
  • Hyper links which are connected from a merchant's web site to other web sites, can be effective in attracting viewers to the merchant's site — provided that the other sites actually have traffic, and that a portion of that traffic clicks on the hyperlink.
  • the problem with this method is that, even if the other sites have traffic, many viewers may not choose to click on the hyperlink to the merchant's site because the hyperlink may not seem to be that interesting.
  • An Infomediary would protect the privacy of its clients from intrusive advertisements on the Web while delivering to marketers highly focused and descriptive profiles of potential customers in certain markets.
  • One of the challenges with such a business model will be the high cost of acquiring new clients to participate in the business of the Infomediary. Typical estimates currently run from $50 to $100 to acquire a single client. A method of reducing client acquisition costs would certainly benefit an Infomediary business.
  • Interruption Marketing is the enemy of anyone trying to save time. By constantly interrupting what we are doing any given moment, the marketer who interrupts us not only tends to fail at selling his product, but wastes our most wished commodity, time. In the long run, therefore, Interrupt Marketing is doomed as a mass marketing tool. The cost to the consumer is just too high.
  • Permission Marketing offers the consumer an opportunity to volunteer to be marketed to. By talking only to volunteers, Permission Marketing guarantees that consumers pay more attention to the marketing message. It allows marketers to tell their story calmly and succincdy, without fear of being interrupted by competitors or Interruption Marketers. It serves both consumers and marketers in a symbiotic exchange.”
  • Catalina has been creative in using UPC-based scanner technology to target consumers and distribute coupons at supermarket checkouts based on current purchase behavior. It has also used messages delivered in store by a standard printer and messages delivered by email. It has been a leader in purchase-based, individually customized communications and promotions.
  • Fulfillment House refers to a business that can receive an order with payment for a commodity and deliver the commodity to the end consumer.
  • One example includes a cellular telephone airtime service company that receives an order from a customer to buy airtime. The company "delivers" airtime by crediting the account of the customer so that the customer can make a cellular telephone call.
  • a second example of a Fulfillment House is a gift store that receives an order for a crystal vase. The store packs the vase and ships it via Federal Express to the customer's home.
  • a third example of a Fulfillment House is a software vendor that receives an order for a particular computer program.
  • the vendor delivers the program electronically to the customer's standard personal computer by downloading it via the Internet]
  • Information a component of any product that adds to its value. The better the information about a physical product or a service, the more the customer will tend to value it. This is often what a successful brand does in communicating its unique selling proposition. 4. Fantasy — People enjoy escaping from their daily routines. The film, television, and game arcade industries are all based upon.this fact.
  • the right information about a product or service adds value to a business.
  • a common commodity often gains value in the eyes of a consumer when special knowledge about the commodity is revealed. For example, a football used to win a Super Bowl championship is worth more than an ordinary football.
  • a new trend in retailing is to offer entertainment in retail stores as a means of keeping customers loyal and to increase word-of-mouth advertising. Chucky Cheese restaurants have attracted millions of youngsters due to the entertaining atmosphere, complete with robots, found in hundreds of restaurants. Retail chains in recent years have begun to focus on increasing lifetime value of their customers. New businesses such as Infomediaries can benefit from economical methods in gaining customers.
  • Virtual communities have been one of the most significant trends that has arisen out of the Internet revolution.
  • the forum for such meetings has typically been computer bulletin boards, discussion groups, or chat groups, where participants may go online to talk about anything from cars to children, personal to professional issues, politics or anything else under the sun.
  • the historical beginnings of online or virtual communities for the masses had its beginnings in the early >90s on proprietary services such as in America Online chat rooms.
  • virtual communities can also be used by businesses (e.g., eBay, Cisco Systems) as an integral part of their business model.
  • businesses e.g., eBay, Cisco Systems
  • communities creates "stickiness", i.e., they make customers want to return because of established online relationships or because of rewards points accumulated in games and contests.
  • Hagel and Armstrong argue that communities will play a major role in the
  • Member loyalty in a virtual community is a function of member emotional attachments related to what the community is about. For example, a community related to pets might engender greater loyalty than a community related to home improvement supplies because people have a greater emotional attachment to their animals than they do to aluminum siding. A community can be very profitable after it gets going. Communities can, after buildup to critical mass, also achieve exponential growth that can reach 20% per month when they are well managed.
  • CPN Catalina Marketing Network
  • CMN One of the functions of the CMN is that when customers in a retail store use a loyalty card, each customer is identified at the checkout, along with the products purchased, by means of barcode scanning of the loyalty card and each purchased product.
  • the CMN keeps a purchase profile on each customer for about a 52 week period.
  • the CMN can print out coupons during the checkout that are designed to influence shopper purchase behavior to buy certain products and to return to the store to redeem coupons. These coupons make rebate offers to customers that are based upon the actual purchase behavior of individual customers.
  • Catalina has been a pioneer in using new technology to market electronically to the customer in the retail store. Yet, new technological capabilities and new consumer trends point the way toward even more innovations that retail chains use to improve lifetime value of their customers.
  • ICE is a system that integrates online and offline commerce. There are two components that work together synergistically to create maximum integration: the Portal User Magnet Process (PUMP), and the Shopping Cart Computer (SCC).
  • PUMP Portal User Magnet Process
  • SCC Shopping Cart Computer
  • PUMP Portable User Magnet Process
  • PUMP essentially provides a marketing network that offers benefits to its users. It comprises a computer-based system that functions as an intermediary among the various stakeholders in PUMP, such as customers, retail merchants, wholesalers, Fulfillment Houses, vendors, and one or more Internet portal companies. Furthermore, customers and merchants and other users have access to database-derived information, including a variety of reports and analyses. For these reasons, PUMP also improves the businesses of the commercial stakeholders.
  • PUMP was chosen as an acronym because the invention serves as a virtual traffic pump to business web sites. It comprises a new method for driving web site viewers to a designated web site (the Web Store). Combining the principles of database and permission marketing, it uses customized point-of-sale printouts.
  • a retail checkout-counter standard printer can provide a printed promotional message to a customer in real time at checkout.
  • the promotional message is the first step of a communications suite designed to hook the customer into visiting the Web Store site to take advantage of the offer of the promotion.
  • one or more offers which are designed to begin a dialogue with the customer are made available on a web site screen.
  • the customer that accepts the offer is giving the marketer permission to send him something of interest.
  • the customer In order to receive anything, the customer must provide personal data (e.g., name, home address, or email address) to the marketer.
  • personal data e.g., name, home address, or email address
  • the marketer can gradually add information to the customer profile in a database that will help target the customer with offers that are relevant to his needs, wants, or interests.
  • PUMP After the customer is induced to visit the Web Store the first time, PUMP will offer something to the customer. If the customer agrees, PUMP arranges for the delivery of the item. In this way, the item is anticipated.
  • PUMP can be personal by communicating to the customer in a way that lets the customer know that PUMP knows who he is.
  • Product and customer profiles are used to trigger rules-based promotional messages to be printed out at point of sale and to appear on PUMP web site screens. This provides relevancy.
  • CBS Core Business Systems
  • Two of Catalina's programs which PUMP augments are:
  • Nexstar Communications Inc. model - PUMP expands the existing business of in-store electronic sale of virtual inventory of companies like Nexstar by adding an infrastructure which can extract a larger share of the customer's wallet.
  • a customer in a retail business can buy a range of products or services that are not physically in stock in the store. This is accomplished by using a standard electronic standard credit- card- type terminal or by giving to the customer a toll-free telephone number to place the order, which is then delivered to the customer.
  • Toys "R” Us model - PUMP helps a large chain like Toys “R” Us that has been left behind by startup companies (e.g., eToys) in Internet commerce. Many such large chains have now decided that they must catch up or risk extinction. PUMP provides the mechanism to generate traffic quickly and efficiendy to web sites that can be promoted at the point of sale in a retail store.
  • startup companies e.g., eToys
  • Small, independendy-owned retail store model - PUMP allows a small retail business to compete with larger chains by profitably selling specialized product selections and providing information to customers on the Internet with little or no expense to the retailer.
  • PUMP provides the platform for a business to develop in a series of planned stages designed to start on a relatively modest scale and grow to a large online organization.
  • Three such stages that may be used in a PUMP lifecycle are: a. PI - stands for the 1st level implementation of PUMP and adds value to the CBS by providing an infrastructure and a set of procedures that acquire increasing permission from customers that first walk into a retail establishment, and then later visit the Web Store site by using a standard personal computer.
  • PX - stands for PUMP eXtension, and becomes implemented when PUMP is applied to multiple industries. When this happens, the number of customers is increased. The opportunity for building broader customer profiles is also increased.
  • PM - stands for PUMP infoMediary, which is an information intermediary business that acts as an efficient middleman between buyers and sellers of products and services.
  • a rule in a PUMP database includes: If a customer buys products that indicate children in the household, print a certain class of promotions on sales receipts. Such a promotion, for example, is: "WIN a chance for a four-year COLLEGE EDUCATION for your child! Visit www.ourWebStore.com/kids.”
  • the promotion on the point-of-sale printout will vary in effectiveness in persuading the customer to visit the Web Store due in part to the quality of the customer profile, which can range from non-existent when there is no information on the customer to very good when at the checkout counter of a store a customer is identified for which there is a history which has been built over time.
  • a customer-specific printout triggered by a customer identification card e.g., check cashing, discount, or smart
  • a customer identification card e.g., check cashing, discount, or smart
  • An example includes customer-specific life event-triggers, such as a new baby in the family being born, or a graduation or marriage by a family member.
  • a product UPC-triggered promotion generates a printout based only on profiles of products being purchased.
  • the link with a database where product profiles are stored triggers rules for generating promotions for particular trigger products. Examples include: a. Baby or children products trigger: "To win a chance for a free college education for your child at www.ourWebStore.com/kids. b. b. Alcoholic beverages trigger: party contests - "Win free party drinks every weekend for a year! Go to www.ourWebStore.com/party”. c. Pet products trigger: - "Get tips on your pet! Go to www.ourWebStore.com/pets"
  • a holiday-triggered printout comprises holiday-specific promotions generated by rules based on which holiday is approaching. — "Great Gift Ideas for Every Member of the Family! Go to www.ourWebStore.com.”
  • a special event-triggered printout is associated with any event, either personal, local, national, or global, which justifies a promotion. Examples include: a. Sporting event (e.g., Auburn/Alabama Football game) trigger -
  • the next step is to design permission suites for Web Store visitors. For example, once a customer visits a Web Store promotions-related page, she is led to a dialogue which at least once and/or substantially always offers the opportunity for her to gain something in return for her personal information. For instance, she sees something like the following types of dialogue:
  • Sporting events "Choose the exact score of your game and win big!”, “Get your tee shirt with the score on it!, “Get your tee shirt with your choice of photo on the front.” 5.
  • Seasonal themes “Win a genuine leather jacket in time for Thanksgiving.”
  • PUMP performs a number of different functions. It hooks consumers by offering something (e.g., prizes, information, etc.). To receive it, the consumer must register by entering personal information (e.g., name, address, etc.). In this way, the first step in acquiring permission to market to the consumer is obtained.
  • the Web Store also offers a means of selling products and services, and offers information of interest to consumers.
  • the merchant can receive a sales commission from this service. If the Web Store visitor becomes a customer, he or she will receive a personal account page on the customer Extranet, which is accessible using a password. Thereafter, the customer may check account information, including delivery schedules, service consumed, incentive points accumulated, and so on.
  • the personal account page will become increasingly personalized as the customer indicates more and more preferences over time.
  • SAMIS Sales And Marketing Information System
  • a preferred embodiment of the PUMP includes a retail store set up with a standard credit-card- type of terminal with UPC scanning capability, connected to a standard printer capable of printing the required promotions.
  • Variables in any setup are whether or not a store chooses to make in-store sales of virtual inventory, keyed into the standard credit card terminal (i.e., the Nexstar model), and what product, service, and window configuration on the Web Store to use.
  • PUMP is beneficial to retail merchants because it increases the worth of a customer to a retail business in three ways.
  • the customer's database profile becomes enriched over time with more and more details regarding that person's tastes and preferences, the offers become better focused on meeting the needs of that customer.
  • the bricks and mortar business can be promoted on the Web Store with promotions to bring the customer back in the door.
  • PUMP will benefit Fulfillment Houses because after the initial investment of time and energy necessary to populate the PUMP Fulfillment House Database with product specifications and information, there is the capability of providing large numbers of customers. This happens because the PUMP process is efficient in attracting Web Store viewers. As PUMP progresses through the stages of growth from PI, to PX, to PM, the numbers of Web Store customers grows quickly. Furthermore, there is a cross network effect in the customer base that is evidenced, for example, when a customer of a pet store visits the Web Store of the pet retail business. There he discovers that a sporting goods store in his town also uses PUMP. The customer may eventually buy products from the sporting goods' Web Store, thus benefiting the sport goods Fulfillment House that serves that industry. When the Web Store pages are smartly designed and configured, Fulfillment Houses soon begin to rely on PUMP for much of their business.
  • Vendors are delighted from the benefit of primary research data, information and intelligence on their key markets that are accessible through PUMP. Furthermore, by using consumer profile standards, the PUMP operator is able to identify and deliver pre-qualified customers that have a high likelihood of purchasing the vendor's product. This reduces and often almost eliminates the vendor's sales expense, especially if the vendor makes use of PUMP as a sales medium.
  • PUMP provides an efficient Infomediary business tool that operates between manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and end consumers because, by using appropriate profile standards that efficiendy communicate preferences from potential customer to potential seller, marketers have a higher chance of selling products and services at a lower cost.
  • PUMP comprises a traffic magnet with a permission acquisition process, it will build a large customer base with deep permission. This will attract massive attention from the retail, wholesale, and manufacturing industries.
  • ICE Integrated Commerce Environment
  • ICE creates an even better incentive for customers to act on in-store promotions by supplementing the promotions found on printed receipts with promotions from an additional channel.
  • ICE comprises a method to build profiles of retail store customers. Such profile information will provide the web sites of retail stores the flexibility to customize ICE for individual customers. In doing so, the online businesses of the stores will become more attractive to consumers.
  • ICE comprises a system that adds a number of new promotional techniques to traditional methods of attracting customers to web sites. It provides a new shopping and entertainment tool, the Shopping Cart Computer (SCC), which is a small computer with a graphic display, mounted on the back of a shopping cart in a way that allows the shopper to benefit from shopping and entertainment programs during a shopping session in a retail store. It attracts the customers of retail chains to revisit the stores and to use the SCC in the stores.
  • the SCC uses a wireless connection to connect to promoted web sites on the World Wide Web.
  • shoppers will benefit from a Shopping Program, which will save them time and money while shopping in the store, as well as from.an entertainment program, called the bonding program or the Bonding Site.
  • the Bonding Site is an entertainment-providing web site available on the SCC. It offers benefits such as commercial transactions, targeted online community memberships, relevant information related to the consumers interest, and entertainment options involving fantasy.
  • the retail stores will improve customer lifetime values. An additional benefit will be to build traffic to retail store web sites.
  • ICE also helps build new types of businesses that have sprung up in the Internet era, such as virtual communities and_Infomediaries.
  • ICE builds online communities that meet identified needs of defined segments of retail chain customer bases. These communities can be owned and managed by the ICE operator, herein called ICEOP, or by third parties.
  • An incentive given to retail stores can be to allow free or bargain price advertising in a core number of virtual communities.
  • ICE is the springboard that allows the efficient and profitable construction and building of business-to-business electronic marketplaces. It provides Business-To-Business (B2B) ecommerce markets with the retail stores that serve at the bottom of supply chains as buyers to become a magnet attracting sellers (i.e., the suppliers) into the electronic market.
  • B2B Business-To-Business
  • a typical scenario using ICE begins, in an exemplary_embodiment, when a customer goes shopping in her usual grocery store.
  • a diagram shows how a flat screen can be retracted from a protective case in order for a shopper to see a display while standing behind the shopping cart.
  • the Shopping Cart Computer optionally runs a short introductory program when the shopping cart is retracted from the recharging/docking station. When the program is displayed in a_video clip on the screen, the customer realizes how easy the.system is to use. 4.
  • the Shopping Program permits the customer to access product category.
  • The_SCC presents the customer with several programmed options which make up the core functions of the Bonding Site: Commercial Transactions, Community, Information, and Fantasy. She selects fantasy, and for several minutes plays a game with several other shoppers who are all using the SCCs to play the same game in competition with each other while waiting in the checkout line. It is even possible to send other shoppers email messages by addressing the messages to individual shopping carts, which are tagged with easily visible unique numbers. Throughout the entire shopping session, the SCC programs make a number of offers to.the customer, who can respond in the affirmative is she is interested in one or more of the offers.
  • she can send an email message to her personal email account to reminder her of the offers she has accepted, with directions on how to take advantage of them. 7.
  • she gets to the checkout she presents a loyalty card to the clerk, which allows her to get certain discounts.
  • the clerk scans the card as well as all of the products purchased.
  • the SCC identifies which checkout station the customer has selected by means of a wireless position sensor.
  • the SCC loads the customer's click stream data into the customer's profile record which is kept in an ICE database.
  • the SCC enters a closing program which:
  • ICE prints out a receipt for the customer.
  • On one side of the receipt is a itemized list of the products purchased.
  • On another part of the receipt is a barcode promotion to visit a Web site.
  • the Bonding Site is promoted on the receipt she brought home with her as well as in the promotional reminder email that she sent to herself. She goes to the Bonding Site URL by clicking on the hyperlink in the promotional email.
  • the bricks-and-mortar retail store has an online catalog of its products. She opens a private account on a password-protected customer extranet.
  • her_delight she is able to automatically load and edit the specifications of the products purchased at her last visit to the store into her account for easy management of her shopping list that can be used on her next visit to the store. She learns that she can choose any items from the store's catalog to be added to her next shopping list.
  • a fingerprint scanning sensor or some other biometric means (e.g., retina scan, voice print) built into the SCC positively identifies the customer, after the customer initializes the identification system.
  • a fingerprint scanning sensor or some other biometric means (e.g., retina scan, voice print) built into the SCC positively identifies the customer, after the customer initializes the identification system.
  • She can also access her account by inputting a password.
  • a second screen display shows the store's layout, with blinking numbers indicating the store aisles where her selected products will be found. By following directions, the customer quickly and efficiendy picks up all of the items on her shopping list, with no lost time searching for products.
  • the SCC offers the customer again a choice of programming. This time the customer chooses to learn about the ingredients of the products she is purchasing. She pulls up.the product information from the store's catalog. She spends a minute considering the fat content of the mayonnaise in her shopping cart. She then reads a promotion that appears on the screen for a competing brand of ice cream from the brand that she has selected. She agrees to accept the promotion by pressing a button on the screen that will give her a 20 percent rebate upon purchase of the competing product on her next visit to the store. The screen tells her of the terms and conditions regarding the rebate.
  • ICE prints out a receipt similar to the one the customer received on her previous visit to the store.
  • the printer also prints out a coupon entitling her to the rebate that she has earned.
  • ICE Over the course of several uses of the Bonding Site or other ICE programs, which she accesses either in-store from the SCC or at home from her standard personal computer, ICE begins to collect a significant history of click stream data from the customer. This allows increased accuracy in targeting the demographic and lifestyle segment that fits the customer's description. This, in turn, allows ICE to print receipt promotions and/or send email promotions that hit the hot button interests of the customer. These promotions direct the customer to web sites that meet her needs.
  • the customer learns how to scan the barcode printed on a receipt from the bricks-and-mortar retail store into a digital camera attached to her personal computer.
  • This allows her Bonding Site visits to be more relevant, since any one of several means of identification used during a shopping session in a store (e.g., loyalty card, barcode, etc.) or during a Bonding Site session from a PC (e.g., name, email address, cookie) is a means of using the profile information collected during that session to augment and update the profile of the customer.
  • the customer goes to the Bonding Site.
  • a version of the Web Store is used under the transaction section available through the Bonding Site, is sponsored by the retail store, and is promoted through advertisements and links from the Bonding Site.
  • the Web Store is a benefit that appears on the Bonding Site home page and is a customizable configuration of features available to retail clients.of ICEOP.
  • the client can see the customizable information related to the sponsoring retail store (e.g., from the store catalog) within a.subsection of the Web Store, the Merchant Window.
  • the customer can also see promotions within other subsections of the Web Store, the
  • the customer's profile record which is kept in a back-end database within ICE, is empty or has yet to be created.
  • the customer may choose to identify herself by using some form of personal or anonymous identification (e.g., customer card, biometric parameter such as a fingerprint, etc.).
  • ICE builds a permission base with customers by giving each customer customized messages that appear on the screen of the SCC on every store visit, based on a store-specific, product-specific, or customer-specific profile. If on each visit to the store or on each session using the Bonding Site from a personal computer, the customer identifies herself by some means (e.g., biometric, ID number, barcode), ICE is able to both improve the customer profile on subsequent sessions, and also better able to target promotions to individual customers.
  • some means e.g., biometric, ID number, barcode
  • ICE will additionally build a customer profile based on purchase behavior.
  • the profile can be enhanced when the customer visits the Bonding Site and identifies herself using one of the approved methods of identification.
  • the message displayed on the SCC screen or printed out at the point-of-sale may invite the customer to learn more about a topic of interest related to her profile (e.g., pets, kids, or gardening) by visiting the Bonding Site to sign up for a free newsletter, to be notified by email of sales, or to access archives on topics of interest that have been contributed by a community of members.
  • ICE uses a technique of seduction, relying on known hot buttons based on product or customer profiles to offer something that will be of interest to the customer. The better the profile is, using, for example, demographic or lifestyle data, the more effective.the promotion can be in attracting the customer online.
  • ICE can:
  • ICE will be an effective tool in reducing churn at retail store_web sites if the customer profile information helps make the sites more relevant and personal to consumers.
  • ICE represents a new method of integrating offline with online business.
  • the drivers and benefits of ICE are:
  • ICEOP the "ICE Operator”
  • ICEOP uses the electronic marketing network embodied in ICE and is in the position of having an infrastructure in place which could be used to enormous advantage in helping retail chains to compete in cyberspace.
  • ICEOP can benefit by attracting the rush of retail chains eager to build online businesses and by helping them achieve better profits per retail store as well as per manufacturer. Profits can be shared with retailers that result from advertising on the SCC while.the customer stands in the checkout line, and from fees paid by manufacturers to promote specific products within the SCC
  • ICE provides a quick and efficient way to promote online sales, with frequency and reach, to a retailer's customers.
  • Customers standing in checkout lines are typically captive audience in many large stores for 3 to 8 minutes.
  • Well targeted promotions, appealing to a customer's hot-buttons interests have a good chance of attracting the customer online, either to a retail store's own web site or to the customized merchant window, found on the_Bonding Site's transactions sector. Either site, using customer profile information, has a good chance at making a sale to the customer.
  • ICE provides a quick and efficient way to build virtual communities and to attract members to the communities. Appealing to customer's interests can attract the customer into a virtual community. Infomediaries offer a way to tap the potential of virtual communities.
  • 10. ICE provides an advantage to the developers of business- to-business electronic marketplaces in acquiring buyers and sellers using the Framework building strategy.
  • ICE has three basic components - The Magnet, Communities, and the
  • the Magnet is the first part of a multi-step strategy embodied in this invention and consists of several components:
  • the Magnet can be instrumental in helping retail stores attract and keep online customers while building lifetime values.
  • the Magnet is the means of attracting customers in retail stores to return to the store repeatedly and to influence customers to_recommend the experience to other people.
  • the Magnet will enhance customer lifetime value, and also encourage the customers to visit designated web sites.
  • the Magnet augments the transaction offerings of the retail store by attracting the customer to buy products online.
  • the Magnet also encourages the customer to develop relationships with other online community members, indulge in fantasy through games, and get information from other virtual community members or from community moderators.
  • customers can have all four of the Bonding Site sections (i.e., Transactions, Community, Information, and Fantasy), as well as shopping program displays, delivered in a customized format to them.
  • Bonding Site sections i.e., Transactions, Community, Information, and Fantasy
  • shopping program displays delivered in a customized format to them.
  • Each visit to a participating store results in messages delivered through the SCC that are relevant and personal to the customer.
  • the word BOND Building Online Neighborhood Dialogues
  • the Bonding Site has the purpose of binding the customers to the retail stores and to the advertisers that buy advertising on the Bonding Site.
  • the Bonding Site serves as an essential part of the Magnet. It helps attract customers that use the SCC to come back to the store to shop again. It also helps to attract the same customers to visit promoted web sites using a personal computer after leaving the store.
  • ICE has an assortment of features that serves as stepping stones on the way to turning a first-time visitor into a valuable customer for a retail store that uses ICE.
  • the Bonding Program entertains the customer standing in the checkout line while offering four basic options: Transactions, communities, Information, and Fantasy. If the SCC programming is sufficiently creative and attractive to the customer, she will want to return to the store to experience it again. Incentive programs (e.g., points and/or contests) can be used in the SCC programming to encourage return visits.
  • the SCC runs three main programs: the Shopping Program, the Bonding Site Program, and the Closing Program.
  • the Bonding Site is an ICE web site that the customer first encounters in the store using the SCC but later may revisit from a personal computer (e.g., at home or at work).
  • a retail store using ICE can specify its own customized version of a Bonding Site used by the SCCs in a store.
  • the store can also specify auxiliary or complementary products that can be sold on its Web Store using a store catalog available online through the Merchant Window.
  • Special-interest virtual communities that are introduced to a retail store customer and that are accessible on the SCC will be a value that is added to the shopping experience. For example, a customer in a pet store standing in line at the checkout might discover a virtual community related to raising pedigree cats. Since the customer has a pedigree cat, this community is of special interest to her. Since the Bonding Site will also be accessible through a personal computer, this virtual community can be a valuable resource that lets the customer meet others online that are as passionate about her interest as she is.
  • Auxiliary information related to a store's products, policies, or background which may be available in the store's online catalog can be of special importance in adding value to the customer's shopping experience. Additional information related to the focus of particular virtual communities and mined from the communities' discussions is available on community archives web sites. These various sources of information add to the richness of the customer's experience in shopping at the store. Discussions related to the focused interests of virtual communities provide feedback to ICEOP that can lead to programming opportunities for the Bonding Site that, in turn, will further bond with and creates loyalty in members of the virtual communities.
  • ICE allows customers to track their own continuing progress in a game or a contest between store visits by means of identification techniques (e.g., barcodes on receipts and on PC printouts of shopping lists) that allow customers to maintain continuity between store visits.
  • identification techniques e.g., barcodes on receipts and on PC printouts of shopping lists
  • ICE builds a profile on observed behavior of each customer. The better a customer is profiled, the more likely her hot buttons can be identified. The more the customer specifies a preference, need, want, or desire, the better the profile will be. The more times the customer touches the ICE system (i.e., either using an SCC in the store or a standard personal computer elsewhere), the more opportunity there will be to build the profile. Therefore, frequency of contact with the customer is a goal as well as the result of ICE. It also happens to be the goal of the retail merchant. Frequency of contact can be accomplished using a number of methods besides in-store SCC, including e-mail and online coupon marketing.
  • the Bonding Site should be designed to seduce the customer through a soft sell philosophy:
  • Bonding Site It is an ICE web site that: • Seduces customers to visit bricks-and-mortar stores and to go online by offering entertaining programming free of charge without any sales pressure to buy something and without obligation,
  • Offers targeted content e.g., editorial column on keeping a pet healthy
  • fantasy e.g., games and contests related to pets or otherwise
  • relationships with people of similar interests e.g., chat and discussion about
  • German shepherds and transaction options (e.g., special deals in the local store or online).
  • the Bonding Site is analogous to commercial television, which attracts viewers by offering free programming, and then feeds the viewers advertising. From the Bonding Site, which has a much better chance of building the kind of personal relationship bond that will keep customs coming back than would a typical commercial web site, the transition to visit the retail store web site is easy, because each Bonding Site has links to the sponsoring retail store's web site. In attracting the customer to the Bonding Site, the goal is to: 1. To engage the first time customer to start a trust and permission-building marketing cycle. This begins by making attractive offers in order to begin a dialogue and discovering customer hot-button interests, which make possible more relevant promotions designed to satisfy their revealed interests, tastes, and needs. 2.
  • Bond with or create a relationship with the customer by entertaining her in the checkout line by using the featured communities, games and contests, information, and products for sale.
  • Tools such as online coupon marketing are • also available to help bond the customer to the system.
  • Bonding Site software There can optionally be two versions of Bonding Site software: the programming used for a store's SCC, and the programming accessible from a personal computer. Since a typical customer has only a few minutes in the checkout line of a brick-and-mortar retail store, the Bonding program as implemented for use on the SCC may not be designed to allow surfing for a long period of time.
  • the in- store version can provide short clips of transactions, community, information, and fantasy with the option for the customer to go more in depth later using a personal computer.
  • the in-store version Bonding Site experience for the customer can be analogous to the movie previews one sees in a movie theater.
  • the in-store experience ideally might offer tantalizing previews of some features that are available on the fullblown Bonding Site, which is accessible from a personal computer.
  • advertisements and promotions will be a component of the programming.
  • the receipt barcode can be scanned into a digital camera attached to a standard computer or, alternatively, the unique receipt number which can be manually typed in on the keyboard of the computer. Either case will bring up, by using special browser software, a Bonding Site customized according to rules linked to the customer's profile.
  • ICE helps in building up virtual communities to critical mass sooner, shortening time to reach profitability. It generates, concentrates, and locks in traffic to communities. It generates traffic to communities and encourages memberships in communities by providing the desirable speed in acquiring members. The best technology strategy is based on speed and leverage, and ICE provides it by accelerating virtual community member acquisition and creates the opportunity for member profile building and enhancement.
  • ICE provides the process of leading retail store customers from the point of sale in a brick-and-mortar retail store to a targeted online community. In this way ICEOP can become the owner and manager of a stable of communities and be the director of membership traffic to others. Merchants will become be willing participants of such community building by guaranteeing them: • The overall benefits of ICE, including
  • a typical Infomediary tracks a cat owners community and has analyzed the profiles of its members. The Infomediary then approaches a number of companies marketing animal-related products and services. Armed with aggregate profiles of the community members, the Infomediary asks an organic cat food company to bid for the business of the community members by making special offers. The cat food company is only too happy to oblige, since it can dramatically reduce its marketing, sales, and distribution costs by selling direcdy to this qualified group of consumers. The Infomediary then places an advertisement in the virtual community discussion with an offer to the members of 20 percent off on the cat food. Interested community members can respond by going to a special web site hosted by the cat food company.
  • ICE is important to the building of communities due to the speed and economy that it provides. Pundits (e.g. Hagel and Singer) predict that this market will be owned by the company with the first mover advantage.
  • ICEOP has a good chance of being that company, due to the many advantages offered by ICE. Since ICE is a generator of new community members, its operator is in a lucrative position. ICEOP can evolve into being an organizer of customer groups that aggregate online in virtual communities.
  • Business-to-business ecommerce will be an important application in ICE. This opportunity will revolve around the emerging trend of establishing electronic marketplaces, which will service many of the future needs of retail supply chains.
  • the business-to-business Framework is a mechanism for growing a dynamic electronic marketplace quickly and economically for the benefit of the retail chains that will participate.
  • ICE is capable of relieving this problem by substantially reducing the costs in acquiring a buyer base (i.e., the retail merchants which participate in ICE).
  • ICE can solve the chicken and egg issue, by aggregating retailers online. Retail store executives will visit business community sites, access industry-related news, and conduct business online while checking their ICE results on special password-accessible private account pages on the merchant extranet.
  • ICEOP will be able to partner with one or more companies (e.g., VerticalNet) specializing in building online marketplaces that can provide the technical and marketing know-how necessary to succeed.
  • the ICE technical infrastructure required to implement a business-to-business ecommerce market involving the retail chains serviced by ICEOP is named the ICE Framework. It could potentially be even more lucrative than the Magnet or community operations, depending on how the Framework is negotiated with the partners that help in building vertical and horizontal hubs.
  • Vertical hubs comprise aggregates of companies that are brought together to create an electronic market that serve relatively narrow industrial segments (e.g., a vertical supply chain).
  • Horizontal hubs comprise aggregates of companies that are brought together to create an electronic market that serve customers across industrial divisions or sectors (e.g., banking, insurance, advertising)
  • An example scenario of building the Framework would be when ICE is a new experiment at the retail store, the store manager is interested to find out how well ICE is performing. He logs onto a password protected Merchant Extranet private online account page. There he learns the following information: • Total of customer SCC sessions
  • a supplier of the retail chain merchant has read an advertisement in a trade publication which has been placed by ICEOP.
  • the supplier responds by visiting the SAMIS web site that promotes the benefit of ICE and by eventually joining the ICE network.
  • the supplier is then able to sell his products to the retail chain on the business-to-business Framework.
  • ICE A multitude of suppliers in both the vertical and horizontal hubs follow suit by joining the ICE network. Not only are they able to market their products to the retail store chains that participate in ICE, but they are also able to market their products to each other within the context of the business-to-business Framework.
  • the ICE system knows what the customer of the brick-and-mortar retail store buys and adds that information to the customer's profile record in a database. ICE also keeps track of the customer's clickstream and data input behavior online. The benefits of this information are: • ICE builds a profile of the customer's consumer behavior and SCC usage, which deepens over multiple visits to the store.
  • ICE comprises a computer network which routes data between retail stores and one or more remote databases, a number of SCCs, and one or more checkout points-of-sale and/or kiosks using barcode scanners and printers.
  • ICE includes the following functions. • The system employs the SCC identification verification subsystem comprising biometric or other means of identification, click stream uploading, and loyalty card scanning to identify the customer and product barcode scanning to identify what products the customer is buying,
  • ICE initially gathers information clickstream data from an SCC during a customer's shopping session. To the system uploads the data to the ICE database where the customer profile information is kept. Later, if the customer acts on the promotions offered on the printed receipt or in the self- addressed email promotional message, she visits the Bonding Site where her profile may be deepened as she generates a new clickstream. Afterwards, anytime the customer uses an SCC or visits the Bonding Site from a standard personal computer, the clickstream produced augments and enhances the profile and thus can result in more targeted promotions. Bridging between sessions is accomplished using a customer card, barcodes, cookies, or other means that can be used for user identification.
  • ICE proposes to use customer profile data to show promotions on the SCC screen that entice the customer to visit the web site of the brick-and-mortar store, to enter an online contest, or to join an online discussion or chat community related to the business of the store (e.g., pets, sports, or health).
  • customers in a pet store could receive an SCC promotion or a checkout receipt promoting an online discussion group related to breeding pedigree cats if the customer profile indicates that the customer likes or has a cat.
  • ICE provides for the concentrating of online traffic around topical or demographically-related subjects (e.g., raising pets, kids, or flowers) while extracting valuable profile information from customers that visit web site pages that can be used to deepen the relationship.
  • the Magnet will increase the customer referral rate, the retention rate, and the lifetime value provided that the customer gets sufficient continuing profit from the Shopping Program, the Closing Program, and the Bonding Site Program and affiliated links. Sufficient continuing profit from the customer's point of view is a direct function of the quality of the customer profiles, how well the promotions target the customer's hot buttons, and how well the promotions that are used remain fresh in the minds of customers.
  • the Unique Selling Propositions of ICE are: 1. A means of increasing the lifetime value of retail store customers, 2. A means of quickly building online businesses for traditional retail chains,
  • ICE is a process and a method that provides a new and economical solution to the problem of attracting and keeping Internet customers.
  • (c) provides a timesaving method of buying consumable, rechargeable, and other types of products and services. Examples include groceries, bathroom products, long distance telephone service, cellular telephone service, and paging service. Such products and services are bought using the convenience of a customer's own standard personal computer at home or at work, or from any standard personal computer with access to the Internet; (d) allows visitors to a commercial web site to exchange information among themselves by visiting one or more standard computer chat rooms or discussion groups; and
  • SAMIS assists the prospect in making a decision to join the network, because it: (a) allows merchants to obtain information regarding product categories, and information and product packages available from the various Fulfillment
  • (c) gives a first-hand view of the Web Store sample screens in various industries; (d) lets the merchant either run through a simulation of the purchase scenario or allows the merchant to place a real purchase, receive a real email receipt, and receive delivery of the product to experience first hand what retail customers experience; (e) allows the merchant to view and enter the Portal Window of the Web Store; (f) lets the merchant return multiple times to the Web Store to see what the possible results of cookie and database marketing for customers that return again and again to the merchant's business; (g) - demonstrates hyperlinks and banner advertisements promoting the retail merchant's store; (h) shows how a merchant's web site can be linked to the Web Store;
  • (1) increases merchant's revenues with no additional inventory cost; (m) sells virtual inventory at no extra cost or risk to the merchant; (n) eliminates pilferage for select inventory items; (o) maintains and improves the merchant's customer base; (p) potentially increases the customer's visit frequency; (q) provides access to accounting sales data online from products and services sold electronically; (r) provides benefits from specially targeted vendor discounts; (s) provides a way for a merchant to promote a particular web site; (t) stimulates more product or service consumption (e.g., cellular phone airtime usage) because of the ease of replenishment; and (u) provides an opportunity to advertise and promote merchant stores via customer-requested e-mail and banner ads to customers who buy services through the Web Store.
  • product or service consumption e.g., cellular phone airtime usage
  • the Bonding Site and the Shopping Program will be the perfect medium for the retail store to cross-sell and up-sell the customer as well as promote the store's own web site.
  • the Bonding Site would provide a stepping-stone approach that would incrementally prepare or condition, psychologically, the customers to visit it, in a similar way that network television prepares viewers to patronize the network advertisers.
  • (w) ICE provides a new means of conducting permission marketing for retailers. It provides a medium in a new setting (i.e., the SCC in a retail store) that allows one-to-one communication with customers.
  • ICE improves in-store sales and draws customers to the retail store web site.
  • ICE lets email newsletters targeted to customer clusters provide an effective yet inexpensive way for the store to advertise in communities that store customers have registered in.
  • (bb) ICE provides market research intelligence that is captured from the virtual communities in almost real time. This feedback from customers could be the basis for quick store reactions to new trends.
  • ICE builds end consumer loyalty to retail stores and increases customer lifetime value to stores. Loyalty is improved by adding value to the customer experience with the store. Increased customer loyalty helps the store to build a permission base with the customer,
  • ICE uses email newsletters provide a forum for the store to advertise its local bricks and mortar location as well as a means of providing a permission marketing channel.
  • the virtual communities provide a cheap way for retail chains to build business online and off.
  • (gg) ICE provides frequent contact with customers by means of messages on
  • Bonding Site These clips would contain information of interest regarding the community and would also promote the community.
  • the present invention helps wholesalers by giving them an edge over competitors because:
  • PUMP benefits a contracted Internet portal company, because: (a) it converts a brick-and-mortar retail store shopper into a portal visitor; (b) it offers a way to jump start hundreds of thousands of visitors visiting the portal site relatively quickly;
  • the Web Store advertises and promotes the portal business through banner ads and customized, dynamic, and targeted hyperlinks keyed to an individual visitor's recorded purchase and browsing history, as well as to information volunteered by the visitor;
  • PUMP helps various vendors to market to highly targeted retail and wholesale merchants through ancillary pages linked to proprietary merchant account pages. This is possible when retail and wholesale merchants use PUMP service, because they offer to provide information about their businesses if the vendor can offer them a benefit in exchange. PUMP thus serves as an information agent, sharing information between the service users.
  • Vendors are able to save end consumers time and money by offering them exacdy what they want by obtaining detailed anonymous consumer profiles from the PUMP operator.
  • PUMP for the Sales Agent
  • a) PUMP provides a system for distributing online product and sales training information to sales agents
  • PUMP allows sales agents to update and monitor their account information by means of a password-protected Extranet.
  • PUMP provides a tool that saves money related to sales and marketing costs by being quicker and more efficient than traditional methods of sales and marketing, including in-person sales meetings and marketing by means of snail-mail post.
  • PUMP provides a mechanism for collecting marketing information from PUMP users.
  • the Bonding Site offers a means of showing multimedia preview clips to shoppers standing in the checkout lines of brick-and-mortar retail stores. Viewers interested in a clip can indicate interest in order to later be automatically connected to a program by using a self- addressed promotional email message.
  • ICE for commercial web sites proposes to attract retail store shoppers to commercial web sites by displaying promotional messages on the SCC screen, as well as printing promotional messages on receipts or point-of-sale printouts.
  • ICEOP owns the customer profile, but can release a negotiated portion of the profile to the store to allow the store to market to the customer on the next use of the SCC.
  • the SCC allows manufacturers to influence buying behavior while the customer is in the shopping aisles of a retail store.
  • ICE allows manufacturers to broaden their media communication strategy by targeting identified email newsletter receivers in specified categories and sending them messages (i.e., ad, promotional content, etc.). By using relevant and personalized messaging, based on profiles, manufacturers can influencing purchase behavior without having to give away cash-value coupons and rebates.
  • FIG. 1 a flow chart is presented showing four principle stages of one embodiment of the PUMP business system.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of an ICE Configuration diagram.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a PUMP Functions diagram.
  • Fig. Ic a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Shopping Cart Computer (SCC) Functions diagram.
  • SCC Shopping Cart Computer
  • CBS Core Business System
  • FIG. 3 a flow chart is presented showing an exemplary embodiment in-store electronic sales process.
  • FIG. 4 a schematic is presented showing an exemplary embodiment of the PUMP PI functional diagram.
  • FIG. 5 an exemplary embodiment flow chart is presented illustrating how retail store customers might be drawn into using a Web Store embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 a flow chart is presented showing a scenario comprising a visit to a Web Store embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 an exemplary schematic of an embodiment is presented to show the functional interconnections from a customer placing an order to a Fulfillment House delivering a product.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of what might happen when a customer visits a Merchant Window.
  • a flow chart is presented to show exemplary choices a viewer has in an embodiment of a Portal Window.
  • a schematic is presented to show exemplary cross-linking between an embodiment of a merchant web page on the Web Store and a merchant's home page.
  • a schematic is presented to show possible functional interconnections for making a Portal Window a valuable resource to a customer.
  • a functional diagram shows an embodiment of a Sales And Marketing Information System (SAMIS).
  • SAMIS Sales And Marketing Information System
  • Fig. 13 a flow chart is presented to show an exemplary process for drawing merchants to a SAMIS web site, providing information about benefits of PUMP to a merchant, and allowing a merchant to sign up on SAMIS to begin using the service.
  • a flow chart is presented to show some possible steps a merchant can follow in applying for PUMP service through a SAMIS automated signup process.
  • a flow chart is presented to show some possible steps a merchant can follow to program an existing standard credit-card-type of terminal in his store.
  • a schematic is presented to show that, as new markets are added, the number of customers grows.
  • a flow chart is presented to show exemplary steps for preparing PUMP to expand into a new market.
  • FIG. 18 a schematic is presented to show exemplary functional interconnections and data flows for an embodiment of PUMP PM, the Infomediary business model.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an embodiment in which PUMP users have two ways of accessing information regarding PUMP: They may telephone a call center, or they may access a PUMP Extranet web site online.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an embodiment of the flow of a purchase order, from either a standard credit-card-type of terminal or from a Web Store, to a Fulfillment House.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an embodiment in which testing, deployment, and upgrading PUMP scope and functionality is executed in several exemplary stages.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an embodiment in which exemplary stages of the PUMP lifecycle are executed for establishing the components of an Infomediary business.
  • FIG. 23 a simplified diagram is presented to show exemplary steps in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Process.
  • CRM Customer Relationship Management
  • a flow chart is presented to show an exemplary process for using a PUMP Point-Of-Sale (POS) Magnetizing Process.
  • POS Point-Of-Sale
  • a flow chart is presented to show an exemplary procedure necessary for building a product-rebate coupon in PUMP.
  • a flow chart is presented to show an exemplary process to alert a PUMP user using an email notification service.
  • FIG. 27 a simplified diagram is presented to show exemplary possible participants of an Infomediary.
  • FIG. 28 a diagram is presented to show exemplary possible components of a Web Store Home Page.
  • FIG. 29 an exemplary embodiment is shown of an Internet Portal Company Home Page.
  • FIG. 30 an exemplary embodiment is shown of a Customer Profile Building Process.
  • FIG. 31 an exemplary embodiment is shown of a Profile Building
  • FIG. 32 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the ICE System components.
  • FIG. 33 a schematic is presented of an exemplary embodiment of the Magnet Subsystem.
  • FIG. 34 a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Magnet Process.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Shopping Program Process.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment the Promotional Message SCC Screen.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of Product Promotional Messages.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Bonding Site Programs Process.
  • FIG. 39 a schematic is presented to show and exemplary embodiment of the Bonding Site Promotions.
  • Fig. 40 a schematic is presented to show and exemplary embodiment of the Bonding Site Screen.
  • FIG. 41 a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Self- Addressed Promotional Email Process.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of Self-Addressed Promotional Email received on a PC screen.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of Rule-Based Promotions.
  • FIG. 44 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Promotional Sales Receipt.
  • FIG. 45 a schematic is presented show an exemplary embodiment of a Shopping Cart Computer Subsystem.
  • FIG. 46 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Position Sensor.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Closing Program Process.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Community Building Process.
  • FIG. 49 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of Community Aggregation Using the Bonding Site.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Framework Building Process.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Merchant Extranet Screen.
  • a flowchart is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Process to Attract Suppliers to the Framework.
  • Fig. 53 a flowchart/ schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a Suppliers Extranet Screen.
  • Fig. 54 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Web Store on the Bonding Site.
  • FIG. 55 a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of an Identification Key.
  • FIG. 56 a flowchart/ schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Framework Infrastructure.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of the Customer Extranet Personal Account Screen.
  • a schematic is presented to show an exemplary embodiment of a PUMP Business System Lifecycle.
  • Principle exemplary components in each figure can include one or more of the following: A.
  • An exemplary ICE configuration is shown in Fig. la.
  • An exemplary embodiment comprises PUMP and the Shopping Cart Computer (SCC) as optional components.
  • SCC Shopping Cart Computer
  • FIG. lb A diagram of exemplary PUMP functions is shown in Fig. lb. The numbering of the functional blocks is explained below.
  • a barcode is printed on the receipt, wherein:
  • a purchase order for a consumable commodity may be entered into an electronic terminal located in a business
  • a customer receives an account identification number expressed in a bar code at POS at the time of purchase relating to the commodity purchased,
  • the consumable commodity is delivered to the customer, and • The customer can use the barcode to identify the account number while making a replenishment purchase of the commodity,
  • the Bonding Site offers a number of attractions to the customers of the retail store, including optionally:
  • the Bonding Site can offer a wide range of commercial, educational, cultural, and entertainment resources.
  • the Bonding Site can be accessed by:
  • the barcode provides a means to link the customer profile produced by purchase behavior to a Bonding Site session
  • Bonding Site session can be configured according to the customer's profile.
  • the Bonding Site allows commercial transactions in a number of different modes, including:
  • the Web Store provides several optional functions:
  • the Web Store provides a customizable web site that provides commercial transaction opportunities to the customer.
  • the Portal Window provides one or more hyperlinks that access the web sites of Internet portal companies.
  • the Infomediary Window provides one or more hyperlinks that access the web sites of Infomediary companies.
  • the Merchant Window provides a number benefits to customers including:
  • the Merchant Window offers to the retail merchant a means of capturing a larger share of the customer's discretionary spending.
  • the catalogs offered include: • Inventory items that a traditional retail store has on its shelves for sale, and/or
  • the products offered to the customer from a catalog that are not on the shelves of the retail store may be:
  • the sponsoring retail store can earn a commission on the sale.
  • the customers interested in transactions can click on hyperlinks that accesses one or more web sites of the sponsoring retail store.
  • the retail store can use profile information collected by the ICE network to make its web sites more attractive to customers.
  • the online virtual communities offer customers a number of benefits:
  • the Infomediaries perform several important functions: • Collect profiles of the individuals in virtual communities,
  • the Bonding Site provides an effective medium for communicating with the customer.
  • fantasy programming including:
  • the Bonding Site provides entertainment, education, and/or information value to the customer.
  • the games can be played in several ways: • By oneself, and
  • contests can be played in several ways:
  • Multimedia programming on the Bonding Site is available in the following forms:
  • the customer can access programming on demand from a standard computer, television, or combination computer/ television device.
  • SAMIS Sales And Marketing Information System
  • SAMIS comprises the means to demonstrate at a SAMIS URL the benefits of using the ICE network
  • SAMIS comprises the means of attracting, educating, communicating with, and recruiting retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors, Whereby the merchants and suppliers can interact with the SAMIS URL to obtain simulated results that relate to input provided by the merchants and suppliers.
  • the merchant has a private account that indicates the results from customer activity on the Bonding Site
  • the merchant can participate in the Framework electronic marketplace from the private account pages on the merchant extranet.
  • the Framework marketplace window offers access to:
  • the retail merchant can receive information and transact commerce, and
  • the retail merchant can provide information to and get information from a virtual online community helpful in running a retail business.
  • the Framework electronic marketplace offers: • Online catalogs from suppliers,
  • the supplier has a private account that indicates the results of customer or prospective customer activity on the merchant extranet
  • the supplier can participate in the Framework electronic marketplace from private account pages on the vertical hub extranet.
  • the Vertical Extranet Hub report window has the following features:
  • the supplier can make business decisions based on the market feedback obtained.
  • the Framework marketplace window offers access to: • Industry information from syndicated news service,
  • the supplier can provide information to and get information from a virtual online community helpful in running a supplier business.
  • the supplier has a private account that indicates the results of customer or prospective customer activity on the merchant extranet, and whereby, the supplier can participate in the Framework electronic marketplace from private account pages on the horizontal hub extranet.
  • the Horizontal Hub Extranet report window has the following features: • financial results from retail merchant visitation of the merchant extranet, and
  • the supplier can make business decisions based on the market feedback obtained.
  • the Framework marketplace window offers access to:
  • the supplier can transact commerce, and whereby, the supplier can provide information to and get information from a virtual online community helpful in running a supplier business.
  • FIG. Ic A diagram of exemplary shopping cart computer functions is shown in Fig. Ic.
  • the Shopping Programs offer to the customer the following benefits: • Time-saving during a shopping session, and
  • the retail merchant has a means of improving the lifetime values of customers by increasing customer loyalty, and
  • manufacturers have a new means of communicating promotions to shoppers.
  • An identity verification means serves to:
  • a customer can access a private customer extranet account from the SCC, and/or
  • the customer extranet provides a customer with a personal account that serves to:
  • the customer can use speed shopping program to:
  • the customer can specify a shopping list by accessing the retail store's online catalog from a standard personal computer or from the SCC and loading the shopping list into the customer's personal extranet account.
  • the product category promotions available through the Shopping Program • Promote a product in the same category as one of the products in the customer's shopping list, and
  • a version of Bonding Site programming suitable for in-store use on a shopping cart computer provides the customer with the capability to: • Transact commerce,
  • the Bonding Site can offer a wide range of commercial, educational, cultural, and entertainment resources.
  • the Bonding Site allows transactions in a number of different modes, including:
  • the Web Store provides several optional functions: " Portal Window,
  • the Web Store provides a customizable web site that provides commercial transaction opportunities to the customer.
  • the Portal Window provides one or more hyperlinks that access the web sites of Internet portal companies.
  • the Infomediary Window provides one or more hyperlinks that access the web sites of Infomediary companies.
  • the Merchant Window provides a number benefits to customers including: • One or more catalogs that offer for sale commodities to the customer, and that are customizable by the sponsoring retail merchant, and
  • the Merchant Window offers to the retail merchant a means of capturing a larger share of the customer's discretionary spending.
  • the products available through a catalog that are not on the shelves of the retail store may be ordered from a Fulfillment House, whereby the sponsoring retail store can earn a commission on the sale.
  • the customers interested in transactions can click on hyperlinks that accesses one or more web sites of the sponsoring retail store.
  • the retail store can use profile information collected by the network to make its web sites more attractive to customers.
  • the online virtual communities offer customers a number of benefits:
  • customers receive the marketing messages precisely targeted according to aggregated group profiles
  • the Bonding Site provides an effective medium for communicating with the customer.
  • the customer can enjoy fantasy programming, including:
  • the Bonding Site provides entertainment, education, and/or information value to the customer.
  • the games available on the Bonding Site can be played in several ways:
  • the customer can access programming on demand the SCC.
  • a closing program offers the following benefits to the customer at the end of a shopping session in a retail store:
  • the information in the summary adds value to the customer's shopping experience.
  • Closing Program promotional offerings can include: • one or more offers to buy or sell commodities,
  • the customer profile is defined more accurately with each shopping session using the SCC
  • the customer profile is defined more accurately with each Bonding Site session using a standard personal computer
  • the offers presented to the customer on the SCC display become more relevant to the needs, wants, and preferences of the customer.
  • the customer can send a self-addressed email promotional message to herself/himself from the SCC, where:
  • the email promotional message received in the personal email box of the customer contains one or more hyperlinks related to the offers
  • the customer uses a convenient, easy way to access web sites or multimedia channels related to his/her interests, and
  • multimedia and other types of companies can attract consumers standing in checkout lines in retail stores to visit specified web sites and/or multimedia channels at a later time from a standard personal computer or a television set equipped with a set-top box.
  • the shopper cart computer subsystem includes a telephone handset that allows:
  • an automated system can help a customer in making a shopping decision via telephone.
  • FIG. 2 A Core Business System, shown Fig. 2, is a subset of Fig. 18.
  • Exemplary components of this embodiment can include one or more of the following:
  • Fulfillment House Database Server stores and collates information regarding available inventory of products, shipping and delivery policies, and schedules of the Fulfillment Houses participating in a PUMP marketing network.
  • Order Processing Server feeds order data to the Fulfillment House Database Server and provides raw purchase data for analysis to various databases.
  • Merchant Database Server stores and collates information, analyses and reports on a merchant's business and financial performance.
  • Fulfillment House Extranet a means of distributing purchase order data to Fulfillment Houses, and getting back information from individual Fulfillment Houses.
  • Local Area Network connects PUMP components to facilitate data exchange.
  • Merchant Fax sends standard fax reports to individual retail stores.
  • Retail Merchant Electronic Terminal a standard credit-card-type of terminal (e.g., Verifone, Hypercom, Lipman Nurit terminal), with ports for a standard printer and standard barcode scanner.
  • Standard Printer - attached to the standard credit card terminal. It can print sales receipts, including purchase total and an identification bar code (e.g., type of product purchased, purchase amount, etc.). It can also print a promotional message.
  • sales receipts including purchase total and an identification bar code (e.g., type of product purchased, purchase amount, etc.). It can also print a promotional message.
  • Standard Barcode Scanner - attached to the standard credit card terminal. It can read barcodes printed on sales receipts. A repeat customer that returns to the store to make a replenishing purchase can also use the barcode to identify her account in the case of replenishing a service (e.g., a telephone calling card that still has airtime remaining). The barcode also saves the store clerk time by scanning the barcode, instead of keying in purchase parameters manually to a terminal. PUMP can update a customer's account record by reading the barcode from the customer's previous purchase receipt, and sending the replenishing purchase information to the Fulfillment House.
  • Customer Database Server stores data such as account and product delivery status.
  • the Customer Database Server also keeps records on individual customer profiles and purchase history. It is fed data by the
  • Receipt - serves as a sales receipt and a barcode record containing purchase parameters of a transaction.
  • Promotions - consists of in-store displays and signage advertising in- store electronic sale of commodities.
  • Exemplary information flows can include one or more of the following: q. Shared Information - between LAN and Order Processing Server, s. Shared Information - between LAN and Fulfillment House Database Server. t Fulfillment House Database Server Feedback - to Order Processing Server regarding product availability and other information u. Fulfillment House Database Server Input - places orders on file to be delivered to Fulfillment Houses via Fulfillment House Extranet. v. Customer Database Server Input - account and shipping information that will give customers the status of their purchases. This data flow (in concert with data flows provided to the Customer Database from the LAN) also provides purchase, product, and customer profile information to the Customer
  • Fulfillment House Feedback - includes inventory data and discreet purchase approvals (e.g., "Product ordered is in stock and is deliverable” ).
  • cc. Merchant Database Input - specifications regarding account queries of all the participating merchants, dd.
  • Merchant Database Server Output - contains accounting reports. ee. Individualized Merchant Fax Reports - accounting data to all stores requiring sales information on demand (e.g., shift sales reports), ff. Merchant Extranet Output - can optionally contain personalized accounting reports (e.g., "Here is the breakdown of your store sales for the week" ).
  • hh. Individualized Merchant Fax Reports - accounting data per store on demand
  • Terminal Orders comprise orders made by means of the standard electronic credit-card-type of terminal, as well as customer and product identification, that are sent over a telephone connection to the Order Processing Server. 11.
  • Electronic Purchase Order Information customer in a retail store orders a product or service (e.g., cellular phone airtime) electronically via a standard credit card terminal.
  • a product or service e.g., cellular phone airtime
  • Barcode of Individual Receipt - customer may reorder certain products and services by bringing receipt back to the retail business where the original purchase was made. By scanning the receipt barcode, the retail business can reorder for the customer through the electronic terminal.
  • Receipt Printout customer gets printed sales receipt with sales total, customer personal identification number (PIN), barcode and, optionally, a promotion printed on it.
  • tt. Promotions - implies the customer actually sees the signage and displays. yy.
  • Product Barcode - store clerk scans in a product's barcode at point of purchase.
  • Customer Card BarcodeCstore clerk scans in a Customer Card Barcode at point of purchase.
  • Customer cards include check cashing cards, discount cards, or smart cards.
  • C. An example of a merchant and a retail store customer using an in-store electronic sales process is shown in Fig. 3.
  • Components of an exemplary embodiment can include one or more of the following: a. The process starts when the customer enters a retail store participating in the electronic sales process. b. The customer notices promotional signage, posters, packaging, or products promoting the standard electronic credit card terminal method of purchasing products and/or services. c. She makes a decision of whether or not to buy one or more of the products and/or services offered through the terminal.
  • she If she decides not to purchase at that time, her participation in the process ends. e. If she decides to purchase, she makes a selection of what she wants to buy. f. She pays for the product. g. The store cashier takes the money, rings up the sale, and gives the customer a receipt, h. The cashier notices if the product can be ordered using the standard credit-card-type terminal. i. If not, the product can be ordered by means of calling an 800- telephone number. The customer receives the number to call, j. The customer then calls the Fulfillment House to place order, k. Otherwise, the cashier keys the order into the terminal.
  • the terminal sends the order telephonically to the Order Processor.
  • the Order Processor sends the order data to the appropriate
  • Fig. 4 is a subset of Fig. 18.
  • the numbering of the functional blocks and the lettering of the data flows below correspond to Fig. 18.
  • Components of an exemplary embodiment can include one or more of the following: 1. Web Store Server - hosts the Web Store site, the home page of which, in the PI version, includes two main windows, a Merchant Window and a Portal Window. 2. Portal Window - provides a gateway to an Internet portal homepage.
  • the Portal Window provides the customer an array of services, products, and links offered through the portal service.
  • Merchant Window offers the viewer products and services for sale as well as information helpful to potential customers.
  • Fulfillment House Database Server stores and collates information regarding available inventory of products, shipping and delivery policies, and schedules of the Fulfillment Houses participating in the
  • PUMP marketing network It also stores and provides auxiliary product information.
  • Order Processing Server feeds order data to the Fulfillment House Database Server and provides raw purchase data for analysis to the various databases.
  • Merchant Database Server stores and collates information, analyses and reports on the merchant's business and financial performance. It can also optionally provide targeted information helpful to the merchant in running his business.
  • the Merchant Database Server keeps records on retailers that sell products either through the store- based terminal, or on the retailers that introduced customers to the Web Store and also sell products by this means.
  • the Order Processing Server feeds data to the Merchant Database Server, which can optionally provide the merchant with sales and product data from the merchant's store.
  • Fulfillment House Extranet a means of distributing purchase order data to Fulfillment Houses, and getting back information from individual Fulfillment Houses.
  • Merchant Extranet a means of distributing to the merchant analyses and reports on the merchant's business and financial performance, as well as getting back information from individual merchants.
  • Local Area Network connects PUMP components to facilitate data exchange.
  • Web Browser a standard World Wide Web browser, e.g., Netscape
  • Retail Merchant Electronic Terminal a standard credit-card-type of terminal (e.g., Verifone, Hypercom, Lipman Nurit terminal), with ports for a standard printer and standard barcode scanner 17.
  • Standard Personal Computer used by customer to access the Web
  • Standard Printer - attached to the standard credit card terminal. It can print sales receipts, including the purchase total, the Web Store URL promotion, and a bar code used to identify (e.g., type of product purchased, purchase amount, etc.). It can also optionally print a promotional message.
  • Standard Barcode Scanner - attached to the credit card terminal It can read the barcodes printed on sales receipts.
  • a repeat customer that returns to the store to make a replenishing purchase can also use the barcode to identify her account in the case of replenishing a service (e.g., a telephone calling card that still has airtime remaining).
  • the barcode also saves the store clerk time by scanning the barcode, instead of keying in purchase parameters manually to a standard credit card terminal.
  • PUMP can optionally update the customer's account record by reading the barcode from the customer's previous purchase receipt, and sending the replenishing purchase information to the Fulfillment House.
  • the standard barcode scanner can also read customer card barcodes to identify customers and can scan product
  • Customer Database Server stores data, and reports to the customer on account and product delivery status.
  • the Customer Database Server also keeps records on individual customer profiles and purchase history for both store-based credit card terminal sales, as well as for
  • Web Store-based sales It is fed data by the Order Processing Server, the Web Store Server, and the Customer Extranet.
  • Receipt - serves as a sales receipt and a barcode record containing purchase parameters of a transaction. It also optionally serves as a mini-billboard to promote the Web Store.
  • PromotionsB consists of in-store displays and signage advertising the mini-billboard receipt, and optionally, has a promotion of the Web Store and/or in-store electronic credit card terminal sale of commodities.
  • PI data flows The following are exemplary PI data flows. a. Shared Information - between LAN and Web Store Server. n. Merchant Window Output - orders sent to the Order Processing
  • Fulfillment House Database Server Input places orders on file to be delivered to Fulfillment Houses via Fulfillment House Extranet.
  • Customer Database Server Input account and shipping information that give customers the statuses of their purchases. This data flow (in concert with data flows provided to the Customer Database from the
  • LAN also provides purchase, product, and customer profile information to the Customer Database.
  • Merchant Database Server Input - information that will help merchant with account data (e.g., sales volumes per store).
  • Fulfillment House Feedback inventory data, including product availability, shipping, and delivery notices from all the Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP distribution network.
  • Fulfillment House Database Server Output - the orders to be distributed via the Fulfillment House Extranet to the range of Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP distribution network.
  • z Shared Information - between LAN and Merchant Database Server.
  • aa. Fulfillment House Discreet Orders placed to individual Fulfillment
  • Fulfillment House Feedback includes inventory data and discreet purchase approvals (e.g., "Product ordered is in stock and is deliverable” ).
  • cc. Merchant Database Input - specifications regarding the marketing interests and account queries of all merchants participating in PUMP marketing, dd.
  • Merchant Database Server Output - contains accounting reports and targeted marketing messages for all merchants participating in PUMP marketing, ee. Individualized Merchant Fax Reports - accounting data to all stores requiring sales information on demand (e.g., shift sales reports), ff.
  • Merchant Extranet Output - can optionally contain personalized accounting reports (e.g., "Here is the breakdown of your store sales for the week” ), or targeted marketing messages (e.g., "New technology means cost savings for c-stores” ).
  • gg. Merchant Extranet Input - specifications regarding interests of the merchant (e.g., "Which vendors are offering a good deal on gas pumps right now?" ), and which also include account queries.
  • hh. Individualized Merchant Fax Reports accounting data per store on demand (e.g., shift sales reports), ii. Individual Customer's Interaction with Internet - she sees the
  • Terminal Orders - comprise orders made by means of the electronic credit-card-type of terminal, as well as customer and product identification, which are sent over a telephone connection to the Order Processing Server.
  • Electronic Purchase Order Information customer in a retail store orders a product or service (e.g., cellular phone airtime) electronically via a standard credit-card-type of terminal.
  • a product or service e.g., cellular phone airtime
  • shared Information between LAN and Customer Database Server.
  • Barcode of Individual Receipt - customer can reorder certain products and services by bringing receipt back to the retail business where the original purchase was made. By scanning the receipt barcode, the retail business can reorder for the customer through the standard electronic credit-card-type of terminal.
  • Customer Database Input requests from all of the customers regarding account and delivery status information.
  • qq- Standard Computer Keyboard/Mouse Input - customer can go to Web Store URL and make selections.
  • rr. Display Output - customer can view screens and their contents.
  • Receipt Printout - customer gets printed sales receipt with sales total, customer personal identification number (PIN), barcode, and optionally, a promotion printed on it.
  • tt. Promotions - implies the customer actually sees the signage and displays.
  • Customer Information Request regarding account and delivery status information (e.g., "When is my product arriving?" , or "How much airtime is left on my cell phone account?" ).
  • Individualized Customer Communication - can optionally contain personalized accounting reports (e.g., "Here are how many cellular airtime minutes remaining in your account” ), or targeted marketing messages (e.g., "You can now buy paging services at the same store where you get your cellular phone service” ).
  • personalized accounting reports e.g., "Here are how many cellular airtime minutes remaining in your account”
  • targeted marketing messages e.g., "You can now buy paging services at the same store where you get your cellular phone service” .
  • Houses, and customers can give and receive information to/ from
  • Customer cards include check-cashing cards, discount cards, credit, debit, or smart cards.
  • Optional components comprise one or more of the following: a. The customer starts this process by walking into a participating store. b. She can buy any product in the store and receive a sales receipt. c. She can see an advertisement or promotion regarding products and/or services on signage and posters. d. In addition to signage and posters, she can also see an advertisement or promotion regarding products and/or services on the sales receipt. e. The customer makes a choice of whether or not to buy a product or service. f. If not, she exits the Web Store promotion process. g. The customer makes a choice of whether or not to buy a product or service online.
  • Optional components comprise one or more of the following: a. The customer goes to the Web Store using the URL learned in the retail store. b. She sees the windows on the Web Store home page screen. c. She makes a decision on whether she is interested in the Merchant Window. d. If yes, she clicks to access the Merchant Window. e. If she is not interested in the Merchant Window, she makes a decision on whether she is interested in the Portal Window. f. If yes, she clicks to access the Portal Window. g. If she is not interested in the Portal Window, she makes a decision on whether she is interested in the Infomediary Window. h. If yes, she clicks to access the Infomediary Window. i. If she is not interested in the Infomediary Window, she exits the process.
  • FIG. 7 An exemplary embodiment for functional blocks and data flows of a Merchant Window are shown in Fig. 7, and works as follows: 1. Web Store Server - hosts the Web Store site, which includes the Merchant Window.
  • Order Processing Server feeds order data to the Fulfillment House.
  • Fulfillment House warehouses and delivers products and/or services to customers.
  • Standard Personal Computer - used by customer to access the Web Store.
  • Optional components comprise one or more of the following: a. Merchant Window Output - order data sent to the Order Processing
  • Fulfillment House c. Merchant Window Input /Output from/to the Internet - all viewers that are interested in seeing what is available through the Merchant Window, and who may want to order products.
  • Fulfillment House delivers product or service to customer.
  • the customer's standard personal computer accesses the Internet, and sends and receives information to and from the Web Store.
  • the customer can make choices once she is at the Web Store site.
  • the Merchant Window outputs information to the customer.
  • FIG. 8 An exemplary embodiment of a Merchant Window Access Process is shown in Fig. 8.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more of the following: a.
  • the Web Store Home Page displays the Merchant Window.
  • b. The viewer decides if she is interested in a product or service for sale. c. If yes, she clicks on the product d.
  • the screen displays product information.
  • e. The viewer decides if she wants to buy the product. If she does not want to buy the product, she can go to a different place on the Web Store web site navigation map.
  • PUMP checks whether or not there is a record on file (either a cookie or a database file) for this customer, g.
  • the customer is asked for the identification of the retail store that referred her to the Web Store, h. If she is ready to order the product, she clicks to access a secure ordering screen. i. After inputting the required information to order the product, the customer clicks to submit the order, j.
  • the purchase information is saved in a customer file, k. She decides if she wants to learn more about the product for sale. If not, she can go to a different place on the Web Store web site navigation map. 1. If the viewer is interested in learning more about the product for sale, she can click on a topic of interest, m. The screen displays information on the topic of interest. The customer can then go to a different place on the Web Store web site navigation map.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more of the following: a.
  • the Web Store home page screen displays the Portal Window.
  • b. The viewer decides whether or not she is interested in the products shown in the Portal Window. c. If yes, she can click on the product button. d. If not, the viewer decides whether or not she is interested in the services offered in the Portal Window. e. If yes, she can click on the services button. f. If not, the viewer decides whether or not she is interested in the information offered in the Portal Window. g. If yes, she can click on the information button. h. If not, the viewer decides whether or not she is interested in contests, sweepstakes, or other promotions shown in the Portal Window, i.
  • Optional components comprise one or more of the following:
  • Web Store Server - hosts the Web Store site, the home page of which includes the Merchant Window.
  • Merchant Window offers the viewer products and services for sale, as well as information helpful to potential customers.
  • Merchant Web Page Link offers a cross-link to the Merchant Home
  • Merchant Home Web Page - can be developed and hosted by an independent service, but is linked to the Web Store.
  • Standard Personal Computer - used by customer to access the Web Store.
  • Exemplary information flows in Fig. 10 comprise: a.
  • the Merchant Window can be cross-linked to the merchant's own web page site.
  • Individual customer's interaction with Internet - she may go direcdy to the Web Store, or alternately, she may go to the Merchant's Home Web Page.
  • Each customer with a standard personal computer can access the Internet.
  • the customer receives information from the standard computer CRT screen.
  • Optional components comprise one or more of the following:
  • the Web Store Server hosts the Web Store Home Page, which displays the Portal Window.
  • the Portal Window contains links to a Portal Home Page.
  • the Portal Home Page is hosted on an independent server, which can be contracted out to an independent Internet portal company. 4.
  • the customer or web surfer uses a standard personal computer to access the Web Store via the Internet.
  • An exemplary set of data flows comprises one or more of the following: a.
  • the Portal Window is linked to a Portal Server.
  • c. A web viewer can visit the Portal Home Page direcdy and see the page screens on her standard personal computer, whereupon she can make choices regarding available products, services, and information.
  • Individual Customer's Interaction with Internet she can see the Portal Window as well as the Portal Home Page, each customized to her interests to the degree the Web Store and/or the Portal Server knows what her interests are. She can order products, services or get information once she has accessed the Portal Home Page.
  • Each customer with a standard personal computer can access the Internet.
  • f. The customer receives information from the standard computer CRT screen.
  • SAMIS Sales And Marketing Information System
  • the Merchant Database stores and collates information, analyses, and reports on the merchant's business and financial performance. It can also provide targeted information helpful to the merchant in running his business.
  • the Merchant Database keeps records on the retailers that sell products either through the store-based standard credit-card- type terminal, or on the retailers that introduced customers to the Web Store and sell products by this means.
  • the Order Processing Server feeds data to the Merchant Database Server, which can provide the merchant with sales and product data from the merchant's store.
  • Customer Database Server stores data and reports to the customer information such as account and product delivery status.
  • the Customer Database Server keeps records on customer purchase parameters and customer profiles for both store-based standard credit- card-type terminal sales, as well as for Web Store-based sales.
  • Vendor Database stores and collates information, and analyzes and reports to vendors on the vendor's target markets — the retailers, wholesalers and end consumers.
  • Fulfillment House Database stores and collates information regarding available inventory of products, shipping, and delivery policies and schedules of the Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP Marketing Network. It also stores and provides auxiliary product information.
  • Web Store shares various pages to allow prospective merchants to experience what PUMP customers experience.
  • Wholesaler DatabaseB stores and collates information, and analyzes and reports to wholesalers on the wholesaler's target markets - the retail merchants.
  • SAMIS Server hosts the Sales And Marketing Information System web pages.
  • SAMIS Web Pages designed to attract and assist prospective retail merchants in signing up for PUMP service. It includes support for sales agents.
  • Sales Agent Database holds training information, as well as private sales account data in order to support sales agents.
  • the Service Rep Standard Personal Computer supports the work of the service representative who assists the various types of PUMP user, as well as prospective retail merchants interested in PUMP.
  • the SAMIS Telephone System connects incoming telephone calls to the service representative.
  • a standard personal computer is used by the prospective retail merchant, the wholesaler, and the vendor, to access SAMIS web pages.
  • Telephone Automated Support System TASS is an interactive system that provides question and answer support to callers that telephone the SAMIS call center. For example, TASS allows a merchant to telephone a toll-free number and sign up for PUMP service. TASS provides the merchant information by means of pre-recorded voice messages, and optionally has the capability to understand human voice input. The merchant can input information either vocally or by using a touch-tone keypad.
  • Sales Agent Extranet a means of distributing account analyses and reports, as well as product and training information to Sales Agents.
  • Agents can also input sales information.
  • a standard personal computer is used by the sales agent to access the Sales Agent Database, as well as to access SAMIS.
  • An exemplary set of data flows comprises one or more of the following: a. through i.
  • Various databases, as well as the Web Store, the SAMIS server, and the service rep standard personal computer, are connected to a local area network to permit exchange of information, j.
  • the SAMIS Server inputs product information into a Sales Agent Database.
  • the Sales Agent Database can provide PUMP statistical information to the inquiring merchant.
  • the Service Rep Standard Personal Computer provides account, policy, and other types of information to the service representative.
  • the service representative can input into the Service Rep Standard
  • a PUMP operator advertises PUMP service.
  • a retail merchant prospect sees one of the ads, which contains the SAMIS URL web address.
  • the merchant visits the SAMIS Web Site to learn more.
  • she chooses to order PUMP service she decides whether or not she wants to talk to a live person, h.
  • SAMIS call service center 1.
  • the service rep assists the merchant in signing up for PUMP service.
  • m The access process is completed with the successful initiation of service operation.
  • N An exemplary embodiment of an Automated Merchant Sign-up Process is shown in Fig. 14. Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The applicant fills out a form indicating all information technically needed to set up the merchant's store with the service. b. An optional additional form assists the PUMP operator in tracking demographic marketing data regarding the store and its customers, and helps in analyzing the types and quantities of products sold through
  • the merchant can choose from possible service profiles and levels available through PUMP.
  • the merchant inputs financial data that are necessary for the enablement of initiation of service.
  • the merchant applicant checks to determine if the store needs new equipment. g. If a new standard credit-card-type of terminal is needed, the merchant applicant indicates so to the PUMP operator.
  • the PUMP operator programs an appropriate standard credit-card-type terminal for the merchant, h.
  • the new equipment is delivered to the merchant, i. The new equipment is installed in the merchant's store.
  • the merchant follows a programming procedure and setup procedure (see Fig. 15).
  • k The merchant signup process is completed and the store can begin
  • Fig. 15 An exemplary embodiment of an Existing Terminal Programming Procedure is shown in Fig. 15. Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The process starts with the determination by the merchant that a new standard credit-card-type of terminal is not required to use the PUMP service. b. The merchant notes the type of terminal [for example, Verifone Tranz models (e.g., 330, 380, 420, 460, 470), Hypercom models (e.g., TP7, T5000), CardService models (e.g., LinkPack 350), Lipman models (e.g., Nurit 2080, 2085)] already in use in the store where she wishes to begin PUMP service. c. The merchant pulls up programming instructions for that terminal type on a SAMIS screen. d.
  • Verifone Tranz models e.g., 330, 380, 420, 460, 470
  • Hypercom models e.g., TP7, T5000
  • CardService models e.g., LinkPack 350
  • the merchant checks if an Internet-enabled standard computer is available that can be used at the checkout counter where the standard credit-card-type terminal operates. e. If yes, the merchant can go to a SAMIS signup page in order to input information needed to program the standard credit-card- type of terminal. f. He fills out the forms on the signup page. g. If no standard computer is available at the point of sale, SAMIS can make available instruction pages based on information the merchant has input. The merchant fills out a printed-out paper form, which includes inputting the terminal type into a SAMIS information page. h. The merchant takes the instructions to the physical location where the in-store terminal is operating. Either a standard wireless or standard wireline telephone must be available. i.
  • TASS SAMIS Telephone Automated Signup System
  • the merchant follows instructions and, interacting with TASS, inputs sufficient data into the telephone to allow PUMP to program the terminal, k.
  • the procedure ends with the successful programming of the terminal performed automatically by PUMP via telephone connection.
  • Fig. 16 An exemplary embodiment for expansion of PUMP to new industries is shown in Fig. 16.
  • the expansion process includes identification of, and expansion into, new markets.
  • Exemplary new markets can comprise one or more of the following commercial categories:
  • Fig. 17 An exemplary PUMP PX Market Development Scenario is shown in Fig. 17.
  • Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The PUMP operator makes a business decision that the time is right to expand PUMP PI. b. The PUMP operator chooses a new market to enter, based on established criteria (e.g., Is it a sector of the retail economy that could particularly benefit from greater levels of customer permission?). c. Interviews with merchants establish guidelines for entering the new market, d. Market testing with customers in the chosen market reveals what profiles of products and information sets that are the most appealing to offer in the Merchant Window. e. The PUMP operator recruits one or more Fulfillment Houses to provide products and their delivery to customers. f.
  • the PUMP operator recruits publishers and/or other content providers to obtain information profiles needed.
  • the Fulfillment House Database is loaded with product and auxiliary information relating to the customers in that market.
  • the hardware and software of PUMP is scaled up to meet anticipated traffic volume that the new market will bring, i.
  • the PUMP operator starts recruiting retail merchants in the new market, j. recruiting continues until the market reaches a point approaching or reaching consolidation.
  • the PUMP operator decides whether or not to expand into yet another new market. If yes, the process goes back to b. above. 1. Otherwise, the PUMP PX phase of the lifecycle ends.
  • Fig. 18 Infomediary functional blocks and data flows for an exemplary embodiment are shown in Fig. 18.
  • Exemplary components comprise one or more of the following:
  • Web Store Server - hosts the Web Store site, the home page of which, in the PUMP PM version, include three main windows: the Merchant Window, the Portal Window, and the Infomediary Window.
  • Portal Window - provides a gateway to an Internet portal homepage.
  • the Portal Window provides to the customer an array of services, products, and links offered through the portal service.
  • Vendor Extranet a means of distributing to vendors analyses and reports on the vendor's target markets - the retailers, wholesalers, and end consumers.
  • Vender Database Server stores and collates information, analyses, and reports to vendors on the vendor's target markets - the retailers, wholesalers, and end consumers.
  • Fulfillment House Database Server stores and collates information regarding available inventory of products, shipping and delivery policies, and schedules of the Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP marketing network. Also, it stores and provides auxiliary product information.
  • Order Processing Server feeds order data to the Fulfillment House Database Server and provides raw purchase data for analysis to the various databases.
  • Merchant Database Server stores and collates information, analyses, and reports on the merchant's business and financial performance. It can also optionally provide targeted information helpful to the merchant in running his business.
  • the Merchant Database Server keeps records on retailers that sell products either through the store- based terminal, or on the retailers that introduced customers to the
  • the Order Processing Server feeds data to the Merchant Database Server, which can optionally provide the merchant with sales and product data from the merchant's store.
  • Fulfillment House Extranet a means of distributing purchase order data to Fulfillment Houses, and getting back information from individual Fulfillment Houses.
  • Merchant Extranet a means of distributing to the merchant analyses and reports on the merchant's business and financial performance, and getting back information from individual merchants.
  • Local Area Network connects PUMP components to facilitate data exchange.
  • Web Browser a standard World Wide Web browser, e.g., Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, etc.
  • Retail Merchant Electronic Terminal a standard credit-card-type of terminal (e.g., Verifone, Hypercom, Lipman Nurit terminal), with ports for a standard printer and standard barcode scanner.
  • Standard CRT Display used by customer to view Web Store information, including windows on the Web Store Home Page.
  • Standard Printer - attached to the standard credit card terminal. It can print sales receipts, including the purchase total, the Web Store URL promotion, and a bar code used to identify (e.g., type of product purchased, purchase amount, etc.). It can also print a promotional message.
  • Standard Barcode Scanner - attached to the standard credit card terminal It can read the barcode printed on sales receipts.
  • a repeat customer that returns to the store to make a replenishing purchase can also use the barcode to identify her account in the case of replenishing a service (e.g., a telephone calling card that still has airtime remaining).
  • the barcode also saves the store clerk time by scanning the barcode instead of keying in purchase parameters manually to a standard credit card terminal.
  • PUMP can update the customer's account record by reading the barcode from the customer's previous purchase receipt, and sending the replenishing purchase information to the Fulfillment House.
  • the standard barcode scanner can also read customer card barcodes to identify customers and can scan product UPC codes to identify what customers are buying. 21.
  • Customer Database Server stores data, and reports to the customer on account and product delivery status.
  • the Customer Database Server also keeps records on individual customer profiles, and purchase history for both store-based terminal sales, as well as for Web Store- based sales. It is fed data by the Order Processing Server, the Web
  • Standard Computer Keyboard/Mouse - allows the customer to go to the Web Store URL and make selections.
  • Receipt - serves as a sales receipt and a barcode record containing purchase parameters of a transaction. It also serves as a mini-billboard to promote the Web Store.
  • Promotions - consists of in-store displays and signage advertising the mini-billboard receipt, and optionally, has a promotion of the Web Store and/or in-store electronic standard credit-card-type of terminal sale of commodities.
  • Customer Extranet distributes customer information, such as account and product delivery status, to the customer, and accepts customer queries regarding product delivery and account information.
  • Infomediary Window - provides the interface to the customer to obtain the products, services, and information from retail merchants, wholesalers, and manufacturers participating in the Infomediary business.
  • Exemplary information flows in Fig. 18 comprise one or more of the following: a. Shared Information - between LAN and Web Store Server. b. Vendor Extranet Output - information targeted to a specific vendor who has requested customized market data (e.g., "Here is the report you requested on how many new convenience stores are opening in the next six months within 100 miles of your distribution location" ). c. Vendor Extranet Input - specifications regarding the interests of the vendor (e.g., "I want to sell to the convenience store industry according to certain product categories, constraints, and requirements"
  • Vendor Database Server Input the range of specifications regarding the marketing interests of all the vendors subscribing to the PUMP customized marketing data service
  • k. Wholesaler Database Server Output - information available to all of the wholesalers subscribing to the PUMP customized marketing data service.
  • 1. Wholesaler Database Server Input - the range of specifications regarding the marketing interests of all the wholesalers subscribing to the PUMP customized marketing data service.
  • Fulfillment House Database Server Input places orders on file to be delivered to Fulfillment Houses via Fulfillment House Extranet.
  • Customer Database Server Input account and shipping information that gives customers the statuses of their purchases. This data flow (in concert with data flows provided to the Customer Database from the
  • LAN also provides purchase, product, and customer profile information to the Customer Database.
  • Merchant Database Server Input - information that helps merchants with account data (e.g., sales volumes per store).
  • Fulfillment House Feedback - inventory data, including product availability, shipping and delivery notices from all the Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP distribution network.
  • Fulfillment House Database Server Output - the orders to be distributed via the Fulfillment House Extranet to the range of Fulfillment Houses participating in the PUMP distribution network.
  • z Shared Information - between LAN and Merchant Database Server.
  • aa. Fulfillment House Discreet Orders placed to individual Fulfillment
  • Fulfillment House Feedback includes inventory data and discreet purchase approvals (e.g., "Product ordered is in stock and is deliverable” ).
  • cc. Merchant Database Input - specifications regarding the marketing interests and account queries of all the merchants participating in
  • PUMP marketing ee. Individualized Merchant Fax Reports - accounting data to all stores requiring sales information on demand (e.g., shift sales reports), ff. Merchant Extranet Output - can optionally contain personalized accounting reports (e.g., "Here is the breakdown of your store sales for the week” ), or targeted marketing messages (e.g., "New technology means cost savings for c-stores" ).
  • gg. Merchant Extranet Input - specifications regarding the interests of the merchant e.g., "Which vendors are offering a good deal on gas pumps right now?" ), and which also include account queries.
  • Individualized Merchant Fax Reports accounting data per store on demand (e.g., shift sales reports), ii. Individual Customer's Interaction with Internet - she sees the
  • She can order products from the Merchant Window or she can access the Portal Home Page from the Portal Window. She can also access
  • Order Feedback acknowledgement and go-ahead from the Fulfillment House that the ordered product is in stock and deliverable, in the case where a product or service is ordered from a Fulfillment
  • Terminal Orders - comprise orders made by means of the standard electronic credit-card-type of terminal, as well as customer and product identification, which are sent over a telephone connection to the Order
  • Electronic Purchase Order Information - customer in a retail store orders a product or service (e.g., cellular phone airtime) electronically via a standard credit-card-type of terminal, mm.
  • Barcode of Individual Receipt - customer may reorder certain products and services by bringing receipt back to the retail business where the original purchase was made. By scanning the receipt barcode, the retail business can reorder for the customer through the electronic standard credit-card-type of terminal, oo.
  • Customer Cards include check-cashing cards, discount cards, credit, debit, and smart cards.
  • FIG. 20 An exemplary embodiment of an ordering process is shown in Fig. 20. Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The process begins when a customer (either in-store or online) submits an order, b. The Order Processing Server (OPS) receives an order, either from the
  • the OPS checks the order for validity and availability. d. If the check fails, the OPS send a negative acknowledgement to the order-originating standard credit-card-type of terminal. e. The process is then terminated. f.
  • the order information is distributed to various databases. g. The OPS sends the order to a Fulfillment House. h. The Fulfillment House receives the order, fills the order, and delivers it to the customer, i. The Fulfillment House Database is updated with the purchase information. j. The process ends after the Fulfillment House has carried out its obligations, and PUMP has updated one or more databases.
  • Fig. 21 An exemplary embodiment for implementing PUMP through its life cycle is shown in Fig. 21. Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The start of this process involves designing the life cycle phases of PUMP. b. The first step is to test the Core Business System (CBS) and deploy it when testing is complete. c. The next stage involves the design, prototyping, and testing of the Web
  • CBS Core Business System
  • FIG. 22 An exemplary embodiment for an Infomediary Business Building Process is shown in Fig. 22.
  • Exemplary components comprise one or more of the following: a. The preliminary lifecycle phases of CBS, PI, and PX precede the implementation of a full service Infomediary. b. A PUMP operator builds the first stage of Customer Profile. c. A critical mass of customers is accumulated. d. The PUMP operator builds the second stage of Customer Profile. e. Vendors are recruited that desire to market to the customer base. f. The PUMP operator establishes profile criteria. g. The profiles are used to create value for PUMP users.
  • Fig. 24 An exemplary embodiment of a Magnetizing Process used on PUMP is shown in Fig. 24. Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The process begins when a customer in a store initiates a product purchase. b. Check if the store uses a scanning system. If not, go direcdy to check for the store's profile. c. If the store does use a scanning system, check if the store accepts a
  • PUMP-recognized Customer Card If not, go to check if the customer has presented a receipt that needs scanning. d. If yes, scan the Customer Card to get customer information. e. Check to see if customer has presented a receipt to be scanned for a product or service refill or renewal. f. If yes, scan the receipt. g. The merchant scans the bar codes of the products purchased. h. Check one or more databases for product, store, and customer profiles. i. Suitable rules are chosen based on criteria, which maximize the chances for a positive response from the customer.
  • the rules are, for example, based on either the present products being purchased, on knowledge about the customer, on the season (e.g., "Less than a month before Christmas.” ), or on the store profile (e.g., a pet store rule is: "Since we know the customer owns a pet, the promotion includes a prize for the pet" ).
  • a pet store rule is: "Since we know the customer owns a pet, the promotion includes a prize for the pet” ).
  • the promotion includes: "Go to www.ourWebStore.com for a chance to win free beer for every weekend of the year!” ), or the message is based on a customer record in a PUMP database (e.g., Since we know the customer just bought a new house, the promotion includes: "For Great Prices For HOME FURNISHINGS, Visit www.ourWebStore.com.” k.
  • the advertisement or promotion is printed on the sales receipt or other printout and given to the customer. 1.
  • the customer who is attracted by the promotion visits the Web Store, m.
  • the Web Store makes an offer of a benefit to the customer.
  • the customer has the option of accepting the offered benefit. o. If the customer decides against accepting the offered benefit, the process ends, p.
  • the customer accepts the offer she must provide personal information (e.g., name and mailing address, or email address) to receive it. q. When the benefit is delivered, it comes including other, additional offers of still more benefits, r. Once again, the customer has the option of accepting the offered, additional benefits. s. If the customer decides against accepting the new offerings, the process ends, t If the customer accepts one or more of the new offerings, she is either asked to verify existing profile information (e.g., her name and mailing address) or, in addition, she is asked to provide preference information (e.g., "What color, size, and style of picture frames do you prefer?" ). u. Again, when the new benefits are delivered, they come including other, additional offers of still more benefits.
  • profile information e.g., her name and mailing address
  • preference information e.g., "What color, size, and style of picture frames do you prefer?"
  • Fig. 25 An exemplary embodiment of a process to build a product-rebate coupon on PUMP is shown in Fig. 25.
  • Exemplary steps comprise one or more of the following: a. The process begins when person sees any type of advertisement or promotion, including an email or a hyper link or a banner advertisement on a web site, for an online coupon. b. The viewer can click on the link to visit the coupon site. c. The viewer is asked to input her Local Postal Code to identify a local participating store that accepts PUMP coupons. d. At the coupon site, the viewer sees a list of products or services that are available for rebates. e. The viewer can select one or more products or services that will appear on the coupon.
  • the viewer hits a submit button, which, in addition to the generation of the coupon, triggers profile-based rules for generating offers of benefits to the viewer on the screen.
  • a submit button which, in addition to the generation of the coupon, triggers profile-based rules for generating offers of benefits to the viewer on the screen.
  • the viewer can see on the screen what the coupon will look like before it is printed.
  • the viewer also sees additional offers on the screen, which allow the viewer more options to pursue, which, if followed, allow PUMP the opportunity to collect more data on the viewer and potentially lead to more sales to the viewer.
  • the viewer decides if the coupon is the way she wants it. If yes, she may print the coupon. If not, she may return to edit the coupon, h.
  • the viewer can print the coupon formatted with selected products.
  • one or more promotions based on profiles and rules. i.
  • the viewer can take the coupon to a participating store to use to receive rebates on selected products, j.
  • the process ends when the customer uses her coupon in the store.
  • Fig. 26 An exemplary embodiment for a procedure for a PUMP user to subscribe to an email notification service is shown in Fig. 26.
  • Exemplary steps can comprise one or more of the following: a. The process begins when the PUMP operator publishes (either online or offline) an advertisement or promotion which is seen by one or more consumers that is related to an email notification service. b. A consumer subscribes to the service and receives an email notification from the service which contains an offer for a benefit. c. She may click to accept the offer; otherwise, the process ends. d. If she accepts, she is asked what kind of notice she would like (e.g., product rebates, financial events, or topical news) and when she would like to receive it. e.
  • a. The process begins when the PUMP operator publishes (either online or offline) an advertisement or promotion which is seen by one or more consumers that is related to an email notification service. b. A consumer subscribes to the service and receives an email notification from the service which contains an offer for a benefit.
  • An exemplary embodiment of an Infomediary System is shown in Fig. 27.
  • An exemplary embodiment can comprise one or more of the following components: 1. Infomediary Operations Center - the location where people and equipment run the PUMP operations.
  • Standard Personal Computers used for connecting PUMP users to the Infomediary Operations Center via the Internet or an Extranet.
  • Telephone System operated by the Telephone Company to allow PUMP users to communicate telephonically with PUMP.
  • Exemplary data flows can comprise one or more of the following: a. Data traffic between PUMP users on a password-accessible Extranet and the PUMP Infomediary Operations Center. b. Data traffic between customers and merchant prospects using public access Internet and the PUMP Infomediary Operations Center. c. Telephone traffic to and from the Infomediary Operations Center. d. Data traffic between the standard computers of customers and merchant prospects using public access Internet and the PUMP Infomediary Operations Center. e. PUMP-related information exchanged between users and their standard personal computers. f. Talking over the Telephone System between PUMP users and service representatives. g. Data traffic between the standard personal computers of PUMP users using one or more password-accessible Extranets and the PUMP Infomediary Operations Center.
  • FIG. 28 An exemplary embodiment of a Web Store Home Page is shown in Fig. 28, and can comprise one or more of the following components: 1. Merchant Window - offers products and/or services for sale, as well as information that can be accessed.
  • Portal Window offers the services of an Internet portal company, which can be licensed to use screen space on the Web Store.
  • Infomediary Window offers commodities and information to customers based on (e.g., store, manufacturer, product, event, region, religious, ethnic, and customer) rules and profiles.
  • CC An exemplary embodiment of an Internet Portal Company Home Page is shown in Fig. 29.
  • Exemplary embodiments can comprise one or more of the following:
  • the customer subscribes to a PUMP email notification service and gives her interest profile (e.g., "I want to be notified about NFL sporting events, gardening tips, and online coupon rebates in the following areas: groceries, clothing, office supplies, and sporting goods" ). She also supplies her email address. c. The customer receives email notification matching her specifications.
  • her interest profile e.g., "I want to be notified about NFL sporting events, gardening tips, and online coupon rebates in the following areas: groceries, clothing, office supplies, and sporting goods”
  • An email notification can contain the content information requested by the customer (e.g., "The Vikings beat the Packers in today's game” ) or can optionally point or link to a specific web site (e.g., A- Click here or go to www.yoursportsinfo.com to get your personalized sports update.
  • Emails optionally provide hyper links to indicated web sites.
  • the customer can visit a coupon-building web site and select items that she would like to receive a rebate or a discount on at the time of purchase. In making her selections, her behavior can identify her wants, needs, desires, tastes, wishes, and/or preferences of commodities. This information is recorded in the customer profile file or record.
  • the customer takes her coupon to a retail store to be redeemed.
  • the customer has an option to pay with a generic plastic (e.g., credit, Electronic Benefits Transfer, debit, discount, check cashing, or smart) card with a magnetic strip or other means of recording customer data.
  • a generic plastic e.g., credit, Electronic Benefits Transfer, debit, discount, check cashing, or smart
  • information e.g., customer name, card identification number, etc.
  • the customer has an option to use an additional card (e.g., credit, debit, discount, check cashing, or smart) that uses barcode scanning, a magnetic strip, and/or other information storage means.
  • This customer card is optionally a private label card that is a mini-billboard that promotes a business or a commodity.
  • the customer has the option to apply, either online or offline, for a customer card.
  • the customer fills out a customer card application form and submits it. Information from the application can be added to the customer profile.
  • the customer has a customer card, she can optionally allow it to be barcode scanned or magnetically swiped at the store checkout. In this case, the customer is identified and the customer's purchase behavior is linked to all the information in the customer's profile record.
  • the customer may submit the receipt to be scanned in order to make a replenishing purchase of her cellular airtime account.
  • a commodity e.g., cellular airtime
  • the advantage of the barcoded receipt is it identifies the customer account and saves time in keying the account number into the standard credit-card-type of terminal. m. The store clerk scans the receipt barcode. n. The clerk sends the replenishing purchase order to the remote Order
  • PPS Processing Server
  • This also provides a purchase record which is added to the purchase history information that is recorded in the customer profile. p.
  • PUMP collects a record of the customer's click flow (i.e., what the customer clicks on at the site), q.
  • the customer accepts one or more benefits offered.
  • the customer must provide both delivery information (e.g., her name and shipping address) as well as commodity option preferences
  • This information can update the customer profile, r.
  • the customer has a choice of optionally recycling through some if not all of the steps above. If so, she has the opportunity to modify, broaden, deepen, and/or upgrade the information in her PUMP customer profile. s. If not, she can optionally not participate in any PUMP services.
  • the process begins when the PUMP operator chooses one or more industrial categories to target.
  • the PUMP operator runs advertisements or promotions (e.g., in newspapers, trade magazines, etc.) to recruit PUMP business users.
  • the advertisement or promotion respondents visit SAMIS to find out about PUMP benefits.
  • the PUMP operator gathers information from the click flow (i.e., the pages, icons, and hyperlinks clicked on) of visitors to determine how to upgrade and improve the site and how to best interact with the site visitor. Click flow data is optionally placed in a cookie on the hard disk or in the RAM memory of each visitor. d.
  • Visits can simulate the results their business would enjoy from subscribing to PUMP service.
  • Information input into the simulation can be optionally stored in a cookie or in a PUMP database.
  • the prospective business user decides to subscribe, in a preferred embodiment, she fills in one or more forms.
  • the forms provide information such as store profile (e.g., name of store, address, owner's name, key employees' names and tides, type of business, product descriptions, etc.), marketing information (e.g., square feet in store, demographic composition of market, top selling products, traffic data, etc.), preferred commodity and information sets to use in Merchant Window, and other information.
  • store profile e.g., name of store, address, owner's name, key employees' names and tides, type of business, product descriptions, etc.
  • marketing information e.g., square feet in store, demographic composition of market, top selling products, traffic data, etc.
  • the service representative can ask the business user questions and update both the profile of the business as well as personal profiles of one or more individual employees of the business. This is be helpful to the PUMP operator, since the more that is known about not only about the PUMP subscribing business, but also about individual employees, the more useful PUMP can be in making helpful suggestions that will benefit subscribing companies and their employees. g.
  • the PUMP operator makes Extranets available to the various business users (e.g., vendors, wholesalers, retail merchants, Fulfillment Houses, and the Internet portal company).
  • Extranet private account pages offer the opportunity to broaden and deepen the profiles of businesses and their employees by offering benefits.
  • a person whether responding on behalf of the company or as an individual accepts an offer, she is asked to provide delivery information (i.e., where to deliver benefit and to whom) and benefit options preferences (e.g., "What style and color would you like?).
  • An optional embodiment uses one or more of the three windows (i.e., Merchant, Portal, and/or Infomediary) on Extranet account pages.
  • the business profile is maintained and may be improved as PUMP gathers more information. h.
  • the profile building process of the PUMP business user ends when no additional information is input into the PUMP system or when the business cancels its PUMP subscription.
  • Fig. 32 An exemplary embodiment of the ICE system is shown in Fig. 32. Optional components are described in the following:
  • the Magnet attracts the customer to revisit the retail store, to visit a number of web sites, and to visit a number of communities.
  • Virtual communities are online organized groups of people with a shared interest.
  • the Magnet provides a method of attracting members to the communities efficiendy.
  • the Framework is an electronic marketplace that uses retail merchants as an attraction for suppliers to join.
  • the Magnet provides a method of attracting merchants to the Framework efficiendy.
  • G. An exemplary embodiment of the Magnet Subsystem is shown in Fig. 33.
  • One or more of the optional components are described as follows: 1.
  • the Framework is outside of the Magnet subsystem, but depends on the Magnet for a supply of retail merchants to participate in the Framework.
  • the Bonding Site is a multi-media-providing web site that offers customizable commercial transactions, virtual communities, information, and fantasy entertainment to its users.
  • ICE back-end system is a computer network which hosts the servers and databases which maintain profiles necessary to manage customer, retail merchant, Fulfillment House, and supplier relations.
  • the ICE back-end system also performs the functions of an order processing server.
  • affiliated sites are web sites which are promoted on the Bonding Site, such as, for example, a retail store's web site, Infomediary web sites, and community web sites.
  • Biometric sensors such as fingerprint recognition systems, allow customers to be identified positively.
  • a digital camera attached to a computer combined with the proper software, is able to read a barcode on a printed receipt.
  • the store server is a standard computer located in the store that handles the input and output from the ICE point-of-sale terminals and communicates with the ICE back-end system.
  • the wireless network allows the SCC to access the Internet, the Bonding Site, the ICE back-end system, and the telephone network.
  • a standard personal computer is a means to access the Bonding Site after the customer leaves the retail store.
  • a number of terminal devices are available at the store point-of-sale, including barcode scanners, credit card scanners, and computer displays.
  • a position tag uses a unique identifying code which is matched to a precise location in the store. Position tags are located throughout the store wherever a shopping cart can go. They are sensed by a position sensor which is attached to the SCC. Position tags allow ICE to alert the customer on the SCC display whenever the shopping cart is in the vicinity of an item on sale.
  • a standard printer attached to the personal computer can print shopping lists complete with barcodes.
  • a special printer is capable of printing standard sales receipt information as well as promotional messages.
  • the printer can also prints barcodes.
  • the customer can decide what to purchase from the retail store from the convenience of her own home. She can use the store's online catalog and her own online customer extranet personal account which contains her shopping history from the store. She can produce a customized shopping list which can be printed out using her personal computer and a standard printer.
  • the shopping list printed out can contain the list of the products that she wants to buy, the store layout with codes to indicate where the products are located that she wants to buy, and a unique barcode.
  • the barcode identifies the customer account and optionally can be scanned into the SCC when the customer gets to the store.
  • the shopping list can be automatically loaded from the customer's extranet personal account to the SCC for convenience to the customer.
  • the receipt has printed on it standard transaction information such as the specifications for the items purchased, tax, and the total price.
  • the receipt also has one or more promotional messages printed on it which are generated using rules related to the profile of the customer, the products purchased, or the store.
  • a barcode which identifies the shopping session of the customer is printed on the receipt. This barcode may be scanned into a digital camera connected to a standard personal computer which is equipped with a special browser. When the barcode from a receipt is scanned and the browser is activated, the computer will display a customized configuration of the Bonding Site, based on the profile of the customer.
  • the receipt also can allow ICE to load into the customer extranet account the list of product specifications purchased during the shopping session.
  • the receipt barcode can be scanned into the SCC on a future shopping trip in order to connect together the profile information from the two shopping sessions.
  • the shopping cart computer is a core component of Magnet that forms the basis for saving the customer time and money in shopping in the store through the Shopping Program, and also provides an entertainment medium by using the Bonding Site programming that the customer can use while standing in the checkout line.
  • the Closing Program provides the self-addressed email program that funnels customers to specific web sites and multimedia educational and entertainment channels, accessed through a personal computer or a television with a set-top box.
  • Exemplary information flows are: a.
  • the retail merchant receives information regarding Bonding Site and Shopping Program performance in his store. He can also specify and customize information that his customers will see on the Bonding Site and in the Shopping Program.
  • the customer can access virtual communities from a personal computer or from the SCC.
  • a local area network is used, in one exemplary embodiment, to connect the Bonding Site, ICE back-end system, the Framework, virtual communities, and the wireless network.
  • d. Link between the Bonding Site and the local area network.
  • e. Link between the ICE back-end system and the local area network.
  • f Link between the Bonding Site and the Internet.
  • g. Link between the Bonding Site and a private network.
  • h. Link between the ICE back-end system and the store server.
  • j Link between the private network and affiliated sites.
  • k Link between the local area network and the wireless network.
  • the barcode printed on a sales receipt from a previous shopping session can be scanned into the SCC to provide a connection to the profile of the customer, u.
  • a barcode printed on the shopping list can be scanned into a barcode reader on the SCC to positively identify a specified customer shopping list.
  • the customer can interact with the SCC in the store, and with a personal computer afterwards or before visiting the store. The customer receives from promotions from the screens of the SCC and the personal computer.
  • An exemplary embodiment ofthe oflCE Magnet Process is shown in Fig. 34.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more the following: a. The process starts. b. If the customer is new to the SCC, she may need to run a brief training program to learn how to use it. c. The training program covers the basics in the Shopping Program, the
  • the customer may optionally input a form of identification into the
  • Optional types of identification include biometric ID, barcode on a shopping list, receipt barcode from a previous shopping session, user name and password, ID number, barcode from the customer or loyalty card, or magnetic stripe swipe from a credit, debit, or smart card, e.
  • ID e.
  • ICE retrieves the customer's profile from the ICE back-end system.
  • ICE runs the Shopping Program.
  • ICE runs the Bonding Site Program.
  • the customer again has the opportunity to display some form of ID.
  • ICE If identification is presented, ICE again will retrieve the customer's profile.
  • ICE runs the Closing Program, k. The receipt is printed.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more the following: a. The process begins. b. The customer decides whether not to use speed shopping. c. If yes, the customer accesses the shopping list from her personal account from the customer extranet and downloads it to the SCC.
  • ICE gets the customer's profile. d.
  • the customer can access the store's online catalog to augment her shopping list.
  • the SCC displays the shopping list, the store's layout, and the location of the products in the shopping list.
  • the SCC displays buttons or flags on the screen that indicate which products are being promoted.
  • the SCC continuously monitors the position sensor. h. When the SCC comes within range of a position tag, it reads the position.
  • ICE checks the store's product database to determine which products are in the vicinity of the shopping cart, j.
  • the SCC displays product promotion buttons or flags that indicate which products within a predetermined range of the shopping cart are being promoted. k.
  • the customer has an opportunity to select one of the product promotion flags indicated on the SCC screen. 1.
  • a promotions flag is selected, the products promotion screen is displayed. m.
  • a button is optionally available that lists recipes that use the product as an ingredient. This feature has the potential to increase cross selling of grocery products, n.
  • the customer can optionally display recipes to evaluate if she would like to try one or more of them. If so, she may decide to purchase the additional products needed to complete the recipe(s).
  • Cookbooks can also be optionally promoted for sale.
  • the customer has the option of accepting a promotion. By pressing an indicated button, she can get credit for the promotion when the product is actually barcode swiped at the checkout. p. ICE credits the customer's account for the benefit offered by the promotion, q. The process ends.
  • the product category promotions window shows the shopping list that the customer has loaded into the SCC.
  • the window also shows two kinds of buttons next to product specifications: recipe buttons, and product category promotion buttons.
  • Recipe buttons indicate recipes that designated products are an ingredient in. By pressing one of these buttons, the customer will see a description of the recipe, in text and photographs. She may decide to buy the rest of the ingredients for a particular recipe.
  • Product category promotion buttons may be purchased for a limited time period by product manufacturers. Promotions are targeted to shoppers that have listed in their shopping list a product within a particular category. In this example, the Yellow Valley Flour company has bought a button in order to take business away from a competitor, the Blue Hill Flour company.
  • the products positional promotions window is a service offered to the retail store or to the manufacturer of products. If the store or manufacturer is trying to sell particular products quickly, products which are being promoted are flagged within this window whenever the shopping cart comes within a designated distance or range of the product.
  • KK An exemplary embodiment of Product Promotional Messages Screen is shown in Fig. 37.
  • Optional components include the following:
  • a customer that selects a product category promotion will see a comparison between two or more products. This comparison is designed to make a promoted product attractive to the customer. The customer may decide to switch brands based on this comparison.
  • An exemplary embodiment of the Bonding Site Programs process is shown in Fig. 38.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more the following: a. The process begins. b. The customer has the option of choosing to be trained to use the Bonding Site. c. Training will include a simple program that shows the shopper how to use the functions and features, and how to enjoy the benefits of the
  • Bonding Site The customer will have the option to make purchases online using the shopping cart computer or using a personal computer. e. It she so chooses, the customer can enter into the transaction program, which gives her access to making purchases using the SCC or personal computer. f. The customer will have the option to learn more about and enter into virtual communities online using the shopping cart computer or personal computer. g. By responding appropriately to the Bonding Site initial screen, the customer can enter into the list of possible virtual community memberships that are open to her. h. The customer also can choose to see an information option available to her on the Bonding Site opening screen. i. By running the information program, she can access information regarding store products, policies, and other information, j. The customer can choose to be entertained by fantasy programs, k. If the customer is not interested in fantasy the process stops.
  • the customer can run games, video clips, and other programming for the purpose of entertainment. m. After running transactions, community, information, or fantasy programming on an SCC, the customer will be given the option of seeing similar programming while visiting the Bonding Site from a personal computer. n. If she so chooses, the customer can input her own personal email address into the SCC. A promotional email message will be sent to her mailbox to remind her of her choices. Each choice will optionally have one or more hyperlinks embedded within the email message. By clicking on one of the hyperlinks the customer can go to a customized site that is configured to her profile preferences.
  • Optional components include the following:
  • the customer can get information through the Bonding Site.
  • An in-store product catalog is available through the Bonding Site.
  • the web site of the retail store can be promoted through the Bonding Site.
  • NN An exemplary embodiment of a Bonding Site Screen is shown in Fig. 40.
  • Optional components include the following: 1. Multimedia games and videos can be chosen on the Bonding Site main screen.
  • a video window is optionally visible on the main screen of the Bonding Site.
  • Virtual communities offer member-generated information archives about targeted topics of interest to a customer.
  • Information sources tailored to the profile of the customer can be made available in an information window, including access to the customer's private extranet account. 5.
  • Various transaction options are possible, including access to the
  • Fig. 41 An exemplary flowchart of a Self-Addressed Promotional Email Process is shown in Fig. 41.
  • Optional steps comprise one or more the following: a. The process begins. b. ICE accesses the customer profile and/or clickstream record to determine what offers to the customer are most likely to be accepted. c. ICE makes one or more offers to the customer. d. If the customer is interested in learning more about an offer she can press a software button on the touch screen of the SCC. Otherwise the process stops. e. The customer is asked for her email address. f. After leaving the store, the customer can open the self-addressed email message from ICE by using a PC. g.
  • Optional components include one or more the following. a. If a customer in a retail store standing in the checkout line indicates an interest in a particular subject, such as University of Alabama football, she will be given an option to enjoy programming after leaving the store from a personal computer, a television or a combination computer/ television device. By sending herself a reminder, email message addressed to her personal email box from the SCC, she can later access the message from a personal computer/ television.
  • the customer has indicated in interest in Alabama's next football game.
  • the email message that she receives on her personal computer/ television offers a hyperlink to watch & program related to her interest.
  • the hyperlinks in the email message allows her to find out more information about the community.
  • One of the features of using promotional email messages is that the sponsoring retail store can benefit from programs which will encourage the shopper to return to the store and spend more money.
  • Promotional email messages will allow and facilitate loyalty programs that will be enjoyed by the customer.
  • Customers will also benefit by having easy access to information related to her interests.
  • Promotional email messages will allow ICE an efficient method of promoting customer or loyalty cards. Q.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following: 1.
  • a generic example of a rules-based promotion generator starts with any barcoded product that is purchased in the retail store (You Buy). When the product is scanned by the checkout clerk, the system knows what the product is and can make inferences about the customer (The System Knows About You). ICE invokes a rule based on the product profile (The Rule Is).
  • a promotional message is generated, which is shown on the SCC display screen, or printed on the promotional receipt (The Example Promotion Reads).
  • Optional components include one or more of the following:
  • Standard sales receipt information includes the specifications of the purchased products, the price of each individual product, tax, and the sales total.
  • a promotional window shows messages based on profiles.
  • a barcode on the receipt identifies the shopping session.
  • the barcode can be scanned into an SCC on a later shopping session to provide continuity between shopping sessions (e.g., for game continuity, etc.).
  • the barcode can also be scanned into a digital camera connected to a personal computer, configured with special software, that will take the user online to the Bonding Site.
  • the Bonding Site will be configured for the profile of the user.
  • An exemplary embodiment of a Shopping Cart Computer Subsystem is shown in Fig. 45.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following: 1.
  • a flat panel, LCD screen is used. Customers can touch this screen to trigger software buttons shown on the display. 2.
  • a biometric sensor such as a fingerprint recognition device, allows positive identification of a customer from the SCC.
  • a compact package houses the CPU and associated electronics.
  • a position sensor reads position tags located throughout the retail store.
  • a wireless communications unit provides a communications link with the Internet and the web sites used in the ICE network, as well as with the standard telephone network.
  • a barcode reader reads the barcodes from the receipts from previous shopping sessions, from products that are scanned in the store, as well as the barcode printed on a shopping list
  • a telephone handset is optionally available in the SCC subsystem to allow voice communication through the SCC.
  • a magnetic stripe sensor allows the customer to swipe cards (e.g., credit, debit, smart) at the shopping cart.
  • a sound system includes a sound card, a sound generator, and a loudspeaker.
  • a Position Sensor An exemplary embodiment of a Position Sensor is shown in Fig. 46.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following:
  • the shopping cart computer receives position information from the position sensor.
  • the position sensor picks up position information from the uniquely coded location or position tag.
  • Location tags are located throughout the retail store wherever a shopping cart can go near products that are being promoted.
  • FIG. 47 An exemplary embodiment of the Closing Program Process is shown in Fig. 47.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following: a. The process begins. b. The SCC display shows, during the Closing Program at the end of the shopping session, the results of the shopping session. The results include the Bonding Site session results. c. The closing program shows purchase results after the cashier rings up the sale. d. The closing program shows results from promotions. e. It shows special results (e.g., game scores, an email message from another shopper, etc.). f. The closing program shows promotions which are based on profiles and/or clickstream history of the customer. g. The customer has the option of sending herself an email promotional message to remind herself of the benefits offered. h.
  • ICE will send the promotional email message to the email address that she has specified.
  • the received email message will have one or more hyperlinks that take the user to promoted web sites and/or multimedia channels. i.
  • ICE prints the receipt at the end of the transaction, including the promotional messages which are based on profiles, j. The process ends.
  • Optional steps include one or more of the following: a. The process starts. b. The customer goes to the Bonding Site. c. One or more links to virtual communities are accessible from the main page of the Bonding Site. d. The visitor decides if she is interested in one of the communities. e. If so, a she can choose a virtual community that interests her. She can visit the community site, and read some of the threads of discussion in the community archives. f. After checking out a particular community, the visitor can make a decision on whether to join the community. g. If she decides to join the community, she goes to a signup page on the community web site. h. The process ends.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following: 1. A number of retail stores funnel a stream of customers to various virtual communities through the SCC and through a personal computer after the customer leaves the store. 2. The communities' focuses can be as varied as the interests of store customers. 3. An Infomediaries serves as a profile broker between community members and marketers. 4. A number of marketers are attracted to doing business with the
  • Infomediary based on the anonymous profiles brokered by the Infomediary.
  • Possible information flows include: a. The information that a customer in a retail store receives and submits in the process of becoming a member, b and c. The community member profile and commodity profile information brokered by the Infomediary.
  • Fig. 50 An exemplary embodiment of the Framework Building Process is shown in Fig. 50.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following: a. The process begins. b. The merchant implementing ICE in a retail store allows customer traffic to build up on the Bonding Site and affiliated sites. c. The merchant will be interested to know how ICE is performing in his store. He can go to a private online merchant extranet account that gives him feedback on the system's performance. Included on the extranet private page is information related to the Framework electronic market. d.
  • the merchant extranet private account page represents a good opportunity for suppliers of the retail merchant to market commodities to the retail merchant. These suppliers are attracted to participate in ICE due to the availability of qualified buyers for their commodities.
  • Suppliers in vertical supply chains, or hubs will be attracted in this way.
  • a vertical hub constitutes a segment within a particular industry (e.g., the manufactures and wholesalers that supply grocery store chains). e. Suppliers in horizontal supply chains or hubs will likewise be attracted.
  • the final step is to attract vertical hubs to do business with horizontal hubs, g. The process stops.
  • Optional components include one or more of the following:
  • the SCC summary window gives the retail merchants a summary of SCC performance statistics for the week.
  • the marketplace window provides the connection with the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • ZZ. An exemplary embodiment of the Process to Attract Suppliers to the Framework is shown in Fig. 52.
  • Optional steps include one or more the following: a. The process begins. b. ICEOP runs advertisements in trade publications to attract suppliers within given industries to participate in the Framework. c. The supplier goes to the SAMIS web site to analyze the benefits of ICE participation for his business. d. The supplier decides whether or not he is interested in participating in ICE. e. If he is interested, he can signup. f. The process ends.
  • AAA An exemplary embodiment of the Suppliers Extranet Screen is shown in Fig. 53.
  • Optional components include one or more the following:
  • the supplier from either a horizontal hub or a vertical hub that signs up to participate in the Framework will use a supplier extranet private account page similar to the merchant extranet account page.
  • the target market potential customer activity report is a report that shows certain market activity of the supplier's potential customers.
  • the supplier will also have access to industry news, headlines in his particular industry, access to specialized manager communities within his industry, as well as the Framework electronic marketplace where his company can buy and sell commodities.
  • FIG. 54 An exemplary embodiment of the Web Store Screen is shown in Fig. 54.
  • Optional embodiments include one or more the following: 1.
  • the Web Store is offered on the transaction section of the Bonding
  • the Merchant Window is one of three optional windows on the Web Store, the other two being the Portal Window and the Infomediary Window. 2.
  • the Merchant Window contains a product catalog of a sponsoring retail store, as well as a catalog of a Fulfillment House. 3.
  • the sponsoring retail store catalog allows the customer to specify any of the products listed that are stocked on the shelves of the store to be included in a customer's shopping list.
  • the Fulfillment House catalog allows the customer to specify any of the products listed in the catalog to be ordered for special delivery, either to the store for later pickup, or to a specified shipping address.
  • the Web Store contains an Infomediary Window that connects the consumer with one or more Infomediaries.
  • the Web Store contains a Portal Window that connects the consumer with a number of Internet portal companies.
  • the ID key is a record with a number of independent identification files. Each ID file contains identifying information that helps to establish the identity of a person using ICE, or that otherwise tracks a customer's behavior (i.e., clickstream, data entry, or purchase) during a session using ICE, or that connects two or more sessions together.
  • Example ID files include one or more of the following types of information:
  • Biometric e.g., fingerprint, retina scan, voice print
  • Optional components include one or more of the following:
  • Vertical hubs comprise aggregates of companies that serve relatively narrow industrial segments (e.g., a vertical supply chain).
  • Horizontal hubs comprise aggregates of companies that serve customers across industrial divisions or sectors (e.g., banking, insurance, advertising).
  • Each industrial hub can optionally have a specialized supplier extranet that serves managers of the suppliers within the hub by providing them with information regarding certain of their customers' behavior (e.g., which advertisements are getting the most attention, selected profile information regarding key customers) within their respective extranet private accounts, while connecting the suppliers to the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • a specialized supplier extranet that serves managers of the suppliers within the hub by providing them with information regarding certain of their customers' behavior (e.g., which advertisements are getting the most attention, selected profile information regarding key customers) within their respective extranet private accounts, while connecting the suppliers to the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • a Framework terminal for vertical hubs manages the interaction between the participants in the vertical hub, and other parties that are buyers and/or sellers in the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • a Framework terminal for horizontal hubs manages the interaction between the participants in the horizontal hub, and other parties that are buyers and/or sellers in the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • Retail stores use a merchant extranet that serves managers of the retail stores by providing them with information regarding their customers' behavior at the Bonding Site, while connecting them to the Framework electronic marketplace.
  • Grocery store managers that use the merchant extranet private account will be able to track results produced by ICE, as well as use the electronic marketplace provided by the ICE Framework.
  • Exemplary data flows are: a. Managers within the food industry can access the food industry extranet. Each manager can have his own private account on the extranet, and can customize his extranet screen according to his professional and personal profile. A food manufacturer marketing manager can, for example, find out from an extranet screen that a particular grocery store chain is opening new stores in Wisconsin. The manager may plan a new campaign to sell a new line of products and send out new marketing information to the Framework to be distributed to selected present and potential customers. b. Managers within the cleaning products industry can access the cleaning products industry extranet. A manager for a soap company gathers information about key grocery chains and other oudets for his company's products. He decides to update his company's product catalog that is offered to the Framework marketplace. c.
  • Managers within the payroll and accounting industry can access the payroll and accounting industry extranet.
  • a manager for a payroll services company has increased his company's revenue by 30 percent in one year by targeting small, regionally based grocery store chains and transacting business using the Framework.
  • Managers within the banking and financial services industry can access the banking and financial services industry extranet.
  • a manager for a bank is keenly interested in collaborating with grocery stores to open in-store bank branches in the Midwest. She is able to gather enough information from the market research capabilities of ICE Framework in order to target which grocery store chains she should approach.
  • the supplier extranet connects to a Framework terminal that connects specific hubs to other buyers and sellers within the Framework marketplace. i.
  • Information exchanges and commercial transactions can take place between companies in vertical hubs and horizontal hubs.
  • the food manufacturer marketing manager may contact the banking manager mentioned above to secure a loan for a project.
  • the merchant extranet connects to the Framework terminals that connect to the vertical and horizontal hubs. 1.
  • the grocery store manager sends and receives information and is able to transact business using the Framework.
  • FIG. 57 An exemplary embodiment of a Customer Extranet Personal Account Screen is shown in Fig. 57.
  • the customer will have a number of options using the customer extranet that save time and money by allowing her to use speed shopping.
  • the customer extranet helps to manage her relationships with others she meets in virtual communities, and offers a number of other benefits.
  • PUMP Business System Lifecycle is shown in Fig.58, indicating four principle stages of the PUMP business system.
  • CBS Core Business System
  • PUMP PI stands for the first level implementation of PUMP, and comprises a business potentially larger than CBS alone.
  • PUMP PX stands for Pump eXtension, and may be implemented when PUMP is applied to multiple retail industries. When this happens, the number of customers is increased. The opportunity for building broader customer profiles is also increased.
  • PUMP PM stands for a Pump infoMediary business, which is an information intermediary that acts as an efficient middleman between buyers and sellers of products and services.
  • a collection of electronic hardware and software, paper receipts, signage and displays, and human interaction creates a process using an intermediary network that benefits retail customers and businesses.
  • a PUMP comprises a means of using a network of computer and communications equipment with a hierarchy of functionality that comprises a plurality of stages: 1. Attracting, educating, and recruiting retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors in order to participate in the network of services made possible by PUMP;
  • merchants can benefit from increased revenues that they can enjoy by signing up to be a part of the PUMP network.
  • SAMIS Sales And Marketing Information System
  • SAMIS essentially provides a sales and marketing web site for the PUMP operator that offers benefits to prospective retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors who can become PUMP users. Specifically, it can offer retail merchants enough information to help them make a decision regarding whether PUMP can help them achieve the goal of improved bottom line.
  • SAMIS has a number of features and benefits:
  • K It shows the results, testimonials, and other feedback of certain stores that have agreed to make public (e.g., news releases) their results with using PUMP.
  • L. It offers additional services and benefits (e.g., web site design and hosting options).
  • M. It can configure retail merchant equipment, service and support needs, and guide the retail merchant to understand sales or leasing, service, and maintenance contracts.
  • N. It connects the merchant with a certified equipment and service supplier.
  • O. It allows service and sales representatives of equipment suppliers to access online equipment and service information in a database regarding various merchants in a region or territory.
  • P It allows a merchant to perform simulations in several areas, including: a. The merchant can see the lifecycle of his involvement with
  • PUMP starting with ordering and starting the service, maintaining the service, and building the service. Projected costs and benefits can be listed with each stage.
  • the merchant can perform "what if scenarios by specifying different equipment configurations and can see the projected financial results for one or more stores with given profiles,
  • the merchant can simulate the experience of a typical customer of PUMP in order to understand why customers will be attracted to use it.
  • R. It allows the merchant to specify, order, and pay for the POS equipment needed to support PUMP for his store using any of a variety of media (e.g., web, standard telephone, standard fax, standard handheld computer, and/or paper).
  • S. It allows the merchant to input the profile of his store, which can comprise: a. names of key personnel, including the owner and the manager of a store, b. the address of the store, c. the equipment configuration in the store, d. signage/displays used in the store, and e. the Web Store commodity and information profile offered to customers in the Merchant Window, and f. demographic and traffic information related to the store's location.
  • Service Rep Standard Personal Computers have interfaces that support capturing clues regarding customer profiles. For example, a Service Rep who is talking on the phone to a customer hears a baby crying in the background.
  • the Service Rep standard computer CRT screen can have a number of buttons that the Service Rep can point to and click on. One such button, for example, optionally is labeled: "Children in household.”
  • Reps are able to access a single, comprehensive view of all the transactions and interactions a stakeholder has had with PUMP.
  • the merchant's brick-and-mortar store will be set up to operate in the PUMP network.
  • the equipment necessary to support PUMP typically comprises a UPC standard barcode scanner, a standard credit-card- type terminal, and a standard printer.
  • the checkout clerk simply scans the barcodes of products, Customer Identification Cards, and optionally, receipts, accepts payment, and rings up the sale.
  • the optional receipt and/or promotional printout are printed and given to the customer.
  • the customer is optionally made aware of in-store signage, displays, and packaging promoting the Web Store.
  • Customers in the store are able to buy a product or service by electronic means.
  • An example of such a service for sale electronically is cellular telephone airtime.
  • a standard electronic credit-card-type of terminal can be used to carry out the sale and works by communicating telephonically with an Order Processing Server.
  • the Web Store comprises a web site with a home page that in its final version is divided into three principle parts: a Merchant Window, a Portal Window, and an Infomediary Window.
  • the Merchant Window typically occupies roughly the top third of the home page Web Store screen, and provides access to dependent screens to permit a customer to purchase products and services.
  • the order is sent to an Order Processing Server, which then passes the order on to a Fulfillment House.
  • the Fulfillment House fills and delivers the ordered product or service.
  • the Portal Window typically occupies approximately one half to a third of the Web Store home page screen. It permits access to all the information and commercial services that are provided by a commercial Internet portal company (e.g., Yahoo!, Lycos, Excite, Go2Net, MSN, Alta Vista, Infoseek, Snap).
  • the Portal Window becomes available by contracting with the Portal Company to provide the service.
  • the Infomediary Window connects a consumer to vendors selling products and services, which are matched to the consumer's needs and interests.
  • the consumer's needs and interests are assessed over time, based on observed online shopping and browsing patterns, as well as explicit information volunteered by the consumer.
  • the functionality of the three windows described in this invention optionally is implemented, in one exemplary embodiment, in a non-windows manner. Such functionality has one or more of the following characteristics: 1.
  • B. Product instructions and training e.g., in text, graphic, and/or video formats). For example, a pharmacy that uses PUMP offers to customers: a. beauty tips b. pharmacy product (e.g., diabetes monitoring machine) instructions for use, and c. emergency tips (heart attack, epilepsy, etc.).
  • the Portal Window is screen space rented out to one or more advertisers.
  • the Infomediary Window offers agent services to PUMP stakeholders by tracking requests for information from consumers, and offers anonymous customer profiles to retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors, allowing them to acquire new customers in a cost-efficient way.
  • the Web Store logs visitors' buying and browsing behavior and optionally saves such information in both cookies on the hard drive of the customer, in RAM memory of the customer's computer, and in databases located on PUMP servers. In this way, the Web Store provides added value to the participants.
  • PUMP offers value at different levels:
  • PUMP provides efficient promotional targeting to retail customers, wholesalers, and other vendors, as well as to retail merchants, users are readily attracted to the PUMP system.
  • PUMP has one or more of the following general characteristics:
  • It can be an equalizer between large chain stores and independently owned retail stores by allowing the smaller stores to offer targeted and specialized products, services and information to their customers that are not provided by larger competitors.
  • SAMIS performs automated recruiting of new commercial stakeholders.
  • SAMIS eliminates most selling costs by recruiting retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors (including manufacturers) online to participate as stakeholders.
  • Rule-based matching also assists marketers in targeting consumers with appropriate products. For example, when a customer profile includes the purchase of children's products (e.g., baby food), the rules-based system might promote a sweepstakes to win a college education for a child.
  • children's products e.g., baby food
  • It comprises a system that routes a customer in a retail or other type of business to the Web Store via a promotional message, which includes the Web Store's URL.
  • It comprises a commercial web site (Web Store), the home page of which allows customers thereto to purchase products and services and/or to activate a hyperlink to a Portal Web Site, which has a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
  • Web Store commercial web site
  • URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • PUMP has a number of additional attributes that make it even more valuable to its users:
  • D It allows multi-channel communications (i.e., standard telephone, standard fax, and standard hand-held computer with an optional wireless Internet connection) by Extranet and SAMIS users to allow limited functions like account checking as a supplement to the functionality available on the web.
  • multi-channel communications i.e., standard telephone, standard fax, and standard hand-held computer with an optional wireless Internet connection
  • Extranet and SAMIS users to allow limited functions like account checking as a supplement to the functionality available on the web.
  • G It allows stakeholders to format their own bills from creditors online according to stakeholders' own internal requirements.
  • H Customers are able to see a record of products and services they've bought through PUMP in the past.
  • J. PUMP has a number of subscription-based services including a. web site hosting, and b. retail merchant home page linking to the Web Store.
  • K. Incentive/loyalty programs allow consumers to earn points based on their purchase behavior.
  • L. PUMP uses a Quote Generator, which has different functions: a. Public (i.e., Web Store and SAMIS) screens show list prices of products and services with explanations of available discounts. b. Private (i.e., Extranet private account) screens show actual prices, which may be discounted due to incentive rebates or other discounts. c. SAMIS shows merchants estimated Return On Investment (ROI) simulations based on input and existing models for similar businesses. d. Customer private account screens show incentive points that a customer has accumulated. M. Email marketing provides a notification service to customers that allows them to specify what, if anything, they would like to receive proactive notification about, including, for example, a.
  • ROI Return On Investment
  • rebates for certain products b. weekly specials in a product category, c. a financial event happening in a customer's PUMP bank account (e.g., a paycheck or a bill arrives), d. an article is published on a given topic in a specified periodical or field, e. a purchased commodity (e.g., cellular phone airtime) is consumed to the point where the amount remaining falls below a preset threshold, and f. incentive points accrue to allow an upgrade in a service.
  • PUMP offers an online coupon service that offers rebates on specified products or services at given stores in a geographic area that allows customers to choose which products are printed for rebate on the coupon. In doing so,
  • PUMP offers the possibility to hook the customer with an offer and begin a dialogue (see Fig. 25).
  • O. Merchant, wholesaler, and vendor Extranets allow the following.
  • a retail merchant can break down PUMP performance on one or more store's private extranet account page in a number of ways, including, for example, by store, by product, by revenues, etc.
  • Financial data e.g., for PUMP sales/store information
  • a retail merchant's private extranet account page can be formatted and downloaded for inclusion in the standard merchant's accounting computer system.
  • Communications suites matched to the merchant corporate profile, as well as individual employee profiles, are used by PUMP to facilitate communications and commerce.
  • Commercial stakeholders in PUMP can specify promotions in order to sell products and services that are targeted to the Extranet private pages of customers with qualified customer profiles.
  • PUMP makes it easy for users to help themselves by accessing
  • the PUMP operator can use the number and types of requests for information from retail merchants, wholesalers, and vendors on FAQs parts of the Extranet (which is, in one exemplary embodiment, the same FAQs mentioned regarding SAMIS) to track problem areas the stakeholder may be having.
  • a retail merchant can modify the profiles and formats of products/services for sale on Web Store.
  • a retail merchant can measure the performance of his store in using
  • PUMP compared to other stores in similar categories (e.g., according to type of store, similar profile, area of country, etc.). i. A retail merchant can be encouraged with an incentive to provide intelligence regarding competitors of the PUMP operator, of the Internet portal company, and of the sales agents.
  • the Extranets on PUMP also can offer training (e.g., using text, graphics, video, and sound) to stakeholders in several areas: a.
  • Customers can be trained, for example,
  • Retail merchants can be trained, for example, how to set up the PUMP business in their store, how to train employees, how to increase sales by offering incentives, how to use the merchant account pages, and how to use the PUMP Infomediary service to save time and money in getting the products and services their business needs.
  • Fulfillment Houses can be trained, for example,
  • Vendors and wholesalers can be trained, for example,
  • Q. PUMP has an optional reminder service that assists consumers in gift giving that includes, for example, a. a database with family and friends' profiles recorded, including information on gift preferences (e.g., red wine preferred as a gift for sister-in-law), b. important dates coming up, including public holidays, as well as private dates which are important (e.g., wedding anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, etc.), c. what you gave last year to a particular person, d. gift ideas suggested by PUMP for known preference categories (e.g., a gift certificate from an outdoors outfitter for someone who likes camping), and e. dynamically generated hyper-links to merchants in designated gift categories.
  • gift preferences e.g., red wine preferred as a gift for sister-in-law
  • important dates coming up including public holidays, as well as private dates which are important (e.g., wedding anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, etc.)
  • c. what you gave last year to a particular person e.g., a
  • PUMP provides a number of valuable services to customers and other stakeholders; for example: a. After a customer orders a commodity, PUMP can reassure the customer by means of email at each step of fulfillment, including confirmation of the order, notification of shipping, and expected time window of delivery. PUMP also gives the customer a means of tracking the delivery. b. The customer can access part or all of her transaction history through her private account page. c. The stakeholder can update her profile at a web site, over a standard telephone, by means of a standard handheld computer, by standard fax, or on paper, d. The stakeholder can give feedback on any web or Extranet page in
  • PUMP provides a service of profiles management in order to keep the profiles current and accurate.
  • PUMP provides online, moderated discussion forums for stakeholder affinity groups to interact and share information.
  • the customer if appropriate, can decide how to be billed (e.g., by credit card, debit account, corporate account, etc.).
  • PUMP offers stakeholders a consistent set of options with predictable responses across every medium (e.g., web, standard telephone, paper, standard fax, standard handheld computer, etc.) that can be used to interact with PUMP.
  • PUMP can record cookies on users' computer hard disks and/or in the RAM memory with information including the user's name, email address(es), email notification service preferences, selected products from coupon-building sites, and PUMP web site click flow data.
  • PUMP can extract information from one or more cookies installed on a customer computer hard disk and/or in the
  • RAM memory in order to integrate a customer profile record or file in a
  • new PUMP customers can be acquired by attracting visitors to PUMP extranets by means of promotions and advertisements (e.g., "Now you can pay your rent at our web site" ). This method of acquiring PUMP customers can bypass retail stores altogether.
  • customers can access a private account page by using a password.
  • Each account page can optionally display one or more of the three windows (Merchant, Portal, and/or Infomediary) described above.
  • the Merchant Window can optionally display commodity and information sets offered to the customer. If the customer makes a purchase through the
  • a process using a web site, such as the Web Store, when combined with the above described promotional means, is properly described as a Portal Magnet.
  • a portal Magnet A process using a web site, such as the Web Store, when combined with the above described promotional means, is properly described as a Portal Magnet.
  • PUMP first attracts a customer to the Web Store, and then routes that customer to a portal home page, which leads to other sites, use of the term Portal Magnet is apdy descriptive.
  • An individual retail store can have a customized promotional message on signage and displays (e.g., "Try our imported cheeses at www.ourWebStore.com"):

Abstract

L'invention concerne premièrement un site Web commercial ou magasin Web dont la page d'accueil permet à des clients d'acheter des produits et des services (marchandises) et d'avoir un hyperlien avec un URL (localisateur de ressources universel) de site Web portail. En second lieu, l'invention concerne un système destiné à conduire un client d'une entreprise de détail ou autre vers le magasin Web en fournissant au client au moins un message promotionnel sur une signalisation, des affiches et/ou un reçu de vente. Typiquement, le message contient au moins l'URL du magasin Web, ainsi qu'une promotion (38) ciblée vers le client. En troisième lieu, l'invention concerne un moyen d'utilisation d'un système informatique faisant office d'intermédiaire entre des clients, des détaillants, des grossistes, des sociétés de couponnage, des vendeurs et une ou plusieurs sociétés de portail sur l'Internet d'une manière ajoutant de la valeur à chacune des parties respectives. Par exemple, des clients et des commerçants mettant en pratique la présente invention peuvent facultativement recevoir des informations, des rapports et des analyses tirés de bases de données.
PCT/US2000/028068 1999-10-12 2000-10-12 Environnement de commerce integre (ice) un procede d'integration d'entreprise hors ligne et en ligne WO2001027838A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

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AU10784/01A AU1078401A (en) 1999-10-12 2000-10-12 Integrated commerce environment (ice) - a method of integrating offline and online business

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US7836045B2 (en) 2006-01-10 2010-11-16 Approximatch, Inc. Customizing web search results based on users' offline activity
US9064264B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2015-06-23 Google Inc. Predicting visibility of content items
US10650434B2 (en) 2016-03-09 2020-05-12 Walmart Apollo, Llc Predictive shopping
CN111160955A (zh) * 2019-12-17 2020-05-15 广州悦尔电子科技有限公司 复合式营销系统
CN113298651A (zh) * 2021-05-20 2021-08-24 陈宜新 一种共享消费的酒类销售平台
US20230076405A1 (en) * 2016-12-29 2023-03-09 Groupon, Inc. Providing discounts to non-partner merchants

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7149706B2 (en) * 2001-03-30 2006-12-12 Mrd Holdings Llc System and method for providing electronic vouchers
WO2002093421A2 (fr) * 2001-05-17 2002-11-21 Deltaseal Software Ltd Distribution de documents bases sur un serveur
WO2002093421A3 (fr) * 2001-05-17 2003-11-27 Deltaseal Software Ltd Distribution de documents bases sur un serveur
US7499879B2 (en) 2002-01-30 2009-03-03 International Business Machines Corporation Cooperative e-business complex
US7836045B2 (en) 2006-01-10 2010-11-16 Approximatch, Inc. Customizing web search results based on users' offline activity
US9064264B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2015-06-23 Google Inc. Predicting visibility of content items
US10650434B2 (en) 2016-03-09 2020-05-12 Walmart Apollo, Llc Predictive shopping
US20230076405A1 (en) * 2016-12-29 2023-03-09 Groupon, Inc. Providing discounts to non-partner merchants
CN111160955A (zh) * 2019-12-17 2020-05-15 广州悦尔电子科技有限公司 复合式营销系统
CN113298651A (zh) * 2021-05-20 2021-08-24 陈宜新 一种共享消费的酒类销售平台

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