WO2007043779A1

WO2007043779A1 - Method of e-commerce using discount coupon

Info

Publication number: WO2007043779A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/004036
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heuijang Cha
Original assignee: Heuijang Cha
Priority date: 2005-10-08
Filing date: 2006-10-09
Publication date: 2007-04-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to an e-commerce method, wherein a client pays an amount deterimined by deducting the value of designated discount coupons from the product price and is rewarded with discount coupons corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the payment, so that the client is triggered to revisit the website to use the discount coupons and the sales volume of the weebsite can be increased substantially; and wherein an auction site is additionally provided allowing the client to bid for goods at low prices consuming the discount coupon.

Description

METHOD OF E-COMMERCE USING DISCOUNT COUPON

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to an electronic commerce (e-commerce) method using discount coupons and, more particularly, to an e-commerce method in which a client pays an amount of money determined by deducting the value of designated discount coupons from a product price at the time of payment using discount coupons, whereby discount coupons in an amount corresponding to a specific percentage of the payment is returned to the client. Background Art

[2] In a conventional e-commerce website a discount of fixed amount or fixed rate from a product priceis provided, or coupons or discount coupons for discounting fixed amounts (for example, a 5,000 won discount) or fixed rates (for example, a 10% discount) are issues to allow consumers to use them. However, such e-commerce websites based on coupons or discount coupons are not sufficiently activated due to the low discount amounts or discount rates. From standpoint of the consumers, validity periods of the points are so short that the consumers do not realize the actual effects thereof.

[3] Furthermore, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-83022 (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2001-22280) discloses a member collecting and consumer marketing method using a recommender scheme, in which recommenders are constituted with senior members who are in possession of a credit card and junior members to whom a credit card is issued by recommendation of the senior members, whereby part of a purchase price is provided to the senior member of the corresponding junior member in the form of a discount coupon or cash when the junior member purchases a product using the credit card, and the senior member is allowed to purchase various products using the discount coupons, thereby maximizing profits to the members. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[4] However, problems with the above laid-open invention are that as the accumulated value of discount coupons is low, it is not easy to recruit junior members and thus e- commerce websites based on use of the discount coupons are not sufficientlt activated, and desirable conditions for using the desposited discount coupons are not provided for. Technical Solution

[5] The present invention, conceived to solve the above problems of the prior arts, provides a method for e-commerce, in which, when a customer amkes a payment to purchase a product, a considerable value of discount coupons corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the payment (about 50% of the payment amount)is provided to the customer, so that the customer is triggered to revisit the website in order to use the provided discount coupons. When the discount coupon creation rate varies from product to product, the maximum value of discount coupons that can be used is calculated using the equation, "the maximum value = a product price x the discount coupon creation rate of the corresponding product x a constant." When a recommender member or a general member makes a payment to purchase a proiduct, a considerable value of discount coupons corresponding to a predetermined rate of the payment (about 50% of the payment)is provided to the member and/or recommenders, so that the members are triggered to recruit junior members or to purchase more products, and the members are triggered to revisit the website to use the discount coupons issued for payments by the members themselves or the discount coupons issued for payments by the junior members. As a result, the quantity of sale of products can be increased considerably. In addition, a separate auction website based on discount coupons is provided, so that members can use discount coupons and can make successful bids for products at low prices.

Advantageous Effects

[6] According to the present invention, discount coupons corresponding to a specific rate are provided for a payment amount exclusive of the discount amount from the total price of the purchased product, therefore there is an advantage in that sales of a shopping mall are increased by triggering members to revisit the shopping mall website in order to use the discount coupons provided, and the maximum value of discount coupons that can be used is associated with the discount coupon creation rate of a corresponding product when the discount coupon creation rate varies from product to product, therefore there is an advantage in that a change in the purchasing sequence according to the discount coupon creation rate is not necessary.

[7] A payment that is determined by deducting the value of discount coupons from a product price is paid at the time of payment using the discount coupon, and discount coupons in a total amount corresponding to a specific percentage of a payment (about 50%) are provided to a member and to recommenders, so that members are triggered to continuously recruit junior members in order to be provided with more discount coupons, and members are triggered to make re- visits in order to use the discount coupons issued for payments by them or the discount coupons issued for payments by junior members, thereby significantly increasing sales of the products.

[8] Furthermore, product prices are determined to be the same as or similar to market prices or to those at other shopping malls, therefore there are advantages in that general members purchase products at a shopping mall of the present invention, instead of other markets, deposit discount coupons, and further subscribe as recommender members, so that they can additionally deposit discount coupons corresponding to the quantity of products purchased by junior members.

[9] Furthermore, at the time of membership subscription, general members and recommender members subscribe separately for a membership and the total quantity of discount coupons provided to the general members and the recommender members remain constant, so that the members may select the desired type of subscription, and thus, the present invention has an effect that the members think a shopping mall of the present invention is the same as other shopping malls.

[10] Furthermore, an auction website at which users make bids while consuming the discount coupons is provided, therefore opportunities to use the discount coupons and make successful bids at very low prices are provided to members. Brief Description of the Drawings

[11] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system construction of an embodiment according to the present invention; and

[12] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[13] A detailed description is given below making reference to the drawings. However, the drawings are for illustrative purposes, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[14] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing asystem construction of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[15] Referring to FIG. 1, a system according to the present invention includes a server

10, and terminals 40 connected to the server 10 via a network 30 (comprising any one of the Internet, an intranet, a PSTN, a satellite communication network and a mobile network, a combination thereof, or a similar network), and an auction website 50 that is deployed in the server 10 or in a separate server and is connected via the network 30.

[16] The server 10 includes a member DB 11, a shopping product DB 12, a discount coupon DB 13, a member tree DB 14, a central processing unit (to which no reference numeral is assigned), in which a shopping module 15, a final payment calculation module 16, a discount coupon deduction module 17, a payment module 18 and a discount coupon deposit module 19 are installed, and a connection device (to which no reference numeral is assigned) which connects the server 10 to the network 30. The auction website 50 is constructed in the server 10 or in a separate server.

[17] The member DB 11 stores IDs, passwords, information on recommenders (which may be called in various names, such as sponsor, senior member, etc. ) information, personal data, product purchase information, delivery information, or the like.

[18] The term "member" in the member DB 11 refers both to a recommended member and to a general member. A member having a recommender entered in the recommender field of the member DB 11 is a recommended member, while a member having no recommender entered therein is a general member. The member DB 11 can also be formed in two separate DBs, i.e., in a recommended member DB and in a general member DB, if necessary.

[19] The member DB 11 can also include product sale information. When a user desires to sell a product in a shopping mall of the present invention, the user can register as a member and sell the product. A member who sells a product as described above is referred to as a seller member or shop member.

[20] Separate DBs can be formed for seller members and shop membersasn a seller DB and a shop member DB.

[21] When an exhibited product is sold, a predetermined amount is paid to the seller member or shop member.

[22] The seller members or shop members are similar to seller members in marketplaces such as "Auction" and "G-market".

[23] The seller member or shop member receives an amount corresponding to the price of sold products after a predetermined commission has been deducted.

[24] In the present invention, when the ratio of provision of discount coupons is 50% of a product price, the actual selling price is 67% of the product price, therefore the receiving amount is determined by deducting credit card fees and shop fees from the above 67% actual selling price.

[25] The actual selling price is calculated using the equation, { 1 / (1 + the ratio of provision of discount coupons}. In the above case, the actual selling price is 1 / (1 + 0.5) = 0.666, that is, about 67% of the product price.

[26] The seller member or shop member can also be allowed to determine the ratio of provision of discount coupons.

[27] While a recommended member and a general member cannot be compatible with each other, a recommended member and a seller member can be compatible with each other, and a general member and a seller member can be compatible with each other.

[28] The shopping product DB 12 stores information on products which members can shop or bid for in an auction.

[29] The shopping product DB 12 includes a product name field, a selling price field, a discount coupon provision rate field, a field for a maximum discount amount for discount coupons, a seller information field, a product description field, a return address field, a delivery period field after an order, or the like. The discount coupon provision rate field and the field for a maximum discount amount for discount coupons can be used for the case where the discount coupon provision rate varies with the product.

[30] Preferably, a maximum discount amount for discount coupons is closely associated with the discount coupon provision rate. For example, in one shopping mall, a maximum discount amount for discount coupons is equal to a corresponding discount coupon provision rate, in another shopping mall, a maximum discount amount for discount coupons is double to a corresponding discount coupon provision rate, and, in still another shopping mall, a maximum discount amount is three times to a corresponding discount coupon provision rate. In some cases, maximum discount amount for discount coupons is not associated with the discount coupon provision rate at all, but rather, can be determined by a seller when necessary. However, in view of the reliability of a shopping mall the maximum discount amount for discount coupons shall preferably be associated with the discount coupon provision rate.

[31] If the selling price of a product is 10,000 Korean won and a corresponding discount coupon provision rate is 50% in case the discount coupon provision rate varies from product to product and the maximum discount amount for discount coupons is two times of a discount coupon provision rate, the maximum discount amount for discount coupons is 10,000 won x 50% x 2 = 10,000 won. That is, the product can be purchased free of charge using a 10,000 won discount coupon. If the discount coupon provision rate for the same product is 30%, the maximum discount amount for discount coupons is 10,000 won x 30% x 2 = 6,000 won. In this case, the maximum amount discount coupons is limited to 6,000 won, even if the member has many discount coupons. The remaining 4,000 won must be paid in cash or corresponding payment means. The discount coupons are not considered to be cash or corresponding payment means.

[32] The discount coupon DB 13 is a DB that stores discount coupon values, the number of discount coupons, issue dates, the validity periods, the half-lives, half-life dates, use dates, etc. of each members.

[33] The discount coupon can be called in various names, such as discount amount or point, coupon, mileage point, cyber money, discount coupon, discount point, cash, star, or the like. That is, a 100,000 won discount coupon, a 100 1,000 won point, a 100,000 of 1 won coupon, a 100,000 won discount amount, a 100,000 won worth of mileage point, and a 100,000 won cyber money designate the same. Furthermore, anything that can used for payment, or discount in purchase of a product in an e-commerce website of the present invention can be called, a"discount coupon", and falls under the category of a discount coupon in the present invention and its equivalent.

[34] When a discount coupon is changed to a discount amount, the discount coupon DB is changed to a discount amount DB. When a discount coupon is changed to mileage points, the discount coupon DB is changed a mileage DB.

[35] The member DB 11 and the discount coupon DB 13 can be integrated into a single

DB, or they can be divided into more specified DBs, if necessary.

[36] The member tree DB 14 is a DB that is constructed by extracting recommenders for all members from the member DB 11 using a tree structure.

[37] The member tree DB 14 is a DB that is constructed by listing def, ghi, jkl, mno, etc. for a specific member ID abc, the recommender for abc being def, the recommender for def being ghi, the recommender for ghi being jkl, the recommender for jkl being mno and so on, as the first-level recommender, the second-level recommender, the third-level recommender, the fourth-level recommender, and so on, respectively.

[38] The member tree DB 14 is constructed as needed, and is constructed based on the recommender field of the member DB 11. In case where the discount coupon deposit module 19 can be operated using only the recommender field, the member tree DB 14 may be omitted.

[39] The shopping module 15 performs a function equal or similar to the function of a typical website shopping mall in that it links information about products of the shopping product DB 12 to the website shopping mall (web pages or a separate web site) and displayes on the terminals 40, and takes orders and payments from members. However, at the time of payment, the members are allowed to make a payment using both his or her discount coupons and cash (including payment means that can be exchanged with cash, such as a credit card, a prepaid card, a mobile payment, a telephone payment, a deposit without a bankbook, an OK-cash back payment, mileage points other than the discount coupons, or cyber money), in a mixed payment manner. In a strict sense, use of discount coupons as per the present invention does not constitute a mixed payment because the discount coupons are used to discount product prices.

[40] In the case where the discount coupon deposit rate varies from product to product, it is preferable that the discount coupon deposit rate and maximum discount amount or maximum discount rate of each product are displayed when the shopping module 15 displays products of the shopping product DB 12 on the terminals 40 with the products linked to a shopping mall (web pages or separate web site).

[41] In the case where products are sold, and a discount coupon deposit system according to the present invention or an auction website is used in a general offline shopping mall, the shopping module 15 may be omitted, because it is possible to sell products without mediation of the shopping module 15 in a general offline shopping mall.

[42] In the case where a general offline shopping mall (which is an affiliated shopping mall) issues discount coupons according to the present invention, it is preferable that the discount coupons are desposited after a member ID presented by the member has been inserted into a terminal 40 for authentication and payment procedures (The term "member" refers both to a registered member and to a customer having a member ID card. When a user does not have a member ID card, a member shop provides a member ID card to the user)

[43] Accordingly, the terminals 40 of the general offline shopping mall (which is an affiliated shopping mall) must have a function of identifying member ID cards. Identification of member ID cards can be implemented using various known techniques, adopted in, e.g. credit card terminals, smart card terminals, and OK-cash back point deposit devices.

[44] The final payment calculation module 16 displays when a member desires to purchase a product and make payment, the value of discount coupons deposited by the member, inputs the value of discount coupons to be used, calculates an amount of money that is determined by deducting the value of discount coupons to be used from the product price and to be paid, and displays the amount to be paid on the terminal 40 of the member.

[45] The discount coupon deduction module 17 deducts the discount coupons used from the discount coupon DB 13, when a member makes a payment. When the discount coupon deduction module 17 deducts discount coupons from the discount coupon DB 13, it is preferable to first deduct discount coupons having earlier issue dates from the discount coupon DB 13 according to the first-in first-out principle. In the cases where the issue dates of discount coupons are insignificant, it is not necessary to follow the first-in first-out principle.

[46] The payment module 18 directs, when a member clicks on a payment button, the member to make payment using a payment means that can be considered to be the same as cash, such as a credit card, a prepaid card, a mobile payment, a telephone payment, a deposit without a bankbook, an OK-cash back payment, mileage or cyber money other than the above discount coupon. At the time of payment, only the amount of money that is determined by deducting value of the discount coupons from the product price (an amount of money that is calculated using the final payment calculation module 16) is paid.

[47] The discount coupon deduction module 17 and the payment module 18 may be performed in reverse orders, but are practically performed at the same time. In the case where the discount coupon deduction module 17 is performed prior to the payment module 18, and the payment has not been made, it is preferable to restore the deduction of discount coupons made by the discount coupon deduction module 17.

[48] If a product purchaser is a recommended member (in the case where there is a recommender for the member), the discount coupon deposit module 19 provides discount coupons according to predetermined percentages of the payment (for example, 50%) to the recommended member and the recommender (recommenders) after payment has been made through the payment module 18. The percentage of discount coupons provided to the recommender (recommenders) may be appropriately adjusted when necessary. When necessary, the number of discount coupons provided to the recommender (recommenders) can be 0, or all of discount coupons issued to the purchase of a product by a recommended member can be deposited for a recommender (recommenders). When necessary, discount coupons can be deposited for only one recommender who recommended a recommended member, or discount coupons may be deposited for an adjacent higher-level recommender (a recommender who recommended a recommender) and for successive recommending members.

[49] If a product purchaser is a general member, the discount coupon deposit module 19 deposits discount coupons corresponding to a predetermined percentage of a payment (for example, 50%) for a general member after payment is made through the payment module 18.

[50] When a member purchases a product having a price of 50,000 won, using a deposited 15,000 won discount coupon and pays 35,000 won in the case where a discount coupon deposit rate is 50%, a 17,500 won discount coupon may be provided, or 17 1,000 won coupons and one 500 won coupon may be provided. In some cases, an amount less than 1,000 won may be cancelled and 17 1,000 won coupons may be provided. Although the discount coupons may be exchanged to cash and cash may be provided, it is preferable that no cash is provided.

[51] The discount coupons are provided to senior members according to predetermined rules. For example, 15% of a purchase price may be provided to a recommended member, 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a first- level senior member (recommender), 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a second-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender), 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a third-level senior member recommender (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a fourth-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a fifth-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 5% of the purchase price may be provided to a sixth-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 2.5% of the purchase price may be provided to a seventh-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 1.25% of the purchase price may be provided to an eighth-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender), 0.625% of the purchase price may be provided to a ninth-level senior member (the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender of the recommender) and so on (after a 10th level, 1/2 of the rate for the immediate preceding level may be provided successively).

[52] In the above case, if a 50,000 won discount coupon is provided because the recommended member purchases a product to a price 100,000 won, and pays 100,000 won without using a discount coupon, a 15,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a recommended member, a 5,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a 1st level higher recommender, a 5,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a 2nd level higher recommender (a recommender), a 5,000 won discount coupon may be pr ovided to a 3rd level higher recommender, a 5,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a 4th level higher recommender, a 5,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a 5th level higher recommender, a 5,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a 6th level higher recommender, a 2,500 won discount coupon may be provided to a 7th level higher recommender, a 1,250 won discount coupon may be provided to an 8th level higher recommender, a 625 won discount coupon may be provided to a 9th level higher recommender and so on (after a 10th level, 1/2 of the rate of the prior level may be provided). When necessary, a 15,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a recommended member, and a 35,000won discount coupon may be provided to a recommender,or, alternatively, no discount coupon may be provided to a recommended member, and a 50,000 won discount coupon may be provided to a recommender.

[53] If necessary, discount coupons may be calculated and provided at a predetermined time monthly.

[54] Furthermore, a recommended member may be required to purchase products corresponding to a certain rate so as to receive discount coupons based on a junior member.

[55] For example, if discount coupons receivable in a month for a recommanded member amount to 2 million won, the member can receive discount coupons amounting to 2 million won if the member pays 200,000 won, while discount coupons amounting to 1 million 800,000 won may be received if the recommended member pays 180,000 won in the month. The reason for this regulation is to prevent a recommended member from merely inviting members and not purchasing products. The rate of minimum payment may be adjusted appropriately. [56] Alternatively, if discount coupons receivable in a month for a recommanded member amount to 2 million won, the member can receive discount coupons amounting to 2 million won if the recommended member pays 200,000 won in the month, while the member receives no discount coupons if the member pays an amount less than 200,000 won in the month. In such case, since calculation is performed with the corresponding member excluded therefrom, it is preferable thet the calculated discount coupons are assigned to the next senior member.

[57] Furthermore, a concurrent employment of the above two regulations are also possible, i.e. discount coupons are assigned to a recommanded member when a payment corresponding to a specific amount is made by the member within a predetermined time limit, and after the time limit, the discount coupons may be received in proportion additional purchase.

[58] Although the server 10, the Internet 30 and the terminal 40 are illustrated as being based on the web, the server 10 may be a server that can provide service to mobile phones, the Internet 30 can refer to a network in which the Internet and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) are combined with each other or can be replaced with a PSTN, and the terminals 40 may be mobile phones, PDAs, or smart phones.

[59] Furthermore, the server 10 may be appropriately divided into DBs or modules when necessary. That is, the server 10 may be divided into DB servers, web servers, or shopping servers. When necessary, identical servers may be connected with each other in parallel. Furthermore, shopping servers may be managed by various different business entities.

[60] When necessary, the deposit of discount coupons by the discount coupon deposit module 19 may be performed prior to payment processing by the payment module 18.

[61] The auction website 50 may be constructed inside the server 10 or may be provided in a separate server. The auction website 50 operates in conjunction with the member DB 11 and the discount coupon DB 13, and a deduction from the discount coupons of a member may be made when the member makes a bid at the auction website 50.

[62] A member can use the auction website 50 while consuming discount coupons in the discount coupon DB 13. The auction website 50 makes a deduction from discount coupons for each bid. For example, discount coupons may be consumed using a method of deducting a 1,000- won discount coupon for each bid or deducting one discount coupon for each bid.

[63] At the auction website 50, the highest or lowest among one or two prices of the only bids is determined to be the successful bid price. A bid that is made at a price determined as a successful bid price becomes a successful bid.

[64] For example, when

[65] 4 bids of 123 won, [66] 5 bids of 122 won,

[67] 1 bid of 121 won,

[68] 7 bids of 120 won,

[69] I bid of 119 won,

[70] I bid of 110 won,

[71] 3 bids of 109 won,

[72] 10 bids of 108 won,

[73] 2 bids of 107 won,

[74] 3 bids of 106 won,

[75] and 0 bids at any other price are made,

[76] where an available bid price ranges from 100 won to 130 won and the only bid at the lowest price is a successful bid,

[77] the lowest of 1 bid of 121 won, 1 bid of 119 won and 1 bid of 110 won, that is, the bid of 110 won, is a successful bid.

[78] Of course, whenever a member makes a bid, the discount coupons of the member are consumed. The number or value of discount coupons consumed is determined by necessity.

[79] A general only-price auction website is different from the auction website 50 in that bids can be made while consuming paid bidding coupons at the general only-price auction website, while bids can be made while consuming free discount coupons (coupons used for discount of product price at the time of purchase) at the auction website 50.

[80] Discount coupons consumed by bidding at the auction website 50 are preferably exhausted, and not restored after an unsuccessful bid.

[81] The auction website 50 includes an auction product DB, a bid module, and a successful bid module. A member DB, and a discount coupon DB may not be provided. When they are provided separately from the auction website 50, it is preferable that they operate in conjunction with the member DB 11 and discount coupon DB 13 of the server 10.

[82] The auction product DB is a DB that stores information on auction products to be posted to the auction website 50. The bid module functions to store the details of a bid and deduct discount coupons from the discount coupon DB 13 of the corresponding member when the member makes the bid. The successful bid module functions to determine one of the prices of the only price bids, which corresponds to a predetermined condition (for example, the highest price), to a successful bidding price, and to determine the corresponding bid to a successful bid.

[83] The collection of the successful bidding price at the auction website 50 is performed in the same manner as in conventional known price auctions or bidding fee auctions. [84] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[85] Referring to FIG. 2, when a member decides to purchase a product at an e- commerce shopping mall according to the present invention at step 100, the server asks whether to make a payment including discount coupons (in the case where the member has no discount coupons, the process moves to a direct payment window), and performs the payment procedure after having discounted an amount corresponding to the value of the discount coupons to be used from a product price

[86] In the flowchart of FIG. 2, a member authentication step, a member access step to a the shopping mall of the present invention through a terminal, and a step of displaying a product to be sold on the terminal of the member, etc. prior to the step 100 of deciding the purchase are omitted.

[87] In the case where the member desires to use discount coupons, a payment (a final payment) is calculated at step 200 by deducting a value corresponding to the discount coupons from the total price of the product.

[88] Although it is preferable that the number of discount coupons usable for purchase of a single product, it is preferable tyhat the usable discount coupons are limited in relation to a discount coupon deposit rate in the case where the discount coupon deposit rate varies from product to product. For example, in the case where the discount coupon deposit rate of all products is 50% (5,000 won discount coupon deposit at a payment of 10,000 won), discount coupons may be used for the total price of all products. In the case where a discount coupon deposit rate varies from product to product, it is preferable that discount coupons are used for the total price of products having a discount coupon deposit rate of 50%, while discount coupons are used for a maximum of 60% of the price of products having a discount coupon deposit rate of 30%. The reason for this is to prevent the occurances in which members purchase products with higher discount coupon deposit rates in cash and purchase products with lower discount coupon deposit rates using only discount coupons.

[89] When a member clicks the payment button, the discount coupons of the member used at the final payment calculation step 200 are deducted at step 300, a payment window for payment in cash, in credit card, etc. is displayed, and the member makes a payment at step 400. If the member does not make a payment at step 400, the deducted discount coupons are restored.

[90] The payment step 400 and the discount coupon deduction step 300 may be performed in reverse order.

[91] Discount coupons corresponding to a predetermined percentage (for example, 50%) of the payment made at the payment step 400 are created and provided to the member and/or recommenders at step 500. The predetermined percentage may be a specific percentage of the product price. The specific percentage may vary from product to product. The amount of discount coupons given to a recommender is determined by necessity.

[92] The member may purchase products again at step 100 using the discount coupons, provided at the discount coupon deposit step 500.

[93] Furthermore, the member may make a bid in an auction at the auction website 50 of

FIG. 1 using the discount coupons, provided at the discount coupon deposit step 500. When the member makes a bid at the auction website 50, the consumed discount coupons are exhausted. It is preferable that the exhausted discount coupons are not restored after an unsuccessful bid.

[94] A half- life period, after which a discount value is reduced by half, and a validity period may be set for each of the discount coupons, provided at the discount coupon deposit step.

[95] For example, a 1,000 won discount coupon issued on January 1, 2005 having a half- life period of one year and a validity period of 2 years, becomes a 500 won discount coupon as ob January 1, 2006, and expires on January 1, 2007 due to elapse of the validity period .

[96] Furthermore, a 1,000 won discount coupon, issued on January 1, 2005 having a half-life period of 1 year and a validity period of of 3 years, beconmes a 500 won discount coupon as ob January 1, 2006, a 250 won discount coupon as ob January 1, 2007, and expires on January 1, 2008 due to elapse of the validity period. Mode for the Invention

[97] A method for electronic commerce using discount coupons as per the present invention comprises the steps: of member identification for identification of a member via a network; of discount coupon value determination, wherein the value of discount coupons to be used is determined by the member after the product and product price have been displayed to the identified member; of final payment calculation, wherein the final payment is calculated by deducting the value of the discount coupons determined at the step of discount coupon value determination from the product price; of discount coupon deduction, wherein the discount coupons used at the step of final payment calculation are deducted from the total discount coupons deposited by the member after the member has made the final payment; and of discount coupon deposit, wherein discount coupons are created by application of a predetermined discount coupon creation rate for the product to the final payment, and then, deposited to existing discount coupons of the member.

[98] Another method for electronic commerce using discount coupons as per the present invention comprises the steps: of member identification for identification of a member via a network; of discount coupon value determination, wherein the value of discount coupons to be used is determined by the member after the product and product price have been displayed to the identified member; of final payment calculation, wherein the final payment is calculated by deducting the value of the discount coupons determined at the step of discount coupon value determination from the product price; of discount coupon deduction, wherein the discount coupons used at the step of final payment calculation are deducted from the total discount coupons deposited by the member after the member has made the final payment; and of discount coupon deposit, wherein discount coupons are created by application of a predetermined discount coupon creation rate for the product to the product price, and then, deposited to existing discount coupons of the member.

[99] When the discount coupon creation rate varies from product to product at the step of discount coupon deposit, information on the discount coupon creation rate is additionally provided at the step of product information display, and a maximum value of discount coupons usable for a product at the step of discount coupon value determination shall preferably be calculated using the equation,"the maximum value = the product price x discount coupon creation rate for the product x a constant".

[100] The constant is preferably 2.

[101] If the member has a recommender, a part or all of the discount coupons created at the step of discount coupon deposit are deposited for the recommender.

[102] It is preferrable that the discount coupon provided at the step of discount coupon deposit has a validity period.

[103] It is preferable that the e-commerce method further includes a step of paid auction, wherein a bid can be made using the discount coupons instead of bidding fee.

[104] The term "product" covers both tangible and intangible products. Although the term

"product" generally refers to tangibles, such as a desk, a chair, or a computer, it refers herein to both tangibles and intangibles, including real estate, such as a building or land, intellectual property, such as patent rights or copyrights, and also promises, such as a lunch appointment with a famous person. This term is used in the same meaning throughout the entire specification. Industrial Applicability

[105] As described above, the present invention can be used in the field of e-commerce on the Internet.

Claims

[1] A method for electronic commerce using discount coupons as per the present invention comprising steps: of member identification for identification of a member via a network; of discount coupon value determination, wherein the value of discount coupons to be used is determined by the member after the product and product price have been displayed to the identified member; of final payment calculation, wherein the final payment is calculated by deducting the value of the discount coupons determined at the step of discount coupon value determination from the product price; of discount coupon deduction, wherein the discount coupons used at the step of final payment calculation are deducted from the total discount coupons deposited by the member after the member has made the final payment; and of discount coupon deposit, wherein discount coupons are created by application of a predetermined discount coupon creation rate for the product to the final payment, and then, deposited to existing discount coupons of the member.

[2] A method for electronic commerce using discount coupons as per the present invention comprising steps: of member identification for identification of a member via a network; of discount coupon value determination, wherein the value of discount coupons to be used is determined by the member after the product and product price have been displayed to the identified member; of final payment calculation, wherein the final payment is calculated by deducting the value of the discount coupons determined at the step of discount coupon value determination from the product price; of discount coupon deduction, wherein the discount coupons used at the step of final payment calculation are deducted from the total discount coupons deposited by the member after the member has made the final payment; and of discount coupon deposit, wherein discount coupons are created by application of a predetermined discount coupon creation rate for the product to the product price, and then, deposited to existing discount coupons of the member, wherein, when the discount coupon creation rate varies from product to product at the step of discount coupon deposit, information on the discount coupon creation rate is additionally provided at the step of product information display, and a maximum value of discount coupons usable for a product at the step of discount coupon value determination shall preferably be calculated using the equation,"the maximum value = the product price x discount coupon creation rate for the product x a constant".

[3] The e-commerce method of claim 1, wherein, when the discount coupon creation rate varies from product to product at the step of discount coupon deposit,information on the discount coupon creation rate is additionally provided at the step of product information display, and a maximum value of discount coupons usable for a product at the step of discount coupon value determination is calculated using the equation, "the maximum value = the product price x discount coupon creation rate for the product x a constant".

[4] The e-commerce method of claim 2, wherein the constant is 2.

[5] The e-commerce method of claim 3, wherein the constant is 2.

[6] The e-commerce method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, if the member has a recommander, a part or all of the discount coupons created at the step of discount coupon deposit are deposited for the recommender.

[7] The e-commerce method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the discount coupon provided at the step of discount coupon deposit has a validity period.

[8] The e-commerce method of claim 6, wherein the discount coupon provided at the step of discount coupon deposit has a validity period.

[9] The e-commerce method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further includes a step of paid auction, wherein a bid can be made using the discount coupons instead of bidding fee.

[10] The e-commerce method of claim 6, further includes a step of paid auction, wherein a bid can be made using the discount coupons instead of bidding fee.

[11] The e-commerce method of claim 7, further includes a step of paid auction, wherein a bid can be made using the discount coupons instead of bidding fee.

[12] The e-commerce method of claim 8, further includes a step of paid auction, wherein a bid can be made using the discount coupons instead of bidding fee.