WO2018006385A1

WO2018006385A1 - Method and system for distributing appreciating electronic coupon within network of users

Info

Publication number: WO2018006385A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/089284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zheng Shi; Xuefei Wang; Huihui Wang; Richard-Martin DICKINSON; Xingyi GONG
Original assignee: Zheng Shi
Priority date: 2016-07-07
Filing date: 2016-07-07
Publication date: 2018-01-11

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for distributing electronic coupon that appreciates in value amongst a network of users. An administrator (e.g., merchant, contracted marketing company, etc.) creates an electronic coupon link which is received by a first user who may choose to further distribute the coupon link to other users within their network. Upstream users are incentivized to distribute the electronic coupons links to downstream users by having their electronic coupon increase in value.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING APPRECIATING ELECTRONIC COUPON WITHIN NETWORK OF USERS

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to distributing electronic coupons within a network of users.

BACKGROUND

Multi-level marketing (MLM) is a controversial marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they generate but also for the sales of the other salespeople that they recruit. In such a marketing scheme, much of the value relies on the downstream sales force’s ability to perform.

Similarly, a pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits via a promise of payment or services for enrolling others into the scheme rather than supplying investments or sales (e.g., value) . As with MLM, as recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes increasingly difficult and the scheme breaks down (often to the detriment of the majority of the stakeholders of the scheme) . Thus, given their unsustainable nature, pyramid schemes and their variants are often illegal.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention presents a method and accompanying system to resolve the problems highlighted in the prior art whereby, unlike multilevel marketing and pyramid schemes where the values lies from downstream members selling more, a social network distribution of coupons is designed where value is provided by the administrator (e.g., merchant, contracted marketing company, etc. ) directly instead, and the value of the reward to a potential customer does not rely on his or her downstream users making an actual purchase.

The present invention relates to a method and system for distributing electronic coupons that appreciate in value amongst a network of users. An administrator creates an electronic coupon link which is received by a user who may choose to further distribute the coupon link to other users within their network. Upstream users are incentivized to distribute the electronic coupons links to downstream users by having their electronic coupon increase in value as more downstream users accepts the electronic coupons.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the following steps: creating, by a administrator, a coupon link embedded with an electronic coupon with a first monetary value； receiving, by a first user, the coupon link from the administrator； activating the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon by the first user； sending, by the first user, the coupon link to a second user； receiving, by a second user, the coupon link from the first user； activating the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon by the second user； increasing, by one or more processor of the online network, the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the first user； storing, by an online database associated with the online network, the identity of the second user, the distribution relationship of the second user with respect to the first user, and the monetary value of electronic coupons of the second and first users.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the following steps: creating, by a administrator, a coupon link embedded with an electronic coupon； receiving, by a third user, the coupon link from a second user； activating the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon by the third user； increasing by one or more processor of the online network, the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the second user； storing, by an online database associated with the online network, the identity of the third user, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the second user, and the monetary value of the third and second users.

In one embodiment of the present invention the system includes: a processor residing on a server； a processor residing on a device used by a user to access the online network； an online database that is managed by one or more processors； a coupon link, created by an administrator and connected to an electronic coupon. Once the coupon link is received, by a third user, from a second user, and the third user activates the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon, the one or more processor of the online network increases the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the second user, and instructs the online database to store the identity of the third user, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the second user, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the third and second users.

Optionally, the method further includes the following steps: retrieving, from the online database, a first user that has sent the coupon link to the second user； increasing, by one or more processor of the online network, the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the first user； storing, by the online database, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the first user, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the first user.

Optionally, the method repeats the abovementioned steps until the number of upstream users has reached a pre-defined number.

Optionally, the format of the coupon link can be a hyperlink, a QR Code, and a barcode.

Optionally, activating the coupon link is made through an authentication process in which the identity of the third user is entered and verified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the electronic coupon distribution system process with four consecutive users in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic coupon distribution system in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the electronic coupon distribution system process wherein the coupon link is embedded with a User ID in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic coupon distribution system design to avoid a loop user reference in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic coupon distribution system design to avoid issues with multiple forwarding to an identical downstream user from different upstream users but identical coupon link in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these specific embodiments. The invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of invention, which is defined by the apprehended claims.

Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures and components are not described in details to avoid unnecessarily obscuring a clear understanding of the present invention.

The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objectives and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings.

The process is as follows:

- User A clicks on the electronic coupon link and receives an electronic coupon with a face value of USD 100.

- User A shares the electronic coupon link with User B.

- User B clicks the electronic coupon link sent by User A and receives the electronic coupon’s face value of USD 100. Once User B receives the electronic coupon, User A receives a coupon reward of USD 50 (total of USD 150) for distributing the electronic coupon link to User B.

- User B shares the electronic coupon link with User C.

- User C clicks on the electronic coupon link sent by User B and receives the electronic coupon’s face value of USD 100. Both User A and User B receive coupon rewards for distributing the electronic coupon link to User C (e.g., an additional USD 50 to User B’s electronic coupon value and USD 20 for User A) .

- User C shares the electronic coupon link with User D.

- User D clicks on the electronic coupon link sent by User C and receives the electronic coupon’s face value of USD100. Both User B and User C receive coupon rewards for distributing the electronic coupon link to User D (e.g., an additional USD50 to User C’s electronic coupon value and USD20 for User B) . User A, having reached the maximum potential referring coupon reward amount, will receive no reward.

The electronic coupon distribution system comprises of an online network 101 having one or more administrators 102 and a plurality of network users 103. Wherein, an administrator 102 initiates and runs the electronic coupon distribution scheme by creating an electronic coupon URL (coupon link) 104 that corresponds to an electronic coupon with an assigned monetary value. The coupon link 104 can be a hyperlink, a barcode, a QR Code, or any other linkage established to connect a user with the electronic coupon.

Users 103 participate in the scheme via electronic device 105 used to access the online network 101. In a preferred embodiment these would include software applications 107 (e.g., Social Networking Platforms such as

etc. ) running on Smartphones, desktop computers, laptop computers, etc.

The users 103 participate in the electronic coupon system whenever they click on a coupon link 104 obtained from either the administrator 102 or an upstream user 103. A user is referred to as a downstream user 106 whenever they click on a coupon link 104 that are obtained from an upstream user 103.

The coupon distribution record between the administrator 102, upstream and

downstream users

103, 106 is stored on an online database that is managed by one or more processors.

In the system described above, one the coupon link 104 from a upstream user 103 is received by a downstream user 106, and once the downstream user 106 activates the coupon link 104 to accept the electronic coupon, the one or more processor of the online network 101 increases the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the upstream user 103, and instructs the online database to store the identity of the downstream user 106, the distribution relationship of the downstream user 106 with respect to the upstream user 103, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the downstream and

upstream users

103, 106.

The method of the present invention in accordance to one embodiment can be described as:

- User A clicks on the coupon link and, after inputting their information (e.g., phone number, ‘proof of work’ , etc. ) , receives an electronic coupon with a face value (e.g., USD 10) .

- User A shares the coupon link with their social network (e.g., directly to a friend or via their social network’s circle of friends) .

- User B clicks the coupon link sent by User A and receives the coupon’s face value (e.g., USD 10) . User A receives a coupon reward added on their coupon for distributing the coupon link to User B (e.g., an additional USD 5 to User A’s coupon value) .

- After User B shares the coupon link with their social network, User C clicks on the coupon link and receives the electronic coupon’s face value (e.g., USD 100) . Both User A and User B receive coupon rewards for distributing the coupon link to User C (e.g., an additional USD 5 to User B’s electronic coupon value and USD 2 for User A) .

- The electronic coupon distribution scheme ends at User C as each electronic coupon link is designed to be limited to two successive downstream clicks.

It will be noted that in a preferred embodiment of the method described above, the total monetary value increase of an upstream user is limited to a certain amount.

In the embodiment described in FIG. 3, the electronic coupon link is embedded with a User ID if that specific coupon has already been clicked on by an upstream user. The process is as follows.

- User A clicks on the electronic coupon link and receives an electronic coupon with a face value of USD 10.

- User A inputs their information and receives the coupon of a certain monetary value (e.g., USD 10) .

- A verification of whether the coupon link contains an assigned User ID belonging to an upstream user is undertaken by either User A’s electronic device’s software application or by another medium (e.g., the administrator (s) or server processor) .

- If the verification shows that there is no assigned User ID contained in the coupon link, then it is established that User A is the first user in that coupon link’s chain and User A’s ID is assigned to that coupon link (by either User A’s electronic device’s software application, the administrator (s) or server processor) .

- If the verification shows that there already exists an assigned User ID contained in the coupon link, then User A is made to link with the first upstream user (by either User A’s electronic device’s software application, the administrator (s) or server processor) .

- Once User A is linked with the first upstream user, the first upstream user receives a coupon reward (e.g., USD 5) added to their electronic coupon for successfully referring a downstream user (i.e., User A) .

- A verification of whether the first upstream user has its own upstream user is undertaken.

- If the verification shows that there is no further assigned upstream user, then it is established the first upstream user is the first link in that coupon’s chain and no further actions is required.

- If the verification shows that there exists another upstream user (i.e., the second upstream user) assigned to that coupon link, then the first upstream user is made to link with this second upstream user.

- Once the first upstream user is linked with the second upstream user, the second upstream user receives a coupon reward (e.g., USD 2) added to their electronic coupon for successfully having their downstream user (i.e., first upstream user) refer another downstream user (i.e., User A) .

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic coupon distribution system is designed in such a manner so as to avoid a loop user reference situation. In such a case, all user IDs of upstream users are embedded within the coupon link so as avoid a situation whereby monetary values of coupons are changed whenever a downstream user forwards the same coupon link to an upstream user.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic coupon distribution system is designed in such a manner so as to avoid issues with multiple forwarding to an identical downstream user from different upstream users but identical coupon link. In such a case, the coupon distribution record between the administrators, upstream and downstream users’ is stored on an online database that is managed by one or more processors. The record of all coupon link forwarding is kept in real time so that whenever a situation as in FIG. 5 arises whereby both User B and C forward the same coupon link to User D, only one direct upstream user will benefit from coupon rewards added to their electronic coupon based on some predetermined rule (e.g., which upstream user forwarded the link the first or which was the coupling link User B clicked on first) . In the case illustrated in FIG. 5, User B benefits from a coupon reward added to their electronic coupon whereas User C receives nothing. It will be noted that, no matter which upstream user (User B or User C) is rewarded, the first upstream user, User A, is rewarded.

Claims

A method for distributing an electronic coupon among end users of an online network, comprising,

-creating, by an administrator, a coupon link embedded with an electronic coupon,

-receiving, by a third user, the coupon link from a second user,

-activating the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon by the third user,

-increasing, by one or more processor of the online network, the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the second user,

-storing, by an online database associated with the online network, the identity of the third user, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the second user, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the third and second users.
The method of claim 1, further comprising,

-retrieving, from the online database, a first user that has sent the coupon link to the second user,

-increasing, by one or more processor of the online network, the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the first user,

-storing, by the online database, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the first user, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the first user.
The method of claim 2, further comprising,

-repeating steps in claim 2, until the number of upstream users has reached a pre-defined number.
The method of claim 1, wherein the format of the coupon link is selected from a group consisting of a hyperlink, a QR Code, and a barcode.
The method of claim 1, further comprising,

-activating the coupon link through an authentication process, wherein the identity of the third user is entered and verified.
A system for distributing an electronic coupon among end users of an online network, comprising,

-a processor residing on a server,

-a processor residing on a device used by a user to access the online network,

-an online database that is managed by one or more processors,

-a coupon link, created by an administrator and connected to an electronic coupon,

wherein, upon receiving, by a third user, the coupon link from a second user, and upon activating, by the third user, the coupon link to accept the electronic coupon, the one or more processor of the online network increases the monetary value of the electronic coupon of the second user, and instructs the online database to store the identity of the third user, the distribution relationship of the third user with respect to the second user, and the monetary value of electronic coupon of the third and the second users.
The system of claim 6, wherein the format of the coupon link is selected from a group consisting of a hyperlink, a QR Code, and a barcode.
The system of claim 6, further comprising, an authentication module, wherein the identity of the third user is entered and verified.