Abstract: The profitability and effectiveness of a marketing program is increased by segmenting the customer population according to a combination of different segmentation strategies. A number of independent segmentation strategies are performed on the customers, each strategy resulting in its own set of scores. The sets of scores are then combined to form a composite score for each customer which is used to generate a ranked list of the customer population. Furthermore, different composite scores can be determined using different possible methods and these different scores can, themselves, be combined to generate an overall score and ranking for each customer. The targeted recipients for particular marketing materials are selected based on these rankings.

Abstract: An electronic coupon, an electronic commerce system, and a method for the honoring of electronic coupons utilizing computing equipment are disclosed. In the method, an issuing party issues an electronic coupon to a customer. The customer presents the coupon for redemption to a redemption party. The redemption party transmits the coupon to an authentication party for authentication. If authentic, the authentication party charges the redemption party a fee and passes that fee to the issuing party. The redemption party honors the coupon for the customer and seeking reimbursement of the fee from the issuing party. The electronic coupon has a plurality of data fields, including: a coupon identifier, x, a first one-way hash function field, f(x), and a secure signature field.

Abstract: A lamp unit has a reflector (10) having a reflector surface (12) with an inverted U-shaped aperture (14) formed therein and extending through said reflector to an opposite surface (16). The inverted U-shaped aperture thereby has a bight (18) uppermost with a pair of channels (20, 22) depending therefrom. A light-shield (24) comprises a cup-shaped member (26) having an arm (28) projecting therefrom. The arm (28) has a distal end (30) formed to provide a pair of nibs (32, 34) for engaging and penetrating the channels (20, 22) of the inverted U-shaped aperture (14). The nibs (32, 34) have their ends (36, 38) deformed to fix the position of the light-shield (24) relative to the reflector (10).

Abstract: There is provided a novelty candy assembly including a body, an illumination module attached to the body, a cover for the illumination module, the cover having at least an outer layer of candy, at least one activation conduit extending through the cover and being operatively connected to an activation switch within the body, at least one speaker within the body, and at least one memory chip within the body. The activation switch is activated when the candy is at least in part consumed, the activation switch being part of a circuit including the illumination module, the memory chip, and the speaker. Pre-recorded audio in the memory chip is reproduced by the at least one speaker and illumination is produced by the illumination module when the activation switch is activated.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention a retailer may receive a request from a group of customers for a reward the group desires to earn by making purchases at the retailer. In response to such a request the retailer determines purchasing conditions the group must satisfy in order to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined based on, for example, a value of the reward (e.g., a cost of the reward to the retailer), a number of customers in the group, and/or a time by which the group desires to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined such that the retailer realizes at least a predetermined profit after the cost of providing the reward is considered. The methods of the present invention may be implemented at an online and/or brick-and-mortar retailer.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for transacting business over a network between multiple buyers and sellers. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention operates within an improved extranet system which is a secure, limited access network which operates within the larger public packet switched network (Internet) and allows only registered buyers and sellers to access the website while the system communicates with, and takes advantage of, existing credit, billing, collection, clearinghouse, insurance, transportation, tracking and banking systems. The interactive database includes real-time information in connection with a transaction, where the buyer submits a request for product and the request for the product locks out the requested product from selection by any other buyers.

Abstract: A method for buyer-driven targeting comprising the steps of: separately receiving from each of a plurality of buyer entities a respective third party proof of purchase record; entering information contained in the received proof of purchase records into a searchable electronic database; obtaining search criteria for the database; searching the information in the database based on the search criteria to obtain a group of buyer entities; and providing an incentive to each of a plurality of the buyer entities in the group.