Abstract: A method and a system for providing promotional material to consumers can include a series of steps. The steps can include establishing a computer communications session between a merchant computer system and a remote computer system and reading consumer purchase information from the merchant computer system. The consumer purchase information can include consumer identifying information and product information. The step of identifying one or more consumers in need of one or more products based on the consumer purchase information can be included. The method further can include the step of associating the promotional material corresponding to the one or more products with the identified consumers in the remote computer system. Additionally, the step of making the promotional material available to the identified consumers using a promotional material delivery system can be included.

Abstract: A method for managing a frequent shopper program at a site providing both electronic commerce (e-commerce) shopping and in-store shopping, comprising the steps of: establishing a point of sale (POS) system, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; establishing a list builder tool having an on-line shopping history database; establishing a query interface enabling communications between the POS system, the list builder tool and a network browser; updating the on-line shopping history database with information from the POS purchase history database through the query interface; updating the POS purchase history database with information from the on-line shopping history database through the query interface; and, determining a shopper's entitlement to a frequent shopper discount by accessing information from the updated POS purchase history database and the updated on-line shopping history database.

Abstract: A method for processing multiple store-level electronic shopping carts in an E-commerce mall extends the electronic shopping cart concept and increases processing flexibility for mall participants by the creation of an electronic shopping basket for an E-commerce mall that contains within it the virtual ledgers of the E-commerce stores which, in the aggregate, embody the E-commerce mall. A method for processing virtual ledgers in a virtual mall enables implementors to process all virtual ledgers at the mall-level without sacrificing the collection of purchase data for each store-level transaction, typically associated with the processing of the virtual ledger at the store-level. This scheme results from modern business processes, such as monetary transactions and inventory tracking, which are dependent upon the electronic shopping cart paradigm and are triggered upon a store-level checkout.

Abstract: A method and system for electronic distribution and redemption of coupons on a computer network. The method includes the steps of: providing an electronic coupon in the form of a machine readable computer file; permitting a user of a client machine to receive the computer file via the computer network when the user accesses a selected coupon distribution web site; storing the computer file on the client machine; and authorizing a benefit when the computer file is received by a selected coupon redemption web site via the computer network. The method can further include the steps of transmitting the computer file from the coupon redemption web site to the centralized computer facility; and verifying the authenticity of the computer file prior to authorizing the benefit.

Abstract: A method for engaging in electronic commerce (e-commerce) over a network from an e-commerce site, comprises the steps of: storing data representing an inventory of items for sale at the e-commerce site; storing historic and active shopping lists of respective shoppers at the e-commerce site; providing logged on shoppers with a shopping list builder tool for constructing entirely new shopping lists and for constructing new shopping lists from said stored shopping lists; accepting completed active shopping lists from the logged on shoppers; consummating purchases of products on the accepted lists; and, delivering the purchased products to the shoppers. The method can further comprise the step of: storing authorization data enabling shoppers to purchase the items at the e-commerce site on credit. Shoppers can use the shopping list builder to create, modify, delete and merge named lists. A permanent cumulative shopping list can be compiled for each shopper.

Abstract: An electronic commerce site, comprising: a point of sale (POS) system, having a POS loyalty database and a POS purchase history database; a list builder tool having an on-line shopping history database; a query interface between the POS system and the list builder tool, the POS system accepting data from an on-line shopper received by the list builder tool and routed through the query interface; the list builder tool returning at least one historical shopping list from the on-line shopping history database to the network browser through the query interface responsive to the on-line shopper's request; and, the on-line shopping history database of the list builder tool being updated with information from the POS system transmitted through the query interface. Communications between the query interface and the list builder tool can be over one or more of the Internet, a wide area network and a local area network.

Abstract: A method of enhancing network communications that provides conversion of data type, including language translation, between data producing and data consumers desiring to collaborate in a language or other data format different than the host language or data format. A conversion manager can receive producer data, sucn as topic threads, from a data provider and convert, either internally or through remote conversion engines, to a preferably preselected format for republication over the network to subscribing data consumers.

Abstract: A method for engaging in electronic commerce over the Internet, comprising the steps of: programming a first electronic mail (e-mail) message to include: a description of at least one product available for sale by an electronic commerce (e-commerce) site; a shopper selectable indicia for indicating that the shopper has chosen to purchase the at least one product; and, a shopper activatable link back to the e-commerce site for transmitting a second e-mail message including the shopper's choice to purchase the at least one product; transmitting the e-mail message over the Internet to at least one potential shopper; and, in response to receiving the second e-mail message transmitted back to the e-commerce site by activation of the link by the at least one potential shopper, consummating the purchase of the at least one product by the at least one potential shopper.

Abstract: A conference server system, for internal use in the public switched telephone network (PSTN), links to public data communication networks (e.g. the Internet) for distributing computer displayable data between participants in voice telephone conferences. The server system includes a computer sub-system for storing data generated by the participants and distributing the data in coordination with voice presentations of respective participants. Data so stored and distributed includes computer-displayable data. Other data handled by the computer subsystem represents commands and functional requests issued by participants which pertain to the handling of computer-displayable data and voice parameters of the conference. Conference participants, having separate and concurrent access to both the PSTN and the data network, receive and view computer-displayable data prepared by one of the participants in coordination with the respective voice conference.