Abstract: A networked system comprises a main controller that allows users to act as customers, promoters or merchants of smart articles that are displayed by promoters who have purchased these articles from the merchants. The customer uses a controller device to access data from the smart article by capturing an identifying marker on the article and transmitting the foregoing data to the main controller which places the customer in communication with a merchant controller associated with the merchant from whom the promoter purchased the article. The merchant can thus provide data regarding the article to the customer via the main controller and depending on how the customer acts, the merchant can allocate a reward to the promoter via a promoter controller associated therewith.

Abstract: A networked system comprises a main controller that allows users to act as customers, promoters or merchants of smart articles that are displayed by promoters who have purchased these articles from the merchants. The customer uses a controller device to access data from the smart article by capturing an identifying marker on the article and transmitting the foregoing data to the main controller which places the customer in communication with a merchant controller associated with the merchant from whom the promoter purchased the article. The merchant can thus provide data regarding the article to the customer via the main controller and depending on how the customer acts, the merchant can allocate a reward to the promoter via a promoter controller associated therewith.

Abstract: A virtual currency method and a system comprises a virtual currency controller in communication with a real bank account comprising real currency and with one or more merchant controllers under the authority of respective merchants providing products and/or services for sale to users. The virtual currency controller comprises a virtual bank comprising a first amount of virtual currency units and virtual user bank accounts assigned to users and a second amount of virtual currency units separately allotted into respective ones of user's virtual bank accounts, wherein an exchange rate of the virtual currency units is determined based on the value of real currency in the real bank account, the total of the first amount of virtual currency units and the total of the second amount of virtual currency units. Users are provided to exchange virtual currency units for real currency in the real bank account based on the exchange rate.

Abstract: A virtual currency method and a system comprises a virtual currency controller in communication with a real bank account comprising real currency and with one or more merchant controllers under the authority of respective merchants providing products and/or services for sale to users. The virtual currency controller comprises a virtual bank comprising a first amount of virtual currency units and virtual user bank accounts assigned to users and a second amount of virtual currency units separately allotted into respective ones of user's virtual bank accounts, wherein an exchange rate of the virtual currency units is determined based on the value of real currency in the real bank account, the total of the first amount of virtual currency units and the total of the second amount of virtual currency units. Users are provided to exchange virtual currency units for real currency in the real bank account based on the exchange rate.