Abstract: Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Abstract: A commission program can include an asymptotic component when calculating compensation for distributors. An asymptotic leg can extend to infinity without exceeding a target percentage. A distributor can be compensated based on selected distributors in the compensated distributor's downline. Recurring non-contiguous inclusion of distributors can be applied. A random component can be incorporated into the compensation program. The program can include innovative techniques going beyond conventional systems to better provide a balance between distributor motivation and sustainability of the program.

Abstract: A system for implementing a performance-based customer referral program includes a referral tracking system capable of tracking referrals of users from participant sites to a retail site, and capable of determining whether such referrals result in purchases on the retail site. The tracked referral activity may, for example, be used to determine performance-based commissions to pay to the participants. The system may also include an enrollment system that partially or fully automates the task of enrolling new participants and their sites in the referral program. In addition, the system may include a report generation system that provides the participants with activity reports regarding the referral and purchase activity attributable to their sites.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present invention, a system, method, and device utilizes insignia such as electronic near field communication (e.g., NFC or RFID) tags or preprogrammed visual insignia (e.g., QR code or bar code) attached to or associated with physical products or service offerings and linked to an Internet-based user interface with a supporting database. In different embodiments, the present invention includes: a registration management component; an offer management component; a loyalty program management component, a referral management component; a purchase and service management component; a customer feedback component; and an interaction tracking component.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for cross promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world. A redemption code is received from a first participant in the virtual world. A virtual object corresponding to the redemption code is provided to the first participant. A request for information regarding the real object is received from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object. Upon receiving the request via the virtual object, information regarding the real object is provided to the second participant and via the virtual object.

Abstract: An application store provides an incentive based recommendation method for recommending a mobile station content item. A user of a first mobile station recommends the mobile station content item to a second user. The application store distributes the recommendation through a mobile communication network to a mobile station of the second user. The application store stores information associated with the recommendation and detects access of the mobile station content item by the second user. In response to the detected access, the application store provides a reward to the first user based on the stored information.

Abstract: A mobile advertising system, a respective method and to a computer program product, wherein the mobile advertising system includes one or more mobile devices configured to capture a merchant's encoded vending detail, and being configured to communicate with a remote payment host. Upon completion of a payment procedure, the mobile device is operable to generate a recommendation on the basis of the captured vending details and to transfer the recommendation to at least one potential customer via a network.

Abstract: A business system and method for providing online distribution and accumulation of incentive rewards according to the present invention comprises one or more rewards accumulation accounts which can be designated to the buyer himself or herself or any beneficiary. The system and method allows the buyer to save and accumulate the earned rewards and accumulate interest for a set of specific objectives, for example, retirement or education. The rewards in the accumulation account can be redeemed and cashed out only when the set objectives or conditions are met. This business system and method helps people to save money from normal daily living necessity spending.

Abstract: A system for motivating employees to increase sales in a retail environment and for compensating the employees accordingly is disclosed. A customer presents products for purchase and may further be identified according to a customer loyalty program. The system identifies existing promotions in which the customer may be interested as a function of the products selected for the current purchase and according to the customer's past purchase history. A script is provided to the employee to be read to the customer to inform the customer of the existing promotion. In addition, the value of a potential commission to be earned is presented to the employee to motivate the employee to read the script to the customer. If the customer takes advantage of the promotion, the commission is awarded to the employee.

Abstract: Advertising rewards and referrals are described, including detecting an interaction with an advertisement, recording the interaction, the interaction including an input being provided in response to the advertisement, generating a reward for the interaction, the reward being an action taken to provide a benefit in response to the interaction, analyzing data associated with the advertisement, the data including a plurality of documented interactions, and providing a result from analyzing the data.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing a user to access a coupon. In one approach, a social network coupon platform receives a request to display coupon data regarding a particular coupon that is provided by a coupon provider, wherein a user that is registered with a social network provider initiated the request. In response to receiving the request, sending the coupon data is sent form the social network coupon platform to be displayed to the user. Profile data that includes profile information of the user is received at the social network coupon platform from the social network provider. In response to receiving the profile data, the user is allowed access to the particular coupon.

Abstract: A method for advertising and sales comprising: a first electronic device which is carried by an ad agent, wherein said first electronic device contains a list of ad products used by said ad agent and wherein when first electronic device inquired by a second electronic device which is carried by a potential buyer that is located within proximity to said ad agent, first electronic device provides information about said ad products to said second electronic device. The method further comprises servers which receive and store information on the inquiries performed to between said first and second electronic devices and enables on-line purchasing of the ad products. Ad products are typically consumer products including shoes, clothes, bags, apparel, watches, glasses, luggage cases, accessories, mp3 players, cellular phones, tablets and laptops.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing referrals for referred products, including providing rewards in response to accepting a purchase transaction request for the referred product, executing a purchase transaction related to the request, and receiving referring consumer identification data. Referring consumer identification data may be transmitted to the first electronic device after an account is created. A product data request relating to a referred product may be received from a first electronic device associated with a referring consumer, and the product data may be transmitted to the first electronic device. A purchase transaction request for the referred product and the referring consumer identification data may be received from a second electronic device associated with a referred consumer. A reward may be provided to the referring consumer in response to executing the purchase transaction, and may be based on the purchase transaction request.

Abstract: A method and system for secure distribution and tracking of information and content of a third party via multiple social networks is described. The invention takes information and content marked to be promoted by a third party using an online application, and distributes and promotes the information to the social networks of everyone who is signed up as an ‘ambassador’ for that third party. When published, the information and content includes a personalized link associated with each ambassador to social network combination. Via the nature of social networks, this information is additionally redistributed into the users who are associated with those ambassadors in their social networks. As those users follow the personalized links back to the promoted information and content, the source ambassador to social network combination gets recorded and statistics about that user's viewing of the information and content are recorded.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and a referral management server that identifies a user type stored in a referral network database as associated with login credentials submitted by a user of a computing device. At least summary information and pending transaction information is determined based on the identified user type and the login credentials wherein, when the identified user type is a referral agent, the pending transaction information comprises at least a status of one or more sales leads previously submitted by the user and the summary information comprises an indication of a consummated sale associated with one or more of the previously submitted sales leads. A dashboard web page including at least the summary information and the pending transaction information is generated. The generated dashboard web page is sent to the computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for applying a skin to a mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a camera and a rear screen. The method analyzes an image captured by the camera to detect an identifier and associates the identifier with a product or a vendor. A skin representing the product or vendor is applied to the rear screen of the mobile device and posted to a social networking website, such that the user may express their personal sense of affinity toward a product, an artist, or an organization.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus according to the present application includes an identifying unit, a checking unit, and a notifying unit. The identifying unit identifies a store or a site which a user plans to visit by analyzing a posting page posted by the user. The checking unit checks a current location of a user terminal which the user has against a location of the store or the site identified by the identifying unit when the user terminal performs processing to register the current location. The notifying unit notifies an administrator of the store or the site that the user has actually visited the store or the site when the current location of the user terminal is the same as the location of the store or the site as a result of the check performed by the checking unit.

Abstract: This is a system and method for an entity to collect commission payments for sales of goods or services from suppliers. Information regarding the goods or services of the suppliers is compiled and adapted for presentation to target markets by a first server. This adapted information is transmitted to a second server located in the target market which is made available to consumers of the target market by a website controlled by the second server. Consumer queries are received at the website and consumer appointments are made at target market stores associated with the suppliers. These appointments are made to an in store electronic device located in the target market stores. Information regarding consumer purchases are recorded by the in store electronic device, transmitted to the second server, and then commissions are billed accordingly for payment by the suppliers.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving a message that was published from a social-communication application of a social network website, selecting a first phrase (e.g., promotional expression, by a user, regarding the wagering game venue) from the message, and comparing the first phrase to a plurality of second phrases (e.g., characteristics associated with a wagering game venue) accessible via a wagering game server. The operations can further include detecting that the first phrase is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of the second phrases, and providing an award (e.g., loyalty points) in response. In some embodiments, the value of the award is based on a condition associated with the message, publication of the message, etc.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for allocating gratuities is disclosed that includes employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts: receiving transaction information from a point of sale, wherein the transaction information comprises at least gratuity data for each of a plurality of transactions during an accounting period; receiving employee information from the point of sale, wherein the employee information comprises at least hours worked for each of a plurality of employees during the accounting period; receiving gratuity distribution rules for allocating gratuities among at least a portion of the employees; and determining a gratuity allocation for each applicable employee of the plurality of employees based on at least the received transaction information, the received employee information, and the received gratuity distribution rules. Also disclosed is a computer-implemented system for managing gratuity allocations.

Abstract: Techniques, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for management of personalized advertisements through the mass media. A method includes capturing content of an advertisement that is displayed publically and/or publically accessible to a plurality of individuals through a mass media mechanism by recording an image of the advertisement using a hand-held device, storing the content of the advertisement in a user-dedicated repository, and managing the content of the advertisement in the user-dedicated repository to facilitate distribution of the advertisement through the user to one or more additional individual users.

Abstract: Individual users may log into the same online game from multiple different social networking platforms. The disclosed technology provides a way to unite users' accounts such that users that have logged into the online game from different social networking platforms can have their progress in the online game preserved regardless of which social networking platforms the user logged in from. Business intelligence about differences in the user's value when logging in from the different social networking platforms can be determined and incentivizing actions can be performed on the social networking platforms based on the business intelligence.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of digital content and goods includes means for rewarding multiple levels of participants involved in the recommendation/sales process. Distribution may be direct through platform-generated commerce and/or indirect through recommendations on external social media sites, communications platforms, blogs and other social and commerce sites. Multiple levels of users of the system may be compensated for participating in sales of content based on their activity and hierarchy within user networks related to the sale.

Abstract: In some embodiments, for resellers of goods, multiple referral rates can be combined to yield a greater total referral rate. For example, the manufacturer can offer one referral rate and the reseller can offer a second referral rate. The central depository combines the two referral rates to have a greater total referral rate, which is paid to the referring user. The central depository also displays the combined referral rate in a list for the referring user. Upon activation, the central depository collects payment from all parties offering a referral rate in this example the manufacture and the reseller. The central depository can collect payment separately for each party (the manufacture and the reseller). In an alternative embodiment, the central depository collects payment from one party for both referral rates. In this embodiment the party who pays the combine referral rate collects payment from the other party.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a crawl program or other automated program, which acquires links to various merchants from the merchant's webpage automatically, converts hyperlinks to those web pages into referral links to those web pages routed through the central depository opposed directly to the merchant. In an alternative, embodiment automated programs convert merchant web pages into referral links directly to the merchant. In this way the referred user can keep track of the discounts.

Abstract: A retailer computer system receives from a first computing device a shopping recap Having data indicative of one or more products that were shown to a customer by the sales associate while the customer was within a retail establishment. The received shopping recap is stored within a data repository where it is linked to a customer identifier that is associated with the customer and an associate identifier that is associated with the sale associate. If the customer later purchases a product, data indicative of the product being purchased is compared against data within any shopping recap that is linked to that customer to determine if a sales associate that is also linked to any shopping recap linked to that customer is to be awarded a commission for the product being purchased. The purchase of the product by the customer may further generate a digital receipt where the digital receipt includes a notice that the customer is being awarded an incentive, such as a coupon.

Abstract: A method for coordinating purchases of goods or services comprises the steps of establishing a consumer group (216) including a plurality of members (218A-218n); and establishing a first price discount on a first consumable that is made available to each of the plurality of members (218A-218n) of the consumer group, the first price discount being based on the number of members (218A-218n) in the consumer group (216). The step of establishing a first price discount can include the first price discount being made available to each of the plurality of members (218A-218n) of the consumer group (216) regardless of the number of members (218A-218n) that actually purchase the first consumable. The method can further comprise the step of providing a rebate to a first member (218A) of the consumer group (216), the rebate being based upon a dollar amount of purchases made by one or more members (218A-218n) of the consumer group (216) over a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an intelligence engine implemented in accordance with a social commerce network community. The social commerce network community may include members, merchants, third party providers, or other entities that have agreed to participate in a social commerce network system. The intelligence engine is configured to use member information stored in a member profile to match members with a commercial opportunity.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the process involves performing similar functions articulated by the referral and discount process contained in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/551,983, 13/552,011, and 13/552,031 only without the user creating an account. Rather, the central depository stores the discounts with the internet protocol address, (hereinafter “i.p. address” or “ip address”) of the referred user and transfers the referred user to the merchant with an i.p. address opposed to a referred user identity. In an additional embodiment, the merchant stores the discount with the i.p. address of the referred user without storing the discount with a referred user account that the referred user creates.

Abstract: A method of affiliate marketing provides inbound affiliate link credit without coded URLs. Affiliate web sites link directly to merchant web sites, so that all of a merchant site's affiliates potentially contribute to its inbound link credit. The merchant web server parses incoming web page requests, and extracts the referrer. The merchant web server, directly or via an affiliate network manager, consults a database of affiliate web sites to determine whether the referrer is an authorized affiliate. If so, the affiliate is credited for the traffic, and may additionally be credited for user activity at the merchant site. The affiliate network manager writes a cookie to the user terminal to further track the user through the affiliate network. The method reduces or eliminates cookie hijacking and other forms of affiliate fraud, and may be used to track non-affiliate referring web sites.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to rank a customer in one of multiple tiers of customers based on an amount of rewards assigned to the customer. The one or more processors are further caused to present a first offer during a first time period exclusively to customers ranked in the first tier. The one or more processors are further caused to restrict acceptance of the first offer during the first time period to (a) customers ranked in the first tier and (b) referees referred by any customer ranked in the first tier. Methods and systems for rewarding and ranking customers are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of acquiring new customer is provided. A first user activates a UI component such that a custom-created content is disseminated to a social media platform. The custom-created content contains content referring a featured service of a service provider and a referral instrument. A second user activates the referral instrument via the social media platform. The activation directs the second user to initiate a sign-up process with a backend system of the service provider and enables the backend system to capture information identifying the first user as a referrer at the start of the referee's sign-up process. The backend system provides referral credits to the first user following the signing-up of the second user. A billing module of the backend system automatically generates a bill for the second user reflecting referral credits awarded to the first user for the referral of the second user.

Abstract: A system comprising at least processor and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to distribute a piece of content to a first user of a social network, allow the first user to endorse the piece of content on his or her user profile, allow a second user of the social network to access the first user's profile, allow the second user to purchase rights to access the piece of content through the first user's profile, distribute a commission to the first user if the second user purchased the piece of content based on the first user's endorsement, and allow the second user to endorse the piece of content on his or her user profile.

Abstract: A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are disclosed for amassing contact information of DS prospects commonly acquainted with an DS member. The method requires a DS member to provide a list of contacts, those contacts are solicited by a DS employee, and the DS member is compensated for revenue generated from contacts joining the DS company. Unique multimedia presentations are shown to each contact who responds to electronic solicitation from the DS company, which presentations are personalized for the contacts. In some embodiments, prospects in the list are assigned value identifiers and into a hierarchal direct sales (DS) structure for solicitation by DS personal trained to commence cold contact with third-party prospects to build a commission downline for current the member with whom the prospects are commonly acquainted. Unique standardized valuation identifiers are generated by the disclosed method and computer program product for estimating commercial viability of each DS prospect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for applying offer to purchase transactions at settlement. An exemplary apparatus is configured to determine at least one transaction associated with a user's financial institution account; and determine, when processing the at least one transaction, whether to apply at least one offer to the at least one transaction. The at least one offer enables the user's financial institution account to receive a discount or a rebate on the at least one transaction. The user may transmit the at least one offer to a second user. In some embodiments, the at least one offer is applied to the at least one transaction based on whether the user transmitted the at least one offer to the second user and/or whether the second user executed at least one transaction associated with the at least one offer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method uses a secure website and employs a monetary incentive to individuals or businesses to identify potential funding sources for entities that are growing or need liquidity, wherein the secure website secure website is hosted on a web server that includes an email system and a database that is internet or remotely accessible and provides search and other capabilities for users of the secure website and wherein a funding seeker and a funding finder, who agree to terms of use of the secure website, act to enter into a contract providing for a contingent referral fee for the funding finder if the terms of the offered contract are met.

Abstract: An Internet advertisement method and system that issues an authentication key for enabling selected target customers to receive a commercial sample at a membership-based offline store by performing an advertisement in the form of a banner on a web page of an online market, such as an Internet shopping mall, such that an advertiser can conveniently satisfy needs of customers desiring to purchase goods after receiving the sample without delivering the sample, a targeting goods advertisement can be effectively performed, membership-based offline stores can be publicized, and increasing visits from customers can lead to an increase in sales. The Internet advertisement method includes providing an advertisement including information on providing a sample, and generating an authentication key for enabling a customer terminal selecting the advertisement and requesting a sample of advertised goods to receive the sample at an offline store.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for social networking services integrated with gift card services. In general, a profile of a member of a social networking service may be presented with one or more merchant credit services for prepaid merchant account credit, data characterizing a request to provide a credit service from the merchant credit services and a mobile phone number associated with an intended recipient of the first credit service may be received, and a message may be caused to be sent to the mobile phone number, where the message characterizes provision of the first credit service to the intended recipient. Interest in the credit service may be tracked and associated with a loyalty indicator associated with the member.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may empower companies to financially leverage the connected communities of their employees to drive company revenues, brand awareness and product adoption. A marketing engine may act as an engagement catalyst for these employees. Employees have personal spheres of influence in their socially connected communities that can be utilized by their employer's marketing initiatives. One-to-one marketing efforts by the employees are extremely powerful and impactful when compared to broader advertising messages. The marketing engine may engage employees in the promotion of products and services offered by their company through social media campaigns. In return, the company may reward those employees for their involvement within their connected communities through a series of rewards. The employees may participate in these micro-marketing activities without the company knowing which employees are participating and the extent of that participation.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable product (or service) purchasers, or other such entities, to share promotional materials via social networks and/or other means of communication and may further enable the purchasers to receive rewards, such as rebates, in response to interactions with the promotional materials by others (e.g., friends of the purchaser). In various embodiments, the promotional materials shared by the purchaser relates to the product purchased, which may lend greater credibility and/or interest in the promotional material being shared.

Abstract: A computer system implements a microgifting service where a gift of a specific item, valid only for a specific amount of time, is provided via the system upon purchase of the gift by a giftor to a giftee. The giftor is notified by the system upon redemption or expiration of the gift, and where the value of the gift is refunded to the giftor should the gift expire.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to the proper sales affiliate credit and tracking of digital consumer goods, and more specifically to a method for crediting a physical affiliate for the sale of digital media to a consumer who downloads a deliverable onto their personal viewing, recording or listening device after sampling or viewing the product in the physical affiliate's location.

Abstract: A method and system for creating electronic business referrals with cloud computing from social media sites. Plural unique referral identifier tracking codes are generated for a same target network device from a same social media site (e.g. FACEBOOK, TWITTER, etc.) or for the same target network device from plural different social media sites. The plural unique referral tracking codes are processed by a cloud referral application on a cloud communications network. The plural unique referral codes include appointment requests or referrals of new patients or customers for professional services or reservations or coupons or electronic purchase requests for goods or services. A thank you and referral bonus is automatically generated from the cloud referral application for the target network devices that send the plural unique referral identifier tracking codes. The plural unique referral codes include analytic data that is used by vendors providing professional services or goods or services.

Abstract: Incentivized social communications technologies are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods for exchanging rewards for personal endorsements on a social network may include receiving, via a server, an offer from a provider, the offer including criteria for receiving a reward, the criteria at least including requirements for an endorsement of the provider that is to be placed on at least one social network, providing the offer to an endorser, and also providing a reward to the endorser upon confirmation of placement of the endorsement on the social network.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to methods and systems for marketing products by prompting customers to identify purchased items to be shared through their social networks and displaying links on the customer's social networking sites, thereby promoting particular products to members of their social networks, which may then propagate through other parties' social networks, where the amount of social activity generated by the sharing of interest in the products is tracked and scored, and the original customer can receive a portion of their purchase cost credited back as a reward.

Abstract: An interpersonal electronic advertising system is described. The system is configured to enable an ad suggester to select and send ads for a product or service to an ad recipient. The interpersonal ad can lead to a purchase of the product or the service by the ad recipient and in response the system can compensate the ad suggester. The system can include a dashboard interface allows a user to monitor their system activities. Via the dashboard interface, a user can receive information related to one or more of 1) interpersonal ads sent to ad recipients, 2) interpersonal ads received from other users, 3) earned revenues including revenues derived from sent interpersonal ads and revenues resulting derived from user referrals, 4) their status within the system and 5) a status of each interpersonal ad that they have sent.

Abstract: A method of facilitating access to a promotional offer, the method comprising: receiving at a server system a page request from a client device; and sending program code executable in a browser application to the client device in response to the page request, the program code being executable to display at least one promotional offer and a promotional code, to provide a flash object at a display position of the promotional code and, in response to selection of the flash object, to cause the promotional code to be copied to a user-accessible memory of the client device and to open a new browser display of the browser application.

Abstract: An interpersonal electronic advertising system is described. The system is configured to enable an ad suggester to select and send ads for a product or service to an ad recipient. The suggested ad can lead to a purchase of the product or the service by the ad recipient and in response the system can compensate the ad suggester. The system can be configured to reward users that invite and successfully recruit other individuals to join the system. Rewards for a particular user can be based upon the activities of their recruits, such as successful purchases resulting from ads that they have suggested. In a particular embodiment, the rewards for a particular user can be based upon a total value of purchases that have been generated from their recruits. Different reward amounts can be sequentially provided each time the total value of purchases exceeds respective threshold amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for implementing mobile application marketing. The mobile application marketing method includes the steps of receiving, by a marketing server, review information regarding a mobile application from a first mobile terminal and storing the received review information together with identification information regarding the mobile application and identification information regarding a marketer who has logged into the first mobile terminal; installing, by a second mobile terminal, the mobile application included in the review information based on the stored review information; and performing, by the marketing server, a process of rewarding the marketer corresponding to the identification information for installation of the mobile application.