Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing shared electronic coupons are provided. According to one aspect, the electronic coupon may include a coupon benefit display region displaying a textual and/or graphical representation of a coupon benefit. The electronic coupon may further include a candidate display region displaying a list of one or more friends of the user who are determined to be redeemer candidates from among friends in a social network profile or address book of the user. Each redeemer candidate friend in the list has an associated selector, and selection by the user of a selector corresponding to a friend causes the client device to send a message to a coupon server to instruct the coupon server to send the electronic coupon to a client device of the selected friend. Predictive models generated through machine learning may aid in selecting the user to which coupons are distributed and the redeemer candidates.

Abstract: Methods for operating a reward program are provided. The method allows rewarding members of social media sites based on their online or offline activities, based on such activities of members connected to them. The disclosed method encourages Internet users to spread commerce-related content via social media sites to connected members for a reward. The method may comprise receiving a log file of a user activity at a reward program site, the user being a member of one or more social media sites, ascertaining one or more connected members who are connected to the user within the one or more social media sites, determining whether the one or more connected members triggered the user activity, and providing a reward to the one or more connected members who triggered the user activity and/or to the user based on predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A business model and method for providing and tracking embedded e-mail advertising, where the e-mail sender is compensated in an amount based on the volume of e-mail transmitted which contains embedded advertising.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a request of an entity based on a set of attributes provided by an initiating patron of the entity using a processor of an initiator device. The method also includes associating an aggregation environment to the request. The method further includes allocating an initial consideration to the aggregation environment from the initiating patron. In addition, the method includes allocating, to the initial consideration, an additional consideration provided when a different patron contributes the additional consideration to the aggregation environment of the request using a processor of a supporter device. The method also includes allocating the consideration of the initiating patron and the different patron to the aggregation environment of the request to increase a value of the request to the entity in order to increase a possibility of the entity to respond to the request using a processor of an entity device.

Abstract: A system configured to promote goods and/or services from a business to a user via a network and an interface device of the user. The system provides a method to offer a gift from the business to the user, allow the user to transfer or share the gift with another user, and allow the user to redeem the gift at the business. The system also provides a method to obtain and transmit information related to the user to the merchant.

Abstract: An analytics system for monitoring consumer interactions with promotional activities provides incentives to further distribution of a merchant's promotions. The analytics system may distribute one or more promotions to consumers electronically directly or indirectly. A promotion distribution system may be provided to transmit promotions from merchants to users and from users to other users. An activity monitor may be provided to monitor promotion redemption activity. If a promotion shared by one user is redeemed by another, the sharing user may be rewarded to encourage user distribution of promotions.

Abstract: Methods for providing a payment account enabling an accountholder of the account to obtain discounts on purchases made at point of sale terminals of a plurality of different merchants and to pay for the purchases with the provided account. Methods further include providing an accountholder of the payment account an online user-account that enables the accountholder to access websites corresponding to the plurality of different merchants and to obtain a discount on each online purchase made at said websites by virtue of said access to a website at which said online purchase is made from said online user-account. The methods further include providing payment accounts to persons sponsored by the accountholder and to individuals sponsored by such sponsored persons and paying commissions to the accountholder based upon purchases made at point of sale terminals of the plurality of different merchants by persons or individuals within such a sponsored network.

Abstract: There is a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to manage and track a plurality of exchangeable tokens. The system includes a tracking module configured to track a location of the tokens. The system includes an ID verification module configured to verify an ID of a token. The system includes an ID writing module configured to write an ID for a token. The system includes a control module configured to provide operational instructions to the modules of the system. The system also includes a communication module configured to send and receive data over a network. The system includes a reward module configured to provide a reward over a network. The system further includes a storage module configured to store data. The system includes a management module configured to manage the plurality of exchangeable tokens and metadata and ID data of the tokens over a network.

Abstract: A system and method where the members of an advertising server that markets store deal coupons use conventional wired/wireless networking and ad-hoc networking to build spontaneous social networks, advertise the deals to other shoppers, and get referral rewards. Shoppers who receive the referral advertisements and are not members register and advertise the deal further to other shoppers to get rewards. Referring members specify the percentage of the referral reward they plan to share with the buyers. Referring members specify different reward sharing percentages for the same deal to different buyers. Shoppers who receive multiple referrals of the same deal from different members negotiate and buy the deal with the referral that gives them the best shared reward. Shoppers perform an indirect self-referral where they network and find another user to refer them to a deal that has a referral reward and they share the referral reward together.

Abstract: A system and method is described where the members of an advertising server that markets store deal coupons use peer-to-peer wireless networking to advertise the deals to nearby shoppers and get referral rewards. The member who makes the referral and the member who purchases the deal use an ad-hoc social networking application on their mobile devices to exchange profiles. A profile matching component running on the members' mobile devices alerts the members of a match with a nearby referring or purchasing member. The system also rewards shoppers whose mobile devices are used as routers in a multi-hop ad-hoc network that connects the seller to the buyer.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein a loyalty program directed to consumers of media content such as television. A member of the loyalty program receives rewards for various pre-defined activities. The rewards can be accumulated and redeemed at a future time.

Abstract: The subject matter discloses a method and apparatus for affiliate marketing; the method comprising the steps of: receiving a link of a retailer site from a recommender (210); generating a new link; sending the new link to the recommender for distribution to a plurality of computerized network users (230); and receiving a first purchase report message from the retailer site; further wherein said step of generating said new link comprises attaching an identification of an affiliate and an identification of the recommender to the link and wherein the first purchase report message comprises the identification of the recommender; wherein said identification of the recommender is extracted from the new link; thereby updating the account balance of the recommender with a percentage from an affiliate fee (240).

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: In one embodiment, the method uses a secure website and employs a monetary incentive to individuals or businesses to identify potential customers for entities that provide goods or services, wherein the 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 customer seeker and a customer 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 customer finder if the terms of the offered contract are met.

Abstract: A system and method is described where an advertising server targets store coupon advertisements to people carrying wireless devices. In some embodiments the advertisement server tracks the position of several of its subscribed members in an area. The server then computes statistical measures, dynamically generates nearby store discount deals that match subgroups of the members or uses pre-existing deals from nearby stores, and forwards the deal advertisements to the wireless devices of the members. The advertised deals involve one or more items from the same store or multiple items from different stores. The members then use ad-hoc networking to build spontaneous social networks, advertise the deals to nearby shoppers, and get referral rewards. The advertising server also provides a portal shopping network web site where shoppers can search for deals, post their shopping/wish lists and deal referrals, and use forums to discuss products and stores.

Abstract: A system and method of indirect self-referral and reward sharing is described for deals that are offered by sellers who do not offer referral rewards to users that directly purchase a deal from them, but do offer referral rewards to users that refer the deal to others. Each deal has a referral reward for referring the deal to other users. A user who wishes to purchase an item and also get referral rewards, sets a portion of the referral reward as the portion that the user is willing to share with another user who refers the item back and broadcasts the deal to other users. When the user purchases the item that is referred back by another user, the user receives a reward equal to the difference between the referral reward and the portion of the referral reward that the user set to share with the referring user.

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: Generating and embedding into a signature block of an electronic message a banner placeholder associated with an advertisement, sponsored or interactive content, coupon, deal, and/or other form of promotional banner. When a user receives the electronic message, the banner placeholder is configured to cause a browser to retrieve an advertisement, coupon, deal, and/or other form of promotional banner for display to the recipient of the electronic message in the signature block.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for conducting electronic commerce comprising generating a first specific link uniquely associating the first member user identifier with an item; receiving a request for the first item via a click-through of the first specific link that results in a financial transaction on the electronic commerce website associated with the first item; and determining an amount of a commission receivable by the first member associated with the financial transaction associated with the first item. A system for conducting electronic commerce is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to payments of referral compensation. Specifically, this invention relates to payment of compensation, in the form of referral fees in multi-levels, for the marketing and promotion of goods and services that can be purchased and/or tracked via the Internet or other interactive networks via one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A web based system method of managing hair stylist referrals, based on a web server that provides a searchable directory of hair stylists. The system provides a simple method to generate gift certificates that are customized to each individual stylist, and a simple method to allow the hair stylists' customers to refer their friends by electronically transmitting these customized gift certificates to their friends.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for processing cross-line conversions. A cross-line conversion occurs when a user performs an offline acceptance of an offer that is associated with an online advertisement. An offline acceptance is an acceptance that is made in-person by the user at a physical location of a seller. Examples of such a physical location include but are not limited to a retail store (e.g., a department store or a boutique store), a fixed or mobile retail stand, a booth at a conference (e.g., a business conference or an academic conference), a kiosk, a sporting arena, a ball park, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus and for distributing a communication within a computer network using social media and expanding a business's email or distribution contact list in a self-perpetuating self-expanding manner. The apparatus comprising a processor element adapted to: present a user interface to a first prospective client for receiving registration data; present a user interface to a first client for receiving data indicative of contact details of one or more second prospective clients; generate a respective second communication for distributing to each of one or more second prospective clients; and award an client benefit to the first client for each of the one or more second prospective clients associated with a corresponding unique registration.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which allow users to become online ambassadors for their favorite brands and products. Methods and systems may detect if a user is associated with a particular brand or product. The user may be presented with an offer to act as an ambassador for that brand or product. If the user accepts, the system may determine if at least a portion of the user's online activities are directed to promoting the brand or product. The user may then be presented with one or more rewards based at least in part on the user's promoting of the brand. The rewards may include rewards points, cash rewards, coupons, discounts and other incentives.

Abstract: A display unit displays information in a fitting room. An operation input unit receives operation input of information in the fitting room. An RFID reader writer performs radio communication with an RFID tag, which is attached to a commodity and stores data of a commodity ID for identifying the commodity, and sets a radio communication range in the inside of the fitting room.

Abstract: Configuration technologies for apportioning resources and communicating indications of potential or actual incentives based on one or more measurements or other objective indications that therapeutic components have been administered to an individual, other attributes of the therapeutic components or the individual, or other such determinants. Techniques for apportioning resources cost-effectively (between providers and other parties, e.g.) and for facilitating or handling implementations thereof or output therefrom.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for analyzing actions performed by users referred to a target site from particular referring sites or groups thereof, and for using the results of such analyses to select particular items to recommend to users. The referring sites may, for example, be affiliate sites that refer users to a merchant site in accordance with an affiliate marketing program.

Abstract: A system and method for an internet-based affiliate marketing and commission sharing program that offers novel alternative incentives to potential customers and gives affiliates an opportunity to reach more customers by building affiliate networks to attract individuals who would normally not be interested in participating in a conventional affiliate marketing program.

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: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs for using Performance-Driven criteria to award Production Points for creating a Position Changing Point Driven matrix and determining a Referring Customer's position and compensation within that matrix.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking, reporting and performing processing activities and transactions in association with referral data and related information for a variety of product and service offerings.

Abstract: This document relates to classification of items included in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is generated for provision to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. Item classification information corresponding to an item sold through the electronic commerce network site is identified based upon the taxonomy information of the referral network site and included in the generated feed of items.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for remunerating endorsers of a digital artistic product online, and of tangible products sent to purchasers, such as a video, image, or music production. An endorser of a product is compensated for recommending the product which the endorser has purchased to other users. A portion of the revenue generated either on the digital music product, or the on other products, resulting from the recommendation of the endorsers is paid to the endorser.

Abstract: A system for incentivizing sharing advertisements (“ads”) and associated deals with others includes a processor programmed to transmit to a user, for display in an application window of a communication device of a user, an advertisement and an associated deal with an economic incentive for sharing the advertisement with first persons in a social network of the user. The system tracks and stores referral activity by the first persons in the social network of the user in relation to the advertisement, the referral activity including the first persons sharing the advertisement with second persons. The system tracks and stores conversion activity such as purchasing by the first persons in the social network of the user in relation to the deal and purchasing by second persons referred by the first persons.

Abstract: A system and method to enable an account owner, such as a user of a pre-paid card, to invite another person to become a user of a pre-paid card. The account owner may find a person to “invite” based on the owner's email, contact list, social network contacts, or another suitable source of data. If the person receiving the invitation to apply for and open a pre-paid account opens such an account, then the person sending the invitation may receive an award or reward. In some cases, the person receiving the invitation may also receive an award or reward. The amount of the award or reward may depend on one or more factors, including the number of times the new account owner loads their pre-paid card, the number of transactions that the new account owner conducts using the pre-paid card, etc.

Abstract: A method and system for generating one or more merchant discount deals having philanthropic advertising and associated donations to one or more organizations. The method includes selecting one or more merchant offers and selecting the one or more organizations. Additionally, the method includes creating the one or more merchant discount deals using a processor of a computing device, by associating an offer of the one or more offers with an organization of the one or more organizations, wherein each merchant discount deal has an associated discount to a user and a base donation amount to one of the one or more organizations and displaying the one or more merchant discount deals.

Abstract: A method of distributing first aid kits includes providing a tool to a user. The tool includes a first list and a second list. The first list includes a plurality of different environments, and the second list includes a plurality of different first aid kits. Each of the plurality of environments is correlated to individual ones of the plurality of first aid kits. The tool identifies one of the plurality of first aid kits that is appropriate for use in a corresponding one of the plurality of environments. The method also includes receiving a communication from the user that the one of the plurality of first aid kits is desired. Furthermore, the method includes transferring to the user the one of the plurality of first aid kits.

Abstract: A social marketing system may reward and incentivize participants, and may also have a fraud detection system. The manager may create social marketing campaigns that may be simulated to determine an expected set of activities, which may be compared to an actual set of activities. A fraud detection system may detect abnormal activity and may bring the activity to a manager's attention and may also punish the participants by withholding rewards, lowering the participant's reputation, or some other punishment mechanism.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to Retail Customer Referral Compensation Programs for using Performance-Driven criteria to award Production Points for determining a Referring Customer's position in a Performance-Driven Floating Matrix compensation and matching bonus plan in a retail marketing organization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to business methods and systems for retail marketing, and specifically to retail customer referral compensation programs for using performance driven criteria to award production points for determining a referring customer's position in a performance driven floating compensation structure and matching bonus plan in a retail marketing organization

Abstract: The PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“SNM”) transform requests for on-demand and flexible monetization and related services via SNM components into currency transfers, purchase receipt notifications, social networking communications and transaction analytics reports. In some embodiments, the SNM obtains a product purchase request for a product. In some embodiments, the product purchase request may include an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product. The SNM may parse the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product. Also, the SNM may query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier. In response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request, the SNM may generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit.

Abstract: A method, and programmed computer system implementing a method, direct targeted advertisements to an electronic media consumer (reader, surfer, viewer, listener, etc.). Embodiments facilitate a first media body substantially offering out of context information placement using a second cooperating media body. A facilitator optionally assists in determining that a consumer of the second media is a known consumer of the first media. For example, a first Internet site may be oversubscribed with potential paying advertising content at $100 CPM. This site offers unfulfilled advertisers an option to present their advertisements to certified first-site viewers, albeit not on the first Internet site, for $50 CPM. Visitor computers at a second Internet site “BBB” that normally charges $30 CPM are examined for tags certifying them as AAA viewers. At least part of the revenue differential of $20 CPM is shared with the first site, creating a new revenue stream.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product.

Abstract: Handling electronic coupons includes accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user that identifies multiple retail entities associated with the user. Information indicating association of electronic coupons with the user's account may be transmitted to respective computer systems associated with the multiple retail entities. The computer systems may associate electronic coupons with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupons at a retail store upon presentation of a user identifier. When the user redeems an electronic coupon, cancellation information for the electronic coupon may be transmitted to the computer systems of other retail entities associated with the user. Receipt of the cancellation information may cause the respective computer systems to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the corresponding retail entity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that facilitates an interaction platform for exchanges of user-to-user advice which has the steps of providing a network; providing a host computer system where the host computer is connected to the network and the host computer provides an interaction platform for one or more advice provider to provide advice regarding one or more products to one or more advice receivers and the advice is provided to the advice receiver via the interaction platform where the host computer further provides a database storing one or more attributes of the advice provider and one or more attributes of the advice receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus configured with software to create a geographical distributed referral system, assign a monetary value to referrals and to efficiently process direct cash payments to the referral source without requiring that of the referral source have knowledge about a particular provider of goods and services which will fulfill the referral.

Abstract: A system for automated reward management for network-based contests includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the processors, where the memory stores program instructions executable by the processors to implement a contest manager. The contest manager is configured to collect an entry fee corresponding to each entry of a plurality of entries submitted for a contest over a network, and provide a prize to a winning entry of the contest based at least in part on a total amount of entry fees collected for the contest.

Abstract: A platform service that is used by an application may be linked to an advertising service. A cost of using the platform service may be reduced based on the linking.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for redeeming an electronic coupon comprises receiving on a transmit device the electronic coupon that includes an embedded identifier that indexes coupon data; playing the identifier of the electronic coupon over air from a speaker of the transmit device in proximity to a receive device; decoding the identifier in response to the receive device receiving the audio signal over the air; and using the identifier to access the coupon data including purchase discount information.