Abstract: A buyer-seller matching system that uses incentives to verify commissions from matching a buyer with a seller. The system can include a repository of information about items for purchase. Items may be located by a user over a network. Each item may be paired with incentive that is awarded if that item is purchased from a designated third party. If the user purchases the item, the seller pays the system an agreed upon fee and also issues the buyer a certification of purchase. The user may then receive the incentive from the system. The system can check to verify that it has received a fee or commission from the seller for bringing the seller a buyer of the item.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a trade fee charged by a trading venue to a market participant, or a rebate credited by a trading venue to a market participant are disclosed. The method may include a computer accessing and storing one or more order information parameters in memory, as well as accessing and storing one or more of market characteristics in memory. The method may further include calculating a trade fee or rebate that is based on at least one of the order information parameters and at least one of the market characteristics stored in memory. A system may include a memory containing instructions for calculating a trade fee or rebate and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions according to the method set out above.

Abstract: The invention involves facilitating retail transactions between participating enrolled members and participating merchants funding awards to said members. Incentive offers may be advertised to members, including targeted offers to specific members. Account purchase transaction information of participating merchants is a) tracked by processor(s) belonging to a tracking entity, b) monitored by processor(s) and correlated with stored enrolled member information, and c) processor(s) determine whether a purchase transaction is between an enrolled member and participating merchant and if such transaction entitles the member to a merchant funded award; with such processor(s) being located other than at the participating merchant's location. The remote monitoring and determining gives the program transparency; no special purpose cards/accounts need to be presented by the member and no additional checkout procedures need to be performed by participating merchants.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to negotiate for wireless services. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method that operates in a communication device for commercially negotiating with a service provider for wireless services offered by way of a wireless access point (WAP) managed by the service provider. Alternatively, the system may include a method that operates in a wireless services management system (WSMS) for commercially negotiating with the communication device operated by the end user for wireless services offered by way of a WAP managed by the WSMS. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In a closed-loop business-payment network, a buyer is both an issuer and an acquirer of payment accounts, such as those associated with credit cards. Because no bank is involved in this issuance and acquisition, the transactions between the buyer and a merchant do not incur interchange fees and do not require transaction terminals, such as used for typical credit-card transactions. Under the agreement, variable early-payment rebates and other services are applied to each transaction on a per-transaction basis. This closed-loop allows the buyer to enforce purchase restrictions that are checked before a transaction is authorized, thereby eliminating or reducing fraud. This agreement also allows the issuer to impose different rebates and purchase restrictions, apply different services, and otherwise distinguish between different merchants. Preferably, the transaction platform is hosted by a third party, which can provide buyers and merchants a single interface to third-party services.

Abstract: Under an agreement between a buyer and a supplier, the buyer agrees to a minimum purchase and receives a flexible early-payment rebate on each individual transaction between the two. Because of the purchase and early-payment agreement, the transaction services can be bundled with other services such as foreign exchange and insurance. This “bundling” may be performed electronically based on business rules and preferences, and is described as the “augmentation” of financial services with electronic payment services within a network including buyer and supplier. Thus, on a per-transaction basis, each transaction can receive a rebate, be covered by insurance, and receive the benefit of favorable foreign-exchange rates. The buyer can configure a system such that specific services are applied to specific transactions. The buyer or supplier can also generate reports that detail the rebates, as well as the savings associated with each transaction by service.

Abstract: Prospective variable early-payment rebates under a purchase agreement are expressed as income streams to a buyer through use of a rebate calculation process, and these flows are monetized and secured. The rebates are based on contractual obligations between a buyer and a seller. The rebates are “performance based” in that the earlier a buyer pays off its account with a supplier, the larger the rebate. These monetized rebates form a new asset class that can be sold just like any other financial instrument. The buyer, based on predictable cash outflows, can receive income from these future rebates sooner, allowing it to potentially fund large-scale projects. A computer system determines the amount of the rebates, rates them based on the likelihood that they will be received, and determines their current value. Investors purchase these instruments, in the form of bonds or notes, and receive payment in principle and interest. A third-party issues financial instruments, secured by the rebates.

Abstract: Under an agreement between a buyer and a seller, multiple rebates may be configured and calculated to capture the benefits of such a rebate program using a third party service via a network. For example, the buyer agrees to a minimum purchase requirement and receives a flexible early-payment rebate on each individual transaction between the two. The rebate is larger the earlier in a billing cycle the buyer pays its account in full. The buyer is able to impose purchase restrictions, for example, limiting its employees to buy from only specific suppliers, to buy only specific products, or to buy no more than a certain dollar amount of a product over a specific period. A platform for calculating and applying these rebates and restrictions can be hosted by a third-party, but allows the buyer to configure the restrictions. The platform also allows users to generate reports summarizing the results of the rebate program, and generates appropriate accounting and tax documentation.

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: The method and apparatus for administering a reward program includes a central controller that stores a series of registrations, each of which corresponds to a purchaser of a product. The central controller calculates a measurement of product success, such as the number of products sold or the market share of the product, and determines if the measurement is within a predetermined range. The central controller may determine if the number of products sold exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a set of registrations are selected as “early-adopter” registrations that thereby define a set of early-adopter purchasers. The central controller may select a set of registrations having ordinal positions within a predetermined range of positions, so that early-adopter purchasers are defined. If the measurement of product success is within the predetermined range, a reward, such as a refund or a free product, may be provided to each early-adopter purchaser.

Abstract: A user account including a personal profile is stored by a server for subsequent use. The user is provided a list of displayable entries sortable using specified criteria in a manner that allows the user to review a selection of entries and to make a change to the selection prior to submitting a transaction for processing. Responsive to a request to log into the user account, the identity of the user is verified. Once verified, the transaction is facilitated between a vendor and the user pursuant to instructions from the user. The instructions are generated based on a shopping cart screen rendered by a client device of the user. The user is sent a confirmation message regarding the transaction while the user is logged in the server. The user can be provided an account screen allowing access to information relating to user transactions and information relating to an account balance.

Abstract: Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities. These particularly relate to “fixed-odds” type gaming activities whereby a player places a bet in relation to an event outcome on the basis of a payout ratio and, in the case that the event outcome is identified as a winning outcome, the player is awarded a prize based on the entry fee and the payout ratio. In overview, the present embodiments focus on situations wherein the player is additionally eligible to receive a secondary prize that is indeterminate at the point in time the bet is placed. The nature and purpose of this secondary prize varies between embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the secondary prize effectively provides a winning player with a more advantageous payout ratio, in some embodiments the secondary prize allows the player to participate in a secondary game.

Abstract: A method of improving sales volume includes the steps of distributing redeemable offers to teams of shoppers wherein the shoppers are able to receive whatever basic discounts or other benefits that may be available to all shoppers, but also to receive a “kicker” benefit when the team achieves a specified purchasing objective such as a total of all sales to members of the team. Teams may compete for prizes or other benefits beyond those offered to individual teams.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for online sales providing automatic rebate and coupon redemption corresponding to online purchases. Purchase orders from customers may be fulfilled and the products shipped to customers by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption. The system may provide customers with the ability to make online purchases using applicable coupons and rebates from merchants or manufacturers thereby passing the savings on to the customer. The system may also automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for use during an online purchasing activity for items in a shopping cart during a shopping activity.

Abstract: A global customer satisfaction system includes point-of-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving in-store customer feedback including satisfaction ratings and other customer feedback regarding participating vendors as the customer pays for purchases. The system also includes post-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving more detailed customer feedback regarding the vendors from members after the sales have been completed. The system also includes an aggregation and dissemination system for combining the ratings received form customers into global customer satisfaction ratings for participating vendors, and disseminating the customer satisfaction information through customer satisfaction qualified directories, which are organized or searchable by geographical, type of product or service offered by the participating vendors, and other factors.

Abstract: A method and system to report the environmental benefits of consumers' purchases of alternative fuels. The system tracks and stores the purchases of customers from a vendor of alternative fuels. The system calculates the environmental savings that a customer generates by using alternative fuel in place of standard fuels. Environmental savings may be calculated in terms of various metrics, including reduced carbon emissions, gasoline not consumed, or other environmental benefits. The system provides a marketplace that allows consumers to receive the benefit of the calculated environmental savings by selling, trading, or retiring the generated savings.

Abstract: Described is a method, system, and apparatus for providing an online rebate. The method, system, and apparatus enable an aggregator to aggragate goods or services or both from at least one website; to present the aggregated goods or services or both on a web site in a unified manner; to direct a user to another website that offers the goods or services or both in response to an indication that the user desires to purchase at least one of the goods or services or both; and to offer a discount prior to directing the user to the other website to complete the purchase of the desired good or service or both. The discount is offered at reduced price relative to the value of the discount at the other website.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes recording transaction information for a consummated transaction related to a purchase of an item or service at a computer, the transaction information including information identifying a consumer; monitoring, by the computer, an incentive to purchase the item or service for a predetermined time period after purchase of the item or service by the consumer; comparing, by the computer, the incentive to the transaction information during the predetermined time period to determine if the incentive was offered as part of the consummated transaction; and if the incentive was not offered as part of the consummated transaction, duplicating, by the computer, the incentive for the consumer after the consummated transaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for receiving a rebate claim including providing an interface module for display on a display screen, receiving, via the interface module, consumer identifying information, and receiving, via the interface module, an uploaded digital copy of physical proof of purchase data, the purchase data indicating purchase of one or more rebate qualifying products or services. The present disclosure also relates to a system for rebate claim submission including an interface module for display on a display screen. The interface module may be configured for receiving consumer identifying information based on a consumer's electronic input and receiving an uploaded digital copy of physical proof of purchase data, the purchase data indicating purchase of one or more rebate qualifying products or services.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs.

Abstract: A system for generating a personalized digital instant rebate coupon (DIRC) for financial transactions with sponsoring merchants comprises a server-based virtual private network and a group of participating merchants whose point-of-sale systems are attached to the virtual private network, and users having mobile devices connected to the virtual private network, whereby a user completing a transaction with a merchant is provided with a DIRC that may be displayed on the user's mobile device, and may be immediately redeemed at a facility of another participating merchant.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for rebate claim submission including an interface module configured for downloading to an electronic mobile device as a mobile app and configured for display on a display screen of the mobile device, the interface module also configured for displaying a rebate offer available for selection to a consumer of the mobile device, identifying a selection of a displayed rebate offer based on the consumer's electronic input, and providing a camera function through which the consumer may photograph proof of purchase data, wherein the proof of purchase data indicates purchase of one or more rebate qualifying products or services. The present disclosure also relates to a method for receiving a rebate claim via an electronic mobile device via a mobile app.

Abstract: A system to provide price adjustments based on indicated product interest includes reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a first product, reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a second product, determination of a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest in the first product, and transmission of the price adjustment to the customer. By virtue of the foregoing features, a retailer may be willing to provide a price adjustment for the second product which would otherwise not be provided. Moreover, such a price adjustment may incent the customer to purchase the second product in a case that the second product would not otherwise be purchased, thereby potentially increasing a total profit received by the retailer.

Abstract: A method for distributing a location aware mobile coupon (LAMC) based on a current location of a consumer using a mobile device. The method includes: receiving the current location of the mobile device from a location aware service (LAS) provider; comparing the current location of the mobile device to a retail location of a merchant to determine that the consumer is in proximity to the retail location of the merchant; obtaining pre-generated LAMC terms of the merchant specifying a maximum price discount of an item offered by the merchant; determining, in response to determining that the consumer is in proximity to the retail location, a price discount of the LAMC using a pre-determined formula based on the maximum price discount and a distance of the consumer to the retail location; and sending the LAMC including the price discount to the mobile device used by the consumer.

Abstract: A consumer is provided with a first asset in return for a promise to earn an agreed to number of points over an agreed to redemption period. The consumer subsequently earns the points by purchasing one or more second assets. At least one of the second assets is different than the first asset. Each purchase has an associated point value, at least one of the point values being different than at least one other point value. An electronic trading system includes a first set of web sites where a consumer can select a first asset it wants to obtain in return for a promise to earn points by making future purchases of one or more second assets. The number of points which the consumer must earn varies as a function of which of the first assets is selected by the consumer. The consumer can fulfill its obligation to earn the stated number of points by purchasing one or more second assets at a second set of web sites. Each of the second assets has an associated point value.

Abstract: A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple new products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person are disclosed. The invention includes a method wherein the supplier receives a request from the first person for a first new product. After accepting the first new product, the supplier stores data identifying the first person and data relating to the first new product in a memory of a computer. Thereafter, the second person queries the supplier about a pre-owned product. The supplier searches the memory of the computer to determine whether the data relating to the first new product satisfies the second person's inquiry for the pre-owned product. If so, the supplier transmits an offer for a second new product to the first person based on the data identifying the first person. If the offer is acceptable to the first person, the supplier provides the second new product to the first person and the pre-owned product to the second person.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing variable level rewards to card holders according to expenditures in transaction categories. Card transactions for a specified period of time are classified by codes and are assigned to one of several transaction categories such as entertainment, travel, dining, sporting goods, and electronics. A total amount of expenditures for each transaction category is determined. The transaction category with the largest value of expenditures is determined. The highest available reward is applied to the total amount of expenditures in the transaction category that has the largest value of expenditures. Consumers may take advantage of a high level or more valuable reward in a multi-level reward structure regardless of their spending habits or patterns because the more valuable reward is applied to the expenditures in the largest expenditure transaction category.

Abstract: The invention provides efficient and convenient rebate systems and methods which facilitate application of the value of a rebate redeemed by a purchaser to additional purchases by the purchaser prior to termination of a rebate redemption session.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes recording transaction information for a consummated transaction related to a purchase of an item or service at a computer, the transaction information including information identifying a consumer; monitoring, by the computer, an incentive to purchase the item or service for a predetermined time period after purchase of the item or service by the consumer; comparing, by the computer, the incentive to the transaction information during the predetermined time period to determine if the incentive was offered as part of the consummated transaction; and if the incentive was not offered as part of the consummated transaction, duplicating, by the computer, the incentive for the consumer after the consummated transaction.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for quantifying, aggregating and bundling green incentives based on green construction enables applying at least a portion of the credits/incentives to financial transactions. Quantification includes estimating and/or monitoring usage of utilities, comparing the usage to a predetermined baseline value, and valuating an effectual energy savings that includes actual savings plus incentive values. Quantification relies on a database, which may include credits, deductions, and other green incentives data that contribute to the effectual savings. The effectual savings may be applied to early repayment of a mortgage loan, improved terms for the loan, investment in securities, and/or other trading. The method standardizes values of green incentives in energy units and/or monetary units. The method aids in qualifying the building projects based on a concrete estimation of the effectual energy savings.

Abstract: A method and system for using a rebate card are disclosed. The method may comprise initiating a purchase transaction for one or more products at a point of sale, determining whether the purchase transaction qualifies for a rebate, determining a rebate value based on the purchase transaction and the rebate, activating a rebate value in a rebate card account associated with a rebate card based on the determining action, and delivering the rebate card to a customer of the one or more products during the purchase transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing user-driven reverse auctions are provided. The systems and methods enable a user to request bids for products or services, receive bids in response to the offers, and manage the bids. The methods provide receiving, at a computing device, a request from a user for an offer for products or services, the request including search criteria; identifying, via the computing device, at least one merchant of said products or services based on the search criteria; sending the request to the at least one merchant and receiving one or more bids from the at least one merchant; and presenting, via a computing device, the one or more bids to the user.

Abstract: A product level discount is managed during a transaction by receiving a transaction identifier associated with a transaction, where the transaction identifier comprises a transaction value, a customer account identifier, a merchant identifier, and a product identifier. A product identifier is assessed to determine whether the transaction qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with a predetermined offer. A rebate credit value is based on the transaction information and the predetermined offer, and qualification may be determined based on at least one of the customer account identifier and the merchant identifier. The product identifier could be a SKU code, which may be the basis for qualifying for the rebate credit. A merchant associated with the merchant identifier, which is part of the transaction, does not need to be informed of the application of the rebate credit to the customer account, which occurs after completion of the transaction.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an electric power related information obtaining unit mounted on or connected to equipment and configured to obtain electric power related information with regard to the equipment and a communication unit configured to transmit the electric power related information obtained by the electric power related information obtaining unit to a rebate processing apparatus connected via a network. A rebate processing apparatus includes a communication unit configured to receive electric power related information transmitted from an information processing apparatus mounted on or connected to equipment via the network, a rebate reference calculation unit configured to calculate a rebate reference functioning as a reference for a rebate processing on the basis of the electric power related information, and a rebate processing unit configured to perform a predetermined rebate processing on the basis of the rebate reference.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing a dynamic purchase incentive to a purchase of a product. A product identification is input into a purchasing device which transmits it to a discount server computer along with customer identification data. The discount server computer uses the product identification to retrieve from a product discount database associated product discount data, and uses the customer identification data to retrieve from a customer profile database associated customer profile data. The discount server computer uses the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification to generate a dynamic purchase incentive to be applied to the purchase of the product by the customer, the incentive varying as a function of the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification. The discount server computer transmits the purchase incentive to the purchasing device, and the purchase incentive is applied to the purchase of the product by the customer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking applications. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining identifying information for a party seeking attribution for content to be distributed; using a programmed processor, digital watermarking the content with the identifying information; and associating an attribution action with the identifying information in a data repository; in which the attribution action is triggered when a rendering device decodes the digital watermarking and obtains the identifying information during a transaction, in which performing the attribution action does not occur when the content includes limited functionality for initial evaluation but said performing the royalty payment action does occur when the content is purchased or enabled for longer evaluation relative to the initial evaluation. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

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 system and method to optimize the yield of a restaurant having perishable inventory is described. Through a card company, a restaurant can market incentives to make reservations during an off-peak time to enrolled card members. Offer marketing is based on stated customer preferences, and conducted via, for example, a website, email, or text message. Reservations are made, for example, via a centralized booking service. The incentive is fulfilled to the card member in a coupon-less manner. The card company receives a commission from the participating restaurant for every such sale.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing coupons in conjunction with payment transactions involving electronic payment instruments. The benefit of the coupons can be provided to a customer after confirmation that the customer has satisfied all conditions of the coupon, which can include conditions on the type of good(s) and/or service(s) purchased as well as non-payment activities by the customer. If a coupon includes a non-payment activity condition, the non-payment activity can be performed either before or after the payment transaction(s) corresponding to the coupon.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a robust rebate cross-sell network in which business entities, including financial institutions, can make targeted offers, including pre-approved or pre-qualified credit offers, to a desirable consumer utilizing information submitted by the consumer during a rebate redemption process. These business entities may but need not be associated with a rebate-issuing entity (i.e., rebate sponsor) or a rebate processing center which processes rebate claims for the rebate sponsor. In one embodiment, a cross-sell network manager can determine the consumer's identity, look-up the consumer at credit bureau(s), and perform a passive, real-time inquiry. Contingent upon a plurality of factors (e.g., the results of the inquiry or look-up against the pre-approved/qualified customer list, etc.), one or more targeted offers are identified.

Abstract: A system for making payments from each payer of a community of payers to each supplier of a community of suppliers assesses a variable transaction fee to each supplier. The system comprises a database which associates, for each payer, identification of a group of transaction rates to apply to payments made by the payer. Associated with each transaction rate is a subgroup of suppliers to which the transaction rate applies on payments made by the payer. In response to receiving a payment instruction, a payment application generates a credit transaction to the account of the supplier in the amount of the payment less a transaction fee. The transaction fee is the amount of the first payment multiplied by the transaction rate, of the group of transaction rates associated with the payer, that associates with the subgroup of suppliers to which the first supplier is associated.

Abstract: A system makes payments from each payer of a community of payers to each vendor of a community of vendors, assesses a variable transaction fee to each vendor, and provides a variable rebate to each payer. The transaction fee is “variable” because it may be varied: i) amongst vendors (the same payer may use different fee rates for different vendors); and ii) amongst payers (the same vendor may be subjected to different rates, based on the payer making the payment). The variable rebate is based on the total transaction fee applicable to payments made by the payer during a period of time. The rebate may be the sum of: i) the product of the total transaction fee multiplied by a base rebate percentage; and ii) the product of that portion of the total transaction fee in excess of an accelerator threshold multiplied by an accelerated rebate percentage.

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: A global electronic receipt platform for recording, managing and accessing transaction receipts through retailers' physical or internet based point of sale system. Consumers are assigned a unique identifier (UI), and retailers submit purchase transaction information to this system through secured internet connections between retailers' point of sale systems and the global electronic receipt system every time the UI is presented. Programmed plugs-ins made available to retailers can be integrated into existing point of sale systems in order to process and submit electronic receipts to the database agent. Each consumer is provided with an electronic receipt card which stores their UI and is presented at the time of purchase or in order to process a return, an exchange or claim a promotion such as a coupon or a rebate. This UI is used to get access to different interfaces in order to view, manage and search through their transaction history.

Abstract: A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases containing data relating to subscriptions sold to customers. The retail subscription system verifies the subscriptions by reference to its own databases and transmits the subscriptions to a fulfillment house for distribution.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a controller calculates a measurement of product success, such as the number of products sold or the market share of the product. A set of registrations which are “early-adopter” registrations are selected. The set of registrations thereby defines a set of early-adopter purchasers. If the measurement of product success is within a predetermined range, a reward, such as a refund or a free product, is provided to each early-adopter purchaser.

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 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.