Internet-based customer referral system
US7337133B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99948
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An Internet-based customer referral system enables individuals and other business entities (“associates”) to refer customers to a merchant's web site in return for compensation, such as commissions on resulting sales. Entities initially register with the merchant web site as associates, and are provided with instructions for creating links to the merchant web site. An associate may, for example, set up an associate web site (or other information dissemination system) with reviews, recommendations, and/or editorials of specific products in the merchant's online catalog, together with links to associated pages in the catalog. When a user follows such a link and then makes a purchase (as tracked by the merchant web site), the system preferably awards a commission to the associate. The system also preferably generates feedback reports that provide each associate with data regarding the effectiveness of each link provided by that associate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.