Method and apparatus for word of mouth selling via a communications network
US8306874B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0641
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A selling method and system that allows individuals or groups to interactively select associate products and services with their online presence in exchange for the online service, as part of an online service, or for some reward, monetary or otherwise. Individuals or groups select products and services from a pool of partner e-commerce retailers or import them from their purchasing histories based on personal preference and may use them as a means of expression for their online audience as part of an online service. This provides e-commerce retailers with self-selected targeted marketing and referral selling to affinity groups, the online version of word of mouth selling. E-commerce retailers share revenue and pay for referrals that occur via this word of mouth selling framework. Online services that have any form of user identity within the context of a larger audience may utilize this form of user based referral selling as a revenue generating tool.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.