Internet-based customer referral system
US8494923B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2030 |
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 market products sold on a merchant web site in return for commissions. Following registration, the associate sets up a web site (or other information dissemination system) to distribute hypertextual catalog documents that include marketing information (product reviews, recommendations, etc.) about selected products of the merchant. In association with each such product, the catalog document includes a hypertextual “referral link” that allows a user/customer to access the merchant web site and purchase the product. When a customer selects a referral link, the customer's computer transmits unique IDs of the selected product and of the associate to the merchant's site, allowing the merchant to identify the product and the referring associate. If the customer subsequently purchases a product from the merchant's site, a commission is automatically credited to an account of the referring associate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.