Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

US8784198B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INVENTIO AG · CH

Inventors

• Jay S. Walker · Ridgefield, US
• Geoffrey M. Gelman · Stamford, US
• James A. Jorasch · Stamford, US
• Peter Kim · Pasadena, US
• Timothy A. Palmer · Mountain View, US
• Keith Bemer · New York, US
• Andrew P. Golden · New York, US
• Scott B. Allison · Salt Lake City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 4, 2013
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F17/3244
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol, value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user may provide a redemption request to either the controller or the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.