Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Brian J Utter

Jeffrey P Bezos

Douglas Irvine

Dwayne S Benefield

David Liu

Anil K Dedhia

Jason Shaw

Sarah S Bryar

Douglas Welzel

Computer systems and associated payment models are disclosed for compensating content providers, such as web site operators, that cooperatively provide user access to content. In one embodiment, when a user selects a link provided by an 'originator' entity (e.g., on a web site of the originator entity) to access a 'target' entity's content (e.g., content displayed on the target entity's web site), the user is charged a small transaction fee, such as 0.1 cents. A portion of this fee is paid to the originator, and a portion is paid to the target. An additional portion may be retained by a service provider that processes the link selection transaction. Embodiments are also disclosed involving different flows of monetary compensation between the user, the originator, the target, and the service provider.

Computer-implemented methods for compensating entities that cooperatively provide access to content on web sites

An interactive merchandising program includes two or more program segments that are organized in a series. Each program segment in the series includes at least one time-limited offer for sequential presentation to the customer. The customer is required to undertake some action with respect to each program segment without knowing the identity of offers in program segments yet to be presented. If an offer is accepted within the time limit of the offer, the merchandising program terminates and the customer's acceptance of the offer is processed. If the customer declines a presented offer, the offer is withdrawn. The merchandising program proceeds to the next program segment in which the customer is presented the next time-limited offer. In this manner, the customer is provided an interactive experience that invites considered decision-making on the part of the customer.

Interactive time-limited merchandising program and method for improved online cross-selling

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Brian J Utter