The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1999
Jay S. Walker, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Daniel E. Tedesco, New Canaan, CT (US);
Stephen C. Tulley, Stamford, CT (US);
John M. Packes, Jr., Hawthorne, NY (US);
Deirdre O'shea, New York, NY (US);
Keith Bemer, New York, NY (US);
James A. Jorasch, Stmford, CT (US);
Dean P. Alderucci, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Jay S. Walker, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Daniel E. Tedesco, New Canaan, CT (US);
Stephen C. Tulley, Stamford, CT (US);
John M. Packes, Jr., Hawthorne, NY (US);
Deirdre O'Shea, New York, NY (US);
Keith Bemer, New York, NY (US);
James A. Jorasch, Stmford, CT (US);
Dean P. Alderucci, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Walker Digital, LLC, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a controller receives information relating to customer activity with a first vendor (e.g., via a Web page that a customer accesses). The controller further receives an indication of items the customer desires to purchase, the items having an associated total price. The controller determines, based on any of various criteria, whether to provide an offer for a subsidy based on the information relating to customer activity. The offer for a subsidy is from a second vendor (a subsidizing vendor), and may define, for example, a reduction in the price charged for the item and an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the subsidy. If the customer accepts the offer, he is charged a second price for the items. The second price is less than the total price, and may even be zero.