(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0081753 A1
`MesarOS
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`US 20140O81753A1
`
`(54) PROMOTING OFFERS THROUGH SOCIAL
`NETWORK INFLUENCERS
`
`(71) Applicant: Gregory J. Mesaros, Tampa, FL (US)
`
`(72) Inventor: Gregory J. Mesaros, Tampa, FL (US)
`(73) Assignee: EWINWIN, INC., Tampa, FL (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/075,316
`1-1.
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 8, 2013
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 13/584.809, filed on
`Aug. 13, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,620,765, which is a
`continuation of application No. 13/424.226, filed on
`Mar. 19, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,285,598, which is a
`continuation of application No. 12/788,513, filed on
`May 27, 2010, now Pat. No. 8,140,402, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/922,884,
`filedon Aug. 6, 2001, now Pat. No. 8,290,824, which is
`a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/324,391,
`filed on Jun. 3, 1999, now abandoned, said application
`No. 09/922,884 is a continuation-in-part of application
`No. 09/426,063, filed on Oct. 22, 1999, now Pat. No.
`7.818.212, which is a continuation-in-part of applica-
`
`al application No. 60/139,518, filed on Jun. 16, 1999,
`provisional application No. 60/139,519, filed on Jun.
`16, 1999, provisional application No. 60/142,371,
`filed on Jul. 6, 1999, provisional application No.
`60/160,510, filed on Oct. 20, 1999, provisional appli
`cation No. 60/162,182, filed on Oct. 28, 1999, provi
`sional application No. 60/173,409, filed on Dec. 28,
`1999, provisional application No. 60/133,769, filed on
`May 12, 1999, provisional application No. 60/135,
`972, filed on May 26, 1999, provisional application
`No. 60/133,769, filed on May 12, 1999, provisional
`application No. 60/237,474, filed on Oct. 2, 2000, pro
`SRISE.S.S.R.,
`Jul. SF 2009.
`pp
`s1- Yls
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`G06O 50/00
`G06Q 30/06
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............ G06O 50/01 (2013.01); G06Q30/0605
`(2013.01)
`USPC ....................................................... 705/14.54
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`S.S.R.E.E.N.S.S. Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling
`
`filed on Jun. 29, 1999, now abandoned, which is a
`continuation of application No. 09/426 o 63 filed on
`Oct. 22, 1999, now Pat. No. 7818,212. sw Y-s
`s
`s
`sy- u. Yos
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/133,769, filed on May
`12, 1999, provisional application No. 60/137,583,
`filed on Jun. 4, 1999, provisional application No.
`60/138.209, filed on Jun. 9, 1999, provisional applica
`tion No. 60/139,338, filed on Jun. 16, 1999, provision
`
`products utilizing social pr1C1ng. Sellers initiate sale of a
`product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other
`words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price
`for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become pro
`Sumers that not only purchase a product but also promote
`purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interac
`tion between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mecha
`nisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing
`Social networks and other online activities.
`
`100
`
`Y
`
`DEAL ROOM(S)
`N
`
`
`
`SOCIAL NETWORK(S)
`
`8 8
`8.
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`SOCIAL NETWORK(S)
`
`8 8
`8.
`
`100
`
`Y
`
`DEAL ROOM(S)
`
`Na
`
`F.G. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`SELLER
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`BUYER
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`DEAL ROOM
`CONSTRUCTOR
`COMPONENT
`
`216
`
`217
`
`218
`
`RECOMMENDER
`COMPONENT
`
`ANALYSIS
`COMPONENT
`
`AUTOMATED
`ORDER
`COMPONENT
`
`
`
`22O
`
`SEARCH
`COMPONENT
`
`226
`
`
`
`
`
`DATA
`COLLECTION
`COMPONENT
`
`IMPORT/EXPORT
`COMPONENT
`
`DATA
`STORE(S)
`
`ACCESS
`COMPONDENT
`
`PORT
`COMPONENT
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`g
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`d
`m
`er
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SS
`
`SSSSSS
`
`
`
`S S
`
`S S
`
`
`
`t
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 4 of 14
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`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`230
`
`WIDGET
`COMPONENT
`
`APPLET
`COMPONENT
`
`PORT
`COMPONENT
`
`MOBILE
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`FGS
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`600
`
`Y
`
`
`
`610
`
`620
`
`NETWORK
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`SOCIAL PRICING
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`F.G. 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`7OO
`
`Y
`
`710
`
`PRODUCT
`
`PUBLIC DEAL
`ROOMOM
`
`112
`
`PRIVATE DEAL
`ROOMON
`
`114
`
`
`
`AGGREGATION
`COMPONENT
`
`720
`
`FIG 7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`800
`
`Y
`
`START
`
`
`
`AFFORD OFFER WITH SOCIAL
`PRICING
`
`PROVIDE MECHANISM(S) TO
`FACILIATE INCREASE IN QUANTITY
`PURCHASED
`
`COLLECT PURCHASES FROM
`BUYERS
`
`810
`
`820
`
`830
`
`PROVIDE PURCHASE INFORMATION
`TO SELLER
`
`840
`
`NOTIFY BUYERS OF FINAL UNIT
`PRICE
`
`850
`
`STOP
`
`FG. 8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`900
`
`Y
`
`START
`
`ANALYZE PROSUMER BEHAVIOR
`
`910
`
`
`
`MEETS
`THRESHOLD
`METRIC2
`
`REWARD PROSUMER WITH ACCESS
`TO PRIVATE DEAL ROOM,
`COUPONS
`
`930
`
`FIG 9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`1000
`
`Y
`
`
`
`START
`
`RENDER SOCIAL PRICING OFFER FOR A
`PRODUCT ON A SOCIAL NEWORK
`
`1010
`
`TRACK AND PROVISION RATING
`INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE OFFER
`
`1020
`
`PROVIDE LINK TO DEAL ROOM FOR
`PURCHASING THE PRODUCT
`
`1030
`
`FIG 10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`START
`
`1100
`
`Y
`
`MONITOR DEAL ROOM PURCHASE
`ACTIVITY
`
`IDENTIFY BUYER CONDITIONS
`
`1110
`
`1120
`
`CONDITIONS
`SATISFIED2
`
`AUTOMATICALLY ORDERA
`SPECIFIED QUANTITY
`
`1140
`
`FIG 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 12 of 14
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`US 2014/0081753 A1
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`4. 1228
`- - - - -
`APPLICATION(S)
`
`^ 1210
`
`- - - - - - -
`- - - - - - -
`-
`
`
`
`1212
`
`PROCESSING
`UNIT(S)
`
`SYSTEM
`MEMORY
`
`MASS
`STORAGE
`
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT(S)
`
`INPUT OUTPUT
`
`F.G. 12
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 13 of 14
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`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`
`
`1310
`
`CLIENT(S)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CLIENT
`DATA
`STORE(S)
`
`- 1300
`
`1330
`
`SERVER(S)
`
`1340
`
`SERVER
`DATA
`STORE(S)
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`FRAMEWORK
`
`1350
`
`F.G. 13
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 14 of 14
`
`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
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`

`

`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`PROMOTING OFFERS THROUGH SOCIAL
`NETWORK INFLUENCERS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0001. The present application is a continuation and claims
`the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/584,
`809 filed Aug. 13, 2012, which is a continuation and claims
`the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/424,
`226 filed Mar. 19, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,285,598, which
`is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 12/788,513, filed May 27, 2010, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,140,402, which:
`0002 (1) is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority
`benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/922,884, filed
`Aug. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,290,824, which:
`0003 (a) is a continuation-in-part and claims the prior
`ity benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/324,
`391, filed Jun. 3, 1999, which claims the priority to U.S.
`provisional application 60/133,769, filed May 12, 1999;
`0004 (b) is a continuation-in-part and claims the prior
`ity benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/426,
`063, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,818,212:
`0005 (c) is a continuation-in-part and claims the prior
`ity benefit of P.C.T. patent application PCT/US00/
`11989, filed May 3, 2000, which claims priority to: U.S.
`provisional application 60/137,583, filed Jun. 4, 1999;
`U.S. provisional application 60/138,209, filed Jun. 9,
`1999; U.S. provisional application 60/139,338, filed
`Jun. 16, 1999; U.S. provisional application 60/139,518,
`filed Jun. 16, 1999; U.S. provisional application 60/139,
`519, filed Jun. 16, 1999; is a continuation of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/342,345, filed Jun. 29, 1999;
`U.S. provisional application 60/142,371, filed Jul. 6,
`1999; U.S. provisional application 60/160,510, filed
`Oct. 20, 1999; is a continuation of U.S. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 09/426,063, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,818,212; U.S. provisional application 60/162,
`182, filed Oct. 28, 1999; U.S. provisional application
`60/173,409, filed Dec. 28, 1999; U.S. provisional appli
`cation 60/133,769, filed May 12, 1999; U.S. provisional
`application 60/135,972, filed May 26, 1999; U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/324,391, filed Jun. 3, 1999. U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/324,391 claims the prior
`ity benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/133,769
`filed May 12, 1999; and
`0006 (d) claims priority benefit to U.S. provisional
`application 60/237,474, filed Oct. 2, 2000.
`0007 (2) which claims the priority benefit of U.S. provi
`sional application 61/183,390, filed Jun. 2, 2009; and
`0008 (3) claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional
`application 61/230.248, filed Jul. 31, 2009.
`0009. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications
`are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0010 Buying and selling of goods and services (collec
`tively referred to as “products”) has resulted in a vast array of
`costing schemes, which are used to select the price at which
`Such products are sold. One of the most common costing
`schemes that consumers encounter everyday is known as
`fixed pricing. According to this costing scheme, sellers set a
`fixed price for their products based on a past demand for the
`
`product and/or anticipated future demand. Buyers who desire
`to purchase products from Seller are each required to pay the
`same fixed price regardless of the number of products pur
`chased. If a seller finds that the demand for a given product is
`greater or less than expected, the seller may later adjust the
`fixed price of the product to account for Such findings.
`Although fixed pricing provides a simple way for a seller to
`conduct business with multiple buyers, one drawback of this
`costing scheme is that it fails to reward buyers willing to
`purchase greater quantities of products. Accordingly, the dis
`count quantity-pricing scheme evolved.
`0011. The discount quantity-pricing scheme approach to
`costing involves pricing a product at different levels depend
`ing on the quantity of products a customer is willing to pur
`chase. The more products a customer is willing to purchase,
`the lower the price per product. Sellers have an incentive to
`lower prices for large quantity buyers since the fixed costs
`associated with producing the product is spread over more
`items. Thus, sellers are able to make equal or greater profits
`despite the lowered price of the product. While volume pric
`ing offers a benefit to larger buyers who are able to purchase
`large quantities of goods at one time Smaller buyers are often
`unable to obtain the lowered prices and therefore are more
`likely to “shop around for the best available deal. This, in
`turn, hurts both the buyer and seller. For instance, the smaller
`buyer is burdened with needing to search for alternative deals
`and still often ends up paying a higher price than larger buyers
`pay. The sellers, on the other hand, are faced with lost busi
`ness since they are unable to reduce their price for the smaller
`buyers and still make sufficient profit.
`0012 Another common costing scheme for pricing a prod
`uct is an auction. In an auction, a seller sets an initial price for
`an item and then multiple buyers are given an opportunity to
`bid againstone another for the product. The buyer who agrees
`to pay the highest price for the product purchases the product
`at the end of the auction at the final price bid. In order to
`provide a larger forum for buyers and sellers, a recent trend
`has been to auction goods electronically over the Internet. For
`example, one company known to operate an auction site over
`the Internet is eBay, Inc. Although auctions provide advan
`tages when selling unique products for which customers are
`willing to competitively bid, the auction forum is not well
`Suited for sellers desiring to sell large quantities of goods to
`multiple buyers given the inherent inefficiencies involved
`with selling one product at a time in a bidding environment.
`0013 Yet another costing scheme that has been advanced
`is buyer-driven bidding. According to this costing scheme, a
`single buyer desiring to obtain a product communicates a
`price at which the buyer is willing to purchase the product to
`multiple sellers. Each of the sellers is provided an opportunity
`to review the buyer's price. A sale is complete when one of the
`sellers agrees to sell the product to the buyer at the price
`Suggested by the buyer, or at a price included in a counterof
`fer. While the buyer-driven bidding scheme provides advan
`tages for certain types of transactions when, for example,
`sellers may be willing to sell products at lower than normal
`prices, the uncertainties involved with whether a buyers offer
`will be accepted is often problematic.
`0014 While the costing schemes described above have
`various advantages and disadvantages in different situations,
`a commonality among all of the costing schemes is that each
`buyer operates independently with one or more sellers to set
`a purchase price of a product. For example, in the fixed
`pricing scheme and discount quantity purchasing scheme,
`
`

`

`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`buyers individually determine whether the sellers preset price
`schedule is acceptable regardless of whether other buyers
`have decided to purchase the productor not. In an auction, not
`only do buyers operate independently of other buyers, but, in
`fact, each buyer's decision to place a bid has a negative effect
`on all other buyers desiring to purchase the same good since
`the price of the good increases for all potential buyers. Simi
`larly, in a buyer-driven bidding scheme, each buyer is com
`pletely unaware of the amount other buyers are bidding for a
`given product.
`
`SUMMARY
`0015 The following presents a simplified summary of the
`disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic under
`standing of some aspects of the disclosed Subject matter. This
`Summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosed subject
`matter. It is intended to neither identify key or critical ele
`ments of the disclosed subject matter nor delineate the scope
`of the disclosed Subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present
`Some concepts of the disclosed Subject matter in a simplified
`form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is
`presented later.
`0016 Briefly described, the subject disclosure pertains to
`Social pricing and mechanisms in Support thereof. In particu
`lar, systems and methods are provided to broker group-buy
`ing transactions between buyers and sellers, as well to utiliz
`ing social networks and other online technologies for
`promoting purchases by others. Sellers can initiate a sale of a
`product with volume discounts for a limited time. Buyers
`have a real incentive to become “prosumers' who not only
`purchase a product but also promote purchase by others to
`obtain a lower price all buyers. Consequently, sellers can
`increase sales, profit, market share, and/or brand awareness
`while buyers realize true costs savings for participating in a
`deal and can recognize additional cost savings by promoting
`the service to others, or by engaging in other behavior mutu
`ally beneficial behavior.
`0017. The following description and the annexed draw
`ings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the dis
`closed subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however,
`of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the
`disclosed subject matter may be employed and the disclosed
`Subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their
`equivalents. Other advantages and distinguishing features of
`the disclosed subject matter will become apparent from the
`following detailed description of the disclosed subject matter
`when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0018 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of product purchase sys
`tem in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`0019 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a social pricing system
`according to a disclosed aspect.
`0020 FIG. 3 is a screenshot of an exemplary deal room in
`accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`0021
`FIG. 4 is a price schedule represented as a table
`according to an aspect of the disclosure.
`0022 FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a representative port
`component according to a disclosed aspect.
`0023 FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an interface in accor
`dance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`
`0024 FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for aggregat
`ing purchases across deal rooms in accordance with an aspect
`of the disclosure.
`0025 FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram of a method of selling
`a product in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`0026 FIG.9 is a flow chart diagram of a prosumer analysis
`method in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`0027 FIG. 10 is a flow chart diagram of a product promo
`tion method according to a disclosed aspect.
`0028 FIG. 11 is a flow chart diagram of a method of
`automated order execution in accordance with a disclosed
`aspect.
`0029 FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a
`Suitable operating environment for aspects of the Subject dis
`closure.
`0030 FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a sample
`computing environment.
`0031
`FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an exem
`plary computing environment for electronically conducting
`business.
`
`s
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`0032. The disclosed subject matter is now described with
`reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
`are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following
`description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understand
`ing of the disclosed subject matter. It may be evident, how
`ever, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced with
`out these specific details. In other instances, well-known
`structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in
`order to facilitate describing the disclosed subject matter.
`0033. As used in this application, the terms “system.
`“component.” “interface.” and the like are intended to refer to
`a computer-related entity oran entity related to an operational
`machine with one or more specific functionalities. The enti
`ties disclosed hereincan be eitherhardware, a combination of
`hardware and Software, Software, or software in execution.
`For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being,
`a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an
`executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a com
`puter. By way of illustration, both an application running on
`a server and the server can be a component. One or more
`components may reside within a process and/or thread of
`execution and a component may be localized on one com
`puter and/or distributed between two or more computers.
`These components also can execute from various computer
`readable media having various data structures stored thereon.
`The components may communicate via local and/or remote
`processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or
`more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting
`with another component in a local system, distributed system,
`and/or across a network Such as the Internet with other sys
`tems via the signal). As another example, a component can be
`an apparatus with specific functionality provided by
`mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry
`that is operated by Software or firmware application(s)
`executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be inter
`nal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of
`the Software or firmware application. As yet another example,
`a component can be an apparatus that provides specific func
`tionality through electronic components without mechanical
`parts, the electronic components can include a processor
`thereinto execute software or firmware that confers at least in
`
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`

`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`part the functionality of the electronic components. An inter
`face can include input/output (I/O) components as well as
`associated processor, application, and/or API components.
`0034) Furthermore, the disclosed subject matter may be
`implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufac
`ture using standard programming and/or engineering tech
`niques to produce Software, firmware, hardware, or any com
`bination thereof to control a computer to implement the
`disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture' as
`used herein is intended to encompass a computer program
`accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or
`media. For example, computer readable media can include
`but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard
`disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), optical disks (e.g.,
`compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD). . . ), smart
`cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, Stick, key drive.
`. . ). Additionally it should be appreciated that a carrier wave
`can be employed to carry computer-readable electronic data
`Such as those used in transmitting and receiving electronic
`mail or in accessing a network Such as the Internet or a local
`area network (LAN). Of course, those skilled in the art will
`recognize many modifications may be made to this configu
`ration without departing from the scope or spirit of the dis
`closed subject matter.
`0035. As used herein, the terms “infer or “inference'
`generally refer to the process of reasoning about or inferring
`states of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of
`observations as captured via events and/or data. Inference can
`be employed to identify a specific context or action, or can
`generate a probability distribution over states, for example.
`The inference can be probabilistic-that is, the computation of
`a probability distribution over states of interest based on a
`consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer to
`techniques employed for composing higher-level events from
`a set of events and/or data. Such inference results in the
`construction of new events or actions from a set of observed
`events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events are
`correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether the
`events and data come from one or several event and data
`SOUCS.
`0036 Moreover, the word “exemplary' is used herein to
`mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any
`aspect or design described herein as “exemplary' is not nec
`essarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over
`other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is
`intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in
`this application, the term 'or' is intended to mean an inclusive
`“or rather than an exclusive “or'. That is, unless specified
`otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B is
`intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations.
`That is, if X employs A: X employs B; or X employs both A
`and B, then “X employs A or B is satisfied under any of the
`foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an as
`used in this application and the appended claims should gen
`erally be construed to mean “one or more' unless specified
`otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular
`form.
`0037 Referring now to the drawings, with reference ini
`tially to FIG. 1, product purchase system 100 is illustrated in
`accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. As depicted,
`system 100 can include one or more deal room 110 all or a
`portion of which can be coupled to one or more social net
`work 110 by way of a wide area network such as the Internet
`or web.
`
`0038. As used herein, a deal room can be an electronic
`forum in which a product is offered for sale. For example, deal
`room 110 can be embodied as a particular web page, website,
`banner ad, pop-up, dialog box, web-based application, or the
`like. Furthermore, deal room 110 can include a price curve or
`price schedule that affords discounts based on aggregate pur
`chases. In other words, the price per unit can lower for all
`participants as quantity purchased increases. The seller of a
`product and/or the creator of deal room 110 can control the
`specific slope, number of tiers, breakpoints, tipping points, or
`other price schedule characteristics. Furthermore, while all
`products offered in deal room 110 will generally be associ
`ated with a price curve that breaks to lower price tiers with
`increasing aggregate Volume (or tips upon reaching a particu
`lar critical mass), deal room 110, in one or more aspect, need
`not display the entire price curve or even be configured with
`more than one price break/tipping point.
`0039. In fact, research suggests that buyers often disfavor
`or are confused by price curves, especially those with mul
`tiple price breaks. Such can be so in spite of the fact that
`multiple price breaks affords the buyer multiple opportunities
`to save additional amounts on their purchases. Thus, at any
`given point in time, access to deal room 110 can present, inter
`alia, a current price, time remaining for the offer, a current
`discount received thus far (e.g., versus retail and/or the start
`ing price), and the amount of additional purchases necessary
`to meet the next break point. In addition, the amount of
`additional savings that can be obtained upon reaching that
`next breakpoint can also be presented, while additional break
`points can be suppressed from presentation until a prior price
`break is reached. Moreover, the number of deal rooms 110
`and particular type (e.g., public/private) can also vary as will
`be discussed further hereinafter.
`0040 Since the final price of a product unit can be depen
`dent upon the total quantity purchased, buyers or consumers
`have a natural incentive to promote purchase of the product.
`Stated differently, consumers can become proSumers—those
`that not only purchase a product, but also actin desired ways,
`typically intended to promote, inform, or evaluate with
`respect to the deal or product offered in deal room 110, and
`thus can contribute to what can be referred to hereinas “social
`pricing. One manner in which Such promotion can be accom
`plished is via one or more social networks 120 (e.g., Face
`book, MySpace, LinkedIn . . . ). Prosumers can advertise a
`particular product to friends, family, and/or coworkers, or
`other contacts, e.g., by utilizing Social network 120 and can
`optionally provide a link to a particular deal room 110 to
`purchase a product.
`0041. It should be appreciated that by encouraging pro
`Sumers, value can be created for all participants. For example,
`all buyers (e.g., consumers) can benefit from the activities of
`the proSumer, as does the proSumer by virtue of a lower price
`for the product. To offset this lower price afforded to buyers,
`the seller has increased sales, providing an economic benefit
`due to fixed-cost production and has potentially increased
`market share or brand awareness as well. Moreover, the seller
`can save a significant amount of money up front by reducing
`an advertising budget, all or a portion of which can be redi
`rected to discounts for actual buyers instead, which can lead
`to higher customer loyalty and satisfaction with less risk than
`traditional methods of advertising or marketing. It should be
`understood that while the notion of offering incentives and/or
`rewards for marketing one’s product exists in conventional
`systems, the above can be distinguished in that all or a portion
`
`

`

`US 2014/0081753 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`of the incentives/rewards obtained by the prosumer can be
`allocated to other buyers in addition to the individual pro
`SUC.
`0042. It is therefore to be noted that prosumers need not be
`seen as merely self-interested profiteers relying on the pur
`chases of others, which is a particularly undesirable view
`point when those others are friends, family, or colleagues. In
`accordance with one embodiment, a proSumer can be
`required to make a purchase or become an active buyer prior
`to receiving any type of incentive for promoting a purchase to
`others. In this way, the proSumers has “put his money where
`his mouth is which, ostensibly, he or she would not have
`done unless the deal is perceived as a bargain. Furthermore,
`sharing bargains with others (or advocating products genu
`inely esteemed) is more readily identified with a generous
`enterprise, and certainly the type of behavior friends or family
`would expect to be made aware of. That such behavior can
`also be beneficial to the proSumer, makes such a symbiotic
`win-win, and that much better. In addition, such viral adver
`tising from proSumers typically carry much more weight
`than, say, Spam, ads, reviews, or the like from an unknown
`party or entity.
`0043. On the other hand, by leveraging existing social
`networks 120, it can be presumed a trust relationship of some
`type already exists between the promotee (e.g., a friend of the
`proSumers) and the promoter (e.g., the proSumers), and fur
`ther that the promoter may have personal knowledge of the
`needs, tastes, desires, or interests of the promotee. Moreover,
`if the promotee is aware that the promoter has “put his money
`where his mouth is”, then any such advertisements from the
`promoter will typically carry even more weight. For instance,
`the promotee can be further assured that the promoter truly
`believes the offer exhibited by deal room 110 is both bonafide
`and a bargain, as evidenced by his or her own willingness to
`purchase. Moreover, the proSumer can also receive additional
`value out of his or her social network 120 by, e.g., receiving
`discounts or other economic benefits with very little addi
`tional effort; all while keeping in touch with friends, family,
`colleagues, or other contacts. In addition, the proSumer can
`also share similar benefits with those contacts, which can be
`a source of gratitude or esteem within his or her Social circle.
`0044 One means of accomplishing the foregoing is to
`provide a buyer promote page upon the conclusion of a prod
`uct order. Hence, the buyer promote page can be displayed
`after the buyer has made an order (even though the offer may
`still be live for several more hours or days, and the ultimate
`price paid can be lower than the current price). The buyer
`promote page can congratulate the buyer for Successfully
`ordering a product that is likely to represent a deep discount
`over retail even at the current or initial price, as well as
`displaying and updating in real time various data associated
`with the offer. For example, the buyer promote page can
`indicate, e.g., that 15 more buyers have agreed to purchase the
`product, so the final price paid is now an additional 11%
`lower.
`0045. Furthermore, the buyer promote page can also
`entice the buyer to become a proSumer. Any such enticement
`can be configured according to the seller's desires. For
`example, the buyer promote page can further indicate, e.g.,
`that if X more buyers purchase the product, then everyone in
`the buying group will get an additional Y% off.
`0046 Accordingly, to aid the buyer in reaching the next
`price break, and thereby facilitating a transition from mere
`consumer to proSumer, the buyer promote page can include
`
`icons representative of and including embedded links to
`popular (potentially third party) social network 120. Some
`example existing Social networks can be, e.g., Facebook,
`Twitter, MySpace, Wordpress or the like, as well as an icon to
`send targeted emails to indicated individuals. Upon clicking
`one of these links, the buyer can be redirected to the selected
`social network 120, whereupon he or she can login and be
`given an option to download a social pricing app.
`0047. Additional detail with respect to features consistent
`with a social pricing app can be found with reference to FIG.
`5 and particularly with respect to