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`US 20140081753A1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0081753 A1
`Mesaros
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`(54)
`
`PROMOTING OFFERS THROUGH SOCIAL
`NETWORK INFLUENCERS
`
`on
`
`Applicant: Gregory .1. Mesaros. Tampa. l-‘l. (US)
`
`1721
`
`Inventor: Gregory J. Mcsaros. Tampa. Fl. (US)
`
`03)
`
`Assignee: EWINWIN, INC. Tampa. FL (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No; 141075,] I 6
`
`122)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 8. 2013
`
`(63)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 131584.809, filed on
`Aug. 13. 2012. now Pat. No. 8,620,765. which is a
`continuation of application No. 131424226. filed on
`Mar.
`l9. 2012, now Pat. No. 8,285,598. which is a
`continuation of application No. 121788.513. filed on
`May 27. 2010. now Pat. No. 8.140.402. which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 091922.884.
`filedonAug. 6. 2001. now Pat. No. 8.290.824. which is
`a continuation—impart of application No. 091324.391 _.
`filed on Jun. 3. 1999. now abandoned, said application
`No. 091922.884 is a continuation-in-part ol‘application
`No. 091426.063. filed on Oct. 22. 1999. now Pat. No.
`7.818.212. which is a continuation-in-part oi'applica-
`tion No. P(‘T1US00111989. filed on May 3. 2000.
`which is a continuation of application No. 091342.345.
`filed on 11111. 29. 1999. now abandoned. which is a
`continuation ofapplication No. 091426.063, filed on
`Oct. 22. 1999. now Pat. No. 7.818.212.
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 601133.769. tiied on May
`12. 1999. provisional application No. 601137.583.
`filed on Jun. 4. 1999. provisional application No.
`601138.209. filed on Jun. 9. 199.9. provisional applica-
`tion No. 601139.338. filed on Jun. 16. 1999. provision-
`
`al application No. 601139.518. filed on Jun. 16. 1999.
`provisional application No. 601139.519. fiied on Jun.
`16. 1999. provisional application No. 601142.371.
`filed on Jul. 6. 1999. provisional application No.
`601160.510. filed on Oct. 20, 1999. provisional appli-
`cation No. 601162.182. filed on Oct. 28. I999. provi-
`sional application No. 601173.409, filed on Dec. 28.
`1999. provisional application No. 601133.769. filed on
`May 12. 1999. provisional application No. 601135.
`972. filed on May 26. 1999. provisional application
`No. 601133.769. filed on May 12. 1999. provisional
`application No.6(11237.474.iilcd 01101.12. 2000. pro-
`visional application No. 611183.390. filed on Jun. 2.
`2009. provisional application No. 611230.248. filed on
`.1111. 31.2009.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. (:1.
`006g 50/00
`(1069 30/06
`(52} 0.8. C1.
`CPC
`
`1130c:
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`GOfiQ 50/01 (2013.01): (106(33010605
`(2013.01)
`705114.54
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and seliing
`products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale ot‘ a
`product with volume discounts for a limited little. In other
`words. the more people that buy a product. the lower the price
`101' the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become pro—
`sumers that not only purchase a product hilt 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
`
`{—
`
`SOCIAL NETWORK(S)
`
`DEAL ROOM(S)
`
`8»
`
`(881
`
`\
`
`LYFT 1046
`
`LYFT 1046
`
`1
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 2014!!)081753 A1
`
`100
`
`{—
`
`120
`
`[10
`
`SOCIAL NETWORK(S)
`
`DEAL ROOM(S)
`
`8»
`
`8%
`
`\‘
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 20141’0081753 Al
`
`I 200
`
`|_ _____________________
`
`SELLER
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`BUYER
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`DEAL ROOM
`CONSTRUCTOR
`COMPONENT
`
`216
`
`217
`
`21s
`
`
`
`
`
`
`| | | | | | | | | | | |
`
`| | | | | | | | | | | |
`
`RECOMMENDER
`COMPONENT
`
`ANALYSIS
`COMPONENT
`
`”331513313
`COMPONENT
`
`STORE( S}
`
`220
`
`SEARCH
`COMPONENT
`
`
`
`226
`
`DATA
`COLLECTION
`COMPONEN‘I'
`
`IMPORTIEX PORT
`COMPONENT
`
`DATA
`
`ACCESS
`COMPONDFNT
`
`PORT
`COMPONENT
`
`3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 3 0114
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 4 of 14
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`FIG.4
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`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 2014!!)081753 A1
`
`230
`
`WIDGET
`
`COMPONENT
`
`APPLET
`
`COMPONENT
`
`COMPONENT
`
`COMPONENT
`
`INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 5
`
`6
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 2014!!)081753 A1
`
`610
`
`620
`
`NETWORK
`
`INTERFACE
`COMPONENT
`
`COMPONENT
`
`SOCIAL PRICING
`
`INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 6
`
`7
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 2014l0081753 A1
`
`700
`
`{—
`
`710
`
`PRODUCT
`
`ROOMON
`
`PUBLIC DEAL
`
`ROOMDM
`
`112
`
`PRIVATE DEAL
`
`114
`
`AGGREGATION
`
`COMPONENT
`
`72"
`
`FIG. 7
`
`8
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 2014!!)081753 A1
`
`800
`
`r
`
`AFFORD OFFER WITH SOCIAL
`PRICING
`
`PROVIDE MECHANISM(S) TO
`FACILIATE INCREASE IN QUANTITY
`PURCHASED
`
`COLLECT PURCHASES FROM
`BUYERS
`
`
`PRICE
`
`PROVIDE PURCHASE INFORMATION
`
`TO SELLER
`
`
`NOTIFY BUYERS OF FINAL U'NlT
`
`810
`
`820
`
`830
`
`840
`
`35"
`
`FIG. 8
`
`9
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 2014!!)081753 A1
`
`900
`
`K.—
`
` MEETS
`THRESHOLD
`
`METRIC '?
`
`ANALYZE PROS UMER BEHAVIOR
`
`
`REWARD PROSUMER WITH ACCESS
`
`TO PRIVATE DEAL ROOM,
`COUPONS...
`
`910
`
`930
`
`FIG. 9
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 2014l0081753 A1
`
`1000
`
`K’—
`
`START
`
`RENDER SOCIAL PRICING OFFER FOR A
`
`TRACK AND PROVISION RATING
`INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE OFFER
`
`1020
`
`PRODUCT ON A SOCIAL NEWORK 1010
`
`PROVIDE LINK TO DEAL ROOM FOR
`
`PURCHASING THE PRODUCT
`
`1030
`
`FIG. 10
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`PatentApplication Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 2014l0081753 A1
`
`1100
`
`(—
`
`MONITOR DEAL ROOM PURCHASE
`ACTIVITY
`
`IDENTIFY BUYER CONDITIONS
`
`SPECIFIED QUANTITY
`
`CONDITIONS
`
`SATISFIED?
`
`AUTOMATICALLY ORDER A
`
`”10
`
`1120
`
`1140
`
`FIG. 11
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 12 of 14
`
`US 2014l0081753 A1
`
`1210
`
`‘fr"
`
`1212
`
`‘1
`
`l I
`
`1228
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`1 ————— 4
`|
`|
`| APPLI(‘.‘ATION(S]
`|
`|
`|
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`_______ .4 __ __ __ __ __ __
`
`1214
`
`[216
`
`MEMORY
`
`12l8
`
`SYS'I‘EM
`
`1224
`
`1226
`
`INTER FACE
`
`INPUT
`
`OUTPUT
`
`FIG. 12
`
`13
`
`PROCESSING
`
`UNIT(S)
`
`l—
`
`I | |
`
`| | | | | | | |
`
`|__
`
`COMPONEN I (S)
`
`13
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2014 Sheet 13 of 14
`
`US 2014l0081753 A1
`
`{—- 1300
`
`1310
`
`1330
`
`
`
`CLIENIIS)
`
`1340
`
`SERVER(S)
`
`
`
`
`CLI ENT
`SERVER
`
`
`DATA
`DATA
`
`
`
`
`STORE(S)
`
`STORES)
`
`COMMUNICATION
`FRAMEWORK
`
`1350
`
`FIG. 13
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

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`US 201410081753 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`PROMOTING OFFERS THROUGH SOCIAL
`NETWORK INFLUENCERS
`
`CROSS-R1511“ l iRl ENCE TO REL/111151.)
`APP]..1(.‘A'1‘IONS
`
`[0001] The present application is a continuation and claims
`the priority benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 131584.
`809 filed Aug. 13. 2012. which is a continuation and claims
`the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 131424.
`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. 121788.513, 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. 091922884, filed
`Aug. 6. 200]. now U.S. Pat. No. 8.290.824. which:
`[0003]
`(a) is a contintmtion-in-part and claims the prior-
`ity benefit ot'U.S. patent application Ser. No. 091324,
`391. filed Jun. 3, 1999. which claims the priority to U.S.
`provisional application 6011 33,769, filed May 12, 1999;
`[0004]
`(b) is a continuation-in-part and claims the prior-
`ity benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 091426.
`063, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 7.818.212;
`[0005]
`(c) is a continuation-iu-part and claims the prior-
`ity benefit of RCT. patent application PCT1U8001
`l 1989. filed May 3, 2000. which claims priority to: U.S.
`provisional application 601137.583. filed Jun. 4. 1999:
`U.S. provisional application 601138.209, filed Jun. 9,
`1999; U .S. provisional application 601139.338.
`filed
`Jun. 16. 1999', U.S. provisional application 601139,Sl8,
`filed Jun. 16. 1999'. U.S. provisional application 601139.
`519. filed Jun. [6, 1999: is a continuation 0111.3. patent
`application Ser. No. 091342.345, filed Jun. 29, 1999;
`U.S. provisional application 601l42,37]. filed Jul. 6.
`1999; U.S. provisional application 601160510,
`filed
`Oct. 20, 1999: is a continuation oi‘U.S. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 091426.063. tiled Oct. 22. 1999. now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7.818.212: U.S. provisionalapplication 601162.
`182. filed Oct. 28. 1999: U.S. provisional application
`601l73,409, filed Dec. 28= 1999; U.S. provisional appli—
`cation 60113369, filed May 12, 1999; U.S. provisional
`application 601135.972. filed May 26, 1999; U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 091324.391, filed Jun. 3. 1999. U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 091324.391 claims the prior-
`ity benefit of U.S. provisional application 601133.769
`filed May 12. 1999; and
`[0006]
`(d) claims priority benefit to U.S. provisional
`application 601237.474. filed Oct. 2, 2000.
`[0007]
`(2) which claims the priority benefit of U.S. provi-
`sional application 611183.390. filed .lun. 2, 2009: and
`[0008]
`(3) claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional
`application 611230.248. 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 andfor 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 fora 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. 'l'hus, sellers are able to make equal or greater profits
`despite the lowered price ofthc product. While volume pric-
`ing offers a benefit to larger buyers who are able to purchase
`large quantities ot'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 o fien ends up paying a higher price than largerbuyers
`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] Anothercommon 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 against one 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 interact. For
`example. one company known to operate an auction site over
`the internet is eBay, Inc. Although auctions provide advan-
`tages when selling tulique products for which customers are
`willing to competitively bid. the auction forum is not well
`suited for sellers desiring to sell large qtlantities of goods to
`multiple buyers given the inherent inefiiciencies involved
`with selling one product at a time in a bidding enviromnent.
`[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 ofthe sellers is provided an opportunity
`to review the buyer’s price. A sale is complete when one ofthe
`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 buyer‘s 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.
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`US 2014t0081?53 Al
`
`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`buyers individually determine whether the sellers preset price
`schedule is acceptable regardless of whether other buyers
`have decided to purchase the product or not. In an auction. not
`only do buyers operate independently of other buyers. but, in
`fact, each buyer’s decision to place a bit] has a negative eITect
`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 ofthe disclosed subject
`matter. It
`is intended to neither identify key or critical ele-
`ments ofthe disclosed subject matter nor delineate the scope
`of the disclosed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present
`sortie concepts ofthe 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 utilize-
`ing social networks and other online technologies for
`promoting purchases by others. Sellers can initiate a sale o'fa
`product with volume discounts for a limited time. Buyers
`have a real incentive to become “prostlmers” 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. andi’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 beneiicial 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.
`ofbut a few ofthe various ways in which the principles ofthe
`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
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of product purchase sys-
`[0018]
`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 screensltot 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]
`1’ IO. 6 is a block diagram of an interface in accor-
`dance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for aggregat-
`[0024]
`ing purchases across deal rooms in accordance with an aspect
`ot‘the disclosure.
`[0025]
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram of a method ofselling
`a product in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`[0026]
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram ofa prosumer analysis
`method in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
`[0027]
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart diagram oi'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.
`FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a
`[0029]
`suitable operating environment for aspects ofthe subject dis-
`closure.
`FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-
`[0030]
`computiug enviromnent.
`[0031]
`l-'IG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an exem-
`plary computing environment for electronically conducting
`business.
`
`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
`v
`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 or an entity related to an operational
`machine with one or more specific functionalities. The enti-
`ties discloscd herein can be either hardware. a combination of
`hardware and so ftware. 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. andtor a com-
`puter. By way of illustration. both an application running on
`a server and the server can he a component. One or more
`components may reside within a process andi'or thread of
`execution and a component may be localized on one com-
`puter andr‘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 auditor remote
`procesrses such as in accordance with a signal having one or
`more data packets (eg. data from one cotnponent interacting
`with another component in a local system, distributed system.
`andr‘or across a network such as the Internet with other sysv
`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 cart be litter-
`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 flinc—
`tionality through electronic components without mechanical
`parts. the electronic components can include a processor
`therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in
`
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`US 2014f0081?53 Al
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`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`part the functionality ofthe electronic components. An inter-
`face can include inputi‘output (It‘O) components as well as
`associated processor. application. andfor API components.
`[0034]
`Furthermore. the disclosed subject matter may be
`implemented as a method. apparatus. or article of manu fac-
`ture using standard programming andfor engineering tech-
`niques to produce software. firmware, hardware. or any com-
`bination thereof to control a computer to impletnent
`the
`disclosed subject matter. The temi “article ofmanufacture" 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 leg.
`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 ofreasoning about or inferring
`states of the system. environment. andfor user from a set of
`observations as captured via events andz'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 0 f data and events. inference can also refer to
`techniques employed for composing higher-level events from
`a set of events andfor data. Such inference results in the
`construction of new events or actions from a set of observed
`events andt'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
`SDUI’CCS.
`
`[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 [heart any of the natural inclusive permutations.
`That is. ifX 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 ! 10 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 ofiered 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 cttrve 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 andi‘or the creator of deal room 110 can control the
`specific slope. numberof tiers. break points. tipping points. or
`other price schedule characteristics. l'iurthemtore. while all
`products ofTered 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 breakftipping 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 andfor the start—
`ing price). and the amotmt ofadditional purchases necessary
`to meet the next break point. in addition. the amount of
`additional savings that can be obtained upon reaching that
`next break point 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.. publicfprivate) can also vary as will
`be discuswd further hereinafter.
`
`Since the final price ofa product tlnit can be depen-
`[0040]
`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 act in 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 herein as “social
`pricing." One manner in which such promotion can be accom-
`plished is via one or more social networks 120 (eg. Face-
`book. MySpace. Linkedln .
`.
`. ). Prosumers can advertise a
`particular product to friends. family, auditor 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 andfor
`rewards for marketing one’s product exists in conventional
`systems. the above can be distinguished in that all or a portion
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`US 2014f0081?53 A1
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`Mar. 20, 2014
`
`of the incentivest'rewards obtained by the prosumer can be
`allocated to other buyers in addition to the individual pro-
`surner.
`
`It is therefore to be noted that prosumers need not be
`[0042]
`seen as merely self-interested profileers 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 ofincentive for promoting a purchase to
`others. In this way. the prostuners 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. li'urthermore.
`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 1 20. 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 ofthe promotee. Moreover.
`if the prornotee 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 1 10 is both bona fide
`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
`alter 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.
`
`the buyer promote page can also
`l’urthemtore,
`[0045]
`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 elements 510 and 520.
`However. as a briefintroduction. the social pricing app can be
`expressly designed to help