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Electronic commerce transactions within a marketing system that may contain a membership buying opportunity6980962
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing complete electronic commerce ("E-Commerce") transactions and solutions for a marketing company's products via the World Wide Web, including facilities for signing up new customers and recruiting, training and supporting new Independent Business Owners through an interactive online process. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the combination of a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity using both electronic commerce and face-to-face transactions. The present invention is also directed to a system and method for combining a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity, so that Independent Business Owners participating in the marketing plan can introduce customers to a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions based on the purchases by those members, while Members in the buying opportunity can consume products or, at their option, qualify to become Independent Business Owners.
Claims
1. A method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer, the method comprising:
establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member or an Independent Business Owner ("IBO"), wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Client price, wherein a Member is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Member price, and wherein an IBO is eligible to buy products or services at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation;
providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system; and
allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products or services to the registered Client, Member, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is a shopping page web file.
3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:
allowing a registered Client, Member, and IBO to purchase marketing system products or services via the shopping page web file directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the allowing step further comprises:
accumulating a selected list of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase by the registered Client, Member, and IBO via the shopping page web file, wherein the selected list is maintained at the server computer.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the accumulating step further comprises:
receiving at the server computer identification of at least one of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase from the shopping page web file; and
at the server computer, adding to the selected list each marketing system product or service received by said receiving step.
6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:
establishing a session when each of the registered Client, Member, and IBO accesses the web site associated with the marketing system;
terminating the session when each of the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates access with the web site; and
at the server computer, maintaining the selected list for a holding period that begins when the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates the session with the web site.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the holding period is at least 30 days.
8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:
tracking a dormant period that begins when the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates the session; and
if no marketing system products or services are added to the selected list during the dormant period, then sending an electronic notification to the registered Client, Member, at the expiration of the dormant period.
9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system products or service to the selected list during the dormant period.
10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:
canceling the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sending step comprises:
notifying the registered Client, Member, and IBO that the marketing system products or services in the selected list will be deleted following a deletion period if no additional marketing system products or services are added to the selected list or a purchase is not made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO, wherein the deletion period begins at the expiration of the dormant period.
12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period and the deletion period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
resetting the deletion period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:
canceling the deletion period and the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the dormant period and the deletion period are at least 15 days.
16. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the deletion period.
17. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the holding period.
18. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:
processing an order containing the selected list of marketing products or services selected for purchase, wherein the order is initiated via an on-line order form by the registered Client, Member, and IBO; and
sending an electronic notification to the registered Client, Member, and IBO subsequent to processing the order.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the electronic notification comprises an order status, an order number, an identifier, wherein the identifier indicates each of the marketing system products or services ordered, and a total sales price.
20. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is a vendor partner page web file.
21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:
allowing a registered Client, Member, and IBO to purchase marketing system products or services via the vendor partner page web file from a vendor partner associated with the marketing system.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the allowing step further comprises:
accumulating a selected list of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase by the registered Client, Member, and IBO via the vendor partner page web file, wherein the selected list is maintained at the server computer.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the accumulating step further comprises:
receiving at the server computer identification of at least one of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase from the vendor partner page web file; and
at the server computer, adding to the selected list each marketing system product or service received by said receiving step.
24. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:
allowing a registered Client, Member, and IBO to purchase marketing system products or services via the shopping page web file directly from a marketing company and from a vendor partner, wherein the marketing company and the vendor partner are associated with the marketing system.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the allowing step further comprises:
accumulating a selected list of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase by the registered Client, Member, and IBO via the shopping page web file, wherein the selected list is maintained at the server computer.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the accumulating step further comprises:
receiving at the server computer identification of at least one of the marketing system products or services selected for purchase from the shopping page web file; and
at the server computer, adding to the selected list each marketing system product or service received by said receiving step.
27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:
establishing a session when each of the registered Client, Member, and IBO accesses the web site associated with the marketing system;
terminating the session when each of the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates access with the web site; and
at the server computer, maintaining the selected list of marketing system products or services selected for purchase via the shopping page web file for a holding period that begins when the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates the session with the web site.
28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the holding period is at least 30 days.
29. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:
tracking a dormant period that begins when the registered Client, Member, and IBO terminates the session; and
if no marketing system products or services are added to the selected list during the dormant period, then sending an electronic notification to the registered Client, Member at the expiration of the dormant period.
30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system products or service to the selected list during the dormant period.
31. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:
canceling the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
32. A method according to claim 29, wherein the sending step comprises:
notifying the registered Client, Member, and IBO that the marketing system products or services in the selected list will be deleted following a deletion period if no additional marketing system products or services are added to the selected list or a purchase is not made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO, wherein the deletion period begins at the expiration of the dormant period.
33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period and the deletion period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
34. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:
resetting the deletion period if the registered Client, Member, and IBO adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
35. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:
canceling the deletion period and the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
36. A method according to claim 32, wherein the dormant period and the deletion period are at least 15 days.
37. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the deletion period.
38. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the holding period.
39. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:
processing an order containing the selected list of marketing products or services selected for purchase, wherein the order is initiated via an on-line order form by the registered Client, Member, and IBO; and
sending an electronic notification to the registered Client, Member, and IBO subsequent to processing the order.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the electronic notification comprises an order status, an order number, an identifier, wherein the identifier indicates each of the marketing system products or services ordered, and a total sales price.
41. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
providing online access to the plurality of marketing system products or services to a registered Member via an on-line redemption form associated with one of the plurality of web files; and
allowing the registered Member to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products or services via the on-line redemption form.
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the allowing step further comprises:
accumulating a selected list of the marketing system products or services selected for redemption by the Member via the on-line redemption form, wherein the selected list is maintained at the server computer.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the accumulating step further comprises:
receiving at the server computer identification of at least one of the marketing system products or services selected for redemption from the on-line redemption form; and
at the server computer, adding to the selected list each marketing system product or service received by said receiving step.
44. A method according to claim 43, further comprising:
establishing a session when the registered Member accesses the web site associated with the marketing system;
terminating the session when the registered Member terminates access with the web site; and
at the server computer, maintaining the selected list of marketing system products or services selected for redemption via the on-line redemption form for a holding period that begins when the registered Member terminates the session with the web site.
45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the holding period is at least 30 days.
46. A method according to claim 44, further comprising:
tracking a dormant period that begins when the registered Member terminates the session; and
if no marketing system products or services are added to the selected list during the dormant period, then sending an electronic notification to the registered Member at the expiration of the dormant period.
47. A method according to claim 46, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period if the registered Member adds a marketing system products or service to the selected list during the dormant period.
48. A method according to claim 46, further comprising:
canceling the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Member.
49. A method according to claim 46, wherein the sending step comprises:
notifying the registered Member that the marketing system products or services in the selected list will be deleted following a deletion period if no additional marketing system products or services are added to the selected list or a purchase is not made by the registered Member, wherein the deletion period begins at the expiration of the dormant period.
50. A method according to claim 49, further comprising:
resetting the dormant period and the deletion period if the registered Member adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
51. A method according to claim 49, further comprising:
resetting the deletion period if the registered Member adds a marketing system product or service to the selected list during the deletion period.
52. A method according to claim 49, further comprising:
canceling the deletion period and the dormant period if a purchase is made by the registered Member.
53. A method according to claim 49, wherein the dormant period and the deletion period are at least 15 days.
54. A method according to claim 49, further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the deletion period.
55. A method according to claim 44, further comprising:
deleting each of the marketing system products or services from the selected list subsequent to expiration of the holding period.
56. A method according to claim 43, further comprising:
processing an order containing the selected list of marketing products or services selected for redemption, wherein the order is initiated via an on-line redemption form by the registered Member; and
sending an electronic notification to the registered Member subsequent to processing the order.
57. A method according to claim 56, wherein the electronic notification comprises a redemption order status, a redemption order number, an identifier, wherein the identifier indicates each of the marketing system products or services selected for redemption, and a total redemption points total.
58. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is an office page web file, wherein the office page web file is accessible only by each IBO.
59. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is an office page web file, wherein the office page web file is accessible only by each Member and IBO.
60. A method according to claim 58, further comprising:
establishing a personal group associated with a first IBO, wherein the personal group comprises at least one individual selected from the group consisting of a registered Client, Member, and a second IBO.
61. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
creating an identifier associating the at least one individual with the first IBO; and
storing the identifier at the server computer.
62. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
providing to the first IBO information relating to sales of marketing system products or services to the personal group and sales of marketing system products or services by the personal group.
63. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
providing to the first IBO information relating to sales of marketing system products or services to the first IBO and sales of marketing system products or services by the first IBO.
64. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
establishing a line of sponsorship, wherein the line of sponsorship comprises at least the first IBO, the second IBO, and a third IBO.
65. A method according to claim 64, further comprising:
providing to the first IBO market system and personal information relating to each of the second and third IBO.
66. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
totaling a plurality of individual point values assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the at least one individual of the personal group and by the at least one individual of the personal group to achieve a total individual point value;
totaling a plurality of individual business volumes assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the at least one individual of the personal group and by the at least one individual of the personal group to achieve a total individual business volume; and
allowing the first IBO to view the total individual point value and the total individual business volume via the office page web file.
67. A method according to claim 66, further comprising:
adding a plurality of individual point values assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the first IBO and by the first IBO to achieve a total first IBO point value;
adding a plurality of individual business volumes assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the first IBO and by the first IBO to achieve a total first IBO business volume;
allowing the first IBO to view the total first IBO point value and the total first IBO business volume via the office page web file.
68. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
totaling a plurality of individual point values assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the personal group and by the personal group to achieve a total group point value;
totaling a plurality of individual business volumes assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the personal group and by the personal group to achieve a total group business volume; and
allowing the first IBO to view the total group point value and the total group business volume via the office page web file.
69. A method according to claim 68, further comprising:
adding a plurality of individual point values assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the first IBO and by the first IBO to achieve a total first IBO point value;
adding the total first IBO point value to the total group point value;
adding a plurality of individual business volumes assigned to the marketing system products or services sold to the first IBO and by the first IBO to achieve a total first IBO business volume;
adding the total first IBO business volume to the total group business volume; and
allowing the first IBO to view the total group point value and the total group business volume via the office page web file.
70. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:
establishing a plurality of escalating levels, wherein the escalating levels are a function of sales of marketing system products or services; and
providing an interactive calculation method via the office page web file, wherein the interactive calculation method allows the first IBO to determine a quantity of sales of marketing system products or services needed to reach one of the plurality of escalating levels.
71. A method according to claim 70, further comprising:
providing an interactive calculation method via the office page web file, wherein the interactive calculation method allows the first IBO to determine a quantity of sales of marketing system products or services needed by one of the at least one individual of the personal group to reach one of the plurality of escalating levels.
72. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is a income options page web file, wherein the income options page web file comprises an interactive presentation of information relating to the marketing system.
73. A method according to claim 72, wherein the interactive presentation comprises a multimedia presentation of information.
74. A method according to claim 72, wherein only a registered Client, Member, and IBO may view the interactive presentation via the income options page web file.
75. A method according to claim 72, further comprising:
providing an interactive calculation method via the income options page web file, wherein the interactive calculation method allows an individual to determine an income based on a quantity of sales of marketing system products or services sold through the marketing system.
76. A method according to claim 75, further comprising:
establishing a plurality of escalating levels wherein the escalating levels are a function of sales of marketing system products or services; and
providing an interactive calculation method via the income options page web file, wherein the interactive calculation method allows the individual to determine a quantity of sales of marketing system products or services needed to reach one of the plurality of escalating levels and to determine an income associated with the quantity of sales.
77. A method according to claim 72, further comprising:
allowing a visitor to the web site access to the interactive presentation;
presenting a series of dialog boxes to the visitor;
receiving from the visitor an income submitted via one of the dialog boxes;
receiving from the visitor a number of customers submitted via one of the dialog boxes;
receiving from the visitor a sales figure submitted via one of the dialog boxes, wherein the sales figure represents a dollar volume of sales to customers; and
receiving from the visitor a sponsor group number submitted via one of the dialog boxes, wherein the sponsor group number represents a number of individuals to be sponsored by the visitor.
78. A method according to claim 77, further comprising:
multiplying the number of customers by the sales figure to obtain a total sales figure;
multiplying the number of customers by a retail price to obtain a total retail price;
subtracting the total retail price from the total sales figure to obtain a total discount sales income;
calculating a total point value based on the total sales figure;
calculating a total business volume value based on the total sales figure;
calculating a performance bonus income based on a combination of the total point value and the total business volume;
adding the performance bonus income and the total discount sales income to obtain a total income; and
presenting the total income to the visitor via the income options page web file.
79. A method according to claim 78, further comprising:
calculating a total sponsor group point value based on sales of products or services by the sponsor group;
calculating a total sponsor group business volume based on sales of products or services by the sponsor group;
calculating a total sponsor group bonus income based on a combination of the total sponsor group point value and the total sponsor group business volume;
adding the total sponsor group bonus income and the total discount sales income to obtain a total sponsor group income; and
and presenting the total sponsor group income to the visitor via the income options web page file.
80. A method according to claim 79, further comprising:
obtaining a revised sponsor group number from the visitor;
recalculating the total sponsor group point value and the total sponsor group business volume using the revised sponsor group number to obtain a revised total sponsor group bonus income;
adding the revised total sponsor group bonus income and the total discount sales income to obtain a revised total sponsor group income; and
presenting the revised total sponsor group income to the visitor via the income options web page file.
81. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of web files is a member service page web file.
82. A method according to claim 81, further comprising:
supplying an on-line form associated with the member service page web file to a registered Client, Member, and IBO;
allowing the registered Client, Member, and IBO to enter personal information onto the on-line form;
storing the personal information on the server computer; and
customizing a layout of the plurality of web files based on the personal information.
83. A method according to claim 82, further comprising:
establishing a plurality of marketing system products or services based on the personal information supplied by the registered Client, Member, and IBO; and
presenting the plurality of marketing system products or services to the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
84. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
establishing a customer service page web file, wherein the customer service page web file is accessible to the registered Client, Member, and IBO and to non-registered visitors to the web site.
85. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allowing step is carried out so that one of the registered Client or Member does not have access to all marketing system products or services.
86. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allowing step is carried out so that only a registered IBO has access to all marketing system products or services.
87. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allowing step is carried out so that a different group of marketing system products or services is presented to each of the registered Client, Member, and IBO.
88. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allowing step is carried out so that a registered Client, Member, or IBO may purchase any marketing system product or service if an identification number associated with the product or service is known.
89. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
assigning the registered Client or Member to a registered IBO.
90. A method according to claim 89, wherein the registered Client or Member is assigned to a registered IBO based on a geographic proximity of the registered IBO to the registered Client or Member.
91. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:
providing an on-line order status request form, wherein the order status request form allows the registered Client, Member, and IBO to check on a status of purchases of marketing system products or services.
92. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:
providing an on-line order status request form, wherein the order status request form allows the registered Client, Member, and IBO to check on a status of purchases of marketing system products or services.
93. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:
providing an on-line order status request form, wherein the order status request form allows the registered Client, Member, and IBO to check on a status of purchases of marketing system products or services.
94. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
checking a user's identifier when a user attempts to access one of the plurality of web files to determine whether the identifier describes a participation level associated with the user, and wherein the participation level is selected from the group consisting of Client, Member, IBO;
redirecting the user to a marketing page web file if the user does not have an identifier;
redirecting the user to the marketing page web file if the identifier fails to describe the participation level as one of Client, Member and IBO; and
redirecting a registered Client, Member, and IBO to an information page, wherein the information page explains that the participation level of the registered Client, Member, and IBO does not allow access to the one of the plurality of web files.
95. A method according to claim 94, wherein the information page comprises marketing information to encourage the registered Client, Member, and IBO to upgrade the participation level.
96. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:
providing an on-line form to the registered Client, Member, and IBO, wherein the on-line form allows the registered Client, Member, and IBO to return or exchange products or services purchased through the marketing system;
allowing the registered Client, Member, and IBO to enter a plurality of information relating to the products or services on the on-line form;
providing a preformatted form containing the information relating to the products or services, wherein the form can be printed and returned by the registered Client, Member, and IBO with the products or services; and
providing an on-line prepaid postage label, wherein the postage label can be printed and used to return the products or services.
97. A system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system comprising:
a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products or services; and
a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured for
establishing an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member or an Independent Business Owner, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Client price, wherein a Member is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Member price, and wherein an IBO is eligible to buy products or services at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation,
providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system, and
allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products or services to the registered Client, Member, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
98. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system, said computer program logic comprising:
establishing means for enabling the processor to establish an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member or an Independent Business Owner ("IBO"), wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Client price, wherein a Member is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products or services at a Member price, and wherein an IBO is eligible to buy products or services at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation;
providing means for enabling the processor to provide a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system; and
allowing means for enabling the processor to allow access to a plurality of marketing system products or services to the registered Client, Member, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic commerce transactions. More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic commerce transactions with a marketing company. The invention also relates to using electronic networks to manage independent businesses associated with the marketing company.
2. Related Art
The Internet is becoming the world's new market place. The number of people and businesses that have access to the Internet is growing rapidly. Businesses are increasingly interested in selling and marketing products and services over the Internet, particularly via the World Wide Web ("WWW").
In particular, marketing companies, including multilevel marketing companies, are increasingly becoming familiar with the power of the Internet and its reach to potential new customers and members. Heretofore, however, the full capabilities of the Internet to provide a complete opportunity for electronic commerce with a marketing system in combination with a membership buying club have not been achieved.
For example, conventional systems and methods for carrying out electronic transactions, such as shopping, have generally required separate electronic shopping baskets when shopping from various merchants that may be associated with a particular web site. In addition, conventional systems have generally not been capable of providing a distribution system that allows distribution of the products of several sellers. Indeed, such distribution systems have not allowed products to be distributed through a single independent sales network but with different levels and structures of compensation for different product lines.
Conventional multilevel marketing systems, in particular, have generally not been able to provide a system for allowing members within the system to purchase directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system. Moreover, these conventional systems have generally not provided bonuses and/or commissions based upon sales made directly to the members by the marketing company as well as sales made to the members from a member's sponsor. Indeed, conventional multilevel marketing companies have relied upon the shear number of the distributors or members associated with the marketing company to promote and market its products and services as well as add members to the marketing system. Moreover, those companies doing business over the Internet have generally required that a shopper purchase products via a web page that is sponsored by one of the members of the marketing company.
Thus, there is a need to overcome the disadvantages described above. There is a particular need to provide a system and method for a single marketing distribution system that can distribute the products of several different sellers, all distributed through a single independent sales network but with different levels and structures of compensation for different product lines. There is a further need to allow shoppers to shop for and buy products from different sources in a single transaction. There is a particular need to provide a system and method that allows a shopper to purchase products directly from a marketing company, a registered business owner, and a merchant partner and to do so using an electronic shopping basket that is preferably persistent throughout the web site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problems with, and overcomes the disadvantages of, conventional marketing systems.
The present invention relates to a method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method further includes providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system. Additionally, the method includes allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products and services to the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating an on-line shopping and rewards program through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method further includes maintaining a catalog comprising marketing system products and services on the server computer. Additionally, the method includes: maintaining a rewards database on the server computer for storing reward points corresponding to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO; assigning a rewards value to the marketing system products and services and storing the rewards value in the catalog; assigning a redemption value to the marketing system products and services and storing the redemption value in the catalog; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line order form; allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit an order for marketing system products and services via the on-line order form; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line redemption form; allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products and services via the on-line redemption form; and subtracting from the rewards database a redemption value corresponding to the marketing system products and services chosen by the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for facilitating an on-line shopping and rewards program. The system includes a computer system accessible for on-line interactive communication. The computer system includes a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products and services and a processor in communication with said memory device. The processor is preferably configured for establishing an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation.
The processor is preferably additionally configured for: maintaining a catalog comprising marketing system products and services; maintaining a rewards database for storing reward points corresponding to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO; assigning a rewards value to the marketing system products and services and storing the rewards value in the catalog; assigning a redemption value to the marketing system products and services and storing the redemption value in the catalog; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line order form; allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit an order for marketing system products and services via the on-line order form; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line redemption form; allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products and services via the on-line redemption form; and subtracting from the rewards database a redemption value corresponding to the marketing system products and services chosen by the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO.
In another aspect, the present invention is related to a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate an on-line shopping and rewards program. The computer program includes establishing means for enabling the processor to establish an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation.
The computer program preferably additionally includes: catalog maintaining means for enabling the processor to maintain a catalog comprising marketing system products and services; rewards database maintaining means for enabling the processor to maintain a rewards database for storing reward points corresponding to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO; rewards value assigning means for enabling the processor to assign a rewards value to the marketing system products and services and storing the rewards value in the catalog; redemption value assigning means for enabling the processor to assign a redemption value to the marketing system products and services and storing the redemption value in the catalog; first providing means for enabling the processor to provide on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line order form; first allowing means for enabling the processor to allow the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit an order for marketing system products and services via the on-line order form; second providing means for enabling the processor to provide on-line access to the catalog to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO via an on-line redemption form; second allowing means for enabling the processor to allow the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products and services via the on-line redemption form; and subtracting means for enabling the processor to subtract from the rewards database a redemption value corresponding to the marketing system products and services chosen by the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO.
In another aspect, the present invention is related to a method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes providing a user with on-line access to a home page file for electronic commerce transactions, wherein the user may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method preferably additionally includes providing a plurality of shopping page web files for buying products and services from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and providing at least one vendor partner page web file for buying products and services from a vendor partner associated with the marketing system.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The system includes a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products and services. The system further includes a processor in communication with said memory device. The processor is preferably configured for providing a user with on-line access to a home page file for electronic commerce transactions, wherein the user may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The processor is additionally configured for providing a plurality of shopping page web files for buying products and services from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and for providing at least one vendor partner page web file for buying products and services from a vendor partner associated with the marketing system.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The computer program logic includes providing means for enabling the processor to provide a user with on-line access to a home page file for electronic commerce transactions, wherein the user may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The computer program logic further includes providing means for enabling the processor to provide a plurality of shopping page web files for buying products and services from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and providing means for enabling the processor to provide at least one vendor partner page web file for buying products and services from a vendor partner associated with the marketing system.
In another aspect, the present invention is related to a system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The system includes a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products and a processor in communication with the memory device. The processor is preferably configured for establishing an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The processor is further configured for providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system, and allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products and services to the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The computer program logic includes establishing means for enabling the processor to establish an interactive online registration process so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The computer program logic further includes providing means for enabling the processor to provide a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system and allowing means for enabling the processor to allow access to a plurality of marketing system products and services to the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of marketing and selling products through a marketing system. The method includes registering individuals with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method further includes allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO to purchase products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and compensating an individual who has qualified as an IBO based on sales of marketing system products, the marketing system products comprising products of the marketing company.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of marketing and selling products through a marketing system. The method includes establishing a plurality of participation categories within the marketing system, the participation categories comprising a Client, a Member, a Member Plus, and an Independent Business Owner (IBO), wherein the Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein the Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein the Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, wherein the Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO. The method further includes selling products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system to a participant in at least one of the participation categories and selling products from an IBO or a Member Plus to a participant in at least one of the participation categories and to a non-participant outside the marketing system. In addition, the method includes compensating the IBO based on product sales.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The system includes a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products and a processor in communication with the memory device. The processor is configured for registering individuals with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The processor is further configured for allowing the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO to purchase products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and for compensating an individual who has qualified as an IBO based on sales of marketing system products. The marketing system products preferably include products of the marketing company.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The computer program logic includes registering means for enabling the processor to register individuals with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The computer program logic further includes allowing means for enabling the processor to allow the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, or IBO to purchase products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system, and compensating means for enabling the processor to compensate an individual who has qualified as an IBO based on sales of marketing system products. The marketing system products preferably include products of the marketing company.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The system includes a memory device having embodied therein information relating to a plurality of marketing system products and a processor in communication with said memory device. The processor is preferably configured for establishing a plurality of participation categories within the marketing system, the participation categories comprising a Client, a Member, a Member Plus, and an Independent Business Owner (IBO), wherein the Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein the Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein the Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, wherein the Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO. The processor is further configured for selling products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system to a participant in at least one of the participation categories, for selling products from an IBO or a Member Plus to a participant in at least one of the participation categories, and for compensating the IBO based on product sales.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to facilitate electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The computer program logic includes establishing means for enabling the processor to establish a plurality of participation categories within the marketing system, the participation categories comprising a Client, a Member, a Member Plus, and an Independent Business Owner (IBO), wherein the Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein the Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein the Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, wherein the Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO. The computer program logic further includes selling means for enabling the processor to sell products directly from a marketing company associated with the marketing system to a participant in at least one of the participation categories, selling means for enabling the processor to sell products from an IBO or a Member Plus to a participant in at least one of the participation categories, and compensating means for enabling the processor to compensate the IBO based on product sales.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method further includes providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system and allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products and services to the registered Client, Member, or IBO via at least one of the plurality of web files.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating an on-line shopping and rewards program through a network, the network including at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price and is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price and is eligible to earn compensation. The method also includes maintaining a catalog comprising marketing system products and services on the server computer and maintaining a rewards database on the server computer for storing reward points corresponding to a registered Member. The method further includes assigning a rewards value to the marketing system products and services and storing the rewards value in the catalog. In addition, the method includes assigning a redemption value to the marketing system products and services and storing the redemption value in the catalog and providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Member via an on-line order form. The method also includes allowing the registered Member to submit an order for marketing system products and services via the on-line order form and providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Member via an on-line redemption form. The method further includes allowing the registered Member to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products and services via the on-line redemption form and subtracting from the rewards database a redemption value corresponding to the marketing system products and services chosen by the registered Member.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for accumulating a list of products and services selected for purchase from a shopping page web file and a merchant partner page web file. The method includes accumulating a list of the products and services selected for purchase at a server computer and receiving at the server computer at least one of the products and services selected for purchase from one of the shopping page web file and the merchant partner page web file. The method further includes at the server computer, adding to the list each product and service received by said receiving step, wherein said adding step accumulates an updated list of the products and services selected for purchase.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The method includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that a first individual may register with the marketing system. The method further includes providing a plurality of web files operatively coupled to a web site associated with the marketing system and allowing access to a plurality of marketing system products and services to the registered individual via at least one of the plurality of web files. The method also includes assigning a second individual who registers with the marketing system to the first individual.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for granting access to a user to a first web page file. The method includes determining if the user has an authentication identifier and directing the user to a marketing page web file if the user does not possess an authentication identifier. The method further includes determining a participation level of the user if the user possesses an authentication identifier and granting access to the first web page file if the participation level of the user meets a predetermined access level. The method also includes directing the user to a second web page file if the participation level of the user does not meet the predetermined access level.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions in a marketing system. The method includes registering individuals with the marketing system as a Client, wherein the Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to purchase products at a Client price, a Member, wherein the Member is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to purchase products at a Member price, or an IBO, wherein the IBO is eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to purchase products at an IBO price, which is less than a Member price.
Features and Advantages
A feature of the present invention is that it allows a marketing company to increase sales and grow the company's business by increasing orders, appealing to new market segments, improving productivity, cross-selling, and implementing online incentives and promotions.
A further feature of the present invention is that it provides a system and method for complete electronic commerce ("E-Commerce") transactions and solutions for a marketing company's products via the World Wide Web ("WWW"), including facilities for signing up new customers and recruiting, training and supporting new Independent Business Owners (IBOs) (described in more detail below) through an interactive online process.
A further feature of the present invention is that it combines a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity, so that IBOs participating in the marketing plan can introduce customers to a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions based on the purchases by those members. Members in the buying opportunity can consume products or, at their option, qualify to become Independent Business Owners.
A further feature of the present invention is that it provides an electronic product catalog that may enhance an Independent Business Owner's recruiting efforts, retain IBO's, and open up new channels for IBO's to sell products.
An additional feature of the present invention is that it enables an IBO and his or her customers to order directly from the marketing company. This reduces order entry time and costs, and relieves IBO's from ordering administration, reporting, order tracking and Standing Order Product (SOP) processing. It also gives individual customers control over their shopping experience.
An additional feature of the present invention is that participants in a marketing business opportunity can introduce customers to membership in a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions based on product purchases by those customers.
Another advantage of the present invention is that by providing opportunities for mass merchandising and targeted marketing, the present invention will allow business owners and the marketing company to gain a greater market share in particular product segments. The present invention also provides opportunities to identify new market segments so that new products and services may be produced to satisfy these new market segments. In addition, by building customer profiles and personalizing messages to individual customers, the present invention may allow the marketing company to increase sales of the existing products to current customers.
A further advantage of the present invention is that a single marketing distribution system can distribute the products of several different sellers, all distributed through a single independent sales network but with different levels and structures of compensation for different product lines. The present invention advantageously allows shoppers to shop for and buy products from different sources in a single transaction. The present invention further advantageously allows Independent Business Owners to earn income under a single marketing plan for selling a variety of different product lines in combinations selected by each individual Independent Business Owner.
A further advantage of the present invention is that by catering to streamlined and convenient ways of doing business and allowing the marketing company's IBOs a greater range of choices, the present invention can increase IBO retention.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the marketing company can increase the level of service to its customers while driving down the overall cost of doing business through efficient utilization of new technologies, particularly, although not limited to, Internet-related technologies.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the marketing company can build requisite customer data profiles and merchandizing expertise necessary for large-scale direct customer merchandizing.
A further advantage of the present invention that it provides Independent Business Owners in a marketing business with a "Virtual Office" feature that provides information vital to the operation of their business, including, but not limited to information on different product offerings and compensation systems, training, financial information, marketing support, customer profiles, and other information. The present invention also advantageously provides different levels of access to information about products and "Virtual Office" functions to different categories of Independent Business Owners, so that each participant receives information and marketing materials targeted to their individual preferences and business situation.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the invention will support and enhance the relationships between IBOs and their customers thereby improving growth in the customer base. Growth will result in Web-generated leads, reducing communication time and increasing efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the features, advantages, and principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the E-Commerce site of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram representing exemplary participation levels comprising the marketing system of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram representing an exemplary personally sponsored group according to the present invention;
FIGS. 4a-4f show block diagrams of exemplary alternative registration procedures according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary multi-tiered architecture system suitable for use in the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows a flow chart depicting exemplary steps for administering authentication;
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary layout of a "Income options" page web file of the present invention;
FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show an exemplary interactive presentation within the Income options page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 9 shows an exemplary product list used for product browsing and shopping in the present invention;
FIG. 10 shows an exemplary shopping basket display page;
FIG. 11 shows an exemplary order preview page;
FIGS. 12a-12h show an exemplary layout of an exemplary shopping page web file of the present invention;
FIGS. 13a-13e show an exemplary layout of a second exemplary shopping page web file of the present invention;
FIGS. 14a-14e show an exemplary layout of a third exemplary shopping page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 15 shows an exemplary layout of a fourth exemplary shopping page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 16 shows an exemplary layout of a "Member Benefits" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 17 shows an exemplary page web file including those features available to a Client within the "My Business" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 18 shows an exemplary page web file including those features available to a Member within the "My Business" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 19 shows an exemplary page web file including those features available to an Independent Business Owner within the "My Business" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 20 shows an exemplary catalog of products and services used in the on-line shopping and rewards program of the present invention;
FIG. 21 shows an exemplary layout of a "Virtual Office" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 22 shows an exemplary display of the structure and content of LOS (Line of Sponsorship) information for an IBO of the present invention;
FIG. 23 shows an exemplary layout of a "Customer Service" page web file of the present invention;
FIG. 24 shows an exemplary display of a Virtual Customer Service Representative of the present invention;
FIG. 25 shows a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of a marketing company network and communication over a network to a user;
FIG. 26 shows an exemplary computer system suitable for use with the present invention; and
FIG. 27 shows an exemplary flow diagram depicting the process by which a user administers a pre-paid postage label for product exchanges and/or returns.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Definitions
The following definitions are intended to provide clarity to various terms used in the present invention. Any reference to products is done for exemplary and/or explanatory purposes only. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not, however, be limited by any of the exemplary products or definitions disclosed herein.
ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
ADO is an application program interface (API) from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. ("Microsoft") that lets programmers writing Windows®, a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., applications get access to relational and non-relational databases from both Microsoft and other database providers. For example, if it was desired to write a program that would provide users of a Web site with data from an IBM DB2 database or an Oracle database, an ADO program statements could be included in an HTML file that was identified as an Active Server Page (ASP). When a user requested the page from the Web site, the page sent back could include appropriate data from a database, obtained using ADO code.
ActiveX
A software module based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) architecture. It enables a program to add functionality by calling ready-made components that blend in and appear as normal parts of the program. They are typically used to add user interface functions, such as 3-D toolbars, a notepad, calculator or even a spreadsheet.
ActiveX Control
An ActiveX control is a component program object that can be re-used by many application programs within a computer or among computers in a network. The technology for creating ActiveX controls is part of Microsoft's overall ActiveX set of technologies, chief of which is the Component Object Model (COM). ActiveX controls can be downloaded as small programs or animations for Web pages, but they can also be used for any commonly-needed task by an application program in the latest Windows® and Macintosh®, a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, Calif., environments.
Animated GIF
An animated GIF is a graphic image on a Web page that moves—for example, a twirling icon or a banner with a hand that waves or letters that get larger. In particular, an animated GIF is a file in the Graphics Interchange Format specified as GIF89a that contains within the single file a set of images that are presented in a specified order. An animated GIF can loop endlessly or it can present one or a few sequences and then stop the animation.
Anonymous E-Mail
Anonymous e-mail is e-mail that has been directed to a recipient through a third-party server that does not identify the originator of the message.
API (Application Program Interface)
An API (application program interface) is the specific method prescribed by a computer operating system or by another application program by which a programmer writing an application program can make requests of the operating system or another application.
ASP-Active Server Page
A Web page that contains programming code written in VB Script or Javascript. This code was developed by Microsoft starting with Version 3.0 of its Internet Information Server (IIS). When the IIS server encounters an ActiveServer page that is requested by the browser, it executes the embedded program. Active Server Pages are Microsoft's alternative to CGI scripts, which allow Web pages to interact with databases and other programs. Active Server Pages generally use an ".ASP" extension.
Authentication
Authentication is the process of determining whether someone or something is, in fact, who or what it is declared to be. In private and public computer networks (including the Internet), authentication is commonly done through the use of logon passwords. Knowledge of the password is assumed to guarantee that the user is authentic. Each user registers initially (or is registered by someone else), using an assigned or self-declared password. On each subsequent use, the user must know and use the previously declared password. The weakness in this system for transactions that are significant (such as the exchange of money) is that passwords can often be stolen, accidentally revealed, or forgotten.
AVI
Windows® AVI provides the capability to develop animation files that can be included in multimedia presentations and as part of World Wide Web pages. The files (which end with an .avi extension) require a special player which may be included with a Web browser or may require downloading.
Back End
Front-end and back-end are terms used to characterize program interfaces and services relative to the initial user of these interfaces and services. (The "user" may be a human being or a program). A "front-end" application is one that application users interact with directly. A "back-end" application or program serves indirectly in support of the front-end services, usually by being closer to the required resource or having the capability to communicate with the required resource. The back-end application may interact directly with the front-end or, perhaps more typically, is a program called from an intermediate program that mediates front-end and back-end activities.
Browser or Browser System
A browser system is a program that provides a way to look at, read and hear all the information on the World Wide Web. A browser typically interprets hypertext links and allows the user to view sites and navigate from one Internet node to another. A brief overview of web browsers and their interactions within the World Wide Web are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,670, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Browsing
A process that can describe moving between page web files associated with the marketing system web site of the present invention. "Browsing" can also refer to browsing the World Wide Web, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,670, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Bulletin Board System (BBS)
A bulletin board system is a computer that can be reached by computer modem dialing (and, in some cases, by Telnet) for the purpose of sharing or exchanging messages or other files. Some BBS's are devoted to specific interests; others offer a more general service.
C++
C++ is an object-oriented programming language that is now generally viewed as the best language for creating large-scale application programs. C++ is a superset of the C language.
CGI—Common Gateway Interface
A small program written in a script language such as Perl that functions as the glue between HTML pages and other programs on the Web server. For example, a CGI script would allow search data entered on a Web page to be sent to the DBMS (database management system). It would also format the results of that search onto an HTML page, which is sent back to the user.
Client/Server
An architecture in which the client machine (personal computer or workstation) is the requesting machine and the server is the supplying machine, both of which are connected via a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Since the early 1990s, the client/server architecture has been used to build applications on LANs in contrast to centralized minicomputers and mainframes with dedicated terminals. The client machine contains the user interface and, in terms of the present invention, preferably performs none or very little of the application processing. A client machine may also be referred to herein as a "user machine" or "user." Servers can be high-speed microcomputers, minicomputers or even mainframes. A database server maintains the databases and processes requests from the client machine to extract data from, or update, the database. An application server may provide additional business processing for the client machine.
COM+
COM+ is an extension of COM (Component Object Model), Microsoft's strategic building block approach for developing applications. COM+ is both an object-oriented programming architecture and a set of operating system services. It adds to COM a new set of system services for application components while they are running, such as notifying them of significant events or ensuring they are authorized to run. COM+ is intended to provide a model that makes it relatively easy to create business applications that work well with the Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) in a Windows® NT system.
Cookie
A cookie is a special text file that a Web site puts on a hard disk of a user machine accessing the web site so that it can remember something about the user at a later time. Typically, a cookie records a user's preferences when using a particular site. Using the Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), each request for a Web page is independent of all other requests. For this reason, the Web page server has no memory of what pages it has sent to a user previously or anything about the user's previous visits. A cookie is a mechanism that allows the server to store its own file about a user on the user's own computer. The file is stored in a subdirectory of the browser directory. The cookie subdirectory will contain a cookie file for each Web site the user has been to that uses cookies. An exemplary specification for cookies can be found at http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/cookie—spec.html, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. A detailed description of cookies, and the storage of state information, is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,670, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Data Warehouse
A data warehouse is a central repository for all or significant parts of the data that an enterprise's various business systems collect. Typically, a data warehouse is housed on an enterprise mainframe server. Data from various online transaction processing (OLTP) applications and other sources is selectively extracted and organized on the data warehouse database for use by analytical applications and user queries. Data warehousing emphasizes the capture of data from diverse sources for useful analysis and access, but does not generally start from the point-of-view of the end user or knowledge worker who may need access to specialized, sometimes local databases.
Database
A set of related files that is created and managed by a database management system (DBMS). DBMSs can manage any form of data including text, images, sound and video. The software determines database and file structures.
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
In computer networks, a DMZ is a computer host or small network inserted as a "neutral zone" between a company's private network and an outside public network. It prevents outside users from getting direct access to a server that has company data. A DMZ is an optional and more secure approach to a firewall and can also function as a proxy server as well.
Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM)
DCOM is a set of Microsoft concepts and program interfaces in which client program objects can request services from server program objects on other computers in a network. The Component Object Model (COM) provides a set of interfaces allowing clients and servers to communicate within the same computer (running a Windows® 95, 98, or NT system).
DHTML-Dynamic HTML
Specific enhancements to HTML tags that allow Web pages to function more like regular software. For example, fonts could be changed or images could be selected without having to jump to another page. Dynamic HTML (DHTML) is based on the Document Object Model (DOM) interface that allows HTML tags to be dynamically changed via JavaScript®, a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., or some other scripting language. Netscape® Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 use different methods to implement DHTML. Netscape® is a registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
A modem technology that increases the digital speed of ordinary telephone lines by a substantial factor over common V 0.34 (33600 BPS) modems. DSL modems may provide symmetrical or asymmetrical operation. Asymmetrical provides faster downstream speeds and is suited for Internet usage and video on demand, where the heaviest transmission requirement is from the provider to the customer.
Direct Access Storage Device (DASD)
DASD is a general term for magnetic disk storage devices and has historically been used in the mainframe and minicomputer (mid-range computer) environments. When used, it may also include hard disk drives for personal computers. A recent form of DASD is RAID (see below).
Downloading
Downloading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, usually smaller computer system. From the Internet user's point-of-view, to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it.
Dynamic Link Library (DLL)
An executable program module that performs some function. DLLs are not launched directly by users. When needed, they are called for by a running application and loaded to perform a specific function. DLLs are generally written so that their routines are shared by more than one application at the same time.
E-Commerce
E-Commerce is the application of communication and information sharing tools among trading partners to the pursuit of business objectives. Representative types of electronic commerce include, for example, Information access, Shopping services and Virtual enterprises.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
EDI is a standard format for exchanging business data.
Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
E-Mail is the exchange of computer-stored messages by telecommunication. E-Mail messages are usually encoded in ASCII text. However, non-text files, such as graphic images and sound files, can be sent as attachments in binary streams. As used herein, E-mail may also be referred to as an electronic notification.
Encryption
Encryption is the conversion of data into a form, called a cipher, that cannot be easily intercepted by unauthorized people. Decryption is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, so it can be understood. Typically, when an encrypted document arrives at its destination, the encrypted document is converted back to its original form through decryption. The readable document is generally referred to as a "decrypted" document. A basic introduction to encryption and decryption is described in the text written by Bruce Scheiner entitled "Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms And Source Code in C," published by John Wiley & Sons, 1994, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Moreover, more detailed descriptions of systems and apparatus for accomplishing encryption and decryption in computer networks are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,903,652, 5,850,442, and 5,850,446, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
ERP-Enterprise Resource Planning
An information system that integrates all manufacturing and related applications for an entire enterprise. An ERP implies the use of advanced information technologies, including, but not limited to, Graphical User Interfaces ("GUIs"), Computer Aided Software Engineering ("CASE") tools, 4GL (fourth-generation programming language), client/server architecture and open systems.
Electronic Retailing
Electronic retailing is the selling of retail goods on the Internet.
Ethernet
A type of Local Area Network (LAN) developed by Xerox, Digital and Intel. It is the most widely used LAN access method. Token Ring is the next most widely used method. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN. All stations on the segment share the total bandwidth, which is either 10 MBPS (Ethernet), 100 MBPS (Fast Ethernet) or 1000 MBPS (Gigabit Ethernet). With switched Ethernet, each sender and receiver pair have the full bandwidth.
Extranet
An extranet is a private network that uses the Internet protocols and the public telecommunication system to securely share part of a business's information or operations with suppliers, merchants, partners, customers, or other businesses. An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company.
Fourth-Generation Language (4GL)
A computer language that is more advanced than traditional high-level programming languages. Languages for accessing databases are often described as 4GLs. An exemplary 4GL language statement is "EXTRACT ALL CUSTOMERS WHERE "PREVIOUS PURCHASES" TOTAL MORE THAN $1000." Another example, as in dBase, the command list displays all the records in a data file. In second- and third-generation languages, instructions would have to be written to read each record, test for end of file, place each item of data on screen and go back and repeat the operation until there are no more records to process. First-generation languages are machine languages; second-generation languages are machine dependent assembly languages; third-generation languages are high-level programming languages, such as FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal and C.
Fractional T-1 or T-3 line
A fractional T-1 or T-3 line is a T-1 or T-3 digital phone line in the North American T-carrier system that is leased to a customer at a fraction of its data-carrying capacity and at a correspondingly lower cost. A T-1 line contains 24 channels, each with a data transfer capacity of 64 KBPS. The customer can rent any number of the 24 channels. The transmission method and speed of transfer remain the same. Overhead bits and framing are still used, but the unrented channels simply contain no data.
Gigabyte (GB)
A gigabyte is a measure of computer data storage capacity and is "approximately" one billion bytes.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
A popular raster graphics file format developed by CompuServe. It supports 8-bit color (256 colors) and is widely used on the Web, because the files compress well. GIFs include a color table that includes the most representative 256 colors used. For example, a picture of the forest would include mostly greens. This method provides excellent realism in an 8-bit image. GIF89 allows one of the colors to be made transparent and take on the background color of the underlying page or window. GIF89a supports animated GIFs, which are sequences of images displayed one after the other to simulate movement.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the set of "markup" symbols or codes inserted in a file intended for display on a World Wide Web browser. The markup tells the Web browser how to display a Web page's words and images for the user.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
HTTP is the set of rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video and other multimedia files) on the World Wide Web. Relative to the TCP/IP suite of protocols, HTTP is an application protocol. The World Wide Web is based on the concept of "hypertext" and the transfer method known as HTTP. HTTP is typically designed to run primarily over TCP/IP and uses the standard Internet setup, where a server issues the data and a client machine or "client browser" displays the data. One format for information transfer is to create documents using HTML page (see above), which are preferably made up of standard text as well as formatting codes which indicate how the page should be displayed. The Web client machine, reads these codes in order to display the page. The hypertext conventions and related functions of the World Wide Web are described in the appendices of U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,314, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
HTTPS is a Web protocol developed by Netscape® and built into its browser that encrypts and decrypts user page requests as well as the pages that are returned by the Web server. HTTPS uses Netscape's Secure Socket Layer (SSL) as a sublayer under its regular HTTP application layer. SSL can use a 40-bit or 120 bit key size for the stream encryption algorithm.
Hyperlink
On the Web or other hypertext systems, hyperlink is a synonym for both link and hypertext link.
Internet Information Server (IIS)
Web server software from Microsoft that runs under Windows® NT. It supports Netscape's SSL security protocol and turns an NT-based PC into a Web site.
Input/Output (I/O)
Transferring data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and input into another.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
An international telecommunications standard for transmitting voice, video and data over digital lines running at 64 KBPS. The telephone companies commonly use a 64 KBPS channel for digitized, two-way voice conversations. ISDN service is becoming widely available in the U.S.
Java®
Java®, a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., is a programming language (Sun Microsystems) expressly designed for use in the distributed environment of the Internet. It was designed to have the "look and feel" of the C++ language, but it is simpler to use than C++ and enforces a completely object-oriented view of programming. Java® can be used to create complete applications that may run on a single computer or be distributed among servers and clients in a network. It can also be used to build small application modules or applets for use as part of a Web page. Applets make it possible for a Web page user to interact with the page.
Java® Scripting Language (Javascript®)
A script language from Sun Microsystems, Inc. that is supported in Netscape® Navigator as of Version 2.0. JavaScript® uses the HTML page as its user interface, whereas Java® can generate a completely custom interface. On the client machine, JavaScript® applets are maintained in source code. On the server, they are compiled into byte code (intermediate language), similar to Java® programs. JavaScript® does not have the programming overhead of Java®, but can be used in conjunction with it. For example, a JavaScript® applet could be used to display a data entry form and validate the input, while a Java® program processes the information. JavaScript® is also used to tie Java® applets together.
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG)
A type of graphic compression. Good quality for photographs.
Legacy Systems
Mainframe and/or minicomputers typically supporting character based user interfaces.
Logical Data Model (LDM)
Representation of those entities, objects, relationships and attributes, which are used to construct a physical database model.
Logon/Login
In general computer usage, logon is the procedure used to get access to an operating system or application, usually in a remote computer. Generally, a logon procedure requires that the user have (1) a user ID and (2) a password. Often, the user ID must conform to a limited length such as eight characters and the password must contain at least one digit and not match a natural language word. The user ID can be freely known and is visible when entered at a keyboard or other input device. The password must be kept secret (and is not displayed as it is entered). A similar procedure, called registration, is required to enter some Web sites.
Message Queuing
In programming, message queuing is a method by which processes (or program instances) can exchange or pass data using an interface to a system-managed queue of messages. Messages can vary in length and be assigned different types or usages. A message queue can be created by one process and used by multiple processes that read and/or write messages to the queue. For example, a server process can read and write messages from and to a message queue created for client processes. The message type can be used to associate a message with a particular client process even though all messages are on the same queue.
Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS)
The Microsoft Transaction Server is a program that runs on an Internet or other network server and manages application and database transaction requests on behalf of a client computer user. The Transaction Server screens the user and client computer from having to formulate requests for unfamiliar databases and, if necessary, forwards the requests to database servers. It also manages security, connection to other servers and transaction integrity.
NetPerceptions
NetPerceptions is an application that is bundled with Vignette, a content management system, that can be used for Web site ad tracking. It also offers E-Commerce merchandizing solutions for cross selling, up selling and increasing Web shopper loyalty.
Network
In information technology, a network is a series of points or nodes interconnected by communication paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and contain sub networks. The most common topologies or general configurations of networks include the bus, star and ring topologies. Networks can also be characterized in terms of spatial distance as local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) and wide area networks (WANs).
NT File System (NTFS)
NTFS is the system that the Windows® NT operating system uses for storing and retrieving files on a hard disk. NTFS is the Windows® NT equivalent of the Windows® 95/98 FAT (file allocation table) and the IBM OS/2 HPFS (high performance file system).
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
A standard or open application programming interface (API) for accessing a database. By using ODBC statements in a program, files in a number of different databases, including Access, dBase, Excel and Text, can be accessed. In addition to the ODBC software, a separate module or driver is needed for each database to be accessed.
Peripheral
Any hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor, keyboard, printer, disk, tape, graphics tablet, scanner, joy stick, paddle and mouse.
Perl (Practical Extraction Report Language)
A programming language that combines syntax from several UNIX utilities and languages. Perl is designed to handle a variety of system administrator functions. Because of its comprehensive string handling capabilities, it is widely used on Web servers. Stemming from the UNIX world, Perl has been adapted to other platforms.
Physical Data Model (PDM)
Generation of an actual SQL server database.
Plug-In
An auxiliary program that works with a major software package to enhance its capability. For example, plug-ins are widely used in image editing programs such as PhotoShop to add a filter for some special effect. Plug-ins are added to Web browsers such as Netscape® to enable them to support new types of content (audio, video, etc.). The term is widely used for software, but could also be used to refer to a plug-in module for hardware.
RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increases the mean time between failure (MTBF), storing data redundantly increases fault-tolerance.
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)
Pronounced "smile", it is a language for displaying TV-like content on the Web from the World Wide Web Consortium ("W3C"). It is used to sequence audio, video and graphics elements into a continuous, low-bandwidth stream. SMIL supports hypertext links to background and related information or for ordering a product.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a communications protocol in the private networks called intranets and in extranets. When a computer is set up with direct access to the Internet, the computer is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer that messages are sent to, or information is received from, also has a copy of TCP/IP.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
A URL is the address of a file (resource) accessible on the Internet. The type of resource depends on the Internet application protocol. Using the World Wide Web's protocol, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the resource can be an HTML page, an image file, a program such as a CGI application or Java® applet, or any other file supported by HTTP. The URL contains the name of the protocol required to access the resource, a domain name that identifies a specific computer on the Internet and a hierarchical description of a file location on the computer. Additional descriptions of URLs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,670 and the appendices to U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,314, the entirety of each of which is herein incorporated by reference.
VBScript
VBScript is an interpreted script language from Microsoft.
Vignette
Vignette Enterprise Solutions is a content management system that includes two platforms: Vignette StoryServer 4 and Vignette Syndication Server Plus, a comprehensive set of tools (Production Center, Business Center and Development Center).
Visual Basic
Visual Basic is a programming environment from Microsoft in which a programmer uses a graphical user interface to choose and modify pre-selected chunks of code written in the BASIC programming language.
VRML Virtual Reality Modeling Language
A 3-D graphics language used on the Web. After downloading a VRML page, its contents can be viewed, rotated and manipulated. Simulated rooms can be "walked into." The VRML viewer is launched from within the Web browser.
Webmaster
A Webmaster is a person who either: creates and manages the information content (words and pictures) and organization of a Web site, manages the computer server and technical programming aspects of a Web site; or does both.
Web site
A Web site is a related collection of Web files that typically includes, but is not limited to, a beginning file called a home page.
Windows® NT
Windows® NT is the Microsoft Windows® personal computer operating system designed for users and businesses needing advanced capability. Windows® NT is actually a combination of two products: Microsoft NT Workstation and Microsoft NT Server.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is defined as all of the resources and users on the Internet that are using the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP).
eXtensible Markup Language
A subset of the SGML document language designed for use on the Web and sanctioned by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It provides more flexibility for designing Web pages than HTML, which itself is a document type of SGML. Whereas HTML uses a fixed set of tags (codes) to describe the pages, XML maintains the flexible meta-language characteristic of SGML by defining the codes that will be used in each document.
Overview
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing complete electronic commerce ("E-Commerce") transactions and solutions within a marketing system for a marketing company's products via a network generally accessible by the public, such as the World Wide Web. The present invention includes facilities for signing up or registering new customers with the marketing system and recruiting, training and supporting new Independent Business Owners (IBOs) through an interactive online process. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the combination of a marketing business with a membership buying opportunity using both electronic commerce and face-to-face transactions. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and method for combining a marketing business with a membership buying club. Independent Business Owners participating in the marketing plan can introduce customers to a membership buying opportunity and earn bonuses or commissions, which may alternatively be referred to as "income," based on the purchases by those customers. Members in the buying opportunity can consume products or, at their option, qualify to become Independent Business Owners. The categories of IBO, Member, Member Plus, and Client will be described in more detail below.
As used herein, a "marketing company" denotes a company that employs a distribution force of independent distributors. Such distributors can be compensated in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, multilevel compensation, which includes compensation on sales made directly by the distributor as well as sales made by others, commissions on sales made only directly by the distributor, or other suitable types of commissions or compensation.
As used herein, "bonus" can mean compensation or income paid to an IBO based upon, but not limited to, the following: sales of marketing system products and services to the IBO's personal group; sales of marketing system products and services to the IBO; and sales of marketing system products and services by the IBO and by the personal group; and sales of marketing system products and services to the IBO. In another embodiment of the present invention, the bonus may include compensation paid to an IBO based on the volume of product sales to that IBO and IBOs personally sponsored by that IBO and Members and customers serviced by that IBO. As used herein, "group" is used to, for example, describe all IBOs who have been personally sponsored by an IBO in addition to all IBOs sponsored by those people and so on. "Sponsoring" is the act of introducing others to the marketing company's business opportunity and having them sign up as, for example, but not limited to, a Member or a Member Plus.
Marketing system products and services can include, for example, all products and services available for purchase through the marketing system of the present invention. In one embodiment, marketing system products and services are made available from a marketing company associated with the marketing system. In another embodiment, marketing system products and services are made available from a merchant partner associated with the marketing system. In another embodiment, marketing system products and services are made available from both the marketing company and the merchant partner.
The present invention is also directed to a system and method for offering a single marketing distribution system for the products of several different sellers, which preferably include a marketing company and merchant partners, all distributed through the same independent sales network but with different levels and structures of compensation for different product lines. The present invention preferably allows shoppers to shop for and buy products from different sources, including a marketing company and merchant partners, preferably, in a single transaction. It allows Independent Business Owners to earn income under a single marketing plan for selling a variety of different product lines in combinations selected by each individual Independent Business Owner.
The present invention is also directed to providing Independent Business Owners in a marketing business with a "Virtual Office" feature that provides information vital to the operation of their business. Preferably, the Virtual Office feature is embodied in an office page web file associated with the web site of the present invention. The information provided includes, but is not limited to, information on different product offerings and compensation systems, training, financial information, marketing support, customer profiles, and other information. The information can also include information relating to sales of marketing system products and services to a personal group and sales of marketing system products and services by the personal group. The personal group preferably comprises at least one individual selected from the group consisting of a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and an IBO. Alternatively, the information can include sales of marketing system products and services to the IBO and sales of marketing system products and services by the IBO. Additionally, the office page web file allows an IBO to view the total individual point value, total individual business volume, the IBO's total point value, and the IBO's total business volume. The total point values and total business volumes are calculated from the individual point values and business volumes assigned to marketing system products and services.
The present invention is also directed to a system and method for providing different levels of access to information about products, and "Virtual Office" functions to Independent Business Owners, so that each participant receives information and marketing materials targeted to their individual preferences and business situations.
The present invention is also directed to a system and method for facilitating an on-line shopping and rewards program through a network, the network comprising at least one server computer capable of communicating with a browser system located at a remote client computer. The present invention includes establishing an interactive online registration process between the client browser system and the server computer so that an individual may register with the marketing system as a Client, a Member, or a Member Plus, wherein a Client is not eligible to earn compensation and is eligible to buy products at a Client price, wherein the Client price is preferably less than or equal to a retail price, wherein a Member is eligible to buy products at a Member price, wherein the Member Price is preferably less than or equal to the Client price, and wherein the Member is not eligible to earn compensation, and wherein a Member Plus is eligible to buy products at a Member Plus price, wherein the Member Plus price is preferably less than or equal to the Member price or the Client price, and wherein a Member Plus qualifies to earn compensation by satisfying a sales qualification level and thereby qualifying as an IBO, and wherein each IBO is eligible to buy products at an IBO price, wherein the IBO price is preferably less than or equal to the Member Plus price or the Member price, and wherein the IBO is eligible to earn compensation.
The present invention further includes maintaining a catalog comprising marketing system products and services on the server computer. Additionally, the present invention includes: maintaining a rewards database on the server computer for storing reward points corresponding to a registered Member; assigning a rewards value to the marketing system products and services and storing the rewards value in the catalog; assigning a redemption value to the marketing system products and services and storing the redemption value in the catalog; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Member via an on-line order form; allowing the registered Member to submit an order for marketing system products and services via the on-line order form; providing on-line access to the catalog to a registered Member via an on-line redemption form; allowing the registered Member to submit a rewards exchange request for marketing system products and services via the on-line redemption form; and subtracting from the rewards database a redemption value corresponding to the marketing system products and services chosen by the registered Member.
System and Method of the Present Invention
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown generally in FIG. 1.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the present invention preferably includes a direct link between a marketing company 100 and an E-Commerce (E-Comm) Web Site 102. The E-Commerce Web Site 102 is preferably served up or displayed to shoppers or users differently, depending upon the membership or registration level or attributes of the shopper or user. In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the registered Client, Member, or Member Plus does not have access to all marketing system products and services. In a further embodiment of the present invention, only a registered IBO has access to all marketing system products and services. In an alternate embodiment, a different group of marketing system products and services is preferably presented to each of the registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO.
The invention further preferably includes, for example, but is not limited to a shopping page Web file, which includes the following: "My Health" (Health 1300), "My Home" (Home 1210) and "My Self" (Self 1400). It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that each of the Health 1300, Home 1210, and Self 1400 may represent individual shopping page web files associated with the E-Commerce Web Site 102. The present invention is not limited to three such shopping page web files, and other shopping page web files could be included. Such other shopping page web files could be directed to other types of products, such as, but not limited to, travel-related products and sporting equipment.
Additionally, the marketing system's E-Commerce registered users can visit the "Member Perks" 1600 page web file and explore the number of features described herein available to Members. Preferably, an on-line form associated with the member perks page web file is supplied to a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO. The registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO enters personal information onto the on-line form. Personal information is preferably stored on a server computer, as will be described in more detail below, for example, with respect to FIGS. 16-19 ("My Business") and thereafter. This personal information can be used to customize their E-Commerce environment. As used herein, "Member Perks" and "Member Benefits" or "Member Services" may be used interchangeably and should be construed by one having ordinary skill in the art as analogous terms.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, IBOs and Members Plus, which will be described in more detail below, can visit a "Virtual Office" 2100, or office page web file, to find information needed to efficiently run their E-Commerce business. An "Income Options" 140 site, or income options page web file, provides an area where a web shopper can find out more information about the E-Commerce business opportunity and can quickly and easily execute membership registration. In a preferred embodiment, the income options page web file comprises a multimedia presentation and information relating to the marketing system. such as through a slide-show presentation. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, only a registered Client, Member, Member Plus, and IBO may view the multimedia presentation via the income options page web file.
As shown, the web site also provides links to affiliates 1500 (Merchants 1, 2, and 3) or merchant partner page web files of the marketing company, and new business ventures of the marketing company (NBV 1 and 2) Web sites 150. Each of these will be described in more detail below. In addition, in one embodiment, the web site also provides links to a "Store for More" 2950, which can comprise all marketing system products and services, or a subset thereof, and a customer service page web file 2300, which will be described in more detail below.
In addition, there preferably is a link to a site search page 155 from the primary navigational menu. Site search page 155 allows a user to enter common terms and/or phrases and attempts to locate those terms or phrases within the E-Commerce web site.
The E-Commerce web site 102 as embodied in the present invention has several primary audiences, each with different informational needs. The site provides IBOs with a new description for the marketing company's business and its objectives. Moreover, prospects with only a slight interest in the marketing plan can be signed up as Clients or Members. Web prospects who simply want to make some additional money can be referred to the site and signed up as a Member Plus. Additionally, users who are not registered with the marketing system, referred to herein as anonymous users, site visitors, surfers, or the like, can navigate through non-restricted portions of the web site and can select items for purchase. In a preferred embodiment, these anonymous users must register prior to purchasing the items selected for purchase. Additionally, the site provides the facilities for registered E-Commerce IBOs and Members Plus to manage and monitor their business, via the "Virtual Office" section of the site.
Prospective shopping leads typically and preferably come from Clients, Members, Members Plus, and/or Independent Business Owners. However, potential leads also may come from the marketing company, merchant partners, or other merchandising sources, or any other suitable source. A description follows of exemplary types of audience or participation categories and the exemplary benefits and services provided by the present invention to these audience members or participation categories.
Client
A Client describes a participation category in which an individual registers with the marketing system. A Client may purchase products or services directly from a registered IBO and be serviced by the IBO. In an alternative embodiment, the Client may purchase products or services directly from a registered Member Plus and be serviced by the Member Plus. In an alternative embodiment, the Client may purchase products and services directly from a marketing company. The Client preferably purchases products or services at a Client price, which is preferably less than or equal to a retail price. An Independent Business Owner, Member Plus, or in some cases another Member typically refer Clients to the E-Commerce Web site 102 embodied in the present invention.
In one embodiment, Clients purchase products from the marketing company at retail prices. A retail price is preferably greater than an IBO price, which is a price at which IBOs buy products and services from the marketing company. A Client is preferably not eligible to purchase marketing system products or services at an IBO price, wherein the IBO price is preferably less than the retail price. In other words, by analogy, a Client preferably purchase products or services at a retail price from, for example, a retail department store, whereas an IBO purchases products or services from, for example, a distribution warehouse at a wholesale price. A Client preferably has exposure to a subset of the total core product and catalog lines for browsing, but may be shown all products if the SKU or identification number, or the exact brand name is known for a particular product and is searched for. Moreover, a Client is preferably not eligible to earn compensation or bonus income. The site provides an amusing and efficient place for Clients to shop, as product favorites may be continually target-marketed to the Client based upon their buying habits. Further, a Client is preferably exposed to specials and other deals to entice them to become Members of the marketing system.
Member
The E-Commerce Web site is designed primarily, but not exclusively, for Members. A Member describes a participation category in which an individual registers with the marketing system. A Member is preferably a discount buyer with membership benefits. An Independent Business Owner, Member Plus, or in some cases another Member, typically refers Members to the E-Commerce Web site. A principal feature of a Member is that by paying an annual fee, the Member is entitled to purchase products and services for their own consumption directly from the marketing company at a price equal to or greater than the price paid by Independent Business Owners. This price is usually less than the retail price paid by Clients. The marketing company also offers direct marketing promotions targeted at Members. Members are also able to sign up online via the E-Commerce site or in person. Moreover, Members can place standing and recurring orders and may purchase products from an IBO or Member Plus.
Another feature of membership is complete access to the My Business area that provides benefits beyond those offered to clients. Personalized benefits, such as news, weather, sports, e-mail, as well as the E-Commerce Rewards Program, which is preferably designed exclusively for Members, are available.
The Member, however, is not entitled to a performance bonus nor is the Member authorized to recruit or sponsor other Members. Moreover, Members are not encouraged or authorized to r |
