Method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating a transaction between a customer, a merchant and an associate

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, at least one associate is provided. The method includes the steps of the associate processing device transferring into the user processing device a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device. The first merchant link is framed with associate information. The user selects the first merchant link. The associate processing device transfers into the user processing device information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site. The user selects the first product to purchase. The user provides purchase information for purchasing the first product. The user processing device transfers the purchase information to the associate processing device. The associate processing device adds promotional information to the purchase information responsive to the user identification value. The associate processing device transfers the promotional information and the purchase information to the merchant processing device.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, and at least one associate, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive an associate card value from a user processing device, wherein the associate card value is included in a package of a product purchased from an offline merchant, 
 transfer, to the user processing device, a first merchant link for a first merchant Web site on a first merchant processing device, 
 receive a selection of the first merchant link, 
 transfer, to the user processing device, information regarding a first product from the first merchant Web site, 
 receive a selection of the first product, 
 receive purchase information for purchasing the first product, 
 convert the associate card value to promotional information, 
 apply the promotional information to the received purchase information responsive to the associate card value, and 
 transfer, to the first merchant processing device, the promotional information and the purchase information. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the information regarding the first product from the first merchant Web site is framed with associate information. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the promotional information includes a key value associated with the first merchant. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the associate card value is a promotional card number. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transfer a second merchant link for a second merchant Web site. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the associate card value is an alphanumeric code that is located inside the package of the product. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to provide a list of merchant links responsive to the associate card value and a pass code value. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a data base having a relation between the promotional information and the associate card value.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the promotional information includes a plurality of key values associated with the first merchant. 
     
     
         37 . A system for encouraging an individual to purchase a product, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive a first associate card value from a user processing device, wherein the first associate card value is included on a first associate card provided to the user after the user has purchased a first product from an offline merchant and wherein the first associate card value confirms purchase of the first product, 
 transfer, to the user processing device, an online merchant link for an online merchant Web site, 
 receive a selection of the online merchant link, 
 transfer, to the user processing device, information regarding a second product from the online merchant Web site on an online merchant processing device, 
 receive a selection of the second product, 
 receive purchase information for purchasing the second product, 
 convert the first associate card value to promotional information, 
 apply the promotional information to the received purchase information, 
 transfer, to the online merchant processing device, the promotional information and the purchase information, 
 provide, via the user processing device, information regarding performance of an action that enables the user to obtain a second associate card, wherein the action at least comprises purchasing a third product, wherein the second associate card identifier references a second associate card value and confirms purchase of the third product, and 
 receive, from the user processing device, the second associate card value, 
 wherein receiving the second associate card value further comprises receiving an answer to a challenge question related to the third product. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the online merchant link comprises one or more of the following:
 an Internet advertisement;   an Internet banner;   an electronic mail message; and   a search result from an Internet search.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first associate card value is a monetary value. 
     
     
         40 . A system for facilitating a transaction between at least one user, at least one merchant, and at least one associate, the system comprising:
 an associate server comprising:
 a Web page server configured to communicate one or more hypertext documents to a user processing device for display to a user, 
 a proxy program server configured to:
 receive a hypertext document from a merchant Web server, 
 modify the hypertext document received from the merchant Web server, and 
 monitor online shopping activity of the user, 
 
 a purchasing program server configured to:
 store user information, 
 activate promotional material, and 
 retain user purchasing records, and 
 
 one or more databases configured to store data pertaining to one or more of a user, a system merchant, and system merchant product information. 
   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the proxy program server is configured to modify the hypertext document received from the merchant Web server by modifying the hypertext document so that it is included in a proxied Web page. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the associate server is configured to:
 receive an associate card value from a user processing device;   receive purchase information for purchasing a first product from a first merchant Web page;   convert the associate card value to promotional information;   apply the promotional information to the received purchase information responsive to the associate card value; and   transfer, to a merchant processing device, the promotional information and the purchase information.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the associate server is further configured to:
 determine a breakage amount between the promotional information and the purchase information; and   store the determined breakage amount.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the proxy program server, the Web page server, and the purchasing program server reside in one or more computers linked by one or more of a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the associate server further comprises a cookie processing platform configured to write a cookie that includes information pertaining to a user. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the associate server further comprises a cookie processing platform configured to:
 retrieve data from a cookie that includes information pertaining to a user; and   record the data from the cookie.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the proxy program server is further configured to dynamically enter appropriate discounts based on one or more of the transaction and a relationship between the associate and the merchant.