Electronic Trading System and Method for Marketing Products and Services

Abstract

A consumer is provided with a first asset in return for a promise to earn an agreed to number of points over an agreed to redemption period. The consumer subsequently earns the points by purchasing one or more second assets. At least one of the second assets is different than the first asset. Each purchase has an associated point value, at least one of the point values being different than at least one other point value. An electronic trading system includes a first set of web sites where a consumer can select a first asset it wants to obtain in return for a promise to earn points by making future purchases of one or more second assets. The number of points which the consumer must earn varies as a function of which of the first assets is selected by the consumer.

1 - 116 . (canceled) 
     
     
         117 . A computerized process for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services, said computerized process comprising:
 entering information into an electronic database, via one or more communication interfaces, to assist in the marketing of products and/or services, said information corresponding to:   i. a first set of one or more assets provided to a consumer from a first set of one or more suppliers; and   ii. compensation provided by the consumer, the compensation comprising at least a promise to make future purchases of one or more second assets in return for receiving said first set of assets prior to fulfillment of the promise by the consumer, at least one of said second assets being a different than said assets of said first set of assets;   creating at least one record in said electronic database for said consumer reflecting the first set of one or more assets, the promise from the consumer to make future purchases of the one or more second assets, and a promise fulfillment period;   evaluating upon expiration of the promise fulfillment period, using a computer processor, the at least one record for monitoring promise fulfillment based on activities of the consumer subsequent to the promise;   if the promise has not been fulfilled at the end of the promise fulfillment period, determining any additional action to take regarding the consumer; and   wherein said promise to make future purchases of one or more said second assets comprises a promise to earn an agreed to number of points, at least some of said points being earned by purchasing said one or more second assets, and wherein said agreed number of points is entered into said database.   
     
     
         118 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said consumer obtains at least one of said assets of said first set of assets by selecting it from a plurality of offered assets, at least two of said offered assets having respective point values associated therewith which are different than each other, the number of said agreed to number of points which said consumer promises to earn being a function of said point values of said selected assets. 
     
     
         119 . The computerized process of  claim 118 , wherein at least two of said offered assets are offered by different suppliers. 
     
     
         120 . A computerized process for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services, said computerized process comprising:
 entering information into an electronic database, via one or more communication interfaces, to assist in the marketing of products and/or services, said information corresponding to:   i. a first set of one or more assets provided to a consumer from a first set of one or more suppliers; and   ii. compensation provided by the consumer, the compensation comprising at least a promise to make future purchases of one or more second assets in return for receiving said first set of assets prior to fulfillment of the promise by the consumer, at least one of said second assets being a different than said assets of said first set of assets;   wherein said consumer selects at least one asset of said first set of assets from a plurality of different offered assets, at least two of said offered assets being offered by different suppliers;   offering at least some of said offered assets at a web site over a global communication network;   creating at least one record in said electronic database for said consumer reflecting the first set of one or more assets, the promise from the consumer to make future purchases of the one or more second assets, and a promise fulfillment period;   evaluating upon expiration of the promise fulfillment period, using a computer processor, the at least one record for monitoring promise fulfillment based on activities of the consumer subsequent to the promise;   if the promise has not been fulfilled at the end of the promise fulfillment period, determining any additional action to take regarding the consumer; and   wherein said first set of suppliers includes a plurality of suppliers, each of said plurality of suppliers offering a respective set of offered assets, each of said offered assets being offered in return for a promise to earn a respective number of points by purchasing one or more of said second assets and wherein said consumer obtains a least one asset of said first set of assets by selecting one of said offered assets.   
     
     
         121 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said second assets are offered for sale by at least one supplier and wherein each said second asset has a respective purchase price and point value associated therewith, said consumer earning said point value associated with each said second asset purchased by said consumer, said point value associated with each second asset purchased by said consumer being entered in a database. 
     
     
         122 . The computerized process according to  claim 121 , wherein at least first and second suppliers offer the same second asset for sale, said first supplier offering said second asset for sale at a first purchase price and first point value, said second supplier offering said second asset for sale at a second purchase price and a second point value, at least one of said first purchase price and said first point value being different than at least one of said second purchase price and second point value, respectively. 
     
     
         123 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said consumer agrees to earn said points over a redemption period and wherein information is recorded in said database concerning an incentive provided to said consumer to earn said number of points before the expiration of said redemption period. 
     
     
         124 . The computerized process according to  claim 123 , wherein a balance of points to be earned varies over said redemption period and is stored in said database, said balance being originally set at said agreed to number of points and subsequently being varied as a function of at least:
 (1) an interest charge applied periodically to an outstanding balance of said points; and   (2) points earned by said consumer when said consumer purchases said second assets, said balance being maintained in the database.   
     
     
         125 . The computerized process according to  claim 124 , wherein said balance of points is also varied as a function of one or more monetary payments made by said consumer during said redemption period to reduce said stored balance. 
     
     
         126 . The computerized process according to  claim 123 , wherein said incentive is a periodic application of interest to a balance of said points to be earned. 
     
     
         127 . The computerized process according to  claim 126 , wherein said interest rate varies over time. 
     
     
         128 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said consumer agrees to earn said agreed to number of points over a redemption period and said redemption period is entered into said database. 
     
     
         129 . The computerized process according to  claim 128 , wherein said consumer earns at least some of said points by making a monetary payment prior to the expiration of said redemption period, said monetary payment being entered into said database. 
     
     
         130 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said consumer earns at least some of said points by making a monetary payment, said monetary payment being entered into said database. 
     
     
         131 . The computerized process according to  claim 128 , wherein said consumer fulfills its obligation to earn said agreed to number of points by making a monetary payment at the end of said redemption period equal to any outstanding balance of points which said consumer has not earned at the end of said redemption period, said monetary payment being entered into said database. 
     
     
         132 . The computerized process according to  claim 128 , further including:
 maintaining a computerized ledger keeping track of a balance indicating a number of said points which said consumer must still earn during said redemption period; and   periodically applying an interest charge to said balance in said computerized ledger.   
     
     
         133 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein:
 said agreed number of points is initially entered into a computerized ledger to originally set an outstanding balance;   points are subsequently subtracted from said outstanding balance in said computerized ledger each time one or more of said points are earned; and   said outstanding balance in said computerized ledger is periodically increased as a function of an interest rate.   
     
     
         134 . The computerized process according to  claim 133 , wherein said interest rate varies over time. 
     
     
         135 . The computerized process according to  claim 134 , wherein said interest rate increases over time. 
     
     
         136 . The computerized process according to  claim 117 , wherein said agreed to number of points to be earned increases over time. 
     
     
         137 . A computerized process for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services, said computerized process comprising:
 providing a plurality of consumers and at least one supplier with one or more communication interfaces to access an electronic trading system;   electronically storing information in an electronic database for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services in said electronic trading system, said information relating to:   a first set of one or more assets provided to a consumer from a first set of one or more suppliers; and   an agreement made by said consumer, in return for receiving said first set of assets prior to fulfillment of the agreement, to make future purchases of one or more second assets from a second set of one or more suppliers, said second set of suppliers including at least one supplier which is not included in said first set of suppliers;   creating at least one record in said electronic database for said consumer reflecting the first set of one or more assets, the agreement from the consumer to make future purchases of the one or more second assets, and an agreement fulfillment period;   evaluating upon expiration of the agreement fulfillment period, using a computer processor, the at least one record to monitor agreement fulfillment based on activities of the consumer subsequent to the agreement, to determine agreement fulfillment status;   if the agreement has not been fulfilled, determining any additional action required from the consumer to fulfill the agreement; and   wherein said promise to make future purchases of one or more second assets comprises a promise to earn an agreed to number of points, at least some of said points being earned by purchasing said one or more second assets, said agreed number of points being stored electronically.   
     
     
         138 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said consumer obtains at least one of said assets of said first set of assets by selecting it from a plurality of offered assets, at least two of said offered assets having respective point values associated therewith which are different than each other, the number of said agreed to number of points which said consumer promises to earn being a function of said point values of said selected assets. 
     
     
         139 . The computerized process according to  claim 138 , wherein at least two of said offered assets are offered by different suppliers. 
     
     
         140 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said first set of suppliers includes a plurality of suppliers, each of said plurality of suppliers offering a respective set of offered assets, each of said offered assets being offered in return for a promise to earn a respective number of points by purchasing one or more of said second assets, said respective number of points being stored electronically, and wherein said consumer obtains at least one asset of said first set of assets by selecting one of said offered assets. 
     
     
         141 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said second assets are offered for sale by at least one supplier and wherein each said second asset has a respective purchase price and point value associated therewith, said consumer earning said point value associated with each said second asset purchased by said consumer. 
     
     
         142 . The computerized process according to  claim 141 , wherein at least first and second suppliers offer the same second asset for sale, said first supplier offering said second asset for sale at a first purchase price and first point value, said second supplier offering said second asset for sale at a second purchase price and a second point value, at least one of said first purchase price and said first point value being different than at least one of said second purchase price and second point value, respectively, information concerning said purchase prices and point values being stored electronically. 
     
     
         143 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said consumer earns at least some of said points by making a monetary payment which is electronically recorded. 
     
     
         144 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said consumer earns at least some of said points by making a monetary payment prior to the end of said agreement fulfillment period. 
     
     
         145 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said consumer fulfills its obligation to earn said agreed to number of points by making a monetary payment at the end of said promise fulfillment period equal to any outstanding balance of points which said consumer has not earned at the end of said agreement fulfillment period. 
     
     
         146 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , further including:
 maintaining an electronic ledger keeping track of a balance indicating a number of said points which said consumer must still earn during said agreement fulfillment period; and   periodically applying an interest charge to said balance.   
     
     
         147 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein:
 said agreed number of points is initially entered into an electronic ledger to originally set an outstanding balance;   points are subsequently subtracted from said outstanding balance in said electronic ledger each time one or more of said points are earned; and   said outstanding balance is periodically increased in said electronic ledger as a function of an interest rate.   
     
     
         148 . The computerized process according to  claim 147 , wherein said interest rate varies over time. 
     
     
         149 . The computerized process according to  claim 148 , wherein said interest rate increases over time. 
     
     
         150 . The computerized process according to  claim 137 , wherein said agreed to number of points to be earned and which are electronically stored increases over time. 
     
     
         151 . A computerized process for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services, said computerized process comprising:
 providing a plurality of consumers and at least one supplier with one or more communication interfaces to access an electronic trading system;   electronically storing information in an electronic database for assisting in the marketing of products and/or services in said electronic trading system, said information relating to:   a first set of one or more assets provided to a consumer from a first set of one or more suppliers, wherein said first set of assets comprises a plurality of assets, at least two of which are different categories of assets; and   an agreement made by said consumer, in return for receiving said first set of assets prior to fulfillment of the agreement, to make future purchases of one or more second assets from a second set of one or more suppliers, said second set of suppliers including at least one supplier which is not included in said first set of suppliers;   creating at least one record in said electronic database for said consumer reflecting the first set of assets, the agreement from the consumer to make future purchases of the one or more second assets, and an agreement fulfillment period;   electronically storing in said at least one record information concerning (a) the agreement fulfillment period over which said consumer agrees to earn an agreed number of points and (b) an incentive provided to the consumer to earn said number of points before the expiration of said fulfillment period;   evaluating upon expiration of the agreement fulfillment period, using a computer processor, the at least one record to monitor agreement fulfillment based on activities of the consumer subsequent to the agreement, to determine agreement fulfillment status; and   if the agreement has not been fulfilled, determining any additional action required from the consumer to fulfill the agreement.   
     
     
         152 . The computerized process according to  claim 151 , further comprising electronically calculating a balance of points to be earned over said redemption period, said balance being originally set at said agreed number of points and subsequently being varied as a function of at least:
 (1) an interest charge applied periodically to an outstanding balance of said points; and   (2) points earned by said consumer when said consumer purchases said second assets.   
     
     
         153 . The computerized process according to  claim 152 , wherein said incentive is a periodic application of interest to an balance of said points to be earned. 
     
     
         154 . The computerized process according to  claim 153 , wherein said interest rate varies over time. 
     
     
         155 . The computerized process according to  claim 154 , further comprising electronically varying said balance of points as a function of one or more monetary payments made by said consumer during said redemption period to reduce said balance.