Incentive network

Abstract

An incentive network equipped with methods for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from any network server. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method performed by a server for accessing incentives in an network, comprises steps of receiving an access request from a device associated with a user and connected to the network, transmitting identifying information corresponding to the access request to a host, receiving incentive information from the host reflecting available incentives corresponding to the identifying information, and transmitting a network document, including the incentive information, to the device associated with the user in response to the access request. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for accessing incentives in an network, comprises transmitting an access request to access a server in the network, receiving a subscriber request for a subscriber ID associated with the access request, transmitting the subscriber ID to the server, and receiving in response to the access request incentive information reflecting available incentives corresponding to the subscriber ID, wherein the server provides the subscriber ID to a host that selects and transmits the incentive information to the server.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A method of operating an electronic coupon distribution system comprising the steps of: 
 collecting device information from a client system, the device information being insufficient to specifically identify a user of the client system;    associating a device ID with the device information at a main server system, the device ID being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    selecting a coupon according to the device ID to thereby identify the coupon appropriate for said user based on the device information; and,    transmitting the selected coupon from the main server system to the client system.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the device information is obtained from the user, the device information including at least one of a postal zip code associated with the user and a state in which the user resides.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further including the step of: 
 associating the device ID with the client system, the main server system using the device ID    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further including the step of: 
 generating a printed version of one of the transmitted coupons at the client system that includes the device ID.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  further including the step of: 
 transmitting a request from the client system to the main server system to perform said using step wherein the request includes the device ID.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said request transmitting step includes the substep of: 
 automatically including the device ID in the request without any intervention by the user of the client system.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said request transmitting step occurs automatically without any intervention by the user.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said request transmitting step occurs at  
     
     
         30 . A coupon distribution system, comprising: 
 means for collecting device information from a user of a client system indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user, the device information being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    means for associating a device ID with the device information at a main server system, the device ID being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    means for selecting coupons according to the device ID to thereby identify coupons appropriate for the user based on the user's demographic characteristics; and,    means for transmitting the selected coupons from the main server system to the client system.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said collecting means includes means for obtaining from the user demographic characteristics including at least one of a postal zip code associated with the user and a state in which the user resides.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  further including means for associating the device ID with the client system, the main server system using the device ID to identify the client system.