Promotion infrastructure supporting promotions with purchase price adjustment

Abstract

An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.

1 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a server system that receives, via a user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users;   said server system performs a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the received input; and   said server system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         2 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         3 . The infrastructure of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         4 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         5 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the input from the given user of the plurality of users comprises input creating a user profile for the given user. 
     
     
         6 . The infrastructure of  claim 5 , wherein the server system automatically updates the user profile of the given user based on a history of interaction by the given user with or via the server system. 
     
     
         7 . The infrastructure of  claim 6 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         8 . The infrastructure of  claim 6 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         9 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the input from the user is used to create a history of interaction by the given user with or via the server system. 
     
     
         10 . The infrastructure of  claim 9 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         11 . The infrastructure of  claim 9 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         12 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the input comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         13 . The infrastructure of  claim 12 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         14 . The infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         15 . A method for use in an infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users;   performing a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the received input; and   delivering via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the input from the given user of the plurality of users comprises input creating a user profile for the given user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising automatically updating the user profile of the given user based on a history of interaction by the given user with or via the system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising creating a history of interaction by the given user with or via the system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the input comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         28 . The infrastructure of  claim 15 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         29 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a web server system comprising:   a search engine that enables electronic searching; and   a user interface comprising one or more web pages;   said system receives, via the user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users;   said system performs a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the received input; and   said system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         30 . The infrastructure of  claim 29 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         31 . The infrastructure of  claim 30 , wherein the input from the given user of the plurality of users comprises input creating a user profile for the given user. 
     
     
         32 . The infrastructure of  claim 30 , wherein the web server system automatically updates the user profile of the given user based on a history of interaction by the given user with or via the web server system. 
     
     
         33 . The infrastructure of  claim 32 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         34 . The infrastructure of  claim 32 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         35 . The infrastructure of  claim 29 , wherein the input from the user is used to create a history of interaction by the given user with or via the web server system. 
     
     
         36 . The infrastructure of  claim 35 , wherein the history of interaction comprises a transaction history. 
     
     
         37 . The infrastructure of  claim 35 , wherein the history of interaction comprises buying habits of the given user. 
     
     
         38 . The infrastructure of  claim 29 , wherein the input comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         39 . The infrastructure of  claim 38 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         40 . The infrastructure of  claim 29 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         41 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a server system that receives, via a user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   said server system performs a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the search request;   said server system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, search results responsive to the search request; and   said server system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         42 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and the search results are obtained from a second database. 
     
     
         43 . The infrastructure of  claim 42 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         44 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         45 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         46 . The infrastructure of  claim 45 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         47 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         48 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         49 . The infrastructure of  claim 48 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         50 . The infrastructure of  claim 41 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         51 . A method for use in an infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   performing a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the search request;   delivering via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, search results responsive to the search request; and   delivering via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and comprising obtaining the search results from a second database. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         60 . The infrastructure of  claim 51 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         61 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a web server system comprising:   a search engine that enables electronic searching; and   a user interface comprising one or more web pages;   said system receives, via the user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   said system performs a search of at least one database to identify a promotion related to the search request;   said system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, search results responsive to the search request;   said system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         62 . The infrastructure of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and the search results are obtained from a second database. 
     
     
         63 . The infrastructure of  claim 62 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         64 . The infrastructure of  claim 61 , wherein the promotion is associated with the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         65 . The infrastructure of  claim 61 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         66 . The infrastructure of  claim 61 , wherein the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         67 . The infrastructure of  claim 66 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         68 . The infrastructure of  claim 61 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         69 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a server system that receives, via the user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   said server system identifies search results responsive to the search request;   said server system identifies a promotion related to at least a portion of the search results;   said server system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the search results responsive to the search request; and   said server system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         70 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and the search results are obtained from a second database. 
     
     
         71 . The infrastructure of  claim 70 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         72 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         73 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         74 . The infrastructure of  claim 73 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         75 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         76 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the at least a portion of the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         77 . The infrastructure of  claim 76 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         78 . The infrastructure of  claim 69 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         79 . A method for use in an infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   identifying search results responsive to the search request;   identifying a promotion related to at least a portion of the search results;   delivering via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the search results responsive to the search request; and   delivering via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and comprising obtaining the search results from a second database. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the user interface comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more web pages. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the at least a portion of the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         88 . The infrastructure of  claim 79 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         89 . An infrastructure that supports electronic searching by a plurality of users for information via a communication network, the infrastructure comprising:
 a web server system comprising:   a search engine that enables electronic searching; and   a user interface comprising one or more web pages;   said system receives, via the user interface and the communication network, input from a given user of the plurality of users, the input comprising a search request;   said system identifies search results responsive to the search request;   said system identifies a promotion related to at least a portion of the search results;   said system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the search results responsive to the search request; and   said system delivers via the communication network, for display on the given user's computing device, the promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount.   
     
     
         90 . The infrastructure of  claim 89 , wherein the at least one database comprises a first database, and the search results are obtained from a second database. 
     
     
         91 . The infrastructure of  claim 90 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the first database. 
     
     
         92 . The infrastructure of  claim 89 , wherein the promotion is associated with the at least a portion of the search results in the at least one database. 
     
     
         93 . The infrastructure of  claim 89 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         94 . The infrastructure of  claim 89 , wherein the at least a portion of the search results comprises an identification of goods and/or services. 
     
     
         95 . The infrastructure of  claim 94 , wherein the promotion is related to a given good and/or service, and is used in acquiring the given good and/or service. 
     
     
         96 . The infrastructure of  claim 89 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         97 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that supports electronic searching of a first database to identify search results data, the searching being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via a communication network, and the search system also performing a related search of a second database to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         98 . The infrastructure of  claim 97 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         99 . The infrastructure of  claim 97 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         100 . The infrastructure of  claim 97 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         101 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network, the search system also performing a second electronic search to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount, and the second electronic search being related at least in part to the first search term; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         102 . The infrastructure of  claim 101 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         103 . The infrastructure of  claim 101 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         104 . The infrastructure of  claim 101 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         105 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network, the search system also performing a second electronic search to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount, and the second electronic search being related at least in part to the search results data; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         106 . The infrastructure of  claim 105 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         107 . The infrastructure of  claim 105 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         108 . The infrastructure of  claim 105 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         109 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network, and the search system also performing a related second electronic search to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         110 . The infrastructure of  claim 109 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         111 . The infrastructure of  claim 109 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         112 . The infrastructure of  claim 109 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         113 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices and a plurality of promoter systems both via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network;   a promoter interfacing system that collects promotion information from the plurality of promoter systems via the communication network;   the search system also performs a related second electronic search of the collected promotion information to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         114 . The infrastructure of  claim 113 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         115 . The infrastructure of  claim 113 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         116 . The infrastructure of  claim 113 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         117 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices and a plurality of promoter systems both via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network;   a promoter interfacing system that collects promotion information from the plurality of promoter systems via the communication network;   the search system also performs a second electronic search of the collected promotion information to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount, and the second electronic search being based at least in part on the first search term; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         118 . The infrastructure of  claim 117 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         119 . The infrastructure of  claim 117 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         120 . The infrastructure of  claim 117 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         121 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices and a plurality of promoter systems both via a communication network, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices via the communication network;   a promoter interfacing system that collects promotion information from the plurality of promoter systems via the communication network;   the search system also performs a second electronic search of the collected promotion information to identify promotion data, the promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount, and the second electronic search being based at least in part on the search results data; and   a user interfacing system, coupled via the communication network to the plurality of client devices, that delivers both the search results data and the promotion data to the first device of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         122 . The infrastructure of  claim 121 , wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         123 . The infrastructure of  claim 121 , wherein the promotion data comprises, at least in part, data used in constructing a visual representation of the promotion. 
     
     
         124 . The infrastructure of  claim 121 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate. 
     
     
         125 . A server infrastructure that supports a plurality of client devices and a plurality of promoters via a plurality of promoter systems, the server infrastructure comprising:
 a search system that performs a first electronic search of information to identify search results data, the first electronic search being based at least in part on a first search term received from a first device of the plurality of client devices;   a promoter interfacing system that collects promotion information from the plurality of promoters via the plurality of promoter systems, the promotion information defining coupons and/or rebates that reduce purchase price amounts, a first portion of the promotion information being collected from a first of the plurality of promoters, the first portion of the promotion information including first promotion data and first link data, the first promotion data defining a promotion, the promotion offering a reduction in a purchase price amount;   the search system performs a second electronic search of the promotion information collected using the first search term to identify the first portion of the promotion information; and   a user interfacing system that delivers the search results data, the first promotion data and the first link data to the first device of the plurality of client devices, the first promotion data being used in constructing a visual promotion on the first device and the first link data being used to support a vector link to a first web page.   
     
     
         126 . The infrastructure of  claim 125 , wherein at least a portion of the first electronic search and/or of the second electronic search is performed via the Internet. 
     
     
         127 . The infrastructure of  claim 125 , wherein the promotion comprises one or both of a coupon and a rebate.