Method and apparatus for identifying potential buyers

Abstract

A method by which potential buyers are identified includes receiving a description of an item a potential buyer intends to purchase within a particular time, determining a reward for the potential buyer based on intent data, providing the reward to the potential buyer and applying a penalty to a financial account of the potential buyer if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period. The system includes a controller coupled to at least one input device with the controller operable to compute a reward offer. The controller includes circuitry, or software, configured to compute and apply a penalty if the potential buyer does not purchase the item within the particular time period.

1 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A method comprising:
 (a) receiving an item description from a potential buyer;   (b) determining a reward based on the item description;   (c) providing a reward offer concerning the reward to the potential buyer;   (d) determining whether the potential buyer accepts or rejects the reward offer; and   (e) modifying the reward if the potential buyer rejects the reward offer.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the reward comprises at least one of a coupon, a discount, a rebate, a product, a voucher, or a service. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising repeating steps (b) through (e) until the potential buyer accepts the reward offer. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising issuing the reward to the potential buyer. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , further comprising:
 determining whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward; and   issuing an additional reward to the potential buyer based on whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising receiving demographic information about the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the demographic information. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising receiving a purchasing profile of the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the purchasing profile. 
     
     
         84 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by an apparatus, causes to apparatus to:
 (a) receive an item description from a potential buyer;   (b) determine a reward based on the item description;   (c) provide a reward offer concerning the reward to the potential buyer;   (d) determine whether the potential buyer accepts or rejects the reward offer; and   (e) modify the reward if the potential buyer rejects the reward offer.   
     
     
         85 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 84 , wherein the reward comprises at least one of a coupon, a discount, a rebate, a product, a voucher, or a service. 
     
     
         86 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 84 , wherein the program, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to repeat steps (b) through (e) until the potential buyer accepts the reward offer. 
     
     
         87 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 86 , wherein the program, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to issue the reward to the potential buyer. 
     
     
         88 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 87 , wherein the program, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to:
 determine whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward; and   issue an additional reward to the potential buyer based on whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward.   
     
     
         89 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 84 , wherein the program, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to receive demographic information about the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the demographic information. 
     
     
         90 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 84 , wherein the program, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to receive a purchasing profile of the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the purchasing profile. 
     
     
         91 . A device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the device to:
 (a) receive an item description from a potential buyer;   (b) determine a reward based on the item description;   (c) provide a reward offer concerning the reward to the potential buyer;   (d) determine whether the potential buyer accepts or rejects the reward offer; and   (e) modify the reward if the potential buyer rejects the reward offer.   
     
     
         92 . The device of  claim 91 , wherein the reward comprises at least one of a coupon, a discount, a rebate, a product, a voucher, or a service. 
     
     
         93 . The device of  claim 91 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the device to repeat steps (b) through (e) until the potential buyer accepts the reward offer. 
     
     
         94 . The device of  claim 93 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the device to issue the reward to the potential buyer. 
     
     
         95 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the device to:
 determine whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward; and   issue an additional reward to the potential buyer based on whether the potential buyer redeemed the reward.   
     
     
         96 . The device of  claim 91 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the device to receive demographic information about the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the demographic information. 
     
     
         97 . The device of  claim 91 , wherein the program, when executed by the processor, further causes the device to receive a purchasing profile of the potential buyer, wherein determining the reward is further based on the purchasing profile.