System and method for providing endorsed electronic offers between communication devices

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for distribution of advertisements and electronic offers between communication devices. The system and method provides for accounting and distribution of incentives related to distribution of the advertisements and offers. A bi-directional selection between subscribers and advertisers using the system is created whereby both advertisers and subscribers agree to participate in the distribution of advertisements and offers. The system further provides for a means of redeeming offers utilizing points of sale and analytics associated to the redemption of electronic offers.

1 . A method of providing access to an electronic offer from an advertiser to a source communication device possessed by a subscriber and distributing the access to the electronic offer from the source communication device to a destination communication device possessed by a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a bi-lateral agreement between the subscriber and the advertiser to distribute the electronic offer;   creating an endorsement token related to the electronic offer;   providing information, related to the electronic offer, to the source communication device that can be referenced in a communication session between the source communication device and the destination communication device;   transmitting the endorsement token contemporaneously with the communication session;   receiving a signal related to the endorsement token; and,   transmitting the electronic offer in response to the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a bilateral agreement further comprises the steps of:
 providing an interest criteria required by the advertiser;   providing an interest profile related to the subscriber;   comparing the interest criteria to the interest profile to derive a match;   conditioning an endorsement opportunity on the match;   transmitting the endorsement opportunity to the subscriber; and,   receiving an acceptance from the subscriber of the endorsement opportunity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of validating the electronic offer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of validating further comprises the steps of:
 determining a geographic position of the destination communication device; and, 
 comparing the geographic position to a predetermined location to arrive at a location match condition. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of validating further comprises the steps of:
 determining a time of verification; and, 
 comparing the time of verification to a predetermined time window to arrive at a temporal match condition. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 recognizing an incentive for the subscriber after transmission of the endorsement token. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a set of attributes related to the electronic offer; and 
 relating a redemption event to an attribute of the set of attributes. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 providing, in the set of attributes, one or more of the group of a definition, a date, a time, a maximum redemption count, a geographic location for redemption, a bar code, a weather specification, an economic event, a news event and a blog event. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an intermediary interacts with the advertiser, the source communication device and the destination communication device, and wherein the electronic offer includes a set of attributes, further comprising the steps of:
 storing a first set of historical data types, related to the set of attributes, in a memory residing on the intermediary; and,   tabulating one or more data types of the first set of data types upon the redemption event.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an intermediary interacts with the advertiser, the source communication device and the destination communication device, and further comprising the steps of:
 storing a first set of historical data, related to transmitting the message, in a first memory residing on the source communication device;   storing a second set of historical data, related to a viewing of the electronic offer in a second memory residing on the intermediary;   periodically transmitting the first set of historical data from the source communication device to the intermediary; and,   comparing the first set of historical data and the second set of historical data against the incentive offer to determine an incentive to be paid.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a bilateral agreement further comprises the steps of:
 providing a demographic criteria required by the advertiser;   providing a demographic profile related to the subscriber;   comparing the demographic criteria to the demographic profile to derive a match;   conditioning an endorsement opportunity on the match;   transmitting the endorsement opportunity to the subscriber; and,   receiving an acceptance from the subscriber of the endorsement opportunity.   
     
     
         12 . A system for transmitting an advertisement comprising:
 a source communication device, having a first processor and a first memory, associated with a subscriber;   a destination communication device, having a second processor and a second memory, associated with a recipient, in communication with the source communication device;   an intermediary, having a third processor and a third memory, in communication with the source communication device and the destination communication device;   the intermediary programmed to carry out the steps of:   receiving an advertising campaign from the advertiser comprising, the first advertisement, a first offer and a first demographic profile for subscriber qualification;   receiving a second demographic profile from the subscriber;   comparing the first demographic profile to the second demographic profile to arrive at a first match condition;   transmitting a first endorsement opportunity to the subscriber based on the first match condition;   receiving an agreement to accept the first endorsement opportunity from the subscriber;   sending an endorsement tag, related to the first advertisement, to the source communication device;   receiving a first signal from the destination communication device related to the endorsement tag;   transmitting the advertisement to the destination communication device upon receipt of the first signal;   receiving a second signal from the destination communication device related to the first offer;   transmitting the first offer to the destination communication device upon receipt of the second signal; and,   crediting the subscriber, according to an incentive program, upon transmission of the first advertisement.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein intermediary is further programmed to carry out the step of:
 transmitting a validation signal to the destination communication device. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the validation signal includes a static graphic display. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the validation signal includes a bar code. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the validation signal includes a visual validation code. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the intermediary is further programmed to carry out the steps of:
 receiving a first interest profile from the advertiser; 
 receiving a second interest profile from the subscriber; 
 comparing the first interest profile to the second interest profile to arrive at a second match condition; and 
 transmitting a second endorsement opportunity to the subscriber based on the second match condition. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing access to an electronic offer from an advertiser to a source communication device possessed by a subscriber and distributing the access to the electronic offer from the source communication device to a destination communication device possessed by a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a bi-lateral agreement between the subscriber and the advertiser to distribute the electronic offer;   providing an incentive program to the subscriber;   sending an endorsement token related to the electronic offer to the source communication device;   enabling a communication session, between the source communication device and the destination communication device, related to the electronic offer;   transmitting the endorsement token contemporaneously with the communication session;   receiving a signal related to the endorsement token;   transmitting the electronic offer to the destination communication device upon receipt of the signal;   verifying the validity of the electronic offer; and,   engaging in a redemption event of the electronic offer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of establishing a bilateral agreement further comprises the steps of:
 providing an interest criteria required by the advertiser;   providing an interest profile related to the subscriber;   comparing the interest criteria to the interest profile to derive a match condition;   conditioning an endorsement opportunity on the match condition;   transmitting the endorsement opportunity to the subscriber; and,   receiving an acceptance from the subscriber of the endorsement opportunity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of verifying further comprises the steps of:
 determining a geographic position of the destination communication device; and, 
 comparing the geographic position to a predetermined location to arrive at a location match condition.