System and method for collaborative affinity marketing

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and system for collaborative affinity marketing including a processor, an aggregator, a participant, and a merchant. The method and system include enrolling with the collaborative affinity marketing by the aggregator, participant, and merchant; assigning a participant identification code to the participant; storing enrollment information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant; providing the participant identification code to the merchant, when the participant initiates a purchase transaction with the merchant; storing the participant identification code and amount of purchase transaction by the merchant; sending the stored participant identification code, the amount of purchase transaction, and funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction to the processor; and sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator.

1 . A method for coordinating and managing rebates by a merchant of a portion of a purchase made by a participant to an aggregator, the method comprising:
 registering, by one or more computers, with one or more registry by the aggregator, the participant, and the merchant;   generating, by one or more computers, a participant identification code for the participant and a processor identification code for the processor;   storing registration information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant, in one or more databases;   providing, by one or more computers, the participant identification code and the processor identification code to the merchant, when the participant initiates the purchase with the merchant;   storing the participant identification code and amount of purchase transaction by the merchant as sale tracking item, in a merchant database;   electronically transmitting the stored participant identification code, the stored amount of purchase transaction, and funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction to the processor based on the stored processor identification code; and   sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant registers with the processor and selects the aggregator as a desired aggregator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant registers with the aggregator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising sending the participant identification code to the processor without disclosing the identity of the participant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the processor, aggregator, participant, and merchant has a respective access right for accessing the stored information and different portions of the stored information are accessible by the processor, aggregator, participant, and merchant based on their respective access right. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant is capable of enrolling with the collaborative affinity marketing while maintaining participant's anonymity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the participant identification code to the merchant comprises of presenting to the merchant one or more of the group a bar coded card, a card with a magnetic strip, a smart card, and a radio frequency identification card. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase transaction is an on-line transaction and the participant identification code is provided to the merchant electronically. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the participant identification code and the processor identification code are stored in a merchant sale tracking system as an item, when the participant initiates a purchase transaction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registration information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant are stored in a processor database. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the processor database is accessible via a processor website. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction and the portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant are sent to the processor via electronic fund transfer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a report generated by the merchant to the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a report generated by the processor to the aggregator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a report by the processor for the participant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator comprises of providing a credit to the aggregator. 
     
     
         17 . A system for coordinating and managing rebates by a merchant of a portion of a purchase made by a participant to an aggregator, the method comprising:
 means for registering with one or more registry by the aggregator, the participant, and the merchant;   means for generating a participant identification code for the participant and a processor identification code for the processor;   means for storing registration information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant;   means for providing the participant identification code and the processor identification code to the merchant, when the participant initiates the purchase with the merchant;   means for storing the participant identification code and amount of purchase transaction in a merchant sale tracking system as an item;   means for sending the stored participant identification code, the stored amount of purchase transaction, and funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction to the processor based on the stored processor identification code; and   means for sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions including instruction for coordinating and managing rebates by a merchant of portion of a purchase made by a participant to an aggregator through a web site interface the instructions, when executed by a plurality of computers connected to the Internet, cause the computers to perform the steps of:
 enrolling with a website by the aggregator, the participant, and the merchant;   assigning a participant identification code to the participant;   storing enrollment information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant;   providing the participant identification code to the merchant, when the participant initiates a purchase transaction with the merchant;   storing the participant identification code and amount of purchase transaction by the merchant;   sending the stored participant identification code, the amount of purchase transaction, and funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction to the processor; and   sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator,   wherein each of the processor, aggregator, participant, and merchant has a respective access right for accessing the stored information and different portions of the stored information are accessible by the processor, aggregator, participant, and merchant based on their respective access right.