Method of providing online incentives

Abstract

A computer system for offering items for sale to consumers comprising a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing machine instructions that are to be executed by the computer. The machine instructions when executed by the computer implement the following functions: collecting consumer information relating to interactions of a consumer with a website offering items for auctions; determining a consumer classification of the customer based on the consumer information; generating a consumer profile including the consumer information and the consumer classification; generating an incentive amount for an unsold item based on the consumer profile; and delivering via a computer network an incentive including the generated incentive amount to the consumer to induce purchasing of the unsold item.

1 . A computer system for offering items for sale to consumers comprising a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing machine instructions that are to be executed by the computer, the machine instructions when executed by the computer implement the following functions:
 collecting consumer information relating to interactions of a consumer with a website offering items for auctions;   determining a consumer classification of the customer based on the consumer information;   generating a consumer profile including the consumer information and the consumer classification;   generating an incentive amount for an unsold item based on the consumer profile; and   delivering via a computer network an incentive including the generated incentive amount to the consumer to induce purchasing of the unsold item.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the consumer information relating to interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes browsing data of the consumer over two or more auctions. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the consumer information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes the consumer's bidding history with the website offering items for auction over two or more auctions. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the consumer information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes consumer click stream information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auction over two or more auctions. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the consumer information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes consumer sensitivity information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for the auctions. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the consumer classification is selected from a number of classification categories. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6  wherein the number of classification categories include price sensitivity, brand sensitivity, time sensitivity and feature sensitivity. 
     
     
         8 . A computer system for offering items for sale to consumers comprising a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing machine instructions that are to be executed by the computer, the machine instructions when executed by the computer implement the following functions:
 collecting consumer information relating to interactions of a customer with a website offering items for auction and including personal computer information of the customer;   storing the consumer information in a consumer database;   generating an incentive amount for an unsold item based on the consumer information relating to the consumer's interactions with the website offering the items for auction and including the browsing data of the consumer over two or more auctions; and   delivering via a computer network an incentive including the generated incentive amount to the consumer to induce purchasing of the unsold item.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the personal computer information includes an Internet service provider of the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the personal computer information includes web browser make and model of the customer. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the personal computer information includes a credit card type of the customer. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the personal computer information includes an operating system of the customer. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the incentive includes a coupon for the unsold item. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the incentive includes a rebate for the unsold item. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 8  wherein the incentive includes a discount for the unsold item. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system for offering items for sale to consumers comprising a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing machine instructions that are to be executed by the computer, the machine instructions when executed by the computer implement the following functions:
 collecting consumer information relating to interactions of a consumer with a website offering items for auctions;   determining a consumer classification of the customer based on the consumer information and a number of existing consumer classifications;   generating a consumer profile including the consumer information and the consumer classification;   generating an incentive amount for an unsold item based on the consumer profile; and   delivering via a computer network an incentive including the generated incentive amount to the consumer to induce purchasing of the unsold item.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the number of existing consumer classifications includes an index of consumer behavior indicators. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the consumer information relating to interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes browsing data of the consumer over two or more auctions. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the consumer information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes the consumer's bidding history with the website offering items for auction over two or more auctions. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the consumer information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auctions includes consumer click stream information relating to the interactions of the consumer with the website offering items for auction over two or more auctions.