Craig A Muller

US Patent:

8050967, Nov 1, 2011

Filed:

Apr 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/108146

Inventors:

Virgil Bistriceanu - Chicago IL, US
Craig Muller - Rolling Meadows IL, US

Assignee:

Mypoints.com Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 1419, 705 1427, 705 1439

Abstract:

A method of efficiently detecting a visit to a web site participating in an incentive award program, wherein the visit is detected at an information gathering system and wherein the information gathering system provides the incentive award program, the method including receiving a request message from a user including an award identifier, wherein the award identifier is associated with a predefined user activity and wherein the user sends the request message by activating a hyperlink presented on the participating web site during the visit; identifying a desired destination based on the request message received from the user, wherein the hyperlink advertises the desired destination to the user and wherein the desired destination is distinct from an address of the information gathering system at which the request message is received; and sending a redirect message to the user, wherein the redirect message includes an Internet address of the desired destination.

US Patent:

8086487, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Jun 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/770994

Inventors:

Virgil Bistriceanu - Chicago IL, US
Craig Muller - Rolling Meadows IL, US

Assignee:

MYPOINTS.COM Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 1419, 705 1427, 705 1439

Abstract:

A method of providing an incentive award to a user for visiting a participating web site includes registering a user with the information gathering system which maintains an award point account associated with the user and where award points are specific to the information gathering system, making award points available for purchase to a web site proprietor which operates the participating web site, awarding a predetermined amount of award points by the web site proprietor to the registered user for a visit conforming to a predefined rule to the participating web site, updating the award point account associated with the registered user, and exchanging award points associated with the registered user for a good or a service.

US Patent:

8566140, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Apr 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/108115

Inventors:

Virgil Bistriceanu - Chicago IL, US
Craig Muller - Rolling Meadows IL, US

Assignee:

Mypoints.com Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 729, 705 1419

Abstract:

A method of providing demographic visitor information to a participating web site including registering a user with an information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system solicits personal information from the user and wherein the information gathering system maintains a profile for the registered user; detecting a visit of the registered user to a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system; and providing a demographic information report to the participating web site, wherein the demographic information report is related to at least one registered user who has visited the participating web site.

US Patent:

8046255, Oct 25, 2011

Filed:

Apr 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/108149

Inventors:

Virgil Bistriceanu - Chicago IL, US
Craig Muller - Rolling Meadows IL, US

Assignee:

Mypoints.com Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 1419, 705 1427, 705 1439

Abstract:

A method of generating a personalized offer for a user through an information gathering system disposed on the Internet includes storing a plurality of user profiles for a plurality of registered users in a profile database associated with the information gathering system, receiving an information request message at the information gathering system sent in response to the user activating a hyperlink presented on a participating web site, such that the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system and where the user activates the hyperlink in order to access an original intended destination distinct from the information gathering system, determining whether the user is one of the plurality of registered users, and retrieving the user profile from the profile database and sending a redirection message if the user is one of the plurality of registered users.

US Patent:

7240022, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

May 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/080946

Inventors:

Virgil Bistriceanu - Chicago IL, US
Craig Muller - Rolling Meadows IL, US

Assignee:

MyPoints.com Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 14

Abstract:

A system and method provides web site proprietors with demographics information about the users who visit their web sites, and provides web site visitors with incentive awards (i. e. , points) in exchange for providing the demographics information and interacting with the web sites in a predefined manner. Users complete a questionnaire designed to solicit various demographics data of interest to web site proprietors. A profile is then associated with user identification information and stored on a server. The identification information is also stored on the user's local device to identify the user on subsequent visits to participating sites. Users visit the web sites of one or more participating web site proprietors. In so doing the participating user will be awarded points that can be redeemed for products or services at a later date. The system automatically awards points to deserving users without requiring the users to manually leave the web site awarding the points.