Inventors:
- Stamford CT, US
Richard W. Heiden - Huntington CT, US
Femi Olumofin - Shelton CT, US
Alla Tsipenyuk - Woodbridge CT, US
Venkat Ram Ghatti - Stamford CT, US
John A. Merola - Hudson NY, US
Andrei Obrea - North Miami Beach FL, US
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT
International Classification:
G06Q 30/02
Abstract:
A method and system for maintaining the privacy of consumers wishing to make a purchase while enabling them to benefit from a group discount is provided. Consumers register with a service provider that maintains their personal information in private. When a consumer is interested in purchasing a product or patronizing a traditional “brick and mortar” establishment, the consumer provides information to the service provider regarding such interest. The service provider can query other registered consumers to determine if there are others that have a similar interest. Using the leverage of all the consumers that respond to the query, the service provider can negotiate with one or more merchants to provide some type of group offer, without having to disclose the consumers' personal information. Upon successful negotiation of a group offer, the consumers will be provided with the offer.
