US008239272B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,239,272 B2 Bamborough et al. (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 7, 2012 (54) ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS (52) US. Cl. .......................................... .. 705/26; 705/27 WITHIN A MARKETING SYSTEM THAT (58) Field of Classi?cation Search .................. .. 705/26, MAY CONTAIN A MEMBERSHIP BUYING _ _ _ 705/27 OPPORTUNITY See application ?le for complete search history. (56) References Cited (75) Inventors: David L. Bamborough, Kentwood, MI (US); James G. Blodgett, Kentwood, MI US. PATENT DOCUMENTS (Us); William R- Dallgl, Ada, MI (Us); 4,799,156 A 1/1989 Shavit et a1. Robin A. Horder-Koop, Holland, MI (Continued) (US); James P. Hunking, London (CA); Kenneth J- McDonald, Ada, MI (US); FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS John P. Parker, Ada, MI (US); Kelly K. CA 2184380 11/1995 Savage, Byron Center, MI (US); ClaIre C _ d E. Zevalkink, Grand Rapids, MI (U S); ( Ommue ) Thomas D. Paasche, Grand Rapids, MI OTHER PUBLICATIONS (Us) A New Way to Shop Nu Skin 1-888-4NUSKIN, Nuskin Fountain (73) Assigneez Amway Corp‘ Ada MI (Us) Club Policies and Procedures, © 1999 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. Continued ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this _ _ ( _ ) patent is extended or adjusted under 35 P 1’ lmary Examme" flames Zuma U_S,C, 154(1)) by 0 days, (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm *Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione (21) App1.No.: 12/821,385 (57) ABSTRACT (22) Filed: Jun_ 23, 2010 The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing complete electronic commerce (“E-Commerce”) (65) Prior Publication Data transactions and solutions for a marketing company’s prod ucts via the World Wide Web, including facilities for signing Us 2010/0262478 A1 Oct‘ 14’ 2010 up new customers and recruiting, training and supporting new _ _ Independent Business Owners through an interactive online Related U's' Apphcatlon Data process. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the (63) Continuation of application No, 11/453,624; ?led on combination of a marketing business with a membership Jun. 15, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,778,884, which is a buying opportunityusingbothelectronic commerce andface continuation of application No. 09/714,739, ?led on to-face transactions. The present invention is also directed to Nov. 16, 2000, now Pat. No. 7,359,871, which is a a system and method for combining a marketing business continuation of application No. 09/515,860, ?led on with a membership buying opportunity, so that Independent Feb. 29, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,980,962. Business Owners participating in the marketing plan can (60) Provisional a lication NO 60/126 4 93 ?led on Mar introduce customers to a membership buymg opportunity and 25 1999 pp. 1 '1. t. ’ N ’ 60/122 385' earnbonuses or commissions based onthe purchases by those ?l ’ d M PrSVISZEa app lea Ion 0' ’ ’ members, while Members in the buying opportunity can con 6 on at‘ ’ ' sume products or, at their option, qualify to become Indepen (51) Int Cl dent Business Owners. G06Q 30/00 (2012.01) 20 Claims, 40 Drawing Sheets vwasmm VIE/EDIT 15 r, 1 . mm US 8,239,272 B2 Page 2 US. 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