Reward Distribution via Partial Area Allocation in Affiliate Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Affiliate programs require affiliators to manually set and manage affiliate links, which is complex and difficult for those not familiar with terminal devices or the affiliate program, leading to operational challenges.

Innovation Solution

An information providing device and method that allocates partial areas within advertisement display areas to users based on their contribution level, allowing for automatic reward distribution without the need for complex calculations, thereby simplifying the process and increasing user motivation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If affiliators manually set and manage affiliate links in conventional affiliate programs, then reward distribution can be tracked, but the operation becomes complex and difficult for users not familiar with terminal devices or the affiliate program

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereward distribution trackingVSAvoidaffiliate link management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs affiliate link management and reward distribution without requiring user intervention. The server autonomously generates affiliate links, assigns them to advertisements, and calculates rewards based on user interactions, eliminating the need for affiliators to manually manage links while maintaining reliable tracking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that manages the complex affiliate link operations behind the scenes. It generates unique affiliate links, associates them with advertisements and users, and handles reward calculations, shielding users from the complexity while ensuring reliable reward distribution tracking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system calculates and distributes rewards based on the degree of contribution of each user, then fair reward distribution is achieved, but the system load increases due to complex calculations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefair reward distributionVSAvoidsystem load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The advertisement display area is divided into multiple sub-areas, each associated with a specific user. When a user interacts with an advertisement, the system only needs to determine which sub-area was interacted with, rather than calculating contribution degrees across the entire advertisement. This segmentation simplifies the reward calculation process while maintaining fair distribution based on actual user interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter for reward distribution from calculating continuous contribution degrees to discrete sub-area interactions. By defining specific interaction zones within advertisements and associating them with users, the system transforms complex contribution calculations into simpler binary determination (whether the interaction occurred in the user's assigned sub-area), reducing system load while ensuring fair reward distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the system provides traditional affiliate program channels, then rewards can be distributed to affiliators, but the channels are limited and user motivation may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereward distributionVSAvoidreward earning channels
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables multiple reward earning channels beyond traditional affiliate programs. Users can earn rewards through various interactions including clicking on advertisements, making purchases, or other specified actions. The server recognizes different interaction types and distributes rewards accordingly, providing versatile earning opportunities that maintain reliable reward distribution while increasing user motivation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2587446B1Information providing device, method of processing reward payment, reward payment processing program, and recording medium with reward payment processing program recorded theron
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP2587446B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2587446B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2587446B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

An information providing device can provide an arrangement, in addition to conventional affiliate programs, through which affiliators or the like can get rewards. In the information providing device, when a user of a terminal device specifies an advertisement display area, a partial area including a position specified in the advertisement display area is specified such that a reward is paid to the user allocated to the partial area.