System and method to prevent termination of on-line transactions
View Patent ↗A system and method is disclosed for preventing termination of an on-line transaction. In the system, a communication session between an Internet web site and a user terminal over a communication network is provided and a transaction initiating module receives a request from a user of the user terminal to initiate an on-line transaction. A signal receiving module receives a signal after the user attempts to terminate the communication session and prior to the user completing the on-line transaction, and a notification providing module provides a notification to the user after the signal is received.
1. A computer system comprising:
a server, including a processor, configured to:
receive a request to initiate an on-line transaction during a communication session;
identify an attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction;
retain a selection associated with the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction; and
provide a notification in response to the identified attempt, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the selection made during the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction and a prompt to complete the on-line transaction.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a response to the notification.
3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the on-line transaction includes a purchase of a good or a service, a vote in an election, a request for information, a tax payment, a donation, or a registration.
4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the notification further comprises a request for a reason for the attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction.
5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a reply to the request for the reason, and provide a coupon redeemable for value in response to the reply to the request for the reason.
6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the coupon comprises an alphanumeric code, a graphic, or a card.
7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes a second prompt to terminate the communication session and to request a reminder to complete the on-line transaction.
8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the reminder comprises one or more of a pop-up screen, a portion of a web page, a telephone call, an e-mail, or physical mail.
9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the notification comprises a display screen that does not include a control to close the display screen.
10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to identify the attempt by identifying a pressing of a key on a keyboard or a clicking of a button on a pointing device.
11. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the pointing device is a trackball, a mouse, a trackpad, a touchscreen, a pointer, or a stylus.
12. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the on-line transaction is associated with an active web page of a plurality of web pages, and further wherein the server is configured to recognize that closing the active web page would result in incompletion of the on-line transaction.
13. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to receive a request to initiate a second on-line transaction during the communication session, and wherein the notification further provides an opportunity to complete the second on-line transaction that has not been completed.
14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the server is further configured to identify a second attempt to terminate a second communication session prior to completion of the second on-line transaction.
15. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising a database that stores a list of on-line transactions, wherein the list includes the on-line transaction.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to display the list upon establishment of a subsequent communication session related to the on-line transaction.
17. A method comprising:
receiving, at a server including a processor, a request for initiating an on-line transaction during a communication session;
initiating, at the server, the on-line transaction;
identifying, at the server, an attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction;
retaining, at the server, a selection associated with the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction; and
providing, at the server, a notification in response to the identified attempt, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the selection made during the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction and a prompt to complete the on-line transaction.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the notification further comprises a request for a reason for the attempt to terminate the communication session.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the notification further comprises an electronic questionnaire.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the notification further comprises a second prompt to perform one or more of terminate the communication session, terminate the on-line transaction, or terminate the communication session and a request a reminder to complete the on-line transaction.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the reminder is formatted as a pop-up screen, a displayed portion of a web page, a telephone call, an e-mail, or physical mail.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
initiating a second on-line transaction, wherein the identified attempt to terminate the communication session is prior to completion of the second on-line transaction, and wherein the notification further includes a second prompt to complete the second on-line transaction.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving a selection of the first on-line transaction or the second on-line transaction in response to the notification.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the on-line transaction comprises an interaction with a web site and is related to a service or a product.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the notification further comprises a window operable to enable completion of the on-line transaction.
26. The method of claim 17 , wherein the on-line transaction includes a purchase of a good or a service, a vote in an election, a request for information, a tax payment, a donation, or a registration.
27. A tangible computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
receiving a request to initiate an on-line transaction during a communication session;
identifying an attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction;
retaining a selection associated with the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction; and
providing a notification in response to the identified attempt, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the selection made during the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction and a prompt to complete the on-line transaction.
28. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 27 , further comprising receiving a response to the notification, wherein the response comprises a completion of the on-line transaction.
29. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 27 , further comprising initiating the on-line transaction.
30. A computer system comprising:
means for receiving a request to initiate an on-line transaction during a communication session;
means for identifying an attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction;
means for retaining a selection associated with the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction; and
means for providing a notification in response to the identified attempt, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the selection made during the communication session prior to the completion of the on-line transaction and a prompt to complete the on-line transaction.
31. The computer system of claim 30 , wherein the notification further comprises a request for a reason for the attempt to terminate the communication session prior to completion of the on-line transaction.
32. The computer system of claim 31 , further comprising:
means for receiving a reply to the request for the reason; and
means for providing a coupon redeemable for value in response to the reply to the request for the reason.