TRACKING CHANGES FOLLOWING MERGERS OF STORED USER STRUCTURES

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method to allow any existing MLM to be merged into a multiline MLM system. Further the existing MLM members have full access to the multi-line MLM commission structure, for example, a member of a Unilevel MLM will maintain their existing lines and downlines. The system and method also monitors the average commissions earned by each member who was added in the merger and compares those averages to the average commission that member was making under their original MLM before the merger. Where there is a loss of income that could be problematic, someone who would be in charge of fixing the problem, for example, an employee or executive of the multiline MLM, is notified. The employee or executive may then take action to remedy the problem by making changes to the commission structure, reaching out to the member in order to find a solution or compromise, or using another method or system to fix the problem.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to merging multi-level marketing systems.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies are defined by a commission structure that is multi-level, such that a commission is paid to at least one member above the member who made a sale or purchase. However, there are multiple kinds of commission structures, for example, binary, matrix, or unilevel. Merging these companies while maintaining the integrity of the existing commission structure has been unsuccessful when the two companies do not have the same kind of commission structure. Usually, when companies with a different commission structure do merge, the two commission structures are simply kept separate and retain their traits and commission rates. Therefore, members of a traditional matrix commission structure must continue to build that structure even if other members of the merged company are in a multi-level structure. If the merged company does decide to attempt to merge the commission structures, it often ends with members feeling disoriented or upset by changes that can impact income from commissions. While some members may gain income after a merger due to the new commission structure, those that lose income are likely to become disenchanted with the new merged company and may reduce their sales activity or leave the company entirely as a result. There is a need for existing MLM companies to merge without having to either continue to keep the two companies separate or upset members by rearranging the existing commission structures and to avoid reduction in income for the members under the merged structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a Multi-Level Marketing Merger System

FIG. 2 illustrates a Matrix MLM User Structure

FIG. 3 illustrates a Multiline MLM User Structure

FIG. 4 illustrates a Multiline MLM Commission Module

FIG. 5 illustrates a Multiline MLM Additional Line Module

FIG. 6 illustrates a Multiline MLM Merger Module

FIG. 7 illustrates a Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module

FIG. 8 illustrates a Multiline MLM Notification Module

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for a Multi-Level Marketing Merger System are disclosed. The system includes Multiline MLM organization, which is a distribution organization characterized by a multi-level payment structure. In a Multiline MLM organization, a user is a distributor or a sales agent and may earn commission based on their own sales and the sales of other users. The user may have one or more users above the user in the organization structure, who are referred to as upline user. When the user makes a sale, the user may pay commission to one or more upline users. The user may have one or more users below the user in the organization structure, which is referred to as downline user. The user may receive commission from the downline users who have made a sale. The Multiline MLM organization may allow the user to have an infinite number of lines below the user, each line representing another user. Alternatively, the distribution organization may limit the number of downline users a user can have at a fixed number and only increase the number of downlines if the user has met a certain threshold criteria. In the case where the user has recruited a new user but has not met the criteria to open a new downline, the user may only retain the status as a sponsor or a recruiter but not be an upline user to the new user. Users who are in a relationship of receiving or paying commission to one another but not in each other's downline or upline are in a crossline relationship. For example, the sponsor who recruited the user may or may not be an upline user to the user in the Multiline MLM organization but still receive commission from the user via the crossline relationship. The commission rate paid to an upline user may be different from a crossline user or an upline user who is also the sponsor.

In contrast, a Unilevel MLM lacks crossline relationship because the sponsor that recruited the user is an upline user of the user. The Unilevel MLM organization may have an infinite number of lines below the user as new recruits are recruited by the user. A downline user pays commission to the upline user when a sale is made by the downline user.

Merging the users of a Unilevel MLM into a Multiline MLM may require position and user connection changes for users of the Unilevel MLM. Users of the Multiline MLM may have a maximum number of users possible as downline users until a commission threshold is reached, while Unilevel MLM users may not have a maximum number of users possible as downline users. The Multi-Level Marketing Merger System may instantaneously reorganize connections and positions of the users from the Unilevel MLM into the Multiline MLM to reconcile different commission rules from two or more organizations with different structures to find the optimal commission structures for users and maximize commission rates. This allows for a seamless transition without an interruption in the businesses. The Multi-Level Marketing Merger System may reorganize the different structures by creating crossline connections to sponsors and placing users in the downline of different users while maintaining the possible commission earned for each user. Based on commission rules in the Unilevel MLM and commission rules in the Multiline MLM the Multi-Level Marketing Merger System may update rules in the Multiline MLM associated with a user and the position of the user to ensure the possible commission earned by the user is comparable after the merger. The process for comparing and merging the systems is described in detail in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 1 illustrates a Multi-Level Marketing Merger System 100. The system includes a Multiline MLM organization 101, which in turn includes a Multiline MLM User Database 102, a Sales Database 103, a Commission Module 104, a Commission Rules Database 105, a Commission Database 106, an Additional Line Module 107, and a Merger Module 108. Structure of the Multiline MLM organization 101 is discussed in further detail in FIG. 3. The Multiline MLM User Database 102 may contain information about a user in the Multiline MLM organization structure, including data such as a user ID of the user, the ID of an upline user directly above the user, the ID of a sponsor user that enrolled the user in the Multiline MLM, the type of relationship between the user and other users, the position of the user in the organization hierarchy, and how many downlines the user is currently allowed. The type of relationship indicates whether the user is a sponsor, upline user, or downline user to other users. The Multiline MLM Sales Database 103 may contain data on sales made by the user, such as a user ID, a sale value, and a transaction date.

A Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may receive data from the Multiline MLM Sales Database 103 to pay commissions to one or more other users. The Multiline MLM Commission Rules Database 105 may contain rules to calculate commission based on the position of the user in the Multiline MLM User Database 102 and sales data in the Multiline MLM Sales Database 103. The 104 Multiline MLM Commission Module may calculate commission based on sales data in the Multiline MLM Sales Database 103, the position of the user in the Multiline MLM User Database 102, and rules stored in the Multiline MLM Commission Rules Database 105 corresponding to the sales data and the position of the user. The calculated commission may be stored in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106. In some embodiments, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may pay users directly. The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may receive data from the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106 to determine if the user qualifies for an additional line.

The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may determine if the user has met a threshold commission value on their existing lines based on data from the Multiline MLM Commissions Database 106 and may add an additional line to the number of lines that the user is allowed. The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may update the Multiline MLM User Database 102, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104, or any combination of databases with additional line data the user is allowed. In some embodiments, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may calculate and store an additional commission for the user based on the additional line data. The Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may receive data via a Cloud 120 from a Unilevel MLM organization 130.

Multiline MLM Historic Commission Module 109 polls for data from the Unilevel MLM Base Module 131 which was extracted from the Unilevel MLM Historic Commission Database 133 and contains data on user commissions in the past. When the Multiline MLM Historic Commission Module 109 receives the data from the 130 Unilevel MLM Base Module, the Multiline MLM Historic Commission Module 109 stores the received data in the Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database 110.

Multiline MLM Historic Commission Module 109 may also receive data from the Unilevel MLM Historic Commission Database 133 via the Unilevel MLM Base Module 131 and stores that data in the MLM Multiline User Database 102. Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database 110 stores a record of commissions for a user over a period of time from the MLM they were a member of before the merger, which will be compared to the user's commissions after the merger by the 111 Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module to determine if there is a discrepancy. Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 compares a user's historic commissions stored in the Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database 110 with their current commission in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106, and if the discrepancy meets a threshold value for relevance, the Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 is initiated. Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 sends a notification to an administrator of the system when there is a relevant discrepancy between a user's historic commissions before the merger and their current commissions.

The Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database 110 contains a record of commissions for a user from the MLM they were a member of before the merger over a period of time, for example, a month, which will be compared to the user's commissions after the merger to determine if there is a discrepancy. The information in the database may include a User ID, for example, AB0001, a length of time the user was a member before the merger, for example, a month, the date of start of membership, for example, April of 2020, and a total amount of commissions made by that user in that month, for example, $5087.34. In some embodiments the period of time may be a different amount of time, for example, days, weeks, quarters, years, etc. The user data will be used by the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111, along with data from the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106, to determine the user's average commissions before the merger so that discrepancies in income from commissions under the new Multiline MLM's commission structure can be identified.

The Cloud 120 or communication network may be a wired and/or a wireless network. The communication network, if wireless, may be implemented using communication techniques such as Visible Light Communication (VLC), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Infrared (IR) communication, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Radio waves, and other communication techniques known in the art. The communication network may allow ubiquitous access to shared pools of configurable system resources and higher-level services that can be rapidly provisioned with minimal management effort, often over Internet and relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale.

The Unilevel MLM organization 130 may include a distribution organization characterized by a Unilevel payment structure wherein a user of the organization is a distributor and pays commission to a sponsor user above the user in the distribution organization. The user in the Unilevel MLM organization 130 may also be a sponsor user by recruiting and adding a new user in a single line below the user. The sponsor user may receive commission from an infinite number of new users in the single line below the sponsor user. Structure of the Unilevel MLM organization 130 is discussed in further detail in FIG. 2. A Base Module 111 may extract data stored in a Unilevel MLM User Database 112 including information about the position of the user in the Unilevel MLM distribution organization structure, such as the sponsor user that enrolled the user in the Unilevel MLM, position of other users directly below the user in the user downline, position of other users directly above the user in the user upline, and commission rules of the Unilevel MLM distribution organization for the user. The Unilevel MLM Base Module 111 may send extracted data via the Cloud 120 to the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 to be stored in the Multiline MLM User Database 102, the Multiline MLM Commission Rules Database 105, or any combination of databases in the 101 Multiline MLM system. Unilevel MLM Historic Commission Database 133 stores a record of commissions for a user over a period of time, which will be compared to the user's commissions after the merger to determine if there is a discrepancy. 00

FIG. 2 illustrates a Unilevel MLM User Structure. In Unilevel MLM User structure, there are only upline and downline relationships between sponsors and those who are recruited by the sponsors. A user that is recruited to the organization by a sponsor becomes the downline of the sponsor. For example, Sponsor X 201 who recruited User/Sponsor B 203 may be connected to User/sponsor B 203 via an immediate downline connection 202. In the Unilevel MLM User Structure, any number of users recruited by Sponsor X 201 may be connected to Sponsor X 201 via an immediate downline connection 202. A User/Sponsor 203 may be connected to the Sponsor 201 via an immediate upline connection 204. The User/Sponsor B 203 may also recruit and connect to any number of users 207 via an immediate downline connection 205 and each of the any number of users 207 may be connected to the User/Sponsor 203 via an immediate upline connection 206. The Unilevel MLM User Structure may allow Sponsor X 201 to receive commission from each User/Sponsor 203 with an immediate upline connection to the Sponsor X 201. The Sponsor X 201 may also receive commission from any number of users 207 that have an immediate upline connection 206 to the User/Sponsor 203 that also has an immediate upline connection 204 with the Sponsor X 201. For example, User E may pay commission to User/Sponsor B 203 and Sponsor X 201. In some embodiments, the Sponsor X 201 may only receive commission from users with immediate upline connections to the Sponsor X 201. Depending on the position of the user in the organization hierarchy, the rate of commission may vary. For example, Users E, F, G, and H may receive one rate of commission whereas Users B, C, D may receive another rate of commission that is different. Additionally, the commission rate may vary based on the relationship between the users. For example, User/Sponsor B may receive a certain rate of commission from User E whereas Sponsor X may receive a different rate of commission from User E.

FIG. 3 Illustrates a Multiline MLM User Structure. A Multiline MLM User Structure may include at least a Sponsor and a User wherein the Sponsor is a salesperson that has recruited the User to the Multiline MLM organization. A Sponsor 301 may be connected to one or more users via an immediate downline connection 302, such as the immediate downline connection 302 between Sponsor 301 and User/Sponsor 303. A User/Sponsor 303 may be connected to the Sponsor 301 via an immediate upline connection 304. The User/Sponsor 303 may also recruit and connect to any number of users 307 via an immediate downline connection 305 and each of the any number of users 307 may be connected to the User/Sponsor 303 via an immediate upline connection 306.

The Multiline MLM User Structure, may limit the number of users connected to a sponsor (i.e. Sponsor 301 or User/Sponsor 303) via an immediate downline connection. This limitation may be configured as a rule in the Multiline MLM User Database 102. A maximum number of users connected to the sponsor via an immediate downline connection rule may be configured based on various factors including but not limited to the position of the user or sponsor in the Multiline MLM User Structure, the number of upline connections connected to the user or sponsor, the number of downline connections connected to the user or sponsor, the total commission earned by the user or sponsor, the total sales made by the user or sponsor, the commission earned from each of the downlines of the user or sponsor, or any combination therein. For example, the Multiline MLM User Structure in FIG. 3 may include a rule that allows for a maximum of 3 users connected to the User/Sponsor 303 via an immediate downline connection 305. The User/Sponsor 303 may recruit a new user 308. In the case that the User/Sponsor 303 is already connected to the maximum number of users allowed via an immediate downline, the new user 308 may be placed in an immediate downline of a different user 309. The User/Sponsor 303 may be connected to the new user 308 via a sponsor connection 310. The maximum number of users connected to a sponsor may be raised if the sponsor has met a threshold criteria. The threshold criteria may include the sales amount of the user that exceeds a threshold amount, commission received from each downline that exceeds a threshold amount, and total commission received from all the downline of the user exceeding a threshold amount. Further, the threshold criteria may be weighted based on the relationship between users. For example, a commission received as an upline may be weighted heavier than the commission received as a sponsor towards determining whether the user is eligible for an additional line. The threshold amount a user must meet may vary based on the number of downlines the user already has and the position of the user in the organization hierarchy.

The Multiline MLM User Structure may allow a sponsor to receive commission from each user with an immediate upline connection to the sponsor, such as the User/Sponsor 303 receiving commission from the any number of users 307. The sponsor may also receive commission from any number of users with an upline connection to the users that have an immediate upline connection to the sponsor. For example, Sponsor 301 may receive commission from the any number of users 307, as the any number of users 307 has an immediate upline connection 306 to the User/Sponsor 303 that has an immediate upline connection 304 to the Sponsor 301. Further, a sponsor may receive commission from users the sponsor has recruited if the user is not in their downline via a sponsor connection, such as the User/Sponsor 303 receiving commission via the sponsor connection 310 from the new user 308. Depending on the position of the user in the organization hierarchy, the rate of commission may vary. Additionally, the commission rate may vary based on the relationship between the users. A sponsor may receive one rate of commission from the user whereas an upline may receive a different rate of commission from the user. The rate of commission may also vary based on amount of sales exceeding a certain threshold value. For example, a sale under $500 may grant 5% in commission whereas a sale over $500 may grant 10% in commission.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Multiline MLM Commission Module. The Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may request a new data entry from the Multiline MLM Sales Database 103 at step 401. The new data entry may include any new sales data not yet processed by the Multline MLM Commission Module 104. New sales data may include information about a user and a sale associated with the user including a user ID, a sale value, a sale date, among other information. At step 402, The Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may receive the new data entry and may compare it to the Multiline MLM User Database 102 to identify the user that made the sale in step 403. Identifying the user in the Multiline MLM User Database 102 may include identifying information associated with the position of the user in the Multiline MLM User Structure, other users in the upline or downline of the user, a sponsor of the user, and various other user information associated with the user. At step 404, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may determine if the user has a sponsor. If the user does not have a sponsor, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may skip to step 408. If the user has a sponsor, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may identify a commission rule for the sponsor connection based on the Multiline MLM Commission Rules Database 105 at step 405. For example, the commission rule for the sponsor connection may include a percentage commission owed to the sponsor irrespective of the sponsor being in the upline of the user, such as 5% of the sale value.

At step 406, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may calculate the commission owed to the sponsor based on the identified sponsor connection commission rule and the sale value of the user sale. For example, the user may have made a sale for $100, and the sponsor connection commission rule may state that the sponsor of the user should receive 5% of the sale value for a commission total of $5. In step 407, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may store the calculated sponsor commission total in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106. The stored commission total may be stored and associated with various users for different reasons. For example, the commission total may be stored associated with the sponsor user ID as commission paid by the specific user to the sponsor, added to the total commission earned for the sponsor, associated with the selling user ID as the commission paid by the specific user, or in any similar combination. At step 408, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may identify if the user has an upline user that is owed commission who not the sponsor of the user. The commission to be paid by the user may be calculated differently for a sponsor, an upline and an upline who is also a sponsor. Similar to steps 405-407, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 identifies commission rules for the upline user of the selling user at step 409, calculates commission for the upline user based on one or more commission rules and the sale value at step 410, and stores the calculated commission in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106 at step 411. At step 412, the Multiline MLM Commission Module 104 may identify if there is commission for additional upline users that has not yet been calculated. If the upline user ID does not match any upline user IDs that have already had commission calculated, the new upline user ID is processed by returning to step 408. If the upline user ID does match an upline user ID that has already had commission calculated and there is no additional upline user ID to process, the Multline MLM Commission Module restarts the process, at step 401.

FIG. 5 illustrates a Multiline MLM Additional Line Module. At step 501 Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may request a new data entry from the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106. The new data entry may include commission data not yet processed by the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107. At step 502, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 receives the new commission data entry. Attributes of the commission data entry such as a commission source user ID, a payee ID, a commission type, a commission payout value, a payment date, among other information may be identified by the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 at step 503. At step 504, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 identifies and separates commission payouts with the commission type “upline” from commission payouts with the commission type “sponsor.” In some embodiments, additional commission lines may be added to a user based only on commissions received from the downline of the user and may not be based on commission paid to the sponsor of the user.

At step 505, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may identify a threshold criteria for addition an additional line that must be met or surpassed by each commission source user ID associated with the payee ID. Such criteria may include one or more threshold values a user must meet from sales and received commission. There may be a threshold value for total commission received from the downlines of the user, another threshold value for commission received from each of the downlines of the user, and yet another threshold for the total sales that the user has made. The threshold values may vary for each users based on the data regarding the user, such as the position of the user in the Multiline MLM structure, the number of downlines the user already has, and the relationship between the users. The threshold criteria may be weighted based on the relationship between the users. For example, the commission type “upline” may be considered more heavily than the commission type “sponsor” in determining whether the threshold criteria to create an additional line has been met.

In step 506, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may calculate the total commission payout from a source user ID including previously paid commission and any new or unprocessed commission from the source user ID. Total commission payouts may be calculated based on a variety of rules, which may consider the total lifetime commission from the downline user, the commission from the downline user over a certain period of time, and the commission from a type of product. The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may compare the calculated total commission payout to the threshold value of commission payouts. Based on the calculation in step 506, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may determine if the total commission paid to the payee ID is greater than, equal to, or less than the threshold value of commission payouts.

In step 507, if the total commission payout from the source user ID does not meet or exceed the threshold value, the payee ID user may not receive an additional line, and the process restarts at step 501. If the total commission payout from the source user ID does meet or exceed the threshold value, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may identify an additional commission source ID that has not yet been processed at step 508. If the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 identifies an additional commission source ID, the process returns to step 506, and repeats for the new commission source ID. If the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 does not identify any additional commission source ID, one or more additional lines may be added to the available lines of the payee ID at step 509. The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may execute a variety of rules associated with adding one or more additional lines to the payee ID based on the position of the user in the Multiline MLM organization, total lines available to the user, total commission paid to the user, number of users that the user has sponsored, or any combination of rules. In some embodiments, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may add multiple additional lines to the available lines for the user.

In step 510, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may update the Multiline MLM User Database 102 for the payee ID with the one or more additional lines. In some embodiments, the one or more additional lines may include no users, or may include users with no sales data. If an additional line includes no users or no sales data, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may enter a placeholder nominal value or null value in the Multiline MLM User Database 102 that may later be replaced by user and sales data. The Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may repeat the process at step 501 upon conclusion of updating the Multiline MLM User Database 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates a Multiline MLM Merger Module. At step 601, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 requests and receives new user data from a Unilevel MLM Database. The Unilevel MLM Database may include the 111 Base Module, 112 Unilevel User Database, the 113 Unilevel Rules Database, or any combination of databases. The new user data may contain various user data records related to the user within the Unilevel MLM such as the user ID, sales value, commission earned, upline connections, downline connections, sponsor ID, commission rules associated with the user and user position in the Unilevel MLM, among other data. The relationships between users in the Unilevel MLM are embedded with a unique code and saved in a digital file in the Multiline User Database 104. Such code may be used to create and maintain the upline and downline relationship and to calculate commissions.

The unique code may be assigned or obtained by a new user via an online interaction (e.g., an online purchase) with a specific product webpage associated with the code. A link to the product webpage may be provided to the new user via a universal resource locator (URL) or an embedded URL in which the embedded unique code provides referral information associated with a upline user. When the new user engages in an online interaction with the product webpage, a new unique code is generated for the new user. The new unique code provides that the new user becomes related to the upline user as well as other distributors that previously purchased the product. Users that subsequently use the new link may each be given a respective different unique code that provides the respective set of upline users. After an online interaction meets certain conditions (e.g., a product purchased at the website), commissions may be paid out to the associated set of upline users specified by the unique code embedded in the link according to a defined commission levels.

At step 602, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may analyze the new user data from the Unilevel MLM by comparing the new user data to the user data saved in the Multiline MLM User Database 102. Comparing user data between the Unilevel MLM and Multiline MLM may be executed using various different algorithms to match the Unilevel MLM user data to the sponsor, upline and downline users, and relative position within the Unilevel MLM organization.

At step 603, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 determines whether the new user can be placed downline of the sponsor of the user. If the sponsor has available space for a downline user, the Multiline MLM Merger Module may skip to step 608. If the sponsor of the user does not have available space for a downline user, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may proceed to step 604. The Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may then identify if the sponsor qualifies for an additional line by executing the process for the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 described in FIG. 5. If the sponsor qualifies for an additional line, the Multiline MLM Additional Line Module 107 may generate an additional line for the sponsor at step 605. The Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may store the new user data in the new additional line of the sponsor and may proceed to step 608. In this case, the existing relationships in the previous organization are maintained.

If the sponsor does not qualify for an additional line, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may identify another user in the Multiline MLM with an open downline user available at step 606. The identified user may be selected at random or selected based on position in the organization, the number of available downlines, and the number of total downlines the user has. The Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may store the data associated with the new user who is in the downline of the identified user.

At step 607, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may update the digital file associated with the new user data and the sponsor user data. The upline and downline relationship between the new user and the sponsor is severed and the new user and the sponsor are linked in a crossline relationship. The digital file is embedded with a new unique code and the Multiline MLM User Database is updated accordingly with the new unique code.

At step 608, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may compare commission data associated with the new user received from the Unilevel MLM to the commission data and rules for the position of the new user in the Multiline MLM. Various mathematical procedures may be executed to calculate an equivalent commission rate that the user could receive from the downline. In some embodiments, if the commission rate for the new user in the Multiline MLM is less than the commission rate for the same user in the Unilevel MLM, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may generate an additional downline for the new user at step 609. In other words, if the user is expected to receive less commission in the Multiline MLM than what the user used to receive in the Unilevel MLM, the user may be entitled to additional downlines until the user could receive comparable commission in the Multiline MLM. In another embodiment, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may send a request for a change in commission rules to the Multiline MLM Commission Rules Database 105, and may update the commission rules of the new user in the Multiline MLM to equal the commission rate for the user in the Unilevel MLM. Various requests may be made to a combination of databases available in the Multiline MLM in order to adjust the available commission rate to be equal or comparable to the previous commission rate in the Unilevel MLM.

At step 610, the Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may store the new user data in the Multiline MLM User Database 102 and any other database of the Multiline MLM that contains updated information for the user. The Multiline MLM Merger Module 108 may proceed back to step 601 and may repeat the process until all available users in the Unilevel MLM have been created in the Multiline MLM User Database 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates the functioning of the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111. The process begins with the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 polling for a new data entry in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106, at step 700. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 extracts the user ID in the User ID category of the new data entry in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106, at step 702. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 extracts all entries in the Multiline MLM Commission Database 106 that match the extracted user ID, which will include all commissions paid to the user to date, at step 704. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 determines if there is enough data to make a comparison by checking if there is a threshold number of activities. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 may also determine if there is any data during the threshold period of time. For example, if the threshold period of time is 3 months, the earliest commission paid to that user is at least 90 days prior to the most recent. In some embodiments this period may be shorter, longer, or dynamic based on the length of time between the merger date and the comparison date. In some other embodiments, the most recent commission may be compared to the merger date instead of the date of the earliest commission. If the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 determines there is not enough data then the module will return to polling for a new data entry, at step 706. If there is enough data to make a comparison, the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 calculates the user's total average commission per month post-merger by adding up all the values in the Commission Value category of the extracted entries, and dividing by the total number of months between the earliest and latest commissions, in an embodiment the date of the merger will be used in place of the earliest commission. In some embodiments only a certain number of months will be included in the average. For example, the earliest 3 months or the first 3 months after the merger, at step 708. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 searches the Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database 110 for entries that match the extracted user ID from step 702 in the User ID category, at step 710. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 extracts all matching entries from the 120 Multiline MLM Merged Commission Database. If there are no entries then the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 will return to polling for a new data entry. In some embodiments, the user ID may be marked and ignored in the future, at step 712. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 calculates the user's total average commission per month pre-merger by adding up all the values in the Total Commission for the latest 3 months and dividing by the number of months, in this case, 3. In some embodiments the number of months included in this calculation may be less, more, or dynamic. In some embodiments months that are too far away in time from the date of the merger may not be included, at step 714. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 compares the total average commission per month pre-merger to the total average commission per month post-merger by subtracting the post-merger average from the pre-merger average. In another embodiment the pre-merger average is subtracted from the post-merger average, at step 716. The Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 determines if the post-merger total average commissions per month is significantly lower than the pre-merger value by determining if the result of the calculation in step 716 is a positive number and if it is greater than a threshold value, for example, $100. If the post-merger total average commissions per month is not significantly lower, then the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 returns to polling for a new data event. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be smaller, greater, or dynamic, at step 718. If the post-merger total average commissions per month is lower than the pre-merger total average commission per month, the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111 initiates the Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 and passes in the extracted user ID and calculated average commission per month discrepancy, at step 720.

FIG. 8 illustrates the functioning of the Multiline MLM Notification Module 112. The process begins with the Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 being initiated by the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111, at step 800. The Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 receives the commission discrepancy and associated user ID from the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111, at step 802. The Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 creates a notification by placing the discrepancy and user ID into a template. An example of the notification may be “[USER ID] is experiencing a decrease in average commissions of [DISCREPANCY] per month since the merger. Action may be required.” In some embodiments the value of the discrepancy may trigger different notifications based on urgency level. For example, discrepancies of over $1000 average commission per month may add “URGENT!” to the notification, at step 804. The Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 sends the notification to an administrator, which may be the owner of the Multiline MLM 101, an employee of the Multiline MLM 101, a third party, a module, or any other person or entity who should be informed of discrepancies in average commission per month. The notification may be sent via email, text, or any other method of communication and may be done locally or using the Cloud or internet, at step 806. The Multiline MLM Notification Module 112 returns to the Multiline MLM Commission Comparison Module 111, at step 808.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim.

Claims

1. A method for merging a non-multiline user structure into a multiline user structure, the method comprising: storing information in one or more databases in memory regarding a multiline user structure with a first set of lines corresponding to existing relationships and a non-multiline user structure with a second set of lines corresponding to existing relationships;receiving data for at least one member of the non-multiline user structure that includes a position and a distribution share of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure, the position corresponding to a set of relationships of the member within the non-multiline user structure;merging the multiline user structure and the non-multiline user structure into a merged multiline user structure, wherein the at least one member is integrated into the merged multiline user structure, wherein the set of relationships of the at least one member is integrated into and maintained within the merged multiline user structure;storing the merged multiline user structure in memory, wherein the merged multiline user structure is updateable to add one or more additional lines corresponding to new relationships with the at least one member, and wherein storing the merged multiline user structure includes recording a comparison of the distribution share of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure before being integrated into the merged multiline user structure and a distribution share of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the distribution share of the at least one member by comparing an average distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure over a period of time to an average distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure over another period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the distribution share of the at least one member by comparing an average distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure over a period of time to an average distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure over the period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein comparing the distribution share of the at least one member further includes identifying a discrepancy between the average distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure to an average distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the distribution share by determining a threshold amount of distribution activity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the threshold amount of activity includes identifying a first date of the distribution activity is at least on or before a specified period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the additional lines based on online usage of a unique code associated with the at least one member.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique code is an embedded uniform resource location (URL) of a webpage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the online usage of the unique code is at the webpage, and further comprising generating a new unique code based on the online usage of the unique code at the webpage by a device of a new member.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising creating a new relationship between the new member and the at least one member within the merged multiline user structure, and storing information regarding the new relationship in association with the new unique code.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying one or more relationships with one or more members that are upline from the at least one member within the merged multiline user structure based on the data for the at least one member.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying a specified amount of distribution to the at least one member and the one or more upline members based on information encoded in the unique code.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein adding the additional lines is based on a comparison of a cumulative historical distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure and a cumulative current distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a rate of distribution of the at least one member of the non-multiline user structure based on a comparison of a cumulative historical distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure and a cumulative current distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the distribution share of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure based on the position of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a notification based on a comparison of a cumulative historical distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure and a cumulative current distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a notification based on a comparison of an average distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure and an average distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the notification is based on identifying a discrepancy between the average distribution of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure and the average distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the notification is based on identifying that the discrepancy exceeds a threshold value.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the additional lines based on a cumulative distribution of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure exceeding a threshold amount.

21. A system for merging a multi-level user structure into a multiline user structure, the system comprising: a multiline database in memory that stores information regarding a multiline user structure with a first set of lines corresponding to existing relationships;a non-multiline database in memory that stores information a non-multiline user structure with a second set of lines corresponding to existing relationships, wherein the stored information in the non-multiline database includes data regarding a position and distribution share for at least one member of the non-multiline user structure, the position corresponding to a set of relationships of the member within the non-multiline user structure;a merger module in communication with the multiline database and the non-multiline database, wherein the merger module is executable by a processor to merge the multiline user structure and the non-multiline user structure into a merged multiline user structure, wherein the at least one member is integrated into the merged multiline user structure, and wherein the set of relationships of the at least one member is integrated into and maintained within the merged multiline user structure, wherein the merged multiline user structure is updateable to add one or more additional lines corresponding to new relationships with the at least one member; anda distribution comparison module executable by the processor to compare and record a comparison of the distribution share of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure before being integrated into the merged multiline user structure and a distribution share of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for merging a non-multiline user structure into a multiline user structure comprising: storing information in one or more databases in memory regarding a multiline user structure with a first set of lines corresponding to existing relationships and a non-multiline user structure with a second set of lines corresponding to existing relationships;receiving data for at least one member of the non-multiline user structure that includes a position and a distribution share of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure, the position corresponding to a set of relationships of the member within the non-multiline user structure;merging the multiline user structure and the non-multiline user structure into a merged multiline user structure, wherein the at least one member is integrated into the merged multiline user structure, and wherein the set of relationships of the at least one member is integrated into and maintained within the merged multiline user structure;storing the merged multiline user structure in memory, wherein the merged multiline user structure is updateable to add one or more additional lines corresponding to new relationships with the at least one member, and wherein storing the merged multiline user structure includes recording a comparison of the distribution share of the at least one member in the non-multiline user structure before being integrated into the merged multiline user structure and a distribution share of the at least one member in the merged multiline user structure.