List-based coupon system and methods

• US 10,157,403 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuzell-Casey, Jacquelyn, Casey, Timothy Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Haq, Naeem U
• Application Number:
  US13/923,360
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A list-based coupon system that enables users to create a list of items to obtain, purchase or locate within a store or other geographic area, and provides users with coupons under a variety of different conditions.

Claims

1. A method to display offers for items on a list based on a location of an item with regard to a location of a portable computing device and on a selected status of the item, comprising:

determining, by a portable computing device, a location of the portable computing device within a geographic area;

searching, by the portable computing device via the Internet, for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on a list of items stored on the portable computing device, the list of items generated by a user of the portable computing device;

determining, by the portable computing device, that a particular item is an available item within the geographic area based on results of the search for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on a list of items stored on the portable computing device;

receiving, by the portable computing device, an input indicating a selection or rejection of the particular item;

indicating, by the portable computing device, to the user a status for the particular item from the list of items, the status based on the input indicating a selection or rejection of the particular item;

generating, by the portable computing device, an offer for the particular item based at least in part on the location of the portable computing device within the geographic area, the determination that the particular item is an available item within the geographic area, and the status of the particular item being selected;

displaying, by the portable computing device, the offer for the particular item on a user interface of the portable computing device;

presenting, by the portable computing device, a map of at least a portion of the geographic area; and

displaying, by the portable computing device, an indicator of a location of the particular item on the presented map.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, by the portable computing device, a second status for a second item from the list of items, the second status based on the user'"'"'s selection or rejection of the second item; and

displaying, by the portable computing device, a second offer for the second item to the user of the portable computing devices.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein analyzing the list of items stored on the portable computing device comprises:

determining, by the portable computing device, whether to present an offer to the user, wherein the offer is presented to the user if a distance between the location of the item and the location of the user within the geographic area is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initiating, by the portable computing device, a search for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on a list of items comprises determining, by the portable computing device, an alternative item based on the list of items generated by the user, and wherein the offer displayed is for the alternative item.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the alternative item is similar to the particular item.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the particular item.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

locating, by the portable computing device, the alternative item within a geographic area; and

displaying, by the portable computing device, an indicator of a location of the alternative item on a map, the map displayed on the user interface of the portable computing device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein analyzing the list of items stored on the portable computing device comprises:

determining, by the portable computing device, that the particular item is unavailable within the geographic area; and

determining, by the portable computing device, an alternative item based on the list of items and the determination that the particular item is unavailable, wherein the offer displayed is for the alternative item.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the alternative item is similar to the unavailable item.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the unavailable item.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the portable computing device, a location of the alternative item within a geographic area; and

displaying, by the portable computing device, an indicator of a location of the alternative item on a map, the map displayed on the user interface of the portable computing device.

12. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable program instructions embodied therein that when executed by a computer to display offers for items on a list based on a location of an item with regard to a location of a portable computing device and on a selected status of the item, comprising;

computer-executable program instructions to determine a location of a portable computer device within a geographic area;

computer-executable program instructions to search via the Internet for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on a list of items, the list of items generated by a user of the portable computing device;

computer-executable program instructions to determine that a particular item is an available item within the geographic area based on results of the search for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on a list of items stored on the portable computing device;

computer-executable program instructions to receive an input indicating a selection or rejection of the particular item;

computer-executable program instructions to indicate to the user of the portable computing device a status for the particular item from the list of items, the status based on the input indicating the selection or rejection of the particular first item;

computer-executable program instructions to generate an offer for the first item based at least in part of the location of the portable computing device within the geographic area, the determination that the particular item is an available item within the geographic area, and the status for the particular item;

computer-executable program instructions to display the offer on a user interface of the portable computing device;

computer-executable program instructions to present a map of at least a portion of the geographic area on the portable computing device; and

computer-executable program instructions to display an indicator of a location of the particular item on the presented map.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising computer-executable program instructions to present a second offer for a second item based on a determination that the particular item is unavailable within the geographic location.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second item is similar to the particular item.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the second item is dissimilar to the particular item.

16. A system to display offers for items on a list based on a location of an item with regard to a location of a portable computing device and on a selected status of the item, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device and to cause the system to;

determine a location of a portable computer device within a geographic area;

search for items in the geographic area via the Internet that correspond to items on a list of items stored on the portable computing device, the list of items generated by a user of the portable computing device;

determine that a particular item is an available item within the geographic area based on results of the search for items in the geographic area that correspond to items on the list of items stored on the portable computing device;

receive an input indicating a selection or rejection of the particular item;

indicate to the user a status for the particular item from the list of items, the status based on the input indicating of the selection or rejection of the particular first item;

generate to the user an offer for the particular first item based at least in part of the location of the portable computing device within the geographic area, the determination that the particular item is an available item within the geographic area, and the status for the particular item;

display the offer on the portable computing device

present a map of at least a portion of the geographic area on the portable computing device; and

display an indicator of a location of the particular item on the presented map.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute application code computer-executable stored in the storage medium to cause the system to:

display an indicator of a location of the second item on a map, the map displayed on the portable computing device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the storage medium to cause the system to determine that the first item is unavailable within the geographic location, wherein the offer displayed on the user interface is for a second item based on a determination that the first item is unavailable within the geographic location.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the storage medium to cause the system to:

determine a location of the second item within the geographic area; and

display an indicator of a location of the second item on a map, the map displayed on the user interface.