Behavioral tracking system and method in support of high-engagement communications

• US 10,482,490 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sailthru, Inc. (CM Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sailthru, Inc. (CM Group LLC)
• Inventors: Capel, Neil James, White, Ian Bradford
• Primary Examiner(s): Van Bramer, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pouncil, Darnell A
• Application Number:
  US14/683,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20150294349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 705 14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Systems and methods provide targeted communications for each of a plurality of respective recipients. A database includes user information, customer information, template information, content feed information and advertising information. A template instruction is processed to select a template for generating the targeted communication, which is customized with at least some of the content feed. The targeted communication is scheduled for delivery, and at least some advertising information is selected to be included, as a function of geo-location information associated with at least one of the plurality of recipients. At least some advertising information is processed to format the advertising information with the targeted communication based at least on at least one instruction received from the registered user. The targeted communication is generated and transmitted to each of the plurality of recipients.

Claims

1. A system for providing targeted communications to each of a plurality of respective customers, and using information associated with the customers'"'"' interactions with the targeted communications in an external webmail system that is configured as a browser-based e-mail platform and used by the customers to access their email via web browser software operating on each respective customers'"'"' computing device, the system comprising:

at least one database, stored on non-transitory processor readable media and that is accessible to at least one processor, the at least one database includes;

electronic user information associated with a plurality of registered users;

electronic customer information associated with each of a plurality of respective customers of at least one of the registered users;

electronic template information representing a plurality of templates that are useable for generating targeted email communications;

electronic content feed information representing information to be dynamically provided with the targeted email communications; and

electronic user profile information representing at least purchase history and purchase intent for each of the plurality of respective customers of the at least one of the registered users;

a template module that configures the at least one processor to;

process at least one template instruction received from a computing device operated by a registered user to select one of the plurality of the templates for generating the targeted email communications;

identify the plurality of respective customers;

generate the targeted email communications based on the selected one of the plurality of templates;

respectively customize the targeted email communications with at least some of the content feed respectively selected for each of the respective customers; and

access, in response to one of the respective customers interacting with one of the targeted email communications, at least some of the electronic user profile information associated with the one of the customers, wherein the at least some of the electronic user profile information further represents at least opening the one of the targeted communications, selecting a hyperlink in the one of the targeted communications, visiting a web page associated with the hyperlink and instigating an ecommerce transaction in the web page without completing the transaction;

at least one module provided by the at least one processor that extends the external email platform by interfacing with the external email platform and providing at least one user interface for operability in connection with the external email platform, wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one image from the web page associated with the hyperlink and includes selectable options for receiving input associated with completing a purchase of at least one item in an abandoned e-commerce shopping cart associated with the transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor updates the at least one user interface in accordance with the input.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface includes selectable options for receiving input associated with one or more of:

downloading an app;

adding a calendar event; and

setting preferences associated with receiving email.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external email platform further configures the at least one processor to receive information associated with a selection of at least one of the selectable options.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the external email platform module further configures the at least one processor to provide information associated with the at least some of the electronic user profile in the form of metadata and to generate an alert associated with the metadata.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the alert is usable by the generate content in the at least one user interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic customer information further includes preferences of at least some of the respective customers, and further comprising:

an alert module that configures the at least one processor to process at least one alert instruction, received from the computing device operated by the registered user, to generate and send a notification in accordance with at least one of the preferences.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the preferences relate to at least one of a price, product availability, and topic, and wherein the notification is a product sale offer or an article containing specific content.

9. A method for providing targeted communications to each of a plurality of respective customers, and using information associated with the customers'"'"' interactions with the targeted communications in an external webmail system that is configured as a browser-based e-mail platform and used by the customers to access their email via web browser software operating on each respective customers'"'"' computing device, the method comprising:

accessing, by at least one processor, at least one database stored on non-transitory processor readable media, the at least one database includes;

electronic user information associated with a plurality of registered users;

electronic customer information associated with each of a plurality of respective customers of at least one of the registered users;

electronic template information representing a plurality of templates that are useable for generating targeted email communications;

electronic content feed information representing information to be dynamically provided with the targeted email communications; and

electronic user profile information representing at least purchase history and purchase intent for each of the plurality of respective customers of the at least one of the registered users;

processing, by the at least one processor, at least one template instruction received from a computing device operated by a registered user, wherein the at least one template instruction configures the at least one processor to;

select one of the plurality of the templates for generating the targeted email communications;

to identify the plurality of respective customers;

generate the targeted email communications based on the selected one of the plurality of templates;

respectively customize the targeted email communications with at least some of the content feed respectively selected for each of the respective customers; and

accessing, by the at least one processor in response to one of the respective customers interacting with one of the targeted email communications, at least some of the electronic user profile information associated with the one of the customers, wherein the at least some of the electronic user profile information further represents at least opening the one of the targeted communications, selecting a hyperlink in the one of the targeted communications, visiting a web page associated with the hyperlink and instigating an ecommerce transaction in the web page without completing the transaction;

extending the external webmail system by providing, by the at least one processor, at least one module that interfaces with the external webmail system and adds a user interface that is operable in connection with the external email platform, wherein the at least one user interface, when integrated within the external email platform, includes at least one image from the web page associated with the hyperlink and includes selectable options for receiving input associated with completing a purchase of at least one item in an abandoned e-commerce shopping cart associated with the transaction.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

updating the at least one user interface in accordance with the information associated with the input.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one user interface includes selectable options for receiving input associated with one or more of:

downloading an app;

adding a calendar event; and

setting preferences associated with receiving email.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by the at least one processor, information associated with a selection of at least one of the selectable options.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing, by the at least one processor, information associated with the at least some of the electronic user profile in the form of metadata and to generate an alert associated with the metadata.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert is usable by the generate content in the at least one user interface.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic customer information further includes preferences of at least some of the respective customers, and further comprising:

processing, by the at least one processor, at least one alert instruction, received from the computing device operated by the registered user, to generate and sending, by the at least one processor, a notification in accordance with at least one of the preferences.