Method, system and apparatus for targeting an offer

• US 20040267611A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoerenz, Chris P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

A system, apparatus, means, computer code, and method may include receiving data indicative of information associated with a user, determining a value of a metric associated with the user based on the data indicative of information associated with the user, verifying that the value of the metric associated with the user is valid, selecting an offer from a plurality of offers where each of the offers has a score associated with the value of the metric, and providing data indicative of the selected offer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data indicative of information associated with a user;

determining a value of a metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verifying said value of said metric associated with said user;

selecting an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said metric, each of said plurality of offers having a score associated with said value of said metric; and

providing data indicative of said selected offer.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving response data associated with said selected offer.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

generating a report on said selected offer, said report including said response data.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating scores for a plurality of offers based on said value of said metric associated with said user.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

creating at least one table of scores for said plurality of offers for a plurality of said values of said metric associated with said user.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

updating said scores based on offer response data.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said data indicative of said selected offer.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said receiving said data indicative of said selected offer includes receiving said data indicative of said selected offer from a content providing device.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said receiving said data indicative of said selected offer includes receiving said data indicative of said selected offer from a content advertising device.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving said data indicative of information associated with said user includes receiving said data indicative of information associated with said user from a content providing device.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving said data indicative of information associated with said user includes receiving said data indicative of information associated with said user from a user device.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining said value of said metric includes:

determining a zip+4 code associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein verifying that said value of said metric associated with said user is valid includes:

comparing said value of said metric associated with said user to at least one known value of said metric.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein verifying that said value of said metric associated with said user is valid includes:

receiving information associated with said value of said metric from an information device.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein verifying said value of said metric associated with said user includes:

correcting said value of said metric associated with said user.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said selecting an offer from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting at least one offer type based at least in part on a score of said at least one offer type associated with said value of said metric.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said selecting an offer from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting at least one offer from said selected at least one offer type.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said selecting an offer from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said multiple offers are selected for simultaneous display on a web page.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting at least one primary offer; and

selecting at least one secondary offer.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one primary offer is selected based at least in part on said score associated with said value of said metric.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said at least one secondary offer is selected based at least in part on said score associated with said value of said metric.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing data indicative of said selected offer includes:

providing data indicative of said selected offer to at least one content providing device.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing data indicative of said selected offer includes:

providing data indicative of said selected offer to at least one user device.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein said data indicative of said selected offer includes an offer code associated with said selected offer.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein said metric is a first metric and said verifying of said value of said metric associated with said user includes:

determining at least one value of a second metric associated with said user; and

determining a correct value of said first metric based at least in part on said value of said second metric.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein said score is a profit score.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said data indicative of said selected offer includes:

providing said data indicative of said selected offer on a web page.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing said data indicative of said selected offer includes:

providing said data indicative of said selected offer in an e-mail message.

30. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to;

receive data indicative of information associated with a user;

determine a value of a metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verify said value of said metric associated with said user;

select an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said metric, each of said plurality offers having a score associated with said value of said metric; and

provide data indicative of said selected offer.

31. An article of manufacture according to claim 30, wherein said stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause said processor to:

receive response data associated with said selected offer.

32. An article of manufacture according to claim 30, wherein said stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause said processor to:

generate scores for a plurality of offers based on said value of said metric associated with said user.

33. An article of manufacture according to claim 30, wherein said offer is selected from said plurality of offers by:

selecting at least one offer type based at least in part on a score of said at least one offer type associated with said value of said metric.

34. An article of manufacture according to claim 30, wherein said offer is selected from said plurality of offers by:

selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers.

35. An article of manufacture according to claim 34, wherein said selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting at least one primary offer; and

selecting at least one secondary offer.

36. An offer targeting system, comprising:

a processor;

a communication port coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with a plurality of network devices; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive data indicative of information associated with a user;

determine a value of a metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verify said value of said metric associated with said user;

select an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said metric, each of said plurality of offers having a score associated with said value of said metric; and

provide data indicative of said selected offer.

37. A method, comprising:

generating for each of a plurality of values of a metric, scores associated with a plurality of offers;

receiving fulfillment data associated with at least one of said plurality of offers; and

updating at least one of said scores based on said fulfillment data.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein each of said scores is a profit score.

39. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to;

generate for each of a plurality of values of a metric, scores associated with a plurality of offers;

receive fulfillment data associated with at least one of said offers; and

update at least one of said scores based on said fulfillment data.

40. An offer targeting system, comprising:

a processor;

a communication port coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with a plurality of network devices; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

generate for each of a plurality of values of a metric, scores associated with a plurality of offers;

receive fulfillment data on at least one of said plurality of offers; and

update at least one of said scores based on said fulfillment data.

41. A method, comprising:

receiving a first signal, said first signal including data indicative of information associated with a user;

selecting, based on said data indicative of information associated with said user, a plurality of offers for simultaneous display on a web page provided to said user; and

providing a second signal, said second signal including data indicative of said plurality of offers.

42. A method according to claim 41, said selecting comprising:

determining, based on said data indicative of information associated with said user, a class of offers; and

selecting a plurality of offers from said class.

43. A method according to claim 41, said further comprising:

verifying at least a portion of said data indicative of information associated with said user.

44. A method according to claim 41, said selecting comprising:

selecting at least one primary offer and at least one secondary offer.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said at least one primary offer is selected based on a first portion of said data indicative of information associated with said user, and wherein said at least one secondary offer is selected based on a second portion of said data indicative of information associated with said user.

46. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to;

receive a first signal, said first signal including data indicative of information associated with a user;

select, based on said data indicative of information associated with said user, a plurality of offers for simultaneous display on a web page; and

provide a second signal, said second signal including data indicative of said plurality of offers.

47. An article of manufacture according to claim 46, wherein said stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause said processor to:

verify at least a portion of said data indicative of information associated with said user.

48. An article of manufacture according to claim 46, wherein said plurality of offers are selected by:

selecting at least one primary offer and at least one secondary offer.

49. An offer targeting system, comprising:

a processor;

a communication port coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with a plurality of network devices; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive a first signal, said first signal including data indicative of information associated with a user;

select, based on said data indicative of information associated with said user, a plurality of offers for simultaneous display on a web page; and

provide a second signal, said second signal including data indicative of said plurality of offers.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein said stored instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to:

verify at least a portion of said data indicative of information associated with said user.

51. A system according to claim 49, wherein said plurality of offers are selected by:

selecting at least one primary offer and at least one secondary offer.

52. A method, comprising:

receiving data indicative of information associated with a user;

determining a value of a first metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verifying said value of said first metric associated with said user;

determining a value of a second metric based, at least in part, on said value of said first metric;

selecting an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said second metric, each of said plurality of offers having a score associated with said value of said second metric; and

providing data indicative of said selected offer.

53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising:

receiving response data associated with said selected offer.

54. A method according to claim 52, further comprising:

generating scores for a plurality of offers based on said value of said second metric associated with said user.

55. A method according to claim 54, further comprising:

creating at least one table of scores for said plurality of offers for a plurality of said values of said second metric associated with said user.

56. A method according to claim 55, further comprising:

updating said scores based on offer response data.

57. A method according to claim 52, wherein said determining said value of said second metric includes:

determining a zip+4 code associated with said user based on said value of said first metric.

58. A method according to claim 52, wherein said selecting an offer from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers.

59. A method according to claim 58, wherein said selecting multiple offers from said plurality of offers includes:

selecting at least one primary offer; and

selecting at least one secondary offer.

60. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to;

receive data indicative of information associated with a user;

determine a value of a first metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verify said value of said first metric associated with said user;

determine a value of a second metric based, at least in part, on said value of said first metric;

select an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said second metric, each of said plurality of offers having a score associated with said value of said second metric; and

provide data indicative of said selected offer.

61. An offer targeting system, comprising:

a processor;

a communication port coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with a plurality of network devices; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive data indicative of information associated with a user;

determine a value of a first metric associated with said user based on said data indicative of information associated with said user;

verify said value of said first metric associated with said user;

determine a value of a second metric based, at least in part, on said value of said first metric;

select an offer from a plurality of offers based at least in part on said value of said second metric, each of said plurality of offers having a score associated with said value of said second metric; and

provide data indicative of said selected offer.