Method and system for electronic distribution of incentives having real-time consumer-based directions

• US 20050216337A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Inventors: Wills, Scott, Roberts, Gregory B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.580
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method and system for electronic distribution of incentives having real-time consumer-based directions according to another embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. An online promotion service may receive user profile information, which may include demographic information, location information, user preferences, user requests, and other information. Online promotion service may provide targeted incentives and promotions to a particular user or class of users based on user profile information and other information. Incentives may include coupons, promotions, rebates, sales notifications, free samples, and other product or service related incentives. A map and street directions identifying the location of associated facilities, such as redemption and retail/point-of-sale facilities, from a user'"'"'s location may also be provided. The user'"'"'s location may be identified as the user'"'"'s home address, work address, or other convenient locations.

Claims

1. A system for generating promotion information and associated directional information based on user profile information, the system comprising:

a server system for storing promotion information;

means for receiving profile information from a user;

means for storing in a database the user profile information;

means for identifying the user'"'"'s location;

means for generating a promotion based on the profile information entered by the user;

means for generating directional information in accordance with user defined display preferences to the user in association with the promotion; and

means for transmitting the promotion and directional information to the user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for identifying the user'"'"'s location comprises a plug-in device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for identifying the user'"'"'s location comprises a global positioning system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises location information related to one or more associated facilities where the user can purchase an item or service identified by the promotion.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein directional information comprises directions from the user'"'"'s location to the one or more associated facilities in the promotion.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the directional information comprises a map identifying one or more of the associated facilities in the promotion.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein user defined display preferences comprises a user-defined proximity to the user'"'"'s location

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the user-defined proximity comprises a user-defined distance from the user'"'"'s location.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the profile information comprises the option to download directional information associated with each selected promotion.

10. A method for generating promotion information and associated directional information based on user profile information, the method comprising the steps of:

storing promotion information;

receiving profile information from a user;

storing in a database the user profile information;

identifying the user'"'"'s location;

generating a promotion based on the profile information entered by the user;

generating directional information in accordance with user defined display preferences to the user in association with the promotion; and

transmitting the promotion and directional information to the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of identifying the user'"'"'s location comprises a plug-in device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of identifying the user'"'"'s location comprises a global positioning system.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the promotion comprises location information related to one or more associated facilities where the user can purchase an item or service identified by the promotion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein directional information comprises directions from the user'"'"'s location to the one or more associated facilities in the promotion.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the directional information comprises a map identifying one or more of the associated facilities in the promotion.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein user defined display preferences comprises a user-defined proximity to the user'"'"'s location

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user-defined proximity comprises a user-defined distance from the user'"'"'s location.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the profile information comprises the option to download directional information associated with each selected promotion.

19. A system for receiving targeted information comprising:

means for outputting location information to a server; and

means for receiving targeted information and directional information in association with the targeted information.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the targeted information comprises a promotion.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the targeted information comprises a coupon.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for outputting location information comprises a plug-in device.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for outputting location information comprises a mobile device capable of transmitting global positioning information.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein directional information comprises directions from the user'"'"'s location to one or more facilities associated with the targeted information.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein directional information comprises a map identifying one or more facilities associated with the targeted information.

26. The system of claim 19 further comprising means for outputting display preferences.

27. A method for receiving targeted information comprising the steps of:

outputting location information to a server; and

receiving targeted information and directional information in association with the targeted information.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the targeted information comprises a promotion.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the targeted information comprises a coupon.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of outputting location information comprises outputting location information through a plug-in device.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of outputting location information comprises outputting location information through a mobile device capable of transmitting global positioning information.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein directional information comprises directions from the user'"'"'s location to one or more facilities associated with the targeted information.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein directional information comprises a map identifying one or more facilities associated with the targeted information.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of outputting display preferences.