Method and system for electronic delivery of incentive information based on user proximity

• US 20050228719A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Greg, Wills, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,611 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 30/0224 based on user history
• 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 the electronic distribution of product or service promotion information to a mobile user are disclosed. A user may provide profile information to an online promotion service, such as user interests and preferences with respect to products and services as well as other information. The online promotion service may receive location information of point-of-sale facilities associated with particular promotions for products or services. The online promotion service may generate one or more targeted promotions to a mobile user when the user travels within a predetermined distance of an associated point-of-sale facility. A mobile user'"'"'s location may be identified by a global positioning system and conveyed to the online promotion service. The user location information may be transmitted via a cell phone, a PDA, a pager or other device. This enables the user to take advantage of targeted or requested promotions while the user is within a close proximity to an associated point-of-sale facility.

Claims

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

a server system for storing promotion information, wherein the promotion information comprises location information related to one or more associated facilities;

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 when the user is in communication with a mobile device capable of transmitting the user'"'"'s location;

means for generating and transmitting a promotion to the user when the user'"'"'s location is within a predetermined proximity to an associated facility that relates to the profile information for that user.

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

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device capable of transmitting the user'"'"'s location comprises one or more of a cellular phone, a PDA, and a pager.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined proximity comprises a user-defined radius from the user'"'"'s location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined proximity comprises a local region.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises directions to an associated facility where the user can purchase an item or service identified in the promotion.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises a map of the user'"'"'s location with respect to an associated facility where the user can purchase an item or service identified in the promotion.

8. A method for generating promotion information based on user profile information and location information, the method comprising the steps of:

storing promotion information, wherein the promotion information comprises location information related to one or more associated facilities;

receiving profile information from a user;

storing in a database the user profile information;

identifying the user'"'"'s location when the user is in communication with a mobile device capable of transmitting the user'"'"'s location;

generating and transmitting a promotion to the user when the user'"'"'s location is within a predetermined proximity to an associated facility that relates to the profile information for that user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of identifying the user'"'"'s location comprises a global positioning system.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the mobile device capable of transmitting the user'"'"'s location comprises one or more of a cellular phone, a PDA, and a pager.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined proximity comprises a user-defined radius from the user'"'"'s location.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined proximity comprises a local region.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the promotion comprises directions to an associated facility where the user can purchase an item or service identified in the promotion.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the promotion comprises a map of the user'"'"'s location with respect to an associated facility where the user can purchase an item or service identified in the promotion.

15. A system for receiving targeted information for users comprising:

means for outputting location information to a server; and

means for receiving targeted information related to the location information.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the targeted information comprises a promotion.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the means for outputting location information to a server comprises a mobile device capable of transmitting a user'"'"'s location.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile device comprises one or more of a cellular phone, a PDA, or a pager.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for outputting profile information to the server.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein profile information comprises a predetermined proximity preference.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the predetermined proximity preference comprises a user-defined radius from the user'"'"'s location.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the predetermined proximity preference comprises a local region.

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

outputting location information to a server; and

receiving targeted information related to the location information.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the targeted information comprises a promotion.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the means for outputting location information to a server comprises a mobile device capable of transmitting a user'"'"'s location.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile device comprises one or more of a cellular phone, a PDA, or a pager.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of outputting profile information to the server.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein profile information comprises a predetermined proximity preference.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the predetermined proximity preference comprises a user-defined radius from the user'"'"'s location.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the predetermined proximity preference comprises a local region.