Searching a database including prioritizing results based on historical data

• US 20060282410A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coupons Incorporated (Quotient Technology Inc.)
• Inventors: Weitzman, Jeffrey, Boal, Steven R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided that include techniques for searching a database. One method includes receiving one or more input search terms and providing a database. The database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon. The method further includes identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received input search terms. The method further includes selecting one or more coupons from the identified coupons. A given coupon can be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed. A given coupon can also be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed. The method further includes presenting one or more coupons to the user where the presented one or more coupons include the selected one or more coupons.

Claims

1. A method for searching a database comprising:

receiving one or more input search terms;

providing a database, wherein the database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon;

identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received one or more input search terms;

selecting one or more coupons from the identified one or more coupons, wherein a given coupon is selected based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed; and

presenting one or more coupons to the user, the presented one or more coupons including the selected one or more coupons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a given coupon is selected based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed in response to the one or more input search terms, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed in response to the one or more input search terms.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a category for the one or more input search terms; and

identifying one or more coupons in the database based on a search term within the determined category other than the one or more input search terms.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a category for one of the selected one or more coupons; and

identifying one or more coupons in the database based on a search term within the determined category other than the one or more input search terms.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the presented one or more coupons further includes one or more coupons selected at random from the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more coupons from the identified one or more coupons includes selecting one or more coupons based on demographical information of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more coupons from the identified one or more coupons includes selecting one or more coupons based on behavioral information of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a priority to each of the identified one or more coupons, wherein a priority assigned to a given coupon is based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed in response to the one or more input search terms, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed in response to the one or more input search terms; and

presenting one or more coupons to the user in accordance with the assigned priorities of the one or more coupons.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting one or more coupons to the user comprises presenting a reference to a location where the one or more coupons can be printed or redeemed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting one or more coupons to the user comprises printing at least one of the one or more coupons.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving one or more search terms comprises receiving one or more search terms from a user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving one or more search terms comprises deriving one or more search terms from content of a web page.

13. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer having a display to:

receive one or more input search terms;

provide a database, wherein the database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon;

identify one or more coupons in the database based on the received one or more input search terms;

select one or more coupons from the identified one or more coupons, wherein a given coupon is selected based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed; and

present one or more coupons to the user, the presented one or more coupons including the selected one or more coupons.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein a given coupon is selected based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed in response to the one or more input search terms, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed in response to the one or more input search terms.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions causing a computer having a display to:

determine a category for the one or more input search terms; and

identify one or more coupons in the database based on a search term within the determined category other than the one or more input search terms.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions causing a computer having a display to:

determine a category for one of the selected one or more coupons; and

identify one or more coupons in the database based on a search term within the determined category other than the one or more input search terms.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein to select one or more coupons from the identified one or more coupons includes to select one or more coupons at random from the database.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions causing a computer having a display to:

assign a priority to each of the identified one or more coupons, wherein a priority assigned to a given coupon is based on at least one of a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed in response to the one or more input search terms, or a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed in response to the one or more input search terms; and

present one or more coupons to the user in accordance with the assigned priorities of the one or more coupons.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein to present one or more coupons to the user comprises to present a reference to a location where the one or more coupons can be printed or redeemed.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein to receive one or more search terms comprises to derive one or more search terms from content of a web page.