AUTOMATED CHANCE-BASED PROMOTIONAL AWARD SERVICE FOR PHYSICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
First Claim
1. A method of providing an automated chance-based promotional award service for physical establishments, the method comprising:
- associating a unique establishment identifier with each of a plurality of physical establishments;
receiving an electronic attendance message from each of a plurality of portable computing devices, the electronic attendance message conveying an establishment identifier and a user identifier, and the electronic attendance message indicating that a user associated with the user identifier is currently in attendance within a physical establishment associated with the establishment identifier;
determining, for each of a plurality of received attendance messages, whether the user associated with the user identifier wins a free or discounted product or service of the physical establishment associated with the establishment identifier, the determining being based at least in part upon a process of chance; and
sending an electronic award message to a portable computing device of at least one user who is determined to win a free or discounted product or service of at least one establishment, the electronic award message indicating that the at least one user has won the free or discounted product or service of the at least one establishment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An establishment-based server is configured to receive electronic attendance messages from each of a plurality of portable computing devices wherein each electronic attendance message indicates that a user associated with the portable computing device is in attendance within an identified physical establishment. In response to the receipt of an electronic attendance message, the server automatically performs a process of chance to determine if a user associated with the portable computing device wins a free or discounted product or service of the identified physical establishment. If so, the server automatically sends an award message to the portable computing device, informing that a free or discounted product or service has been won. The award message may be redeemed by the user within the identified establishment for the free or discounted product or service. The award message may be time-limited such that it may only be redeemed within a limited time period.
52 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of providing an automated chance-based promotional award service for physical establishments, the method comprising:
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associating a unique establishment identifier with each of a plurality of physical establishments;
receiving an electronic attendance message from each of a plurality of portable computing devices, the electronic attendance message conveying an establishment identifier and a user identifier, and the electronic attendance message indicating that a user associated with the user identifier is currently in attendance within a physical establishment associated with the establishment identifier;
determining, for each of a plurality of received attendance messages, whether the user associated with the user identifier wins a free or discounted product or service of the physical establishment associated with the establishment identifier, the determining being based at least in part upon a process of chance; and
sending an electronic award message to a portable computing device of at least one user who is determined to win a free or discounted product or service of at least one establishment, the electronic award message indicating that the at least one user has won the free or discounted product or service of the at least one establishment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing a chance-based promotional award service for physical establishments, the system comprising:
a centralized server in processing communication with a plurality of portable computing devices, the centralized server executing routines for;
receiving an electronic attendance message from each of the plurality of portable computing devices, each received electronic attendance message indicating that a user associated with a portable computing device is currently in attendance within an identified physical establishment;
determining, for each of a plurality of received attendance messages, whether the user associated with the portable computing device wins a free or discounted product or service of the identified physical establishment, the determining being based at least in part upon a process of chance; and
sending an electronic award message to the portable computing device of at least one user that is determined to win a free or discounted product or service of an identified establishment, the electronic award message indicating that at least one user has won the free or discounted product or service of the identified establishment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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25. A method of providing a chance-based promotional award service for physical establishments, the method comprising:
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receiving an electronic attendance message from a mobile telephone device, the electronic attendance message indicating that a user associated with the mobile telephone device in attendance at a particular physical establishment;
determining, in response to receiving the electronic attendance message, whether the user associated with the mobile telephone device wins a free or discounted product or service of the particular physical establishment, the determining being based at least in part upon a process of chance; and
sending an electronic award message to the mobile telephone device indicating that the free or discounted product or service of the particular physical establishment has been won, the sending being performed based at least in part upon the determining being affirmative. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification