System and method for distributing a right to transmit an electronic coupon to mobile devices

• US 20080040229A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Howard V. Gholston
• Original Assignee: Howard V. Gholston
• Inventors: Gholston, Howard V.
• Application Number:
  US11/891,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for distributing a right to transmit an electronic coupon to mobile devices are generally described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon to the mobile devices at one or more predetermined locations at one or more predetermined times on one or more predetermined days. The method also includes receiving one or more bids from one or more parties to acquire the right, and distributing the right to a party of the one or more parties proposing a bid of the one or more bids having a predetermined characteristic. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a right to transmit an electronic coupon to mobile devices, the method comprising:

auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon to the mobile devices at one or more predetermined locations at one or more predetermined times on one or more predetermined days;

receiving one or more bids from one or more parties to acquire the right; and

distributing the right to a party of the one or more parties proposing a bid of the one or more bids having a predetermined characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

distributing the right further comprises;

distributing the right to the party having a highest one of the one or more bids; and

the predetermined characteristic comprises the highest one of the one or more bids.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the electronic coupon to the mobile devices at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

refusing to transmit a different electronic coupon to the electronic devices at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a transmitter of information about the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic;

wherein the transmitter of information transmits the mobile coupon to the mobile devices at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic to customize the electronic coupon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

allowing the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic to customize the electronic coupon further comprises;

allowing the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic to customize the electronic coupon to be for one or more products.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

allowing the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic to customize the electronic coupon further comprises;

allowing the party proposing the bid having the predetermined characteristic to customize the electronic coupon by adding an advertisement about one or more products.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

auctioning further comprises;

auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon having a predetermined content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

soliciting the one or more bids from the one or more parties to acquire the right.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment for the auctioning.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment when a party uses the electronic coupon from a mobile device after the electronic coupon is transmitted to the mobile device of the mobile devices receiving the mobile coupon at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving payment for the auctioning.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

auctioning further comprises;

auctioning the right to transmit a particular type of the electronic coupon.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

auctioning further comprises;

auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon for a predetermined product.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

auctioning further comprises;

auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon for a predetermined price for the predetermined product.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

auctioning further comprises;

auctioning the right to transmit the electronic coupon for a predetermined discount.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a price index over time.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

auctioning a second right to transmit a second electronic coupon to a second one or more predetermined locations at a second one or more predetermined times on a second one or more predetermined days; and

receiving a second one or more bids from a second one or more parties to acquire the second right;

wherein;

providing the price index over time further comprises.

providing a first price index for transmitting the electronic coupon to the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days; and

providing a second price index for transmitting the second electronic coupon to the second one or more predetermined locations at the second one or more predetermined times on the second one or more predetermined days.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a unique symbol for the first price index; and

providing a unique symbol for the second price index.

21. A method for distributing a right to transmit an advertisement with an electronic coupon to mobile devices, the method comprising:

auctioning the right to transmit the advertisement with the electronic coupon;

receiving one or more bids from one or more parties to acquire the right; and

distributing the right to a party of the one or more parties proposing a bid of the one or more bids having a predetermined characteristic.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving payment when a party uses the electronic coupon from a mobile device after the electronic coupon is transmitted to the mobile device of the mobile devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving payment for the auctioning.

24. A method for distributing a right to transmit an electronic coupon to mobile devices, the method comprising:

brokering the right to transmit the electronic coupon to one or more predetermined locations at one or more predetermined times on one or more predetermined days;

identifying a party to acquire the right; and

distributing the right to the party.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving payment when a party uses the electronic coupon from a mobile device after the electronic coupon is transmitted to the mobile device of the mobile devices at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving payment for the brokering.

27. A method for distributing a right to transmit an advertisement with an electronic coupon to mobile devices, the method comprising:

brokering the right to transmit the advertisement with the electronic coupon;

identifying a party to acquire the right; and

distributing the right to the party.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving payment when a party uses the electronic coupon from a mobile device after the electronic coupon is transmitted to the mobile device of the mobile devices at the one or more predetermined locations at the one or more predetermined times on the one or more predetermined days.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving payment for the brokering.

30. A method of distributing electronic coupons to mobile devices comprising:

acquiring a right to transmit a first electronic coupon for a product at a first location;

acquiring a right to transmit a second electronic coupon for the product at a second location; and

authorizing a transmission of the first electronic coupon for the product at the second location.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

receiving payment when the first electronic coupon is redeemed at the second location after the first electron coupon is transmitted to mobile devices.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

acquiring a right to transmit a third electronic coupon for the product at a third location; and

transmitting the second coupon at the third location.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

receiving a first payment when the first electronic coupon is redeemed at the second location after the first electronic coupon is transmitted to electronic devices at the first location; and

receiving a second payment when the second electronic coupon is redeemed at the third location after the second electronic coupon is transmitted to electronic devices at the third location.