PERSONALIZED E-COUPONS FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented process for providing personalized e-coupons to a user of a mobile communication device which is capable of ascertaining its location, comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions:
- receiving location information associated with the mobile communication device (300), wherein the location information comprises routes and destinations frequented by the user in that the user took a route at least a first prescribed number of times and visited a destination at least a second prescribed number of times, as derived from location data periodically captured by the mobile communication device;
analyzing the location information to identify enterprises offering e-coupons which are proximate within a first prescribed distance to a frequent route or a second prescribed distance to a destination of the user (302);
generating one or more e-coupons associated with the identified enterprises (306); and
providing the generated e-coupons to the mobile communication device (308).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for providing and receiving personalized e-coupons is presented. In general, the technique involves an e-coupon provider sending e-coupons to a user of a mobile communication device, such as a cellular telephone or PDA, which are personalized in various ways so as to make them attractive to the user. In one embodiment, the e-coupons are provided based on location information received from the mobile communication device. In another embodiment, the e-coupons are provided based on the user'"'"'s purchasing history. The mobile communication device that receives e-coupons from the provider includes an e-coupon handler program to facilitate the procurement and receipt of the e-coupons. In general, the e-coupon handler receives e-coupons and displays them to the user on a display of the mobile communication device. The e-coupons could have been requested by the e-coupon handler, or pushed to it by the e-coupon provider.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented process for providing personalized e-coupons to a user of a mobile communication device which is capable of ascertaining its location, comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions:
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receiving location information associated with the mobile communication device (300), wherein the location information comprises routes and destinations frequented by the user in that the user took a route at least a first prescribed number of times and visited a destination at least a second prescribed number of times, as derived from location data periodically captured by the mobile communication device; analyzing the location information to identify enterprises offering e-coupons which are proximate within a first prescribed distance to a frequent route or a second prescribed distance to a destination of the user (302); generating one or more e-coupons associated with the identified enterprises (306); and providing the generated e-coupons to the mobile communication device (308). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for providing personalized e-coupons to a user of a mobile communication device, comprising:
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a general purpose computing device which is capable of communicating with said mobile communication device; and a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to, receive purchasing information (200), wherein the purchasing information comprises data concerning a user'"'"'s past redemption of e-coupons, analyze the purchasing information to determine what goods or services, or both, the user finds attractive (204), generate one or more e-coupons based on the analysis of the purchasing information (206), and provide the generated e-coupons to the mobile communication device (208). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for receiving a personalized e-coupon on a mobile communication device comprising a display, said computer-executable instructions comprising:
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inputting an e-coupon sent by an e-coupon provider on said mobile communication device (806), wherein the e-coupon is redeemable for a good or service that is deemed to be attractive to the user of the mobile communication device based on the user'"'"'s past redemption and non-redemption of e-coupons; and displaying the inputted e-coupon on the display of the mobile communication device, said e-coupon being redeemable by the user (810). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification