SYSTEM FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGN SPECIFICATION AND SECURE DIGITAL COUPON REDEMPTION

• US 20090024477A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hoozware Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, James F., Ning, Paul C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.250
• 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 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Product vendors are provided with a system for performing a marketing campaign to mobile communication device users, providing offers as instruments, such as digital coupons, to a selected group of users of the mobile communication devices and validating the integrity of the instruments. The invention has two phases: the selection of the components of the instrument from a menu provided by a social networking organization; and validating the instrument upon redemption from the product vendor. In the first phase, the product vendor selects elements from the menu relevant to the campaign, such as timing, nature of the offer, targeting of the recipients, etc. In the second phase, the instrument is encoded as to the marketing campaign and an arbitrary designation which initiates a pattern as the instrument is redeemed. The product vendor inspects the instrument to ensure that the encoding is correct during the redemption process.

Claims

1. A system for performing a marketing campaign for a product vendor having two phases:

(1) a specification phase; and

(2) a validation phase, wherein said marketing campaign is directed to mobile-communication-device users who are members of a social networking organization to encourage said members to obtain a product from said product vendor, optionally during a specified time period, said organization maintaining data of said members using a data processor, said data processor further including an account for each member, wherein an instrument associated with said marketing campaign is provided to said members, said system comprising;

a data processor having data comprising information of said members and the marketing campaign;

a mobile communication device having a display associated with said device user;

said data processor originating said instrument, a reference designator, a sequence designator, time of redemption and time from redemption for display on said mobile communication device;

said specification phase comprising;

said product vendor selecting from a menu comprising timing aspects and nature of an offer and optionally member demographics and member behavior to provide a targeted offer;

transmitting said offer as an instrument with its terms based on said selecting to said member'"'"'s account;

whereby said member can access said offer using said member'"'"'s account; and

said validation phase comprising;

checking said reference designator as associated with said marketing campaign;

transmitting to said data processor redemption of said instrument, whereby said instrument is assigned a sequential designator beginning with a random symbol, time of redemption, time from redemption; and

optionally, at said product vendor'"'"'s request to validate said instrument, through said mobile communication device, transmitting from said data processor said sequential designator and any other relevant information to said product vendor.

2. A method for performing a marketing campaign of a venue wherein said marketing campaign is directed to mobile communication device users who are members of a social networking organization to encourage said members to attend said venue, optionally during a specified time period, said organization maintaining data of said members in a data processor, said data processor further including an account for each member, said method comprising:

to provide an offer, said venue selecting from a menu comprising timing aspects and nature of an offer and optionally member demographics and member behavior to provide a targeted offer;

transmitting said offer as a digital coupon with its terms based on said selecting to said member'"'"'s account;

whereby said member can access said offer using said member'"'"'s account.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said timing aspects include at least one of the time of transmitting and the time for redeeming said coupon.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said menu includes said member demographics and said member behavior.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said member access is through said mobile communication device.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said menu further includes social status of said members.

7. A system for verifying the proper use of an instrument presented on a mobile communication device by a device user who is a member of a social networking organization, where the instrument is associated with a marketing campaign giving awards to device users upon presentation of the instrument to an award provider and redemption of said instrument, said system comprising:

a data processor having data comprising information of said members and the marketing campaign;

a mobile communication device having a display associated with said device user;

said data processor originating said instrument, a reference designator, a sequence designator, time of redemption and time from redemption for display on said mobile communication device;

said verifying comprising;

checking said reference designator as associated with said marketing campaign;

transmitting to said data processor redemption of said instrument, whereby said instrument is assigned a sequential designator beginning with a random number, time of redemption, time from redemption; and

optionally, at said award provider'"'"'s request to validate said instrument, through said mobile communication device, transmitting from said data processor said sequential designator and any other relevant information to said award provider.