LIST-BASED COUPON SYSTEM AND METHODS

• US 20100106591A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aperture Investments LLC
• Inventors: Casey, Timothy Daniel, Fuzell-Casey, Jacquelyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,090 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 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A list-based coupon system that enables users to create a list of items to obtain, purchase or locate within a store or other geographic area, and provides users with coupons under a variety of different conditions.

Claims

1. A method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

analyzing a list of items stored on the portable computer device that are desired by the user within a geographic area;

determining a location of the user within the geographic area; and

selecting and presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computing device based on the list of items and the location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining whether an item on the list of items is an available item within the geographic area, wherein the step of selecting and presenting includes the step of selecting and presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computer device based on the available item.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of analyzing further includes the step of determining an alternative item based on the list of items and the available item, wherein the step of selecting and presenting further includes the step of selecting and presenting the coupon to the user for the alternative item.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the alternative item is similar to the available item.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the available item.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the alternative item is complimentary to the available item.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the portable computer device includes a map of at least a portion of the geographic area and displays the map on a display of the portable computer device, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator of a location of the alternative item.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining whether an item on the list of items is an unavailable item within the geographic area, wherein the step of selecting and presenting further includes the step of selecting and presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computer device based on the unavailable item.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing further includes the step of determining an alternative item based on the list of items and the unavailable item, wherein the step of selecting and presenting further includes the step of selecting and presenting the coupon to the user for the alternative item.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the alternative item is similar to the unavailable item.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the unavailable item.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the alternative item is complimentary to the unavailable item.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable computer device includes a map of at least a portion the geographic area and displays the map on a display of the portable computer device, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator of a location of the alternative item.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupon is for an item within the geographic area and wherein the step of selecting and presenting the coupon to the user is based on the location'"'"'s proximity to the item.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographic area is a grocery store, a warehouse store, a shopping mall or a special event location.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the items within the geographic area selected by the user; and

determining a total cost of the items within the geographic area selected by the user.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of comparing the total cost to a budget of the user.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating with a check out system to obtain payment of the total cost from the user.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of reducing the total cost based on the coupon.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of verifying the items within the geographic area selected by the user at a self service check out by comparing the items within the geographic area selected by the user against the total cost.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of obtaining payment of the total cost from the user after the step of verifying the items.

22. A method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:

analyzing a list of items stored on the portable computing device, the list of items being generated by the user;

indicating a status for an item from the list of items, the status being based on the user'"'"'s selection or rejection of the item; and

presenting the coupon to the user if the coupon is available for the item.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of repeating the step of indicating and the step of presenting for one or more additional items from the list of items.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of determining a location of the user within the geographic area, wherein the step of presenting is based on the location.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining a user location within the geographic area and an item location within the geographic area, wherein the step of presenting is based on a distance from the item location to the user location.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the step of presenting only presents the coupon to the user if the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining whether the item is an available item within the geographic area, and wherein the step of presenting includes the step of presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computer device based on the available item.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining an alternative item based on the list of items and the available item, and wherein the step of presenting further includes the step of presenting the coupon to the user for the alternative item.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the alternative item is similar to the available item.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the available item.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the alternative item is complimentary to the available item.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the portable computer device includes a map of at least a portion of the geographic area and displays the map on a display of the portable computer device, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator of a location of the alternative item.

33. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining whether an item on the list of items is an unavailable item within the geographic area, and wherein the step of presenting includes presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computer device based on the unavailable item.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the step of analyzing includes the step of determining an alternative item based on the list of items and the unavailable item, and wherein the step of presenting further includes the step of presenting the coupon to the user for the alternative item.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the alternative item is similar to the unavailable item.

36. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the unavailable item.

37. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the alternative item is complimentary to the unavailable item.

38. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the portable computer device includes a map of at least a portion the geographic area and displays the map on a display of the portable computer device, further comprising the step of displaying an indicator of a location of the alternative item.

39. A method for providing one or more coupons to a user of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

analyzing a list of items stored on the portable computing device, the list of items indicating items desired by the user;

indicating a status for a first item from the list of items, the status being based on the user'"'"'s selection or rejection of the first item; and

determining if a coupon for the first item is available.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, further comprising the step of presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computing device.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computing device if the first item is available.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, further comprising the step of presenting a second coupon to the user through the portable computing devices for a second item if the first item is unavailable.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the second item is similar to the first item.

44. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the second item is dissimilar to the first item.

45. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the second item is complimentary to the first item.

46. The method as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computing device if the status indicates the user has selected the first item.

47. The method as recited in claim 46, further comprising the step of presenting a second coupon to the user through the portable computing devices for a second item.

48. The method as recited in claim 47, wherein the second item is dissimilar to the first item.

49. The method as recited in claim 47, wherein the second item is complimentary to the first item.

50. The method as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of presenting the coupon to the user through the portable computing device if the status indicates the user has rejected the first item.

51. The method as recited in claim 50, further comprising the step of presenting a second coupon to the user through the portable computing device for a second item.

52. The method as recited in claim 51, wherein the second item is similar to the first item.

53. The method as recited in claim 51, wherein the second item is dissimilar to the first item.

54. The method as recited in claim 51, wherein the second item is complimentary to the first item.