SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND ADVERTISING

• US 20110066479A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Associated Discount Clubs of America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Associated Discount Clubs of America Incorporated
• Inventors: Benson, Todd R.
• Application Number:
  US12/945,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066479A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for improving the operation and relevance of customer loyalty programs through geo-location, affiliate marketing and targeted advertising.

Claims

1. A method for tracking the geo-location of program participants for correlation with the geo-location of other program participants, the method comprising:

receiving, via an enterprise system, data associated with a program participant, wherein the data comprises a unique identifier assigned to the program participant and information corresponding to the program participant'"'"'s geo-location;

generating, via the enterprise system, an electronic message, wherein the electronic message comprises at least a portion of (a) the program participant'"'"'s program participant geo-location data, and (b) the program participant'"'"'s program participant data contained within the system corresponding to the geo-location of nearby program participants, (c) program participant data of other program participants corresponding with the geo-location of the program participant; and

(d) advertising for program participants enabled for delivery via the enterprise system;

electronically transmitting, from the enterprise system to a remote computing device for display, an electronic message that comprises at least a portion of the program participant'"'"'s geo-location data and program participant data and advertising enabled for delivery via the program system; and

receiving, via the enterprise system, transmitted from the remote computing device, an initiation of a location event for the program participant, wherein the location event indicates (a) the geo-location of the program participant and (b) an electronic message containing at least a portion of information displayed on the remote computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing display, via a supervisory computing device, of current status information indicating the program participant'"'"'s geo-location, movement, geographic position and geographic position of other program participants.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, via a remote computing device, the program participant data and program participant geo-location data corresponding with the program participant; and

electronically transmitting, from the enterprise system to the remote computing device, at least a portion of the program participant data and program participant geo-location data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is transmitted using a first message file, the first message file comprising program participant geo-location data and the second message file comprising at least a portion of the program participant data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location event further indicates that the program participant is moving from a first location to a second location.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving information identifying the second location of the program participant.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the information identifying the second location is received as input from a program participant.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the information identifying the second location is received from a program participant that processed a transaction for a program participant such as a member.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the program participant information transmitted to the program participant corresponds with the program participant'"'"'s second location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received by the enterprise system is an electronic message defining a geographic area for which the program participant wishes to receive program participant data (a) transmitted by a program participant from a remote computing device to an enterprise system in response to a remote computing device or (b) directly initiated by a program participant with an enterprise system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is transmitted from a remote computing device to another remote computing device.

12. A computer program product for enabling a remote computing device to generate, transmit to an enterprise system and receive from the enterprise system program participant geo-location data, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to generate an application for delivery to a remote computing device when a program participant executes a request to receive an application in response to a remote computing device;

an executable portion configured to transmit an application from an enterprise system to a remote computing device when a program participant executes a request in response to a remote computing device;

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising an executable portion configured to generate an application for delivery to a remote computing device where the program participant initiates the request directly with the enterprise system not in response to a remote computing device.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising an executable portion configured to receive a message automatically transmitted from a remote computing device in response to execution of the application delivered from the enterprise system to the remote computing device.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising (1) an executable portion configured to transmit a message from the enterprise system to the remote computing device in response to a message received from the remote computing device, (2) an executable portion configured to receive a second message automatically transmitted from a remote computing device in response to execution of the application delivered form the enterprise system to the remote computing device and, (3) an executable portion configured to transmit a second message from the enterprise system to the remote computing device in response to a second message from the remote computing device.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising (1) an executable portion configured to store data received by the enterprise system from the remote computing device and data transmitted from the enterprise system to the remote computing device and, (2) and an executable portion configured to retrieve and organize data received and transmitted for reporting and presentation purposes.

17. A computer program product enabling receipt by an enterprise system of program participant geo-location data generated by a remote computing device, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive a first message transmitted from a remote computing device when a command is executed or when a predefined threshold is met;

an executable portion configured to receive a message automatically transmitted when a program participant effects a request after the remote computing device (a) causes display of an advertisement, (b) provides access to a website, (c) effects purchase from a program participant, (d) determines that a predefined threshold is met, (e) enables a program participant to enter geo-location information into the remote computing device, or (f) effects a log-in protocol; and

an executable portion configured to receive a message automatically transmitted when a program participant effects a request that (a) causes display of an advertisement, (b) provides access to a website, (c) effects purchase from a program participant, (d) effects a sale to a program participant, (e) enters geo-location information into the remote computing device, or (f) effects a log-in protocol.

18. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising an executable portion configured to receive a second message transmitted from a remote computing device when (a) a request is effected, (b) in response to an electronic message sent from an enterprise system triggering execution of an executable protocol in the remote computing device, (c) in response to an electronic message sent from an enterprise system containing an executable command, or (d) when a predefined threshold is met.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising an executable portion configured to transmit a first message from an enterprise system to a remote computing device when the enterprise system receives a first electronic message from the remote computing device.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising an executable portion configured to transmit a second message from an enterprise system to a remote computing device when the enterprise system receives a second electronic message from the remote computing device.