Systems and Methods to Provide Offers on Mobile Devices

• US 20110237232A1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Boku Incorporated
• Inventors: Hirson, Ron, Yoo, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods to propagate and redeem offers via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility storing a value in association with a first phone number. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and with the controllers in different formats. The common format processor is to re-associate the value with a second phone number and to use one converter of the converters to communicate a reference of the value to a telephonic apparatus at the second phone number, in response to a request from a telephonic apparatus at the first phone number, when the request includes the second phone number and a reference to the value.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing, in a computing device, a code representing a value;

providing at least one of the code and a reference to the value from the computing device for transmission with an offer to a mobile phone at a phone number; and

in response to a communication from the mobile phone to the computing device, applying by the computing device the value for benefit of a user of the phone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises transmitting a message to the mobile phone at the phone number, the message including the offer and the code.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting is in response to a request from a merchant, the request including the offer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating the code in response to the request from the merchant.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

charging the merchant the stored value in response to the generating of the code.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

charging the merchant the stored value in response to the communication for the applying of the value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data associating the code with the phone number.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the phone number of the mobile phone is a first phone number;

and the transmitting is in response to a request from a second phone number, the request including the offer and the first phone number.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request further includes the code.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in response to the request from the second phone number:

removing data associating the code and the second phone number; and

storing data associating the code and the first phone number.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication from the mobile phone comprises a confirmation of a payment for a purchase in accordance with the offer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the offer is from a first merchant;

and the purchase is from a second merchant not identified in the offer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is applied toward the payment.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting a premium message to the phone number to collect at least a portion of funds for the payment.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing data representing a set of one or more conditions associated with the stored value;

wherein the stored value is redeemable when the set of one or more conditions is satisfied.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether the set of one or more conditions is satisfied after the communication is received from the mobile phone;

wherein the stored value is applied toward the payment in response to a determination that the set of one or more conditions is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the offer is from a first merchant;

and the set of one or more conditions includes a requirement for a purchase from the first merchant.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the stored value includes a discount portion from a price of the purchase.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing a code representing a value;

providing at least one of the code and a reference to the value from the computer for transmission with an offer to a mobile phone at a phone number; and

in response to a communication from the mobile phone to the computing device, applying the value for benefit of a user of the phone number.

20. A system, comprising:

a data storage facility to store a value in association with a first phone number;

an interchange coupled with the data storage facility, the interchange including a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers, the converters configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats, the converters to communicate with the common format processor in a common format, the common format processor to re-associate the value with a second phone number and to use one converter of the converters to communicate a reference of the value to a telephonic apparatus at the second phone number, in response to a request from a telephonic apparatus at the first phone number, the request including the second phone number and a reference to the value.