METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TARGETING MESSAGES TO TRAVELERS

• US 20120101858A1
• Filed: 10/20/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concur Technologies Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Concur Technologies Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lore, Michael, Fredericks, Michael, Csontos, Andrew, Depasquale, Thomas, Love, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,115,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for targeting messages to a traveler, comprising processing information associated with: receiving a request from a device of the traveler for itinerary information; utilizing geographic information, comprising itinerary information, to determine where the traveler is currently and/or is projected to be during a given time period; categorizing the geographic information and traveler information about the traveler from a database of travel and expense activity into a category; matching the category for the geographical information and/or traveler information about the traveler against a category for available targeted messages to determine if there are any matches; and transmitting targeted messages that have a category that matches a category for the geographical information and/or traveler information to the device of the traveler; wherein traveler information from the database of travel and expense activity is utilized to help determine what products and/or services travelers purchase when they travel.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of targeting messages to at least one traveler, comprising:

processing information related to receiving a request from at least one device of at least one traveler for itinerary information;

processing information related to utilizing geographic information, comprising itinerary information, to determine where the at least one traveler is currently and/or are projected to be during at least one given time period;

processing information related to categorizing the geographic information and traveler information about the at least one traveler from at least one database of travel and expense activity into at least one category;

processing information related to matching the at least one category for the geographical information and/or traveler information about the at least one traveler against at least one category for available targeted messages to determine if there are any matches; and

processing information related to transmitting any available targeted messages that have at least one category that matches at least one category for the geographical information and/or traveler information to the at least one device of the at least one traveler;

wherein traveler information from the at least one database of travel and expense activity is utilized to help determine what products and/or services different types of travelers purchase when they travel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the traveler information comprises:

expense information;

itinerary information;

preference information;

or

any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing information related to collecting at least one fee from the at least one merchant for transmitting the at least one targeted message to the at least one travelers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing information related to collecting at least one fee from the at least one merchant when the at least one traveler acts upon the at least one targeted message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein acting upon the at least one targeted message further comprises purchasing at least one good and/or service.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising processing information related to auditing expense reporting information for the at least one traveler to know whether or not the at least one good and/or service was purchased.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic information also comprises global positioning system (GPS) information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple matches are found and the multiple targeted messages are transmitted in a prioritized manner.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein only targeted messages that offer at least one product and/or service that complies with the traveler'"'"'s entity'"'"'s policies are transmitted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one targeted message is transmitted utilizing:

at least one mobile phone, at least one smart phone, at least one personal digital assistant, at least one desktop computer, at least one laptop computer, at least one iPad, or at least one touch pad device, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one request from at least one device is made:

after the at least one device has been notified from at least one computer that the at least one device should request the itinerary data;

after the at least one device requests the itinerary data;

or after the itinerary data is sent to the device;

or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one targeted message comprises:

at least one offer for at least one product;

at least one offer for at least one service;

information about at least one event.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device caches at least one targeted messages for at least one future event.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device can receive targeted messages, and information regarding when to display or not display the targeted messages.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one targeted message provides a link to at least one application programming interface (API) and/or at least one web site.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one targeted message is generated by retrieving information from an application programming interface and/or a database.

29. The method of claim 3, wherein preference information comprises:

preference information entered by the at least one traveler and/or for the at least one traveler;

or preference information guessed for the at least one traveler by using information derived from similar travelers.

13. A computer-implemented system for targeting messages to at least one traveler, comprising:

at least one processor configured for;

processing information related to receiving a request from at least one device of at least one traveler for itinerary information;

processing information related to utilizing geographic information, comprising itinerary information, to determine where the at least one traveler is currently and/or are projected to be during at least one given time period;

processing information related to categorizing the geographic information and traveler information about the at least one traveler from at least one database of travel and expense activity into at least one category;

processing information related to matching the at least one category for the geographical information and/or traveler information about the at least one traveler against at least one category for available targeted messages to determine if there are any matches; and

processing information related to transmitting any available targeted messages that have at least one category that matches at least one category for the geographical information and/or traveler information to the at least one device of the at least one traveler;

wherein traveler information from the at least one database of travel and expense activity is utilized to help determine what different types of travelers purchase when they travel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the traveler information comprises:

expense information;

itinerary information;

preference information;

or

any combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for processing information related to collecting at least one fee from the at least one merchant for transmitting the at least one targeted message to the at least one travelers.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for processing information related to collecting at least one fee from the at least one merchant when the at least one traveler acts upon the at least one targeted message.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein acting upon the at least one targeted message further comprises purchasing at least one good and/or service.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for auditing expense reporting information for the at least one traveler to know whether or not the at least one good and/or service was purchased.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the geographic information also comprises global positioning system (GPS) information.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein multiple matches are found and the multiple targeted messages are transmitted in a prioritized manner.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein only targeted messages that offer at least one product and/or service that complies with the traveler'"'"'s entity'"'"'s policies are transmitted.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one targeted message is transmitted utilizing:

at least one mobile phone, at least one smart phone, at least one personal digital assistant, at least one desktop computer, at least one laptop computer, at least one iPad, or at least one touch pad device, or any combination thereof.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one request from at least one device is made after the at least one device has been notified from at least one computer that the at least one device should request the itinerary data.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one targeted message comprises:

at least one offer for at least one product;

at least one offer for at least one service;

information about at least one event.

30. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one device caches at least one targeted messages for at least one future event.

31. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one device can receive targeted messages, and information regarding when to display or not display the targeted messages.

32. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one targeted message provides a link to at least one application programming interface (API) and/or at least one web site.

33. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one targeted message is generated by retrieving information from an application programming interface and/or a database.

34. The system of claim 13, wherein preference information comprises:

preference information entered by the at least one traveler and/or for the at least one traveler;

or preference information guessed for the at least one traveler by using information derived from similar travelers.