System And Method For Discounted Sales Transactions

• US 20120197720A1
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emodo Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Emodo Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Bezancon, Anne, Parkes, Daniel, Swedeen, Blair A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,959,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method and system for communicating promotional offers by registering an electronic device with a server, activating a promotional offer stored on the server, receiving location information of the electronic device by the server over a network, determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information, sending the promotional offer from the server to the electronic device over the network, sending a positive response to the promotional offer from the electronic device, over the network, and to the server, and sending a confirmation of the positive response from the server, over the network, and to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating promotional offers, comprising:

registering an electronic device with a server;

activating a promotional offer stored on the server;

receiving location information of the electronic device by the server over a network;

determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information;

sending the promotional offer from the server to the electronic device over the network;

sending a positive response to the promotional offer from the electronic device, over the network, and to the server; and

sending a confirmation of the positive response from the server, over the network, and to the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the registering comprises providing profile information of a user of the electronic device to the server, and wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the promotional offer matches the profile information, and

determining that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile information comprises at least one of promotional offers of interest, categories of products or services of interest, and trigger criteria for receiving offers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer and within a time period associated with the promotional offer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device has entered a geofence associated with the promotional offer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device is located within a geofence associated with the promotional offer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device has entered a geofence associated with the promotional offer at a particular time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the electronic device is located within a geofence associated with the promotional offer at a particular time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

determining that a number of previously received positive responses to the promotional offer is above or below a predetermined number.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is further based upon at least one of a past purchase involving the electronic device and a past positive response to a prior promotional offer involving the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined time period, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response if the sending of the positive response occurs within the predetermined time period, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response if the sending of the positive response occurs outside of the predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the sending of the confirmation comprises:

sending a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response to the electronic device based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number, or

sending a confirmation of declination of the positive response to the electronic device based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes at least one of a coupon, a code and redemption information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of completed sales transaction.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to at least one other electronic device announcing the positive response to the promotional offer.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to at least one other electronic device announcing the confirmation of the acceptance of the positive response to the promotional offer.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the location information of the electronic device from the electronic device over the network.

21. A promotional offer communication system, comprising:

a network for communicating with an electronic device; and

a server configured to;

receive registration information for the electronic device;

activate a promotional offer stored on the server;

receive location information of the electronic device over the network;

determine the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information;

send the promotional offer to the electronic device over the network;

receive a positive response to the promotional offer from the electronic device over the network; and

send a confirmation of the positive response to the electronic device over the network.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the registration information includes profile information of a user of the electronic device to the server, and wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the promotional offer matches the profile information, and

determine that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the profile information comprises at least one of promotional offers of interest, categories of products or services of interest, and trigger criteria for receiving offers.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device is located within a predetermined distance from a location associated with the promotional offer and within a time period associated with the promotional offer.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device has entered a geofence associated with the promotional offer.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device is located within a geofence associated with the promotional offer.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device has entered a geofence associated with the promotional offer at a particular time.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that the electronic device is located within a geofence associated with the promotional offer at a particular time.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine that a number of previously received positive responses to the promotional offer is above or below a predetermined number.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for determining the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer further comprises:

determine the electronic device is to receive the promotional offer based upon the received location information and based upon at least one of a past purchase involving the electronic device and a past positive response to a prior promotional offer involving the electronic device.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined time period, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response if the receiving of the positive response occurs within the predetermined time period, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response if the receiving of the positive response occurs outside of the predetermined time period.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number, or a confirmation of a declination of the positive response based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the promotional offer is associated with a predetermined acceptance number, and wherein the sending of the confirmation comprises:

sending a confirmation of an acceptance of the positive response to the electronic device based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being less than the predetermined acceptance number, or

sending a confirmation of declination of the positive response to the electronic device based upon a number of previous acceptances of the promotional offer being more than the predetermined acceptance number.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes at least one of a coupon, a code and redemption information.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein the confirmation of the positive response includes a confirmation of completed sales transaction.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is further configured to send a message to at least one other electronic device announcing the positive response to the promotional offer.

39. The system of claim 21, wherein the server is further configured to send a message to at least one other electronic device announcing the confirmation of the acceptance of the positive response to the promotional offer.

40. The system of claim 21, wherein the server configuration for receiving the location information further comprises receiving the location information of the electronic device from the electronic device over the network.