METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING LOCATION BASED PURCHASE INCENTIVES BASED ON PREDICTED ROUTE OF TRAVEL

• US 20120271717A1
• Filed: 02/11/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Postrel
• Original Assignee: Richard Postrel
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

Providing a purchase incentive to a mobile device based for example the user'"'"'s location, predicted route of travel, and prior transactions. A tracking server computer determines a number of locations of a mobile device as it travels along a route and an associated timeframe when it is at each of the locations. The tracking server computer records the locations and associated timeframes in a location log and analyzes the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at that location. The tracking server computer then determines a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device and generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant and delivers the purchase incentive to the mobile device. In the alternative, the incentive may be generated by a merchant computer or the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing a purchase incentive comprising a tracking server computer programmed to perform the steps of:

determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

recording the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determining a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

generating a purchase incentive for use at the merchant; and

delivering the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the tracking server computer performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the tracking server computer.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on a merchant computer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

103. The method of claim 3 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

20. A purchase incentive generation system comprising a tracking server computer programmed to:

determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

record the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determine a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant; and

deliver the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

25. The system of claim 20 further comprising the tracking server computer performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the tracking server computer.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on a merchant computer.

33. The system of claim 20 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device by analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

34. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

35. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

36. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

37. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

38. The system of claim 20 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

39. A method of providing a purchase incentive comprising the steps of:

a tracking server computer determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

the tracking server computer recording the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

the tracking server computer analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

the tracking server computer determining a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

the tracking server computer informing a merchant computer associated with the merchant to which the mobile device is predicted to be proximate;

the merchant computer generating a purchase incentive for use at the merchant;

the merchant computer sending to the tracking server computer the purchase incentive; and

the tracking server computer delivering the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the merchant computer generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

44. The method of claim 39 further comprising the merchant computer performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed with the mobile device;

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

47. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

48. The method of claim 39 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

49. The method of claim 39 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

50. The method of claim 39 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

51. The method of claim 39 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

52. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

53. A purchase incentive generation system comprising:

a tracking server computer programmed to;

determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

record the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determine a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

inform a merchant computer associated with the merchant to which the mobile device is predicted to be proximate; and

deliver a purchase incentive to the mobile device; and

a merchant computer associated with the merchant programmed to;

generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant; and

send to the tracking server computer the purchase incentive for delivery to the mobile device.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the merchant computer is programmed to generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

57. The system of claim 53 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

58. The system of claim 53 wherein the merchant computer is further programmed to:

analyze a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed with the mobile device; and

generate the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

61. The system of claim 53 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device by analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

62. The system of claim 53 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

63. The system of claim 53 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

64. The system of claim 53 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

65. The system of claim 53 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

66. The system of claim 53 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

67. A method of providing a purchase incentive comprising the steps of:

a tracking server computer determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

the tracking server computer recording the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

the tracking server computer analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

the tracking server computer determining a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

the tracking server computer informing a merchant computer associated with the merchant to which the mobile device is predicted to be proximate;

the merchant computer generating a purchase incentive for use at the merchant;

the merchant computer delivering the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the merchant computer generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

71. The method of claim 67 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

72. The method of claim 67 further comprising the merchant computer performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed with the mobile device; and

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

75. The method of claim 67 wherein the step of analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

76. The method of claim 67 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

77. The method of claim 67 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

78. The method of claim 67 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

79. The method of claim 67 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

80. The method of claim 67 wherein the step of determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

81. A purchase incentive generation system comprising:

a tracking server computer programmed to;

determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

record the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determine a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device;

inform a merchant computer associated with the merchant to which the mobile device is predicted to be proximate; and

a merchant computer associated with the merchant programmed to;

generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant; and

deliver the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the merchant computer is programmed to generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

84. The system of claim 82 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request from the mobile device.

85. The system of claim 81 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

86. The system of claim 81 wherein the merchant computer is further programmed to:

analyze a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed with the mobile device; and

generate the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

88. The system of claim 86 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

89. The system of claim 81 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to analyze the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device by analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

90. The system of claim 81 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

91. The system of claim 81 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

92. The system of claim 81 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

93. The system of claim 81 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

94. The system of claim 81 wherein the tracking server computer is programmed to determine a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by receiving a plurality of location signals from the mobile device, each of the plurality of location signals comprising GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

95. A method of a mobile device generating a purchase incentive comprising the mobile device executing an app which performs the steps of:

determining a plurality of locations of the mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations recording the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determining a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device; and

generating a purchase incentive for use at the merchant.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein the mobile device generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request to the mobile device.

99. The method of claim 95 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

100. The method of claim 95 further comprising the app performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

102. The method of claim 100 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

104. The method of claim 100 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

105. The method of claim 100 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

106. The method of claim 100 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on a merchant computer.

107. The method of claim 95 wherein the step of analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

108. The method of claim 95 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

109. The method of claim 95 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

110. The method of claim 95 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

111. The method of claim 95 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

112. The method of claim 95 wherein the step of determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by analyzing GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.

113. A mobile device adapted to generate a purchase incentive by executing an app which performs the steps of:

determining a plurality of locations of the mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations;

recording the plurality of locations and associated timeframes in a location log;

analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device;

determining a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device; and

generating a purchase incentive for use at the merchant.

114. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the app is programmed to generate a purchase incentive for use at the merchant on the occurrence of a triggering event.

115. The mobile device of claim 114 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

116. The mobile device of claim 114 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request to the mobile device.

117. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the purchase incentive is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

118. The mobile device of claim 113 further comprising the app performing the steps of:

analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

generating the purchase incentive based on the prior transaction log.

119. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

120. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the purchase incentive is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

121. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

122. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the purchase incentive is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

123. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

124. The mobile device of claim 118 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on an external server computer.

125. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein analyzing the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe of the mobile device comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

126. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the mobile device is a smart card.

127. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

128. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

129. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

130. The mobile device of claim 113 wherein determining a plurality of locations of a mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations is performed by analyzing GPS coordinate data of the mobile device.