System and method for providing location-based time-sensitive deals

• US 20130046595A1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lashou Group, Inc. (Ya Fei Yuan,)
• Original Assignee: Lashou Group, Inc. (Ya Fei Yuan,)
• Inventors: Wu, Bo, Xiong, Yuhong
• Application Number:
  US13/199,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method of providing online location-based time-sensitive deals are proposed. An online retailer accepts an instant deal submitted by a merchant. The instant deal is a discounted service provided by the merchant at a geographic location. The instant deal is approved only if the merchant is qualified and if the deal is qualified based on a set of pre-configured rules. The online retailer advertises a deal coupon for the discounted service during a limited time for a limited quantity to consumers located near the geographic location. In one example, the geographic location is defined by a business district or a landmark. When a buyer places a purchase order, the deal coupon is delivered to the buyer. The deal coupon is redeemable during a limited time without additional reservation. If the buyer does not redeem the coupon within the limited time, the purchase amount is automatically refunded.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

accepting an instant deal offered by a merchant, wherein the instant deal is a discounted service provided by the merchant at a geographic location;

advertising, via a display screen, a deal coupon for the discounted service during a limited time for a limited quantity to a consumer located near the geographic location; and

processing an order from the consumer purchasing the deal coupon, wherein the deal coupon is redeemable during the limited time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant deal is categorized by geographic location defined by a business district or a landmark, and wherein the deal coupon is not advertised to consumers located outside the geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant deal is accepted if the merchant is a qualified merchant and if the instant deal is a qualified deal based on a set of pre-configured rules.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the deal coupon is advertised via the display screen in a form of an email, an advertising banner, a popup window, a short message service (SMS), or an alert text message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the deal coupon is sent to a mobile device carried by the consumer, and wherein the location of the mobile device is used to determine which deal coupon to advertise.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the deal coupon is advertised based on personalized information of the consumer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein personalized information comprises age, gender, buying history, browsing history, or preference of the consumer.

8. A server system, comprising:

a deal-approval module that accepts an instant deal offered by a merchant, wherein the instant deal is a discounted service provided by the merchant at a specific geographic location;

a deal-advertising module that advertises a deal coupon for the discounted service during a limited time for a limited quantity to a consumer located near the geographic location; and

an order-processing module that processes an order from the consumer purchasing the deal coupon, wherein the deal coupon is redeemable during the limited time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instant deal is categorized by geographic location defined by a business district or a landmark, and wherein the deal coupon is not advertised to consumers located outside the geographic location.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the instant deal is accepted if the merchant is a qualified merchant and if the instant deal is a qualified deal based on a set of pre-configured rules.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the deal coupon is advertised via a display screen in a form of an email, an advertising banner, a popup window, a short message service (SMS), or an alert text message.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the deal coupon is sent to a mobile device carried by the consumer, and wherein the location of the mobile device is used to determine which deal coupon to advertise.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the deal coupon is advertised based on personalized information of the consumer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein personalized information comprises age, gender, buying history, browsing history, or preference of the consumer.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving an instant deal for a discounted service offered via an online retailer, wherein the discounted service is provided by a merchant at a geographic location;

transmitting an order purchasing a deal coupon for the discounted service offered during a limited time for a limited quantity, wherein the deal coupon is advertised to a consumer located near the geographic location; and

redeeming the deal coupon during the limited time without additional reservation for the discounted service.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the instant deal is categorized by geographic location defined by a business district or a landmark, and wherein the deal coupon is not advertised to consumers located outside the geographic location.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the deal coupon is advertised via a display screen in a form of an email, an advertising banner, a popup window, a short message service (SMS), or an alert text message.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the deal coupon is sent to a mobile device carried by the consumer, and wherein the location of the mobile device is used to determine which deal coupon to advertise.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the deal coupon is advertised based on personalized information of the consumer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein personalized information comprises age, gender, buying history, browsing history, or preference of the consumer.