Location Aware Deals

• US 20130073371A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bosworth, Andrew Garrod, Garcia, David Harry, Lau, Kenneth M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, a computer system, in response to a first user'"'"'s request, creates a location-triggered gift for a second user and for a particular vendor location, determines the second user'"'"'s location, and transmits information for redeeming the location-triggered gift at the particular vendor location to the second user if the second user is at the particular vendor location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

by one or more computing devices,

receiving, from a first user, a request to create a location-triggered benefit associated with a second user and a current location of the first user, wherein the current location of the first user is associated with a vendor location of a vendor;

creating a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user;

receiving, from the second user, data indicating a current location of the second user;

determining whether the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user based at least in part on a determination whether the current location of the second user is at or near the vendor location; and

transmitting information for redeeming the location-triggered benefit at the vendor location to the second user if the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, comprises:

comparing the current location of the first user to the vendor location; and

creating a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, if the current location of the first user is within a threshold distance of the vendor location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, further comprises:

transmitting to the second user a notification including information associated with the location-triggered benefit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit is redeemable at the vendor location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit is a credit redeemable from the vendor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit is a coupon redeemable from the vendor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit is a gift voucher redeemable from the vendor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit is a discount on products or services from the vendor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-triggered benefit has an effective time duration.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging an account of the first user for creating the location-triggered benefit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the charging an account of the first user for creating the location-triggered benefit occurs when the second user redeems the location-triggered benefit.

12. A system comprising:

a memory;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory storage medium storing computer-readable instructions operative, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from a first user, a request to create a location-triggered benefit associated with a second user and a current location of the first user, wherein the current location of the first user is associated with a vendor location of a vendor;

create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user;

receive, from the second user, data indicating a current location of the second user;

determine whether the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user based at least in part on a determination whether the current location of the second user is at or near the vendor location; and

transmit information for redeeming the location-triggered benefit at the vendor location to the second user if the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein to create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to:

compare the current location of the first user to the vendor location; and

create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, if the current location of the first user is within a threshold distance of the vendor location.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein to create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to:

transmit to the second user a notification including information associated with the location-triggered benefit.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the location-triggered benefit is redeemable at the vendor location.

16. One or more computer-readable tangible storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computing devices to:

receive, from a first user, a request to create a location-triggered benefit associated with a second user and a current location of the first user, wherein the current location of the first user is associated with a vendor location of a vendor;

create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user;

receive, from the second user, data indicating a current location of the second user;

determine whether the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user based at least in part on a determination whether the current location of the second user is at or near the vendor location; and

transmit information for redeeming the location-triggered benefit at the vendor location to the second user if the location-triggered benefit is accessible to the second user.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein to create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, further comprises software operable when executed by one or more computing devices to:

compare the current location of the first user to the vendor location; and

create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, if the current location of the first user is within a threshold distance of the vendor location.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein to create a record in a database including information associated with the location-triggered benefit for the second user, further comprises software operable when executed by one or more computing devices to:

transmit to the second user a notification including information associated with the location-triggered benefit.

19. The media of claim 16, wherein the location-triggered benefit is redeemable at the vendor location.

20. The media of claim 16, wherein the location-triggered benefit has an effective time duration.