SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MOBILE ALERTS TO MEMBERS OF A SOCIAL NETWORK

• US 20130137464A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hoozware Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, James F., Ning, Paul C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,105,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for providing mobile alerts to members of a social network upon the occurrence of certain trigger events related to the social network, including member-trigger events, venue-trigger events, and other-trigger events. A member may select and edit their own mobile-alert settings that determine which events are trigger events. The member may enable or disable all their mobile alerts using a single action, such as toggling a digital button on their phone screen. A data processor receives indication of, or determines occurrence of, a trigger event. The data processor then determines whether to communicate a mobile alert to the member based on the member'"'"'s mobile-alert settings. The alert may be communicated to the member'"'"'s mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone, using a variety of convenient means, such as a text message or Push Notification.

Claims

1. A system for alerting an alerted member associated with a social network comprising members having mobile communication devices, said system comprising:

a data processor, said data processor;

accessing mobile-alert settings and contact information of said alerted member;

receiving indication of, or determining occurrence of, a trigger event related to said social network; and

alerting said alerted member with their mobile communication device.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device is a mobile phone, said contact information includes the mobile phone number of said alerted member, and said data processor communicates a text message to said mobile phone to alert said alerted member.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a member checkin or a checkout.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a member location changing.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a member within a limited location other than nearby.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to any of a selected subset of members or members passing a screen.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a venue within a limited location other than nearby.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to any of a selected subset of venues or venues passing a screen.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a message.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a glance.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a review.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to an offer becoming valid.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a change in member demographic.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a plan changing.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to an event changing.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein said trigger event relates to a venue rank changing.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein all mobile alerts are enabled or disabled with a single toggle button.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein prior to said alerted member being alerted, and after said mobile-alert settings are selected by said alerted member to provide which events are trigger events, said data processor accesses said mobile-alert settings.

19. A system according to claim 1 wherein said alerted member is alerted at most periodically.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein a mobile alert related to a viewed member is added using a single action while information related to said viewed member is displayed on said mobile communication device.