SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING PROMOTIONAL OFFERS
First Claim
1. A method for providing promotional offers to a plurality of users of a platform that is accessible via a mobile communications network or a data network, the method comprising:
- at the platform, automatically obtaining association information from a social network application pertaining to a first user, wherein the association information specifies that the first user belongs to a plurality of associated users, including the first user, wherein the associated users each have a direct association with the first user through the social network application, wherein such direct association exists independently of a plurality of promotional offers that are provided by a plurality of merchants or use of such promotional offers,wherein the platform is configured to provide the plurality of promotional offers, wherein each promotional offer pertains to a rebate amount, a purchase credit amount, a reward, a price discount amount, or other consumer offering; and
providing by the platform a first one of the promotional offers from a first one of the plurality of merchants, to a client device of the first user, wherein the first promotional offer is provided or the rebate amount, purchase credit amount, reward, price discount amount, or other consumer offering of the provided first promotional offer is determined, selected or applied, based on a measure of a purchasing activity of the plurality of associated users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A platform provides promotional offers, which pertain to rebates, purchase credits, rewards, or price discounts, of different merchants. At the platform, association information for a first user is obtained. This information specifies that the first user belongs to a group of associated users. Each associated user has a direct association with the first user through a social network application and exists independently of the promotional offers and use of same. A first promotional offer is provided or an amount of a rebate, purchase credit, or price discount for the first promotional offer is activated for the first user in response to the obtained association information indicating that one or more criteria are met by two or more associated users performing with respect to the first promotional offer or other promotional offers (a) one or more transactions prior to providing the first promotional offer or (b) at least two transactions.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for providing promotional offers to a plurality of users of a platform that is accessible via a mobile communications network or a data network, the method comprising:
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at the platform, automatically obtaining association information from a social network application pertaining to a first user, wherein the association information specifies that the first user belongs to a plurality of associated users, including the first user, wherein the associated users each have a direct association with the first user through the social network application, wherein such direct association exists independently of a plurality of promotional offers that are provided by a plurality of merchants or use of such promotional offers, wherein the platform is configured to provide the plurality of promotional offers, wherein each promotional offer pertains to a rebate amount, a purchase credit amount, a reward, a price discount amount, or other consumer offering; and providing by the platform a first one of the promotional offers from a first one of the plurality of merchants, to a client device of the first user, wherein the first promotional offer is provided or the rebate amount, purchase credit amount, reward, price discount amount, or other consumer offering of the provided first promotional offer is determined, selected or applied, based on a measure of a purchasing activity of the plurality of associated users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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10. An apparatus for providing promotional offers to a plurality of users of the apparatus via a mobile communications network or a data network, the apparatus comprising at least a processor and a memory, wherein the processor and/or memory are configured to perform the following operations:
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automatically obtaining association information pertaining to a first user from a social network application, wherein the association information specifies that the first user belongs to a plurality of associated users, including the first user, wherein the associated users each have a direct association with the first user through the social network application, wherein such direct association exists independently of a plurality of promotional offers that are provided by a plurality of different merchants or use of such promotional offers, providing the plurality of promotional offers, wherein each promotional offer pertains to a rebate amount, a purchase credit amount, a reward, a price discount amount, or other consumer offering; and providing a first one of the promotional offers from a first one of the plurality of merchants to a client device of the first user, wherein the first promotional offer is provided or the rebate amount, purchase credit amount, reward, price discount amount, or other consumer offering of the provided first promotional offer is determined selected or a lied based on a measure of a purchasing activity of the plurality of associated users. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. At least one computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions stored thereon that are arranged to perform the following operations:
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at the platform, automatically obtaining association information from a social network application pertaining to the first user, wherein the association information specifies that the first user belongs to a plurality of associated users, including the first user, wherein the associated users each have a direct association with the first user through the social network application, wherein such direct association exists independently of a plurality of promotional offers that are provided by a plurality of merchants or use of such promotional offers, wherein the platform is configured to provide the plurality of promotional offers, wherein each promotional offer pertains to a rebate amount, a purchase credit amount, a reward, a price discount amount, or other consumer offering; and providing by the platform a first one of the promotional offers from a first one of the plurality of merchants, to a client device of the first user, wherein the first promotional offer is provided or the rebate amount purchase credit amount reward price discount amount or other consumer offering of the provided first promotional offer is determined, selected or applied, based on a measure of a purchasing activity of the plurality of associated users. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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32. A method of providing promotional offers to a plurality of users of a mobile communications network or a data network, the method comprising:
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at the platform, automatically obtaining user association information from a social network application pertaining to a first user, wherein the user association information specifies that the first user belongs to a plurality of associated users, including the first user, wherein the associated users each have a direct association with the first user through the social network application, wherein such direct association exists independently of a plurality of promotional offers that are provided by a plurality of merchants or use of such promotional offers, wherein the platform is configured to provide the plurality of promotional offers; and providing on a client device of the first user a first one of the plurality of promotional offers related to a first one of the plurality of merchants that includes a first price discount, rebate, purchase credit, reward, or other consumer offering, wherein the provided first promotional offer is further associated with one or more additional terms that specify that a second price discount, rebate, purchase credit, reward or other consumer offering is to be provided to one or more of the plurality of associated users after the first promotional offer is provided to the first user and after a measure of a purchasing activity of such plurality of associated users meets a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of providing a promotional offer for goods or services to a user via a mobile communications network or a data network, the method comprising:
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obtaining a measure of a purchasing activity of a first user with respect to a first merchant that includes two or more separate transactions performed by the first user; through a platform, providing or enabling on a client device of the first user a first promotional offer from the first merchant that provides the first user with at least any one of a range of
1) discount amounts,
2) rebate amounts,
3) purchase credit amounts or
4) reward values, wherein the range contains an increasing or decreasing set of values that are applied or enabled based on the obtained measure of the purchasing activity of such first user,wherein the platform is configured to provide a plurality of promotional offers, including the first promotional offer, that are provided by a plurality of merchants, including the first merchant.
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Specification