COUPON DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20140164121A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Payne, Brian William, Nguyen, Liem Duy, Pantham, Sarmishta, Batterson, Noah
• Application Number:
  US13/708,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location

Abstract

According to various exemplary embodiments, an electronic message including a coupon is detected in an electronic message inbox associated with a user. A redemption location associated with the coupon is determined. Thereafter, a notification is displayed via a user interface in a mobile device associated with the user, when the mobile device is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, in an electronic message inbox associated with a user, an electronic message including a coupon;

determining a redemption location associated with the coupon;

determining, on a mobile device, that the mobile device is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location; and

displaying, in response to the determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance, a notification via a user interface on the mobile device associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

comparing a keyword included in content of the electronic message with a database listing a plurality of known coupon keywords; and

detecting a match between the keyword and one of the known coupon keywords.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

comparing a message source address of the electronic message with a database listing a plurality of known coupon source addresses; and

detecting a match between the message source address and one of the known coupon source addresses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the redemption location comprises:

determining a specific retailer associated with the coupon; and

determining a location associated with the specific retailer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of the specific retailer comprises:

comparing a keyword included in content of the electronic message with retailer information listing a plurality of names associated with a plurality of known retailers; and

detecting a match between the keyword and the name associated with the specific retailer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the location associated with the specific retailer is determined based on retailer information listing a plurality of known locations associated with a plurality of known retailers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is at least one of an email message, a social media message, an instant message, and a text message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message inbox is at least one of an email message inbox, a social media message inbox, an instant message inbox, and a text message inbox.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an expiration time associated with the coupon; and

displaying the notification via the user interface on the mobile device, when the expiration time is within a predetermined time period of a current time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to share the coupon with an additional user; and

displaying an additional notification via a user interface on an additional mobile device associated with the additional user, when the additional mobile device is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional notification displays the coupon and identifies the user as having shared the coupon.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to share the coupon with an additional user; and

displaying an additional notification via a user interface on an additional mobile device associated with the additional user, when the expiration time is within a predetermined time period of a current time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the additional notification displays the coupon and identifies the user as having shared the coupon.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a determination module configured to;

detect, in an electronic message inbox associated with a user, an electronic message including a coupon;

determine a redemption location associated with the coupon; and

determine that a mobile device of the user is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location, and

a user interface module configured to display, in response to the determining that the mobile device is within the predetermined distance, a notification via a user interface on the mobile device associated with the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

compare a keyword included in content of the electronic message with a database listing a plurality of known coupon keywords; and

detect a match between the keyword and one of the known coupon keywords.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

determine an expiration time associated with the coupon; and

display the notification via the user interface on the mobile device, when the expiration time is within a predetermined time period of a current time.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

receive a request to share the coupon with an additional user; and

display an additional notification via a user interface on an additional mobile device associated with the additional user, when the additional mobile device is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the additional notification displays the coupon and identifies the user as having shared the coupon.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

receive a request to share the coupon with an additional user; and

display an additional notification via a user interface on an additional mobile device associated with the additional user, when the expiration time is within a predetermined time period of a current time.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions executable by one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

detecting, in an electronic message inbox associated with a user, an electronic message including a coupon;

determining a redemption location associated with the coupon;

determining, on a mobile device, that the mobile device is located within a predetermined distance of the redemption location; and

displaying, in response to the determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance, a notification via a user interface on the mobile device associated with the user.