RECOMMENDING AN OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF A MERCHANT
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for recommending operating characteristics of merchants, the method comprising:
- obtaining, using one or more computing devices, a location of each of a plurality of mobile computing devices within a plurality of areas referenced to a location of a merchant, the areas comprising at least one area outside the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) disposed within the location of the merchant;
estimating, using the one or more computing devices, potential customer traffic in relation to the location of the merchant as a function of the obtained locations;
determining, using the one or more computing devices, a recommended operating characteristic of the merchant as a function of the estimated potential customer traffic; and
communicating, using the one or more computing devices, the recommended operating characteristic to a computing device associated with the merchant.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Recommending operating characteristics of merchants. Obtaining a location of mobile computing devices within areas referenced to a location of a merchant. The areas can be outside the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) disposed within the location of the merchant. Estimating potential customer traffic in relation to the location of the merchant as a function of the obtained locations. Determining a recommended operating characteristic of the merchant as a function of the estimated potential customer traffic. Communicating the recommended operating characteristic to a computing device associated with the merchant.
31 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for recommending operating characteristics of merchants, the method comprising:
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obtaining, using one or more computing devices, a location of each of a plurality of mobile computing devices within a plurality of areas referenced to a location of a merchant, the areas comprising at least one area outside the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) disposed within the location of the merchant; estimating, using the one or more computing devices, potential customer traffic in relation to the location of the merchant as a function of the obtained locations; determining, using the one or more computing devices, a recommended operating characteristic of the merchant as a function of the estimated potential customer traffic; and communicating, using the one or more computing devices, the recommended operating characteristic to a computing device associated with the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for recommending operating characteristics of merchants, the method comprising:
a non-transitory computer-executable storage device having computer-readable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer perform a method for recommending operating characteristics of merchants comprising; obtaining, using one or more computing devices, a location of each of a plurality of mobile computing devices within a plurality of areas referenced to a location of a merchant, the areas comprising at least one area outside the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) disposed within the location of the merchant; estimating, using the one or more computing devices, potential customer traffic in relation to the location of the merchant as a function of the obtained locations; determining, using the one or more computing devices, a recommended operating characteristic of the merchant as a function of the estimated potential customer traffic; and communicating, using the one or more computing devices, the recommended operating characteristic to a computing device associated with the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system to operate a coupon program, the system comprising:
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a storage resource; a network module; and a processor communicatively coupled to the storage resource and the network module, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions that are stored in the storage resource and that cause the system to; obtaining, using one or more computing devices, a location of each of a plurality of mobile computing devices within a plurality of areas referenced to a location of a merchant, the areas comprising at least one area outside the range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) disposed within the location of the merchant; estimating, using the one or more computing devices, potential customer traffic in relation to the location of the merchant as a function of the obtained locations; determining, using the one or more computing devices, a recommended operating characteristic of the merchant as a function of the estimated potential customer traffic; and communicating, using the one or more computing devices, the recommended operating characteristic to a computing device associated with the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification