E-coupon service for location-aware mobile commerce which determines whether to supply requested e-coupons based on the number of requests received in a processing cycle, and a threshold number of requests required to make expected returns from redeemed coupons greater than advertising fees

• US 7,418,451 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Kin K., Luo, Hui, Shankaranarayanan, Nemmara K.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHMOUDI, HASSAN
• Application Number:
  US11/245,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0249 based upon budgets or funds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A conditional e-coupon distribution method distributes e-coupon predefined by sellers to mobile users only if the number of mobile users requesting such e-coupons equals or exceeds a threshold. The method receives a request to browse e-coupons from a mobile user. The method receives the location of the mobile user and determines a plurality of sellers local to the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from the local sellers. The method receives a request for a particular e-coupon from a seller and authorizes the provision of said e-coupon to the mobile user. At the end of a processing cycle, the mobile user receives the requested e-coupon if all conditions, such as a period of time and threshold, have been met. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein allows for storage of the method.

Claims

1. An e-coupon distribution method for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile electronic device of a user to browse at least one e-coupon;

receiving location information for the requesting mobile electronic device;

determining at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said at least one seller;

sending e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

receiving a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

determining whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption,

authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device upon authorization;

wherein an advertising fee is charged for the e-coupon and said initial threshold is determined by dividing the advertising fee by a product of the estimated rate of e-coupon redemption times the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon.

2. An e-coupon distribution method for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

(i) maintaining a mobile user profile and seller profile data in database memory;

(ii) receive a request for at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

(iii) receiving location information for the requesting mobile electronic device;

(iv) determining a seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device;

(v) determining an initial threshold number of requests for the seller based on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon, the advertising fee charged for the distribution of the e-coupon, and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

(vi) determining whether the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is greater than or equal to the initial threshold; and

(vii) when the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is greater than or equal to the initial threshold, sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device;

further comprising, when the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is determined to be less than the seller'"'"'s initial threshold, the following additional steps;

(viii) applying an optimizing consolidation process to the seller including eliminating at least one other seller to obtain increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption and using such increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption to determine an optimized threshold number;

(ix) determining whether the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is greater than or equal to the optimized threshold number; and

(x) when the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is greater than or equal to the optimized threshold number, sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device.

3. The e-coupon distribution method of claim 2, further comprising, when in step (ix) the number of pending requests for said e-coupon is determined to be less than the optimized threshold number, the additional step of sending a notification to the mobile user that no e-coupon for the seller will be provided.

4. The e-coupon distribution method of claim 3 further comprising logging said request for the e-coupon from the seller in said user profile and said seller profile.

5. An e-coupon distribution method for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile electronic device of a user to browse at least one e-coupon;

receiving location information for the requesting mobile electronic device;

determining at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said at least one seller;

sending e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

receiving a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

determining whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption,

authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device upon authorization;

maintaining mobile user profile data and seller profile data in database memory;

maintaining in the mobile user profile a quota of e-coupons the user is allowed to receive;

receiving a notification that said mobile electronic device is at the location of said seller;

receiving said seller location information;

determining whether said e-coupon sent to the mobile user has been redeemed; and

upon determining said e-coupon has been redeemed, increasing the quota of e-coupons by one in the mobile user profile.

6. An e-coupon distribution method for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile electronic device of a user to browse at least one e-coupon;

receiving location information for the requesting mobile electronic device;

determining at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said at least one seller;

sending e-coupons availability data to the mobile electronic device;

receiving a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

determining whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption,

authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

sending said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device upon authorization;

wherein the step of determining whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the mobile request further comprises;

determining the sellers having pending numbers of requests for an e-coupon that are not greater than or equal to the initial threshold calculated for them, and

applying an optimizing consolidation process to all sellers with insufficient pending requests, including eliminating at least one such seller to obtain increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption, recalculating using such increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption to determine an optimized threshold number, and authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is greater than or equal to the optimized threshold number.

7. An e-coupon distribution system for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

a memory for storing mobile user profile data and seller profile data;

a profile proxy server to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

said profile proxy server to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to determine a at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said sellers;

said profile proxy server to send e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

a commerce server to receive said request from said profile proxy server;

said commerce server to log said request in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

said commerce server to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon, and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

at the end of the processing cycle, said commerce server to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

said commerce server to send said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

wherein an advertising fee is charged for the e-coupon distribution and said initial threshold is determined by dividing the advertising fee by a product of the estimated rate of e-coupon redemption times the seller'"'"'s e-coupon margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon.

8. The e-coupon distribution system of claim 7 wherein upon receiving the request for at least one e-coupon from the mobile electronic device, said profile proxy server sends a reply message to the mobile electronic device.

9. The e-coupon distribution system of claim 8 wherein said reply message comprises a quota of e-coupons available to the user and an expected time to receive said e-coupon.

10. The e-coupon distribution system of claim 9 wherein said commerce server logs said request in said mobile user profile and said seller profile, and the commerce server:

creates a mobile user pending request record in the mobile user profile;

decreases the quota of e-coupons in the mobile user profile by one;

creates a seller pending request record in the seller profile; and

increases the estimated number of coupons provided to users for redemption in the seller profile.

11. An e-coupon distribution system for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

a memory for storing mobile user profile data and seller profile data;

a profile proxy server to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

said profile proxy server to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to determine a at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said sellers;

said profile proxy server to send e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

a commerce server to receive said request from said profile proxy server;

said commerce server to log said request in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

said commerce server to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon, and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

at the end of the processing cycle, said commerce server to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number, and said commerce server to send e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

said profile proxy server to receive a notification that said mobile electronic device is at the location of said seller;

said profile proxy server to receive said seller location information;

said commerce server to determine whether said e-coupon sent to the mobile user has been redeemed; and

upon determining said e-coupon has been redeemed, said commerce server to increase the quota of e-coupons by one in the mobile user profile.

12. An e-coupon distribution system for distributing e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, comprising:

a memory for storing mobile user profile data and seller profile data;

a profile proxy server to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

said profile proxy server to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to determine a at least one seller local to the location of the mobile electronic device and at least one corresponding e-coupon available from said sellers;

said profile proxy server to send e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

said profile proxy server to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

a commerce server to receive said request from said profile proxy server;

said commerce server to log said request in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

said commerce server to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon, and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

at the end of the processing cycle, said commerce server to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

said commerce server to send e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

wherein upon determining said number of pending requests is greater than or equal to said initial threshold, said commerce server;

creates a pending coupon record in the seller profile;

sends said pending coupon record to the seller via the seller instant contact address;

creates a pending record of coupons available for redemption in the mobile user profile; and

sends the pending record of coupons available for redemption to the mobile electronic device.

13. A computer program product for use with an output device, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium for causing a distribution of e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, said computer program product having;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to maintain mobile user profile and seller profile data in database memory;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine a plurality of sellers local to the location of the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from said sellers;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to log said request for an e-coupon of a seller in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer, at the end of the processing cycle, to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

wherein the computer-readable program code for calculating an initial threshold divides an advertising fee charged for the e-coupon by a product of the estimated rate of e-coupon redemption times the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon.

14. A computer program product for use with an output device, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium for causing a distribution of e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, said computer program product having;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to maintain mobile user profile and seller profile data in database memory;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine a plurality of sellers local to the location of the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from said sellers;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to log said request for an e-coupon of a seller in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer, at the end of the processing cycle, to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to maintain in the mobile user profile a quota of e-coupons the user is allowed to receive;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a notification that said mobile electronic device is at the location of said seller;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive said seller location information;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether said e-coupon sent to the mobile user has been redeemed; and

upon determining said e-coupon has been redeemed, increasing the quota of e-coupons by one in the mobile user profile.

15. A computer program product for use with an output device, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium for causing a distribution of e-coupons redeemable for value in the purchase of goods or services from a seller, said computer program product having;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to maintain mobile user profile and seller profile data in database memory;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request to browse at least one e-coupon from a mobile electronic device of a user;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a location of the requesting mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine a plurality of sellers local to the location of the mobile electronic device and a plurality of corresponding e-coupons available from said sellers;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide e-coupon availability data to the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to receive a request for at least one e-coupon of a seller from the mobile electronic device;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to log said request for an e-coupon of a seller in said mobile user profile and said seller profile;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the request by

determining the number of pending mobile requests during a processing cycle;

calculating an initial threshold number of requests for the processing cycle based at least in part on the seller'"'"'s margin for the goods or services associated with the e-coupon and estimated rates of e-coupon redemption;

computer-readable program code for causing a computer, at the end of the processing cycle, to authorize the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is equal to or greater than the threshold number; and

computer-readable program code for causing a computer to provide said e-coupon to the mobile electronic device responsive to said authorizing step;

wherein the computer-readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether to provide said seller'"'"'s e-coupon to the mobile electronic device in response to the mobile request further comprises computer readable program code for;

determining the sellers having pending requests for an e-coupon that is not greater than or equal to the initial threshold calculated for them, and

applying an optimizing consolidation process to all sellers with insufficient pending requests, including eliminating at least one such seller to obtain increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption, recalculating using such increased estimated rates of e-coupon redemption to determine an optimized threshold number, and authorizing the provision of said e-coupon when the number of pending mobile requests during the processing cycle is greater than or equal to the optimized threshold number.