System for providing a service to venues where people aggregate

• US 7,856,360 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hoozware Incorporated
• Inventors: Ning, Paul C., Kramer, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US12/161,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/14.58, 705/319
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for providing a service to promoters, including venues and advertising sponsors, who wish to provide promotions. The service includes making promoter promotions accessible by the mobile phones of members associated with an organization. Typically a promotion and member are matched based on the member'"'"'s geographical position, which may be reported by the member or determined automatically by a position sensor in their mobile phone, and optionally by the member'"'"'s traits and behaviors. By accepting a promotion, a member may receive reward points which can be used to obtain goods and services. In addition to accessing promotions, members have mobile access to real-time information about the venues, such as the demographics of venue attendees and media posted by attendees concerning venue characteristics. Using the system, members can determine before going to a venue, such as a nightclub or bar, which venue has their preferred attendee demographic, atmosphere, music, cover charge, drink specials, friends, etc.

Claims

1. A system for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said system comprising members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said system requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said system comprising:

a data processor, said data processor;

(1) receiving real-time data comprising information about a venue or attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least one member presently or recently at said venue; and

(A) processing said real-time data by (a) correlating said information about said attendees at said venue with trait information of said member on said data processor, or (b) combining real-time data from a plurality of members, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising information about said attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least a second member presently or recently at said venue;

said processing to provide processed data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data;

(B) communicating to a recipient said real-time data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue;

or

(C) combining real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from a plurality of members to provide a combined characteristic of said venue, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from mobile communication devices of a plurality of members presently or recently at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said combined characteristic of said venue;

or

(2) comprising information of a reward;

performing in the following order;

prior to a member being in a venue, informing said member of said reward that is receivable upon said member indicating in real time said member'"'"'s presence in said venue;

receiving said indicating from a mobile communication device of said member, whereby said reward becomes receivable;

processing said indicating to provide processed data comprising (A) the real-time location of said member, (B) a trait of said member, wherein said data processor comprises said trait, (C) a demographic of attendees at said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said demographic of attendees at said venue, or (D) a combined characteristic of said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said combined characteristic of said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data.

2. A method for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said people comprising members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said method requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said method employing a data processor:

(1) receiving real-time data comprising information about a venue or attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least one member presently or recently at said venue; and

(A) processing said real-time data by (a) correlating said information about said attendees at said venue with trait information of said member on said data processor, or (b) combining real-time data from a plurality of members, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising information about said attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least a second member presently or recently at said venue;

said processing to provide processed data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data;

(B) communicating to a recipient said real-time data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue;

or

(C) combining real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from a plurality of members to provide a combined characteristic of said venue, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from mobile communication devices of a plurality of members presently or recently at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said combined characteristic of said venue;

or

(2) comprising information of a reward;

performing in the following order;

prior to a member being in a venue, informing said member of said reward that is receivable upon said member indicating in real time said member'"'"'s presence in said venue;

receiving said indicating from a mobile communication device of said member, whereby said reward becomes receivable;

processing said indicating to provide processed data comprising (A) the real-time location of said member, (B) a trait of said member, wherein said data processor comprises said trait, (C) a demographic of attendees at said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said demographic of attendees at said venue, or (D) a combined characteristic of said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said combined characteristic of said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data.

3. A system for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said system comprising members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said system requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said system comprising:

a data processor, said data processor;

receiving real-time data comprising information about a venue or attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least one member presently or recently at said venue; and

(A) processing said real-time data by (a) correlating said information about said attendees at said venue with trait information of said member on said data processor, or (b) combining real-time data from a plurality of members, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising information about said attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least a second member presently or recently at said venue;

said processing to provide processed data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data;

(B) communicating to a recipient said real-time data comprising a demographic of said attendees at said venue;

or

(C) combining real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from a plurality of members to provide a combined characteristic of said venue, when said data processor receives real-time data comprising a characteristic of said venue from mobile communication devices of a plurality of members presently or recently at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said combined characteristic of said venue.

4. A system according to claim 3 consisting of (A), wherein said recipient comprises members.

5. A system according to claim 3 consisting of (B), wherein said recipient comprises members.

6. A system according to claim 3 consisting of (C), wherein said recipient comprises members.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for the present time.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a recent time.

9. A system according to claim 3, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a past specific time.

10. A system according to claim 3, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a future specific time.

11. A system according to claim 3, wherein said data processor comprises (a) a computer server or (b) a processor in said mobile communication device.

12. A system according to claim 3, wherein said data processor comprises information of a reward and informs said member of said reward receivable by said member for (a) providing said trait information, (b) providing said real-time data, (c) providing said demographic of attendees, (d) providing said characteristic of said venue, (e) accepting a venue'"'"'s promotion, (f) accepting a sponsor'"'"'s promotion, (g) recruiting new members or (h) having become a member of said organization.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said reward is receivable at said venue.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said reward comprises promotional material, rewards points, cash, credit, a coupon, a discount or organization honors.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said promotional material comprises, or said rewards points are used to receive, drink specials, cover charge discounts, access to VIP lounges, transportation offers, parking specials, food specials, merchandise offers, lodging specials, music downloads, passes to events or retail gift cards.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said data processor comprises (a) a computer server or (b) a processor in said mobile communication device.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said reward comprises organization honors.

18. A system according to claim 3, wherein said real-time data comprises said member'"'"'s estimate of at least one of the following demographics of attendees at said venue:

crowd size, gender mix, average age, ethnic mixture, and number of people dancing.

19. A system according to claim 3, wherein said real-time data comprises said member'"'"'s estimate of at least one of the following real-time characteristics of said venue:

drink quality, drink price, drink specials, expensiveness, cover charge, coat check, type of music, genre of music, efficiency of bar service, wait to get in, atmosphere, lighting, attire, drinks and food available, dancing, closing time, comment, photo, audio clip, video clip, rating, and overall recommendation.

20. A system according to claim 3, wherein said data processor transmits member-intended information to a requesting member, said member-intended information based on any of the following being communicated to said data processor as desired or ranked by said requesting member:

a specified demographic of attendees, a specified venue characteristic, closest venue to member'"'"'s current location, most offers available, available offers, most drink specials, a specified member present, most members present, most or fewest male members present, most female members present, highest percentage of single females, most friends in attendance, a specified typical age range, highest rating from other members, best match to custom demographic, ladies/guys night, rowdy atmosphere, quiet atmosphere, dancing, live music, comedy, happy hour, sports, a specified music genre playing, no cover charge, inexpensive drinks, or high quality of bar service.

21. A system according to claim 3, wherein said real-time data is received in response to a prompt transmitted to said mobile communication device from said data processor after said member indicates said member'"'"'s presence in said venue.

22. A system for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said system comprising members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said system requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said system comprising:

a data processor, said data processor;

receiving real-time data comprising information about attendees at said venue from a mobile communication device of at least one member presently or recently at said venue, said real-time data comprising location information of said member provided by

(1) a position-sensing device, or

(2) said member checking-in using said mobile communication device;

correlating said location information with trait information of said member on said data processor to provide a demographic of attendees at said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said demographic of attendees at said venue.

23. A system according to claim 22 consisting of (1).

24. A system according to claim 22 consisting of (2).

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein said data processor determines, for a plurality of members indicating their presence at said venue, a statistic of the trait categories of said indicating members.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said statistic comprises the number of said indicating members or the percentage of said indicating members possessing a specified trait.

27. A system for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said system comprising members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said system requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said system comprising:

a data processor, said data processor;

comprising information of a reward;

performing in the following order;

prior to a member being in a venue, informing said member of said reward that is receivable upon said member indicating in real time said member'"'"'s presence in said venue;

receiving said indicating from a mobile communication device of said member, whereby said reward becomes receivable;

processing said indicating to provide processed data comprising (A) the real-time location of said member, (B) a trait of said member, wherein said data processor comprises said trait, (C) a demographic of attendees at said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said demographic of attendees at said venue, or (D) a combined characteristic of said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said combined characteristic of said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data.

28. A system according to claim 27, each member of a plurality of said members indicating in real time their presence in said venue, wherein the real-time location of each member of said plurality is determined from said indicating and correlated with trait information of each member of said plurality to provide said demographic of attendees at said venue.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for the present time.

30. A system according to claim 27, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a recent time.

31. A system according to claim 27, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a past specific time.

32. A system according to claim 27, wherein said communicated demographic of attendees at said venue or said communicated combined characteristic of said venue is for a future specific time.

33. A system according to claim 27, wherein said data processor comprises (a) a computer server or (b) a processor in said mobile communication device.

34. A system according to claim 27, wherein said data processor transmits to said mobile communication device that said reward is receivable.

35. A system according to claim 27, wherein said indicating comprises a checkin.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein said checkin consists of indication of said venue.

37. A system according to claim 35, wherein said checkin comprises a survey of said venue.

38. A system according to claim 35, wherein said checkin comprises a rating of said venue.

39. A system according to claim 27, wherein said indicating comprises location information manually entered into said mobile communication device.

40. A system according to claim 35, wherein said reward comprises rewards points, and upon said data processor receiving said checkin, goods or services at said venue becoming redeemable using said rewards points.

41. A system according to claim 27, wherein said reward is provided by said venue or a sponsor, said reward receivable at said venue.

42. A system according to claim 27, wherein said reward is provided by said organization.

43. A system according to claim 27, wherein said venue or a sponsor has a communication device accessing an application provided by said organization for selecting mobile communication devices of members to which to transmit said information of a reward, said reward receivable at said venue.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein said selecting is based on (a) a demographic of attendees at said venue, (b) a characteristic of said venue, (c) a trait of a member, (d) a behavior of a member, (e) the location of a specified member or (f) instructions provided by said venue or sponsor.

45. A system according to claim 27, wherein said informing is for:

(a) providing trait information, (b) providing behavior information, (c) providing location information, (d) providing a demographic of attendees, (e) providing characteristic information, (f) accepting a venue'"'"'s promotion, (g) accepting a sponsor'"'"'s promotion, (h) recruiting new members or (i) having become a member of said organization.

46. A system according to claim 27, wherein said reward comprises promotional material, rewards points, a game, cash, credit, a coupon, a discount or organization honors.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein said promotional material comprises, or said rewards points are used to receive, drink specials, cover charge discounts, access to VIP lounges, transportation offers, parking specials, food specials, merchandise offers, lodging specials, music downloads, passes to events or retail gift cards.

48. A system according to claim 27, wherein said reward comprises promotional material, information of said promotional material is received by said data processor from said venue or a sponsor, and said promotional material becomes receivable at said venue using said mobile communication device.

49. A system according to claim 27, wherein said indicating does not comprise a request to receive said reward.

50. A system according to claim 27, wherein said member is required to receive said reward within a limited time period to ensure said member (a) is at said venue when providing said indicating, or (b) does not receive said reward multiple times.

51. A system according to claim 27, wherein said informing uses said mobile communication device, a laptop computer or a desktop computer;

said reward includes a drink discount, a food special, a cover-charge discount or rewards points;

said indicating is by checking-in using said mobile communication device; and

said reward is redeemed using said mobile communication device.

52. A method for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said method employing members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said method requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said method employing a data processor comprising information of a reward, said data processor performing in the following order:

prior to a member being in a venue, informing said member of said reward that is receivable upon said member indicating in real time said member'"'"'s presence in said venue;

receiving said indicating from a mobile communication device of said member, whereby said reward becomes receivable;

processing said indicating to provide processed data comprising (A) the real-time location of said member, (B) a trait of said member, wherein said data processor comprises said trait, (C) a demographic of attendees at said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said demographic of attendees at said venue, or (D) a combined characteristic of said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said combined characteristic of said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data.

53. A method for providing a service to venues where people aggregate, said method employing members associated with an organization for processing and transmitting information to said venues, said members or non-members, said members having mobile communication devices, said method requiring at least one member to attend a venue, said method employing a data processor comprising a game and information of a reward for a successful result of said game, said data processor performing in the following order:

prior to a member being in a venue, informing said member of said game and said reward being offered upon said member indicating in real time said member'"'"'s presence in said venue;

receiving said indicating from a mobile communication device of said member;

providing said member said game;

receiving the result of said member playing said game;

determining whether said result is successful;

informing said member or said venue whether said result is successful;

processing said indicating to provide processed data comprising (A) the real-time location of said member, (B) a trait of said member, wherein said data processor comprises said trait, (C) a demographic of attendees at said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said demographic of attendees at said venue, or (D) a combined characteristic of said venue, wherein said data processor comprises said combined characteristic of said venue; and

communicating to a recipient said processed data.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein when said result is successful, said data processor informing said member that said reward is receivable.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein said member is required to receive said reward at said venue within a limited time period to ensure said member is at said venue when playing said game.

56. A method according to claim 53, wherein prior to providing said member said game, receiving from said mobile communication device a demographic of attendees at said venue.

57. A method according to claim 53, wherein said game is a game of chance.

58. A method according to claim 53, said providing being to said mobile communication device.

59. A method according to 53, wherein said data processor comprises (a) a computer server or (b) a processor in said mobile communication device.