Providing coupons based on user selected preference options

• US 8,554,613 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lechner, Marcelo D., Chitnis, Siddharth
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Scott C
• Application Number:
  US13/278,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20130103480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.25
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a server device, multiple preference options to a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users and to a second mobile device of a group of users, wherein the multiple preference options include;

a type of service or product,

a quantity of people; and

a period of time;

receiving, at the server device from the first user via the first mobile device, the first user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options;

receiving, at the server device from the second user via the second mobile device, the second user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options;

receiving, by the server device, a particular coupon that is available via one or more coupon services;

determining, by the server device, a first location of the first mobile device of the first user of the group of users;

determining, by the server device, a second location of the second mobile device of the second user of the group of users,

where the first location and the second location are within a particular geographic area;

matching, by the server device, the particular coupon to the group of users based on the particular geographic area and the selections of the one or more of the multiple preference options of the first user and the second user,

where the particular coupon is for a service at a venue within the particular geographic area; and

transmitting, by the server device, information associated with the particular coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining logistics information associated with the particular coupon,

wherein the information associated with the particular coupon comprises the logistics information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the logistics information comprises one or more of:

first directions from the first location to the venue,

second directions from the second location to the venue,

information about weather expected at the venue when the service is provided, or

information about transportation that is available to the venue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the particular coupon comprises one or more of:

information identifying a discount or terms associated with the particular coupon,

information identifying a period of time associated with the particular coupon,

an identifier of the venue,

an identifier of the first user,

an identifier of the second user, or

information identifying a type of the service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more confirmations,

wherein the one or more confirmations comprise at least one of;

a first confirmation from the first mobile device, or

a second confirmation from the second mobile device;

determining a quantity of the one or more confirmations;

transmitting, to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, first updates that indicate that not enough confirmations have been received for the particular coupon when the quantity of the one or more confirmations is less than a particular quantity indicated for the particular coupon; and

transmitting, to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, second updates that include identifiers of users, in the group, who have confirmed participation in an activity associated with the particular coupon when the quantity of the one or more confirmations is equal to or greater than the particular quantity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first confirmation from the first mobile device;

receiving a second confirmation from the second mobile device;

generating, based on the first confirmation and the second information, a first update that indicates that the first user and the second user have confirmed participation in an activity associated with the particular coupon;

transmitting the first update to the first mobile device and the second mobile device;

receiving a retraction of the first confirmation from the first mobile device;

generating, based on the retraction of the first confirmation, a second update that indicates that not enough people are confirmed for the activity associated with the particular coupon; and

transmitting the second update to the second mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the particular coupon to the group of users comprises:

determining the particular geographic area associated with the particular coupon,

determining a type of the service associated with the particular coupon,

determining that a first condition is satisfied when the first location and the second location are within particular geographic area,

determining that a second condition is satisfied when the selections of the one or more of the multiple preference options of the first user and the second user match the type of service, and

matching the particular coupon to the group of users when the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving contacts of the first user from the first mobile device, or from one or more social networking services, wherein the contacts comprises a first plurality of users that includes the second user; and

identifying the group of users based on the retrieved contacts of the first user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing, from the server device to the first mobile device, an interface to organize the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users; and

receiving, from the first user via the interface, information for organizing the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users.

8. A server device comprising:

a memory configured to store;

a plurality of coupons for services or products at a plurality of venues;

a processor configured to;

cause multiple preference options to be transmitted to a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users and to a second mobile device of a second user of a group of users, wherein the multiple preference options include;

a type of service or product,

a quantity of people; and

a period of time;

receive, from the first user via the first mobile device, the first user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options,

receive, from the second user via the second mobile device, the second user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options,

receive, from the first mobile device of the first user of the group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device,

receive, from the second mobile device of the second user of the group of users, information identifying a second location of the second mobile device,

determine a geographic area of a venue, of the plurality of venues, associated with a coupon, of the plurality of coupons,

match the coupon to the group of users when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area and based on the selections of the one or more of the multiple preference options of the first user and the second user, and

transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

9. The device of claim 8, where the processor is further configured to:

receive, from the first mobile device, a first confirmation that indicates that the first user confirmed participation in an activity associated with the matched coupon,

receive, from the second mobile device, a second confirmation that indicates that the second user confirmed participation in the activity, and

transmit, to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, update information associated with the first confirmation and the second confirmation.

10. The device of claim 8,

wherein the group of users further comprises a third user of a third mobile device,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, from the third mobile device, information identifying a third location of the third mobile device,

determine whether the third location is within the geographic area, and

transmit the information associated with the matched coupon to the third mobile device only when the third location is within the geographic area.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the matched coupon comprises one or more of:

information identifying a discount or terms associated with the matched coupon,

information identifying a period of time associated with the matched coupon,

an identifier of the venue,

an identifier of the first user,

an identifier of the second user, or

information identifying the particular type of the service.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further to:

receive, from a computer device associated with the venue, usage information indicating that the first user and the second user used the matched coupon at the venue.

20. The server device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause contacts of the first user to be retrieved from the first mobile device, or from one or more social networking services, wherein the contacts comprises a first plurality of users that includes the second user; and

identify the group of users based on the retrieved contacts of the first user.

21. The server device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, to the first mobile device, an interface to organize the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users; and

receive, from the first user via the interface, information for organizing the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising:

instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the one or more processors to;

cause multiple preference options to be transmitted to a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users and to a second mobile device of a second user of a group of users, wherein the multiple preference options include;

a type of service or product,

a quantity of people; and

a period of time;

receive, from the first user via the first mobile device, the first user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options,

receive, from the second user via the second mobile device, the second user'"'"'s selection of one or more of the multiple preference options,

receive a particular coupon that is available via one or more coupon services,

receive, from the first mobile device of the first user of the group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device,

receive, from the second mobile device of the second user of the group of users, information identifying a second location of the second mobile device,

determine a geographic area of a venue associated with the particular coupon,

match the particular coupon to the group of users when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area and based on the selections of the one or more of the multiple preference options of the first user and the second user, and

transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

14. The media of claim 13,

wherein the group of users further comprises a third user of a third mobile device, and

wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine whether a third location of the third mobile device is within the geographic area, and

transmit the information associated with the matched coupon to the third mobile device only when the third location is within the geographic area and third preferences, of the third user, indicate preferences for coupons for the type of the service associated with the coupon.

15. The media of claim 13, wherein the information associated with the matched coupon comprises one or more of:

information identifying a discount or terms associated with the coupon,

information identifying a period of time associated with the coupon,

an identifier of the venue,

an identifier of the first user,

an identifier of the second user, or

information identifying the type of the service.

16. The media of claim 13,

wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine logistics information for the matched coupon,

where the information associated with the matched coupon comprises the logistics information, and

wherein the logistics information comprises one or more of;

first directions from the first location to the venue,

second directions from the second location to the venue,

information about weather expected at the venue when the service is provided, or

information about transportation that is available to the venue.

17. The media of claim 13,

wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive one or more confirmations from at least one of the first mobile device or the second mobile device,

determine a quantity of the one or more confirmations,

transmit, to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, first updates that indicate that not enough confirmations have been received for the coupon when the quantity of the one or more confirmations is less than a particular quantity required for the coupon; and

transmit, to the first mobile device and the second mobile device, second updates that include two or more identifiers of users when the quantity of the one or more confirmations is equal to or greater than the particular quantity,

wherein the two or more identifiers comprise a first identifier of the first user when one of the one or more confirmations is received from the first mobile device, and

wherein the two or more identifiers comprise a second identifier of the second user when one of the one or more confirmations is received from the second mobile device.

22. The media of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

cause contacts of the first user to be retrieved from the first mobile device, or from one or more social networking services, wherein the contacts comprises a first plurality of users that includes the second user; and

identify the group of users based on the retrieved contacts of the first user.

23. The media of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

provide, to the first mobile device, an interface to organize the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users; and

receive, from the first user via the interface, information for organizing the retrieved contacts of the first user into the group of users.