Method and system for electronic distribution of incentives having real-time consumer-based directions

• US 8,620,733 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Gregory B., Wills, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lastra, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/937,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,399 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.1
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for electronic distribution of incentives having real-time consumer-based directions according to another embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. An online promotion service may receive user profile information, which may include demographic information, location information, user preferences, user requests, and other information. Online promotion service may provide targeted incentives and promotions to a particular user or class of users based on user profile information and other information. Incentives may include coupons, promotions, rebates, sales notifications, free samples, and other product or service related incentives. A map and street directions identifying the location of associated facilities, such as redemption and retail/point-of-sale facilities, from a user'"'"'s location may also be provided. The user'"'"'s location may be identified as the user'"'"'s home address, work address, or other convenient locations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for generating incentive information and associated directional information for a user based on user profile information and location information, the system comprising:

at least one database for storing user profile information and information regarding available incentives including redemption location information for the available incentives;

at least one server operatively connected to the at least one database, the at least one server configured to;

receive, from a user device associated with a user, location information indicating a location and information identifying the user;

generate incentive information relating to at least one available incentive for the user based on user profile information for the user and the received location information;

determine one or more redemption locations at which the at least one available incentive can be redeemed based on stored redemption location information for the at least one available incentive, and inventory information for the one or more redemption locations verifying that a product for which purchase is required to redeem the at least one available incentive is currently in stock;

generate directional information for providing direction to the determined one or more redemption locations based on the location information; and

transmit the incentive information and the directional information to the user device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises the user'"'"'s home or work address.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a current location of a mobile device associated with the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the directional information comprises a map identifying the determined one or more redemption locations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user profile information includes one or more user-defined display preferences.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a user-defined display preference comprises a radius of display centered about the location indicated by the location information, on a map, such that only the determined one or more redemption locations are identified on the map if they are within the radius of display.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a user-defined display preference comprises a predetermined number of the determined one or more redemption locations to be identified on a map that are closest, in distance, to the location indicated by the location information.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

determine one or more second redemption locations at which the at least one available incentive can be redeemed based on stored redemption location information for the at least one available incentive, and inventory information for the one or more second redemption locations that indicate that the product for which purchase is required to redeem the at least one available incentive is currently in out-of-stock; and

transmit the determined one or more second redemption locations to the user device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

transmit an indication that distinguishes the determined one or more redemption locations from the determined one or more second redemption locations.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

transmit an image of a map that includes the indication.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the incentive information comprises information for printing a coupon.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the information for printing a coupon comprises a unique identification that prevents printing the coupon more than once.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

transmit the incentive information as an electronic coupon.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

transmit the electronic coupon to the determined one or more redemption locations.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

transmit the electronic coupon to the user device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronic coupon is automatically deleted after a specified time.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

receive a shopping list comprising the product, wherein the generated incentive information is based on a comparison of the shopping list with the at least one available incentive.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

identify an item based on the at least one available incentive; and

generate a shopping list based on the identified item.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

identify the item based on the inventory information for the one or more redemption locations.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:

identify the item based on layout information for the one or more redemption locations.

8. A computer-implemented method of generating incentive information and associated directional information for a user based on user profile information and location information, the method comprising:

storing, in at least one database that is operatively connected to at least one server, user profile information and information regarding available incentives including redemption location information for the available incentives;

receiving, at the at least one server, from a user device associated with a user, location information indicating a location and information identifying the user;

generating, at the at least one server, incentive information relating to at least one available incentive for the user based on user profile information for the user and the received location information;

determining, at the at least one server, one or more redemption locations at which the at least one available incentive can be redeemed based on stored redemption location information for the at least one available incentive, and inventory information for the one or more redemption locations verifying that a product for which purchase is required to redeem the at least one available incentive is currently in stock;

generating, at the at least one server, directional information for providing direction to the determined one or more redemption locations based on the location information; and

transmitting, from the at least one server to the user device, the incentive information and the directional information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information comprises the user'"'"'s home or work address.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information comprises a current location of a mobile device associated with the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the directional information comprises a map identifying the determined one or more identified redemption locations.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the user profile information includes one or more user-defined display preferences.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a user-defined display preference comprises a radius of display centered about the location indicated by the location information, on a map, such that only the determined one or more redemption locations are identified on the map if they are within the radius of display.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a user-defined display preference comprises a predetermined number of the determined one or more redemption locations to be identified on a map that are closest, in distance, to the location indicated by the location information.

15. The system 1, wherein the location information comprises a route.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more redemption locations are determined based on a user-defined distance from the route or based on having a location along the route.