Distributing content based on transaction information

• US 8,666,812 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Kawaljit
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORNESKY, ADAM B
• Application Number:
  US12/834,501
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.52, 705/14.49, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 705/14.52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

Content providers can target individuals for receipt of selected content based, at least in part, on profiles associated with users. The associations between the users and the profiles are determined based on analysis of receipts for transactions completed by the users. These receipts contain information that is indicative of the individuals'"'"' spending habits. Electronic correspondence associated with the users is scanned to identify the receipts and information is extracted from the receipts for use in the analysis. The individuals can opt-in to receive content targeted to the profiles associated with their accounts without allowing the content providers to have direct access to their receipts or their identity. The individuals can also opt-out if they no longer want to receive targeted content.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for distributing content, comprising:

evaluating, by a processor, an electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;

in response to a determination that the electronic message comprises a receipt, extracting, by the processor, purchase information from the receipt;

selecting, by the processor, content based at least in part upon the purchase information extracted from the receipt, wherein the content comprises content information that is distinct from the purchase information extracted from the receipt; and

presenting, by the processor, the selected content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein presenting the selected content comprises appending the selected content to a subsequent electronic message.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message comprise electronic mail messages.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the purchase information extracted from the receipt comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the content is further based on a geographic location of a user associated with the electronic message.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt comprises identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of content of the electronic message and an attachment to the electronic message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the word associated with the receipt includes one of payment, receipt, purchase, transaction, order, billing, shipping, shipped, and total.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt comprises receiving an indication that the electronic correspondence comprises a receipt.

9. A computer-implemented method for distributing content, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an electronic message associated with an e-mail account for a user;

evaluating, by the processor, the electronic message associated with the e-mail account for the user to determine that the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;

extracting, by the processor, purchase information from the receipt;

storing, by the processor, the purchase information extracted from the receipt in a data store for associating the e-mail account of the user with a content targeting profile;

associating, by the processor, the e-mail account of the user with the content targeting profile, the content targeting profile based on the purchase information extracted from the receipt;

receiving, by the processor, a request for one or more content, the content comprising content information that is distinct from the purchase information extracted from the receipt;

selecting, by the processor, one or more content for transmission, the one or more content being selected from available content for the content targeting profile associated with the e-mail account of the user; and

transmitting, by the processor, the selected content in response to the request for content.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt comprises identifying at lease one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of (a) content of the electronic message and (b) an attachment to the electronic message.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the selected content is transmitted in an e-mail message.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the selected content comprises at least one of an advertisement, a coupon, and a discount.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the selected content comprises appending the selected content to a subsequent electronic message.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the selected content comprises at least one of a training video, product brochure, and promotional material.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein selecting one or more content for transmission comprises:

determining, by the processor, a geographic location of the user; and

determining, by the processor, which of the available content is proximal to the user.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising receiving an indication that the user has interacted with the transmitted content.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising updating a content index to indicate that the user interacted with the content.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the selected content is an advertisement, coupon, discount, training video, product brochure, or promotional material.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program instructions embodied therein that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for distributing content comprising;

evaluating an electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;

in response to a determination that the electronic message comprises a receipt, extracting purchase information from the receipt;

selecting content based at least in part upon the purchase information extracted from the receipt, wherein the content comprises content information that is distinct from the purchase information extracted from the receipt; and

presenting the selected content.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the electronic message is associated with an e-mail account for a user.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising computer-readable program instructions for storing the purchase information extracted from the receipt in a data store for associating the e-mail account of the user with a content targeting profile.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising computer-readable program instructions for associating the e-mail account of the user with the content targeting profile, the content targeting profile based on the information extracted from the receipt.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the content is selected from available content for the content targeting profile associated with the e-mail account of the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein presenting the selected content comprises computer-readable program instructions for appending the selected content to a subsequent electronic message.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the selected content is one of an advertisement, coupon, discount, training video, product brochure, and promotional material.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the information extracted from the receipt comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the selection of the content is further based on a geographic location of a user associated with the electronic message.

28. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises computer-readable program instructions for identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of content of the electronic message and an attachment to the electronic message.

29. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises computer-readable program instructions for receiving an indication that the electronic correspondence comprises a receipt.

30. A system for distributing content, the system comprising:

a storage medium; and

a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the storage medium, the computer-executable instructions comprising;

instructions for evaluating an electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;

instructions for extracting purchase information from the receipt;

instructions for selecting content based at least in part upon the purchase information extracted from the receipt, wherein the content comprises content information that is distinct from the purchase information extracted from the receipt; and

instructions for presenting the selected content.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the electronic message is associated with an e-mail account for a user.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising computer-readable program instructions for storing the purchase information extracted from the receipt in a data store for associating the e-mail account of the user with a content targeting profile.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising computer-readable program instructions for associating the e-mail account of the user with the content targeting profile, the content targeting profile based on the purchase information extracted from the receipt.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the content is selected from available content for the content targeting profile associated with the e-mail account of the user.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein presenting the selected content comprises instructions for appending the selected content to a subsequent electronic message.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the selected content is one of an advertisement, coupon, discount, training video, product brochure, and promotional material.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the purchase information extracted from the receipt comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the selection of the content is further based on a geographic location of a user associated with the electronic message.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises instructions for identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of content of the electronic message and an attachment to the electronic message.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises instructions for receiving an indication that the electronic correspondence comprises a receipt.