Targeted incentive actions based on location and intent

• US 8,868,443 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Yankovich, Steve, Melcher, Ryan, Veres, Robert Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Lastra, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/050,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.1
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and a system offer an incentive to a user of a mobile device based on a geographic location of the mobile device and the intent of the user. A processor-implemented location identification module determines the geographic location of the mobile device of the user. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item specified by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device. A processor-implemented incentive module offers an incentive from at least one merchant within a predefined distance based on the identified item and the geographic location of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor-implemented location identification module configured to

receive, from a mobile device of a user, a communication that includes a picture of an item and data that pertains to a location of the mobile device of the user, the picture taken by the user with the mobile device of the user, and

determine, based on the communication, a geographic location of the mobile device of the user;

a processor-implemented item identification module configured to identify the item based on the picture of the item included in the communication; and

a processor-implemented incentive module configured to offer an incentive from at least one merchant located within a predefined distance from the geographic location of the mobile device, based on the at least one merchant having the incentive for the identified item and based on the geographic location of the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented local merchant module configured to identify the at least one merchant within the predefined distance with at least one incentive based on the geographic location of the mobile device;

a processor-implemented incentive match module configured to determine whether the item in the picture corresponds to an item identified in the at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

a processor-implemented communication module configured to communicate the at least one incentive from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented item category module configured to determine a category of the item in the picture;

a processor-implemented incentive match module configured to determine whether the category of the item in the picture corresponds to a category of items identified in at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

a processor-implemented communication module configured to communicate the at least one incentive of the identified category of items from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented user preference module configured to request from the user whether to update a search distance preference for merchants; and

a processor-implemented local merchant module configured to identify the at least one merchant having the incentive based on the updated search distance preference.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented incentive code module configured to communicate a code associated with the at least one incentive to the mobile device, wherein the code is valid for a predetermined period of time at the corresponding merchant within the predefined distance.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented location identification module further comprises:

a processor-implemented triangulation service or a global positioning service (GPS) configured to determine the location of the mobile device based on a triangulation service or a GPS service;

a processor-implemented location input module configured to determine the location of the mobile device based on a user input at the mobile device;

a processor-implemented location-dependent search term input module configured to determine the location of the mobile device based on a location- dependent search term user input at the mobile device;

a processor-implemented tag module configured to determine the location of the mobile device based on a tag from the mobile device, the tag associated with a unique geographic location.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented item identification module further comprises:

a processor-implemented text identification module configured to identify the item based on a text input from the user at the geographic location of the mobile device;

a processor-implemented audio identification module configured to identify the item based on an audio input from the user at the geographic location of the mobile device;

a processor-implemented machine-readable symbol module configured to identify the item based on a machine-readable symbol scanned by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device;

a processor-implemented image identification module configured to identify the item based on an image taken by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device; and

a processor-implemented video identification module configured to identify the item based on a video taken by the user at the geographic location of the mobile device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented user preference module configured to generate a user preference setting, the user preference setting comprising a user-defined search distance preference.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor-implemented incentive module further comprises:

a processor-implemented incentive receiver module configured to receive attributes of incentives from at least one merchant within the predefined distance and store the attributes of the incentives in a database,

wherein the attributes of the incentives for an item comprises at least one of a name attribute of the merchant within the predefined distance, a name attribute of the item, a brand attribute of the item, a model attribute of the item, a category tag of the item, a sub-category tag of the item, a financial promotion attribute of the item, and a financial promotion term attribute of the item.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the incentive comprises a coupon, a discount, or a recommendation.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device of a user, a communication that includes a picture of an item and data that pertains to a location of the mobile device of the user, the picture taken by the user with the mobile device of the user;

determining, based on the communication, a geographic location of the mobile device of the user;

identifying the item based on the picture of the item included in the communication; and

offering an incentive from at least one merchant located within a predefined distance from the geographic location of the mobile device, based on the at least one merchant having the incentive for the identified item and based on the geographic location of the mobile device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

identifying at least one merchant within the predefined distance with at least one incentive based on the geographic location of the mobile device;

determining whether the item in the picture corresponds to an item identified in the at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

communicating the at least one incentive of the identified item from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a category of the item in the picture;

determining whether the category of the item identified by the user corresponds to a category of items identified in at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

communicating the at least one incentive of the identified category of items from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

requesting from the user whether to update a search distance preference for merchants; and

identifying the at least one merchant having the incentive based on the updated search distance preference.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

communicating a code associated with the at least one incentive to the mobile device, wherein the code is valid for a predetermined period of time at the corresponding merchant within the predefined distance.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining the geographic location of the mobile device based on at least one of a triangulation service or a global positioning service (GPS) of the mobile device, a location input from the user of the mobile device, a location-dependent search term input from the user of the mobile device, and a tag associated with a unique geographic location.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining the item based on at least one of a text input from the user of the mobile device, an audio input from the user of the mobile device, a machine-readable symbol input from the user of the mobile device, an image input from the user of the mobile device, and a video input from the user of the mobile device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the incentive is generated based on a preference setting of the user of the mobile device, the preference setting comprising a user-defined search distance preference.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving attributes of incentives from at least one merchant within the predefined distance;

storing the attributes of the incentives in a database,

wherein the attributes of the incentives for an item comprises at least one of a name attribute of the merchant within the predefined distance, a name attribute of the item, a brand attribute of the item, a model attribute of the item, a category tag of the item, a sub-category tag of the item, a financial promotion attribute of the item, and a financial promotion term attribute of the item.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the incentive comprises a coupon, a discount, or a recommendation.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device of a user, a communication that includes a picture and data that pertains to a location of the mobile device of the user, the picture taken by the user with the mobile device of the user;

determining, based on the communication, a geographic location of the mobile device of the user;

identifying the item based on the picture of the item included in the communication; and

offering an incentive from at least one merchant located within a predefined distance from the geographic location of the mobile device, based on the at least one merchant having the incentive for the identified item and based on the geographic location of the mobile device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

identifying at least one merchant within the predefined distance with at least one incentive based on the geographic location of the mobile device;

determining whether the item in the picture corresponds to an item identified in the at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

communicating the at least one incentive of the identified item from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

determining a category of the item in the picture;

determining whether the category of the item in the picture corresponds to a category of items identified in at least one incentive of the at least one merchant within the predefined distance; and

communicating the at least one incentive of the identified category of items from the at least one merchant within the predefined distance to the mobile device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

requesting from the user whether to update a search distance preference for merchants; and

identifying the at least one merchant having the incentive based on the updated search distance preference.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

communicating a code associated with the at least one incentive to the mobile device, wherein the code is valid for a predetermined period of time at the corresponding merchant within the predefined distance.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

determining the geographic location of the mobile device based on at least one of a triangulation service or a global positioning service (GPS) of the mobile device, a location input from the user of the mobile device, a location-dependent search term input from the user of the mobile device, and a tag associated with a unique geographic location.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

determining the item based on at least one of a text input from the user of the mobile device, an audio input from the user of the mobile device, a machine-readable symbol input from the user of the mobile device, an image input from the user of the mobile device, and a video input from the user of the mobile device.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 wherein the incentive is generated based on a preference setting of the user of the mobile device, the preference setting comprising a user-defined search distance preference.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving attributes of incentives from at least one merchant within the predefined distance;

storing the attributes of the incentives in a database,

wherein the attributes of the incentives for an item comprises at least one of a name attribute of the merchant within the predefined distance, a name attribute of the item, a brand attribute of the item, a model attribute of the item, a category tag of the item, a sub-category tag of the item, a financial promotion attribute of the item, and a financial promotion term attribute of the item.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 wherein the incentive comprises a coupon, a discount, or a recommendation.