Viral distribution and tracking of electronic coupons
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for automated viral distribution of electronic coupons between users, said system comprising:
- a memory area associated with a mobile computing device of a first user, said memory area storing a plurality of electronic coupons, each of said electronic coupons having one or more coupon properties associated therewith; and
a processor associated with the mobile computing device, said processor being programmed to;
detect a recipient computing device of a second user proximate to the mobile computing device of the first user, wherein neither the first user nor the second user is a merchant or a vendor;
in response to detecting the recipient computing device, automatically select at least one of the electronic coupons stored in the memory area, said selection being based on context-based subject matter filters associated with the detected recipient computing device, the context-based subject matter filters identifying interests of the second user associated with the detected recipient computing device;
transmit the selected coupons to the detected recipient computing device while the detected recipient computing device is proximate to the mobile computing device; and
adjust at least one of the coupon properties associated with the selected coupon stored in the memory area based at least on the transmittal of the selected coupon.
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Abstract
Distributing and tracking electronic coupons based on proximity. Upon detecting recipients proximate to a computing device, one or more electronic coupons are selected and transmitted to the detected recipients. The transmittal occurs via a wireless connection in some embodiments. Coupon properties associated with the transmitted coupons are adjusted (e.g., values decreased, expiration conditions modified, location of transmittal, etc.). Distribution data for the transmitted coupons is stored to maintain a distribution history.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for automated viral distribution of electronic coupons between users, said system comprising:
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a memory area associated with a mobile computing device of a first user, said memory area storing a plurality of electronic coupons, each of said electronic coupons having one or more coupon properties associated therewith; and a processor associated with the mobile computing device, said processor being programmed to; detect a recipient computing device of a second user proximate to the mobile computing device of the first user, wherein neither the first user nor the second user is a merchant or a vendor; in response to detecting the recipient computing device, automatically select at least one of the electronic coupons stored in the memory area, said selection being based on context-based subject matter filters associated with the detected recipient computing device, the context-based subject matter filters identifying interests of the second user associated with the detected recipient computing device; transmit the selected coupons to the detected recipient computing device while the detected recipient computing device is proximate to the mobile computing device; and adjust at least one of the coupon properties associated with the selected coupon stored in the memory area based at least on the transmittal of the selected coupon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for automated sharing of electronic coupons between users, said method comprising:
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identifying, by a computing device, one or more recipients, wherein at least one of the identified recipients is proximate to a user, said computing device being associated with the user and said computing device being capable of distributing electronic coupons to the identified recipients, wherein neither the user nor the identified recipients is a merchant or a vendor; in response to identifying the one or more recipients, automatically selecting at least one electronic coupon associated with the computing device, said selected coupon having one or more coupon properties associated therewith, said selecting being based on context-based subject matter filters associated with the identified recipients, the context-based subject matter filters identifying interests of the identified recipients; providing the selected coupon to the identified recipients; and adjusting at least one of the coupon properties of the selected coupon associated with the computing device based at least on said providing the selected coupon. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. One or more computer storage media storing computer-executable components for automated sharing of electronic coupons, said components comprising:
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an interface component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to receive, from a mobile computing device of a user, identification of one or more recipient computing devices proximate to the mobile computing device, wherein neither the user nor the identified recipients is a merchant or a vendor; a coupon component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to automatically select, in response to the identification of the one or more recipient computing devices, at least one electronic coupon, said selected coupon having one or more coupon properties associated therewith, wherein the interface component distributes the coupon selected by the coupon component to the identified recipients; an expiration component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to adjust at least one of the coupon properties of the selected coupon responsive to said distributing; and a track component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to store distribution data associated with the selected coupon, said distribution data identifying at least the mobile computing device, said one or more recipient computing devices, and the coupon properties associated with the electronic coupon, the coupon properties including redemption suggestions created dynamically based on the distribution data accumulated by the track component, the redemption suggestions being based on a previous distribution location of the electronic coupon. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification