Consumer incentives using mobile devices with point of sale processing systems and methods

• US 9,213,675 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubetterknowme.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ubetterknowme.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Kolton, Claudine, Naqvi, Shamim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Martin
• Application Number:
  US13/484,581
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for responding to the arrival of a person within a defined geographic area after receiving a virtual presence by applying discounts at a point-of-sale are defined. A mobile electronic device stores user profile and consumer incentive data and periodically outputs a unique device identification number and position data. A host server monitors the position data and when it is within the defined geographic area, the user profile and consumer incentive data is received from the mobile electronic device and transmitted to a servers and a point-of-sale for enhanced customer services and savings. When the user leaves the defined geographic area, the profile data is removed.

Claims

1. A system for processing money-saving consumer incentives at a point-of-sale within a defined geographic area comprising:

a mobile electronic device configured to output a unique device identification number comprising;

a space-based satellite navigation system that outputs position data;

a first radio transmitter;

a first radio receiver;

an input device for inputting user profile and consumer incentive data;

a first memory for storing user profile and consumer incentive data;

a second memory for storing an application that transmits position data, the device identification number and user profile and consumer incentive data;

a third memory for receiving a request profile signal that indicates that the mobile electronic device has entered the defined geographic area;

a first database in communication with the application in the second memory for storing barcodes, coupons, product images, consumer incentive data and screen images related to the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data; and

a camera in communication with the database configured to capture the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data as screen images;

a host server comprising;

a second radio transmitter;

a second radio receiver;

a fourth memory for storing device identification numbers; and

a fifth memory in communication with the second radio transmitter and the second radio receiver for storing an application that recognizes device identification numbers and transmits a request profile signal to the mobile electronic device and that receives user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the mobile electronic device and transmits the user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images without storing the user profile data in memory on the host server and that transmits data to clear the screen image;

a registry in communication with the mobile electronic device through the host server comprising;

a unique program identifier that identifies a savings program;

a common short code associated with the unique program identifier;

a third receiver that receives common short codes for association with savings programs; and

a third transmitter that transmits consumer incentive data to the host server to be added to profile and consumer incentive data on the mobile electronic device; and

a point-of-sale terminal comprising;

a point-of-sale coupon redemption processor in communication with the mobile electronic device through the host server for processing coupon and discount data and screen images and for applying a discount to a running total;

wherein the mobile electronic device periodically transmits its device identification number and position data to the host server;

wherein when the host server receives a recognized device identification number and position data indicating that the mobile electronic device is within the defined geographic area, the host server sends a request profile signal to the mobile electronic device;

wherein when the mobile electronic device receives a request profile signal, the mobile electronic device transmits user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images to the host server; and

wherein when the host server receives user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images, the host server transmits the user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images to the point-of-sale terminal and then transmits data to clear the screen image so that the user profile data is maintained privately and securely only on the mobile electronic device.

2. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a second database in communication with the application in the second memory for loading coupons, barcodes and consumer incentive data into the first database.

3. The system recited in claim 2 further comprising a display in the mobile electronic device for viewing profile and consumer incentive data.

4. The system recited in claim 3 further comprising a multiplicity of host servers in communication with the first database, the second database and the application in the second memory for comparing consumer incentive data.

5. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a reverse index that given the unique device identification number as input produces as output all the unique program identifiers.

6. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a display on the point-of-sale terminal for viewing profile and consumer incentive data.

7. The system recited in claim 1 wherein user profile data is encrypted on the mobile electronic device and decrypted on the terminal and wherein when the host server receives a device identification number and one of position data indicating that the mobile electronic device was but no longer is within the defined geographic area and a disconnect signal, the host server transmits data to the terminal that clears the user profile data from the terminal.

8. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the device identification number and position data are transmitted from the mobile electronic device to a third-party location server, which broadcasts the device identification number and position data and wherein the host server is a subscriber device of the location server broadcasts.

9. The system recited in claim 8 wherein the application in the fifth memory detects the position of the mobile electronic device over time and accelerates the rate at which the application retrieves data from the location server if the mobile electronic device is approaching the defined geographic area.

10. A system for processing money-saving consumer incentives at a point-of-sale within a defined geographic area comprising:

an adjacent network wherein the adjacent network is defined as a primary device, a service node and a secondary device;

wherein the primary device comprises;

a mobile electronic device configured to output a unique device identification number comprising;

a space-based satellite navigation system that outputs position data;

a first radio transmitter;

a first radio receiver;

an input device for inputting user profile and consumer incentive data;

a first memory for storing user profile and consumer incentive data;

a second memory for storing an application that transmits position data, the device identification number and user profile and consumer incentive data;

a third memory for receiving a request profile signal that indicates that the mobile electronic device has entered the defined geographic area;

a first database in communication with the application in the second memory for storing barcodes, coupons, product images, consumer incentive data and screen images related to the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data; and

a camera in communication with the database configured to capture the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data as screen images;

wherein the service node comprises;

a host server comprising;

a second radio transmitter;

a second radio receiver;

a fourth memory for storing device identification numbers; and

a fifth memory in communication with the second radio transmitter and the second radio receiver for storing an application that recognizes device identification numbers and transmits a request profile signal to the mobile electronic device and that receives user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the mobile electronic device and transmits the user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images without storing the user profile data in memory on the host server and that transmits data to clear the screen image;

wherein the secondary device comprises;

a point-of-sale terminal comprising;

a point-of-sale coupon redemption processor in communication with the mobile electronic device through the service node for processing coupon and discount data and screen images and for applying a discount to a running total; and

a registry in communication with the primary device through the service node comprising;

a unique program identifier that identifies a savings program;

a common short code associated with the unique program identifier;

a third receiver that receives common short codes for association with savings programs; and

a third transmitter that transmits consumer incentive data to the service node to be added to profile and consumer incentive data from the primary device;

wherein the primary device periodically transmits its device identification number and position data to the service node;

wherein when the service node receives a recognized device identification number and position data indicating that the primary device is within the defined geographic area, the service node sends a request profile signal to the primary device;

wherein when the primary device receives a request profile signal, the primary device transmits user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images to the service node;

wherein when the service node receives user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images, the service node transmits the user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images to the secondary device and then transmits data to clear the screen image so that the user profile data is maintained privately and securely only on the mobile electronic device; and

wherein the adjacent network assembles when the person arrives within the defined geographic area, and the adjacent network dissembles when the person leaves the defined geographic area.

11. The system recited in claim 10 further comprising a second database in communication with the application in the second memory for loading coupons, barcodes and consumer incentive data into the first database.

12. The system recited in claim 11 further comprising:

a display in the primary device for viewing profile and consumer incentive data; and

a multiplicity of service nodes in communication with the first database, the second database and the application in the second memory for comparing consumer incentive data.

13. The system recited in claim 10 further comprising a reverse index that given the unique device identification number as input produces as output all the unique program identifiers.

14. The system recited in claim 10 further comprising a display on the secondary device for viewing profile and consumer incentive data.

15. The system recited in claim 10 wherein user profile data is encrypted on the primary device and decrypted on the secondary device and wherein when the service node receives a device identification number and one of position data indicating that the primary device was but no longer is within the defined geographic area and a disconnect signal, the service node transmits data to the secondary device that clears the user profile data from the secondary device and the adjacent network dissembles.

16. The system recited in claim 10 further comprising a seventh memory in the secondary device for storing an application that controls the interface for viewing user profile and consumer incentive data.

17. The system recited in claim 10 wherein the device identification number and position data are transmitted from the primary device to a third-party location server, which broadcasts the device identification number and position data and wherein the service node is a subscriber device of the location server broadcasts.

18. The system recited in claim 17 wherein the application in the fifth memory detects the position of the primary device over time and accelerates the rate at which the application retrieves data from the location server if the primary device is approaching the defined geographic area.

19. A method for processing money-saving consumer incentives at a point-of-sale within a defined geographic area comprising:

providing a mobile electronic device configured to output a unique device identification number comprising;

a space-based satellite navigation system that outputs position data;

a first radio transmitter;

a first radio receiver;

an input device for inputting user profile and consumer incentive data;

a first memory for storing user profile and consumer incentive data;

a second memory for storing an application that transmits position data, the device identification number and user profile and consumer incentive data;

a third memory for receiving a request profile signal that indicates that the mobile electronic device has entered the defined geographic area;

a first database in communication with the application in the second memory for storing barcodes, coupons, product images, consumer incentive data and screen images related to the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data; and

a camera in communication with the database configured to capture the barcodes, coupons, product images and consumer incentive data as screen images;

providing a host server comprising;

a second radio transmitter;

a second radio receiver;

a fourth memory for storing device identification numbers; and

a fifth memory in communication with the second radio transmitter and the second radio receiver for storing an application that recognizes device identification numbers and transmits a request profile signal to the mobile electronic device and that receives user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the mobile electronic device and transmits the user profile and consumer incentive data and the screen images without storing the user profile data in memory on the host server and that transmits data to clear the screen image;

providing a registry in communication with the mobile electronic device through the host server comprising;

a unique program identifier that identifies a savings program;

a common short code associated with the unique program identifier;

a third receiver that receives common short codes for association with savings programs; and

a third transmitter that transmits consumer incentive data to the host server to be added to profile and consumer incentive data from the mobile electronic device;

providing a point-of-sale terminal comprising;

a point-of-sale coupon redemption processor in communication with the mobile electronic device for processing coupon and discount data and screen images and for applying a discount to a running total;

transmitting a device identification number and position data from the mobile electronic device to the host server periodically;

receiving a recognized device identification number and position data on the host server from the mobile electronic device indicating that the mobile electronic device is within the defined geographic area;

sending a request profile signal from the host server to the mobile electronic device;

receiving a request profile signal on the mobile electronic device from the host server;

encrypting the user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images on the mobile electronic device before sending it to the host server;

transmitting user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images to the host server from the mobile electronic device;

receiving user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images on the host server from the mobile electronic device;

receiving consumer incentive data and screen images on the host server from the registry;

transmitting the user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the host server to the point-of-sale terminal;

receiving the user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images on the point-of-sale terminal;

decrypting the user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images on the point-of-sale terminal when it is received from the host server;

sending data from the host server that clears user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the point-of-sale terminal when the host server receives a device identification number and position data from the mobile electronic device indicating that the mobile electronic device was but no longer is within the defined geographic area; and

sending data from the host server that clears user profile and consumer incentive data and screen images from the point-of-sale terminal when the host server receives a device identification number and a disconnect signal from the mobile electronic device so that the user profile data is maintained privately and securely only on the mobile electronic device.

20. The method recited in claim 19 further comprising:

providing a second database in communication with the application in the second memory for loading coupons, barcodes and consumer incentive data into the first database;

providing a display in the mobile electronic device for viewing profile and consumer incentive data;

providing a multiplicity of host servers in communication with the first database, the second database and the application in the second memory for comparing consumer incentive data;

providing a display on the point-of-sale terminal for viewing profile and consumer incentive data; and

providing a reverse index that given the unique device identification number as input produces as output all the unique program identifiers.