System and method for securely managing delivery and redemption of location-based incentives and customer loyalty rewards to mobile devices

• US 9,542,691 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sionic Mobile Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sionic Mobile Corporation
• Inventors: Herman, Ronald Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/893,227
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/27.1, 705/1.1, 705/14.4, 705/64, 705/7.12, 705/14.33, 705/5, 705/14.3, 705/14.27, 705/14.28, 705/14.278, 707/200, 707/802, 707/E17.044, 707/999.2, 707/804, 707/812, 707/E17.045, 455/569.2, 379/114.12, 379/114.13, 704/14.3, 704/0.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems

Abstract

A plurality of credentials is retrieved for a user by a computing device, wherein each of the plurality of credentials is associated with a loyalty program. For each loyalty program, itinerary data is retrieved from a server associated with the loyalty program using the credentials associated with the loyalty program from the plurality of credentials. The retrieved itinerary data retrieved for each of the loyalty programs is aggregated into an itinerary. The itinerary is presented to the user at the computing device. Loyalty points may be awarded to a user based on interaction with an application running on the computing device where the loyalty points may be redeemed for goods and services. Advertisers may be provided compensated based on the redemption of the loyalty point by users at their physical or virtual stores.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving a plurality of credentials for a user by a computing device, wherein each of the plurality of credentials is associated with a respective loyalty program;

retrieving first itinerary data from a server associated with a first loyalty program using the credentials associated with the first loyalty program from the plurality of credentials, wherein the first itinerary data corresponds to a product or service offered by a first vendor;

retrieving second itinerary data from a server associated with a second loyalty program using the credentials associated with the second loyalty program from the plurality of credentials, wherein the second itinerary data corresponds to a product or service offered by a second vendor;

aggregating the retrieved first and second itinerary data for each respective loyalty program into an itinerary, wherein each respective loyalty program is different loyalty program;

receiving a request from the user to schedule an event;

adding the event to the itinerary; and

presenting the itinerary to the user at the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the itinerary comprises a plurality of events in an order and each event comprises a time and a location, and further comprising:

determining a current location of the user;

determining a next event in the itinerary according to the order;

determining directions from the current location to the location of the next event; and

presenting the directions to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the time of the next event;

estimating a travel time for the user to travel to the location of the next event from the current location; and

if the difference between the time of the next event and a current time is less than a sum of the travel time and a threshold time, recommending that the user travel to the next event.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current location of the user;

if the current location of the user satisfies at least one location criteria of an advertising campaign; and

if so, displaying an advertisement to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving indicators of a plurality of reward items;

displaying representations of the plurality of reward items to the user, wherein each reward item has an associated cost in reward points;

receiving an indication of a selection of one of the plurality of reward items;

retrieving a reward points balance associated with the user;

debiting the reward points balance associated with the user by the cost associated with the selected reward item; and

providing the reward item to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the reward item to the user comprises retrieving an email address associated with the user and emailing the reward item to the user at the retrieved email address.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the reward item is one of a coupon and a gift certificate.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the reward item to the user comprises displaying a representation of the reward item on a display of the computing device, wherein the representation includes a machine readable graphic that may be presented to a merchant associated with the reward item to facilitate redemption of the reward item by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is one of a cellular phone, a smart phone, laptop computer, and a tablet computer.

2. A system for managing electronic delivery and redemption of customer loyalty rewards, comprising:

a processor configured to execute an application, the application comprising;

a loyalty module configured to;

retrieve a plurality of credentials for a user by a computing device, wherein each of the plurality of credentials is associated with a respective loyalty program;

retrieve first itinerary data from a server associated with a first loyalty program using the credentials associated with the first loyalty program from the plurality of credentials, wherein the first itinerary data corresponds to a product or service offered by a first vendor;

retrieve second itinerary data from a server associated with a second loyalty program using the credentials associated with the second loyalty program from the plurality of credentials, wherein the second itinerary data corresponds to a product or service offered by a second vendor;

aggregate the retrieved first and second itinerary data for each respective loyalty program into an itinerary, wherein each respective loyalty program is a different loyalty program;

a scheduling module configured to;

receiving a request from the user to schedule an event;

adding the event to the itinerary; and

a display configured to present the itinerary to the user.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is one of a cellular phone, a smart phone, laptop computer, and a tablet computer.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the itinerary comprises a plurality of events in an order and each event comprises a time and a location, and wherein the application further comprising:

a routing component configured to;

determine a current location of the user;

determine a next event in the itinerary according to the order;

determine directions from the current location to the location of the next event; and

provide information for causing display of the directions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the routing component is further configured to:

determine the time of the next event;

estimate a travel time for the user to travel to the location of the next event from the current location; and

if the difference between the time of the next event and a current time is less than a sum of the travel time and a threshold time, provide a signal indicative of a recommendation that the user travel to the next event.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the application further comprises:

a routing component configured to determine a current location of the user;

an advertising component configured to;

determine that the current location satisfies at least one location criteria of an advertising campaign; and

provide information for causing display of an advertisement.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the application further comprises:

a rewards component configured to;

retrieve indicators of a plurality of reward items;

provide information for causing display of representations of the plurality of reward items to the user, wherein each reward item has an associated cost in reward points;

receive an indication of a selection of one of the plurality of reward items;

retrieve a reward points balance associated with the user;

debit the reward points balance associated with the user by the cost associated with the selected reward item; and

providing information for causing delivery of the reward item to the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein providing the reward item to the user comprises emailing the reward item to the user at the retrieved email address.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the reward item is one of a coupon and a gift certificate.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein providing information for causing delivery of the reward item to the user comprises providing information for causing display of a representation of the reward item on a display of the computing device, wherein the representation includes a machine readable graphic that may be presented to a merchant associated with the reward item to facilitate redemption of the reward item by the user.