Method and system for using wi-fi location data for location based rewards

• US 9,767,472 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
• Inventors: Postrel, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Kito R
• Application Number:
  US15/218,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 705 14, 705 141, 705 1457, 705 1458
• 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 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

Providing a purchase incentive to a mobile device based for example the user'"'"'s location, predicted route of travel, and prior transactions. A tracking server computer determines a number of locations of a mobile device as it travels along a route and an associated timeframe when it is at each of the locations. The tracking server computer records the locations and associated timeframes in a location log and analyzes the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at that location. The tracking server computer then determines a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device and generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant and delivers the purchase incentive to the mobile device. In the alternative, the incentive may be generated by a merchant computer or the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

a mobile device determining a plurality of locations of the mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations by, for each of the plurality of locations, performing the steps of

the mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot;

the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot; and

the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log;

the mobile device analyzing the location log;

the mobile device predicting

(a) a subsequent location of the mobile device and

(b) an associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at the subsequent location

as a result of analyzing the location log;

prior to arriving at the predicted subsequent location, the mobile device generating a reward that is usable at the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device; and

after arriving at the predicted subsequent location, the mobile device redeeming the reward.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward is a purchase incentive for use by the mobile device at a merchant determined to be proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the mobile device generating a notification of the reward.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the notification comprises an audible notification.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the notification comprises a visual notification.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the notification comprises a tactile notification.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device generates a reward for use by the mobile device on the occurrence of a triggering event.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request to the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the reward is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the mobile device performing the steps of:

the mobile device analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

the mobile device generating the reward based on the prior transaction log.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the reward is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the reward is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on an external server computer.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of the mobile device predicting a subsequent location of the mobile device and an associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at the subsequent location comprises the mobile device analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations comprises a duration of time that the mobile device stays at the associated location.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations comprises a single time that the mobile device passes the associated location.

24. A mobile device comprising wireless communications circuitry, processing circuitry, and a memory, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to execute an app on the mobile device which performs the steps of:

the mobile device determining a plurality of locations of the mobile device as the mobile device travels along a route and an associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations by, for each of the plurality of locations, performing the steps of

the mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot;

the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot; and

the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log;

the mobile device analyzing the location log;

the mobile device predicting

(a) a subsequent location of the mobile device and

(b) an associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at the subsequent location

as a result of analyzing the location log;

prior to arriving at the predicted subsequent location, the mobile device generating a reward that is usable at the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device; and

after arriving at the predicted subsequent location, the mobile device redeeming the reward.

25. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the reward is a purchase incentive for use by the mobile device at a merchant determined to be proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device.

26. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the processing circuitry is further programmed to generate a notification of the reward.

27. The mobile device of claim 26 wherein the notification comprises an audible notification.

28. The mobile device of claim 26 wherein the notification comprises a visual notification.

29. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the app on the mobile device is programmed to generate a reward for use by the mobile device on the occurrence of a triggering event.

30. The mobile device of claim 29 wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition.

31. The mobile device of claim 29 wherein the triggering event comprises receipt of a user request to the mobile device.

32. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the reward is effective only for the timeframe associated with the predicted subsequent location.

33. The mobile device of claim 24 further comprising the app on the mobile device performing the steps of:

the mobile device analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and

the mobile device generating the reward based on the prior transaction log.

34. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log.

35. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log.

36. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the reward is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

37. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the reward is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device.

38. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device.

39. The mobile device of claim 33 wherein the prior transaction log is stored on an external server computer.

40. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the mobile device predicting a subsequent location of the mobile device and an associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at the subsequent location comprises analyzing a frequency of the locations occurring in the location log.

41. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device.

42. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

43. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

44. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations comprises a duration of time that the mobile device stays at the associated location.

45. The mobile device of claim 24 wherein the associated timeframe when the mobile device is at each of the plurality of locations comprises a single time that the mobile device passes the associated location.