Service provider system and method for marketing programs

• US 20060015404A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Coupons Technology International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Infinian Corporation
• Inventors: Tran, Hung
• Granted Patent: US 9,842,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.250
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history

Abstract

To assist in patent searching a description includes a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system having aspects including consumer profiles formed and updated based on a variety of data. Advertisers access to send targeted advertising messages to the consumers. Aspects include advertising information together with incentive level and mix being correlated with the consumer profile to produce a measure of the applicability of the ad to that consumer and the probability of converting that consumer. Other aspects include determining the mix of ad information, incentive level and type, and product offering that will be required to convert an ad viewer to a buyer. Aspects focus on using wireless devices with consumers. Other aspects reside in methods of using electronic coupons distribution and redemption to collect additional data points necessary to understand the consumer'"'"'s purchasing decision process and factors that influence the purchasing decision.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining personal data of consumers;

creating initial profiles of the consumers based on the obtained personal data;

generating electronic coupons for each of the consumers based on the initial profiles;

distributing the electronic coupons to the consumers via wireless communication devices; and

observing interactions of the consumers with the wireless communication devices by using an application running on each of the wireless communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactions of the consumers with the wireless communication devices is based upon responses by the consumers to coupon based presentations to the consumers by the wireless communication devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer personal data includes at least one of the following:

demographic data, psychographic data, life style affinity data, brand affinity data, and product preference data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupons are gift certificates.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising supplying universal identification to each of the consumers to be used by the consumers to redeem the coupons at multiple locations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the multiple locations include unaffiliated grocery chains, retail stores, and entertainment venues.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein redeeming the coupons is performed in conjunction with ticket purchases.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application running on the wireless communication device is a cookie program.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

collecting purchase records and associated coupon redemption records; and

constructing purchasing behavior profiles for the consumers based in part upon the purchase records and the coupon redemption records.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein, the constructing is further based upon at least one of the following:

demographic data, psychographic data, life style affinity data, brand affinity data, product affinity data, received coupon data, selected coupon data, and advertising records.

11. The method of claim 9 comprising updating the purchasing behavior profiles with at least one of the following:

derived psychographic data, product preference data, degree of brand loyalty data, and price sensitivity data.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, at least one of the constructing and the updating the purchasing behavior profiles is done with at least one of the following:

a data warehouse, a data mining system, and a neural network.

13. The method of claim 9 comprising developing at least one of the following:

a marketing campaign, a promotion campaign, and an incentive campaign using the purchasing behavior profiles.

14. The method of claim 9 comprising:

selecting the consumers for the coupon distributing based upon at least one of a plurality of conditions.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein, the conditions include at least one of the following:

psychographic data, life style affinity data, brand affinity data, product affinity data, past purchase data, purchasing decision process data, coupons received data, coupons selected data, coupon redeemed data, advertising message data, and real-time response data to advertising messages and incentive programs.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein, advertisers perform the selecting.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein, the selecting is performed on an iterative modification of the plurality of conditions based in part upon calculating a potential conversion rate with respect to a desired conversion rate.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein, the coupon distributing is performed in behalf of a plurality of business entities to create an inter-enterprise joint marketing program containing a package of discount offers to be offered to the consumers.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein, the electronic coupons are stored at various unaffiliated retail stores and grocery chains, allowing the consumers to redeem the coupons without requiring hard-printed coupons

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the several advertisers can bundle their discount offers on-the-fly and offer the bundled discount offers to the consumers.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the data mining system can be a data warehouse, data mining, or other relational database engine.

19. A method comprised by:

deploying a program for operation on a mobile device;

receiving an advertisement on the mobile device;

launching the program based upon receipt of the advertisement;

using the program to collect operation data regarding operation of the mobile device; and

transmitting the operation data from the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein, transmitting is directed to a membership service provider system.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein, the operation data includes at least one of the following keystroke data and timing statistic data.

22. The method of claim 19 comprising using the operation data to determine response by consumers to the advertisements to observe how the consumers responded to ads and incentive programs and provide detailed feedback to advertisers.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein, the launching is performed in an unintrusive manner.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein, the advertisement and the application is at least one of the following:

SMS, WAP, WAP Push, or MMS.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein, the mobile device uses one of the following:

GSM or CDMA.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein, the GSM platform uses WCDMA.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the confirmation notification can be used as the universal ID tag for the purpose of picking up electronic ticket at the gate.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein the confirmation notification can be used to authenticate the consumer and to authorize the release the release of the electronic ticket to the consumer.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein a potential conversion rate is made known to the advertiser prior to the advertiser launching the marketing campaign, allowing the advertiser ability to adjust the incentive program in order to achieve the desire marketing effects.

28. A computer implemented method of using entertainment ticket purchasing activities to build a consumer entertainment preference profiling system, comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from advertisers like venue sponsors and event promoters;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. using a “

mobile cookie”

application to retrieve detailed data on the process that the consumers go through when purchasing tickets;

g. collecting detailed ticket purchase and actual discount offer redemption activities;

h. using a data warehouse or data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input data can include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount selected, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

i. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, entertainment preferences, and price sensitivity.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the venue sponsors can use the compiled data in the consumer purchasing behavior profiling system to develop a marketing campaign, promotion program, and incentive program.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprised by the steps of selecting the target consumers by specifying filtering conditions which can include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount used, advertising messages, and real-time responses to advertising messages and incentive programs.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the venue sponsors (or event promoter or advertisers) can iteratively refine the target filtering conditions and calculate the potential conversion rate until a desired expected conversion rate is achieved.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the several venue sponsors and unaffiliated consumer goods and services companies and other business partners can bundle their discount offers on-the-fly and offer the bundled discount offers to the consumers.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the universal ID tag is used, allowing the consumers to pick up tickets at multiple unaffiliated entertainment venues.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein a “

mobile cookie”

program is used to gather detailed data on how the consumers responded to ads and incentive programs.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprised by steps to provide the neural networks application with new input data, allowing it to understand the current market trends and changes in consumers'"'"' entertainment preferences in order to provide accurate recommendations.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the universal ID tag can be a barcode, RFID, re-writeable RFID, or a combination of barcode and RFID.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the confirmation notification can be an electronic barcode sent as an MMS image to the wireless device like mobile phone and PDA.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein the confirmation notification can be an electronic barcode sent as an MMS image on the mobile phone. The electronic barcode is unique for every consumer and cannot be easily duplicated. This is used to prevent fraudulent when picking up tickets.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the electronic barcode can be used as a substitute for today'"'"'s barcode and/or confirmation number on the printed paper ticket. Today'"'"'s barcode and/or confirmation number is used to authenticate the validity of the ticket.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein the confirmation notification can be a code stored in the RFID tag. This code is used to authenticate the electronic ticket and authorize the release of the electronic ticket.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprises of a read-write RFID where the code stored in the RFID can be erased and replaced with a new code. This provides a stronger authentication method for the purpose of picking up season tickets.

62. The method of claim 28, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.

69. The method of claim 28, wherein the data mining system can be a data warehouse, data mining, or other relational database engine.

70. The method of claim 69 comprising using Radio Frequency Identification tags or micropayment ID tag or electronic barcode as a form to authenticate the identification of a consumer

71. The method of claim 69 comprising using Radio Frequency Identification tags or micropayment ID tag or electronic barcode as a form to authenticate the identification of a consumer for the purpose of releasing valuable items like tickets to entertainment event or coupons or discount offers or gift certificates or vouchers.

46. A computer implemented method of authenticating and authorizing the release of electronic tickets, comprising:

a. sending confirmation code to the consumers'"'"' wireless devices;

b. sending a list of ID to the event venues;

c. scanning the confirmation code at the event venues;

d. authenticating the confirmation code against the list of pre-approved ID;

e. releasing the electronic tickets to the consumers.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the confirmation code can be an electronic barcode sent as an MMS image on the mobile phone. The electronic barcode is unique for every consumer and event and cannot be easily duplicated. This is used to prevent fraudulent when picking up tickets.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the electronic barcode can be used as a substitute for today'"'"'s barcode and/or confirmation number on the printed paper ticket. Today'"'"'s barcode and/or confirmation number is used to authenticate the validity of the ticket.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the confirmation notification can be a code stored in the RFID tag. This code is used to authenticate the electronic ticket and authorize the release of the electronic ticket.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprises of a read-write RFID where the code stored in the RFID can be erased and replaced with a new code. This provides a stronger authentication method for the purpose of picking up season tickets.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the confirmation code can be an electronic alpha-numeric message. The electronic alpha-numeric message is unique for every consumer and event and cannot be easily duplicated. This is used to prevent fraudulent when picking up tickets.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the confirmation code can be a printed barcode. The printed barcode is unique for every consumer and cannot be easily duplicated. This is used to prevent fraudulent when picking up tickets.

53. A computer implemented method of using entertainment ticket purchasing activities to build a consumer entertainment preference profiling system comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from advertisers like venue sponsors and event promoters;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. collecting detailed ticket purchasing records and actual discount offer redemption activities;

g. using a data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount selected, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

h. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, entertainment preferences, and price sensitivity.

54. A computer implemented method of using entertainment ticket purchasing activities to build a consumer entertainment preference profiling system comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from advertisers like venue sponsors and event promoters;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. collecting detailed ticket purchasing records and actual discount offer redemption activities;

g. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, entertainment preferences, and price sensitivity.

55. A computer implemented method of using coupon redemption activity to build a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, brand affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. obtaining coupons and discount offers from advertisers;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic coupons to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic coupons to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. collecting detailed purchase records and actual coupon redemption activities;

g. using a data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, brand affinity, product affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, coupons received, coupons selected, coupon redeemed, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

h. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, product preferences, degree of brand loyalty, and price sensitivity.

56. A computer implemented method of using coupon redemption activity to build a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system, comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, brand affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. obtaining coupons and discount offers from advertisers;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic coupons to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic coupons to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. collecting detailed purchase records and actual coupon redemption activities;

g. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, product preferences, degree of brand loyalty, and price sensitivity.

57. A computer implemented method of selling entertainment ticket comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from venue sponsors;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. using a “

mobile cookie”

application to retrieve detailed data on the process that the consumers go through when purchasing tickets;

g. collecting detailed ticket purchase and actual discount offer redemption activities;

h. using a data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input data can include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount selected, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

i. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, entertainment preferences, and price sensitivity.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.

58. A computer implemented method of selling entertainment ticket comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from venue sponsors;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. using a “

mobile cookie”

application to retrieve detailed data on the process that the consumers go through when purchasing tickets;

g. collecting detailed ticket purchase and actual discount offer redemption activities;

h. using a data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input data can include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount selected, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

64. The method of claim 58, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.

59. A computer implemented method of selling entertainment ticket comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from venue sponsors;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. using a “

mobile cookie”

application to retrieve detailed data on the process that the consumers go through when purchasing tickets;

g. collecting detailed ticket purchase and actual discount offer redemption activities;

65. The method of claim 59, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.

60. A computer implemented method of selling entertainment ticket comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from venue sponsors;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

f. collecting detailed ticket purchase and actual discount offer redemption activities;

g. using a data mining system like neural networks application to analyze consumers'"'"' purchasing decision process and build the consumer purchasing behavior profile, wherein the input data can include demographic and psychographic data, life style affinity, artist affinity, entertainment category affinity, past purchases, purchasing decision process, discount received, discount selected, advertising messages, and responses to ads and incentive programs;

h. updating the consumer profile database with consumers'"'"' purchasing behavior data which can include detailed purchases and derived psychographic data, entertainment preferences, and price sensitivity.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.

61. A computer implemented method of selling entertainment ticket comprising:

a. obtaining consumers'"'"' personal data like demographic, psychographic, life style affinity, artist affinity, and product preference data from consumers;

b. creating initial profile of the consumer based on the consumer-supplied data;

c. receiving discount offer on ticket price and other “

free”

or giveaway offers from venue sponsors;

d. using the profile database to generate personalized and targeted electronic discounts and information on ticket and show to each consumer;

e. distributing electronic discount offers and show information to consumers'"'"' wireless communication devices;

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the communication means with the target consumer can be email, postal mail, and other direct marketing means.