SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SERVICE TO VENUES WHERE PEOPLE PERFORM TRANSACTIONS

• US 20110093340A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hoozware Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, James F., Ning, Paul C.
• Application Number:
  US12/973,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and method for providing a service to promoters, including venues and advertising sponsors, who wish to provide promotions. The service includes making promoter promotions accessible by the mobile phones of members associated with an organization. Typically a promotion and member are matched based on the member'"'"'s geographical position, which may be reported by the member or determined automatically during a transaction, a promotion redemption, or by a position sensor in their mobile phone. A promotion and member are optionally matched by the member'"'"'s traits and behaviors. In addition to accessing promotions, members have mobile access to real-time information about the venues, such as the demographics of venue attendees and media posted by attendees concerning venue characteristics. Using the system, venues can determine who is shopping nearby and can send promotions to their phones, and members can know before going which venues have promotions and their preferred attendee demographic.

Claims

1. A system comprising a network of venues and an organization communicating with said venues, said organization having people as members, said venues having promotions or characteristics of interest to said members, wherein when a member transacts a transaction at a venue, the location and time of said transaction is communicated to said organization, said system comprising:

mobile communication devices of said members;

a system data processor having data comprising;

A) member and venue information;

B) location information received by said data processor in the timeframe of said transaction, said location information comprising the location and time of said transaction; and

C) said characteristics or promotion of at least one venue;

wherein when said transaction is transacted said location information is transmitted from the site of said venue to said data processor;

said data processor transmits said location information to at least one venue or said data processor has previous instructions from said at least one venue as to whom should receive characteristic or promotion information;

said at least one venue may transmit characteristic or promotion information based on said location information to said data processor or may transmit characteristic or promotion information prior to receipt of said location information; and

said data processor transmits the characteristic or promotion information received from said at least one venue to said mobile communication device.

2. A system for providing a service to promoters associated with an organization having people as members, said promoters having characteristics or promotions of interest to said members, said system comprising:

mobile communication devices of said members;

a system data processor having system data comprising;

(A) location information as a result of a transaction of a said member at a venue; and

(B) said characteristics or said promotions; and

said system data processor processing and providing a said member member-intended information comprising at least a portion of said characteristics or said promotions.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said location information includes a narrow range of time for said transaction.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said location information includes a narrow vicinity of location.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein said mobile communication device of said member has position-sensing capability and at the time of said transaction provides said location information.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said location information includes the location of said member.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said position-sensing capability employs at least one of GPS, A-GPS, cell-towers, WiFi access points, WiMAX and IP addresses.

8. A system according to claim 2, wherein said member-intended information is viewable on said mobile communication device of a said member.

9. A system according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the traits, behaviors or demographics of people who attend said venue is provided to said promoter.

10. A system according to claim 2, wherein said promoter is associated with said venue.

11. A system according to claim 2, wherein said promoter is not associated with said venue.

12. A system according to claim 2, wherein a transaction entity provides

(A) said location information to said system data processor, and optionally said system data processor refines said location information, or

(B) the transaction occurrence time when said transaction occurs, wherein said mobile communication device of said member provides said location information associated with said transaction occurrence time to said system data processor, and wherein said mobile communication device receives said location information from at least one of (a) position-sensing capability, (b) data provided by said member and (c) another organization.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said another organization determines said location information from position-sensing capability associated with said mobile communication device or from data provided by said member.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said position-sensing capability is associated with said mobile communication device.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said transaction is a redemption transaction or a purchase transaction.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein said transaction entity is said organization.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said location information comprises at least one of (a) latitude and longitude, (b) a code, (c) Zipcode, (d) name of said venue and (e) location center and radius.

18. A system according to claim 2, wherein said transaction is a redemption, and said system data processor determines said location information from the location of said venue where said redemption occurs.

19. A system according to claim 2, wherein said transaction is a purchase transaction and a purchase transaction entity provides said location information to said system data processor.

20. A system according to claim 2, wherein said transaction is a purchase transaction, a purchase transaction entity notifies said system data processor of said purchase transaction, and said mobile communication device having said position-sensing capability provides said location information to said system data processor.