SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING DYNAMIC OFFERS TO INCENT USER BEHAVIOR

• US 20130173377A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, Dane, Lenahan, Michael, Mitchell, Ben, Keller, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 10,528,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.35
• 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 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods to deliver dynamic context sensitive offers to incent user behavior are discussed. For example, a method to deliver a dynamic context sensitive offer can include operations for generating a dynamic offer, delivering the dynamic offer, receiving data associated with a user, updating a context input with data associated with the user, and adjusting the value of the dynamic offer. Generating the dynamic offer includes associating a rule for manipulating the value of the dynamic offer based on a context input. Updating the context input of the rule includes extracting context information from the data associated with the user. Adjusting the value of the dynamic offer can be based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a dynamic offer associated with a rule for manipulating a value of the dynamic offer, the rule including a context input;

delivering a representation of the dynamic offer to a user over a network;

receiving data associated with the user;

updating the context input with context information extracted from the data associated with the user; and

adjusting the value of the dynamic offer based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the dynamic offer includes calculating an initial value for the dynamic offer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the dynamic offer includes:

receiving initial context information from the user;

generating an initial input for the context input based on the initial context information; and

calculating the initial value for the dynamic offer based on evaluation of the rule with the initial input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the value of the dynamic offer includes decreasing the value of the dynamic offer as time passes without redemption by the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein updating the context input includes updating a location associated with the user;

and

wherein the adjusting the value of the dynamic offer includes slowing the decrease in the value if the location data indicates that the user is getting closer to a redemption location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein updating the context input includes extracting an indication that the user has shared the dynamic offer with a second user;

and

wherein the adjusting the value of the dynamic offer includes stopping the decrease in the value.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication that the second user has redeemed the dynamic offer;

and

wherein adjusting the value of the offer includes increasing the value of the dynamic offer for the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the context input includes determining a frequency of visits by the user to a location associated with the dynamic offer;

and

wherein the adjusting the value of the dynamic offer includes increasing the value if the frequency of visits transgresses a pre-defined threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering the dynamic offer includes delivering a static representation of the dynamic offer, the static representation including an indication of minimum and maximum value at time of redemption and an indication of the rule for manipulating the value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating an update to the representation of the dynamic offer including the adjusted value of the dynamic offer.

11. A system for generating and tracking dynamic offers, the system comprising:

a context tracking module configured to track context information associated with a user and generate context attributes;

a rules engine configured to evaluate offer rules at least in part based on the context attributes;

a offer module configured to;

generate a dynamic offer associated with an offer rule for manipulating a value of the dynamic offer; and

update, continuously, the value of the dynamic offer based on reevaluation of the offer rule; and

a communication module configured to;

transmit the dynamic offer to the user over a network; and

communicate updates to the value of the dynamic offer to the user over the network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the offer module is configured to calculate an initial value for the dynamic offer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the context tracking module is configured to obtain an initial context associated with the user to generate initial context attributes;

and

wherein the offer module is configured to calculate the initial value based on the initial context attributes.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the rules engine continuously reevaluates the offer rule to alter the value of the dynamic offer as time passes without redemption by the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the context tracking module continuously tracks a location associated with the user;

and

wherein the rules engine continuously evaluates the offer rule based on the location associated with the user and slows a rate of change of the value of the dynamic offer if the location indicates that the user is getting closer to a redemption location.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the context tracking module is configured to identify an indication that the user has shared the dynamic offer with a second user;

and

wherein the rules engine is configured to stop altering the value of the dynamic offer based on the indication that the user has shared the dynamic offer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the context tracking module is configured to track a frequency of visits by the user to a location associated with the dynamic offer;

and

wherein the rules engine is configured to evaluate the offer rule to adjust the value of the dynamic offer if the frequency of visits transgresses a pre-defined threshold.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication module is configured to transmit a static representation of the dynamic offer, the static representation including an indication of minimum and maximum value at time of redemption and an indication of the rule for manipulating the value.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed on a machine, cause the machine to:

generate a dynamic offer associated with a rule for manipulating a value of the dynamic offer, the rule including a context input;

deliver a representation of the dynamic offer to a user over a network;

receive data associated with the user;

update the context input with context information extracted from the data associated with the user;

adjust the value of the dynamic offer based on reevaluation of the rule with the updated context input; and

communicate an update to the representation of the dynamic offer including the adjusted value of the dynamic offer.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions which cause the machine to generate the dynamic offer include instructions which cause the machine to:

receive initial context information from the user;

generate an initial input for the context input based on the initial context information;

calculate the initial value for the dynamic offer based on evaluation of the rule with the initial input; and

generate the dynamic offer including the initial value for the dynamic offer.