Method and Apparatus For Providing Information Related to an Offer to at Least One Mobile User

• US 20150120404A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: LAWRENSON, Matthew John, Nolan, Julian Charles
• Application Number:
  US14/066,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method, performed in a computer-based apparatus (1) for providing information (S2) related to an offer to at least one mobile user (2), being positioned at a first position (A), from an offering entity (2) being positioned at a second position (B), said offer being associated with a compensation to the user (2) upon fulfillment (S9) of an offer objective by said user (2). The method comprises: providing information (S8) related to said offer objective from said offering entity (3) to said user (2); detecting whether said offer objective has been fulfilled (S9) by said user (2); transferring (S10) said compensation from said offering entity (3) to said user (2) when said offer objective offer has been fulfilled by said user (2); said compensation being transferred in the form of a credit related to a calculated offer value (S6) corresponding to the cost for said user (2) for travelling between said first position (A) and said second position (B). The disclosure also relates to a computer-based apparatus for providing transfer of information related to an offer objective.

Claims

1. A method, performed in a computer-based apparatus for providing information related to an offer to at least one mobile user, being positioned at a first position, from an offering entity being positioned at a second position, said offer being associated with a compensation to the user upon fulfillment of an offer objective by said user;

said method comprising;

providing information related to said offer objective from said offering entity to said user;

detecting whether said offer objective has been fulfilled by said user;

transferring said compensation from said offering entity to said user when said offer objective offer has been fulfilled by said user;

said compensation being transferred in the form of a credit related to a calculated offer value corresponding to the cost for said user for travelling between said first position and said second position.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating said offer value by taking into account a cost of energy for said user to travel between said first position and said second position.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

calculating said offer value by taking into account a cost of charging an energy source being associated with said user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating said over value by taking into account a distance for said user to travel between said first position and said second position.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining said distance by using navigational information from a GPS system indicating the position of said user and indicating the position of said offering entity.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing information related to said offer objective to said user includes transmitting information related to the second position.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said offer objective has been fulfilled upon arrival of said user at said second position.

17. A computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when run on an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform the method as claimed claim 1.

8. A computer-based apparatus for providing information related to an offer to at least one mobile user, being positioned at a first position, from an offering entity being positioned at a second position, said offer being associated with a compensation to the user upon fulfillment of an offer objective by said user;

said apparatus comprising;

a communication unit configured for mediating information related to said offer objective between said user and said offering entity and related to said compensation from said offering entity to said user when said offer objective has been fulfilled by said user;

a control unit configured for detecting whether said offer objective has been fulfilled by said user; and

a calculation unit configured for determining a calculated cost for said user for travelling between said first position and said second position, said offer value being transferred to the user in the form of a credit of said calculated cost.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said calculation unit is configured for calculating said offer value by taking into account a cost of energy for said user to travel between said first position and said second position.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said calculation unit is configured for calculating said offer value by taking into account a cost of charging an energy source being associated with said user.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said calculation unit is configured for calculating said offer value by taking into account a distance for said user to travel between said first position and said second position.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication unit is configured for communicating with a GIPS system indicating the position of said user and indicating the position of said offering entity, wherein said calculation unit is configured for determining said distance by using navigational information from the GPS system.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said communication unit is configured for transmitting information related to the second position to said user.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control unit is configured for determining whether said offer objective has been fulfilled upon arrival of said user at said second position.

15. An electric vehicle comprising an apparatus according to claim 8.

16. A mobile communication unit comprising an apparatus according to claim 8.