SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING GEOGRAPHICALLY-BASED PROMOTIONS

• US 20160098755A1
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mystic Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Mad Reach, LLC
• Inventors: Silvestro, Christopher, Chotkowski, Gregory Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,354,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing promotional materials to potential customers are described. In some cases, the described methods include obtaining GPS coordinates of a merchant'"'"'s location. In some cases, the methods further include providing a map showing the locations of customers in a promotion area, wherein a merchant is able to resize the promotion area to increase or decrease how many customers are in the promotion area. In some cases, the merchant further produces a text or other electronic promotion, optionally sets a time period in which such promotion is effective, and provides the promotion to customers within the promotion area. In some cases, as customers enter the merchant'"'"'s location with their electronic devices that received the promotion, and during the promotion'"'"'s effective period, the described systems match such devices'"'"' GPS coordinates with the GPS coordinates of the merchant'"'"'s location to register conversions on the promotion. Other implementations are described.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic promotion to a user, the method comprising:

providing a physical location of a merchant location;

viewing on an electronic display a number of customers in a promotion area;

providing a promotion to a first electronic device of a first customer in the promotion area;

using a computer processor to match a location of the first electronic device with the physical location of the merchant location to identify a conversion of the promotion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the promotion to a second electronic device of a second customer who was outside of the promotion area at the time the promotion was provided to the first electronic device, wherein provision of the promotion to the second electronic device occurs at a time frame selected from:

(i.) at the time the second device enters the promotion area and (ii.) at a time after the second device enters the promotion area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the promotion is given an effective period and wherein the promotion is only sent to the second electronic device if the second electronic device enters the promotion area during the effective period.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an effective period for the promotion, and further stipulating that the conversion of the promotion only occurs during the promotion'"'"'s effective period.

5. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for providing an electronic promotion to a user based on the user'"'"'s physical location, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable, non-transitory medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means comprising executable code for implementing steps for;

identifying a physical location of a merchant location;

indicating a number of customers in a promotion area;

providing a merchant with an ability to change a size of the promotion area;

providing a promotion to a first customer in the promotion area;

using a computer processor to match a location of a first electronic device of the first customer with the physical location of the merchant location to identify a conversion on the promotion.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising executable code for sending the promotion to a second customer, upon the second customer entering the promotion area with a second electronic device.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising executable code for providing the promotion with an effective period, and wherein the promotion is only sent to the second electronic device if the second electronic device enters the promotion area during the effective period.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising executable code for distinguishing between subscribed customers in the promotion area that are subscribed to the merchant and non-subscribed customers in the promotion area that are not subscribed to the merchant.

9. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for providing an electronic promotion to a user, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable, non-transitory medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means comprises executable code for implementing steps for;

identifying a physical location of a merchant location;

providing a map showing locations of at least one customer in a promotion area;

providing a merchant with an ability to change a size of the promotion area to allow the merchant to have an opportunity to at least one of increase and decrease how many customers are in the promotion area;

determining an effective period of a promotion;

providing the promotion to a first customer in the promotion area;

using a computer processor to match a location of an electronic device of the first customer with the physical location of the merchant location; and

counting a match in the location of the first customer'"'"'s electronic device with the physical location of the merchant location as a conversion on the promotion when the match occurs during the effective period of the promotion.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for sending the promotion to a second customer who was outside the promotion area at a time the promotion was sent to the first customer, and once the second customer has entered the promotion area with a second electronic device, during the effective period of the promotion.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for only counting the match in the location of the first customer'"'"'s electronic device with the physical location of the merchant location as a conversion on the promotion when the match occurs during the effective period of the promotion.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the match in the location of the first customer'"'"'s electronic device with the physical location of the merchant location, comprises a substantial match between GPS coordinates of the first customer'"'"'s electronic device and GPS coordinates of the merchant location.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the map is configured to show the locations of the at least one customer in the promotion area in near real-time.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for providing a report indicating a number of customers that received the promotion and a number of conversions on the promotion.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the providing the promotion to a first customer in the promotion area comprises sending the promotion to the first customer via at least two of the following techniques:

sending a text to the first customer'"'"'s electronic device;

displaying the promotion in a mobile app on the first customer'"'"'s electronic device;

displaying the promotion on a social media site; and

displaying the promotion on a website.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for showing customers which of a plurality of merchants have an active promotion.

17. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for allowing customers to subscribe to and unsubscribe from the merchant.

18. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for allowing customers to search for active promotions.

19. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for deducting credits from the merchant based on a number of conversions completed.

20. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising executable code for allowing customers to scan a marking to allow the customers to subscribe to the merchant.