List-based coupon system and methods

• US 8,484,090 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuzell-Casey, Jacquelyn, Casey, Timothy Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US12/684,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/26.2, 705/26.25, 705/26.3, 705/26.35, 705/26.4, 705 2641- 2644, 705/26.5, 705 2661- 2664, 705/26.7, 705/26.8, 705/26.81, 705/26.82, 705/26.9, 705/27.1, 705/27.2
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A list-based coupon system that enables users to create a list of items to obtain, purchase or locate within a store or other geographic area, and provides users with coupons under a variety of different conditions.

Claims

1. A method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

determining, by a portable computer device, a location of the portable computer device within a geographic area;

identifying, by the portable computer device, a particular item on a list of items stored on the portable computer device, the list of items indicating items are desired by a user of the portable computer device;

determining, by the portable computer device, that the particular item is available within the geographic area;

determining, by the portable computer device, an alternative item based on the particular item;

selecting, by the portable computer device, a coupon based on the particular item and based on the determination that the particular item is available within the geographic area, the selected coupon being for the alternative item;

presenting, by the portable computer device, the selected coupon;

presenting, by the portable computer device, a map of at least a portion of the geographic area; and

displaying, by the portable computer device, an indicator of a location of the alternative item on the presented map.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the alternative item is similar to the available item.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the available item.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selecting the coupon is based on the user'"'"'s location in proximity to the item.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographic area is one of a grocery store, a warehouse store, a shopping mall, and a special event location.

6. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program instructions embodied therein that when executed by a computer perform a method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device, the computer-readable program instructions comprising;

computer-readable program instructions to determine an availability within a geographic area of a particular item on a list of items stored on a portable computer device;

computer-readable program instructions to determine an item that is an alternative to the particular item;

computer-readable program instructions to select a coupon based on the item on the list of items and based on a determination that the particular item is available within the geographic area, the selected coupon being for the alternative item; and

computer-readable program instructions to present the selected coupon on the portable computer device to the user;

computer-readable program instructions to display, on the portable computer device, an indicator of a location of the alternative item within the geographic area.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, the computer readable program instructions further comprising computer-readable program instructions to display, on the portable computer device, an indicator of a location of the particular item within the geographic area.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the geographic area is one of a grocery store, a warehouse store, a shopping mall and a special event location.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, the computer readable program instructions further comprising computer-readable program instructions to determine a location of the portable computer device within the geographic area and a location of the particular item within the geographic area.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein selecting the coupon is further based on the location of the portable computer device in proximity to the particular item.

11. The computer program product of claim 6, the computer readable program instructions further comprising:

computer-readable program instructions to determine items within the geographic area selected on the portable computer device; and

computer-readable program instructions to determine a total cost of the selected items.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable program instructions further comprising computer-readable program instructions to compare the total cost to a budget of the user.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable program instructions further comprising computer-readable program instructions to communicate with a check out system to obtain payment of the total cost from the user.

14. A method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

determining, by a portable computer device, a location of the portable computer device within a geographic area;

identifying, by the portable computer device, a particular item on a list of items stored on the portable computer device, the list of items indicating items are desired by a user of the portable computer device;

determining, by the portable computer device, that the particular item is unavailable within the geographic area;

determining, by the portable computer device, an alternative item based on the particular item;

selecting, by the portable computer device, a coupon based on the particular item and based on the determination that the particular item is unavailable within the geographic area, the selected coupon being for the alternative item;

presenting, by the portable computer device, the selected coupon;

presenting, by the portable computer device, a map of at least a portion of the geographic area;

displaying, by the portable computer device, an indicator of a location of the alternative item on the presented map.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the alternative item is similar to the unavailable item.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the alternative item is dissimilar to the unavailable item.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein selecting the coupon is based on the user'"'"'s location in proximity to the item.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the geographic area is one of a grocery store, a warehouse store, a shopping mall, and a special event location.

19. A method for providing a coupon to a user of a portable computing device, comprising the steps of:

determining, by a portable computer device, a location of the portable computer device within a geographic area;

identifying, by the portable computer device, a particular item on a list of items stored on the portable computer device, the list of items indicating items are desired by a user of the portable computer device;

determining, by the portable computer device, whether the particular item is available within the geographic area;

selecting, by the portable computer device, a coupon based on the particular item and based on the determination regarding whether the particular item is available within the geographic area;

presenting, by the portable computer device, the selected coupon;

determining, by the portable computer device, items within the geographic area selected by the user;

determining, by the portable computer device, a total cost of the items within the geographic area selected by the user; and

verifying, by the portable computer device, at a self service check out the items within the geographic area selected by the user, wherein the items are verified by comparing the items within a geographic area selected by the user against the total cost.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising comparing, by the portable computer device, the total cost to a budget of the user.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising obtaining, by the portable computer device, a payment of the total cost from the user, in response to verifying the items.