US 2013/0159086 A1 · METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING LOCATION-BASED INCENTIVES AND PURCHASE OPPORTUNITIES TO REWARD PROGRAM MEMBERS

Abstract

A method and system for generating and distributing incentives. An incentive server computer (ISC) receives a user identification from a mobile device that identifies an associated user. The ISC determines the location of the mobile device, and uses the user identification to determine one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account. For each such reward program, the ISC determines if the location of the mobile device is within a predefined distance of a merchant affiliated with the reward program, and if so then generates a purchase incentive for the user to redeem at the merchant and transmits the purchase incentive to the mobile device. As a result, incentives are provided to those purchasers who are within a predefined proximity to the merchant, and who are more likely to use the incentive since they are already a member of an affiliated reward program.

Claims63

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for generating and distributing incentives comprising:

a. a mobile device transmitting to an incentive server computer a data message comprising location data indicative of the location of the mobile device and a user identification identifying a user associated with the mobile device;
b. the incentive server computer using the user identification to determine one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account;
c. for each reward program with which the user has a reward account,
(i) the incentive server computer determining a merchant that is affiliated with the reward program;
(ii) the incentive server computer determining if the location of the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant;
and
(ii) if the location of the mobile device is determined to be within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant, then the incentive server computer generating a purchase incentive for the user to redeem at the affiliated merchant and transmitting the purchase incentive to the mobile device;
and
d. the mobile device receiving the purchase incentive from the incentive server computer.

6 more elements

A system for generating and distributing incentives comprising:

A. a mobile device comprising:
a. a memory for storing a user identification identifying an associated user, and
b. a wireless transceiver for transmitting the user identification and receiving a purchase incentive;
and
B. an incentive server computer comprising a memory for storing a reward program database that stores records associating a user identification with one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account, the incentive server computer programmed to:
a. receive the user identification from a mobile device,
b. determine the location of the mobile device,
c. access the reward program database with the user identification to determine one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account, and
d. for each reward program with which the user has a reward account,
(i) determine a merchant that is affiliated with the reward program;
(ii) determine if the location of the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant;
and
(iii) if the location of the mobile device is determined to be within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant, then generate a purchase incentive for the user to redeem at the merchant and transmit the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

10 more elements

A computer-implemented method for an incentive server computer generating and distributing incentives comprising:

a. an incentive server computer receiving a user identification from a mobile device, the user identification identifying a user associated with the mobile device;
b. the incentive server computer determining the location of the mobile device;
c. the incentive server computer using the user identification to determine one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account;
d. for each reward program with which the user has a reward account,
(i) the incentive server computer determining a merchant that is affiliated with the reward program;
(ii) the incentive server computer determining if the location of the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant;
and
(iii) if the location of the mobile device is determined to be within a predefined distance of the affiliated merchant, then the incentive server computer generating a purchase incentive for the user to redeem at the affiliated merchant and transmitting the purchase incentive to the mobile device.

5 more elements

A computer-implemented method for finding a merchant that sells a desired product comprising:

a. a mobile device transmitting to an incentive server computer a data message comprising location data indicative of the location of the mobile device and a user identification identifying a user associated with the mobile device;
b. the incentive server computer using the user identification to determine one or more reward programs with which the user has a reward account;
c. the user entering a description of a desired product on the mobile device;
d. the mobile device transmitting the description of the desired product to the incentive server computer;
e. the incentive server computer determining at least one merchant that (i) sells the desired product, (ii) is within a predefined distance of the location of the mobile device, and (iii) is affiliated with a reward program with which the user has a reward account;
f. the incentive server computer transmitting an identification of the at least one affiliated merchant to the mobile device;
and
g. the mobile device displaying the identification of the at least one affiliated merchant received from the incentive server computer.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for providing location-based incentives and purchase opportunities to reward program members

Life of this patent

Method and system for providing location-based incentives and purchase opportunities to reward program members

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims63