# US 2019/0318384 A1 · Automated deal guide user interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318384 A1 - Document ID: US20190318384A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/249,058 - Filed: 2019-01-16 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-26 - Assignees: Groupon, Inc. - Applicants: Groupon, Inc. - Inventors: Mechie Nkengla; Kavita Kochar; Shafiq Shariff; Gaston L'Huillier; Rajesh Parekh; Logan Tyler Jennings - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318384A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0257: {User requested} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for generating a promotion structure. The method includes receiving an indication of a service offered by a merchant and presenting one or more tiles based on one or more promotion option structures, wherein each tile includes at least one option and a descriptor associated with each included option. The method further includes receiving one or more selections, and generating, by a processor, the promotion structure based on the received one or more selections. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 A method for programmatically generating a promotion configured for automated approval from a promotion and marketing service via a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI configured to receive input, prompt access to a server that is configured to perform a series of determinations based on the input, provide particular options back to the GUI, and present the particular options as selectable tiles, the method comprising: providing, via a display at a merchant device, a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive input; receiving input, via the first GUI, the input comprising information indicative of a service offered by a merchant; providing the information indicative of the service offered by the merchant to a server; causing the server to retrieve, from a structure database, a plurality of promotion option structures associated with the service offered by the merchant, each of the plurality of promotion options structures comprising potential configurations that are pre-approved for automated approval, the automated approval determined utilizing a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions, wherein each of the plurality of promotion option structures correspond to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, and wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept; providing, via the display now presenting an updated GUI, a plurality of tiles, each of the plurality of tiles being distinct and configured to be selected, wherein each of the plurality of tiles are indicative of the retrieved one or more promotion option structures, wherein each tile includes at least one option and the descriptor associated with each included option, wherein each of the one or more tiles is generated using term equivalencies identified for normalization and feature extraction and the region, peer-group, and market-segments in which specific terms are used, wherein providing, via the updated GUI, the plurality of tiles includes: enabling editing of a descriptor associated with each of the plurality of tiles, by presenting a list of available selections; receiving one or more tile selections via the first GUI; confirming that the one or more tile selections and the edited descriptor correspond to a configuration that is pre-approved for automated approval; and providing a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a pre-approval. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: causing the server to access a corpus of promotion options generated from the structure database, the structure database comprising (1) one or more promotion options, (2) one or more promotion option structures, and (3) one or more promotion structures, wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination of a subset of the one or more promotion option structures, wherein each promotion option structure corresponds to one or more of the promotion options, and wherein each promotion option comprises text indicative of a title and one or more subtitles, and is associated with at least one service, wherein each promotion option structure excludes text and is associated to a same underlying information as an associated promotion option, wherein the promotion option structure is comprised of a series of components that are equivalent to one or more various features of an associated promotion option, wherein a component comprises a term or phrase that is equivalent to a grouping of features, each component representing an actual concept, which, when using natural language, is described as using or otherwise relating to a large variety of different terms or phrases, each component associated with a grouping of features identified as having an equivalent meaning in a given context. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein providing, via the first GUI, the plurality of tiles further includes: determining, via the server, a price band, a value band, and a discount band derived from the one or more promotion option structures, each corresponding, respectively, to prices, values, and discounts associated with previously offered, successful, promotion options; and presenting, on the first GUI, an indication of the price band, the value band, and the discount band. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising: receiving input regarding price, value, and discount, via the updated GUI. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: in an instance in which the selected price, value and discount fall within the presented range of the price band, the value band, and the discount band, receiving automated approval to generate the promotion structure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein a price is utilized from a predetermined percentile of top ranking options to establish the price band, wherein the price band is determined from a highest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options and a lowest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options, and generated comprised of each of the highest value, the lowest value and every value in between the highest value and the lowest value of the price. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising: in an instance in which the promotion structure receives automated approval, the window within the updated GUI configured to display the message indicative of a pre-approval is provided, and in an instance in which the promotion structure does not satisfy automatic approval requirements, providing a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a lack of approval and each of one or more particular options determinative of the failure. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for programmatically generating a promotion configured for automated approval from a promotion and marketing service via a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI configured to receive input, prompt access to a server that is configured to perform a series of determinations based on the input, provide particular options back to the GUI, and present the particular options as selectable tiles, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to: provide, via a display at a merchant device, a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive input; receive input, via the first GUI, the input comprising information indicative of a service offered by a merchant; provide the information indicative of the service offered by the merchant to a server; cause the server to retrieve, from a structure database, a plurality of promotion option structures associated with the service offered by the merchant, each of the plurality of promotion options structures comprising potential configurations that are pre-approved for automated approval, the automated approval determined utilizing a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions, wherein each of the plurality of promotion option structures correspond to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, and wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept; provide, via the display now presenting an updated GUI, a plurality of tiles, each of the plurality of tiles being distinct and configured to be selected, wherein each of the plurality of tiles are indicative of the retrieved one or more promotion option structures, wherein each tile includes at least one option and the descriptor associated with each included option, wherein each of the one or more tiles is generated using term equivalencies identified for normalization and feature extraction and the region, peer-group, and market-segments in which specific terms are used, wherein providing, via the updated GUI, the plurality of tiles includes: enabling editing of a descriptor associated with each of the plurality of tiles, by presenting a list of available selections; receive one or more tile selections via the first GUI; confirm that the one or more tile selections and the edited descriptor correspond to a configuration that is pre-approved for automated approval; and provide a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a pre-approval. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to: cause the server to access a corpus of promotion options generated from the structure database, the structure database comprising (1) one or more promotion options, (2) one or more promotion option structures, and (3) one or more promotion structures, wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination of a subset of the one or more promotion option structures, wherein each promotion option structure corresponds to one or more of the promotion options, and wherein each promotion option comprises text indicative of a title and one or more subtitles, and is associated with at least one service, wherein each promotion option structure excludes text and is associated to a same underlying information as an associated promotion option, wherein the promotion option structure is comprised of a series of components that are equivalent to one or more various features of an associated promotion option, wherein a component comprises a term or phrase that is equivalent to a grouping of features, each component representing an actual concept, which, when using natural language, is described as using or otherwise relating to a large variety of different terms or phrases, each component associated with a grouping of features identified as having an equivalent meaning in a given context. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein providing, via the first GUI, the plurality of tiles further includes: determining, via the server, a price band, a value band, and a discount band derived from the one or more promotion option structures, each corresponding, respectively, to prices, values, and discounts associated with previously offered, successful, promotion options; and presenting, on the first GUI, an indication of the price band, the value band, and the discount band. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to: receive input regarding price, value, and discount, via the updated GUI. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to: in an instance in which the selected price, value and discount fall within the presented range of the price band, the value band, and the discount band, receive automated approval to generate the promotion structure. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a price is utilized from a predetermined percentile of top ranking options to establish the price band, wherein the price band is determined from a highest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options and a lowest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options, and generated comprised of each of the highest value, the lowest value and every value in between the highest value and the lowest value of the price. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the processor, further causes the apparatus to: in an instance in which the promotion structure receives automated approval, the window within the updated GUI configured to display the message indicative of a pre-approval is provided, and in an instance in which the promotion structure does not satisfy automatic approval requirements, provide a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a lack of approval and each of one or more particular options determinative of the failure. ### Claim 36 A computer program product for programmatically generating a promotion configured for automated approval from a promotion and marketing service via a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI configured to receive input, prompt access to a server that is configured to perform a series of determinations based on the input, provide particular options back to the GUI, and present the particular options as selectable tiles, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code that, when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to: provide, via a display at a merchant device, a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive input; receive input, via the first GUI, the input comprising information indicative of a service offered by a merchant; provide the information indicative of the service offered by the merchant to a server; cause the server to retrieve, from a structure database, a plurality of promotion option structures associated with the service offered by the merchant, each of the plurality of promotion options structures comprising potential configurations that are pre-approved for automated approval, the automated approval determined utilizing a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions, wherein each of the plurality of promotion option structures correspond to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, and wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept; provide, via the display now presenting an updated GUI, a plurality of tiles, each of the plurality of tiles being distinct and configured to be selected, wherein each of the plurality of tiles are indicative of the retrieved one or more promotion option structures, wherein each tile includes at least one option and the descriptor associated with each included option, wherein each of the one or more tiles is generated using term equivalencies identified for normalization and feature extraction and the region, peer-group, and market-segments in which specific terms are used, wherein providing, via the updated GUI, the plurality of tiles includes: enabling editing of a descriptor associated with each of the plurality of tiles, by presenting a list of available selections; receive one or more tile selections via the first GUI; confirm that the one or more tile selections and the edited descriptor correspond to a configuration that is pre-approved for automated approval; and provide a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a pre-approval. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to: cause the server to access a corpus of promotion options generated from the structure database, the structure database comprising (1) one or more promotion options, (2) one or more promotion option structures, and (3) one or more promotion structures, wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination of a subset of the one or more promotion option structures, wherein each promotion option structure corresponds to one or more of the promotion options, and wherein each promotion option comprises text indicative of a title and one or more subtitles, and is associated with at least one service, wherein each promotion option structure excludes text and is associated to a same underlying information as an associated promotion option, wherein the promotion option structure is comprised of a series of components that are equivalent to one or more various features of an associated promotion option, wherein a component comprises a term or phrase that is equivalent to a grouping of features, each component representing an actual concept, which, when using natural language, is described as using or otherwise relating to a large variety of different terms or phrases, each component associated with a grouping of features identified as having an equivalent meaning in a given context. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The computer program product of claim 36, wherein providing, via the first GUI, the plurality of tiles further includes: determining, via the server, a price band, a value band, and a discount band derived from the one or more promotion option structures, each corresponding, respectively, to prices, values, and discounts associated with previously offered, successful, promotion options; and presenting, on the first GUI, an indication of the price band, the value band, and the discount band. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to: receive input regarding price, value, and discount, via the updated GUI. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to: in an instance in which the selected price, value and discount fall within the presented range of the price band, the value band, and the discount band, receive automated approval to generate the promotion structure. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The computer program product of claim 39, wherein a price is utilized from a predetermined percentile of top ranking options to establish the price band, wherein the price band is determined from a highest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options and a lowest value of each price from the predetermined percentile of top ranking options, and generated comprised of each of the highest value, the lowest value and every value in between the highest value and the lowest value of the price. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the apparatus, further causes the apparatus to: in an instance in which the promotion structure receives automated approval, the window within the updated GUI configured to display the message indicative of a pre-approval is provided, and in an instance in which the promotion structure does not satisfy automatic approval requirements, provide a window within the updated GUI configured to display a message indicative of a lack of approval and each of one or more particular options determinative of the failure.