IP Library Granted Patent US 10,475,063
Granted Patent B1
US 10,475,063 · App. 14/038,610 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Automated deal guide optimization

Inventors: Mechie Nkengla (Chicago, IL); Kavita Kochar (Chicago, IL); Shafiq Shariff (Chicago, IL); Gaston L'Huillier (Cambridge, MA); Rajesh Parekh (Chicago, IL); Logan Tyler Jennings (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: GROUPON, INC.
G06Q30/0244
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,475,063
App. No.
14/038,610
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to score elements of a structure database. The method includes accessing a structure database comprising one or more promotion options, one or more promotion option structures, and one or more promotion structures, wherein each promotion structure comprises one or more of the promotion option structures, each promotion option structure corresponds to one or more of the promotion options, and each promotion option is associated with at least one service. The method further includes generating a promotion option score for each promotion option in the structure database, generating, by a processor, a promotion option structure score for each promotion option structure in the structure database, and generating a promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Claims (81)

1. A method for programmatically identifying viable promotions by elements of a promotion by scoring elements of a structure database corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service and programmatically identifying particular values of the elements that enable automated approval, the method comprising:

accessing, via an editing module and from a structure database, a corpus of promotion options, the corpus of promotion options corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service, the structure database comprising (1) one or more promotion options, (2) one or more promotion option structures, and (3) one or more promotion structures, and a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions,

wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination 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 does not comprise 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

wherein the promotion option structure corresponds to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept;

generating a promotion option score for each promotion option in the structure database, wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option of the each promotion option comprises: determining one or more relevant metric variables, evaluating the target promotion option based on each relevant metric variable, and generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on the evaluations of a target promotion option structure;

generating, by a processor, a promotion option structure score for each promotion option structure in the structure database, the promotion option structure score being a function of the promotion option score of each promotion option included in the promotion option structure; and

generating, by the processor, a promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database, the promotion structure score being a function of the promotion option structure score of the combination of promotion option structures included in the promotion structure,

wherein the promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database is based on the promotion option structure scores of the combination of promotion option structures that comprise that promotion structure,

wherein the promotion option score is indicative of an efficacy of specific promotion terminology compared to promotion option structures, which are specifically designed to avoid unique terminology; and

generating, by a rating module, for display via a graphical user interface configured for display at a user device, a value band, a price band, and a discount band for a target promotion structure, wherein the generating comprises ranking a set of promotion option structures comprising a target promotion structure, identifying a highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a highest value of each of a price, a value, and a discount, determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a lowest value of each of the price, the value, and the discount, generating each of the value band, the price band, and the discount band 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, the value, and the discount, respectively, wherein the price band represents a range of prices that can be included in a promotion structure, a value band being a range of values associated with the promotion structure, and the margin band being a range of margins being associated with the promotion structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option comprises:

determining a frequency with which the promotion option occurs; and

generating a score for each promotion option based on a frequency with which the promotion option is included in a promotion for a particular service.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option comprises:

determining one or more relevant metric variables;

evaluating the target promotion option based on each relevant metric variable; and

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on the evaluations of the target promotion option structure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein relevance of the one or more metric variables is determined based on a service with which the target promotion option is associated.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a promotion option structure score for a target promotion option structure comprises:

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on an average of promotion option scores of promotion options corresponding to the target promotion option structure.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a promotion option structure score for a target promotion option structure comprises:

determining one or more relevant metric variables;

evaluating the target promotion option structure based on each relevant metric variable; and

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on the evaluations of the target promotion option structure.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein relevance of the one or more metric variables is determined based on a service with which the target promotion option structure is associated.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the promotion structure score for a target promotion structure comprises:

setting the promotion structure score of the target promotion equal to an average of the promotion option structure scores of the one or more promotion option structures comprising the promotion structure.

9. An apparatus for programmatically identifying viable promotions by elements of a promotion by scoring elements of a structure database corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service and programmatically identifying particular values of the elements that enable automated approval, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to:

access, via an editing module and from a structure database, a corpus of promotion options, the corpus of promotion options corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service, the structure database comprising one or more promotion options, one or more promotion option structures, and one or more promotion structures and a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions,

wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination 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 does not comprise 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

wherein the promotion option structure corresponds to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept;

generate, by a processor, a promotion option score for each promotion option in the structure database;

generate, by the processor, a promotion option structure score for each promotion option structure in the structure database, the promotion option structure score being a function of the promotion option score of each promotion option included in the promotion option structure; and

generate, by the processor, a promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database, the promotion structure score being a function of the promotion option structure score of the combination of promotion option structures included in the promotion structure,

wherein the promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database is based on the promotion option structure scores of the combination of promotion option structures that comprise that promotion structure,

wherein the promotion option score is indicative of an efficacy of specific promotion terminology compared to promotion option structures, which are specifically designed to avoid unique terminology; and

generate, by a rating module, for display via a graphical user interface configured for display at a user device, a value band, a price band, and a discount band for a target promotion structure, wherein the generating comprises ranking a set of promotion option structures comprising a target promotion structure, identifying a highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, and determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a highest value of each of a price, a value, and a discount, determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a lowest value of each of the price, the value, and the discount, generating each of the value band, the price band, and the discount band 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, the value, and the discount, respectively, wherein the price band represents a range of prices that can be included in a promotion structure, a value band being a range of values associated with the promotion structure, and the margin band being a range of margins being associated with the promotion structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option comprises:

determining a frequency with which the promotion option occurs; and

generating a score for each promotion option based on a frequency with which the promotion option is included in a promotion for a particular service.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option comprises:

determining one or more relevant metric variables;

evaluating the target promotion option based on each relevant metric variable; and

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on the evaluations of the target promotion option structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein relevance of the one or more metric variables is determined based on a service with which the target promotion option is associated.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein generating a promotion option structure score for a target promotion option structure comprises:

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on an average of promotion option scores of promotion options corresponding to the target promotion option structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein generating a promotion option structure score for a target promotion option structure comprises:

determining one or more relevant metric variables;

evaluating the target promotion option structure based on each relevant metric variable; and

generating a score for the target promotion option structure based on the evaluations of the target promotion option structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein relevance of the one or more metric variables is determined based on a service with which the target promotion option structure is associated.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein generating the promotion structure score for a target promotion structure comprises:

setting the promotion structure score of the target promotion equal to an average of the promotion option structure scores of the one or more promotion option structures comprising the promotion structure.

17. A computer program product for programmatically identifying viable promotions by elements of a promotion by scoring elements of a structure database corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service and programmatically identifying particular values of the elements that enable automated approval, 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:

access, via an editing module and from a structure database, a corpus of promotion options, the corpus of promotion options corresponding to a set of promotion options previously offered and currently on offer by a promotion and marketing service, the structure database comprising one or more promotion options, one or more promotion option structures, and one or more promotion structures and a historical database comprising historical information regarding an efficacy of previously offered promotions,

wherein each promotion structure comprises a combination 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 does not comprise 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

wherein the promotion option structure corresponds to multiple promotion options, such that at least two promotion options present a same concept to a user, despite using distinct language, wherein no two promotion option structures present the same concept;

generate, by a processor, a promotion option score for each promotion option in the structure database;

generate, by the processor, a promotion option structure score for each promotion option structure in the structure database, the promotion option structure score being a function of the promotion option score of each promotion option included in the promotion option structure; and

generate, by the processor, a promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database, the promotion structure score being a function of the promotion option structure score of the combination of promotion option structures included in the promotion structure,

wherein the promotion structure score for each promotion structure in the structure database is based on the promotion option structure scores of the combination of promotion option structures that comprise that promotion structure,

wherein the promotion option score is indicative of an efficacy of specific promotion terminology compared to promotion option structures, which are specifically designed to avoid unique terminology; and

generate, by a rating module, for display via a graphical user interface configured for display at a user device, a value band, a price band, and a discount band for a target promotion structure, wherein the generating comprises ranking a set of promotion option structures comprising a target promotion structure, identifying a highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, and determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a highest value of each of a price, a value, and a discount, determining, from the highest ranked subset of the set of promotion option structures, a lowest value of each of the price, the value, and the discount, generating each of the value band, the price band, and the discount band 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, the value, and the discount, respectively, wherein the price band represents a range of prices that can be included in a promotion structure, a value band being a range of values associated with the promotion structure, and the margin band being a range of margins being associated with the promotion structure.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein generating a promotion option score for a target promotion option comprises:

determining a frequency with which the promotion option occurs; and

generating a score for each promotion option based on a frequency with which the promotion option is included in a promotion for a particular service.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2024
From: GROUPON, INC.
To: BYTEDANCE INC.
Reel/Frame 068833/0811 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC (F/K/A LIVINGSOCIAL, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066676/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC (F/K/A LIVINGSOCIAL, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066676/0251 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2020
From: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053294/0495 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATES OF ASSIGNORS 4 AND 5 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 032518 FRAME 0946. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT DATES ARE BELOW. Recorded Apr 22, 2014
From: NKENGLA, MECHIE; KOCHAR, KAVITA; SHARIFF, SHAFIQ; L'HUILLIER, GASTON; PAREKH, RAJESH; JENNINGS, LOGAN TYLER
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 032733/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2014
From: NKENGLA, MECHIE; KOCHAR, KAVITA; SHARIFF, SHAFIQ; L'HUILLIER, GASTON; PAREKH, RAJESH; JENNINGS, LOGAN TYLER
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 032518/0946 →