Method and system for launching application programs using promotion impressions

1. A computer-executed method for a promotion and marketing service provided on a mobile computing device, the computer-executed method comprising:

receiving, by communications circuitry of the mobile computing device and from a promotional system, a promotion application program provided by the promotion and marketing service for installation on the mobile computing device;

installing, by a processing device of the mobile computing device, the promotion application program in a storage device of the mobile computing device;

in response to installation of the promotion application program, receiving, by user interface circuitry of the mobile computing device and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a first impression of a first promotion associated with a first product or service by a first merchant;

in response to receiving the user input,

programmatically initiating, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, detection of whether a first application program is installed on the mobile computing device, wherein the first application program is (i) provided by the first merchant and (ii) usable to purchase the first product or service offered by the first merchant,

wherein detecting whether the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device comprises:

using the promotion application program to attempt access of an application program link associated with the first application program to determine one of a resolved state or an unresolved state associated with the first application program link without execution of the first application program on the mobile computing device, wherein the application program link is identified from a predetermined list of application program links, and wherein the application program link is associated with an application program link schema corresponding to the first application program,

determining that the first application program is installed by determining the application program link is associated with the resolved state,

programmatically initiating, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired, and

in response to detection that the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device and the determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired:

automatically launching, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, the first application program on the mobile computing device to a user interface of the first application program that presents the first product or service; and

causing providing, via the first application program, of the first promotion to a user associated with the mobile computing device, to automatically enable redemption of the promotion via user engagement with the first application program.

2. The computer-executed method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a plurality of mobile software program communication requests in order to detect the first application program installed on the mobile computing device.

3. The computer-executed method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to automatically launching the first application program, rendering, by the user interface circuitry and on a visual display device of the mobile computing device, information on the first product or service offered by the first merchant.

4. The computer-executed method of claim 1 , further comprising:

programmatically determining, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, that the first promotion is sold out or expired; and

in response to programmatically determining that the first promotion is sold out or expired, rendering, by the user interface circuitry, a predetermined user interface or predetermined information related to the first merchant on a visual display device of the mobile computing device.

5. The computer-executed method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the user interface circuitry and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a second impression of a second promotion offering a second product or service by a second merchant;

programmatically detecting, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, an absence of a second application program installed on the mobile computing device and usable to purchase the second product or service offered by the second merchant; and

in response to receiving the user input, automatically launching, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a webpage associated with the second merchant on the mobile computing device.

6. The computer-executed method of claim 5 , wherein the webpage indicates information on the second product or service offered by the second merchant.

7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded thereon one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processing device of a mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to:

receive, by communications circuitry of the mobile computing device and from a promotional system, a promotion application program provided by a promotion and marketing service for installation on the mobile computing device;

install, by the processing device, the promotion application program in a storage device of the mobile computing device;

in response to installation of the promotion application program, receive, by user interface circuitry of the mobile computing device and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a first impression of a first promotion associated with a first product or service by a first merchant;

in response to receipt of the user input,

programmatically initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, detection of whether a first application program is installed on the mobile computing device, wherein the first application program is (i) provided by the first merchant and (ii) usable to purchase the first product or service offered by the first merchant,

wherein detecting whether the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device comprises:

using the promotion application program to attempt access of an application program link associated with the first application program to determine one of a resolved state or an unresolved state associated with the first application program link without execution of the first application program on the mobile computing device, wherein the application program link is identified from a predetermined list of application program links, and wherein the application program link is associated with an application program link schema corresponding to the first application program,

in circumstances when the application program link associated with the first application program is associated with the resolved state, determine that the first application program is installed, and

in circumstances when the application program link associated with the first application program is associated with the unresolved state, determine that the first application program is not installed, and

programmatically initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired, and

in response to detection that the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device and the determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired:

automatically launch, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, the first application program on the mobile computing device to a user interface of the first application program that presents the first product or service; and

cause providing, via the first application program, of the first promotion to a user associated with the mobile computing device, to automatically enable redemption of the promotion via user engagement with the first application program.

8. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a storage device for storing one or more computer-executable instructions for programmatically executing a promotion application program provided by a promotion and marketing service;

a processing device configured to:

receive, by the processing device and from communications circuitry of the mobile computing device, the promotion application program provided by the promotion and marketing service for installation on the mobile computing device;

install, by the processing device, the promotion application program in the storage device;

in response to installation of the promotion application program, receive, by the processing device, from user interface circuitry of the mobile computing device, and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a first impression of a first promotion associated with a first product or service by a first merchant;

in response to receipt of the user input,

programmatically initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, detection of whether a first application program is installed on the mobile computing device, wherein the first application program is (i) provided by the first merchant and (ii) usable to purchase the first product or service offered by the first merchant,

wherein detecting whether the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device comprises:

using the promotion application program to attempt access of an application program link associated with the first application program to determine one of a resolved state or an unresolved state associated with the first application program without execution of the first application program on the mobile computing device, wherein the application program link is identified from a predetermined list of application program links, and wherein the application program link is associated with an application program link schema corresponding to the first application program,

in circumstances when the application program link associated with the first application program is associated with the resolved state, determine that the first application program is installed, and

in circumstances when the application program link associated with the first application program is associated with the unresolved state, determine that the first application program is not installed, and

programmatically initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired, and

in response to detection that the first application program is installed on the mobile computing device and the determination that the first promotion is not sold out or expired:

automatically launch, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, the first application program on the mobile computing device to a user interface of the first application program that presents the first product or service; and

cause providing, via the first application program, of the first promotion to a user associated with the mobile computing device, to automatically enable redemption of the promotion via user engagement with the first application program; and

a visual display device for displaying user interfaces associated with the first application program and the promotion application program.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the mobile computing device to:

initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a plurality of mobile software program communication requests in order to detect the first application program installed on the mobile computing device.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the mobile computing device to:

in response to automatic launch of the first application program, render, by the user interface circuitry and on a visual display device of the mobile computing device, information on the first product or service offered by the first merchant.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the mobile computing device to:

programmatically determine, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, that the first promotion is sold out or expired; and

in response to programmatic determination that the first promotion is sold out or expired, render, by the user interface circuitry, a predetermined user interface or predetermined information related to the first merchant on a visual display device of the mobile computing device.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing device, further cause the mobile computing device to:

receive, by the user interface circuitry and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a second impression of a second promotion offering a second product or service by a second merchant;

programmatically detect, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, an absence of a second application program installed on the mobile computing device and usable to purchase the second product or service offered by the second merchant; and

in response to receipt of the user input, automatically launch, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a webpage associated with the second merchant on the mobile computing device.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the webpage indicates information on the second product or service offered by the second merchant.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

initiate, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a plurality of mobile software program communication requests in order to detect the first application program installed on the mobile computing device.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

in response to automatic launch of the first application program, cause, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, the user interface circuitry to render information on the first product or service offered by the first merchant.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

programmatically determine, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, that the first promotion is sold out or expired; and

in response to programmatic determination that the first promotion is sold out or expired, cause, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, the user interface circuitry to render a predetermined user interface or predetermined information related to the first merchant on the visual display device.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

receive, from the user interface circuitry and using the promotion application program, user input selecting a second impression of a second promotion offering a second product or service by a second merchant;

programmatically detect, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, an absence of a second application program installed on the mobile computing device and usable to purchase the second product or service offered by the second merchant; and

in response to receipt of the user input, automatically launch, by the processing device and using the promotion application program, a webpage associated with the second merchant on the mobile computing device.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 17 , wherein the webpage indicates information on the second product or service offered by the second merchant.