IP Library Granted Patent US 10,664,860
Granted Patent B2
US 10,664,860 · App. 16/154,914 · Granted May 26, 2020

Verification of redemption of an electronic offer

Inventors: James F. Kramer (Foster City, CA); Paul C. Ning (Foster City, CA)
Assignee: Groupon, Inc.
G06Q30/0225G06Q30/02G06Q30/0261G06Q30/0605G06Q50/01H04W4/02H04W4/021H04W4/029H04W4/14H04W24/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,664,860
App. No.
16/154,914
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system can determine that a mobile device, located at a physical place of business transmits a first electronic communication for redemption of an electronic offer at the physical place of business. The system can further detect a second electronic communication transmitted from the mobile device, which indicates a first identifier. The first identifier can be associated with a verifier of the electronic offer (e.g., a staff member) at the physical place of business. The system can further determine, based on analysis of the first identifier, a second identifier (e.g., contact data, a telephone number, etc.), that corresponds to the verifier, without providing the second identifier to the mobile device. The system can further electronically transmit, utilizing the second identifier, a third electronic communication that indicates information about the redemption of the electronic offer.

Claims (116)

1. An apparatus for providing a service for identifying mobile devices utilized by particular categories of consumers and transmitting alert-generating indications to the mobile devices, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from at least one mobile communication device;

compare the plurality of GPS device locations to a known fixed position to determine an assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device;

identify a user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, the user profile comprising user trait data and user activity history data;

classify the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to a category of user profiles by applying a classification algorithm, the classification algorithm considering the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the user trait data, and the user activity history data;

access information indicative of a user-defined tracking time period associated with the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the plurality of GPS device locations are received from at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period;

store to a data registry the plurality of GPS device locations only during the user-defined tracking time period, wherein the classification algorithm further considers the plurality of GPS device locations stored to the data registry; and

cause transmission of an alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alert-generating indication is transmitted to the at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

provide a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to be displayed upon the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the alert-generating indication is configured to cause rendering by the GUI of an alerts interface, and

wherein the alerts interface comprises an offer received indication.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the offer received indication comprises at least one offer issued by a particular venue associated with the assumed location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an indication to redeem the at least one offer; and

create a barcode or number code associated with the at least one offer, the barcode or number code configured to be rendered by the GUI.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a signal or access information indicative of a user-defined venue threshold associated with a demographic or characteristic;

aggregate trait information associated with each user profile associated with the assumed location;

compare the aggregated trait information to the user defined venue threshold; and

only in a circumstance where the aggregated trait information satisfies the user defined venue threshold and upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles, cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a check-in signal from the at least one mobile communication device; and

cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device only in response to receiving the check-in signal and upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

enable participation in a game or survey;

receive a game or survey completion signal; and

cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device only in response to receiving the game or survey completion signal and upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive third-party defined reward criteria;

determine that the third-party defined reward criteria is met; and

upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles and upon determining that the third party defined reward criteria is met, cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive venue-specified restrictions; and

upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles, cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device in accordance with the venue-specified restrictions.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

map the user trait data to a user trait registry;

map the user activity history data to a user activity history registry,

wherein the classification algorithm for classifying the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to the category of user profiles further considers the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the mapping of the user trait data to the user trait registry, and the mapping of the user activity history data to the user activity history registry; and

cause transmission of a second alert-generating indication to a second mobile communication device associated with the assumed location.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a check-in indication from the at least one mobile communication device verifying presence of the at least one mobile communication device at the assumed location.

13. A method for providing a service for identifying mobile devices utilized by particular categories of consumers and transmitting alert-generating indications to the mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from at least one mobile communication device;

comparing the plurality of GPS device locations to a known fixed position to determine an assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device;

identifying a user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, the user profile comprising user trait data and user activity history data;

classifying the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to a category of user profiles by applying a classification algorithm, the classification algorithm considering the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the user trait data, and the user activity history data;

accessing information indicative of a user-defined tracking time period associated with the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the plurality of GPS device locations are received from at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period;

storing to a data registry the plurality of GPS device locations only during the user-defined tracking time period, wherein the classification algorithm further considers the plurality of GPS device locations stored to the data registry; and

causing transmission of an alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device upon classifying the user profile to the category.

14. An apparatus for providing a service for identifying mobile devices utilized by particular categories of consumers and transmitting alert-generating indications to the mobile devices, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a plurality of GPS device locations from at least one mobile communication device;

compare the plurality of GPS device locations to a known fixed position to determine an assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device;

identify a user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, the user profile comprising user trait data and user activity history data;

classify the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to a category of user profiles by applying a classification algorithm, the classification algorithm considering the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the user trait data, and the user activity history data;

access information indicative of a user-defined tracking time period associated with the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the plurality of GPS device locations are received from at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period;

store to a data registry the plurality of GPS device locations only during the user-defined tracking time period, wherein the classification algorithm further considers the plurality of GPS device locations stored to the data registry;

identify a reciprocal category of second user profiles based on the category upon classifying the user profile to the category, wherein the second user profiles are respectively associated with a plurality of second mobile communication devices, and wherein the plurality of second mobile communication devices do not include the at least one mobile communication device; and

cause transmission of an alert-generating indication to at least one second mobile communication device of the plurality of second mobile communication devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

access information indicative of a user-defined tracking time period associated with the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the plurality of GPS device locations are received from at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

access information indicative of a second user-defined tracking time period associated with a second user profile associated with the at least one second mobile communication device; and

causing transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one second mobile communication device only during the second user-defined tracking time period.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

store to a data registry the plurality of GPS device locations only during the user-defined tracking time period,

wherein classification algorithm further considers the plurality of GPS device location stored to the data registry.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

provide a GUI configured to be displayed upon the at least one second mobile communication device,

wherein the alert-generating indication is configured to cause rendering by the GUI of an alerts interface, and

wherein the alerts interface comprises an offer received indication.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the offer received indication comprises at least one offer issued by a particular venue associated with the assumed location.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

receive an indication to redeem the at least one offer;

create a barcode or number code associated with the at least one offer, the barcode or number code configured to be rendered by the GUI.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a signal or access information indicative of a user-defined venue threshold associated with a demographic or characteristic;

aggregate trait information associated with each user profile associated with the assumed location;

compare the aggregated trait information to the user-defined venue threshold; and

only in a circumstance where the aggregated trait information satisfies the user-defined venue threshold and upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles, cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one second mobile communication device.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a check-in signal from the mobile communication device; and

cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one second mobile communication device only in response to receiving the check-in signal and classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

enable participation in a game or survey;

receive a game or survey completion signal; and

cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one second mobile communication device only in response to receiving the game or survey signal and classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive third-party defined reward criteria;

determine that the third-party defined reward criteria is met; and

upon the determination that third party defined reward criteria is met and upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles, cause transmission of the location-based content to the at least one second mobile communication device.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive venue-specified restrictions; and

upon classifying the user profile to the category of user profiles, cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one second mobile communication device in accordance with the venue-specified restrictions.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

map the user trait data to a user trait registry;

map the user activity history data to a user activity history registry;

wherein the classification algorithm for classifying the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to the category of user profiles further considers the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the mapping of the user trait data to the user trait registry, and the mapping of the user activity history data to the user activity history registry; and

cause transmission of the alert-generating indication to the second mobile communication device associated with the assumed location.

27. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a check-in signal from the at least one mobile communication device verifying presence of the at least one mobile communication device at the assumed location.

28. A method for providing a service for identifying mobile devices utilized by particular categories of consumers and transmitting alert-generating indications to the mobile devices, the for the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of GPS device locations from at least one mobile communication device;

comparing the plurality of GPS device locations to a known fixed position to determine an assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device;

identifying a user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, the user profile comprising user trait data and user activity history data;

classifying the user profile and the at least one mobile communication device to a category of user profiles by applying a classification algorithm, the classification algorithm considering the assumed location of the at least one mobile communication device, the user trait data, and the user activity history data;

accessing information indicative of a user-defined tracking time period associated with the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communication device,

wherein the plurality of GPS device locations are received from at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period;

storing to a data registry the plurality of GPS device locations only during the user-defined tracking time period, wherein the classification algorithm further considers the plurality of GPS device locations stored to the data registry

identifying a reciprocal category of second user profiles based on the category upon classifying the user profile to the category, wherein the second user profiles are respectively associated with a plurality of second mobile communication devices, and wherein the plurality of second mobile communication devices do not include the at least one mobile communication device; and

causing transmission of an alert-generating indication to at least one second mobile communication device of the plurality of second mobile communication devices.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: KRAMER, JAMES F.; NING, PAUL C.
To: HOOZWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 047106/0125 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: HOOZWARE, INC.
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 047106/0580 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 15598879 · May 18, 2017
Continuation 14803993 · Jul 20, 2015
Continuation 13751035 · Jan 25, 2013
Continuation In Part 12973947 · Dec 21, 2010
Continuation In Part 12161554
Continuation In Part 11307262 · Jan 30, 2006
Provisional Application 61590733 · Jan 25, 2012
Provisional Application 61313132 · Mar 12, 2010
Provisional Application 60823573 · Aug 25, 2006
Related Publication 20190220884A1 · Jul 18, 2019