IP Library Granted Patent US 11,100,527
Granted Patent B2
US 11,100,527 · App. 16/855,756 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

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 11,100,527
App. No.
16/855,756
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
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 (77)

1. An 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:

access, from a data registry, information indicative of a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from at least one mobile communication device during a user-defined tracking time period associated with a user profile associated with the 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;

access, from the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, user trait data and user activity history data;

map the user trait data to a user trait registry;

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

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 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 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 at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive the plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from 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.

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

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to: store to the 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.

5. 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,

wherein the alerts interface comprises an offer received indication, and

wherein the offer received indication comprises at least one offer issued by a particular venue associated with the assumed location;

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:

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.

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 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.

10. A method comprising:

accessing, from a data registry, information indicative of a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from at least one mobile communication device during a user-defined tracking time period associated with a user profile associated with the 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;

accessing, from the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, user trait data and user activity history data;

mapping the user trait data to a user trait registry;

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

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 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

causing 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving the plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from 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.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the alert-generating indication is transmitted to the at least one mobile communication device only during the user-defined tracking time period.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing to the 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.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

providing 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,

wherein the alerts interface comprises an offer received indication, and

wherein the offer received indication comprises at least one offer issued by a particular venue associated with the assumed location;

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

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

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

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

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

comparing 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, causing transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

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

causing 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.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving third-party defined reward criteria;

determining 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, causing transmission of the alert-generating indication to the at least one mobile communication device.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving 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.

19. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions for:

accessing, from a data registry, information indicative of a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) device locations from at least one mobile communication device during a user-defined tracking time period associated with a user profile associated with the 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;

accessing, from the user profile associated with the at least one mobile communications device, user trait data and user activity history data;

mapping the user trait data to a user trait registry;

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

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 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

causing 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.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: KRAMER, JAMES F.; NING, PAUL C.
To: HOOZWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055004/0483 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: HOOZWARE, INC.
To: GROUPON, INC.
Reel/Frame 055004/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2020
From: GROUPON, INC.; LIVINGSOCIAL, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053294/0495 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 16154914 · Oct 9, 2018
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 20200357014A1 · Nov 12, 2020