Passive user-generated coupon submission
Successful application of a coupon code on an e-commerce website is detected via network request tracking and page data tracking. Upon coupon application, the coupon code is stored, for example in a server-based database. The coupon code is then automatically applied to subsequent e-commerce purchases whose parameters match the requirements for the coupon. The coupon can be automatically applied to purchases made by the same user and/or other users, as applicable.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, at a first online session, user input indicating user interest in an item offered by an online merchant;
automatically retrieving, from a data store, at least one potential online coupon for the item or the online merchant by:
accessing the data store to retrieve coupons applicable to the item or the online merchant, wherein the coupons are stored in the data store based on at least one monitored online session; and
processing the coupons through a predictive algorithm to obtain the at least one potential online coupon, of the coupons, by evaluating a likelihood of success of the at least one potential online coupon for the item or the online merchant, based on considering one or more factors associated with the at least one potential online coupon; and
automatically applying the at least one potential online coupon to an online shopping cart.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the coupons retrieved from the data store include:
previously stored coupons that were previously stored in connection with purchases made by the user, or
other coupons stored in connection with purchases made by other users.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically applying the at least one potential online coupon to the online shopping cart includes:
repeatedly rewriting network request(s) to test each of the coupons, by swapping out a coupon parameter to match a coupon being tested;
receiving responses to the network request(s), the responses including an indicator of validity or invalidity for each coupon, and, for each valid coupon, an indicator of an amount that would be saved by using each valid coupon;
selecting a valid coupon based on the responses; and
automatically applying the valid coupon that was selected.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data store includes a coupon identifier for each of the coupons.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data store includes a record comprising data describing use of the coupons.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the data describing the use of the coupons comprises at least one of:
a date on which one or more of the coupons were used;
a time at which the one or more of the coupons were used;
an e-commerce site at which the one or more of the coupons were used;
a product being purchased when the one or more of the coupons were used;
a total dollar amount of purchases on which the one or more of the coupons were used;
shipping information for the purchases on which the one or more of the coupons were used; or
a geographic area in which the one or more of the coupons were used.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the data describing the use of the coupons comprises at least one of a success rate or a failure rate for the one or more of the coupons.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, during the at least one monitored online session:
monitoring the at least one monitored online session in connection with the item or the online merchant;
detecting an attempt to apply a coupon in connection with a purchase of at least one item by monitoring requests and page data;
determining whether the coupon is valid in connection with the purchase by determining whether a response from a web server indicates successful application of the coupon; and
responsive to a determination that the coupon is valid in connection with the purchase, storing coupon data for the coupon in the data store.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the coupon data includes, for the purchase using the coupon, one or more of a coupon code, time and date of the purchase, particulars of item(s) being purchased, a cart total, or geographic location.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data store is located on one or more of a client device or on a server.
11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, at a first online session, user input indicating user interest in an item offered by a first online merchant;
automatically retrieving, from a data store, at least one potential online coupon for the item by:
identifying a second online merchant offering the item,
accessing the data store to retrieve coupons applicable to the item, corresponding to the second online merchant, wherein the coupons are stored in the data store based on at least one monitored online session, and
processing the coupons through a predictive algorithm to obtain the at least one potential online coupon, of the coupons, evaluating a likelihood of success of the at least one potential online coupon for the item at the second online merchant, considering one or more factors associated with the at least one potential online coupon; and
automatically applying the at least one potential online coupon to an online shopping cart of the second online merchant.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising providing the second online merchant offering the item to a user providing the user input after identifying the second online merchant offering the item.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein automatically applying the at least one potential online coupon to the online shopping cart includes:
repeatedly and automatically rewriting network request(s), to test each of the coupons, by swapping out a coupon parameter to match a coupon being tested;
receiving responses to the network request(s), the responses including an indicator of validity or invalidity for each coupon, and, for each valid coupon, an indicator of an amount that would be saved by using each valid coupon;
selecting a valid coupon based on the responses; and
automatically applying the valid coupon that was selected.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the data store includes a coupon identifier for each of the coupons.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the data store includes a record comprising data describing use of the coupons.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the data describing the use of the coupons comprises at least one of:
a date on which the coupons were used;
a time at which the coupons were used;
an e-commerce site at which the coupons were used;
a product being purchased when the coupons were used;
a total dollar amount of purchases on which the coupons were used;
shipping information for the purchases on which the coupons were used; or
a geographic area in which the coupons were used.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the data describing the use of the coupons comprises at least one of a success rate or a failure rate for the coupons.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising, during at least one monitored second online session:
monitoring the at least one monitored second online session in connection with the second online merchant;
detecting an attempt to apply a coupon in connection with a purchase of at least one item by monitoring requests and page data;
determining whether the coupon is valid in connection with the purchase by determining whether a response from a web server indicates successful application of the coupon; and
responsive to a determination that the coupon is valid in connection with the purchase, storing coupon data for the coupon in the data store.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the data store is located on one or more of a client device or on a server.
20. A system, comprising:
at least one memory storing instructions; and
at least one processor executing the instructions to perform operations, the operations including:
receiving, at a first online session, user input indicating user interest in an item offered by an online merchant;
automatically retrieving, from a data store, at least one potential online coupon for the item or the online merchant by:
accessing the data store to retrieve coupons applicable to the item or the online merchant wherein the coupons are stored in the data store based on at least one monitored online session, and
processing the coupons through a predictive algorithm to obtain the at least one potential online coupon, of the coupons, evaluating a likelihood of success of the at least one potential online coupon for the item or the online merchant, based on considering one or more factors associated with the at least one potential online coupon; and
automatically applying the at least one potential online coupon to an online shopping cart.