Dynamic electronic coupon for a mobile environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483769-B2
Application number	US-14215908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2008
Priority date	Jun 20, 2007
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

Dynamic mobile coupons (DMCs) having a variable commercial value and/or other variable coupon characteristic are provided herein. By way of example, a DMC can be distributed to a mobile device based on criteria established by a sponsor of the DMC. A redemption value of the DMC can be variable and dynamically established based at least in part on data associated with a recipient mobile device. Upon redemption of the DMC at a retail entity, the value is fixed and applied to a transaction. Details of the transaction are provided to a remote clearinghouse that performs mediation and indemnification functions to finalize the transaction. As described, the subject disclosure provides a DMC that facilitates a rich and flexible mechanism to generate purchasing incentive for consumers in a mobile environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of remote communication, comprising:
associating a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC) with a target mobile device, wherein the DMC has at least one variable coupon characteristic; and
establishing an initial parameter for the at least one variable coupon characteristic based on a determinable circumstance pertinent to the target mobile device,
wherein the determinable circumstance comprises a circumstance that can be determined by the target mobile device without user interaction,
wherein a determination of whether the DMC has been submitted for redemption is made,
wherein, based on the DMC not having been submitted for redemption, additional data pertinent to the determinable circumstance is obtained,
wherein the initial parameter is automatically modified in response to a change in the determinable circumstance, and
wherein the change in the determinable circumstance is determined at least in part based on the additional data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
transmitting the DMC to the target mobile device; or
transmitting an indication of the DMC to the target mobile device that identifies a sponsor or a transaction associated with the DMC and further identifies at least one of:
the initial parameter for the at least one variable coupon characteristic; or
a state of the at least one variable coupon characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting an executable module with the DMC or the indication of the DMC, the executable module being configured to evaluate the determinable circumstance and establish or modify the initial parameter.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising configuring the executable module to transmit the established or modified initial parameter to a DMC management server.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising configuring the executable module to evaluate the determinable circumstance based on at least one of:
the associating the DMC with the target mobile device;
a threshold change in the determinable circumstance;
an input at the target mobile device; or
redemption of the DMC.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evaluating the determinable circumstance and establishing the initial parameter prior to or contemporaneous with associating the DMC with the target mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing a learning engine that examines a profile history of the target mobile device and a DMC distribution rule for evaluating the determinable circumstance.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising employing a DMC usage history, a mobile shopping history or a DMC sharing history associated with the profile history to evaluate the determinable circumstance.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
securing the established initial parameter to mitigate changes to the initial parameter by input from the target mobile device; or
enabling re-evaluation of the initial parameter based at least in part on the input from the target mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing the initial parameter after associating the DMC with the target mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-establishing the initial parameter after associating the DMC with the target mobile device based in part on at least one of:
the change in the determinable circumstance; or
an input at the target mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
initiating or responding to wireless data exchange with a mobile device;
mining data pertaining to the mobile device;
comparing the mined data to one or more criteria for identifying the target mobile device; and
establishing the mobile device as the target mobile device based on a result of the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising employing a location, time, device capability, user interface function, or identity information associated with the mobile device as the one or more criteria.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying or authorizing application of the DMC to a transaction and modifying a default characteristic of the transaction based on the at least one variable coupon characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising communicatively coupling with a clearinghouse server and reimbursing a sponsor of the transaction based at least in part on the modified default characteristic.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving notice that the DMC is presented for redemption at a point of sale location associated with the DMC.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying or authorizing application of a value to a transaction upon redemption of the DMC based at least in part on a determination of the at least one variable coupon characteristic.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing redemption value as the at least one variable coupon characteristic and evaluating the determinable circumstance to establish the redemption value based on at least one of:
the associating the DMC with the target mobile device;
receiving a value acceptance from the target mobile device;
identifying a threshold change in the determinable circumstance; or
receiving notice that the DMC is presented for redemption.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing a location of the target mobile device, feature of the target mobile device, time, user profile information, vendor profile information, DMC profile information or retailer profile information as the determinable circumstance.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
bundling media with the DMC, packaging at least the media into a mobile device application and transmitting the mobile device application to the target mobile device; or
integrating the media into the DMC, packaging an integrated DMC into the mobile device application and transmitting the mobile device application to the target mobile device.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising employing an application that utilizes an audio, visual, olfactory, or tactile function as the mobile device application.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising configuring the application to employ the audio, visual, olfactory, or tactile function to augment a characteristic of a product or service.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising including with the media a product, service, supplier or retailer advertisement pertinent to the DMC.

24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising including with the media an advertisement of a third party other than a sponsor, recipient or distributor of the DMC.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising obtaining an indication that the advertisement is played at a recipient device and modifying, initiating or completing a transaction with the third party based on the indication.

26. An apparatus for remote communication, comprising:
a coupon module that associates a dynamic mobile coupon (DMC) with a target mobile device, wherein the DMC has at least one variable coupon characteristic;
a valuation module that establishes an initial parameter for the at least one variable coupon characteristic based on a determinable circumstance pertinent to the target mobile device, wherein the determinable circumstance comprises a circumstance that can b

Assignees

• Rajan Rajeev D
• Moallemi Kamran
• Koenig Michal James
• Michaelis Oliver
• Jacobs Paul E
• Dos Santos Jose Ricardo
• Vo Dang Minh
• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Rajan Rajeev D
• Moallemi Kamran
• Koenig Michal James
• Michaelis Oliver
• Jacobs Paul E
• Dos Santos Jose Ricardo
• Vo Dang Minh

Classifications

• G06Q30/0225 Primary

  Avoiding frauds · CPC title

• G06Q30/02 Primary

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title