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WO2007059295A1 - Computerized system enabling self-service creation and management of online coupons - Google Patents

Computerized system enabling self-service creation and management of online coupons Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007059295A1
WO2007059295A1 PCT/US2006/044610 US2006044610W WO2007059295A1 WO 2007059295 A1 WO2007059295 A1 WO 2007059295A1 US 2006044610 W US2006044610 W US 2006044610W WO 2007059295 A1 WO2007059295 A1 WO 2007059295A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
coupon
coupons
user
online
distributor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/044610
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael P. Hogan
Original Assignee
Zixxo Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US11/453,243 external-priority patent/US20060293959A1/en
Application filed by Zixxo Inc. filed Critical Zixxo Inc.
Publication of WO2007059295A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007059295A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
    • G07G1/14—Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/387—Payment using discounts or coupons
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to computerized coupons.
  • Coupons.com is a website which allows a user to print coupons.
  • the website states that their secure technology gives clients control over the number of coupons distributed, thereby limiting redemption liability.
  • Our client-side Coupon Printer completes a closed system from our servers to the consumer's printer, ensuring both security and a coupon with properly rendered barcodes that scan at retail every time....
  • the Coupon Printer is installed on their computer. It ,is an industry-standard browser plug-in that enables the security features required to print real coupons. Unlike cookie-based controls, removing and reinstalling the Coupon Printer does not affect its security settings.
  • a coupon never appears on the consumer's screen but prints directly to the printer...
  • Each coupon carries a unique ID that is encrypted in a 2-D PDF417 barcode. That means each coupon can be traced from print to redemption by its originating device. All Coupons, Inc. coupons can be authenticated using this unique code, and it can be used to detect counterfeit or altered coupons.”
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved system for computerized coupon creation and/or management and/or syndication.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create one or more online coupons or incentive offers.
  • the process of creating a coupon may involve additional capabilities beyond simply defining the information and multimedia items visually represented on the representation of the coupon itself.
  • Such additional capabilities might include: (1) defining the state of the online coupon (whether it is usable or accessible by consumers); (2) metadata about the coupon, which may not be visible on a representation of the coupon, including but not limited to metadata about the coupon such as keywords to facilitate search, categorization information, the date when the coupon is accessible by consumers, etc; (3) rules or constraints regarding the coupon's distribution, including but not limited to limits on how many coupons may be used/redeemed in a given timeframe, how many times each consumer may use the coupon during a specified timeframe, which types of individuals may have access to the coupon, limits on the budget for paid syndication during a specified timeframe, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to manage one or more online coupons or incentive offers, whereby the user may create, modify or delete one or more online coupons or incentive offers.
  • the process of managing a coupon may involve creating, modifying or deleting additional information or rules, beyond simply defining the information and multimedia items visually represented on the representation of the coupon itself.
  • Such additional information or rules might include: (1) defining the state of the online coupon (whether it is usable or accessible by consumers); (2) metadata about the coupon, which may not be visible on a representation of the coupon, including but not limited to metadata about the coupon such as keywords to facilitate search, categorization information, the date when the coupon is accessible by consumers, etc; (3) rules or constraints regarding the coupon's distribution, including but not limited to limits on how many coupons may be used/redeemed in a given timeframe, how many times each consumer may use the coupon during a specified timeframe, which types of individuals may have access to the coupon, limits on the budget for paid syndication during a specified timeframe, etc.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for managing the process of syndicating the online coupons or incentive offers, or metadata about the coupons, or digital pointers or hyperlinks to digital representations of one or more online coupons or incentive offers, and the compensation of entities who aide in the syndication process by soliciting users who create and/or manage online coupons or incentive offers with the invention, or entities who aide in the publishing of online coupons or incentive offers to consumers.
  • the system of the present invention preferably includes mechanisms for creating and managing online coupons, and then syndicating information about said online coupons so that users can easily find and use said online coupons throughout the network.
  • the primary problem with online coupons is that once the actual coupon is published in a valid and usable manner, it can be replicated and used by websites and consumers throughout the Internet. As a result, once a coupon is published in this manner, the advertiser loses the ability to control syndication, content of the coupon, use and redemption.
  • a preferred embodiment of this invention is to enable the creation and management of online coupons and the syndication of information contained on the coupon, metadata or tags created electronically (e.g. via an algorithm) or by humans, while the actual valid and usable online coupon is served directly to the consumer in a secure manner. This metadata is critical for enabling users, websites or others to filter through coupons to narrow down the options to those that are truly applicable.
  • an improved system for computerized coupon management and methods useful therein there is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved system for computerized coupon management and methods useful therein.
  • a method and system for enabling the creation and consumption of metadata for online coupons In order to facilitate the efficient distribution and consumption of online coupons it is important that metadata be created about the coupon, including but not limited to demographic information about the group targeted by the advertiser providing the coupon, information about the content of the coupon, the type of the coupon, or any other metadata created about the coupon that can facilitate the process of finding, serving, pulling, or distributing the coupon.
  • This metadata might be created by a computer algorithm, by the advertiser, by distributors or by users.
  • Such access to specific coupons requested by the website, consumer or other advertiser might be accomplished via an application programming interface (API).
  • API application programming interface
  • Such access to specific coupons might also be accomplished via a mechanism that requests certain user information (e.g. user zip code) and provides access to certain coupons on the basis of said information.
  • user information e.g. user zip code
  • a various portions of to the system of the present invention may be embedded into an existing website of a third party (e.g. a widget or gadget providing a categorized listing of online coupons for a certain location).
  • Metadata might be created by consumers who either select from existing options (e.g. a drop down list, type-down function, etc.) or simply assign tags (or text-based metadata about a coupon) as they see fit, to online coupons or the businesses providing said coupons. This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
  • This metadata might be created by advertisers about their coupons whereby they define information about each coupon, or a group of coupons, such as the target customer (age, sex, location, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) or information about the coupon (category, offer type, etc.). This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
  • This metadata might be created by humans, whereby they define information about each coupon, or a group of coupons, such as the target customer (age, sex, location, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) or information about the coupon (category, offer type, etc.). This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
  • This metadata might be created as part of the coupon creation or management process or by analyzing the content, use or other information about the coupon. This information might be used to determine who the coupon is sent to, made available to, who receives the coupon, what category it is placed in, etc. For example, an online coupon might be tagged as appealing to teens. Based on this tag, websites might access an application programming interface (API) to request coupons tagged as "teen" and a hyperlink pointing to this online coupon would be provided to the requesting website.
  • API application programming interface
  • an application programming interface for accessing specific online coupons or groups of online coupons on the basis of metadata or tags.
  • API application programming interface
  • a website focused on automotive products might request access to, or information about, online coupons specific to the automotive field, or coupons that have been tagged using automotive related tags.
  • Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating a mechanism, other than an application programming interface (API), for accessing specific online coupons or groups of online coupons on the basis of metadata or tags.
  • API application programming interface
  • a website might ask a user for their zip code. Based upon this information, that user is then provided with online coupons specific to that zip code.
  • the user might have a cookie placed on their computer to automate this process, or the system could discern location based upon the user's IP address or GPS information, or other such electronic mechanisms.
  • a process of associating coupons with search results via the metadata or tags for the specific coupons and then displaying hyperlinks or pointers to said coupons alongside Internet search results or embedded into the specific search results applicable to that coupon For example, a user might search for Pizza in Belmont, California.
  • the search engine might pass the phone numbers for the companies in the search result to the application programming interface (API) of the present invention.
  • the present invention would then query its database of coupons, returning the phone numbers and hyperlinks to online coupons that match these phone numbers.
  • the search engine could then embed these hyperlinks to online coupons alongside the applicable business listings.
  • FIG. 1 Further provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of allowing users to tag or somehow associate one or more online coupons of their selection, as a subset of the coupons offered, as being of interest to them. For example, a user might view the entire collection of 100 online coupons and define 10 of those online coupons as being of interest to them. These 10 selected coupons would then be available under a separate grouping (e.g. My Favorites) that is more easily accessed by the user than searching through the entire collection.
  • a separate grouping e.g. My Favorites
  • Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a method and system for tracking and rewarding independent third party individuals to create hyperlinks, tags or other mechanisms that facilitate superior search engine ranking and increased user traffic to a particular website or web service.
  • Search engines increasingly rely upon hyperlinks pointing to a particular website as a measure of that website's popularity. Since the search engine is a primary mechanism for directing customer flow to websites, it is important to encourage such inbound hyperlinks to a website in order to increase the ranking of said website in search engines.
  • Search engines are also increasingly using additional metadata such as user created tags to determine the popularity and the topics associated with websites.
  • tags from services (e.g. del.icio.us, furl, spurl, etc.) to determine the topics for which a particular website is relevant.
  • tags from services (e.g. del.icio.us, furl, spurl, etc.) to determine the topics for which a particular website is relevant.
  • metadata e.g. tags, etc.
  • At least some of the methods and systems shown herein track such third party hyperlinks to a website and metadata (e.g. tags, etc.) and reward the individuals who create them.
  • Such rewards can be in the form of either small monetary compensation per instance of hyperlink/metadata or could be in the form of a contest where entry into the contest is created by actions such as creating hyperlinks/metadata. Selection of a winner in such a case could be based upon a random selection amongst entries, or by rewarding the individual with the most such entries.
  • this method or system tracks such hyperlinks/metadata back to the source and rewards either the owner of the website upon which it was created, or the user who created such hyperlink/metadata or a combination of both.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per link, per linking page, and/or per linking website. Compensation can be in the form of money or payment-in-kind (e.g. goods or services).
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per link, per linking page, and/or per linking website. Compensation can be in the form of points that can be collected and redeemed for goods or services.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest with each link, linking webpage or linking website as an entry to win the contest.
  • the contest could be decided either based upon the most links or a random selection with each link counting as an entry.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest. In this scenario, each linking individual, webmaster or company that creates and maintains the link to the specific website URL or group of website URLs would only receive one entry, regardless of how many links he/she creates and maintains.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest.
  • contest entries there could be a hybrid of the systems and methods shown herein, in determining how contest entries are apportioned. For example, one might envision 1-5 hyperlinks resulting in a single entry, while 6-10 hyperlinks results in 2 entries.
  • Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of tracking and rewarding individuals, webmasters and/or companies for creating tags (e.g. using tagging services such as del.icio.us, furl, spurl or others) or other forms of metadata that point to a specific website URL or collection of website URLs.
  • tags e.g. using tagging services such as del.icio.us, furl, spurl or others
  • other forms of metadata that point to a specific website URL or collection of website URLs.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service. Compensation can be in the form of money or payment- in-kind (e.g. goods or services).
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service. Compensation can be in the form of points that can be collected and redeemed for goods or services.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest with each tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service being tallied as an entry to win the contest.
  • the contest could be decided either based upon the most tags/metadata or a random selection with each tag/metadata counting as an entry.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates and maintains the tags/metadata to the specific website URL or group of website URLs would only receive one entry, regardless of how many tags/metadata items he/she creates and maintains.
  • each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest.
  • compensation for creating hyperlinks or metadata to specific websites is tracked and compensated as a service for other websites.
  • Online search engines and other services seeking to categorize and prioritize information and websites available online increasingly rely upon information generated by independent third parties such as links to a specific website (URL) or user-generated metadata — often in the form of tags — that point to a specific website (URL). Since this third-party categorization and endorsement takes on increasing value, it becomes increasingly important to compensate people for creating such categorization and endorsements. This can be done in a variety of means.
  • a website might directly compensate the individuals who tag/link to their website. Or a service might be created to effect such compensation on a distributed basis.
  • One approach to compensation is to operate contests whereby hyperlink and/or tags/metadata are used to determine entry/qualification for the contest. The winner of such a contest could be selected at random amongst all participants, or with some correlation to the number of hyperlinks and/or tags/metadata from said contestant.
  • a method and system for web-based self-service for the creation and/or management of online coupons. It addresses the process of providing advertisers with a self-service online mechanism for creating online coupons and adding information about said coupons. It also addresses the self-service mechanism for managing said online coupons.
  • the advertiser creates an account for the purpose of creating an online coupon in a self- service manner.
  • Account creation might involve providing contact information about the business and/or the individual creating and/or managing the online coupon.
  • the advertiser defines information about the coupon such as the category and/or subcategory of the coupon, the specific coupon offer, etc.
  • the advertiser may upload one or more images for the coupon which may also include a logo of the company and/or a map to the company's location.
  • the system offers the user standard images the advertiser can associate with their coupon, instead of uploading their own image as described hereinabove.
  • the advertiser may upload video or sound to further complement their online coupon.
  • the system offers the user standard video or sound the advertiser can associate with their coupon, instead of uploading their own video or sound as described hereinabove.
  • the advertiser may define whether each individual consumer may access and/or print a specific coupon at all times or whether their access, use and printing of the coupon is limited (e.g. single use only, one coupon per week/month/year, etc.).
  • the advertiser defines the start date and/or expiration date of an online coupon, which defines when that coupon is valid and when it is made available to consumers through the system.
  • the computer system or service provides the advertiser with examples of coupon offers to guide the advertiser's coupon creation process.
  • the computer system or service demands validation of the advertiser's identity and their ability to offer such coupon created via the self-service mechanism.
  • identity validation might involve validation by email, phone, credit card approval, or other mechanisms.
  • the process of enabling advertisers to manage their online coupon(s) is self-service and optionally the advertiser may edit any aspect of their online coupon(s).
  • the advertiser may signify whether each of their online coupons should be live (available for use by consumers of businesses), paused (in the system but not visible and/or available for use by consumers and/or businesses), or deleted. These are critical functions in the creation and management of online coupons, which may also be unique to the world of online coupons.
  • the advertiser may signify whether all of their online coupons should be live (available for use by consumers of businesses) or paused (in the system but not visible and/or available for use by consumers and/or businesses) with a single click of a button per business.
  • Also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a method and system for tracking and compensating individuals or companies that recruit advertisers to create online coupons and/or to recruit consumers to use said coupons.
  • Such a system might, in one embodiment of the present invention, reward the individuals or companies that recruit advertisers and/or recruit consumers to use online coupons via a pay-per-click, pay-per-print, pay-per-redemption or other pay-per-action mechanism.
  • This approach creates an incentive for the affiliated individuals and/or companies who earn money for creating or distributing coupons, to defraud such a revenue sharing system.
  • the online coupon system may comprise one or more anti-fraud systems.
  • an important mechanism for preventing fraud is to verify the location of the consumer's EP address against the location of the advertiser and/or the location of redemption of the coupon for the coupon selected/used/printed/clicked/viewed. If, for example, a user with an D? address assigned to Europe clicks to open and/or print a coupon for a company based in America, then this click is probably a fraudulent click, meant to inflate the revenue to either the affiliated company that encouraged the advertiser to offer the online coupon or the affiliated company that recruited the consumer to use the online coupon.
  • per action e.g. pay-per-print
  • the computing system checks the D? address of the requestor of an online coupon and uses this IP Address to determine the geographic location from which the request was generated. This is followed by a process of comparing the geography of the originating request and the location of the business for which the online coupon was created. This correlation can then be used either by itself or in conjunction with historical information gathered by the system, to determine the validity of the request and respond with appropriate action.
  • the user's or computer's location is determined by other means (e.g. GPS device) and that location information is compared with the advertiser's location or the location of coupon redemption to determine whether the click on that specific coupon, or a group of coupons, is in fact meant to defraud the revenue sharing system.
  • other means e.g. GPS device
  • the computing system checks the time interval between clicks from specific IP addresses or individual accounts and applies an algorithm to determine in a reasonable likelihood whether the clicks were generated by an individual or by an automated process.
  • the computing system evaluates the usage history or click trails of a specific user, account, machine or IP address to determine whether the usage pattern is outside of the normal human usage pattern, indicating possible fraudulent activity.
  • the computing system inserts captchas, or steps that test and validate whether the clicks are generated by a human user, at various steps in the normal process, to filter human interaction from computer interaction. For example, if there is typically a 3 -step process with no captcha the system might dynamically and randomly insert a captcha between steps one and two or steps two and three. Then by analyzing how the user responds to these captchas, the system can determine whether there is a human involved in the process.
  • Any suitable processor, display and input means may be used to process, display and accept information as described herein, such as but not limited to a conventional personal computer processor; display screen and/or printer; and keyboard/mouse.
  • Programs and data described herein may be stored in any suitable computer- readable medium such as but not limited to disks of various kinds, cards of various kinds, RAMs, and ROMs such as CD-ROMs, EPROMs and EEPROMs.
  • Workstations practicing the invention shown and described herein may communicate via any conventional wired or wireless digital communication means, optionally via a communication network such as the World Wide Web.
  • a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers may include a coupon publisher and an agent.
  • the coupon publisher may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion.
  • the agent may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to' be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • the system may also include a query processor.
  • the query processor may be adapted to associate the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository.
  • the query processor may be adapted to configure the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query.
  • the system may also include a user information module comprising personal data about the user.
  • the query processor may be adapted to include within the query one or more terms created based upon data from said user information module.
  • the user information module may include any of the following data with respect to a user: personal data of the user, user's name, user's gender, user's personal status, user's occupation, user's hobbies and field of interest, user's age, authentication information, user's geographical location and other contact information, user's preferences, user's ⁇ sage history.
  • the agent may be utilized by a service provider to evaluate compliance of content being exchanged through the service provider with a predefined incentive criterion, and the agent may be adapted to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • the agent may be utilized by the service provider to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion, such that the content arrives to its destination with the hyperlinks associated therewith.
  • the system may also include a coupon cache module.
  • the coupon cache module may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher data in respect of an incentive criterion to enable the agent module to evaluate content being exchanged in accordance with the incentive criterion without having to consult the coupon publisher with respect to the incentive criterion.
  • the method may include associating one or more coupons with one or more predefined incentive criteria, evaluating at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion, and associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink may further include associating the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository.
  • associating the hyperlink with a query may further include configuring the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query.
  • the association of the hyperlink with a query may also include adding to the query one or more terms created based upon user information.
  • adding to the query one or more terms created based upon user information may include accessing a data source including information about the user, and generating a query term to be incorporated into the query based upon data from the data source including information about the user.
  • evaluating the data being exchanged may include intercepting the data being exchanged before the data arrives to its destination, and associating the content with a query on an intermediate computerized device, such that the content may arrive to its destination together with the hyperlinks.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers.
  • a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers may include a coupon publisher and an agent. The coupon publisher may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion.
  • the agent may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify static content within the data which is in compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create and manage online coupons in a self-service model.
  • coupons have been printed and distributed by users and various middlemen, and subsequently redeemed by users.
  • this process is very costly, especially due to the fact that only approximately 1.5% of coupons are redeemed. In other words, 98.5% of printed coupons are thrown in the trash.
  • coupons are increasingly distributed via digital means, such as the Internet.
  • the ability to create coupons can be delegated to the users themselves in a self- service model.
  • the user can manage their coupons and their coupon campaigns using this same self-service model.
  • cost savings enabled by self-service creation and management of online coupons there are additional benefits enabled by online coupons.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system that enables a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create an online coupon that consumers can find and redeem.
  • the tools for creating the online coupons may be accessed through an Internet client or browser interacting with an Internet server or other computing device via a network in a self-service manner.
  • Some embodiments of the invention might provide users tools that facilitate such self-service coupon creation possibly including online coupon templates, forms, images, suggestions for online coupon offers, and the like.
  • the user may include an authentication module for managing the registration to create user accounts, and the authentication and/or verification of users in the self-service coupon creation and/or management process.
  • an authentication module might utilize one or more mechanisms to verify that the user is a human being and not a robot, such as but not limited to a CAPTCHA and/or email verification of new accounts.
  • Such authentication module might comprise one or more automated mechanisms to require the user to accept liability for the online coupons he creates, such as requiring acceptance of a legally binding contract, providing a valid credit card, and other such services.
  • Such an authentication module might also facilitate human verification such as initiating a call between a human representative and the user to verify certain information and orally confirm the user's acceptance of the terms of the service.
  • the system might prompt the user to provide information embodied in the online coupon, including but not limited to the coupon offer, expiration date, business contact information and other such information that appears on the online coupon itself.
  • information might also include still images, video and/or sound which could be used to enhance or further reinforce the online coupons' impact and market appeal.
  • the system might include tools that provide the user with stock images, video, sound, coupon offers or even coupon templates that the user could easily select for incorporation into the online coupon.
  • the system might also provide the ability to clone or duplicate existing online coupons, which may be customized, either manually or in an automated fashion, to reflect the user's contact and other information.
  • the system might provide the user with the ability to provide information about the coupon, also termed herein "metadata", that may not be visible on the redeemable or user-sensible version of the coupon.
  • metadata might include the start date of the online coupon, organizational information about the coupon such as but not limited to the category and sub-category the coupon will be organized under, and other such information.
  • metadata may be automatically generated using suitable algorithmic tools and the user may or may not be asked to approve such automatically generated metadata.
  • the system might provide the user with the ability to define rules applying to the distribution of said online coupon.
  • the user might be able to specify, for example, how many times during a specified time frame each individual consumer might be able to use (view, print, redeem, etc) an online coupon.
  • a rule might specify that each user can print one copy of a coupon per year.
  • Other such distribution rules might define certain criteria a consumer must achieve in order to have access to a specific coupon.
  • a special coupon might be made available only to consumers who use a competitor's online coupon two or more times per month.
  • Another such distribution rule might define that the online coupon is only available during specific times or dates, such as a start date. Users might define a limit for how much they are willing to pay during a specified period of time for the syndication of the online coupon(s).
  • Such a system might also provide the user with a means of selecting the mechanisms of redemption of online coupons that are acceptable to the user including but not limited to a click-through to a website, presentation of a printed copy of the coupon, presentation of an electronic copy of the coupon (e.g. on a mobile device), through an electronic handshake with a device (e.g. via Bluetooth, RFID or other such devices).
  • Such a system might also enable the user to define certain other distribution criteria such as selected online coupon syndication networks, certain online websites for syndication, certain types or categories of websites for syndication, and other such distribution criteria.
  • the distribution rules enabled through such a system can span a broad spectrum of options.
  • the user might have access to tools to manage the online coupons created by or on behalf of the user.
  • management tools might include the ability to modify or delete online coupons, or to make the coupon inactive so that it is: (a) not accessible to consumers; (b) capable of being activated such that it becomes available to consumers without having to recreate the online coupon.
  • Such mechanism might use text and/or icons to describe such an active/inactive mode including, but not limited to a traffic light showing green (active), red (inactive) or other such iconic and/or textual representations.
  • the switching between the active/inactive modes might be implemented programmatically, for example, when a coupon reaches a pre-defined limit on the number of coupons to be distributed, as defined by the user.
  • Such a management system might also include certain reporting tools to track usage (views, prints, redemptions, etc.) of said coupons.
  • Other management functions might include the ability to modify metadata about the coupon, or modify distribution rules pertaining to the online coupon as described previously.
  • the tools for creating and/or managing online coupons may operate partially or wholly on the user's computerized device.
  • the user might download tools for creating online coupons, and then perform the actual online coupon creation on their computerized device.
  • certain processing may be shared between the computerized device and the computer server or other computing device. This is commonly enabled using such tools as JavaScript, AJAX, widgets, gadget or other mechanisms familiar to those knowledgeable in the art.
  • the user's computing device may or may not be communicating with a server or computing device during the entire process of creating or managing said online coupons.
  • the system may also include one or more third-party servers or other computing devices that provide the self- service online coupon creation and/or management capabilities to the user on behalf of or in conjunction with a server or computing device.
  • API Application Programming Interface
  • the system of the present invention is operative to provide an application programming interface (API) for the purposes of uploading, manipulating and/or syndicating online coupons.
  • API application programming interface
  • These operations can be performed in a manual fashion by a user, or programmatically, by an application or web service.
  • an API greatly facilitates this process.
  • Applications can access the API, providing search criteria and requesting specific information back from the coupon service.
  • Such an API supports both the uploading of coupons and the querying of existing coupons.
  • a company might want the ability to upload one or more coupons into a coupon hosting service. This would be accomplished through an API.
  • a consumer, distributor or syndicator of online coupons might want the ability to query an online coupon service for one or more specific coupons that satisfy a set of criteria.
  • an application might request coupons within a certain distance from a zip code provided by the application.
  • the API brokers this entire transaction, including but not limited to accepting and validating the request, processing the request, and serving the results that satisfy that request in a structured format.
  • API application programming interface
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons and exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a URL, URI, hyperlink or other online reference to one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds by sending the appropriate information directly to the user's printer to print the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds by sending the online coupon(s) directly to the user through various means, including but not limited to facsimile machine, mail, or other delivery mechanism.
  • the API demands that the system pass the individual user's authentication information (e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.) to provide access to certain coupons.
  • authentication information e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.
  • the API provides the URL, URI hyperlink or other online reference to one or more online coupons, but in order for the consumer to activate or use the online coupon, the consumer must first provide authentication information, which might be checked against distribution rules to determine whether the consumer gains access to said coupon(s).
  • a , system and process of exposing access to distinct data elements which may comprise an online coupon (e.g. issuing company name, issuing company contact information, expiration date, short offer description, long offer description, disclaimer, map of issuing company, etc.), via an online network, through an application programming interface (API).
  • the API would enable in-house or third-party software applications to search for and gain access to one or more such distinct data elements about online coupons based upon some sort of criteria, including but not limited to date or expiration, issuing company name, company phone number, etc.
  • Such data elements could be exposed via the API either individually, in groups or in aggregate (all such data on the online coupon).
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more distinct data elements from the online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a listing of coupons, and their associated URLs, URIs, hyperlinks or other online references to the distinct data elements requested from the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an application programming interface The API would enable in-house or third-party software applications to search for and gain access to one or more such distinct data elements about online coupons based upon some sort of criteria, including but not limited to date or expiration, issuing company name, company phone number, etc.
  • metadata is information that is associated with the online coupon, but is not actually included on the online coupon itself.
  • Such metadata includes, but is not limited to such items as user-defined rating of the value of the coupon, user-defined rating of the company issuing the coupon, the category in which the coupon is stored, user- defined tags (words used to describe/categorize the coupon, the offer, the company or the company's goods or services), user-defined reviews, etc.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more pieces of metadata from the online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a URL, URI, hyperlink or other online reference to metadata about the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a listing of coupons, and their associated URLs, URIs, hyperlinks or other online references to metadata one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
  • the API requires that the system pass the individual user's authentication information (e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.) to provide access to metadata about one or more coupons.
  • individual user's authentication information e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.
  • an application programming interface API
  • entities or software applications or services that can upload online coupons, metadata about coupons (e.g. ratings, reviews, etc.) and coupon data elements (distinct elements that comprise the online coupon, e.g. company name, expiration date, coupon offer, etc.)
  • coupon data elements distinct elements that comprise the online coupon, e.g. company name, expiration date, coupon offer, etc.
  • API application programming interface
  • Using an API typically enables applications on the online network to consume, process and distribute the online coupons themselves, data elements that comprise the online coupons or metadata about the online coupons.
  • API also typically allows inbound access, such that advertising companies can upload coupons, and other applications or online services can upload their metadata about such online coupons.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a graphical illustration of a first display, displaying original content corresponding to data being exchanged over a network, and of a second display, displaying enhanced content created by associating certain words or phrases from the data being exchanged with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons, according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to further embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a simplified functional block diagram of a computerized coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which may be used by any or all of a coupon distributor such as an advertiser, a coupon collector such as a consumer, and a coupon redeemer such as an e-store or physical selling facility and which preferably allows a distributor to create a digital coupon having a redeemable version, and subsequently to control proliferation of the redeemable version and/or syndication of the coupon itself.
  • a coupon distributor such as an advertiser
  • a coupon collector such as a consumer
  • a coupon redeemer such as an e-store or physical selling facility and which preferably allows a distributor to create a digital coupon having a redeemable version, and subsequently to control proliferation of the redeemable version and/or syndication of the coupon itself.
  • Fig. 5 is a simplified functional block diagram of the authentication block in Fig. 4, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figs. 6A - 6F taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of operation of the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7A - 7E taken together, form the tables managed by the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Table 7 A relates to the template database module 112 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 7B relates to the audio database 114 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 7C relates to the image database 115 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 7D relates to the text database 116 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 7E relates to the video database 117 of Fig. 4.
  • Figs. 8A - 8D are examples of coupon manager tables which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Table 8 A relates to the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 8B relates to the distribution rules database 119 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 8C relates to the metadata database 120 of Fig. 4.
  • Table 8D relates to the coupon database 121 of Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 9 is a collector registration dialog screen which may be employed by collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a distributor registration dialog screen which may be employed by distributor registration module 106 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 is a user log-in dialogue for registered distributors, affiliates and collectors (also termed herein "users"), which may be employed by one or more of the manager modules of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 12 is a user financial acceptance dialogue for registered distributors (also termed herein "users"), which may be employed by one or more of the manager modules of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 13 is a simplified screen shot illustrating a first stage of a redeemable coupon creation dialogue which may be employed by redeemable coupon creation step 313 of Figs. 6A - 6F in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 associates steps with fields in the table of Fig. 57A.
  • Fig. 15 is a simplified screenshot illustrating a second stage of a redeemable coupon creation dialogue which may be employed by redeemable coupon creation step 313 of Figs. 6A - 6F in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 16 is a simplified screenshot illustrating an online coupon image uploading dialogue useful in conjunction with the method of Fig. 53, where a distributor chooses to syndicate an image of an existing coupon, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 17 is a simplified screenshot illustrating a coupon distribution rule dialog in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 is a simplified screenshot illustrating coupon management dialog in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 19 is a simplified functional block diagram illustration of a coupon syndication manager system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which supports third party online coupon syndication via an API and/or of coupon syndication manager 122, API 123 and third party application/website 125 of Fig. 4, and data interrelationships therebetween in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 20 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a coupon directory & search manager system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which exposes non-valid images of coupons to force printing that can be metered by the system.
  • Fig. 21 A is a simplified block diagram illustration of a coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which generates online coupons, also termed herein 1 -click coupons, with a single click of a mouse.
  • Fig. 21B is a table useful in implementing the 1 -click coupon generating system of Fig. 21 A which may, for example, reside in sample offer database 113 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 21 A in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 22 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user account information screen useful in implementing the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 23 is the continuation of a simplified screenshot illustration of a first screen in an add-a-new-business dialogue which may be conducted by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 24 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a first screen in an add-a-new- business dialogue which may be conducted by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 25 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "add a new location" screen when a distributor clicks 2401 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 26 is a simplified, screenshot illustration of an "edit payments accepted" screen when a distributor clicks 2405 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the ' coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 27 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "hours of operation" screen when a distributor clicks 2406 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 28 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "selling points" screen when a distributor clicks 2407 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 29 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a third stage of a coupon creation dialogue under the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4, addressing mobile coupon creation, which may be presented by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 30 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen which generates reports of coupons viewed and/or clicked, which screen may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 31 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a consumer-facing coupon directory screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 32 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "set location" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 33 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen listing available coupons in a category, which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 34 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen illustrating coupon alerts typically including deal alerts, such as email and RSS deal alerts, which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 35 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a coupon display screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 36 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen for rating and reviewing companies and/or coupons which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 37 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "tell-a-friend-about-a-coupon" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 38 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate registration dialogue" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 39 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user account information screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 40 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools- email signature" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 41 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools-text advertisements" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 42 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools- banner advertisements" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 43 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an affiliate report generating screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 44 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a system API screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 45 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "one-click coupon” screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 46 is a simplified diagram of online coupon inputs and outputs in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 47 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for creating distribution rules to support behavioral marketing which method is constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 48 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for leveraging distribution rules to support behavioral marketing, assuming a collector has already registered for one of the coupon management systems shown and described herein e.g. through collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 49 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred auto-service capability method constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5OA is a simplified pictorial illustration of one example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 50B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a second example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5OC is a simplified pictorial illustration of a third example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 51 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor registration and validation in Fig. 4 module 106 in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 52 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred 1 -click coupon creation method constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 53 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for uploading an existing coupon into any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 54A-B taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor registration and validation in Fig. 4 module 106 in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 55 A - 55B taken together, form a portion of a table of redeemable coupon components arranged by category, subcategory and coupon objective, which may for example be stored in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 56A-B taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor adding metadata about the business as displayed in Fig.4 module 110 and 120 coupon manager module and the metadata database in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 57A - 57C taken together, form tables which may reside in the collector database 108 in Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 58 is a pictorial illustration of an example of a coupon template provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 59A is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for implementing the distributor registration module of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 59B is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the method of Fig. 59A in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 6OA - 6OB taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for adding a new business in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6OC is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the method of Figs. 6OA — 6OB in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 61 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an interaction of syndication website or application 125 with online coupons generated in or stored in the system of Fig. 4, via the API 123 of Fig. 4 which may be operative to syndicate entire coupons or alternatively only coupon metadata and/or hyperlinks to coupon landing pages in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 62A - 62B taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a coupon management method, including coupon pausing functionality, which may be performed by coupon manager 110 of Fig. 4 and may employ a suitable screen display such as the screen display of Fig. 18 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 63 is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein.
  • This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer.
  • a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type, of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.
  • static content or the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be used to refer to any content or portion of content, and specifically of electronic content, which does, not include or which is not associated with a hyperlink from the content's original source.
  • static content is any content, such as a word or a phrase to which the author did not add a hyperlink, and as such the content is static, meaning without a hyperlink.
  • Static content may include, but is not limited to, non-hyperlink words or phrases within IM messages, email messages, HyperText Markup Language documents, XML documents, etc.
  • the term "coupon” or the like shall be used to refer to any form of promotional marketing such as a special offer, incentive offer, coupon or discount of some kind.
  • the coupons to which some embodiments of the present invention relate may include, but are not limited to, electronic-coupon or coupons, tangible coupons (or electronic data necessary for generating a tangible coupon) and coupons requiring an activation code, coupons requiring authentication, coupons which are dependent upon a specific user attribute (such as previous redemption of an associated coupon), etc.
  • the specification may use the term "coupon" when in fact the valid and redeemable coupon is not syndicated. Instead the system might syndicate various data embodied in the coupon (e.g.
  • the actual valid redeemable coupon might be served from a central repository to provide more control over syndication and usage, in some embodiments of the present invention.
  • computerized device or the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be used to include any computer, network device or computer-like device which may be used for interacting with another computerized device over a network, including but not limited to a mobile phone, a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA).
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • the system 1 may include a coupon publisher 10 and an agent module 20.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may reside within a first computerized device 2 operated by the user which is the intended recipient of the incentive offers.
  • the agent module 20 may not necessarily reside on the computerized device 2 operated by the user, and may instead or in addition, reside on, for example, an intermediary server, as will be described in further detail below.
  • the agent module 20 may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device 2 operated by the user and at least a second computerized device 4 to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with an incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • the agent module 20 may be in communication with the coupon publisher 10.
  • the agent module 20 may be connected to the coupon publisher 10 directly or through a network connection.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be operatively connected to one or more coupon repositories 30 (either directly or though a network).
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interact with the coupon repositories 30 and may use any suitable interaction techniques to enable the interaction, including but not limited to the use of an application program interface (API).
  • API application program interface
  • the agent module 20 and the coupon publisher 10 may also use similar and possibly identical techniques to enable and manage the interaction therebetween.
  • the API may be used, for example, to define how the agent module 20 through the coupon publisher 10, for example, can access information about coupons, coordinate the flow of information between the agent module 20 and the coupon publisher 10 and vice- versa, and manage other such information necessary to facilitate the association of a hyperlink towards a coupon with previously static content that is determined to be in compliance with an incentive criterion associated with the coupon.
  • a standard API may be used to interact with multiple standards-compliant coupon repositories, or there may be used multiple APIs for interacting with multiple coupon repositories, or there may be a single API for interacting with a single coupon repository, to name just a few of the possibilities.
  • each coupon repository 30 may include data in respect of one or more coupons.
  • a coupon repository 30 may include data corresponding to an electronic-coupon or coupons, data linking to an electronic-coupon or coupons, data necessary for activating an electronic-coupon or coupons, authentication data for authenticating a user to enable access to a coupon and/or data necessary for creating a tangible coupon or coupons (for example, data necessary for creating a printable image of a valid coupon).
  • the coupon repositories 30 may include additional data in respect of a coupon, as will be described in further detail below.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons to which the data in the repositories 30 relates with an incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to create the incentive criterion based on data obtained from the repositories 30.
  • the repository 30 may include, for one or more coupons, explicit data in respect of the incentive criterion associated with a coupon (as may be provided for example by the issuer of the coupon), and in this case the coupon publisher 10 simply collects the incentive criterion in respect of the coupon from the repository 30; and/or the repository may include descriptive data in respect of the coupon and the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to create or derive the incentive criterion based upon metadata or based upon other descriptive data in respect of the coupon, which may be found, for example, in the coupon repository 30.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to scan metadata associated with coupons stored within a coupon repository 30 associated with the coupon publisher 10, and based on the metadata (or based upon any other descriptive data), the coupon publisher 10 may generate an incentive criterion that is to be associated with the coupon.
  • the coupon repository 30 may include in respect of a coupon metadata or other (descriptive) data associated with the coupon, including but not limited to, the issuing entity's name, the issuing entity's contact information, description of the coupon, expiration date, acceptable forms of coupon presentation, user ratings, terms, timestamps, etc.
  • the coupon repository 30 may include data which directs towards or enables a connection to a destination within a network where a coupon may be located, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
  • the data from the coupon repository may be used to create the hyperlink which is to be associated with the static content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion, such that when the hyperlink is executed, the user is directed towards or connected to a network location where the coupon may be obtained.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be configured to evaluate the data stored within the coupon repositories 30 associated therewith, and based on the data in the repository 30 the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to generate incentive criteria and to associate the coupon to which the data in the repository 30 relates with an appropriate incentive criterion.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interrogate a coupon repository 30 routinely, for example, after a predefined time interval, and may update the incentive criteria and the coupons associated with each criterion based upon the changes made since the last update.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to update its data in respect of the incentive criteria and/or in respect of the coupons associated with each incentive criterion whenever data is written into the repository 30, whenever data is deleted from the repository 30, and/or whenever data in the repository 30 is modified.
  • the coupon publisher 10 in response to receiving within a repository 30 data in respect of a new coupon, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interrogate a description entry of the new coupon. As a result of the interrogation, the coupon publisher may, for example, identify the keywords "pizza” and "delivery” within the description entry. In response, the coupon publisher 10 may utilize predefined rules to generate an incentive criterion in connection with the new coupon. In alternative, the coupon publisher 10 may determine that an incentive criterion for a coupon which, for example, includes the keywords "pizza" and "delivery" has already been created.
  • the rules utilized by the coupon publisher 10 for generating an incentive criterion and/or for associating a coupon with a certain incentive criterion may be not be rigidly associated with a specific keyword or key phrase nor with any combination of keywords or key phrases, and rather may allow for various and different combinations of keyword(s) and/or phrases and with respect to various kinds metadata.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may decide, based on the predefined rules, to generate an incentive criterion. Upon the generation of the incentive criterion or some time thereafter, the coupon publisher 10, either independently or in response to a request, may provide the agent module 20 with data in respect to the incentive criterion to be used for evaluating data being exchanged over the network for compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to generate an incentive criterion in accordance with which the agent module 20 is configured to identify static content which corresponds to the word "pizza” as being compliant with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may contact the coupon publisher 10 and may request the coupon publisher 10 to provide it with data directing towards the coupons associated with the incentive criterion, or to provide it with data which corresponds to the coupon themselves.
  • the agent 20 may be periodically or on specific occasions (for example, in response to a predefined event) may be provided with data in , respect of which coupons are associated with which incentive criterion and with the data directing towards the coupons. In this case, the agent 20 may use the local data instead of being required to contact the publisher 10 whenever content which is in compliance with an incentive criterion is found. This implementation of the invention shall be discussed in further detail below.
  • the agent module 20 may be configured to add a hyperlink that is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion to the content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may associate the word "pizza" within the content being exchanged with one a hyperlink that is operative to link towards one or more coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion, and in this case, towards coupons which include the words "pizza" and "delivery” in their description entry.
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be configured to employ any presently known or yet to be devised in the future techniques, including data analysis and data mining techniques, to generate an incentive criterion for a certain coupon or coupons.
  • the generation of the incentive criterion and the association of the coupons with the incentive criterion may be based upon any set of rules and may either be symmetric or a-symmetric.
  • the same or alternative (not necessarily the same) words or phrases may be used to evaluate content being exchanged on the one hand, and coupons which are associated with a certain incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 in cooperation with the coupon publisher 10, for example, may be adapted to search for coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion using a different criterion from the one used for evaluating the content (for example, a repetition of the word pizza may be searched for within the content and the combination of the words "pizza" and "delivery” maybe searched for within the description of the coupon).
  • the coupon publisher 10 may be associated with one or with a plurality of coupon repositories 30.
  • the coupon repositories 30 may be well defined entities which are continuously and dynamically updated with data in respect of coupons, and/or the coupon repositories 30 may be ad-hoc lists of coupon and associated data. Such ad-hoc lists may be created as a result of a network search for coupons, for example, as a result of "coupon scraping" performed over the Internet.
  • a coupon publisher 10 may be associated with a single coupon repository 30 or with a group of coupon repositories, and the agent module 20 may be in communication with each of a plurality of coupon publishers 30 to determine compliance of content being exchanged over a network with an incentive criterion provided by the coupon publishers 30.
  • the agent module 20 may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of an incentive criterion, and may be adapted to evaluate data being transferred to and/or from the computerized device 2 to discover therewithin content which complies with the incentive criterion obtained from the coupon publisher 10.
  • the agent module 20 may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of the coupon(s) associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may be adapted to create a hyperlink which is configured to link towards the coupon(s) that are associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 may be configured to associate the hyperlink with the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 provides enhanced content 34 in which static content that is in compliance with an incentive criterion is associated with a hyperlink, which is configured to link towards a coupon that is associated with the incentive criterion.
  • Fig. 2 is a graphical illustration of a first display 41, displaying original content 32 corresponding to data being exchanged over a network, and of a second display 42, displaying enhanced content 34 created by associating certain words or phrases from the data being exchanged 32 with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons, according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • the agent module 20 is configured to receive data corresponding to at least a portion of the content 32 (as displayed on the first display 41) which is being exchanged over the network, and to evaluate the data being exchanged to identify content that is in compliance with an incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 20 finds that the data being exchanged includes static content (or data corresponding to static content) that is in compliance with an incentive criterion, the agent module 20 may be adapted to associate the content 32 with a hyperlink to provide enhanced content 34.
  • the hyperlink associated with the static content is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
  • the agent module 20 receives from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of a incentive criterion, which in accordance with which, in case the word "pizza” is repeated (twice for example) within the content being exchanged, each instance of the word “pizza” should be associated with a coupon which includes in its description the word “pizza” and "delivery".
  • the agent module 20 when the agent module 20 detects the repetition of the word "pizza” within the content that is being exchanged 32, the agent module 20, for example, together with the coupon publisher 10, associates each instance of the word “pizza” with a hyperlink that is configured to link towards coupons which include the words “pizza” and “delivery” in its description, thereby providing the enhanced content 34 shown on display 42.
  • the agent module 20 may include a query processor 22.
  • the query processor 22 may be adapted to associate a hyperlink that is to be added to the content with a query.
  • the query processor 22 may be adapted to associate a query with the hyperlink, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated, for example automatically, on a coupon repository 10.
  • the query processor 22 may be adapted to configure the query, such that in response to the execution of the query, for example when the user clicks on (activates) the hyperlink with which the query is associated, the query is directed towards one or more coupon repositories 30, either directly or through the coupon publisher 10, and is configured to cause the repository 10 to return data in respect of currently available coupons within the repository 10 which are associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the query may be configured such that the query terms includes in addition to the data in respect of the incentive criterion with which the query is associated, data in respect of other terms which the coupons to be returned must satisfy.
  • Such additional terms may include but are not limited to the following terms: personal data of the user, user's name, user's gender, user's personal status, user's occupation, user's hobbies and field of interest, user's age, authentication information, user's geographical location and other contact information, user's preferences, user's usage history, etc.
  • the agent module 22 may be further adapted to associate a hyperlinked word or phrase with metadata or with a description of the hyperlink.
  • the agent module 22 may provide via the metadata any data in connection with the hyperlink, for example, data in respect of the incentive criterion with which the hyperlink is associated.
  • the metadata associated with the hyperlink may be latent unless the user takes a certain predefined action which is preconfigured to reveal the descriptive data in respect of the hyperlink.
  • the descriptive data in respect of a hyperlink may be revealed to the user when the user positions a pointing device (a computer mouse for example) over the hyperlink.
  • the descriptive data may include any data in respect of the coupon which may be associated with the incentive criterion with which the hyperlinked static content is associated or any other kind of data.
  • the agent module 20 may further include or be associated with a user information module 24.
  • the user information module 24 may include data and parameters in respect of the user.
  • the user information module 24 may include the following data: authentication information, the user's geographical location and other contact information, the user's preferences, the user's usage history, etc.
  • the user information module 24 may receive data in respect of the user from the user. Such data may be provided by the user by utilizing any suitable interface device, such as a keyboard, for example or in addition or in alternative, the data may be collected automatically based upon the user's interactions and activity.
  • the user information module 24 may monitor the user's interactions and/or or process data stored on the computerized device to obtain data in respect of the user, such as for example, the user's preferences, data in respect of the user's past usage of coupons, etc.
  • the query processor 22 may be adapted to access the data stored within the user information module 24. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to include terms within the query which are created based upon the data in the user information module 24. It would be appreciated that the inclusion of terms which are based upon user specific data within the query, a (relatively) personalized response to the query may be obtained.
  • the query processor 22 may generate a query that is to be associated with the content, and the query may be configured to cause one or more repositories 30 to return coupons (or data in respect of coupons) which are associated with the incentive criterion, for example, the repositories may return data in respect of coupons which include the words "pizza" and "delivery” in their metadata and which provide a match with the user's residence, for example, coupons which include in their metadata reference to the user's area of residence, e.g. Santa Monica in California.
  • the query processor 22 may be configured to generate other queries which relate to any other data found in the user information module 24.
  • a certain query may return one or more coupons or data in respect of one or more coupons and/or data in respect of a group or groups of coupons (for example, pizza coupons). It would also be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the invention, a query may return different results at different times, based on which coupons are available at the time the query is received and processed. It would be also be appreciated that, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the rules governing the generation and definition of certain incentive criteria and/or the rules in accordance with which a certain coupon is associated with a certain incentive criterion may change from time to time, and as a result, an identical query may return different results (coupons) at different times.
  • the agent module 20 may be used to evaluate the content received at the computer of the user, while the user browses an auto repair website and the phrase "auto service” and the word “tires” are identified within the incoming content received at the computer of the user.
  • the agent module 20 may recognize the phrase “auto service” and the word “tires” as having coupons associated with them. Taking into account the user's preferences and the then available current coupons, the agent module 20 may be adapted to associate the phrase "auto service” with a hyperlink when executed initiates a query vis-a-vis one or more coupon repositories 30 with the search term "auto service” and the user's location and other information.
  • the query is then satisfied by a coupon repository 30, via an API, with coupons from auto service shops in the user's local area.
  • the word "tires" is associated with coupons from local tire shops and also online stores that sell tires.
  • the user may have the option to define preferences for coupons associated with text, such as defining which terms are associated with coupons, which establishments' coupons are not displayed, how many times the same term is converted to a hyperlink in a single page, etc.
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to further embodiments of the invention.
  • the agent module 61 may be implemented outside the computerized device to which the enhanced content is to be provided.
  • the agent module resides within a server 56 positioned in the path of the content being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54.
  • the agent module 61 may be implemented on a service provider's server 56.
  • the service provider may be a provider of infrastructure or of services or any other entity which is able to control and modify content being exchanged between two computerized devices over a network.
  • the service provider may be an Internet service provider (providing access to the Internet), a telephone service provider (wireless or wired), a television service provider (e.g. cable, broadcast or satellite TV company), an entity that hosts the user's content, such as a remote storage service provider, an Internet-based email service provider, or any number of service providers that aggregate or host information on behalf of the user.
  • the agent module 61 on the service provider's server 56 may be adapted to monitor data being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54.
  • the agent module 61 may be configured to identify static content which is being exchanged and that is in compliance with an incentive criterion.
  • the incentive criterion/a used in evaluating the content flowing to and/or from the computerized device 52 may be provided to the agent module 61 by a coupon publisher 60, as was described above in greater detail.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to add to the content a hyperlink which is operative to link upon the execution of the hyperlink towards one or more incentive offers or coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion, as was described above in further detail.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to forward the enhanced content (the content with the hyperlinks) to the first computerized device 52, such that the content is displayed on the computerized device 52 together with the hyperlinks and when the user executes the hyperlink, the user is directed towards one more coupons associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to associate the hyperlink with a query which is operative for causing one or more coupon repositories 70 to return data in respect of currently available coupons within the repository 70 which are associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 61 residing on the service provider's server 56 may include a coupon cache module 66.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be used to provide data in respect of the incentive criterion/a that is to be used for evaluating the data being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54, so that the server 56 is not required to obtain the data in respect of the incentive criterion from the coupon publisher 60 for each interaction of the first and second computerized devices 52 and 54.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to maintain a local copy of the keywords incentive criteria that are associated with individual coupons or groups (e.g. categories) of coupons and which are to be used for evaluating the content being exchanged.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may also include data directing towards individual coupons or groups of coupons which are associated with each incentive criterion.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be consulted to obtain data directing towards individual coupons or groups of coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to add to the content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to generate a query that is configured to return coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion when the query is activated, and may associate the query with a hyperlink that is added or associate with the static content determined to be incompliance with the incentive criterion.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to include in the query additional terms, such as terms which are associated with personal data, preferences or attributes of the user, for example.
  • the computerized device 52 may indicate to the server 56 and specifically to the agent module 61 located thereon that the query has been activated or the computerized device 52 may simply forward the query or data about the query back to the agent module 61, so that the agent module 61 may operate to service the activated query.
  • the agent module 61 may be configured to direct the query towards the coupon cache module 66 to obtain from the coupon cache module 66 data in respect of coupons which satisfy the query.
  • the agent module 61 may be adapted to forward the data in respect of the coupon to the computerized device 52.
  • the data received at the agent module 61 in response to a query may require processing before it can be used to gain access to or to obtain a coupon or coupons.
  • the processing may be performed at the agent module 61, so that when the data is received at the computerized device 52 it is ready to be used.
  • the agent module 61 may be configured to select to whether an activated query is to be directed the coupon cache module 66, to the coupon publisher 60 or to a specific coupon repositories or repositories 70.
  • the decision where to direct an activated query may be based upon predefined criteria, for example, the decision may be based upon network congestion parameters, a pending queries queue (or the lack thereof), the identity of the computerized device which activated the query, etc.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to synchronize with the coupon repositories 70, either directly or through the coupon publisher 60.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to synchronize with the coupon repositories 60 routinely or in response to an event, for example.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may include a timestamp indicating the time of the most recent synchronization and the coupon cache module 66 is synchronized after a predefined amount of time passes from the most recent synchronization, m accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be synchronized after each evaluation of network interaction. It would be appreciated that by continuously refreshing the data in the coupon cache module 66, relatively up-to date data is maintained locally. This data may be used to create a hyperlink directing towards the coupon, such that the hyperlinks are created based on relatively fresh data.
  • the agent 61 could access an API and directly query the coupon repositories 60 for the appropriate coupons in real-time.
  • this approach may be bandwidth intensive and may introduce latency into the application.
  • the coupon cache module 66 may be used intermittently as needed, for example, when the amount of bandwidth available for the server 56 is below a predefined threshold, or in accordance with another example, when the agent module 61 is unable to handle all the incoming content in real-time and communications are thus being delayed or dropped.
  • a coupon cache module may be implemented locally on a computerized device whose content is to be enhanced, rather than on an intermediary server.
  • a coupon cache module similar to the one described above may be implemented on the computerized device 2 discussed with reference to Fig. 1.
  • the service provider's server may include a user information module 64.
  • the user information module may include various data about the user utilizing computerized device 52.
  • the user information module 64 may include one or more of the following: personal data about the user, authentication information, the user's geographical location and other contact information, the user's preferences, the user's usage history.
  • the user information module 64 may be operatively connected to a user data source locate on the computerized device 52 utilized by the user, or in accordance with other embodiments of the invention the user information module 64 implemented on the service provider's server 56 may be independent and include data collected or otherwise provided to the server 56.
  • the computerized device 52 may include a local services module 75.
  • the local services module 75 may be adapted to interact with the agent module 61 and/or with any other component of the system 50 to system's functionality.
  • the local services module 75 may be adapted to perform local operations on the computerized device 52 in accordance with instructions received from the agent module 61 or any other component of the system 50 may perform local processing operation in support of the functionality of agent module 61 or any other component of the system 50, and may provide data to the agent module 61 or to any other component of the system 50 in support of its operation.
  • the local services module 75 may be configured to identify when the user activates a metadata display option in respect of a certain hyperlink inserted into or otherwise associated with previously static content for providing a link towards a coupon(s) associated with that content, so that the user is present with metadata about the coupon, for example.
  • the local services module 75 may be responsible for contacting the agent module 61 whenever a hyperlink inserted into the content or otherwise associated with the content is executed (together with any necessary data).
  • the local services module 75 may be adapted to further filter the results of a query for coupon in accordance with locally implemented filters, for example, in accordance with filters defined by the user.
  • the local services module 75 may be implemented using any available technique, including but not limited to, using a Java script, using various APIs, using a dedicated piece of software and as a browser extension, applet, application, etc.
  • a user may send content to another user's device through an instant messaging service provider such as AOL of Virginia, USA, for example, which operates the popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM).
  • AOL AOL of Virginia
  • the instant messaging service provider may utilize an agent module installed on its servers to evaluate the packets of content. For illustration, the agent module may discover that the word "pizza" is included in the message. The agent module may verify that the word "pizza" acts as an incentive criterion, as explained above in greater detail. According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent would then query a repository of information about the recipient's location, preferences, etc.
  • the query is executed only later, for example, when the user chooses to execute the query. It should also be noted that the query may or may not include the word "pizza" and may or may not include other words and terms, such as personal data in respect of the user for example.
  • the agent module may convert the word pizza from static text to a hyperlink pointing to the appropriate coupon(s).
  • the agent module may also add metadata about the coupons such as short descriptions, user ratings, and locations that could be exploited.
  • the agent may be configured to cooperate with a local service running on the user's computerized device to generate the metadata.
  • the local service may also be used to control the display of the metadata to the user, for example when the user places his computer mouse above the hyperlink. The intended party thus receives the instant message which now carries additional information that includes a hyperlink towards one or more pizza coupons and the metadata about the one or more coupons. If the local service exists on the recipient's computing device, then some action, e.g. a right mouse click, hovering over the link, etc. could signal the local services to display the metadata about the associated coupons, as mentioned above.
  • an individual browsing the Internet from a mobile phone may be involved.
  • the service provider in this case the mobile phone service provider (e.g. Verizon Communication Inc., Wilmington, USA) could operate the agent module to evaluate the text on third-party websites.
  • the mobile phone service provider e.g. Verizon Communication Inc., Wilmington, USA
  • the agent module may identify the combination of the name of the restaurant "Iron Gate” and its location " Belmont” within the text of a third party's website as the content is being received at the mobile phone (for example, for being displayed on the mobile phone's screen) and may recognize that the above combination is associated with various coupons, for example, with coupon for the Iron Gate restaurant.
  • the agent module may generate a query that specifies the search term "Iron Gate” and includes parameters such as the category "restaurant”, the location "Belmont, CA”, etc. This query may then be embedded into a hyperlink that is appended to the static text on the third-party webpage viewed by the user. When the user clicks on this hyperlink, it generates a ad-hoc query for any coupons that satisfy these criteria. This query might be satisfied from the Verizon coupon cache or directly from one or more coupon repositories via their API(s).
  • a hosted service accessible via a browser like Gmail from Google of California, USA, for example, may be involved.
  • the emails may be processed using an agent installed on the web-mail provider's servers to discover certain words in the body, subject line or even attachments of the emails of a user utilizing the service which are associated with incentive criteria.
  • the service provider for example based upon an evaluation of the user's prior history (User Info) with coupon, may determine which hyperlinks and keywords are most appealing to that individual.
  • the service provider may then utilize the agent module to turn the various phrases or words into hyperlinks (with either direct links to coupons or embedded queries) with the appropriate metadata displayed when the individual moves a cursor over the hyperlink or clicks it with the right mouse button, or in some other way indicates a desire for additional information. Clicking the hyperlinks may link towards the appropriate coupons.
  • a user may create an appointment to have lunch with an associate at the Red Lobster restaurant using a calendar application such as Outlook from Microsoft Corporation. Outlook may then send a message to the associate that includes the time, date, location, etc. of the lunch.
  • the agent module may identify the name/phrase "Red Lobster" as being associated with an incentive criterion. In response, the agent module may associate the name/phrase "Red Lobster" with one or more coupons offered by Red
  • Fig. 4 is a computerized system for Coupon Creation and/or Management and/or Syndication, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the distributor 101 connects via the network 104 to the distributor registration module.
  • the distributor follows the registration process, providing information about the distributor's contact information and business. This information is then stored in the distributor database 105.
  • the distributor 101 proceeds to use the coupon creation manager to build an online coupon.
  • the online coupon can be created as a result of input from the distributor 101 or by leveraging various elements provided to the distributor 101 from various databases e.g. databases 112-117.
  • the distributor might start by using an online coupon template from the template database 112.
  • This template might be generic or it might be specific to the category and subcategory information provided by the distributor 101 in the process of registering 106.
  • a plumber might be presented with a standard (generic online coupon template) and plumber-specific templates.
  • the distributor 101 might also leverage sample offers from the sample offer database 113. Again, these sample offers might be generic (e.g. 10% OFF) or specific to the category and subcategory information (e.g. Free Plumbing Estimates). This same model of leveraging both generic elements and category/subcategory specific elements applies to audio elements from the audio database 114, image elements from the image database 115, text elements from the text database 116 and video elements from the video database 117. Unlike their printed brethren, online coupons provide the ability to add audio and video elements.
  • generic e.g. 10% OFF
  • category and subcategory information e.g. Free Plumbing Estimates
  • One alternative embodiment is to upload an image of a coupon. This alleviates the need to leverage the template database 112, sample offer database 113, image database 115 and text database 116. However, the distributor can still associate video and/or audio to this online coupon.
  • the other alternative embodiment is termed herein "1 -click coupons".
  • the system leverages the contact information and category/subcategory information provided by the distributor 101, in the process or registration 106, to automatically generate online coupons that are tailored to the distributor 101. For example, these 1 -click coupons might include a map to the distributor 101's location, contact information and offers specific to the distributor 101's business category/subcategory.
  • the distributor 101 typically needs only to approve the coupons automatically generated by the system.
  • the third alternative embodiment is termed "auto-service".
  • auto-service In this embodiment, an affiliate company or individual provides contact information and category/subcategory information about one or more distributors 101. The system then uses this information to generate 1-click coupons. Then the system sends a hyperlink to these 1-click coupons to the distributor for approval.
  • This auto-service model is used to proactively market the service to potential distributors 101, and the auto-service functionality, in one embodiment of the invention may be exposed to affiliates via an application programming interface.
  • the coupon manager 110 provides management functions for the existing online coupons.
  • the coupon manager 110 stores online coupons in the coupon database 121.
  • the distributor 101 wishes to edit an existing online coupon
  • the coupon manager 110 handles this process.
  • the coupon manager 110 also orchestrates the creation and editing of distribution rules, which are then stored in the distribution rules database 119.
  • Distribution rules might include, for example, rules that limit the number of times each collector 103 can use a particular online coupon (among other such rules). For example, a distribution rule might say that each user can use a specific coupon only once. Another example of a distribution rule is, only make a coupon available to users who have used a competitor's coupon in the last month.
  • distribution rules may comprise syndication rules which define the extent and type of syndication desired by an individual distributor 101; and/or limitation of use rules which limit use of a coupon for all collectors 103 or for, or to, certain profiles of collector 103. Distribution rules may even govern the Pause/Activated status of a coupon. If a coupon is paused it remains in the system, but it is not available to collectors 103. When a coupon is activated it is available to collectors 103, subject to any distribution rules stored in the distribution rules database 119.
  • the coupon manager could interface, via an application programming interface, with third-party coupon creation managers, such that third-party applications could generate online coupons which are then available for syndication through the system of Fig. 4.
  • the coupon manager 110 also manages the process of creating and editing metadata about each online coupon, which is stored in the metadata database 120.
  • Metadata is information that is not actually displayed on the coupon but helps the system orchestrate syndication.
  • Metadata is information that is not actually displayed on the coupon but helps the system orchestrate syndication.
  • metadata is typically used by the system to determine when it should make the coupon available to syndication.
  • the category/subcategory information This information is used to help organize the online coupons such that users can find them more easily either manually using the coupon directory & search manager 111 or via the application programming interface 123.
  • Distribution rules may also be considered metadata in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.
  • the coupon syndication manager 122 leverages this information to orchestrate the syndication of online coupons.
  • the coupon syndication manager tracks the usage of each collector 103 and stores this in the collector usage database 118. This information can be used to implement distribution rules stored in the distribution rules database 119.
  • the coupon syndication manager 122 then manages the syndication of online coupons via the coupon directory & search manager 111 to the collector 103.
  • the coupon syndication manager 122 also manages the distribution via the application programming interface (API) 123.
  • the application programming interface 123 then orchestrates the syndication of online coupons through syndication website or application 125, via the network 124 to the collector 103.
  • API application programming interface
  • the redeemer 102 may or may not be the same entity as the distributor.
  • the redeemer 102 may optionally interact with the system to provide redemption information which could be filtered, via the coupon syndication manager 122 and ultimately incorporated into the collector usage database 118.
  • the redeemer is not equipped with any software. Entitlement of a collector 103 to a coupon is determined by the system of Fig. 4 and a redeemable version of each individual coupon is supplied only to those collectors 103 which are entitled to that individual coupon. Therefore, the redeemer may be a human operator who can safely assume that any redeemable coupon presented by a collector 103 is valid. On the other hand, a printed coupon with a watermark on it is not valid if the redeemer has been alerted in advance that watermarks are intended to differentiate "illegally printed" coupons from legally printed redeemable coupons.
  • the collector 103 may also register with the system described in Fig. 4.
  • the collector need not register with the system, but such an anonymous interaction will result in limiting the collector 103's access to coupons that are governed by "user- specific" rules maintained in the distribution rules database 119 and managed by the coupon syndication manager 122. If the collector 103 does register for the system described in Fig. 4 in conjunction with the collector registration module 107, his information is then stored in the collector database 108, which is then used by the authentication module for login and access to online coupons.
  • Suitable Coupon Creation Manager Tables are preferably provided, such as but not limited to the following:
  • Category Lookup table This is a table of the now current categories for online coupons. Instead of using two fields to describe the category and subcategory, the system merely gives each subcategory a number. This numbering scheme is then used throughout the system.
  • the Template DB may store the templates that are used to create coupons.
  • the system typically stores a plurality of templates which may include at least one generic template suitable for all categories of distributor 101 and/or at least one category- or subcategory-specific template for each of the plurality of categories and optionally subcategories of distributor, where each distributor typically identifies the category to which she/he belongs as part of his registration in distributor registration module 106 or in the process of adding a coupon in conjunction with the coupon creation manager 109.
  • the display name may be the name of the template that is displayed for the Distributor to select from.
  • the file name may be the actual name the template file is stored under.
  • the category ID may come from the category lookup table.
  • the text font may be standardized for the coupon, and each element may then have its own size and color.
  • the font size may be based on the point size of the font and the color may be based on the PMS color table. Properties like font, size and color may also be stored numerically using a lookup table like the category ID.
  • the font size may be automatically scaled downward to accommodate longer text strings entered by distributor 101.
  • SampleOffersDB_l 13 This table of offers may be organized by category ID and may be proffered to Distributors to facilitate their selection or definition of their coupon offer.
  • the Distributor may define the category and select a template and then the System may proffer sample offers for the Distributor's category.
  • This table may also be used by 1 -Click Coupons and Auto-Service to dynamically generate coupons for the Distributor.
  • the objective field describes a typical objective of the distributor.
  • the offer description may furthei; describe how the objective is achieved using this offer.
  • the coupon headline and coupon details may be inserted accordingly.
  • the "Coupon details” field may be optional.
  • "Availability” is a field that may be used to define usage limits on the coupon. ' IU Ji S 1 U 3 ILJ O . ⁇ ⁇ ' "V 11 B 11 O JIu IUf
  • AudioDB_l 14 The Audio table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected the category/subcategory, the Coupon Creation Manager 109 may query the Audio DB 114 for audio clips that can be played along with the coupon's display. In addition to the category-specific audio clips, the system may also proffer generic audio clips as options to the Distributor. These audio clips may be displayed using the display name. The Distributor may then listen to and approve the audio file's association with the online coupon.
  • ImageDB_l 15 The Image table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected a category/subcategory, the Coupon Manager 109 may query the Image DB 115. In addition to the category-specific images the System may also provide generic images and/or an image of a map to the Distributor's location. The Distributor may then select the image that is appropriate for his coupon, which may be inserted into the area allocated on the coupon for the image.
  • TextDB_l 16 There are a variety of text elements that may be employed in the creation of the online coupon. One of these is the disclaimer.
  • the disclaimer may include a string of standard legal and/or business texts such as "Not redeemable for cash.” and “Not valid weekends and holidays.”
  • VideoDB_l 17 The Video table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected the category/subcategory, the Coupon Creation Manager 109 queries the Video DB 117 for video clips that may either be embedded into the coupon or associated with the coupon. These video clips may be displayed using the display name. The Distributor may then watch and approve the audio file's association with the online coupon.
  • Coupon Manager Databases may include the following:
  • This database may collect information about coupon usage including some or all of the following: hits (each time a Collector views the coupon display page), prints (each time a Collector prints the coupon) and sents (each time a Collector sends the coupon to his mobile device).
  • the table may record the coupon JD, a unique identifier for each coupon in the system. It may track the Collector who hit/printed/sent the coupon (Hit By, Print By, Sent By). It may track the date and time of the action as well, which information may be used to address rules such as "limited Use" rules. Finally a Referrer ID may be stored to uniquely identify the affiliate who published the coupon to the Collector, which information may be used to compute compensation for the referring affiliate.
  • Distribution Rules Database 119 The distribution rules may be used to restrict the distribution of online coupons in the system. There are a number of data structures which may be employed alternatively or collectively to implement distribution restriction such as but not limited to those described herein:
  • a Distributor might signify a coupon as being "Limited Distribution" so that each registered collector can only use the selected coupon according to a specific frequency.
  • the Limited use field may use a code from the Limited Use Code Lookup table to determine how frequently the online coupon can be used.
  • the Distributor selects Limited Distribution, he may also define a quick expiration for the coupon so that when printed, the coupon expires within a specified period.
  • the quick expiration may use a code that is stored in the Quick Expiration Code Lookup table.
  • the Distributor may define a monthly limit on the amount spent for syndication of the specific coupon. This may be defined in the Monthly Cap field, e.g. by entering a dollar amount.
  • the Mobile Flag is a flag that alerts the system as to whether or not a specific coupon is available to be sent to mobile devices.
  • the flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well.
  • the NoSyn Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon has a list of websites that it may not be syndicated to, in other words a list of blacklisted websites.
  • the flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system may go to the NoSyn table where the IDs of the referrers (Affiliates) that are prohibited from syndicating the coupon are listed for each coupon ID.
  • the SynOnly Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon has a list of websites that it may be syndicated to, in other words a list of whitelisted websites.
  • the flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", the system may go to the SynOnly table where the IDs of the referrers (Affiliates) that may syndicate the coupon are listed for each coupon ID. ' IL, I ,/ Ut ⁇ U to ,/ "i-'Hi-to ⁇ LJ
  • the Comp Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon is only available to Collectors who have used a competitor's coupon.
  • the flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system may go to the Comp UserHD table where it may find the Coupon ID and then the other coupon IDs the Collector must have printed to have gained access to the specific coupon.
  • the Pause Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon is currently in paused mode, and is therefore not available for use by Collectors.
  • the flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system might know that the coupon is paused and is therefore not available to Collectors.
  • Metadata Database 120 contains a number of tables containing metadata that describes either the distributor (also termed herein the "business" associated with the coupon) or the coupon. These tables may include some or all of the following tables:
  • This table typically addresses the hours of operation that the business operates.
  • Each distributor according to the distributor ID, has a start and end date for each day they are open for business.
  • the N means that the business is not open for business during that day.
  • This table typically maintains the distributor ID and then a flag yes/no (or 0/1) for each type of payment defining whether that form of payment is accepted or not.
  • This table typically maintains a text field for each distributor. The distributor is then able to add any text they deem appropriate.
  • Each distributor may have multiple locations. This table associates each location, as defined by the address, city, state, zip, phone number and fax, with a distributor ID number.
  • Keywords The distributor is typically able to add keywords, which are associated with the specific coupon defined by the Coupon ID number and stored in a Keywords table.
  • Coupons Users are typically able to add tags for each coupon, which are associated with the specific coupon defined by the Coupon ID number in a Tags table.
  • Coupon Database 121 The coupon database typically contains the information assembled by the Distributor as he uses the Coupon Creation Manager 109 in coordination with the template database 112, sample offer database 113, audio database 114, image database 115, text database 116 and video database 117.
  • Each coupon typically has a coupon ID to uniquely identify it.
  • the coupon ID is typically associated with a distributor as defined by the Dist ID.
  • Each Dist ID is typically associated with an affiliate ID (AfffD), which is used for the purposes of compensating affiliates who refer distributors.
  • the category number typically defines the category of the coupon from that lookup table.
  • the CouponHeadline typically contains the headline for the coupon as entered by the Distributor or selected from the sample offer database 113, as does the coupon details. Other generally self-explanatory fields are also shown.
  • Fig. 5 is a preferred implementation of the authentication module 126 of Fig. 4.
  • the authentication module authenticates the user for the purposes of ensuring that only a properly authenticated user may create and manage online coupons.
  • the present invention is not limited in this respect, and according to further embodiments of the invention, some functions of the authentication module 126 may reside on the user's computing device, or an intermediary server as described below.
  • the collector/distributor registration with captcha module 211 may be operative to evaluate whether the entity attempting to access the system of Fig. 4 is a human or an automated process (e.g. a bot) attempting to gain access to the system for the purpose of creating an account, or possibly for the purpose of creating an online coupon or managing existing online coupons.
  • a human or an automated process e.g. a bot
  • the liability acceptance module 212 may be operative to ensure that the distributor, when initially creating an account, affirmatively agrees to accept liability for all online coupons the distributor creates, approves, and/or manages in the system of Fig. 4.
  • the credit card validation module 213 may be operative to ensure that the distributor, when initially creating an account, affirmatively agrees to accept financial responsibility for all online coupons the distributor creates, approves, and/or manages in ' (L J . i) .• ⁇ ' " 'U ( 3 I]JI IO ,/ '"T 11 Il 11 In ( JtJUl the system of Fig. 4 and that the distributor has the means to pay for any charges involved in the creation, management or syndication of his online coupons.
  • the human validation module 214 may be operative to route some or all attempts to create accounts in the system of Fig. 4, which have passed the prior modules, if operative, are engaged by a human being for the purpose of validating their identity and/or their acceptance of some or all of the terms of use of the system.
  • a human verification module might auto-dial the distributor and pass the line to an operator who verifies the distributor's identity and their agreement with the terms of use of the system of Fig. 4.
  • the online coupon creation module 109 maybe operative to elicit the distributor 101 to provide, or simply approve, the information necessary to assemble an online coupon. This process and the types of information provided by the distributor 101 are further defined hereinbelow.
  • the online coupon management module 110 may be operative as a logical encapsulation of the functions associated with managing an online coupon.
  • management functions might include, but are not limited to, editing the online coupon, flagging the coupon as being unavailable for consumption by collectors 103 (e.g. pausing the coupon) as further defined herein, deleting the online coupon and various other functions on might engage in with regard to managing a coupon.
  • the coupon manager 110 may include an online coupon metadata module operative as a mechanism for capturing additional data (e.g. as provided by a user employing conventional input devices such as a keyboard or mouse, or as provided by a remote computer) about the online coupon to support further sorting, access, management, syndication or control of the online coupon.
  • the online coupon metadata module in coupon manager 110 might capture information about the coupon that is not visible on the coupon itself, including, but not limited to, such information as when the coupon is to be made available to consumers (the start date), the categorization of the coupon (e.g. Home repair: roofing), user generated ratings about the coupon or the business offering the coupon, keywords associated with the coupon to facilitate association of said coupon with online search, and other such valuable metadata about the coupon.
  • the coupon manager 110 may also include an online coupon distribution rules module operative to define the rules for distribution of syndication of the coupon.
  • the distributor 101 might limit coupon availability to individuals to a certain number or frequency (e.g. one coupon per individual collector 103 per year, or some other number and frequency as further defined herein), or the distributor 101 might place a cap on the amount distributor 101 is willing to spend for coupon distribution or syndication during a specific period of time (e.g. $100 budget per month), which websites may distribute said coupon or other such rules for how the coupon may be distributed or syndicated.
  • a coupon syndication manager 122 may be operative to coordinate the online coupon(s) possibly defined online, taking into account the constraints possibly defined in the online coupon manager module 110 (e.g. such as a paused coupon), leveraging the information possibly maintained in the online coupon metadata module enabling, for example superior search or targeting of online coupons, and possibly according to the distribution rules defined in the online coupon distribution rules module.
  • the coupon syndication module would then make the online coupons available to the collector 103 directly, or through various intermediaries.
  • the coupon syndication module which represents merely a logical grouping of processes related to online coupon syndication, and may or may not be distinct from the various other coupon functions defined in Fig. 4, may not actually syndicate the visual representation of the online coupon itself, but may instead syndicate information about the coupon, information defined by the distributor 101 in a self-service manner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the coupon syndication manager 122 might syndicate the offer, expiration date, category and other such data through intermediaries or direct to collectors 103, while the collector 103 would ultimately have to get the image of the coupon directly from the coupon syndication manager 122 or from the distributor 101 himself.
  • each coupon syndication module may include data in respect of one or more coupons from one or more distributors 101.
  • a coupon syndication module may require authentication data for authenticating a collector 103 to enable access to a coupon and/or data necessary for creating a tangible coupon or coupons (for example, data necessary for creating a printable image of a valid coupon).
  • the distributor 101 might define certain criteria which the collector 103 must meet in order to gain access to or use of selected online coupon(s) or incentive offers. For the purposes of illustration, but not to limit the scope of the options available, the distributor 101 might specify that a discounted pizza coupon is only available to consumers that use (print, redeem, etc.) a competitor's pizza coupon two or more times per week. Collectors 103 who achieve this criterion would then have access to the online coupon. t
  • the online coupon creation manager 110 might reside on a remote computing device, such as a server.
  • the distributor 101 might use a browser to interact with the coupon creation manager 110 for the purposes of creating online coupons and/or managing online coupons, which are then either directly or through a syndication mechanism (122, 123, 125) , made available to the collector 103.
  • a syndication mechanism 122, 123, 125
  • one, some or all of the managers of Fig. 4 might interact with other computing devices, which in turn surface the online coupon functionality to the distributor 101.
  • the other computing device might interact directly with the distributor 101 while the online manager/s provide/s supporting services directly to the other computing device.
  • Microsoft might offer a service to users in the form of its OfficeLive service operating on a collection of computing devices.
  • OfficeLive might offer services for creating and managing online coupons.
  • One or more OfficeLive servers might then interact, either in real-time or in a batched mode, with the online coupon creation manager 109 for various supporting services, especially for the purposes of syndicating online coupons created through the OfficeLive service.
  • OfficeLive might also interact, either real-time or in batched mode, with the coupon manager 110, to facilitate syndication of the coupon(s) created in the OfficeLive environment.
  • An online coupon might include video, sound and other elements.
  • the process of creating an online coupon may allow the user to define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain textual elements either by selecting from presented options e.g. taken from textual database 116, approving algorithmically generated text, entering text manually or by uploading certain text to be added to the online coupon.
  • the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain coupon metadata either by selecting from presented options, algorithmically generated metadata, entering text manually or by uploading certain metadata to be associated with the online coupon.
  • the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by using one or more coupon templates e.g. from among those stored in template database 112, which might provide one or more of the following elements: text elements, coupon metadata, image elements, audio elements, and/or video elements.
  • coupon templates e.g. from among those stored in template database 112, which might provide one or more of the following elements: text elements, coupon metadata, image elements, audio elements, and/or video elements.
  • Such a coupon template might alternatively be provided by a third-party and uploaded into the system of Fig. 4.
  • the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain image elements either by selecting from presented options, opting for an algorithmically generated image such as a digital map of the users location, drawing an image manually, or by uploading one or more images to be added to the online coupon.
  • the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain audio elements either by selecting from presented options, approving algorithmically generated audio, recording audio or by uploading one or more audio files to be associated with the online coupon.
  • the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain video elements either by selecting from presented options, recording a video in conjunction with the service provided in this invention, or by uploading one or more video files to be associated with the online coupon.
  • An online coupon may be made unavailable to, or unusable by, collectors 103 at the option of the distributor 101, or on the basis of some other criteria.
  • distributor 101 may choose to make one or more online coupons unavailable to the collector 103, such that it can be made available to the collector 103 once again without recreating the online coupon from scratch.
  • the online coupon might be made unavailable to consumers, without completely deleting the online coupon, via a trigger such as hitting a cap on the number of coupons used during a defined period of time, or other such similar triggers defined either by the user or algorithmically.
  • the process of making the coupon unavailable may be described using such terms as paused, unavailable, offline, inactive, etc.
  • the process of making one or more online coupons unavailable or unusable (e.g. paused) by the collector 103, without completely removing the information associated with the online coupon can be achieved through a variety of means.
  • the pausing of the online coupon might be achieved by moving the information about the online coupon from a physical collection of active coupons to a physical collection of inactive coupons.
  • Another approach to pausing an online coupon might include flagging the online coupon as paused and then redirecting the collector 103 to a webpage reading "Coupon Not Available" or some other such verbiage.
  • each coupon in the coupon database 121 might have a paused/active field indicating whether that coupon is currently paused or active.
  • users may define rules governing how their online coupon(s) may be distributed.
  • distributor 101 may choose to place certain limits on the distribution and use of their online coupon(s).
  • online coupon distribution rules maintained in the distribution rules database 119 might include limits on how many coupons each individual collector 103 may view or use certain online coupons in any specified period of time.
  • such a distribution rule might limit the collector 103 to using a specific online coupon only once per month. If said collector 103 attempts to use that same online coupon more than once per month, instead of providing access to that coupon from the coupon database 121, the collector 103 might instead get an alert that the coupon is not available. This is just one example of any number of mechanisms for addressing this objective, defined by the example rule provided.
  • online coupon distribution rules in the distribution rules database 119 might include limitations on which distribution mechanisms are acceptable to the distributor 101.
  • a distributor 101 might specify that he will not accept online coupons displayed on mobile devices. This rule for online coupon distribution would then prohibit distribution to mobile devices, for example. This is just one of many examples of online coupon distribution rules that can be used to limit access to selected online coupons.
  • online coupon distribution rules might include limitations on which individual consumers have access to certain online coupons.
  • one such distribution rule might limit a selected online coupon for pizza to certain consumers who achieve certain criteria such as using a competitor's online coupon for pizza two or more times per week. This is just one of many examples of online coupon distribution rules that can be used to limit access to selected online coupons.
  • Figs. 6A - 6F which, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of operation of the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7A is an example of a coupon creation table which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figs. 8A - 8D as examples of coupon manager tables which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig, 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates an example of registration information for the user who wishes to create and syndicate coupons.
  • the email address serves as their username.
  • the CAPTCHA is used to ensure that the user is a human and not an automated robot.
  • a validation email may be sent to their email address as shown in Fig. 10.
  • Fig. 10 As shown, after the distributor (also termed herein a "user") registers, the system sends the user an email. Typically, the user must open the email and click on the embedded hyperlink to activate the account. This is another, alternative or cumulative, form of validating the user.
  • Fig. 11 is an example of login dialog for getting into the system. This same login may serve to login distributors 101, collectors 103 and affiliates.
  • Fig. 12 in which users are asked to enter a valid credit card to further validate their identity and their acknowledgement that they accept financial and legal responsibility for fraudulent coupons.
  • Figs. 13 - 14 in which the user selects their business (if they have more than one) for which they wish to create a coupon 1301.
  • the screen illustrated in Fig. 13 is a pull down list including only businesses that the user has set-up in advance in the system of Fig. 4.
  • An example of a session which may be provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is now described:
  • the system Upon selecting a business (1301) the system checks the category/subcategory database to see if the category/sub-category have been defined previously, which selection may be edited on a per coupon basis by the user. Otherwise the user selects the category in 1302. Upon selecting the category, the system pulls the list of applicable subcategories 1303 from the category/sub-category database and presents them as a drop down list in 1303 for the user to select. Then the user adds the start date 1304 for the coupon and the expiration date 1305, e.g. with the help of a pop-up calendar object, or manually. The default start date is the date the coupon is being created and the default end date 1305 is, say, one year from the date the coupon is being created.
  • the user defines whether the coupon is "Always Available” or “Limited Use” via a drop down list in 1306. "Always available” typically indicates that the consumer can use that coupon without constraint (every time the consumer makes a purchase from the user). If the distributor or distributor 101 selects "Limited Use” she is typically presented with additional options asking the user to define how many times each collector 103 can use the coupon e.g. from presented options like "once, once a year once a day” in 1308. Then the user may set a quick expiration date. This overrides the standard expiration with a sooner one (e.g. 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 30 days) in 1309. The user may also watch a video on how coupons are redeemed via cell phone and then opt to accept cell phone coupons by checking the box indicating that they will accept mobile coupons.
  • Fig. 15 is a simplified version of step #2 in coupon creation.
  • the user determines whether they want to upload an existing coupon image or create the coupon online. This window addresses the process of creating one online.
  • First the user selects a template (or adds their own), then enters the coupon headline.
  • the system provides options for a coupon headline (context sensitive) under the "Need Suggestions?".
  • the user adds the coupon details (e.g. any constraints on use), edits the disclaimer (a standard disclaimer is typically provided and may be the default).
  • the user has the option to use one of our standard images, audio or video, not use any, or upload their own.
  • the user may approve the coupon and make it active (live for use by consumers) or paused (saved but not available to consumers), or cancel.
  • FIG. 16 is a simplified screenshot illustrating an online coupon image uploading dialogue useful in conjunction with the method of Fig. 6C, where a distributor chooses to syndicate an image of an existing coupon, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 17 describes a user interface with which the user can define various distribution rules. Examples of possible distribution rules which may be built into the system of Fig. 4 are now described:
  • the user selects a coupon from the list 1901 and then defines the characteristics for that coupon, such as the monthly syndication fee cap 1702, where the user enters a maximum amount he is willing to spend on syndication for the selected coupon.
  • the coupon is paused and displayed as such on the user's control panel.
  • the user can limit the coupon such that it is only made available to consumers who use that user's competitors' coupons.
  • the user then maintains a list of his competitors in field 1704.
  • the user can also check the box 1708 to blacklist certain websites, the list of which is maintained in 1709. The coupon is then not syndicated through these websites.
  • the user can also check the box 1713 to limit coupon syndication to selected websites the list of which websites is maintained in 1714.
  • Fig. 18 illustrates a dialog of how a user can manage coupons.
  • the service adds the company name (1801) and information about each coupon in the list.
  • the user can set the spending limit for all coupons in section (1802) or individually by coupon (1807).
  • the user can pause or activate coupons by clicking on the paused/active to toggle it. This function may, for example, be represented by a stop light (green/red).
  • the user can also pause all coupons for the business by clicking button 1812.
  • the user can typically change the budget by clicking on link 2008, edit the coupon by clicking 2009, or delete it by clicking 1809. If the user deletes coupons she/he can view and undelete them by clicking on button 1811.
  • the third-party website then passes this information to the consumer. If the coupon metadata and a hyperlink to the coupon are provided, then the consumer must further activate the hyperlink to obtain the actual coupon for redemption.
  • the consumer might be requested to provide authentication information, which request might be handled via a cookie on the consumer's local machine, through direct input from the user, or through a third-party authentication services such as Microsoft Passport. Any authentication information is verified against the consumer authentication database. This last process might be used to enforce consumer-specific distribution rules (e.g. access to a specific coupon only once per month). If the consumer is granted access to the coupon(s) in question, the coupon(s) are generated via the display engine and presented to the consumer.
  • Fig. 20 illustrates use of non- valid images of coupons to force metered printing.
  • An important characteristic of a 1 pay-per-action computerized system is the ability to track the monetized action which in this case may comprise the activation of an online coupon.
  • This activation of a coupon may be an action such as but not limited to a print, authorize, or send to mobile action.
  • a collector 103 is interacting with the online coupon service 2002.
  • the consumer might authenticate with the service 2003 through an authentication engine 126 that checks the information provided against the authentication database 108. Authentication is typically optional.
  • the system 2002 generates coupon results that satisfies some criteria provided by the user (location, search query, etc.). These results are sourced from the coupon database 121.
  • the online coupon is then altered (either dynamically or an altered image is stored in the coupon database) and presented to the collector 103.
  • the collector then sees an image of the coupon that has been altered so that it is invalid.
  • the collector In order to receive a valid version of the online coupon, the collector must take some action, such as clicking a "redeem” button or clicking a "print coupon” button. This alerts the system 2002 to provide the user with a valid coupon. This also triggers the system to record the consumer's activity in the metering database 2012, since this information is critical to the billing system.
  • Fig. 21 A illustrates a system for creating online coupons with a single click of the mouse (1 -click coupons).
  • This system typically operates as follows: the system collects the distributor's information at the time of registration and then generates proposed online coupons for the distributor to accept, edit, or decline with the single click of a mouse.
  • the distributor 101 registers with the system 2101.
  • the registration module 106 asks the distributor to provide certain contact information and the category (and possibly sub-category) that the distributor would like to categorize their business under (e.g. home services : plumber). Then the distributor clicks the "1 -Click Coupons" button in the service. This pulls the contact information from the distributor database 105 and inserts it into the coupon. It also passes the distributor's category and sub-category information to the sample offer database 113 which responds with coupon offer information specific to this category: sub-category. These offers are also inserted into the online coupon.
  • the 1 -click coupon generator 2107 might also request additional resources, such as a map for the distributor's location (passing the contact information) from a coupon resources service 2110.
  • the 1 -click coupon generator then assembles this information into one or more 1 -click coupons which are displayed 4500 for the distributor to act upon.
  • the distributor views these coupons and either clicks the accept button 4504 or the edit button 4505 to edit the 1 -click coupon. If the distributor accepts the coupon, it is added to the coupon database 121 for syndication and management by the coupon manager 110.
  • Fig. 2 IB is a table useful in implementing the 1- click coupon generating system of Fig. 21 A and/or an analogous one-click coupon generating mode of operation of the apparatus of Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 22 illustrates elicitation of User Account Information by the system of Fig. 4 and facilitation of a user's editing/managing of his or her account information.
  • the user interface may be broken down into three sections. The first is the Login Information (2201) which can be edited by clicking the Edit button (2202) for that section. The second section maintains the contact information for the user (2203) which can be edited by clicking the edit button for that section (2204). Both of these prior sections were initially added during the registration process, and this is where they can be edited. The final section is where a user can add businesses by clicking the Add button (2205). Preferably, a user can have multiple businesses, and each business can have multiple coupons.
  • a distributor wishes to add another business she/he may click the Add button 2205 and be taken to another screen (Fig. 23 and Fig. 24) (where she/he fills out the information on that business and it adds it to the list. If a distributor has a long list of locations (e.g. a business with many branches in many different locations) these can be uploaded using a spreadsheet.
  • the text shown herein is merely by way of example.
  • Fig. 23 is a user interface facilitating the addition of a new business. This screen may follow the screen of Fig. 22 above, where a user may add multiple businesses. If the business contact information is the same as registration, the user may simply check box 2301 and the information is auto-filled. A user can upload a logo to be placed on her coupons using button 2303 to find the file for upload. Other components of the user interface are self-explanatory.
  • Fig. 24 is a continuation of Fig. 23. If the business being added has multiple locations, businesses can be added one at a time by clicking the add button 2401 to add the businesses in real-time to the list 2402. There may also be optional fields of information, namely the payments accepted, hours of operation and list of services or selling points. For each of these, the user may simply click the add button for that section and add the information.
  • Fig. 25 in which a user adds a new location for a specific business.
  • Fig. 26 in which payments accepted are edited. A user may simply check off the boxes for the payments she/he accepts.
  • Fig. 27 in which distributor's hours of operation are edited. A user may simply select the start and end hours for each day from pull-down lists.
  • Fig. 29 in which a mobile coupon is created by the system of Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 29 is a preferred implementation of step 3 of the coupon creation and is completed by the distributor (advertiser) if she/he opts to accept mobile coupons. Since Fig. 29 may be the third screen (following the online version) the system typically complies and concatenates the coupon header and offer details.
  • a user may enter a coupon code, which is displayed. Then if the user checks the box (2904), that coupon code may be turned into a bar code, which is displayed on the user's mobile telephone.
  • an image e.g.
  • Fig. 30 illustrates generation of reports of coupons viewed and/or coupons clicked.
  • Fig. 30 typically forms part of the user (distributor) control panel.
  • the user may select the report type (e.g. clicks and prints) from the pull down menu 3001.
  • the user may set the start date 3002 and end date 3003, the default being, say, starting 1 year ago through today.
  • the user may click the generate report button 3006 and the system generates the report in table 3005.
  • the user can typically obtain more details by clicking on the details button 3006.
  • To print the report the user typically uses button 3007.
  • Fig. 31 illustrates a consumer facing coupon directory. Illustrated is an example of atop level coupon directory.
  • Each of the directory headings is a hyperlink to the list of coupons (Fig. 33).
  • the user can enter text in field 3103 and click the search button 3104 to find specific coupons. He can change his location (now set for akron OH in this case) by clicking change location 3102 and going to Fig. 33. Clicking on a specific category may take the user to the list of coupons in that category (Fig. 33).
  • Deal alerts may be displayed, and any new coupons added to the list may be sent upon request to a user's RSS readers, or sent to the user's email account.
  • this Fig. 31 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
  • Fig. 32 is an example of the set location functionality. If the user elects to change his location, he is taken to this dialog (screen) where he selects the country via pull-down and then types in the zip code 3202 and clicks set location 3204.
  • Fig. 33 illustrates a list of available coupons in a category.
  • collectors click on a category in Fig. 31, they may be taken to this screen, where they are presented with a list of available coupons in that category.
  • the collectors can still search (at screen location 3303) and change location (at screen location 3302).
  • the system opens the coupons for the collector to print (and/or send to his/her mobile).
  • the collector can select multiple coupons to print, or send to favorites.
  • the coupons is listed in the Favorites folder on the top-level directory Fig. 31.
  • the collector can use the check all user option 3311 and the uncheck user option 3312 to manipulate the check boxes.
  • Clicking the info link 3307 provides the optional information described in Figs 24-26.
  • Clicking the "website" user option takes the collector to the business' website.
  • the first rating rates the business 3309 and the second rates the value of the coupon 3310.
  • the collector adds rating by clicking on the star-placeholders there, and the rating associated with the star ratings is displayed (Very bad, Bad, OK, Good, Great).
  • this Fig. 33 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
  • Fig. 34 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user interface by which a collector can register for coupon alerts, typically including deal alerts, such as email and RSS deal alerts.
  • the user interface of Fig. 34 may be provided by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments of the invention, this Fig. 34 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
  • a particular advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that coupon metadata is stored pertaining to each coupon and characterizing each coupon, and that the collector may be prompted to request coupon alerts for a subset of coupons characterized by the metadata thereof as defined by a collector.
  • a collector might elect to receive only coupons pertaining to fishing equipment, or only coupons pertaining to eateries, or certain categories of eateries, within his zip code.
  • the coupon alerts may be delivered to the collector using any suitable collector-defined medium and destination such as but not limited to email and SMS.
  • Fig. 35 illustrates an example of a Coupon Display Page in which a coupon is displayed to the Collector.
  • the Coupon itself may be located at location 3504. It may be modified, distorted, obscured or obfuscated (e.g. by a watermark) so that the collector cannot get a valid coupon by simply printing the entire page. Instead the user is forced to click the print button 3501 or 3509. When users click on the print buttons the clean version of the coupon is sent directly to their printer. If the user clicks the tell-a-friend button 3503 or 3511 the system typically launches into Fig. 37, where the user can inform their friend about an online coupon and send that friend a link to the coupon in an email that is generated by the service. In order to use the tell-a-friend capability, the collector must be a registered user and have logged into the system.
  • the "send to mobile" buttons 3512 and 3513 are typically only present when the distributor has previously specified that it is willing to accept this coupon through mobile devices (phones). Clicking the "send to mobile” buttons 3512 and 3513 sends an SMS to the mobile phone number the collector has provided in the registration process. Clicking the check boxes 3505 - 3508 add the associated information to the coupon page when it is printed. These check boxes include the ability to display all locations for the distributor 3505, and additional information about the distributor 3506 such as payments accepted.
  • the "Hours of operation" input option displays the hours of operation the distributor has set-up. Finally the selling points 3508 displays that information.
  • Fig. 36 is an example of a Company/Coupon Ratings and Reviews Page. Each coupon has a link to this window in the list of available coupons Fig. 33.
  • the collector can create and edit reviews for companies. The system typically allows ratings of coupons, in addition to rating the company. The collector can add the rating for the company and/or the coupon by clicking in the respective stars 3601 or 3602 to reflect their judgment of the rating. This is based upon a 5 -star rating.
  • the collector can also write a review by entering a review title 3803 and a review text 3604.
  • the collector can also enter tags 3605 about the business. These tags are then searchable to make the coupons show-up under appropriate searches. An example of a tag might be "Best burgers". Once this has been defined, each time another collector enters the search term "best burgers" this coupon will show up in the result set. Finally the collector can save the review (input option 3606) or cancel it (input option 3609).
  • Fig. 37 illustrates an example of a "Tell-a-Friend About a Coupon” user interface which facilitates collectors' spreading the word virally about coupons they find valuable in the system.
  • the collector finds what she/he deems to be an attractive coupon, she/he can click the tell-a-friend button 3503 (Fig. 35) to alert a friend to this attractive coupon.
  • the collector is then presented with this screen.
  • the image of the coupon 3701 is displayed for the collector to verify that this is the one he wishes to tell a friend about.
  • the collector then enters any number of email addresses of friends into the "To:" field 3702. This sends each of those collectors a message as described by the subject line 3703 and body 3704, which includes a hyperlink to the actual coupon.
  • the collector clicks the send button 3705 to send the email to the email addresses in the to: field 3702.
  • the collector may also cancel the transaction by clicking the cancel button 3706.
  • Fig. 38 is an example of a user interface for affiliate Registration.
  • "Affiliates" are agents which solicit distributors to add their online coupons to the service.
  • the system preferably computes a predetermined portion of the revenue generated through the service on coupons from that distributor and accumulates this portion for the affiliate.
  • affiliates may also publish online coupons to collectors.
  • the system computes a separate portion of the revenue generated by the system for those coupons that collectors act upon (with the action being a print, send to mobile, or other such action), and accumulates this portion of the revenue, as well, for the affiliate.
  • the registration process involves collecting contact information from the affiliate, information about the website they are using to promote the online coupons and, optionally, information on how to pay the affiliate their share of the revenue, including their tax name, tax ID number, organization type, payment method, account number and routing information.
  • Fig. 38 may use a CAPTCHA code 3820 and 3821 to ensure that the affiliate is a human and not an automated bot.
  • the affiliate clicks the register button 3823 the data in the form is checked and, if complete, it is stored in the affiliate database.
  • the affiliate's email address is verified via an email that includes a hyperlink that the affiliate must .click to complete the registration process.
  • the affiliate is provided with a unique affiliate code, affiliate ID, which the system uses to identify the distributors and collectors referred by that affiliate for the purposes of compensating the affiliate for those actions.
  • Fig. 39 illustrates an example of a User Account Information Screen.
  • the system optionally supports affiliates' efforts to promote the use of online coupons to both distributors and collectors.
  • the service provides a collection of marketing tools e.g. as shown hereinbelow.
  • Fig. 40 illustrates an example of a "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Email Signature" user interface.
  • This screen depicts one affiliate marketing tool which may be provided by the system, namely adding an email signature to be added at the bottom of the affiliate's emails.
  • the system provides an email signature file to help affiliates recruit advertisers 4001. It is already customized for the affiliate with the affiliate ID to ensure proper tracking and compensation. The affiliate then simply copies this email signature and adds it to his email.
  • the system provides directions on how to add the email signature to a variety of email services via unique hyperlinks to instructions for various email services.
  • Fig. 41 is an example of an "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Text Ads" user interface.
  • affiliates can market to distributors and collectors through the use of text ads that embed a link to the service. This hyperlink embeds the affiliate ID to facilitate tracking and compensation-related computation.
  • These text ads come in a variety of lengths (1-line, 2-lines, 3-lines) and can be pasted directly into the affiliate's website.
  • Fig. 42 is an example of an "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Banner Ads" user interface.
  • affiliates can market to distributors and collectors through the use of banner advertising.
  • the system optionally provides a collection of banner ads that can be easily pasted into any webpage, in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the banner ads may focus on recruiting distributors, while others focus on recruiting collectors.
  • the banner ads are displayed along the left (e.g. at locations 4201 and 4203).
  • the HTML code describing the banner ad is in the box to the right of each banner ad.
  • the system automatically embeds the affiliate ID into the HTML code.
  • the affiliate typically copies the HTML code and pastes it into his website to add a banner with his affiliate ID embedded. Then, when a distributor or collector clicks on the banner ad, the system accumulates, on behalf of the affiliate, appropriate compensation for subsequent actions.
  • Fig. 43 is an example of a user interface for generating affiliate Reports.
  • affiliates can generate reports to help them better understand their progress and their resulting income.
  • the affiliate simply selects the report type from the drop down list in 4301. Then the affiliate defines the appropriate start time 4302 and end time 4303 and the clicks the generate report button 4304 and the system generates the selected report for the defined timeframe.
  • the report displayed in Fig. 43 is a simple list of distributors which have registered under this affiliate's affiliate ID. An affiliate can print this report by clicking the print button 4308.
  • Fig. 44 illustrates an example of a System Application Programming Interface (API) 123 of Fig. 4.
  • the system typically stores online coupons and information about those coupons as described herein.
  • the system may comprise an application programming interface or API.
  • each affiliate may be provided with an API key.
  • This API key along with the affiliate ID provides the affiliate with access to the functionality exposed via the API.
  • the API typically affords at least one of several options whereby the affiliate may extract information via the API.
  • the affiliate can find coupons by, typically, several keys such as business name, business category and phone number (methods 4401).
  • the user By clicking on the appropriate method 4401, the user is presented with the format defining how he calls the method programmatically and what parameters are passed to the system to define the result set provided back to the affiliate.
  • the system provides information about the coupon (e.g. offer headline, expiration date, etc.) and a hyperlink to the coupon display page (Fig. 35) where the actual print or send to mobile actions are metered.
  • coupons can be built right into content on web pages, mobile phones and the like. For example, a collector might do a search for plumbers in her area using an Internet search engine. The search engine could pass the phone numbers from the search results to the system via the API, which would then return links to coupons associated with those phone numbers. Then the "Get Coupon" links could be built into the search links for the appropriate plumbers in the results.
  • Fig. 45 illustrates an example of 1 -Click Coupons.
  • Distributors have the ability to create online coupons using templates, sample offers and other ready-made coupon components which are stored in the system as described herein.
  • the system provides, alternatively or in addition, 1 -Click Coupon generation.
  • the system takes the distributor's contact information and category/subcategory and assembles customized coupons.
  • This service employs a database of offers and templates specific to each category/subcategory combination. It also typically uses existing web-based services such as map generators.
  • Each 1 -Click Coupon typically is associated with an offer from among a plurality of system-stored offers that is meant to achieve a specific business objective.
  • the coupon objective is presented to the user at screen location 4501.
  • the coupon description 4502 further explains how the coupon offer achieves this coupon objective.
  • the actual coupon is displayed at screen location 4503 for the distributor to review and approve. If the distributor approves of the 1 -Click Coupon as is, he simply clicks the accept button 4504 and the coupon 4503 is made live in the system. If he clicks edit button 4505, he cari modify the coupon and then approve it. This makes coupon creation faster and easier because the distributor is only required to approve the online coupon, not to create it.
  • Fig. 46 is an Online Coupons Inputs & Outputs Diagram which is an overview of a coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, illustrating various ways to get coupons and coupon information into and out of the system.
  • the coupon inputs are on the left side of the diagram; one, some or all of these may be provided.
  • One coupon input is the self- service coupon wizard.
  • This is the coupon creation module 109 of Fig. 4.
  • the distributor can create his own coupon using this module and exploiting the elements provided by the system such as online coupon templates, sample offers, etc.
  • the 1 -Click Coupons 4602 functionality is also encapsulated in module 109 of Fig. 4 and is described in Fig.45.
  • Auto-service 4603 is a process and method of exposing the 1 -Click Coupon service via an application programming interface (API) so that an affiliate can pass the API a list of businesses with their contact information and category/subcategory information and the Auto-Service module generates custom 1 -Click Coupon landing pages for each business and passes the URL to that landing page back to the affiliate.
  • the affiliate can then include the URL in an email to that business.
  • the business clicks the link, which takes them to a landing page with their coupons waiting for approval.
  • Data feeds 4604 are the ability of the service to accept a flow of data, such as an RSS Feed, and integrate that coupon data into the service.
  • Bulk uploads 4605 refers to the ability to process a data file provided in the form of a spreadsheet to add coupons to the system. Once the coupons are in the system 4600 information about those coupons, along with a link to the coupon display page of Fig. 35, can be syndicated out through a variety of mechanisms.
  • These outputs, referenced as 4606 - 4610 are illustrated on the right hand side of the diagram; one, some or all of them may be provided.
  • the first such output mechanism is through the coupon directory as described above with reference to Figs. 31 and 33. Using this output mechanism the collector can find and get online coupons. The collector can also have online coupons sent to him via the Deal Alerts of Fig. 34 send out via RSS (Real Simple Syndication) or email.
  • the system is typically designed such that coupon directory 4606 and deal alerts 4607 can be set-up under a separate URL and branded for an affiliate.
  • the system might for example provide a clone of the service for a newspaper called the Witchtree Post so that it operates the same way as the existing service but is branded to look like the Witchtree Post.
  • This is an example of what is termed herein the white label service 4608.
  • the directory can also be embedded using various technologies such as but not limited to widgets and gadgets which enable affiliates to embed the directory directly into their own website but the actual function occurs remotely as driven by the coupon service. This is an example of what is termed herein "the embedded directory”.
  • Coupon 5001 is an example of a coupon created using the coupon wizard.
  • the coupon wizard uses a coupon template which may comprise an "empty" or partially empty graphic image of specific dimensions optionally including some "filled” areas and also including one or more "spaces” or “placeholders” of specific dimensions reserved for user-selected or user- imported coupon elements of the same dimensions.
  • the components may for example comprise some or all of: an image 5010, a logo 5004, Distributor's business name 5005, offer headline 5006, offer details 5007, coupon disclaimer 5008, coupon expiration date 5009 and distributor contact (location) information 5011.
  • Each of these coupon elements is either user-created or user-selected from appropriately sized stored samples, by the Distributor 101.
  • the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 1 places these elements on the template, each into its own reserved space.
  • Coupon 5002 is an example of a coupon generated from a system-stored category specific template which is associated with a specific distributor or business category such as "plumber".
  • This template already includes the image of the showerhead and the color scheme.
  • Distributor-selected elements are then placed on top of this template, using the "style sheet” defined for the template such as font style, size and color.
  • the Distributor may insert his logo 5012 into the logo "space” on the template, as well as his offer headline 5013, offer details 5014, coupon disclaimer 5015, expiration date 5017 and distributor contact (location) information 5016, each into the location reserved therefor respectively.
  • Coupon 5003 is an example of a 1 -Click Coupon.
  • the one-click coupon generation method used to generate this coupon inserts a map of the business, generated by using a conventional automatic map generator to generate a map of the business's address as stored in the system, as the default image. It is often preferable for one-click coupon generation methods to use a map as a default image because it is sometimes difficult to identify a category-specific image which is suitable for all businesses in the category. For example, a Japanese restaurant could focus on sushi, yakatori, shabu shabu, udon/soba, tempura, and more, making it difficult to provide a single image to address all of these options. It is appreciated that the distributor is typically able to replace the default map with other images.
  • the template also includes placeholders for the distributor's name 5018, offer headline 5019, offer details 5024, disclaimer 5020, expiration date 5021 and distributor contact information 5022.
  • Figs. 55A - 55B which, taken together, form an exemplary portion of a table illustrating sample offers which may for example be stored in the sample offer database 113 of Fig. 4. Each record in the table of Figs.
  • 55A - 55B comprises some or all of the following fields: The category and subcategory to which the offer belongs, the offer's objective, and text to be inserted into a coupon generated to present the sample offer, typically comprising two text portions ("short description” and "long description") which may for example be plugged into appropriate locations in a template such as those stored in template database 112 of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 62 is an example of a portion of a table representing collector usage of coupons represented in the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4. This information is used for purposes of determining revenue sharing or payment to affiliates and also for determining whether the collector's 103 usage warrants access to selected coupons defined by distributions rules in the distribution rules database 119 of Fig. 4.
  • the system of Fig. 4 prompts the user to select at least one objective that her coupon is to achieve, and the system of Fig. 4 suggests coupon components suitable for that objective. For example, following are several objectives in bold, each followed by coupon components that the system of Fig. 4 might suggest, marked with asterisks.
  • Coupon characteristics such as a coupon's unique serial number or expiry date may or may not appear on the redeemable version of the coupon. Characteristics of a coupon that do not appear on the redeemable version thereof are termed herein coupon metadata.
  • Coupons generated by the system of the present invention may be always available to any collector or may be "limited use” coupons.
  • "limited use” coupons are available to a certain category of a registered user.
  • a user e.g. collector 103 is registered
  • his or her particulars are stored in collector database 108 and her interactions with the system are logged and stored in the collector usage database 118 such that the system can determine whether or not she/he falls within the profile of a given limited use coupon.
  • User may for example be limited as to the frequency of use that is tolerated (e.g. no more than once a week).
  • “Limited use” coupons often comprise collector profile-limited coupons which are limited to a certain profile of collector 103.
  • unregistered collectors are a priori ineligible to use profile-limited coupons.
  • the system typically asks the collector to login, or it remembers the collector e.g. via a previously installed cookie. The system then checks the collector's particulars e.g. his coupon usage record, in order to determine whether he is entitled to the limited use coupon or not.
  • the redeemable version of a collector profile-limited coupon may include the user's name, in which case the redeemer 102 is instructed to verify the user's name against identification papers before redeeming the coupon.
  • redeemers 102 are equipped with terminals which perform redemption tracking based upon information printed or displayed on the coupon.
  • Distribution rules may limit the redeeniability of coupons. For example, a certain coupon Cl distributed by a distributor Dl may be available only to users for whom the system has recorded at least one previous use of a competing coupon (a coupon whose metadata indicates that it is in the same category and optionally that its redeemer is in a similar location e.g. zip code, relative to coupon Cl).
  • a redeemable version of a coupon may be sent to a collector 103's mobile telephone or may be sent to the user's printer, or may be sent directly to the redeemer on behalf of the collector, or may be sent by the collector to the redeemer.
  • the process which sends a redeemable version of the coupon to a collector may include a process for automatically implanting into the redeemable version, an expiry date which is a predetermined amount of time from the date on which the redeemable version is sent, such as one week from when the redeemable version is sent.
  • the system of the present invention is operative to allow users to subscribe thereto and to send users, at intervals, emails, SMSs or other communications containing or pointing to coupons.
  • the electronic coupon management system of the present invention generally includes at least some of the following components: digital management modules for creation, redemption, browsing, syndication, distributor registration and collector registration; databases for storing templates, audiovisual data for incorporation into coupons, objectives and offers, coupons (the coupons database typically having a paused/active field), collector/consumer data, and distributor/product data preferably including categorization of products which may be hierarchical, and/or geographical information.
  • digital management modules for creation, redemption, browsing, syndication, distributor registration and collector registration; databases for storing templates, audiovisual data for incorporation into coupons, objectives and offers, coupons (the coupons database typically having a paused/active field), collector/consumer data, and distributor/product data preferably including categorization of products which may be hierarchical, and/or geographical information.
  • At least one of the management modules typically operates as a function of metadata associated with a coupon or with an entity interacting with the management modules.
  • Example of metadata which may influence the flow or output of one or more management modules are geographical locations of
  • a coupon generated by the system of the present invention comprises digital (electronic) data, also termed herein "a digital representation of a coupon" which typically includes a redeemable version of the coupon and metadata.
  • the system of the present invention typically comprises a redeemable version proliferator providing controlled proliferation of the redeemable version of the coupon e.g. by controlled printing of the redeemable version of the coupon.
  • the system may comprise one or more computers or other programmable devices, preferably equipped with input devices such as a keyboard and mouse operative to allow users to provide input to the system as described herein, and output devices such as a printer or interface with communication network servers such as Internet servers or with communication devices such as a cellular telephone.
  • the computer may be programmed in accordance with some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein.
  • the apparatus of the present invention may comprise a memory which is readable by a machine and which contains, stores or otherwise embodies a program of instructions which, when executed by the machine, comprises an implementation of some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein.
  • the apparatus of the present invention may comprise a computer program implementing some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein and being readable by a computer for performing some or all of the methods of, and/or implementing some or all of the systems of, embodiments of the invention as described herein.
  • software components of the present invention may, if desired, by implemented in ROM (read only memory) form.
  • the software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques.
  • system may be a suitably programmed computer.
  • the invention contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the method of the invention.
  • the invention further contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the method of the invention. It is appreciated that the apparatus shown and described herein may operate across a plurality of computerized devices and that the present invention is not limited to the data exchanges between two computerized devices.
  • an online coupon module residing on a service provider's server may be configured to evaluate or to participate in the evaluation of several simultaneous data exchanges between various users, servers and consumers, and that various processes described above may multiplied as applicable and multiple instances of the above processes may occur simultaneously.

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Abstract

A computerized coupon management system (Fig. 4) comprising a digital coupon representation generator operative to accept distributor-defined coupon characteristics from a distributor (101) and generate therefrom a digital representation of a coupon (109) and a redeemable coupon generator operative (102) to generate a redeemable coupon from said digital representations, modifications thereof and methods useful in conjunction therewith.

Description

COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM ENABLING SELF-SERVICE CREATION AND
MANAGEMENT OF ONLINE COUPONS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority from US Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/73,636 entitled "System for the creation and consumption of metadata/tags about online coupons", 60/737,637 entitled "System for tracking and rewarding inbound hyperlinks and tags/metadata...", 60/737,638 entitled "Self-service creation and/or management of online coupons", and 60/737,639 entitled "System for detecting and avoiding fraudulent activity...", all filed on 18 November 2005; from US Provisional Patent Application No. 06/751,408 entitled "Manipulation and syndication of online coupons via application programming interface (API)" filed 19 December 2005, and from USSN 11/453,243 entitled "A method and system for adding coupon information to network-based content", filed 15 June 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computerized coupons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Coupons.com is a website which allows a user to print coupons. The website states that their secure technology gives clients control over the number of coupons distributed, thereby limiting redemption liability. "Our client-side Coupon Printer completes a closed system from our servers to the consumer's printer, ensuring both security and a coupon with properly rendered barcodes that scan at retail every time.... When consumers first print a coupon from our systems, the Coupon Printer is installed on their computer. It ,is an industry-standard browser plug-in that enables the security features required to print real coupons. Unlike cookie-based controls, removing and reinstalling the Coupon Printer does not affect its security settings. A coupon never appears on the consumer's screen but prints directly to the printer... Each coupon carries a unique ID that is encrypted in a 2-D PDF417 barcode. That means each coupon can be traced from print to redemption by its originating device. All Coupons, Inc. coupons can be authenticated using this unique code, and it can be used to detect counterfeit or altered coupons."
US Published Patent Application No. 2002/0056091 (BaIa et al.) is an example of a computerized coupon management system.
The disclosures of all publications and patent documents mentioned in the specification, and of the publications and patent documents cited therein directly or indirectly, are hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved system for computerized coupon creation and/or management and/or syndication.
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create one or more online coupons or incentive offers. According to some embodiments of the invention, the process of creating a coupon may involve additional capabilities beyond simply defining the information and multimedia items visually represented on the representation of the coupon itself. Such additional capabilities, in some embodiments of the invention, might include: (1) defining the state of the online coupon (whether it is usable or accessible by consumers); (2) metadata about the coupon, which may not be visible on a representation of the coupon, including but not limited to metadata about the coupon such as keywords to facilitate search, categorization information, the date when the coupon is accessible by consumers, etc; (3) rules or constraints regarding the coupon's distribution, including but not limited to limits on how many coupons may be used/redeemed in a given timeframe, how many times each consumer may use the coupon during a specified timeframe, which types of individuals may have access to the coupon, limits on the budget for paid syndication during a specified timeframe, etc. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to manage one or more online coupons or incentive offers, whereby the user may create, modify or delete one or more online coupons or incentive offers. According to some embodiments of the invention, the process of managing a coupon may involve creating, modifying or deleting additional information or rules, beyond simply defining the information and multimedia items visually represented on the representation of the coupon itself. Such additional information or rules, in some embodiments of the invention, might include: (1) defining the state of the online coupon (whether it is usable or accessible by consumers); (2) metadata about the coupon, which may not be visible on a representation of the coupon, including but not limited to metadata about the coupon such as keywords to facilitate search, categorization information, the date when the coupon is accessible by consumers, etc; (3) rules or constraints regarding the coupon's distribution, including but not limited to limits on how many coupons may be used/redeemed in a given timeframe, how many times each consumer may use the coupon during a specified timeframe, which types of individuals may have access to the coupon, limits on the budget for paid syndication during a specified timeframe, etc. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for managing the process of syndicating the online coupons or incentive offers, or metadata about the coupons, or digital pointers or hyperlinks to digital representations of one or more online coupons or incentive offers, and the compensation of entities who aide in the syndication process by soliciting users who create and/or manage online coupons or incentive offers with the invention, or entities who aide in the publishing of online coupons or incentive offers to consumers.
In 2004, approximately 335 billion printed coupons were distributed in the United States. A growing number of coupons are being distributed electronically via the Internet. Some of these electronic coupons are distributed via email. A large number, however, are made available through websites accessible through the Internet.
Current website-based coupon distribution relies on distributing coupons en masse. The system of the present invention preferably includes mechanisms for creating and managing online coupons, and then syndicating information about said online coupons so that users can easily find and use said online coupons throughout the network. The primary problem with online coupons is that once the actual coupon is published in a valid and usable manner, it can be replicated and used by websites and consumers throughout the Internet. As a result, once a coupon is published in this manner, the advertiser loses the ability to control syndication, content of the coupon, use and redemption. A preferred embodiment of this invention is to enable the creation and management of online coupons and the syndication of information contained on the coupon, metadata or tags created electronically (e.g. via an algorithm) or by humans, while the actual valid and usable online coupon is served directly to the consumer in a secure manner. This metadata is critical for enabling users, websites or others to filter through coupons to narrow down the options to those that are truly applicable.
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved system for computerized coupon management and methods useful therein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method and system for enabling the creation and consumption of metadata for online coupons. In order to facilitate the efficient distribution and consumption of online coupons it is important that metadata be created about the coupon, including but not limited to demographic information about the group targeted by the advertiser providing the coupon, information about the content of the coupon, the type of the coupon, or any other metadata created about the coupon that can facilitate the process of finding, serving, pulling, or distributing the coupon. This metadata might be created by a computer algorithm, by the advertiser, by distributors or by users. Such access to specific coupons requested by the website, consumer or other advertiser might be accomplished via an application programming interface (API). Such access to specific coupons might also be accomplished via a mechanism that requests certain user information (e.g. user zip code) and provides access to certain coupons on the basis of said information. Also, it is appreciated that a various portions of to the system of the present invention may be embedded into an existing website of a third party (e.g. a widget or gadget providing a categorized listing of online coupons for a certain location).
Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating metadata or tags about online coupons by consumers. This metadata might be created by consumers who either select from existing options (e.g. a drop down list, type-down function, etc.) or simply assign tags (or text-based metadata about a coupon) as they see fit, to online coupons or the businesses providing said coupons. This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
Further provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating metadata or tags about online coupons by advertisers. This metadata might be created by advertisers about their coupons whereby they define information about each coupon, or a group of coupons, such as the target customer (age, sex, location, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) or information about the coupon (category, offer type, etc.). This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
Additionally provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating metadata or tags about online coupons by any other human (e.g. an editor). This metadata might be created by humans, whereby they define information about each coupon, or a group of coupons, such as the target customer (age, sex, location, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) or information about the coupon (category, offer type, etc.). This data may or may not actually appear on the coupon itself.
Further provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating metadata or tags about online coupons by the use of one or more computerized method. This metadata might be created as part of the coupon creation or management process or by analyzing the content, use or other information about the coupon. This information might be used to determine who the coupon is sent to, made available to, who receives the coupon, what category it is placed in, etc. For example, an online coupon might be tagged as appealing to teens. Based on this tag, websites might access an application programming interface (API) to request coupons tagged as "teen" and a hyperlink pointing to this online coupon would be provided to the requesting website.
Additionally provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of leveraging such metadata or tags to better facilitate the discovery, consumption, syndication and distribution of online coupons.
Further provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of providing an application programming interface (API) for accessing specific online coupons or groups of online coupons on the basis of metadata or tags. For example a website focused on automotive products might request access to, or information about, online coupons specific to the automotive field, or coupons that have been tagged using automotive related tags.
Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of creating a mechanism, other than an application programming interface (API), for accessing specific online coupons or groups of online coupons on the basis of metadata or tags. For example a website might ask a user for their zip code. Based upon this information, that user is then provided with online coupons specific to that zip code. Alternately, the user might have a cookie placed on their computer to automate this process, or the system could discern location based upon the user's IP address or GPS information, or other such electronic mechanisms. Additionally, provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is a process of associating coupons with search results via the metadata or tags for the specific coupons and then displaying hyperlinks or pointers to said coupons alongside Internet search results or embedded into the specific search results applicable to that coupon. For example, a user might search for Pizza in Belmont, California. The search engine might pass the phone numbers for the companies in the search result to the application programming interface (API) of the present invention. The present invention would then query its database of coupons, returning the phone numbers and hyperlinks to online coupons that match these phone numbers. The search engine could then embed these hyperlinks to online coupons alongside the applicable business listings.
Further provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of allowing users to tag or somehow associate one or more online coupons of their selection, as a subset of the coupons offered, as being of interest to them. For example, a user might view the entire collection of 100 online coupons and define 10 of those online coupons as being of interest to them. These 10 selected coupons would then be available under a separate grouping (e.g. My Favorites) that is more easily accessed by the user than searching through the entire collection.
Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a method and system for tracking and rewarding independent third party individuals to create hyperlinks, tags or other mechanisms that facilitate superior search engine ranking and increased user traffic to a particular website or web service. Search engines increasingly rely upon hyperlinks pointing to a particular website as a measure of that website's popularity. Since the search engine is a primary mechanism for directing customer flow to websites, it is important to encourage such inbound hyperlinks to a website in order to increase the ranking of said website in search engines.
Search engines are also increasingly using additional metadata such as user created tags to determine the popularity and the topics associated with websites. For example, some online search engines rely on tags from services (e.g. del.icio.us, furl, spurl, etc.) to determine the topics for which a particular website is relevant. Given the foregoing, it becomes increasingly important to encourage third party individuals to create hyperlinks and metadata (e.g. tags, etc.) directing users to a website in order to increase search ranking, categorization and ultimately traffic.
At least some of the methods and systems shown herein track such third party hyperlinks to a website and metadata (e.g. tags, etc.) and reward the individuals who create them. Such rewards can be in the form of either small monetary compensation per instance of hyperlink/metadata or could be in the form of a contest where entry into the contest is created by actions such as creating hyperlinks/metadata. Selection of a winner in such a case could be based upon a random selection amongst entries, or by rewarding the individual with the most such entries.
According to an embodiment of the invention, this method or system tracks such hyperlinks/metadata back to the source and rewards either the owner of the website upon which it was created, or the user who created such hyperlink/metadata or a combination of both.
There is thus provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a process of tracking and rewarding individuals, webmasters and/or companies for creating hyperlinks that point to a specific website URL or collection of website URLs.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per link, per linking page, and/or per linking website. Compensation can be in the form of money or payment-in-kind (e.g. goods or services).
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per link, per linking page, and/or per linking website. Compensation can be in the form of points that can be collected and redeemed for goods or services.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest with each link, linking webpage or linking website as an entry to win the contest. The contest could be decided either based upon the most links or a random selection with each link counting as an entry. Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest. In this scenario, each linking individual, webmaster or company that creates and maintains the link to the specific website URL or group of website URLs would only receive one entry, regardless of how many links he/she creates and maintains.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates links to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest. In this scenario there could be a hybrid of the systems and methods shown herein, in determining how contest entries are apportioned. For example, one might envision 1-5 hyperlinks resulting in a single entry, while 6-10 hyperlinks results in 2 entries.
Also provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is a process of tracking and rewarding individuals, webmasters and/or companies for creating tags (e.g. using tagging services such as del.icio.us, furl, spurl or others) or other forms of metadata that point to a specific website URL or collection of website URLs.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service. Compensation can be in the form of money or payment- in-kind (e.g. goods or services).
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is compensated per tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service. Compensation can be in the form of points that can be collected and redeemed for goods or services.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest with each tag/metadata and/or per tagging/metadata service being tallied as an entry to win the contest. The contest could be decided either based upon the most tags/metadata or a random selection with each tag/metadata counting as an entry.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest. In this scenario, each individual, webmaster or company that creates and maintains the tags/metadata to the specific website URL or group of website URLs would only receive one entry, regardless of how many tags/metadata items he/she creates and maintains.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, each individual, webmaster or company that creates tags or other metadata referring to a specific website URL or group of website URLs is entered into a contest. One might envision 1-5 tags/metadata entries resulting in a single entry, while 6-10 tags/metadata entries results in 2 entries.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, compensation for creating hyperlinks or metadata to specific websites is tracked and compensated as a service for other websites.
Online search engines and other services seeking to categorize and prioritize information and websites available online increasingly rely upon information generated by independent third parties such as links to a specific website (URL) or user-generated metadata — often in the form of tags — that point to a specific website (URL). Since this third-party categorization and endorsement takes on increasing value, it becomes increasingly important to compensate people for creating such categorization and endorsements. This can be done in a variety of means. A website might directly compensate the individuals who tag/link to their website. Or a service might be created to effect such compensation on a distributed basis. One approach to compensation is to operate contests whereby hyperlink and/or tags/metadata are used to determine entry/qualification for the contest. The winner of such a contest could be selected at random amongst all participants, or with some correlation to the number of hyperlinks and/or tags/metadata from said contestant.
There is thus provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for web-based self-service for the creation and/or management of online coupons. It addresses the process of providing advertisers with a self-service online mechanism for creating online coupons and adding information about said coupons. It also addresses the self-service mechanism for managing said online coupons.
Provided, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is a process of enabling advertisers to create online coupons in a self-service manner by completing information about the business and the coupon offer.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser creates an account for the purpose of creating an online coupon in a self- service manner. Account creation might involve providing contact information about the business and/or the individual creating and/or managing the online coupon.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser defines information about the coupon such as the category and/or subcategory of the coupon, the specific coupon offer, etc.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser may upload one or more images for the coupon which may also include a logo of the company and/or a map to the company's location.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the system offers the user standard images the advertiser can associate with their coupon, instead of uploading their own image as described hereinabove.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser may upload video or sound to further complement their online coupon.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the system offers the user standard video or sound the advertiser can associate with their coupon, instead of uploading their own video or sound as described hereinabove.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser may define whether each individual consumer may access and/or print a specific coupon at all times or whether their access, use and printing of the coupon is limited (e.g. single use only, one coupon per week/month/year, etc.).
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser defines the start date and/or expiration date of an online coupon, which defines when that coupon is valid and when it is made available to consumers through the system.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the computer system or service provides the advertiser with examples of coupon offers to guide the advertiser's coupon creation process.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the computer system or service demands validation of the advertiser's identity and their ability to offer such coupon created via the self-service mechanism. Such identity validation might involve validation by email, phone, credit card approval, or other mechanisms.
Further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the process of enabling advertisers to manage their online coupon(s) is self-service and optionally the advertiser may edit any aspect of their online coupon(s).
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser may signify whether each of their online coupons should be live (available for use by consumers of businesses), paused (in the system but not visible and/or available for use by consumers and/or businesses), or deleted. These are critical functions in the creation and management of online coupons, which may also be unique to the world of online coupons.
Still further in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the advertiser may signify whether all of their online coupons should be live (available for use by consumers of businesses) or paused (in the system but not visible and/or available for use by consumers and/or businesses) with a single click of a button per business.
Current coupon creation by advertisers is done by publishers rather than by means of a self-service coupon creation mechanism for creating online coupons. Once the coupon is created in a self-service manner, the management of that coupon in a self- service manner is equally important.
Also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a method and system for tracking and compensating individuals or companies that recruit advertisers to create online coupons and/or to recruit consumers to use said coupons. Such a system might, in one embodiment of the present invention, reward the individuals or companies that recruit advertisers and/or recruit consumers to use online coupons via a pay-per-click, pay-per-print, pay-per-redemption or other pay-per-action mechanism. This approach creates an incentive for the affiliated individuals and/or companies who earn money for creating or distributing coupons, to defraud such a revenue sharing system. In order to prevent such fraud, the online coupon system may comprise one or more anti-fraud systems.
In the case of local online coupons, an important mechanism for preventing fraud is to verify the location of the consumer's EP address against the location of the advertiser and/or the location of redemption of the coupon for the coupon selected/used/printed/clicked/viewed. If, for example, a user with an D? address assigned to Europe clicks to open and/or print a coupon for a company based in America, then this click is probably a fraudulent click, meant to inflate the revenue to either the affiliated company that encouraged the advertiser to offer the online coupon or the affiliated company that recruited the consumer to use the online coupon. Other such fraud detection mechanisms might rely upon monitoring IP addresses clicking on coupons in multiple locations, clicking an inordinately large number of coupons, clicking on coupons in a manner that is too rapid for the process to be done by a human, thereby indicating the use of a robot, and other such mechanisms to determine whether the clicks are fraudulent.
Also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is a process of evaluating usage of online coupons in a revenue sharing model, where per action (e.g. pay-per-print) revenue is generated and shared with affiliates who are involved in recruiting advertisers to create and offer online coupons and/or recruiting consumers to use the online coupons.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the computing system checks the D? address of the requestor of an online coupon and uses this IP Address to determine the geographic location from which the request was generated. This is followed by a process of comparing the geography of the originating request and the location of the business for which the online coupon was created. This correlation can then be used either by itself or in conjunction with historical information gathered by the system, to determine the validity of the request and respond with appropriate action.
Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the user's or computer's location is determined by other means (e.g. GPS device) and that location information is compared with the advertiser's location or the location of coupon redemption to determine whether the click on that specific coupon, or a group of coupons, is in fact meant to defraud the revenue sharing system.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the computing system checks the time interval between clicks from specific IP addresses or individual accounts and applies an algorithm to determine in a reasonable likelihood whether the clicks were generated by an individual or by an automated process.
Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the computing system evaluates the usage history or click trails of a specific user, account, machine or IP address to determine whether the usage pattern is outside of the normal human usage pattern, indicating possible fraudulent activity.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the computing system inserts captchas, or steps that test and validate whether the clicks are generated by a human user, at various steps in the normal process, to filter human interaction from computer interaction. For example, if there is typically a 3 -step process with no captcha the system might dynamically and randomly insert a captcha between steps one and two or steps two and three. Then by analyzing how the user responds to these captchas, the system can determine whether there is a human involved in the process.
As online coupon distribution shifts toward a system that rewards affiliated individuals or companies for recruiting advertisers who create coupons and/or users who consume coupons, such a system introduces the potential for click-fraud where individuals or computerized processes generate fraudulent clicks on online coupons in order to generate revenue. Since many coupons are specific to a location, such information can be used to validate whether the user is in the same location. This is but one of the techniques used to eliminate click fraud for revenue sharing with online coupons. Any suitable processor, display and input means may be used to process, display and accept information as described herein, such as but not limited to a conventional personal computer processor; display screen and/or printer; and keyboard/mouse.
Programs and data described herein may be stored in any suitable computer- readable medium such as but not limited to disks of various kinds, cards of various kinds, RAMs, and ROMs such as CD-ROMs, EPROMs and EEPROMs.
Workstations practicing the invention shown and described herein may communicate via any conventional wired or wireless digital communication means, optionally via a communication network such as the World Wide Web.
Users consume information in the form of web content, instant messages, email, etc. This information might, at times, trigger a desire to execute a purchase, either online or offline. A cost-conscious user might then search for coupons for said purchase. However, searching for coupons can be a time-consuming process, especially when said coupons are maintained on various disparate merchant websites. From another perspective, service providers can increase usage and improve service by providing users with the option to receive incentive offers in connection with their areas of interest. In both cases, it would be desirable for the offers provided to the user to be well targeted and non-invasive in presentation, so as not to harm the user's web-surfing experience unnecessarily.
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers. According to some embodiments of the invention, a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers may include a coupon publisher and an agent. The coupon publisher may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion. The agent may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion. The agent may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to' be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink. t According to further embodiments of the invention, the system may also include a query processor. The query processor may be adapted to associate the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor may be adapted to configure the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query.
According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the system may also include a user information module comprising personal data about the user. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor may be adapted to include within the query one or more terms created based upon data from said user information module. According to further embodiments of the invention, the user information module may include any of the following data with respect to a user: personal data of the user, user's name, user's gender, user's personal status, user's occupation, user's hobbies and field of interest, user's age, authentication information, user's geographical location and other contact information, user's preferences, user's μsage history.
According to still further embodiments of the invention, the agent may be utilized by a service provider to evaluate compliance of content being exchanged through the service provider with a predefined incentive criterion, and the agent may be adapted to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink. According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent may be utilized by the service provider to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion, such that the content arrives to its destination with the hyperlinks associated therewith.
According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the system may also include a coupon cache module. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher data in respect of an incentive criterion to enable the agent module to evaluate content being exchanged in accordance with the incentive criterion without having to consult the coupon publisher with respect to the incentive criterion.
Further embodiments of the invention relate to a method of enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers. According to some embodiments of the invention, the method may include associating one or more coupons with one or more predefined incentive criteria, evaluating at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion, and associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
According to further embodiments of the invention, associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink may further include associating the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository. According to still further embodiments of the invention, associating the hyperlink with a query may further include configuring the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query. According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the association of the hyperlink with a query may also include adding to the query one or more terms created based upon user information. According to still further embodiments of the invention, adding to the query one or more terms created based upon user information may include accessing a data source including information about the user, and generating a query term to be incorporated into the query based upon data from the data source including information about the user.
According to some embodiments of the invention, evaluating the data being exchanged may include intercepting the data being exchanged before the data arrives to its destination, and associating the content with a query on an intermediate computerized device, such that the content may arrive to its destination together with the hyperlinks. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers. According to some embodiments of the invention, a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers may include a coupon publisher and an agent. The coupon publisher may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion. The agent may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify static content within the data which is in compliance with the incentive criterion. The agent may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a system for enabling a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create and manage online coupons in a self-service model. Traditionally, coupons have been printed and distributed by users and various middlemen, and subsequently redeemed by users. However, this process is very costly, especially due to the fact that only approximately 1.5% of coupons are redeemed. In other words, 98.5% of printed coupons are thrown in the trash. Based upon the growing cost of distribution mechanisms for such printed coupons — including newspapers and the postal service — coupons are increasingly distributed via digital means, such as the Internet.
The ability to create coupons can be delegated to the users themselves in a self- service model. The user can manage their coupons and their coupon campaigns using this same self-service model. In addition to cost savings enabled by self-service creation and management of online coupons, there are additional benefits enabled by online coupons.
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system that enables a user, utilizing a computerized device connected to a network, to create an online coupon that consumers can find and redeem. According to some embodiments of the invention, the tools for creating the online coupons may be accessed through an Internet client or browser interacting with an Internet server or other computing device via a network in a self-service manner. Some embodiments of the invention might provide users tools that facilitate such self-service coupon creation possibly including online coupon templates, forms, images, suggestions for online coupon offers, and the like.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user may include an authentication module for managing the registration to create user accounts, and the authentication and/or verification of users in the self-service coupon creation and/or management process. Since online coupons embody certain value, it is preferable that a self-service coupon creation and/or management system verify who the user is, in order to prevent fraudulent activity. Such an authentication module might utilize one or more mechanisms to verify that the user is a human being and not a robot, such as but not limited to a CAPTCHA and/or email verification of new accounts. Such authentication module might comprise one or more automated mechanisms to require the user to accept liability for the online coupons he creates, such as requiring acceptance of a legally binding contract, providing a valid credit card, and other such services. Such an authentication module might also facilitate human verification such as initiating a call between a human representative and the user to verify certain information and orally confirm the user's acceptance of the terms of the service.
According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the system might prompt the user to provide information embodied in the online coupon, including but not limited to the coupon offer, expiration date, business contact information and other such information that appears on the online coupon itself. Such information might also include still images, video and/or sound which could be used to enhance or further reinforce the online coupons' impact and market appeal. The system might include tools that provide the user with stock images, video, sound, coupon offers or even coupon templates that the user could easily select for incorporation into the online coupon. The system might also provide the ability to clone or duplicate existing online coupons, which may be customized, either manually or in an automated fashion, to reflect the user's contact and other information.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the system might provide the user with the ability to provide information about the coupon, also termed herein "metadata", that may not be visible on the redeemable or user-sensible version of the coupon. For the purposes of illustration, such metadata might include the start date of the online coupon, organizational information about the coupon such as but not limited to the category and sub-category the coupon will be organized under, and other such information. In other embodiments of the invention such metadata may be automatically generated using suitable algorithmic tools and the user may or may not be asked to approve such automatically generated metadata.
According to still further embodiments of the invention, the system might provide the user with the ability to define rules applying to the distribution of said online coupon. For the purposes of illustration, and without limiting the functionality of these distribution rules, the user might be able to specify, for example, how many times during a specified time frame each individual consumer might be able to use (view, print, redeem, etc) an online coupon. For example, such a rule might specify that each user can print one copy of a coupon per year. Other such distribution rules might define certain criteria a consumer must achieve in order to have access to a specific coupon. Again, solely for the purposes of illustrating the example, a special coupon might be made available only to consumers who use a competitor's online coupon two or more times per month. Another such distribution rule might define that the online coupon is only available during specific times or dates, such as a start date. Users might define a limit for how much they are willing to pay during a specified period of time for the syndication of the online coupon(s). Such a system might also provide the user with a means of selecting the mechanisms of redemption of online coupons that are acceptable to the user including but not limited to a click-through to a website, presentation of a printed copy of the coupon, presentation of an electronic copy of the coupon (e.g. on a mobile device), through an electronic handshake with a device (e.g. via Bluetooth, RFID or other such devices). Such a system might also enable the user to define certain other distribution criteria such as selected online coupon syndication networks, certain online websites for syndication, certain types or categories of websites for syndication, and other such distribution criteria. The distribution rules enabled through such a system can span a broad spectrum of options.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the user might have access to tools to manage the online coupons created by or on behalf of the user. Such management tools might include the ability to modify or delete online coupons, or to make the coupon inactive so that it is: (a) not accessible to consumers; (b) capable of being activated such that it becomes available to consumers without having to recreate the online coupon. Such mechanism might use text and/or icons to describe such an active/inactive mode including, but not limited to a traffic light showing green (active), red (inactive) or other such iconic and/or textual representations. Alternately, the switching between the active/inactive modes might be implemented programmatically, for example, when a coupon reaches a pre-defined limit on the number of coupons to be distributed, as defined by the user. Such a management system might also include certain reporting tools to track usage (views, prints, redemptions, etc.) of said coupons. Other management functions might include the ability to modify metadata about the coupon, or modify distribution rules pertaining to the online coupon as described previously.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the tools for creating and/or managing online coupons may operate partially or wholly on the user's computerized device. For example, the user might download tools for creating online coupons, and then perform the actual online coupon creation on their computerized device. Alternately, certain processing may be shared between the computerized device and the computer server or other computing device. This is commonly enabled using such tools as JavaScript, AJAX, widgets, gadget or other mechanisms familiar to those knowledgeable in the art. In such a scenario, the user's computing device may or may not be communicating with a server or computing device during the entire process of creating or managing said online coupons.
According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the system may also include one or more third-party servers or other computing devices that provide the self- service online coupon creation and/or management capabilities to the user on behalf of or in conjunction with a server or computing device.
Also provided, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, is a system for manipulation and syndication of online coupons via an Application Programming Interface (API).
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system of the present invention is operative to provide an application programming interface (API) for the purposes of uploading, manipulating and/or syndicating online coupons. These operations can be performed in a manual fashion by a user, or programmatically, by an application or web service. In the case of accomplishing this process programmatically, by application or web service, an API greatly facilitates this process. Applications can access the API, providing search criteria and requesting specific information back from the coupon service.
Such an API supports both the uploading of coupons and the querying of existing coupons. For example a company might want the ability to upload one or more coupons into a coupon hosting service. This would be accomplished through an API. Alternately, a consumer, distributor or syndicator of online coupons might want the ability to query an online coupon service for one or more specific coupons that satisfy a set of criteria. For example an application might request coupons within a certain distance from a zip code provided by the application. The API brokers this entire transaction, including but not limited to accepting and validating the request, processing the request, and serving the results that satisfy that request in a structured format.
A process of exposing access to online coupons, via an online network, through an application programming interface (API). The API would enable in-house or third- party software applications to search for and gain access to one or more online coupons based upon some sort of criteria, including but not limited to date or expiration, issuing company name, issuing company phone number, etc.
Further provided, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, is an online service that maintains one or more coupons and exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a URL, URI, hyperlink or other online reference to one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Still further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds by sending the appropriate information directly to the user's printer to print the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Additionally in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds by sending the online coupon(s) directly to the user through various means, including but not limited to facsimile machine, mail, or other delivery mechanism.
Still further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the API demands that the system pass the individual user's authentication information (e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.) to provide access to certain coupons.
Still further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the API provides the URL, URI hyperlink or other online reference to one or more online coupons, but in order for the consumer to activate or use the online coupon, the consumer must first provide authentication information, which might be checked against distribution rules to determine whether the consumer gains access to said coupon(s).
Also provided, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, is a , system and process of exposing access to distinct data elements, which may comprise an online coupon (e.g. issuing company name, issuing company contact information, expiration date, short offer description, long offer description, disclaimer, map of issuing company, etc.), via an online network, through an application programming interface (API). The API would enable in-house or third-party software applications to search for and gain access to one or more such distinct data elements about online coupons based upon some sort of criteria, including but not limited to date or expiration, issuing company name, company phone number, etc. Such data elements could be exposed via the API either individually, in groups or in aggregate (all such data on the online coupon).
Further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more distinct data elements from the online coupons that satisfy the request. ^
Additionally in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a listing of coupons, and their associated URLs, URIs, hyperlinks or other online references to the distinct data elements requested from the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Also provided, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, is a process of exposing access to metadata about online coupons, via an online network, through an application programming interface (API). The API would enable in-house or third-party software applications to search for and gain access to one or more such distinct data elements about online coupons based upon some sort of criteria, including but not limited to date or expiration, issuing company name, company phone number, etc. Such metadata is information that is associated with the online coupon, but is not actually included on the online coupon itself. Such metadata includes, but is not limited to such items as user-defined rating of the value of the coupon, user-defined rating of the company issuing the coupon, the category in which the coupon is stored, user- defined tags (words used to describe/categorize the coupon, the offer, the company or the company's goods or services), user-defined reviews, etc.
Further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with one or more pieces of metadata from the online coupons that satisfy the request.
Still further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a URL, URI, hyperlink or other online reference to metadata about the one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Additionally in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, an online service that maintains one or more coupons exposes them through the API, whereby the in-house or third-party application sends a request to the API and the online service, via the API, responds with a listing of coupons, and their associated URLs, URIs, hyperlinks or other online references to metadata one or more online coupons that satisfy the request.
Further in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the API requires that the system pass the individual user's authentication information (e.g. username/password, email/password, etc.) to provide access to metadata about one or more coupons.
Also provided, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, is a process of exposing an application programming interface (API) to entities or software applications or services that can upload online coupons, metadata about coupons (e.g. ratings, reviews, etc.) and coupon data elements (distinct elements that comprise the online coupon, e.g. company name, expiration date, coupon offer, etc.)
As online coupons are increasingly syndicated over the Internet or other online networks, gaining access to these coupons via an application programming interface (API) is advantageous. Using an API typically enables applications on the online network to consume, process and distribute the online coupons themselves, data elements that comprise the online coupons or metadata about the online coupons. API also typically allows inbound access, such that advertising companies can upload coupons, and other applications or online services can upload their metadata about such online coupons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the following drawings:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to some embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a graphical illustration of a first display, displaying original content corresponding to data being exchanged over a network, and of a second display, displaying enhanced content created by associating certain words or phrases from the data being exchanged with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons, according to some embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to further embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 4 is a simplified functional block diagram of a computerized coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which may be used by any or all of a coupon distributor such as an advertiser, a coupon collector such as a consumer, and a coupon redeemer such as an e-store or physical selling facility and which preferably allows a distributor to create a digital coupon having a redeemable version, and subsequently to control proliferation of the redeemable version and/or syndication of the coupon itself.
Fig. 5 is a simplified functional block diagram of the authentication block in Fig. 4, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 6A - 6F, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of operation of the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 7A - 7E taken together, form the tables managed by the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Table 7 A relates to the template database module 112 of Fig. 4. Table 7B relates to the audio database 114 of Fig. 4. Table 7C relates to the image database 115 of Fig. 4. Table 7D relates to the text database 116 of Fig. 4. Table 7E relates to the video database 117 of Fig. 4.
Figs. 8A - 8D are examples of coupon manager tables which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Table 8 A relates to the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4. Table 8B relates to the distribution rules database 119 of Fig. 4. Table 8C relates to the metadata database 120 of Fig. 4. Table 8D relates to the coupon database 121 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a collector registration dialog screen which may be employed by collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a distributor registration dialog screen which may be employed by distributor registration module 106 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a user log-in dialogue for registered distributors, affiliates and collectors (also termed herein "users"), which may be employed by one or more of the manager modules of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a user financial acceptance dialogue for registered distributors (also termed herein "users"), which may be employed by one or more of the manager modules of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a simplified screen shot illustrating a first stage of a redeemable coupon creation dialogue which may be employed by redeemable coupon creation step 313 of Figs. 6A - 6F in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 14 associates steps with fields in the table of Fig. 57A.
Fig. 15 is a simplified screenshot illustrating a second stage of a redeemable coupon creation dialogue which may be employed by redeemable coupon creation step 313 of Figs. 6A - 6F in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 16 is a simplified screenshot illustrating an online coupon image uploading dialogue useful in conjunction with the method of Fig. 53, where a distributor chooses to syndicate an image of an existing coupon, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 17 is a simplified screenshot illustrating a coupon distribution rule dialog in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 18 is a simplified screenshot illustrating coupon management dialog in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 19 is a simplified functional block diagram illustration of a coupon syndication manager system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which supports third party online coupon syndication via an API and/or of coupon syndication manager 122, API 123 and third party application/website 125 of Fig. 4, and data interrelationships therebetween in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 20 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a coupon directory & search manager system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which exposes non-valid images of coupons to force printing that can be metered by the system.
Fig. 21 A is a simplified block diagram illustration of a coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention which generates online coupons, also termed herein 1 -click coupons, with a single click of a mouse.
Fig. 21B is a table useful in implementing the 1 -click coupon generating system of Fig. 21 A which may, for example, reside in sample offer database 113 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 21 A in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 22 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user account information screen useful in implementing the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 23 is the continuation of a simplified screenshot illustration of a first screen in an add-a-new-business dialogue which may be conducted by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 24 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a first screen in an add-a-new- business dialogue which may be conducted by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 25 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "add a new location" screen when a distributor clicks 2401 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 26 is a simplified, screenshot illustration of an "edit payments accepted" screen when a distributor clicks 2405 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the' coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 27 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "hours of operation" screen when a distributor clicks 2406 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 28 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "selling points" screen when a distributor clicks 2407 of Fig. 24 which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 29 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a third stage of a coupon creation dialogue under the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4, addressing mobile coupon creation, which may be presented by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 30 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen which generates reports of coupons viewed and/or clicked, which screen may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 31 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a consumer-facing coupon directory screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 32 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "set location" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 33 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen listing available coupons in a category, which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 34 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen illustrating coupon alerts typically including deal alerts, such as email and RSS deal alerts, which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 35 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a coupon display screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 36 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a screen for rating and reviewing companies and/or coupons which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 37 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "tell-a-friend-about-a-coupon" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 38 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate registration dialogue" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 39 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user account information screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 40 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools- email signature" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 41 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools-text advertisements" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 42 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an "affiliate marketing tools- banner advertisements" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 43 is a simplified screenshot illustration of an affiliate report generating screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 44 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a system API screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 45 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a "one-click coupon" screen which may be displayed by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 46 is a simplified diagram of online coupon inputs and outputs in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 47 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for creating distribution rules to support behavioral marketing which method is constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 48 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for leveraging distribution rules to support behavioral marketing, assuming a collector has already registered for one of the coupon management systems shown and described herein e.g. through collector registration module 107 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 49 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred auto-service capability method constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 5OA is a simplified pictorial illustration of one example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 50B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a second example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 5OC is a simplified pictorial illustration of a third example of a redeemable coupon generated by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 51 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor registration and validation in Fig. 4 module 106 in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 52 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred 1 -click coupon creation method constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 53 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for uploading an existing coupon into any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Figs. 54A-B, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor registration and validation in Fig. 4 module 106 in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Figs. 55 A - 55B, taken together, form a portion of a table of redeemable coupon components arranged by category, subcategory and coupon objective, which may for example be stored in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Figs. 56A-B, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for distributor adding metadata about the business as displayed in Fig.4 module 110 and 120 coupon manager module and the metadata database in any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 57A - 57C, taken together, form tables which may reside in the collector database 108 in Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 58 is a pictorial illustration of an example of a coupon template provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 59A is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for implementing the distributor registration module of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 59B is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the method of Fig. 59A in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Figs. 6OA - 6OB, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for adding a new business in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 6OC is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the method of Figs. 6OA — 6OB in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 61 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an interaction of syndication website or application 125 with online coupons generated in or stored in the system of Fig. 4, via the API 123 of Fig. 4 which may be operative to syndicate entire coupons or alternatively only coupon metadata and/or hyperlinks to coupon landing pages in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Figs. 62A - 62B, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of a coupon management method, including coupon pausing functionality, which may be performed by coupon manager 110 of Fig. 4 and may employ a suitable screen display such as the screen display of Fig. 18 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 63 is an example of a table which may be used in conjunction with the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining", "generating", "assigning" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type, of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.
The processes and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method. The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.
Throughout the specification and the claims the term "static content" or the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be used to refer to any content or portion of content, and specifically of electronic content, which does, not include or which is not associated with a hyperlink from the content's original source. In other words static content is any content, such as a word or a phrase to which the author did not add a hyperlink, and as such the content is static, meaning without a hyperlink. Static content may include, but is not limited to, non-hyperlink words or phrases within IM messages, email messages, HyperText Markup Language documents, XML documents, etc.
Throughout the specification and the claims the term "coupon" or the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be used to refer to any form of promotional marketing such as a special offer, incentive offer, coupon or discount of some kind. The coupons to which some embodiments of the present invention relate may include, but are not limited to, electronic-coupon or coupons, tangible coupons (or electronic data necessary for generating a tangible coupon) and coupons requiring an activation code, coupons requiring authentication, coupons which are dependent upon a specific user attribute (such as previous redemption of an associated coupon), etc. In the case of syndication, the specification may use the term "coupon" when in fact the valid and redeemable coupon is not syndicated. Instead the system might syndicate various data embodied in the coupon (e.g. offer, expiration date), metadata about the coupon (e.g. category/subcategory) and/or an electronic pointer to the coupon. The actual valid redeemable coupon might be served from a central repository to provide more control over syndication and usage, in some embodiments of the present invention.
Throughout the specification and the claims the term "computerized device" or the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be used to include any computer, network device or computer-like device which may be used for interacting with another computerized device over a network, including but not limited to a mobile phone, a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA).
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to some embodiments of the invention. According to some embodiments of the invention, the system 1 may include a coupon publisher 10 and an agent module 20. The coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion. In Fig. 1, and according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may reside within a first computerized device 2 operated by the user which is the intended recipient of the incentive offers. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited in this respect, and according to further embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may not necessarily reside on the computerized device 2 operated by the user, and may instead or in addition, reside on, for example, an intermediary server, as will be described in further detail below.
The agent module 20 may be operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between the computerized device 2 operated by the user and at least a second computerized device 4 to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with an incentive criterion. The agent module 20 may be further adapted to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may be in communication with the coupon publisher 10. The agent module 20 may be connected to the coupon publisher 10 directly or through a network connection. As mentioned above, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons with an incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be operatively connected to one or more coupon repositories 30 (either directly or though a network). The coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interact with the coupon repositories 30 and may use any suitable interaction techniques to enable the interaction, including but not limited to the use of an application program interface (API). Similarly, the agent module 20 and the coupon publisher 10 may also use similar and possibly identical techniques to enable and manage the interaction therebetween. The API may be used, for example, to define how the agent module 20 through the coupon publisher 10, for example, can access information about coupons, coordinate the flow of information between the agent module 20 and the coupon publisher 10 and vice- versa, and manage other such information necessary to facilitate the association of a hyperlink towards a coupon with previously static content that is determined to be in compliance with an incentive criterion associated with the coupon. It would be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the invention, a standard API may be used to interact with multiple standards-compliant coupon repositories, or there may be used multiple APIs for interacting with multiple coupon repositories, or there may be a single API for interacting with a single coupon repository, to name just a few of the possibilities.
According to some embodiments of the invention, each coupon repository 30 may include data in respect of one or more coupons. According to some embodiments of the invention, a coupon repository 30 may include data corresponding to an electronic-coupon or coupons, data linking to an electronic-coupon or coupons, data necessary for activating an electronic-coupon or coupons, authentication data for authenticating a user to enable access to a coupon and/or data necessary for creating a tangible coupon or coupons (for example, data necessary for creating a printable image of a valid coupon). According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon repositories 30 may include additional data in respect of a coupon, as will be described in further detail below.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to associate one or more coupons to which the data in the repositories 30 relates with an incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to create the incentive criterion based on data obtained from the repositories 30. According to some embodiments of the invention, the repository 30 may include, for one or more coupons, explicit data in respect of the incentive criterion associated with a coupon (as may be provided for example by the issuer of the coupon), and in this case the coupon publisher 10 simply collects the incentive criterion in respect of the coupon from the repository 30; and/or the repository may include descriptive data in respect of the coupon and the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to create or derive the incentive criterion based upon metadata or based upon other descriptive data in respect of the coupon, which may be found, for example, in the coupon repository 30. For example, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to scan metadata associated with coupons stored within a coupon repository 30 associated with the coupon publisher 10, and based on the metadata (or based upon any other descriptive data), the coupon publisher 10 may generate an incentive criterion that is to be associated with the coupon. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon repository 30 may include in respect of a coupon metadata or other (descriptive) data associated with the coupon, including but not limited to, the issuing entity's name, the issuing entity's contact information, description of the coupon, expiration date, acceptable forms of coupon presentation, user ratings, terms, timestamps, etc. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the coupon repository 30 may include data which directs towards or enables a connection to a destination within a network where a coupon may be located, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). In this case, the data from the coupon repository may be used to create the hyperlink which is to be associated with the static content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion, such that when the hyperlink is executed, the user is directed towards or connected to a network location where the coupon may be obtained.
For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be configured to evaluate the data stored within the coupon repositories 30 associated therewith, and based on the data in the repository 30 the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to generate incentive criteria and to associate the coupon to which the data in the repository 30 relates with an appropriate incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interrogate a coupon repository 30 routinely, for example, after a predefined time interval, and may update the incentive criteria and the coupons associated with each criterion based upon the changes made since the last update. According to further embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to update its data in respect of the incentive criteria and/or in respect of the coupons associated with each incentive criterion whenever data is written into the repository 30, whenever data is deleted from the repository 30, and/or whenever data in the repository 30 is modified.
For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, in response to receiving within a repository 30 data in respect of a new coupon, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to interrogate a description entry of the new coupon. As a result of the interrogation, the coupon publisher may, for example, identify the keywords "pizza" and "delivery" within the description entry. In response, the coupon publisher 10 may utilize predefined rules to generate an incentive criterion in connection with the new coupon. In alternative, the coupon publisher 10 may determine that an incentive criterion for a coupon which, for example, includes the keywords "pizza" and "delivery" has already been created. It should be noted that according to some embodiments of the invention, the rules utilized by the coupon publisher 10 for generating an incentive criterion and/or for associating a coupon with a certain incentive criterion may be not be rigidly associated with a specific keyword or key phrase nor with any combination of keywords or key phrases, and rather may allow for various and different combinations of keyword(s) and/or phrases and with respect to various kinds metadata.
In accordance with the example provided here, the coupon publisher 10 may decide, based on the predefined rules, to generate an incentive criterion. Upon the generation of the incentive criterion or some time thereafter, the coupon publisher 10, either independently or in response to a request, may provide the agent module 20 with data in respect to the incentive criterion to be used for evaluating data being exchanged over the network for compliance with the incentive criterion. For example, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, upon the identification of the words "pizza" and "delivery" within the description data associated with a coupon or coupons, the coupon publisher 10 may be adapted to generate an incentive criterion in accordance with which the agent module 20 is configured to identify static content which corresponds to the word "pizza" as being compliant with the incentive criterion.
In accordance with the example provided here, when the agent 20 identifies content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion, the agent module 20 may contact the coupon publisher 10 and may request the coupon publisher 10 to provide it with data directing towards the coupons associated with the incentive criterion, or to provide it with data which corresponds to the coupon themselves. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the agent 20 may be periodically or on specific occasions (for example, in response to a predefined event) may be provided with data in , respect of which coupons are associated with which incentive criterion and with the data directing towards the coupons. In this case, the agent 20 may use the local data instead of being required to contact the publisher 10 whenever content which is in compliance with an incentive criterion is found. This implementation of the invention shall be discussed in further detail below.
According to some embodiments of the invention, whichever way the data in respect of the coupon(s) arrives at the agent module 20, the agent module 20 may be configured to add a hyperlink that is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion to the content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion. In accordance with the example provided here, the agent module 20 may associate the word "pizza" within the content being exchanged with one a hyperlink that is operative to link towards one or more coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion, and in this case, towards coupons which include the words "pizza" and "delivery" in their description entry. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be configured to employ any presently known or yet to be devised in the future techniques, including data analysis and data mining techniques, to generate an incentive criterion for a certain coupon or coupons.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the generation of the incentive criterion and the association of the coupons with the incentive criterion may be based upon any set of rules and may either be symmetric or a-symmetric. In other words, the same or alternative (not necessarily the same) words or phrases may be used to evaluate content being exchanged on the one hand, and coupons which are associated with a certain incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, in case the generation of the incentive criterion and the association of the coupons with the incentive criterion are not symmetric, whenever content within the data being exchanged which is in compliance with a certain incentive criterion is identified, the agent module 20 in cooperation with the coupon publisher 10, for example, may be adapted to search for coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion using a different criterion from the one used for evaluating the content (for example, a repetition of the word pizza may be searched for within the content and the combination of the words "pizza" and "delivery" maybe searched for within the description of the coupon).
It should be appreciated that, according to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon publisher 10 may be associated with one or with a plurality of coupon repositories 30. It should be further appreciated that, according to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon repositories 30 may be well defined entities which are continuously and dynamically updated with data in respect of coupons, and/or the coupon repositories 30 may be ad-hoc lists of coupon and associated data. Such ad-hoc lists may be created as a result of a network search for coupons, for example, as a result of "coupon scraping" performed over the Internet. It should be further noted that, according to some embodiments of the invention, a coupon publisher 10 may be associated with a single coupon repository 30 or with a group of coupon repositories, and the agent module 20 may be in communication with each of a plurality of coupon publishers 30 to determine compliance of content being exchanged over a network with an incentive criterion provided by the coupon publishers 30.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of an incentive criterion, and may be adapted to evaluate data being transferred to and/or from the computerized device 2 to discover therewithin content which complies with the incentive criterion obtained from the coupon publisher 10. When the agent module 20 determines that the data being exchanged includes content that is in compliance with the incentive criterion, the agent module 20 may be adapted to obtain from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of the coupon(s) associated with the incentive criterion. Based on the data obtained from the coupon publisher in respect of the coupon(s) associated with the incentive criterion, the agent module 20 may be adapted to create a hyperlink which is configured to link towards the coupon(s) that are associated with the incentive criterion. The agent module 20 may be configured to associate the hyperlink with the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion. Thus, the agent module 20 provides enhanced content 34 in which static content that is in compliance with an incentive criterion is associated with a hyperlink, which is configured to link towards a coupon that is associated with the incentive criterion.
Additional reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a graphical illustration of a first display 41, displaying original content 32 corresponding to data being exchanged over a network, and of a second display 42, displaying enhanced content 34 created by associating certain words or phrases from the data being exchanged 32 with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons, according to some embodiments of the invention. According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 is configured to receive data corresponding to at least a portion of the content 32 (as displayed on the first display 41) which is being exchanged over the network, and to evaluate the data being exchanged to identify content that is in compliance with an incentive criterion. In case the agent module 20 finds that the data being exchanged includes static content (or data corresponding to static content) that is in compliance with an incentive criterion, the agent module 20 may be adapted to associate the content 32 with a hyperlink to provide enhanced content 34. The hyperlink associated with the static content is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
For example, as is shown in Fig. 2, and according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 receives from the coupon publisher 10 data in respect of a incentive criterion, which in accordance with which, in case the word "pizza" is repeated (twice for example) within the content being exchanged, each instance of the word "pizza" should be associated with a coupon which includes in its description the word "pizza" and "delivery". Thus, according to some embodiments of the invention, when the agent module 20 detects the repetition of the word "pizza" within the content that is being exchanged 32, the agent module 20, for example, together with the coupon publisher 10, associates each instance of the word "pizza" with a hyperlink that is configured to link towards coupons which include the words "pizza" and "delivery" in its description, thereby providing the enhanced content 34 shown on display 42.
Referring back to Fig. 1, according to further embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may include a query processor 22. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to associate a hyperlink that is to be added to the content with a query. According to further embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to associate a query with the hyperlink, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated, for example automatically, on a coupon repository 10. According to yet further embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to configure the query, such that in response to the execution of the query, for example when the user clicks on (activates) the hyperlink with which the query is associated, the query is directed towards one or more coupon repositories 30, either directly or through the coupon publisher 10, and is configured to cause the repository 10 to return data in respect of currently available coupons within the repository 10 which are associated with the incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query may be configured such that the query terms includes in addition to the data in respect of the incentive criterion with which the query is associated, data in respect of other terms which the coupons to be returned must satisfy. Such additional terms may include but are not limited to the following terms: personal data of the user, user's name, user's gender, user's personal status, user's occupation, user's hobbies and field of interest, user's age, authentication information, user's geographical location and other contact information, user's preferences, user's usage history, etc.
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 22 may be further adapted to associate a hyperlinked word or phrase with metadata or with a description of the hyperlink. The agent module 22 may provide via the metadata any data in connection with the hyperlink, for example, data in respect of the incentive criterion with which the hyperlink is associated. According to some embodiments of the invention, the metadata associated with the hyperlink may be latent unless the user takes a certain predefined action which is preconfigured to reveal the descriptive data in respect of the hyperlink. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the descriptive data in respect of a hyperlink may be revealed to the user when the user positions a pointing device (a computer mouse for example) over the hyperlink. It would be appreciated that by providing the user with the descriptive data, the user may gain a better understanding of what is on offer. The descriptive data may include any data in respect of the coupon which may be associated with the incentive criterion with which the hyperlinked static content is associated or any other kind of data. l
According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may further include or be associated with a user information module 24. According to some embodiments of the invention the user information module 24 may include data and parameters in respect of the user. For example, the user information module 24 may include the following data: authentication information, the user's geographical location and other contact information, the user's preferences, the user's usage history, etc. According to some embodiments of the invention, the user information module 24 may receive data in respect of the user from the user. Such data may be provided by the user by utilizing any suitable interface device, such as a keyboard, for example or in addition or in alternative, the data may be collected automatically based upon the user's interactions and activity. According to some embodiments of the invention, the user information module 24 may monitor the user's interactions and/or or process data stored on the computerized device to obtain data in respect of the user, such as for example, the user's preferences, data in respect of the user's past usage of coupons, etc.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to access the data stored within the user information module 24. According to some embodiments of the invention, the query processor 22 may be adapted to include terms within the query which are created based upon the data in the user information module 24. It would be appreciated that the inclusion of terms which are based upon user specific data within the query, a (relatively) personalized response to the query may be obtained. For example, in case the incentive criterion is a repetition of the word "pizza." within the content being exchanged, and it is determined that the content is indeed in compliance with the incentive criterion, the query processor 22 may generate a query that is to be associated with the content, and the query may be configured to cause one or more repositories 30 to return coupons (or data in respect of coupons) which are associated with the incentive criterion, for example, the repositories may return data in respect of coupons which include the words "pizza" and "delivery" in their metadata and which provide a match with the user's residence, for example, coupons which include in their metadata reference to the user's area of residence, e.g. Santa Monica in California. Similarly, the query processor 22 may be configured to generate other queries which relate to any other data found in the user information module 24.
It would be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the invention, a certain query may return one or more coupons or data in respect of one or more coupons and/or data in respect of a group or groups of coupons (for example, pizza coupons). It would also be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the invention, a query may return different results at different times, based on which coupons are available at the time the query is received and processed. It would be also be appreciated that, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the rules governing the generation and definition of certain incentive criteria and/or the rules in accordance with which a certain coupon is associated with a certain incentive criterion may change from time to time, and as a result, an identical query may return different results (coupons) at different times.
In order to provide for a wide range of relevant and currently available coupons and in order to accurately match a broad range of users' interests and personal attributes (such as, geographical location, age, gender, etc.), very large and dynamic lists of coupons may be needed. These lists may be implemented on centralized repositories, or may be decentralized in nature, for example, may be aggregated from a plurality of sources, for example from the merchants themselves. If such elaborate and dynamic lists are to be used, means should be devised for interfacing with the various data sources so that the user can relatively straightforwardly obtain access to well-targeted and currently available coupons, with minimal disruption to the user's web-surfing experience, especially when the user is not interested in a coupon. Some embodiments of the invention seek to provide a solution for these and other challenges.
In a certain scenario in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 20 may be used to evaluate the content received at the computer of the user, while the user browses an auto repair website and the phrase "auto service" and the word "tires" are identified within the incoming content received at the computer of the user. The agent module 20 may recognize the phrase "auto service" and the word "tires" as having coupons associated with them. Taking into account the user's preferences and the then available current coupons, the agent module 20 may be adapted to associate the phrase "auto service" with a hyperlink when executed initiates a query vis-a-vis one or more coupon repositories 30 with the search term "auto service" and the user's location and other information. The query is then satisfied by a coupon repository 30, via an API, with coupons from auto service shops in the user's local area. The word "tires" is associated with coupons from local tire shops and also online stores that sell tires. The user may have the option to define preferences for coupons associated with text, such as defining which terms are associated with coupons, which establishments' coupons are not displayed, how many times the same term is converted to a hyperlink in a single page, etc.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a block diagram illustration of a system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, according to further embodiments of the invention. As is shown in Fig. 3, and according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 may be implemented outside the computerized device to which the enhanced content is to be provided. In Fig. 3 and according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module resides within a server 56 positioned in the path of the content being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54.
For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 may be implemented on a service provider's server 56. The service provider may be a provider of infrastructure or of services or any other entity which is able to control and modify content being exchanged between two computerized devices over a network. For example, the service provider may be an Internet service provider (providing access to the Internet), a telephone service provider (wireless or wired), a television service provider (e.g. cable, broadcast or satellite TV company), an entity that hosts the user's content, such as a remote storage service provider, an Internet-based email service provider, or any number of service providers that aggregate or host information on behalf of the user.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 on the service provider's server 56 may be adapted to monitor data being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54. The agent module 61 may be configured to identify static content which is being exchanged and that is in compliance with an incentive criterion. The incentive criterion/a used in evaluating the content flowing to and/or from the computerized device 52 may be provided to the agent module 61 by a coupon publisher 60, as was described above in greater detail.
According to some embodiments of the invention, once the agent module 61 identifies content that it is in compliance with an incentive criterion, the agent module 61 may be adapted to add to the content a hyperlink which is operative to link upon the execution of the hyperlink towards one or more incentive offers or coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion, as was described above in further detail. According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 may be adapted to forward the enhanced content (the content with the hyperlinks) to the first computerized device 52, such that the content is displayed on the computerized device 52 together with the hyperlinks and when the user executes the hyperlink, the user is directed towards one more coupons associated with the incentive criterion. As was also described above in further detail, according to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 may be adapted to associate the hyperlink with a query which is operative for causing one or more coupon repositories 70 to return data in respect of currently available coupons within the repository 70 which are associated with the incentive criterion.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 residing on the service provider's server 56 may include a coupon cache module 66. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be used to provide data in respect of the incentive criterion/a that is to be used for evaluating the data being exchanged between the first and the second computerized devices 52 and 54, so that the server 56 is not required to obtain the data in respect of the incentive criterion from the coupon publisher 60 for each interaction of the first and second computerized devices 52 and 54. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to maintain a local copy of the keywords incentive criteria that are associated with individual coupons or groups (e.g. categories) of coupons and which are to be used for evaluating the content being exchanged.
According to further embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may also include data directing towards individual coupons or groups of coupons which are associated with each incentive criterion. Thus, according to some embodiments of the invention, whenever the agent module 61 identifies within the data being exchanged content that is in compliance with the incentive criterion (obtained from the coupon cache module 66), the coupon cache module 66 may be consulted to obtain data directing towards individual coupons or groups of coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion. Based on the data from the coupon cache module 66, the agent module 61 may be adapted to add to the content that has been determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion.
According to further embodiments of the invention, whenever the agent module 61 identifies within the data being exchanged content that is in compliance with the incentive criterion (obtained from the coupon cache module 66), the agent module 61 may be adapted to generate a query that is configured to return coupons which are associated with the incentive criterion when the query is activated, and may associate the query with a hyperlink that is added or associate with the static content determined to be incompliance with the incentive criterion. According to some embodiments of the invention, as mentioned above, the agent module 61 may be adapted to include in the query additional terms, such as terms which are associated with personal data, preferences or attributes of the user, for example.
According to some embodiments of the invention, when the query is activated, for example, when the hyperlink with which the query is associated is clicked on, the computerized device 52 may indicate to the server 56 and specifically to the agent module 61 located thereon that the query has been activated or the computerized device 52 may simply forward the query or data about the query back to the agent module 61, so that the agent module 61 may operate to service the activated query. According to some embodiments of the invention, upon receiving the indication that the query has been activated, the agent module 61 may be configured to direct the query towards the coupon cache module 66 to obtain from the coupon cache module 66 data in respect of coupons which satisfy the query. In case the query returns data in respect of a coupon or coupons, the agent module 61 may be adapted to forward the data in respect of the coupon to the computerized device 52. According to some embodiments of the invention, the data received at the agent module 61 in response to a query may require processing before it can be used to gain access to or to obtain a coupon or coupons. The processing may be performed at the agent module 61, so that when the data is received at the computerized device 52 it is ready to be used.
It should be appreciated that, in accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the agent module 61 may be configured to select to whether an activated query is to be directed the coupon cache module 66, to the coupon publisher 60 or to a specific coupon repositories or repositories 70. According to some embodiments of the invention, the decision where to direct an activated query may be based upon predefined criteria, for example, the decision may be based upon network congestion parameters, a pending queries queue (or the lack thereof), the identity of the computerized device which activated the query, etc. According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to synchronize with the coupon repositories 70, either directly or through the coupon publisher 60. The coupon cache module 66 may be adapted to synchronize with the coupon repositories 60 routinely or in response to an event, for example. For example, the coupon cache module 66 may include a timestamp indicating the time of the most recent synchronization and the coupon cache module 66 is synchronized after a predefined amount of time passes from the most recent synchronization, m accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be synchronized after each evaluation of network interaction. It would be appreciated that by continuously refreshing the data in the coupon cache module 66, relatively up-to date data is maintained locally. This data may be used to create a hyperlink directing towards the coupon, such that the hyperlinks are created based on relatively fresh data.
According to some embodiments of the invention, as an alternative to utilizing the coupon cache module 66, the agent 61 could access an API and directly query the coupon repositories 60 for the appropriate coupons in real-time. However, it should be appreciated that this approach may be bandwidth intensive and may introduce latency into the application. Accordingly, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the coupon cache module 66 may be used intermittently as needed, for example, when the amount of bandwidth available for the server 56 is below a predefined threshold, or in accordance with another example, when the agent module 61 is unable to handle all the incoming content in real-time and communications are thus being delayed or dropped. i
It would be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the invention, a coupon cache module may be implemented locally on a computerized device whose content is to be enhanced, rather than on an intermediary server. For example, a coupon cache module similar to the one described above may be implemented on the computerized device 2 discussed with reference to Fig. 1.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the service provider's server may include a user information module 64. The user information module may include various data about the user utilizing computerized device 52. For example, the user information module 64 may include one or more of the following: personal data about the user, authentication information, the user's geographical location and other contact information, the user's preferences, the user's usage history. According to some embodiments of the invention, the user information module 64 may be operatively connected to a user data source locate on the computerized device 52 utilized by the user, or in accordance with other embodiments of the invention the user information module 64 implemented on the service provider's server 56 may be independent and include data collected or otherwise provided to the server 56.
In Fig. 3, and according to some embodiments of the invention, in case the agent module 61 is implemented outside the computerized device 52 which is to be provided with the enhanced content, the computerized device 52 may include a local services module 75. According to some embodiments of the invention, the local services module 75 may be adapted to interact with the agent module 61 and/or with any other component of the system 50 to system's functionality. For example, the local services module 75 may be adapted to perform local operations on the computerized device 52 in accordance with instructions received from the agent module 61 or any other component of the system 50 may perform local processing operation in support of the functionality of agent module 61 or any other component of the system 50, and may provide data to the agent module 61 or to any other component of the system 50 in support of its operation. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the local services module 75 may be configured to identify when the user activates a metadata display option in respect of a certain hyperlink inserted into or otherwise associated with previously static content for providing a link towards a coupon(s) associated with that content, so that the user is present with metadata about the coupon, for example. In accordance with another example, the local services module 75 may be responsible for contacting the agent module 61 whenever a hyperlink inserted into the content or otherwise associated with the content is executed (together with any necessary data). In accordance with another example, the local services module 75 may be adapted to further filter the results of a query for coupon in accordance with locally implemented filters, for example, in accordance with filters defined by the user. According to some embodiments of the invention, the local services module 75 may be implemented using any available technique, including but not limited to, using a Java script, using various APIs, using a dedicated piece of software and as a browser extension, applet, application, etc.
In a certain scenario in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a user may send content to another user's device through an instant messaging service provider such as AOL of Virginia, USA, for example, which operates the popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). The instant messaging service provider may utilize an agent module installed on its servers to evaluate the packets of content. For illustration, the agent module may discover that the word "pizza" is included in the message. The agent module may verify that the word "pizza" acts as an incentive criterion, as explained above in greater detail. According to some embodiments of the invention, the agent would then query a repository of information about the recipient's location, preferences, etc. (optional) and may locate either through an ad-hoc global search of the network or through a more focused search on predefined resources within the network, such as on dedicated coupon servers or repositories, for appropriate and currently available pizza coupons. It should be noted, that in accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the query is executed only later, for example, when the user chooses to execute the query. It should also be noted that the query may or may not include the word "pizza" and may or may not include other words and terms, such as personal data in respect of the user for example.
In case in response to the query it is determined that there is at least one coupon available which satisfies the query, the agent module may convert the word pizza from static text to a hyperlink pointing to the appropriate coupon(s). Optionally, the agent module may also add metadata about the coupons such as short descriptions, user ratings, and locations that could be exploited. The agent may be configured to cooperate with a local service running on the user's computerized device to generate the metadata. The local service may also be used to control the display of the metadata to the user, for example when the user places his computer mouse above the hyperlink. The intended party thus receives the instant message which now carries additional information that includes a hyperlink towards one or more pizza coupons and the metadata about the one or more coupons. If the local service exists on the recipient's computing device, then some action, e.g. a right mouse click, hovering over the link, etc. could signal the local services to display the metadata about the associated coupons, as mentioned above.
According to another scenario in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an individual browsing the Internet from a mobile phone may be involved. The service provider, in this case the mobile phone service provider (e.g. Verizon Communication Inc., Wilmington, USA) could operate the agent module to evaluate the text on third-party websites. Consider, for example a user located in Belmont., California, browsing a website that contains information about Iron Gate restaurant, for example. The agent module may identify the combination of the name of the restaurant "Iron Gate" and its location " Belmont" within the text of a third party's website as the content is being received at the mobile phone (for example, for being displayed on the mobile phone's screen) and may recognize that the above combination is associated with various coupons, for example, with coupon for the Iron Gate restaurant. Ih response, the agent module may generate a query that specifies the search term "Iron Gate" and includes parameters such as the category "restaurant", the location "Belmont, CA", etc. This query may then be embedded into a hyperlink that is appended to the static text on the third-party webpage viewed by the user. When the user clicks on this hyperlink, it generates a ad-hoc query for any coupons that satisfy these criteria. This query might be satisfied from the Verizon coupon cache or directly from one or more coupon repositories via their API(s).
According to yet another scenario in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a hosted service accessible via a browser, like Gmail from Google of California, USA, for example, may be involved. The emails may be processed using an agent installed on the web-mail provider's servers to discover certain words in the body, subject line or even attachments of the emails of a user utilizing the service which are associated with incentive criteria. The service provider, for example based upon an evaluation of the user's prior history (User Info) with coupon, may determine which hyperlinks and keywords are most appealing to that individual. The service provider may then utilize the agent module to turn the various phrases or words into hyperlinks (with either direct links to coupons or embedded queries) with the appropriate metadata displayed when the individual moves a cursor over the hyperlink or clicks it with the right mouse button, or in some other way indicates a desire for additional information. Clicking the hyperlinks may link towards the appropriate coupons.
According to still another scenario in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a user may create an appointment to have lunch with an associate at the Red Lobster restaurant using a calendar application such as Outlook from Microsoft Corporation. Outlook may then send a message to the associate that includes the time, date, location, etc. of the lunch. The agent module may identify the name/phrase "Red Lobster" as being associated with an incentive criterion. In response, the agent module may associate the name/phrase "Red Lobster" with one or more coupons offered by Red
< Lobster, taking into account issues such as the date and time, number of participants and other information that might influence which coupons are valid under this scenario. Upon clicking on the newly created hyperlink in the Outlook invitation, the associate is presented with a selection of coupons for Red Lobster. Upon selecting a coupon, the user is presented with that coupon from the hosted coupon repository.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a computerized system for Coupon Creation and/or Management and/or Syndication, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A typical data structure and operation of the apparatus of Fig. 4 is now described in detail: The distributor 101 connects via the network 104 to the distributor registration module. The distributor follows the registration process, providing information about the distributor's contact information and business. This information is then stored in the distributor database 105. Then the distributor 101 proceeds to use the coupon creation manager to build an online coupon. The online coupon can be created as a result of input from the distributor 101 or by leveraging various elements provided to the distributor 101 from various databases e.g. databases 112-117. For example, the distributor might start by using an online coupon template from the template database 112. This template might be generic or it might be specific to the category and subcategory information provided by the distributor 101 in the process of registering 106. For example, a plumber might be presented with a standard (generic online coupon template) and plumber-specific templates.
The distributor 101 might also leverage sample offers from the sample offer database 113. Again, these sample offers might be generic (e.g. 10% OFF) or specific to the category and subcategory information (e.g. Free Plumbing Estimates). This same model of leveraging both generic elements and category/subcategory specific elements applies to audio elements from the audio database 114, image elements from the image database 115, text elements from the text database 116 and video elements from the video database 117. Unlike their printed brethren, online coupons provide the ability to add audio and video elements.
There are at least three alternatives to the above embodiment of assembling distributor added elements, and existing elements from the databases 112-117. One alternative embodiment is to upload an image of a coupon. This alleviates the need to leverage the template database 112, sample offer database 113, image database 115 and text database 116. However, the distributor can still associate video and/or audio to this online coupon. The other alternative embodiment is termed herein "1 -click coupons". In this embodiment, the system leverages the contact information and category/subcategory information provided by the distributor 101, in the process or registration 106, to automatically generate online coupons that are tailored to the distributor 101. For example, these 1 -click coupons might include a map to the distributor 101's location, contact information and offers specific to the distributor 101's business category/subcategory.
In the 1 -click coupons embodiment, the distributor 101 typically needs only to approve the coupons automatically generated by the system. The third alternative embodiment is termed "auto-service". In this embodiment, an affiliate company or individual provides contact information and category/subcategory information about one or more distributors 101. The system then uses this information to generate 1-click coupons. Then the system sends a hyperlink to these 1-click coupons to the distributor for approval. This auto-service model is used to proactively market the service to potential distributors 101, and the auto-service functionality, in one embodiment of the invention may be exposed to affiliates via an application programming interface. Once the online coupon is completed, it is passed to the coupon manager 110, which provides management functions for the existing online coupons. The coupon manager 110 stores online coupons in the coupon database 121. Then if the distributor 101 wishes to edit an existing online coupon, the coupon manager 110 handles this process. The coupon manager 110 also orchestrates the creation and editing of distribution rules, which are then stored in the distribution rules database 119.
Distribution rules might include, for example, rules that limit the number of times each collector 103 can use a particular online coupon (among other such rules). For example, a distribution rule might say that each user can use a specific coupon only once. Another example of a distribution rule is, only make a coupon available to users who have used a competitor's coupon in the last month. Generally, distribution rules may comprise syndication rules which define the extent and type of syndication desired by an individual distributor 101; and/or limitation of use rules which limit use of a coupon for all collectors 103 or for, or to, certain profiles of collector 103. Distribution rules may even govern the Pause/Activated status of a coupon. If a coupon is paused it remains in the system, but it is not available to collectors 103. When a coupon is activated it is available to collectors 103, subject to any distribution rules stored in the distribution rules database 119.
In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the coupon manager could interface, via an application programming interface, with third-party coupon creation managers, such that third-party applications could generate online coupons which are then available for syndication through the system of Fig. 4.
The coupon manager 110 also manages the process of creating and editing metadata about each online coupon, which is stored in the metadata database 120. Metadata is information that is not actually displayed on the coupon but helps the system orchestrate syndication. Here are a couple of examples of metadata: (1) the coupon's start date. While a coupon's expiration date is displayed, the start date is not. However, the start date metadata is typically used by the system to determine when it should make the coupon available to syndication. (2) The category/subcategory information. This information is used to help organize the online coupons such that users can find them more easily either manually using the coupon directory & search manager 111 or via the application programming interface 123.
Distribution rules may also be considered metadata in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.
Once this information is stored in the various databases 119-121, the coupon syndication manager 122 then leverages this information to orchestrate the syndication of online coupons. In the process of accessing and using coupons, the coupon syndication manager tracks the usage of each collector 103 and stores this in the collector usage database 118. This information can be used to implement distribution rules stored in the distribution rules database 119. The coupon syndication manager 122 then manages the syndication of online coupons via the coupon directory & search manager 111 to the collector 103. The coupon syndication manager 122 also manages the distribution via the application programming interface (API) 123. The application programming interface 123 then orchestrates the syndication of online coupons through syndication website or application 125, via the network 124 to the collector 103.
The redeemer 102 may or may not be the same entity as the distributor. The redeemer 102 may optionally interact with the system to provide redemption information which could be filtered, via the coupon syndication manager 122 and ultimately incorporated into the collector usage database 118.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the redeemer is not equipped with any software. Entitlement of a collector 103 to a coupon is determined by the system of Fig. 4 and a redeemable version of each individual coupon is supplied only to those collectors 103 which are entitled to that individual coupon. Therefore, the redeemer may be a human operator who can safely assume that any redeemable coupon presented by a collector 103 is valid. On the other hand, a printed coupon with a watermark on it is not valid if the redeemer has been alerted in advance that watermarks are intended to differentiate "illegally printed" coupons from legally printed redeemable coupons.
The collector 103 may also register with the system described in Fig. 4. The collector need not register with the system, but such an anonymous interaction will result in limiting the collector 103's access to coupons that are governed by "user- specific" rules maintained in the distribution rules database 119 and managed by the coupon syndication manager 122. If the collector 103 does register for the system described in Fig. 4 in conjunction with the collector registration module 107, his information is then stored in the collector database 108, which is then used by the authentication module for login and access to online coupons.
Suitable Coupon Creation Manager Tables are preferably provided, such as but not limited to the following: Category Lookup table: This is a table of the now current categories for online coupons. Instead of using two fields to describe the category and subcategory, the system merely gives each subcategory a number. This numbering scheme is then used throughout the system.
TemplateDB_112: The Template DB may store the templates that are used to create coupons. The system typically stores a plurality of templates which may include at least one generic template suitable for all categories of distributor 101 and/or at least one category- or subcategory-specific template for each of the plurality of categories and optionally subcategories of distributor, where each distributor typically identifies the category to which she/he belongs as part of his registration in distributor registration module 106 or in the process of adding a coupon in conjunction with the coupon creation manager 109. The display name may be the name of the template that is displayed for the Distributor to select from. The file name may be the actual name the template file is stored under. The category ID may come from the category lookup table. The text font may be standardized for the coupon, and each element may then have its own size and color. The font size may be based on the point size of the font and the color may be based on the PMS color table. Properties like font, size and color may also be stored numerically using a lookup table like the category ID. In another embodiment of the invention, the font size may be automatically scaled downward to accommodate longer text strings entered by distributor 101. When a Distributor selects a template, the system may format the text elements, entered by the Distributor, into the appropriate look based upon the description for the specific template.
SampleOffersDB_l 13: This table of offers may be organized by category ID and may be proffered to Distributors to facilitate their selection or definition of their coupon offer. The Distributor may define the category and select a template and then the System may proffer sample offers for the Distributor's category. This table may also be used by 1 -Click Coupons and Auto-Service to dynamically generate coupons for the Distributor. The objective field describes a typical objective of the distributor. The offer description may furthei; describe how the objective is achieved using this offer. The coupon headline and coupon details may be inserted accordingly. The "Coupon details" field may be optional. "Availability" is a field that may be used to define usage limits on the coupon. ' IU Ji S 1U 3 ILJ O .■■' "V11B11O JIu IUf
AudioDB_l 14: The Audio table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected the category/subcategory, the Coupon Creation Manager 109 may query the Audio DB 114 for audio clips that can be played along with the coupon's display. In addition to the category-specific audio clips, the system may also proffer generic audio clips as options to the Distributor. These audio clips may be displayed using the display name. The Distributor may then listen to and approve the audio file's association with the online coupon.
ImageDB_l 15: The Image table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected a category/subcategory, the Coupon Manager 109 may query the Image DB 115. In addition to the category-specific images the System may also provide generic images and/or an image of a map to the Distributor's location. The Distributor may then select the image that is appropriate for his coupon, which may be inserted into the area allocated on the coupon for the image.
TextDB_l 16: There are a variety of text elements that may be employed in the creation of the online coupon. One of these is the disclaimer. The disclaimer may include a string of standard legal and/or business texts such as "Not redeemable for cash." and "Not valid weekends and holidays."
VideoDB_l 17: The Video table may be organized by category ID number. After a Distributor has selected the category/subcategory, the Coupon Creation Manager 109 queries the Video DB 117 for video clips that may either be embedded into the coupon or associated with the coupon. These video clips may be displayed using the display name. The Distributor may then watch and approve the audio file's association with the online coupon.
Coupon Manager Databases may include the following:
Collector Usage Database 118: This database may collect information about coupon usage including some or all of the following: hits (each time a Collector views the coupon display page), prints (each time a Collector prints the coupon) and sents (each time a Collector sends the coupon to his mobile device). The table may record the coupon JD, a unique identifier for each coupon in the system. It may track the Collector who hit/printed/sent the coupon (Hit By, Print By, Sent By). It may track the date and time of the action as well, which information may be used to address rules such as "limited Use" rules. Finally a Referrer ID may be stored to uniquely identify the affiliate who published the coupon to the Collector, which information may be used to compute compensation for the referring affiliate.
Distribution Rules Database 119: The distribution rules may be used to restrict the distribution of online coupons in the system. There are a number of data structures which may be employed alternatively or collectively to implement distribution restriction such as but not limited to those described herein:
A Distributor might signify a coupon as being "Limited Distribution" so that each registered collector can only use the selected coupon according to a specific frequency. The Limited use field may use a code from the Limited Use Code Lookup table to determine how frequently the online coupon can be used.
If the Distributor selects Limited Distribution, he may also define a quick expiration for the coupon so that when printed, the coupon expires within a specified period. The quick expiration may use a code that is stored in the Quick Expiration Code Lookup table.
The Distributor may define a monthly limit on the amount spent for syndication of the specific coupon. This may be defined in the Monthly Cap field, e.g. by entering a dollar amount.
The Mobile Flag is a flag that alerts the system as to whether or not a specific coupon is available to be sent to mobile devices. The flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well.
The NoSyn Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon has a list of websites that it may not be syndicated to, in other words a list of blacklisted websites. The flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system may go to the NoSyn table where the IDs of the referrers (Affiliates) that are prohibited from syndicating the coupon are listed for each coupon ID.
The SynOnly Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon has a list of websites that it may be syndicated to, in other words a list of whitelisted websites. The flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", the system may go to the SynOnly table where the IDs of the referrers (Affiliates) that may syndicate the coupon are listed for each coupon ID. ' IL, I ,/ Ut ^ U to ,/ "i-'Hi-to ϋLJ
The Comp Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon is only available to Collectors who have used a competitor's coupon. The flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system may go to the Comp UserHD table where it may find the Coupon ID and then the other coupon IDs the Collector must have printed to have gained access to the specific coupon.
The Pause Flag is a flag that alerts the system whether or not the specific coupon is currently in paused mode, and is therefore not available for use by Collectors. The flag may comprise a yes/no flag (which can be handled with numbers 0/1) as well. For example, if the flag is "yes", then the system might know that the coupon is paused and is therefore not available to Collectors.
Metadata Database 120 contains a number of tables containing metadata that describes either the distributor (also termed herein the "business" associated with the coupon) or the coupon. These tables may include some or all of the following tables:
Hours of Operation: This table typically addresses the hours of operation that the business operates. Each distributor, according to the distributor ID, has a start and end date for each day they are open for business. The N means that the business is not open for business during that day.
Payments Accepted: This table typically maintains the distributor ID and then a flag yes/no (or 0/1) for each type of payment defining whether that form of payment is accepted or not.
List of Selling Points: This table typically maintains a text field for each distributor. The distributor is then able to add any text they deem appropriate.
Locations: Each distributor may have multiple locations. This table associates each location, as defined by the address, city, state, zip, phone number and fax, with a distributor ID number.
Keywords: The distributor is typically able to add keywords, which are associated with the specific coupon defined by the Coupon ID number and stored in a Keywords table.
Tags: Users are typically able to add tags for each coupon, which are associated with the specific coupon defined by the Coupon ID number in a Tags table. Coupon Database 121: The coupon database typically contains the information assembled by the Distributor as he uses the Coupon Creation Manager 109 in coordination with the template database 112, sample offer database 113, audio database 114, image database 115, text database 116 and video database 117.
Each coupon typically has a coupon ID to uniquely identify it. The coupon ID is typically associated with a distributor as defined by the Dist ID. Each Dist ID is typically associated with an Affiliate ID (AfffD), which is used for the purposes of compensating affiliates who refer distributors. The category number typically defines the category of the coupon from that lookup table. The CouponHeadline typically contains the headline for the coupon as entered by the Distributor or selected from the sample offer database 113, as does the coupon details. Other generally self-explanatory fields are also shown.
Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a preferred implementation of the authentication module 126 of Fig. 4. The authentication module authenticates the user for the purposes of ensuring that only a properly authenticated user may create and manage online coupons. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited in this respect, and according to further embodiments of the invention, some functions of the authentication module 126 may reside on the user's computing device, or an intermediary server as described below.
The collector/distributor registration with captcha module 211 may be operative to evaluate whether the entity attempting to access the system of Fig. 4 is a human or an automated process (e.g. a bot) attempting to gain access to the system for the purpose of creating an account, or possibly for the purpose of creating an online coupon or managing existing online coupons.
The liability acceptance module 212 may be operative to ensure that the distributor, when initially creating an account, affirmatively agrees to accept liability for all online coupons the distributor creates, approves, and/or manages in the system of Fig. 4.
The credit card validation module 213 may be operative to ensure that the distributor, when initially creating an account, affirmatively agrees to accept financial responsibility for all online coupons the distributor creates, approves, and/or manages in ' (LJ. i) .•■'" 'U( 3 I]JI IO ,/ '"T 11Il11 In( JtJUl the system of Fig. 4 and that the distributor has the means to pay for any charges involved in the creation, management or syndication of his online coupons.
The human validation module 214 may be operative to route some or all attempts to create accounts in the system of Fig. 4, which have passed the prior modules, if operative, are engaged by a human being for the purpose of validating their identity and/or their acceptance of some or all of the terms of use of the system. For example, but in no way limiting the function of the human verification module, such a module might auto-dial the distributor and pass the line to an operator who verifies the distributor's identity and their agreement with the terms of use of the system of Fig. 4.
The online coupon creation module 109 maybe operative to elicit the distributor 101 to provide, or simply approve, the information necessary to assemble an online coupon. This process and the types of information provided by the distributor 101 are further defined hereinbelow.
The online coupon management module 110 may be operative as a logical encapsulation of the functions associated with managing an online coupon. Such management functions might include, but are not limited to, editing the online coupon, flagging the coupon as being unavailable for consumption by collectors 103 (e.g. pausing the coupon) as further defined herein, deleting the online coupon and various other functions on might engage in with regard to managing a coupon.
The coupon manager 110 may include an online coupon metadata module operative as a mechanism for capturing additional data (e.g. as provided by a user employing conventional input devices such as a keyboard or mouse, or as provided by a remote computer) about the online coupon to support further sorting, access, management, syndication or control of the online coupon. The online coupon metadata module in coupon manager 110 might capture information about the coupon that is not visible on the coupon itself, including, but not limited to, such information as when the coupon is to be made available to consumers (the start date), the categorization of the coupon (e.g. Home repair: Roofing), user generated ratings about the coupon or the business offering the coupon, keywords associated with the coupon to facilitate association of said coupon with online search, and other such valuable metadata about the coupon. The coupon manager 110 may also include an online coupon distribution rules module operative to define the rules for distribution of syndication of the coupon. For example, the distributor 101 might limit coupon availability to individuals to a certain number or frequency (e.g. one coupon per individual collector 103 per year, or some other number and frequency as further defined herein), or the distributor 101 might place a cap on the amount distributor 101 is willing to spend for coupon distribution or syndication during a specific period of time (e.g. $100 budget per month), which websites may distribute said coupon or other such rules for how the coupon may be distributed or syndicated.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a coupon syndication manager 122 may be operative to coordinate the online coupon(s) possibly defined online, taking into account the constraints possibly defined in the online coupon manager module 110 (e.g. such as a paused coupon), leveraging the information possibly maintained in the online coupon metadata module enabling, for example superior search or targeting of online coupons, and possibly according to the distribution rules defined in the online coupon distribution rules module. The coupon syndication module, would then make the online coupons available to the collector 103 directly, or through various intermediaries.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the coupon syndication module, which represents merely a logical grouping of processes related to online coupon syndication, and may or may not be distinct from the various other coupon functions defined in Fig. 4, may not actually syndicate the visual representation of the online coupon itself, but may instead syndicate information about the coupon, information defined by the distributor 101 in a self-service manner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the purposes of illustration only, but not so as to limit such syndication, the coupon syndication manager 122 might syndicate the offer, expiration date, category and other such data through intermediaries or direct to collectors 103, while the collector 103 would ultimately have to get the image of the coupon directly from the coupon syndication manager 122 or from the distributor 101 himself.
According to some embodiments of the invention, some or all functions of the online coupon creation manager 109, the online coupon manager 110, possibly (Ui t .■..'■ 1U' ώ-ϊ IUI BI ,.■' ""I" "11JJ" IQ JL 1.Ui including the online coupon metadata module and/or the online coupon distribution rules module therewithm, may operate on the distributor 101's or an intermediary's computing device.
According to some embodiments of the invention, each coupon syndication module may include data in respect of one or more coupons from one or more distributors 101. According to some embodiments of the invention, a coupon syndication module may require authentication data for authenticating a collector 103 to enable access to a coupon and/or data necessary for creating a tangible coupon or coupons (for example, data necessary for creating a printable image of a valid coupon).
According to some embodiments of the invention, the distributor 101 might define certain criteria which the collector 103 must meet in order to gain access to or use of selected online coupon(s) or incentive offers. For the purposes of illustration, but not to limit the scope of the options available, the distributor 101 might specify that a discounted pizza coupon is only available to consumers that use (print, redeem, etc.) a competitor's pizza coupon two or more times per week. Collectors 103 who achieve this criterion would then have access to the online coupon. t
In just one of many different scenarios, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the online coupon creation manager 110 might reside on a remote computing device, such as a server. The distributor 101 might use a browser to interact with the coupon creation manager 110 for the purposes of creating online coupons and/or managing online coupons, which are then either directly or through a syndication mechanism (122, 123, 125) , made available to the collector 103.
In just one of many different scenarios, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, one, some or all of the managers of Fig. 4 might interact with other computing devices, which in turn surface the online coupon functionality to the distributor 101. The other computing device might interact directly with the distributor 101 while the online manager/s provide/s supporting services directly to the other computing device. For the purposes of illustration, but not to limit the scope of the options available, Microsoft might offer a service to users in the form of its OfficeLive service operating on a collection of computing devices. OfficeLive might offer services for creating and managing online coupons. One or more OfficeLive servers might then interact, either in real-time or in a batched mode, with the online coupon creation manager 109 for various supporting services, especially for the purposes of syndicating online coupons created through the OfficeLive service. OfficeLive might also interact, either real-time or in batched mode, with the coupon manager 110, to facilitate syndication of the coupon(s) created in the OfficeLive environment.
An online coupon might include video, sound and other elements. As a result, the process of creating an online coupon, particularly in a self-service manner, may allow the user to define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain textual elements either by selecting from presented options e.g. taken from textual database 116, approving algorithmically generated text, entering text manually or by uploading certain text to be added to the online coupon.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain coupon metadata either by selecting from presented options, algorithmically generated metadata, entering text manually or by uploading certain metadata to be associated with the online coupon.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by using one or more coupon templates e.g. from among those stored in template database 112, which might provide one or more of the following elements: text elements, coupon metadata, image elements, audio elements, and/or video elements. Such a coupon template might alternatively be provided by a third-party and uploaded into the system of Fig. 4.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain image elements either by selecting from presented options, opting for an algorithmically generated image such as a digital map of the users location, drawing an image manually, or by uploading one or more images to be added to the online coupon.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain audio elements either by selecting from presented options, approving algorithmically generated audio, recording audio or by uploading one or more audio files to be associated with the online coupon.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the user might define certain elements of the online coupon by adding certain video elements either by selecting from presented options, recording a video in conjunction with the service provided in this invention, or by uploading one or more video files to be associated with the online coupon.
An online coupon may be made unavailable to, or unusable by, collectors 103 at the option of the distributor 101, or on the basis of some other criteria. According to some embodiments of the invention, distributor 101 may choose to make one or more online coupons unavailable to the collector 103, such that it can be made available to the collector 103 once again without recreating the online coupon from scratch. Alternately, the online coupon might be made unavailable to consumers, without completely deleting the online coupon, via a trigger such as hitting a cap on the number of coupons used during a defined period of time, or other such similar triggers defined either by the user or algorithmically. The process of making the coupon unavailable may be described using such terms as paused, unavailable, offline, inactive, etc.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the process of making one or more online coupons unavailable or unusable (e.g. paused) by the collector 103, without completely removing the information associated with the online coupon can be achieved through a variety of means. For purposes of illustration only, but not to limit the scope of the options available for achieving this objective, the pausing of the online coupon might be achieved by moving the information about the online coupon from a physical collection of active coupons to a physical collection of inactive coupons. Another approach to pausing an online coupon might include flagging the online coupon as paused and then redirecting the collector 103 to a webpage reading "Coupon Not Available" or some other such verbiage. These are just two of many examples of mechanisms used to pause one or more online coupons. Making such paused coupons active or available to collector 103 might simply involve reversing of the pausing process. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, each coupon in the coupon database 121 might have a paused/active field indicating whether that coupon is currently paused or active.
According to certain embodiments of the invention, users may define rules governing how their online coupon(s) may be distributed.
According to some embodiments of the invention, distributor 101 may choose to place certain limits on the distribution and use of their online coupon(s). For purposes of illustration only, but not to limit the scope of the options available for achieving this objective, online coupon distribution rules maintained in the distribution rules database 119 might include limits on how many coupons each individual collector 103 may view or use certain online coupons in any specified period of time. For purposes of illustration only, such a distribution rule might limit the collector 103 to using a specific online coupon only once per month. If said collector 103 attempts to use that same online coupon more than once per month, instead of providing access to that coupon from the coupon database 121, the collector 103 might instead get an alert that the coupon is not available. This is just one example of any number of mechanisms for addressing this objective, defined by the example rule provided.
According to some embodiments of the invention, online coupon distribution rules in the distribution rules database 119 might include limitations on which distribution mechanisms are acceptable to the distributor 101. For purposes of illustration only, but not to limit the scope of the invention, a distributor 101 might specify that he will not accept online coupons displayed on mobile devices. This rule for online coupon distribution would then prohibit distribution to mobile devices, for example. This is just one of many examples of online coupon distribution rules that can be used to limit access to selected online coupons.
According to some embodiments of the invention, online coupon distribution rules might include limitations on which individual consumers have access to certain online coupons. For purposes of illustration only, but not to limit the scope of the invention, one such distribution rule might limit a selected online coupon for pizza to certain consumers who achieve certain criteria such as using a competitor's online coupon for pizza two or more times per week. This is just one of many examples of online coupon distribution rules that can be used to limit access to selected online coupons.
Reference is now made to Figs. 6A - 6F which, taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of operation of the coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Reference is also made to Fig. 7A which is an example of a coupon creation table which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig. 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Reference is made to Figs. 8A - 8D as examples of coupon manager tables which may, for example, reside in coupon database 121 of Fig, 4 in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Reference is now made to Fig. 9 which illustrates an example of registration information for the user who wishes to create and syndicate coupons. The email address serves as their username. The CAPTCHA is used to ensure that the user is a human and not an automated robot. Once the user registers, a validation email may be sent to their email address as shown in Fig. 10.
Reference is now made to Fig. 10. As shown, after the distributor (also termed herein a "user") registers, the system sends the user an email. Typically, the user must open the email and click on the embedded hyperlink to activate the account. This is another, alternative or cumulative, form of validating the user.
Reference is now made to Fig. 11 which is an example of login dialog for getting into the system. This same login may serve to login distributors 101, collectors 103 and affiliates.
Reference is now made to Fig. 12 in which users are asked to enter a valid credit card to further validate their identity and their acknowledgement that they accept financial and legal responsibility for fraudulent coupons.
Reference is now made to Figs. 13 - 14 in which the user selects their business (if they have more than one) for which they wish to create a coupon 1301. Typically, the screen illustrated in Fig. 13 is a pull down list including only businesses that the user has set-up in advance in the system of Fig. 4. An example of a session which may be provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is now described:
Upon selecting a business (1301) the system checks the category/subcategory database to see if the category/sub-category have been defined previously, which selection may be edited on a per coupon basis by the user. Otherwise the user selects the category in 1302. Upon selecting the category, the system pulls the list of applicable subcategories 1303 from the category/sub-category database and presents them as a drop down list in 1303 for the user to select. Then the user adds the start date 1304 for the coupon and the expiration date 1305, e.g. with the help of a pop-up calendar object, or manually. The default start date is the date the coupon is being created and the default end date 1305 is, say, one year from the date the coupon is being created. Under "Availability" 1306 the user defines whether the coupon is "Always Available" or "Limited Use" via a drop down list in 1306. "Always available" typically indicates that the consumer can use that coupon without constraint (every time the consumer makes a purchase from the user). If the distributor or distributor 101 selects "Limited Use" she is typically presented with additional options asking the user to define how many times each collector 103 can use the coupon e.g. from presented options like "once, once a year once a day" in 1308. Then the user may set a quick expiration date. This overrides the standard expiration with a sooner one (e.g. 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 30 days) in 1309. The user may also watch a video on how coupons are redeemed via cell phone and then opt to accept cell phone coupons by checking the box indicating that they will accept mobile coupons.
Reference is now made to Fig. 15 which is a simplified version of step #2 in coupon creation. First the user determines whether they want to upload an existing coupon image or create the coupon online. This window addresses the process of creating one online. First the user selects a template (or adds their own), then enters the coupon headline. The system provides options for a coupon headline (context sensitive) under the "Need Suggestions?". Then the user adds the coupon details (e.g. any constraints on use), edits the disclaimer (a standard disclaimer is typically provided and may be the default). Then the user has the option to use one of our standard images, audio or video, not use any, or upload their own. Then the user may approve the coupon and make it active (live for use by consumers) or paused (saved but not available to consumers), or cancel.
Reference is made to Fig. 16 which is a simplified screenshot illustrating an online coupon image uploading dialogue useful in conjunction with the method of Fig. 6C, where a distributor chooses to syndicate an image of an existing coupon, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Reference is now made to Fig. 17 which describes a user interface with which the user can define various distribution rules. Examples of possible distribution rules which may be built into the system of Fig. 4 are now described: The user selects a coupon from the list 1901 and then defines the characteristics for that coupon, such as the monthly syndication fee cap 1702, where the user enters a maximum amount he is willing to spend on syndication for the selected coupon. After the coupon syndication reaches the monthly maximum, the coupon is paused and displayed as such on the user's control panel. The user can limit the coupon such that it is only made available to consumers who use that user's competitors' coupons. The user then maintains a list of his competitors in field 1704. The user can also check the box 1708 to blacklist certain websites, the list of which is maintained in 1709. The coupon is then not syndicated through these websites. The user can also check the box 1713 to limit coupon syndication to selected websites the list of which websites is maintained in 1714.
Reference is now made to Fig. 18 which illustrates a dialog of how a user can manage coupons. The service adds the company name (1801) and information about each coupon in the list. The user can set the spending limit for all coupons in section (1802) or individually by coupon (1807). The user can pause or activate coupons by clicking on the paused/active to toggle it. This function may, for example, be represented by a stop light (green/red). The user can also pause all coupons for the business by clicking button 1812. The user can typically change the budget by clicking on link 2008, edit the coupon by clicking 2009, or delete it by clicking 1809. If the user deletes coupons she/he can view and undelete them by clicking on button 1811.
Reference is now made to Fig. 19 in which the collector 103 looks for a coupon on a third-party application or website 125. The third-party application or website connects to the API (123) and passes authentication information that might include an API key and other information. The actual query 1907 and the authentication information 1903 may be provided at the same time. This information is passed to an authentication module 126, which checks the authentication information against the API authentication database. If this information is valid, the API interacts with the third- party website to provide information that satisfies the query. This might include sending metadata about the coupon and a hyperlink to the coupon (alternately, it could send the actual coupon in some format such as text or image). This information may or may not be cached at the third-party website for reasons of performance.
The third-party website then passes this information to the consumer. If the coupon metadata and a hyperlink to the coupon are provided, then the consumer must further activate the hyperlink to obtain the actual coupon for redemption. In this process, the consumer might be requested to provide authentication information, which request might be handled via a cookie on the consumer's local machine, through direct input from the user, or through a third-party authentication services such as Microsoft Passport. Any authentication information is verified against the consumer authentication database. This last process might be used to enforce consumer-specific distribution rules (e.g. access to a specific coupon only once per month). If the consumer is granted access to the coupon(s) in question, the coupon(s) are generated via the display engine and presented to the consumer.
Reference is now made to Fig. 20 which illustrates use of non- valid images of coupons to force metered printing. An important characteristic of a1 pay-per-action computerized system is the ability to track the monetized action which in this case may comprise the activation of an online coupon. This activation of a coupon may be an action such as but not limited to a print, authorize, or send to mobile action.
As shown, a collector 103 is interacting with the online coupon service 2002. The consumer might authenticate with the service 2003 through an authentication engine 126 that checks the information provided against the authentication database 108. Authentication is typically optional. Then the system 2002 generates coupon results that satisfies some criteria provided by the user (location, search query, etc.). These results are sourced from the coupon database 121. The online coupon is then altered (either dynamically or an altered image is stored in the coupon database) and presented to the collector 103. The collector then sees an image of the coupon that has been altered so that it is invalid. In order to receive a valid version of the online coupon, the collector must take some action, such as clicking a "redeem" button or clicking a "print coupon" button. This alerts the system 2002 to provide the user with a valid coupon. This also triggers the system to record the consumer's activity in the metering database 2012, since this information is critical to the billing system.
Reference is now made to Fig. 21 A which illustrates a system for creating online coupons with a single click of the mouse (1 -click coupons). This system typically operates as follows: the system collects the distributor's information at the time of registration and then generates proposed online coupons for the distributor to accept, edit, or decline with the single click of a mouse. The distributor 101 registers with the system 2101. The registration module 106 asks the distributor to provide certain contact information and the category (and possibly sub-category) that the distributor would like to categorize their business under (e.g. home services : plumber). Then the distributor clicks the "1 -Click Coupons" button in the service. This pulls the contact information from the distributor database 105 and inserts it into the coupon. It also passes the distributor's category and sub-category information to the sample offer database 113 which responds with coupon offer information specific to this category: sub-category. These offers are also inserted into the online coupon.
The 1 -click coupon generator 2107 might also request additional resources, such as a map for the distributor's location (passing the contact information) from a coupon resources service 2110. The 1 -click coupon generator then assembles this information into one or more 1 -click coupons which are displayed 4500 for the distributor to act upon. The distributor then views these coupons and either clicks the accept button 4504 or the edit button 4505 to edit the 1 -click coupon. If the distributor accepts the coupon, it is added to the coupon database 121 for syndication and management by the coupon manager 110. I
Reference is made to Fig. 2 IB which is a table useful in implementing the 1- click coupon generating system of Fig. 21 A and/or an analogous one-click coupon generating mode of operation of the apparatus of Fig. 4.
Reference is now made to Fig. 22 which illustrates elicitation of User Account Information by the system of Fig. 4 and facilitation of a user's editing/managing of his or her account information. The user interface may be broken down into three sections. The first is the Login Information (2201) which can be edited by clicking the Edit button (2202) for that section. The second section maintains the contact information for the user (2203) which can be edited by clicking the edit button for that section (2204). Both of these prior sections were initially added during the registration process, and this is where they can be edited. The final section is where a user can add businesses by clicking the Add button (2205). Preferably, a user can have multiple businesses, and each business can have multiple coupons. If a distributor wishes to add another business she/he may click the Add button 2205 and be taken to another screen (Fig. 23 and Fig. 24)( where she/he fills out the information on that business and it adds it to the list. If a distributor has a long list of locations (e.g. a business with many branches in many different locations) these can be uploaded using a spreadsheet. The text shown herein is merely by way of example. Reference is now made to Fig. 23 which is a user interface facilitating the addition of a new business. This screen may follow the screen of Fig. 22 above, where a user may add multiple businesses. If the business contact information is the same as registration, the user may simply check box 2301 and the information is auto-filled. A user can upload a logo to be placed on her coupons using button 2303 to find the file for upload. Other components of the user interface are self-explanatory.
Reference is now made to Fig. 24 which is a continuation of Fig. 23. If the business being added has multiple locations, businesses can be added one at a time by clicking the add button 2401 to add the businesses in real-time to the list 2402. There may also be optional fields of information, namely the payments accepted, hours of operation and list of services or selling points. For each of these, the user may simply click the add button for that section and add the information.
Reference is now made to Fig. 25 in which a user adds a new location for a specific business.
Reference is now made to Fig. 26 in which payments accepted are edited. A user may simply check off the boxes for the payments she/he accepts.
Reference is now made to Fig. 27 in which distributor's hours of operation are edited. A user may simply select the start and end hours for each day from pull-down lists.
Reference is now made to Fig. 28 in which the distributor may enter selling points to further describe his business. Reference is now made to Fig. 29 in which a mobile coupon is created by the system of Fig. 4. Fig. 29 is a preferred implementation of step 3 of the coupon creation and is completed by the distributor (advertiser) if she/he opts to accept mobile coupons. Since Fig. 29 may be the third screen (following the online version) the system typically complies and concatenates the coupon header and offer details. A user may enter a coupon code, which is displayed. Then if the user checks the box (2904), that coupon code may be turned into a bar code, which is displayed on the user's mobile telephone. Also typically provided is an image e.g. of a telephone 2907 showing what the coupon is going to look like as the user builds it. Then the user may enter her own phone number in 2905 and press the test button and the system sends this coupon to her cell phone so she can preview it. Reference is now made to Fig. 30 which illustrates generation of reports of coupons viewed and/or coupons clicked. Fig. 30 typically forms part of the user (distributor) control panel. The user may select the report type (e.g. clicks and prints) from the pull down menu 3001. Then the user may set the start date 3002 and end date 3003, the default being, say, starting 1 year ago through today. Then the user may click the generate report button 3006 and the system generates the report in table 3005. The user can typically obtain more details by clicking on the details button 3006. To print the report the user typically uses button 3007.
Reference is now made to Fig. 31 which illustrates a consumer facing coupon directory. Illustrated is an example of atop level coupon directory. Each of the directory headings is a hyperlink to the list of coupons (Fig. 33). Typically, the user can enter text in field 3103 and click the search button 3104 to find specific coupons. He can change his location (now set for akron OH in this case) by clicking change location 3102 and going to Fig. 33. Clicking on a specific category may take the user to the list of coupons in that category (Fig. 33). Deal alerts may be displayed, and any new coupons added to the list may be sent upon request to a user's RSS readers, or sent to the user's email account. These actions can be user-requested by clicking 3106, 3107 or 3108 as appropriate. Li some embodiments of the invention, this Fig. 31 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
Reference is now made to Fig. 32 which is an example of the set location functionality. If the user elects to change his location, he is taken to this dialog (screen) where he selects the country via pull-down and then types in the zip code 3202 and clicks set location 3204.
Reference is now made to Fig. 33 which illustrates a list of available coupons in a category. When collectors click on a category in Fig. 31, they may be taken to this screen, where they are presented with a list of available coupons in that category. The collectors can still search (at screen location 3303) and change location (at screen location 3302). If they click on input option 3306, the system opens the coupons for the collector to print (and/or send to his/her mobile). Using input option 3305 the collector can select multiple coupons to print, or send to favorites. When a user sends a coupon to favorites 3315, the coupons is listed in the Favorites folder on the top-level directory Fig. 31. The collector can use the check all user option 3311 and the uncheck user option 3312 to manipulate the check boxes. Clicking the info link 3307 provides the optional information described in Figs 24-26. Clicking the "website" user option takes the collector to the business' website. The first rating rates the business 3309 and the second rates the value of the coupon 3310. The collector adds rating by clicking on the star-placeholders there, and the rating associated with the star ratings is displayed (Very bad, Bad, OK, Good, Great). In some embodiments of the invention, this Fig. 33 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
Fig. 34 is a simplified screenshot illustration of a user interface by which a collector can register for coupon alerts, typically including deal alerts, such as email and RSS deal alerts. The user interface of Fig. 34 may be provided by any of the coupon management systems shown and described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments of the invention, this Fig. 34 may be provided in a form that can be embedded into affiliates' own websites (e.g. as a widget or gadget).
A particular advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that coupon metadata is stored pertaining to each coupon and characterizing each coupon, and that the collector may be prompted to request coupon alerts for a subset of coupons characterized by the metadata thereof as defined by a collector. For example, a collector might elect to receive only coupons pertaining to fishing equipment, or only coupons pertaining to eateries, or certain categories of eateries, within his zip code. The coupon alerts may be delivered to the collector using any suitable collector-defined medium and destination such as but not limited to email and SMS.
Fig. 35 illustrates an example of a Coupon Display Page in which a coupon is displayed to the Collector. The Coupon itself may be located at location 3504. It may be modified, distorted, obscured or obfuscated (e.g. by a watermark) so that the collector cannot get a valid coupon by simply printing the entire page. Instead the user is forced to click the print button 3501 or 3509. When users click on the print buttons the clean version of the coupon is sent directly to their printer. If the user clicks the tell-a-friend button 3503 or 3511 the system typically launches into Fig. 37, where the user can inform their friend about an online coupon and send that friend a link to the coupon in an email that is generated by the service. In order to use the tell-a-friend capability, the collector must be a registered user and have logged into the system.
The "send to mobile" buttons 3512 and 3513 are typically only present when the distributor has previously specified that it is willing to accept this coupon through mobile devices (phones). Clicking the "send to mobile" buttons 3512 and 3513 sends an SMS to the mobile phone number the collector has provided in the registration process. Clicking the check boxes 3505 - 3508 add the associated information to the coupon page when it is printed. These check boxes include the ability to display all locations for the distributor 3505, and additional information about the distributor 3506 such as payments accepted. The "Hours of operation" input option displays the hours of operation the distributor has set-up. Finally the selling points 3508 displays that information.
Fig. 36 is an example of a Company/Coupon Ratings and Reviews Page. Each coupon has a link to this window in the list of available coupons Fig. 33. If the collector is registered and logged in she/he can create and edit reviews for companies. The system typically allows ratings of coupons, in addition to rating the company. The collector can add the rating for the company and/or the coupon by clicking in the respective stars 3601 or 3602 to reflect their judgment of the rating. This is based upon a 5 -star rating. The collector can also write a review by entering a review title 3803 and a review text 3604. The collector can also enter tags 3605 about the business. These tags are then searchable to make the coupons show-up under appropriate searches. An example of a tag might be "Best burgers". Once this has been defined, each time another collector enters the search term "best burgers" this coupon will show up in the result set. Finally the collector can save the review (input option 3606) or cancel it (input option 3609).
Fig. 37 illustrates an example of a "Tell-a-Friend About a Coupon" user interface which facilitates collectors' spreading the word virally about coupons they find valuable in the system. When the collector finds what she/he deems to be an attractive coupon, she/he can click the tell-a-friend button 3503 (Fig. 35) to alert a friend to this attractive coupon. The collector is then presented with this screen. The image of the coupon 3701 is displayed for the collector to verify that this is the one he wishes to tell a friend about. The collector then enters any number of email addresses of friends into the "To:" field 3702. This sends each of those collectors a message as described by the subject line 3703 and body 3704, which includes a hyperlink to the actual coupon. The collector then clicks the send button 3705 to send the email to the email addresses in the to: field 3702. The collector may also cancel the transaction by clicking the cancel button 3706.
Fig. 38 is an example of a user interface for Affiliate Registration. "Affiliates" are agents which solicit distributors to add their online coupons to the service. The system preferably computes a predetermined portion of the revenue generated through the service on coupons from that distributor and accumulates this portion for the affiliate. Affiliates may also publish online coupons to collectors. Typically, the system computes a separate portion of the revenue generated by the system for those coupons that collectors act upon (with the action being a print, send to mobile, or other such action), and accumulates this portion of the revenue, as well, for the affiliate.
The registration process involves collecting contact information from the affiliate, information about the website they are using to promote the online coupons and, optionally, information on how to pay the affiliate their share of the revenue, including their tax name, tax ID number, organization type, payment method, account number and routing information. As with other registration forms used by the system, Fig. 38 may use a CAPTCHA code 3820 and 3821 to ensure that the affiliate is a human and not an automated bot. Once the affiliate clicks the register button 3823, the data in the form is checked and, if complete, it is stored in the affiliate database. Once the affiliate registration is completed, the affiliate's email address is verified via an email that includes a hyperlink that the affiliate must .click to complete the registration process. As part of the registration process, the affiliate is provided with a unique affiliate code, affiliate ID, which the system uses to identify the distributors and collectors referred by that affiliate for the purposes of compensating the affiliate for those actions.
Fig. 39 illustrates an example of a User Account Information Screen. Once an affiliate is registered in the system, she/he has the ability to manage their registration information, e.g. for the purposes of updates. The affiliate can edit the login information by clicking edit 3902 and modifying those fields. He can edit his contact information by clicking the edit button 3904 in the same manner. He can also modify payment information by clicking the edit button 3904.
The system optionally supports affiliates' efforts to promote the use of online coupons to both distributors and collectors. In order to support this effort, the service provides a collection of marketing tools e.g. as shown hereinbelow.
Fig. 40 illustrates an example of a "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Email Signature" user interface. This screen depicts one affiliate marketing tool which may be provided by the system, namely adding an email signature to be added at the bottom of the affiliate's emails. The system provides an email signature file to help affiliates recruit advertisers 4001. It is already customized for the affiliate with the affiliate ID to ensure proper tracking and compensation. The affiliate then simply copies this email signature and adds it to his email. The system provides directions on how to add the email signature to a variety of email services via unique hyperlinks to instructions for various email services.
Fig. 41 is an example of an "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Text Ads" user interface. Affiliates can market to distributors and collectors through the use of text ads that embed a link to the service. This hyperlink embeds the affiliate ID to facilitate tracking and compensation-related computation. These text ads come in a variety of lengths (1-line, 2-lines, 3-lines) and can be pasted directly into the affiliate's website.
Fig. 42 is an example of an "Affiliate Marketing Tools - Banner Ads" user interface. Affiliates can market to distributors and collectors through the use of banner advertising. The system optionally provides a collection of banner ads that can be easily pasted into any webpage, in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the banner ads may focus on recruiting distributors, while others focus on recruiting collectors. The banner ads are displayed along the left (e.g. at locations 4201 and 4203). The HTML code describing the banner ad is in the box to the right of each banner ad. The system automatically embeds the affiliate ID into the HTML code. The affiliate typically copies the HTML code and pastes it into his website to add a banner with his affiliate ID embedded. Then, when a distributor or collector clicks on the banner ad, the system accumulates, on behalf of the affiliate, appropriate compensation for subsequent actions.
Fig. 43 is an example of a user interface for generating Affiliate Reports. Typically, affiliates can generate reports to help them better understand their progress and their resulting income. There are, preferably, various types of reports the user can generate. The affiliate simply selects the report type from the drop down list in 4301. Then the affiliate defines the appropriate start time 4302 and end time 4303 and the clicks the generate report button 4304 and the system generates the selected report for the defined timeframe. The report displayed in Fig. 43 is a simple list of distributors which have registered under this affiliate's affiliate ID. An affiliate can print this report by clicking the print button 4308.
Fig. 44 illustrates an example of a System Application Programming Interface (API) 123 of Fig. 4. The system typically stores online coupons and information about those coupons as described herein. In order to facilitate broad distribution of these coupons, the system may comprise an application programming interface or API. Upon registration, each affiliate may be provided with an API key. This API key, along with the affiliate ID provides the affiliate with access to the functionality exposed via the API. The API typically affords at least one of several options whereby the affiliate may extract information via the API. The affiliate can find coupons by, typically, several keys such as business name, business category and phone number (methods 4401).
By clicking on the appropriate method 4401, the user is presented with the format defining how he calls the method programmatically and what parameters are passed to the system to define the result set provided back to the affiliate. Instead of passing the actual image of the online coupon back to the affiliate, the system provides information about the coupon (e.g. offer headline, expiration date, etc.) and a hyperlink to the coupon display page (Fig. 35) where the actual print or send to mobile actions are metered. Using the API, coupons can be built right into content on web pages, mobile phones and the like. For example, a collector might do a search for plumbers in her area using an Internet search engine. The search engine could pass the phone numbers from the search results to the system via the API, which would then return links to coupons associated with those phone numbers. Then the "Get Coupon" links could be built into the search links for the appropriate plumbers in the results.
To facilitate the process of programming using the API, the system typically provides API guides for different languages, such as but not limited to .NET and PHP. These tools make it easier to plug coupons right into an existing application. Fig. 45 illustrates an example of 1 -Click Coupons. Distributors have the ability to create online coupons using templates, sample offers and other ready-made coupon components which are stored in the system as described herein. In order to further simplify the coupon creation process, the system provides, alternatively or in addition, 1 -Click Coupon generation. The system takes the distributor's contact information and category/subcategory and assembles customized coupons. This service employs a database of offers and templates specific to each category/subcategory combination. It also typically uses existing web-based services such as map generators. It then assembles the coupon template, map to the business location and a variety of offers specific to the business type, to create one or more "custom" coupons for the distributor. As a result, once the distributor has registered with the system, clicking a single button generates at least one and preferably several one-click coupons e.g. as shown in Figs. 50A - 50C, that the distributor can simply approve or edit.
Each 1 -Click Coupon typically is associated with an offer from among a plurality of system-stored offers that is meant to achieve a specific business objective. The coupon objective is presented to the user at screen location 4501. Then the coupon description 4502 further explains how the coupon offer achieves this coupon objective. The actual coupon is displayed at screen location 4503 for the distributor to review and approve. If the distributor approves of the 1 -Click Coupon as is, he simply clicks the accept button 4504 and the coupon 4503 is made live in the system. If he clicks edit button 4505, he cari modify the coupon and then approve it. This makes coupon creation faster and easier because the distributor is only required to approve the online coupon, not to create it.
Fig. 46 is an Online Coupons Inputs & Outputs Diagram which is an overview of a coupon management system constructed and operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, illustrating various ways to get coupons and coupon information into and out of the system. The coupon inputs are on the left side of the diagram; one, some or all of these may be provided. One coupon input is the self- service coupon wizard. This is the coupon creation module 109 of Fig. 4. The distributor can create his own coupon using this module and exploiting the elements provided by the system such as online coupon templates, sample offers, etc. The 1 -Click Coupons 4602 functionality is also encapsulated in module 109 of Fig. 4 and is described in Fig.45.
Auto-service 4603 is a process and method of exposing the 1 -Click Coupon service via an application programming interface (API) so that an affiliate can pass the API a list of businesses with their contact information and category/subcategory information and the Auto-Service module generates custom 1 -Click Coupon landing pages for each business and passes the URL to that landing page back to the affiliate. The affiliate can then include the URL in an email to that business. The business then clicks the link, which takes them to a landing page with their coupons waiting for approval.
Data feeds 4604 are the ability of the service to accept a flow of data, such as an RSS Feed, and integrate that coupon data into the service. Bulk uploads 4605 refers to the ability to process a data file provided in the form of a spreadsheet to add coupons to the system. Once the coupons are in the system 4600 information about those coupons, along with a link to the coupon display page of Fig. 35, can be syndicated out through a variety of mechanisms. These outputs, referenced as 4606 - 4610 are illustrated on the right hand side of the diagram; one, some or all of them may be provided. The first such output mechanism is through the coupon directory as described above with reference to Figs. 31 and 33. Using this output mechanism the collector can find and get online coupons. The collector can also have online coupons sent to him via the Deal Alerts of Fig. 34 send out via RSS (Real Simple Syndication) or email.
The system is typically designed such that coupon directory 4606 and deal alerts 4607 can be set-up under a separate URL and branded for an affiliate. The system might for example provide a clone of the service for a newspaper called the Witchtree Post so that it operates the same way as the existing service but is branded to look like the Witchtree Post. This is an example of what is termed herein the white label service 4608. The directory can also be embedded using various technologies such as but not limited to widgets and gadgets which enable affiliates to embed the directory directly into their own website but the actual function occurs remotely as driven by the coupon service. This is an example of what is termed herein "the embedded directory".
Figs. 50A - 50C illustrate examples of coupons. Coupon 5001 is an example of a coupon created using the coupon wizard. The coupon wizard uses a coupon template which may comprise an "empty" or partially empty graphic image of specific dimensions optionally including some "filled" areas and also including one or more "spaces" or "placeholders" of specific dimensions reserved for user-selected or user- imported coupon elements of the same dimensions. The components may for example comprise some or all of: an image 5010, a logo 5004, Distributor's business name 5005, offer headline 5006, offer details 5007, coupon disclaimer 5008, coupon expiration date 5009 and distributor contact (location) information 5011. Each of these coupon elements is either user-created or user-selected from appropriately sized stored samples, by the Distributor 101. The coupon creation manager 109 of Fig. 1 places these elements on the template, each into its own reserved space.
Coupon 5002 is an example of a coupon generated from a system-stored category specific template which is associated with a specific distributor or business category such as "plumber". This template already includes the image of the showerhead and the color scheme. Distributor-selected elements are then placed on top of this template, using the "style sheet" defined for the template such as font style, size and color. For example, the Distributor may insert his logo 5012 into the logo "space" on the template, as well as his offer headline 5013, offer details 5014, coupon disclaimer 5015, expiration date 5017 and distributor contact (location) information 5016, each into the location reserved therefor respectively.
Coupon 5003 is an example of a 1 -Click Coupon. The one-click coupon generation method used to generate this coupon inserts a map of the business, generated by using a conventional automatic map generator to generate a map of the business's address as stored in the system, as the default image. It is often preferable for one-click coupon generation methods to use a map as a default image because it is sometimes difficult to identify a category-specific image which is suitable for all businesses in the category. For example, a Japanese restaurant could focus on sushi, yakatori, shabu shabu, udon/soba, tempura, and more, making it difficult to provide a single image to address all of these options. It is appreciated that the distributor is typically able to replace the default map with other images. The template also includes placeholders for the distributor's name 5018, offer headline 5019, offer details 5024, disclaimer 5020, expiration date 5021 and distributor contact information 5022. Reference is made to Figs. 55A - 55B which, taken together, form an exemplary portion of a table illustrating sample offers which may for example be stored in the sample offer database 113 of Fig. 4. Each record in the table of Figs. 55A - 55B comprises some or all of the following fields: The category and subcategory to which the offer belongs, the offer's objective, and text to be inserted into a coupon generated to present the sample offer, typically comprising two text portions ("short description" and "long description") which may for example be plugged into appropriate locations in a template such as those stored in template database 112 of Fig. 1.
Reference is made to Fig. 62 which is an example of a portion of a table representing collector usage of coupons represented in the collector usage database 118 of Fig. 4. This information is used for purposes of determining revenue sharing or payment to affiliates and also for determining whether the collector's 103 usage warrants access to selected coupons defined by distributions rules in the distribution rules database 119 of Fig. 4.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system of Fig. 4 prompts the user to select at least one objective that her coupon is to achieve, and the system of Fig. 4 suggests coupon components suitable for that objective. For example, following are several objectives in bold, each followed by coupon components that the system of Fig. 4 might suggest, marked with asterisks.
Grow your customer base by attracting new customers
* 15% Off of Your First Order
* Sign-up Now and Get 3 Months Free
* Free Introductory Lesson
Drive repeat business and increase customer loyalty
* Your 5th Sandwich is Free
* Your Second Session is 1A Price
* Every 5th order is 50% off
Sell specific items or services
* 15% Off All Dive Computers * 10% Off Our Gold Package
* 2004 Snowboards 70% Off (while they last)
* 50% Off Previously Viewed DVDs
* 15% Off Our New Line of Sports Wear
Increase business during slow times
* 33% Off Midweek Rentals
* $.50 off any Coffee Drink Weekdays 10AM - 3PM
* $3 Off Haircuts Weekdays 10AM - 3PM
* Early Bird Special 15% Off AU Entrees Before 5PM
* 15% off dinner 5PM - 6:30PM & 9PM - 12:00PM
Capitalize on seasonal or special events
* Bare Root Fruit Trees $10
* Monday Night Football: $8 Large Pizza
* $1 Beers on Fight Night
* Prepare Your Pool for Summer $75
Increase average transaction size (Maximizing revenue per customer)
* Free Delivery on Purchases Over $200
* Buy one Entree,. get the 2nd Entree 50% Off
* Free Cup of Coffee with Purchase of a Bagel
* Take $50 Off Any Complete Ski Package
* $50 Off MS Office When Purchased With an HP PC
Simplify business with regular specials
* Take $1 Off Our Daily Lunch Specials
* Daily Dinner Special Only $8.99
Capitalize on customer traffic from nearby events
* Rockets Pre-Game Special $2 Beers
* Show Your Movie Ticket Get $1 Single Scoop * Giants Lunch Box Special $4.99
Generate customer referrals
* Bring a friend and get 25% off your order (one discount per pair)
* Refer a friend and get a 15% rebate
* 1 month free when you refer a friend
Coupon characteristics such as a coupon's unique serial number or expiry date may or may not appear on the redeemable version of the coupon. Characteristics of a coupon that do not appear on the redeemable version thereof are termed herein coupon metadata.
Coupons generated by the system of the present invention may be always available to any collector or may be "limited use" coupons. Typically, "limited use" coupons are available to a certain category of a registered user. Preferably, when a user e.g. collector 103 is registered, his or her particulars are stored in collector database 108 and her interactions with the system are logged and stored in the collector usage database 118 such that the system can determine whether or not she/he falls within the profile of a given limited use coupon. User may for example be limited as to the frequency of use that is tolerated (e.g. no more than once a week).
"Limited use" coupons often comprise collector profile-limited coupons which are limited to a certain profile of collector 103. Typically, unregistered collectors are a priori ineligible to use profile-limited coupons. When a collector 103 tries to obtain access to a limited use coupon, the system typically asks the collector to login, or it remembers the collector e.g. via a previously installed cookie. The system then checks the collector's particulars e.g. his coupon usage record, in order to determine whether he is entitled to the limited use coupon or not. Optionally, the redeemable version of a collector profile-limited coupon may include the user's name, in which case the redeemer 102 is instructed to verify the user's name against identification papers before redeeming the coupon.
According to another embodiment of the invention, redeemers 102 are equipped with terminals which perform redemption tracking based upon information printed or displayed on the coupon. Distribution rules may limit the redeeniability of coupons. For example, a certain coupon Cl distributed by a distributor Dl may be available only to users for whom the system has recorded at least one previous use of a competing coupon (a coupon whose metadata indicates that it is in the same category and optionally that its redeemer is in a similar location e.g. zip code, relative to coupon Cl).
Any suitable method may be employed to facilitate the collector 103's presentation of a redeemable version of the coupon to a redeemer 102. For example, a redeemable version of a coupon may be sent to a collector 103's mobile telephone or may be sent to the user's printer, or may be sent directly to the redeemer on behalf of the collector, or may be sent by the collector to the redeemer. The process which sends a redeemable version of the coupon to a collector may include a process for automatically implanting into the redeemable version, an expiry date which is a predetermined amount of time from the date on which the redeemable version is sent, such as one week from when the redeemable version is sent.
According to a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention is operative to allow users to subscribe thereto and to send users, at intervals, emails, SMSs or other communications containing or pointing to coupons.
The electronic coupon management system of the present invention generally includes at least some of the following components: digital management modules for creation, redemption, browsing, syndication, distributor registration and collector registration; databases for storing templates, audiovisual data for incorporation into coupons, objectives and offers, coupons (the coupons database typically having a paused/active field), collector/consumer data, and distributor/product data preferably including categorization of products which may be hierarchical, and/or geographical information. At least one of the management modules typically operates as a function of metadata associated with a coupon or with an entity interacting with the management modules. Example of metadata which may influence the flow or output of one or more management modules are geographical locations of redeemers, distributor objectives, collector ratings and product categorization.
Typically, a coupon generated by the system of the present invention comprises digital (electronic) data, also termed herein "a digital representation of a coupon" which typically includes a redeemable version of the coupon and metadata. The system of the present invention typically comprises a redeemable version proliferator providing controlled proliferation of the redeemable version of the coupon e.g. by controlled printing of the redeemable version of the coupon.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the system may comprise one or more computers or other programmable devices, preferably equipped with input devices such as a keyboard and mouse operative to allow users to provide input to the system as described herein, and output devices such as a printer or interface with communication network servers such as Internet servers or with communication devices such as a cellular telephone. The computer may be programmed in accordance with some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein. Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus of the present invention may comprise a memory which is readable by a machine and which contains, stores or otherwise embodies a program of instructions which, when executed by the machine, comprises an implementation of some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein. Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus of the present invention may comprise a computer program implementing some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities shown and described herein and being readable by a computer for performing some or all of the methods of, and/or implementing some or all of the systems of, embodiments of the invention as described herein.
It is appreciated that software components of the present invention may, if desired, by implemented in ROM (read only memory) form. The software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques.
Features of the present invention which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features of the invention which are described for brevity in the context of a single embodiment may be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.
It will also be understood that the system according to the invention may be a suitably programmed computer. Likewise, the invention contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the method of the invention. The invention further contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the method of the invention. It is appreciated that the apparatus shown and described herein may operate across a plurality of computerized devices and that the present invention is not limited to the data exchanges between two computerized devices. It should be further noted, that according to some embodiments of the invention, an online coupon module residing on a service provider's server, as well as other components of the system described above, may be configured to evaluate or to participate in the evaluation of several simultaneous data exchanges between various users, servers and consumers, and that various processes described above may multiplied as applicable and multiple instances of the above processes may occur simultaneously.
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A system for enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, said system comprising: a coupon publisher adapted to associate one or more coupons with one or more a predefined incentive criterion; and an agent operative to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion, said agent being further adapted to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said agent comprises a query processor for associating the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said query processor is adapted to configure the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query.
4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a user inforniation module comprising personal data about the user, and wherein said query processor is adapted to include within the query one or more terms created based upon data from said user information module.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said user information module comprises any of the following data with respect to a user: personal data of the user, user's name, user's gender, user's personal status, user's occupation, user's hobbies and field of interest, user's age, authentication information, user's geographical location and other contact information, user's preferences, user's usage history.
6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said agent is utilized by a service provider to' evaluate compliance of content being exchanged through the service provider with a predefined incentive criterion, and wherein said agent is adapted to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said agent is utilized by the service provider to associate static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion, such that the content arrives to its destination with the hyperlinks associated therewith.
8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a coupon cache module, said coupon cache module being adapted to obtain from said coupon publisher data in respect of an incentive criterion to enable said agent module to evaluate content being exchanged in accordance with the incentive criterion without having to consult the coupon publisher with respect to the incentive criterion.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said agent module is adapted to associate the hyperlink with metadata to provide descriptive data in respect of the coupons associated with the incentive criterion.
10. A method of enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, said method comprising: associating one or more coupons with one or more predefined incentive criteria; evaluating at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion; and associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said associating further comprises associating the hyperlink with a query, such that when the hyperlink is executed the query is initiated on a coupon repository.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said associating the hyperlink with a query further comprises configuring the query to retrieve from the repository data in respect of any currently available coupons within the repository which are associated with the incentive criterion upon the initiation of the query.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said associating the hyperlink with a query comprises including within the query one or more terms created based upon user information.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said including comprises: accessing a data source including information about the user; and generating a query term to be incorporated into the query based upon data from the data source including information about the user.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said evaluating further comprises intercepting the data being exchanged before the data arrives to its destination, and wherein said associating the content with a query is by an intermediate computerized device, such that the content arrives to its destination together with the hyperlinks.
16. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, said method comprising: associating one or more coupons with one or more a predefined incentive criterion; evaluating at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion; and associating the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution of the hyperlink.
17. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein of enabling a user utilizing a computerized device connected to a network to receive targeted incentive offers, said computer program product comprising: computer readable program code for causing the computer to associate one or more coupons with one or more a predefined incentive criterion; computer readable program code for causing the computer to evaluate at least a portion of data being exchanged between said computerized device and at least a second computerized device to identify data corresponding to static content which is in compliance with the incentive criterion; and computer readable program code for causing the computer to associate the static content determined to be in compliance with the incentive criterion with a hyperlink which is configured to link towards one or more coupons associated with the incentive criterion upon the execution<of the hyperlink.
18. A system for enabling a user, utilizing a computing device and interacting via a network with one or more computerized devices for the purpose of creating at least one online coupon and making the coupon(s) available to consumers for redemption.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user may interact with the self-service coupon creation and management service in such a manner so as to generate an account for the purposes of creating and/or managing online coupons.
20. The system of claim 18 further comprising an online coupon creation capability that enables the user to enter, select or upload one of more of the following to create one or more online coupons: text elements, coupon templates, image elements, audio elements, video elements and/or images of coupons.
21. The system of claim 18 further comprising the capability to further define information about the online coupon that is associated with the online coupon but is not actually visible on the coupon or a representation of the coupon itself.
22. The system of claim 18, further comprising the ability for the user to define rules for distribution of one or more online coupons.
23. The system of claim 18 further comprising the ability for user to manage their online coupons including at least one of the following abilities: modify a coupon under the control of the user, delete a coupon, deactivate a coupon such that it is not available to consumers, without deleting it, such that the coupon can be reactivated without forcing the user to recreate the online coupon, and reactivating a deactivated coupon.
24. The system of claim 18 further comprising the ability for the user to define at least one of the start date and expiration date of an online coupon thereby to define when said online coupon is valid and available to consumers.
25. A computerized coupon management system comprising: a digital coupon representation generator operative to accept distributor- defined coupon characteristics from a distributor and generate therefrom a digital representation of a coupon; and a redeemable coupon generator operative to generate a redeemable coupon from said digital representation.
26. i A system according to claim 25 wherein said digital representation of a coupon comprises visible data which appears in the redeemable coupon and metadata which does not appear in the redeemable coupon.
27. A system according to claim 25 wherein said redeemable coupon generator comprises a printable coupon generator.
28. A system according to claim 25 wherein said redeemable coupon generator comprises a digital coupon generator operative to transform at least a portion of said digital representation of a coupon into a digital redeemable coupon which a collector can forward to a redeemer.
29. A system according to claim 25 and also comprising a library of at least one coupon templates and wherein said on-line digital representation generator is operative to plug said coupon characteristics into a coupon template selected from said library.
30. A system according to claim 25 wherein said digital coupon representation generator comprises an on-line digital representation generator.
31. A system according to claim 25 wherein said distributor-defined coupon characteristics comprise an identification of a category to which said distributor belongs.
32. A system according to claim 31 and also comprising a distributor interface by means of which said digital representation generator is operative to interact with said distributor there to obtain therefrom said characteristics and wherein said distributor interface changes as a function of said category to which said distributor belongs.
33. A system according to claim 32 wherein said distributor interface selects at least one coupon characteristic to be suggested to said distributor, said suggested coupon characteristic being selected as a function of said category to which said distributor belongs.
34. A system according to claim 25 and also comprising a distributor interface by means of which said digital representation generator is operative to interact with said distributor there to obtain therefrom said characteristics
35. > A system according to claim 34 wherein said distributor interface suggests at least one coupon characteristic to said distributor.
36. A system according to claim 35 wherein said distributor interface selects at least one coupon characteristic to suggest to said distributor, at least partially as a function of a coupon objective defined by said distributor.
37. A system according to claim 29 wherein said distributor-defined coupon characteristics comprise an identification of a category to which said distributor belongs from among a plurality of distributor categories and wherein said template library stores a plurality of templates respectively associated with the plurality of distributor categories.
38. A system according to claim 25 and also comprising a coupon displayer operative to display a user-sensible representation of the coupon which is not redeemable, thereby to prevent uncontrolled proliferation of redeemable coupons.
39. A system according to claim 25 wherein said redeemable coupon generator can be temporarily inactivated by the distributor for an individual coupon, thereby to generate a pause in proliferation of said individual coupon.
40. A system according to claim 25 and also comprising a coupon syndicator operative to place a representation of the coupon at many locations within a computer information network.
41. A system according to claim 40 wherein said coupon syndicator comprises an API (application programming interface).
42. A system according to claim 40 wherein said coupon syndicator interfaces with an API of at least one website.
43. A system according to claim 40 wherein said coupon syndicator interfaces with an API of at least one Internet application.
44. A system according to claim 25 and also comprising a coupon displayer operative to display a user-sensible representation of at least one coupon to a collector with at least one collector property and wherein said distributor-defined coupon characteristics include at least one property characterizing the applicability of the coupon to said individual collector and wherein said coupon displayer is operative, in selecting coupons to display to said collector, to prefer those coupons whose at least one property matches the collector's at least one property.
45. A computerized coupon management system comprising: a digital coupon manager operative to store and manage a plurality of digitally represented coupons; and a redeemable coupon generator operative to generate a redeemable coupon from said digitally represented coupon, wherein said redeemable coupon generator can be temporarily inactivated by the manager for an individual coupon, thereby to generate a pause in proliferation of said individual coupon.
46. A computerized coupon delivery system comprising: a digital coupon repository storing a plurality of coupons, each coupon including coupon information including coupon characterizing metadata; a user interface operative to accept from each of a population of registered users, a profile defining a subset of coupons which are deemed of interest; and a delivery destination defining a destination to which coupons may be delivered; and a coupon delivery module operative to deliver to each individual user in the population of registered users, at least a portion of the coupon information regarding each coupon in the subset of coupons which are deemed of interest to said individual user, to the delivery destination defined by said individual user.
47. A system according to claim 46 wherein said delivery destination comprises an email address.
48. A system according to claim 46 wherein said delivery module comprises an SMS delivery module and said delivery destination comprises a telephone number.
49. A system according to claim 46 wherein said delivery module comprises an RSS delivery module.
50. A system according to claim 25 wherein, for at least one coupon, said distributor-defined coupon characteristics comprise at least one use limiting characteristic limiting use of said coupon.
51. A system according to claim 46 wherein no redeemable version of the coupon is initially delivered to the user thereby to enable proliferation of redeemable versions of the coupon to be controlled.
52. A system according to claim 25 wherein the digital representation of the coupon is generated automatically from the distributor-defined coupon characteristics and the distributor's involvement is limited to provision of said coupon characteristics and a subsequent single input operation approving said automatically generated digital representation of the coupon.
53. A system according to claim 25 wherein the digital coupon representation generator's normal operation comprises interfacing with the distributor and generating a digital representation of a coupon, both without resort to any human operator.
54. A system according to claim 53 wherein said system comprises an online system communicating with a population of distributors via a network.
PCT/US2006/044610 2005-11-18 2006-11-16 Computerized system enabling self-service creation and management of online coupons WO2007059295A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US73763705P 2005-11-18 2005-11-18
US73763605P 2005-11-18 2005-11-18
US73763905P 2005-11-18 2005-11-18
US73763805P 2005-11-18 2005-11-18
US60/737,637 2005-11-18
US60/737,636 2005-11-18
US60/737,639 2005-11-18
US60/737,638 2005-11-18
US75140805P 2005-12-19 2005-12-19
US60/751,408 2005-12-19
US11/453,243 2006-06-15
US11/453,243 US20060293959A1 (en) 2005-06-16 2006-06-15 Method and system for adding coupon information to network-based content

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