591 results about "Sales promotion" patented technology

A system for conducting promotional campaigns for multiple types of electronic communications devices. The promotional campaigns may include advertising and marketing campaigns involving the use of one or more of surveys, interactive games, contests, sweepstakes, location-based promotions, and tie-ins with brick-and-mortar outlets. The invention provides a process for (1) creating a promotional campaign, (2) simultaneously publishing the promotional campaign to users via a plurality of types of electronic communications devices, and (3) making the results of the promotional campaign available to the creator of the promotional campaign via communications devices of the creator's choice. Users of the system select the types of advertising and marketing campaigns in which they would be interested in participating. User-provided demographic, location, user preferences, device permissions settings and other user profile information enables creators of promotional campaigns to precisely direct those campaigns to receptive audiences and precisely monitor the success of those campaigns.

A methodology and system allows a plurality of reward scheme owners to give differential rewards, through a plurality of reward distribution agents, to various users based on the user profile. The reward scheme owner may be a seller, a manufacturer, a sales promotion agent or even an intermediary. Similarly, the reward distribution agent may be an on-line or a physical retailer, a broker, a seller or an intermediary. Also the users may be consumers, businesses, brokers or other intermediaries. In one specific case, a reward scheme owner defines a plurality of reward schemes, including at least one differential reward scheme giving different rewards to different users. The reward scheme owner communicates these to a central reward scheme database server. The reward scheme owners may or may not advertise these schemes. The user visits an online or a physical store. The store acting as a reward distribution agent dynamically profiles the user, queries the central reward scheme database server if the user profile meets the criterion for one or more rewards and offers the applicable rewards to the user. The store later receives reimbursement for the rewards offered to various users, from the reward scheme owners. This methodology and system may be used for offering targeted or differential discounts on different products and services, offering different promotional schemes on different combination of products, giving loyalty points, electronically distributing prizes, free samples, product warranties, tie-in promotions, cross selling, up selling, premiums, memberships, card discounts, organizing contests, sweepstakes, games and offering other similar rewards.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method / system for facilitating communications between service providers and potential customers for services. The computer-implemented method / system provides a marketplace for interactions, both online and off-line, between service providers and potential customers, including purchasing groups, particularly buyer-driven service-related interactions. The marketplace advantageously allows categorization, key word searching, group purchasing, service packaging, data mining, auctions and other commercial features and functionality. The computer-implemented method / system also supports holographic imagery, e.g., in the form of virtual assistants, that facilitates marketplace-related activities. Based on the computer-implemented method / system, service providers are able to efficiently and cost effectively extend the reach of their marketing and promotional activities to a wide range of additional customers, and customers are able to initiate access service providers ideally suited to meet their needs, i.e., buyer-driven commerce, at desirable prices and according to required timeframes.

A gaming machine that enables the capture and output of game history frames corresponding to actual frames of a game presentation on the gaming machines where the frames are stored and retrieved from a non-volatile storage device is described. Critical game presentation data and other information from the gaining machine may be incorporated into the game history frames. During game history playback, a game history playback code that is independent of the game being played on the gaming machine may be used to display the game history frames. In addition, the gaming machine may transmit game history frames to locations outside of the gaming machine. Also, the transmitted game history frames may be used for security purposes and promotional activities.

Disclosed is a method for providing secure private exchange of a profile data of a network participant between the participant and a plurality of third parties. The method comprises registering profile data by the network participant with a privacy control unit, assigning privacy levels to each of the plurality of attributes of the profile data, transferring the profile data along with privacy levels assigned to each of a plurality of attributes of the profile data to a privacy control unit generating a report for research and for targeting promotion campaigns to the network participant by using the profile data. The report is accessed by the plurality of third parties for communications with the network participant, wherein the plurality of third parties are registered with and invoiced by the privacy control unit. A portion of the invoice is provided as a fee to the network participant for providing the profile data.

A method of targeted advertising includes generating a targeted advertising and / or promotional campaign material corresponding to a client's selections, fulfilling the targeted advertising and / or promotional campaign material, and providing a response tracking analysis to the client. The targeted advertising and / or promotional campaign material includes a response tracking capability. Access for the client to contact a central facility having public and / or private client databases with list management capabilities can be provided on-line via a client web site. The client can choose from a selection of templates to design of the targeted advertising and / or promotional campaign material. Also, the client can choose from a selection of intended recipients by using and / or modifying a new or pre-existing customer list. The targeted advertising and / or promotional campaign material can be manufactured and distributed to the intended recipients. Preferably, the advertising and / or promotional campaign material includes a coupon having a machine readable mark, symbol, or barcode that incorporates information relating to the client, the customer, and the advertising and / or promotional campaign. The scanned coupon can be communicated back to the central facility and the client can be notified by the central facility as to the response characteristics of the advertising and / or promotional campaign. A closed-loop system is also provided that can implement the above targeted advertising method.

Various techniques are disclosed for conducting promotional activities in a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, various incentives and / or promotions may be associated with selected gaming components which are accessible to a given gaming machine. Such gaming components may include, for example, paytables, denominations, game types, and / or game themes which are accessible to a given gaming machine cabinet. In this way, the lowest level of granularity for targeting promotional offers and incentives may be extended to selected paytables, denominations, game types, game themes, and / or other desired components within (and / or accessible to) selected gaming machine cabinet(s).

A system and method for price and promotion response analysis is provided. Such a system is useful for a business to analyze the forecasted lifts associated with changes in price and promotion activity. The system sets the configuration of the response report, which includes price change and promotion change intervals. Promotions include temporary price reductions, displays, ads and multiples. Modeling data is received for the products. Forecasts, both non-cannibalistic and cannibalistic, are generated for the sales of the products dependent upon the price change and promotion change intervals. Forecasts include at least one of product forecasts, demand group forecasts, line level forecasts and category level forecasts. Suspect forecasts below a minimum confidence may be flagged. Confidence matrices may be generated which reflect accuracy of the forecasts. The response report may be generated by collecting the forecasts and the confidence matrices according to the configuration of the response report.

An interactive mobile messaging system (IMMS) for mobile telephone marketing and promotional campaigns integrates interactive voice response (IVR), SMS, fast analysis of shared multidimensional information, and online analytical processing. Online interactive message communication protocols are managed through mobile-originated, short code-based message platforms which are interfaced with an IVR query system. Automatic configuration of multiformat messages can be performed directly into multiple telecommunications carrier networks to all supported mobile handsets.

The present invention provides a closed-loop system that allows the operator of video gaming machines or other systems to define promotional events for the particular machines or systems, monitor the activity of the particular machines or systems, and grant awards. More specifically, the promotional events may include scheduling information, winning criteria and awards. During the period of time that the promotional event is active, the activity of the machine or system is monitored to determine if the winning criteria has been satisfied. If the winning criteria are satisfied, information pertaining to event is recorded. The present invention is applicable to a variety of embodiments including video poker machines, black jack machines or other gaming and gambling machines, as well as other systems that include a display mechanism and an activity that can be monitored.

The invention relates to a distributed computer system for the establishment of a marketplace for branded promotional values issued by at least two businesses and being awarded to at least two consumers. The invention also relates to a method for the establishment of a marketplace of branded promotional values issued by at least two businesses and being awarded to at least two consumers. Also, the invention relates to a method for facilitating and improving marketing and promotional activities through the establishment of a marketplace for branded promotional values issued by at least two businesses and being awarded to at least two consumers. By means of the invention, businesses are allow to interact with mobile consumers via wireless interactive marketing services. In this manner, consumers are allowed to earn, spend and trade so-called M-points, which are associated with a corresponding issuing business, and attributed by a point value determined by the corresponding issuing business. The invention allows for the interchangeability of points issued by different merchants, which in turn allows automatic co- / cross-marketing between different businesses.

The present invention is directed to a system and methods for targeted advertisement and event promotion. The system comprises a web-based application which enables event promoters to create, execute and manage event promotional campaigns using advertisements, targeted promotional messages, target user search tools, session tracking tools, campaign analytical tools, event pricing tools, reporting tools, embedded calendar applications and other tools and services provided by the system. The system combines these tools to enable promoters to communicate with and market events to highly targeted audiences utilizing a wide array of communication tools. Furthermore, each promotional or advertisement campaign enriches and grows promoter's target user list thus continually enlarging the overall group of trusted and targeted system users.

A system and method for providing target groups of customers with a plurality of promotions for a plurality of goods. Active customers are tracked for each target group. Active customers can include customers with portable devices, customers with hand-held devices, customers who are viewers of a pay-per-view system and customers who are viewers of a web site. The promotions for each target group are calculated based on the promotional objectives for each target group and the conditions in the operating environment. Selected promotions are sent the active customers for each target group.

A computer system and software enabling a method for assisting users who are members of a group in identifying trending items and making purchases using selected forms of payment over the Internet on web sites, mobile devices and in physical store locations from trusted vendors to locate and to take advantage of special rates and promotions that may be offered to certain users under specific circumstances. The system enables users, buyers and their social circle of friends of gift givers to identify, curate, manage and purchase gifts & services and take advantage of digital gift cards, credit cards & coupons to get the best price.

A portable device used for online retailing comprises a screen that is divided into numerous section for displaying different information. The bottom section of the screen includes navigation buttons. The top section includes promotions. The central section displays online catalog information. The device is also provided with wireless capability to connect to the Internet. All sections on the screen are activated through a touch screen. The device incorporates shopping, authentication, security and payment capabilities so that the user may have a seamless shopping experience.

A system and method for providing convenient manufacture and delivery of customized greeting cards uses the convenience and ready access of the Internet or other widely available network. The website allows a user to enter information used to assist in the selection of an appropriate expression and image. An advertisement, sales promotion or product sale can be associated with the greeting card and used to subsidize the cost of the greeting card. In one embodiment an advertisement is associated with the greeting card and printed as part of the greeting card. The printed greeting card and advertisement are delivered by mail or other delivery service. The website is also designed to allow users to seek assistance from others with respect to expressions and images.

A loyalty program system and method includes of membership card that is distributed to customers. The membership card is associated with multiple merchants whose accounts are centrally managed but segregated from one another. In this manner a customer only needs to carry a single card while participating in promotions that are controlled and managed by separate merchants. A merchant can reward customers based on the nature of the transactions with the merchants, for example based on value, frequency and so forth. In addition, it is possible to add merchants to the loyalty program even if they already have their own pre-existing customer membership base that carries pre-existing membership cards. In that case, the automated loyalty program is configured to recognize and honor the pre-existing cards by establishing in the system account files for the added merchants, and configuring the system to recognize and honor identification information provided in the pre-existing membership cards. It is also possible to use the system to track multi-balance gift certificates. It is also possible to use the system in a business-to-business barter system, in which multiple merchants are associated with one card provided to a first merchant. The first merchant can redeem the card any of one or more other merchants with which an exchange has been made, either directly or by way of a barter broker.

Multiple different advertisements each containing a different promotion are electronically displayed on electronic displays placed throughout a store. A consumer selects and captures one of the displayed promotions by entering the consumer identification and the identification of the selected promotion at a consumer interface device corresponding to the display presenting the promotion. The consumer identification is then associated with the promotion. This association is then processed by a database server and the promotion is communicatively transmitted to the consumer electronically according to the contact information stored on record for the consumer.

A method and system is provided that in a fully automated manner identifies a product on a web page as it is displayed on a user's computer, retrieves information regarding the availability of discounts or promotions for that product and notifies the user. An exemplary method according to the invention is a method for identifying and delivering online sales promotions to a user. A product on a web page being displayed on a user's computer is identified, and then information about that available promotions relevant to that product is retrieved from a database system. A notification is then displayed on the user's computer indicating the availability of one or more promotions relevant to the product.

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system includes a CRM Client, CRM Engine, and Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The CRM Client, CRM Engine, and RDBMS integrate a suite of services that allow users to plan, manage, and execute promotional or marketing campaigns, build customer segments, score customers, and analyze customer behavior, product purchases, and response to promotional campaigns. The services include an automated Analytic Data Set Creation service, which simplifies and automates the process of creating analytic data sets useful for modeling and analysis out of operational data stored in the relational database, and a Response Modeling service, which automatically creates promotion response models to score individual customers based on that model in order to predict which customers are most likely to respond to a future promotional campaign.

A service point management system employs a computer for managing points issued to each customer who receives service according to the points. A point issue unit issues points to the customer according to transactions performed by the customer. A point accumulation unit calculates and accumulates the issued points. A point notification unit notifies the customer of point information. A customer identification unit identifies the customer according to customer identification data entered through a customer or store terminal. The point notification unit notifies the customer identified by the customer identification unit of the customer's cumulative point information before the customer carries out transactions.

Internet-based Enterprise-Level Brand Management And Marketing Communication Network based on an innovative brand command, control and communication architecture (BC3), which gives brand owners complete command and control over the wide range of brand-building assets, messaging and promotions scattered throughout the Web, and how they are communicated to directly consumers at diverse Web touch points, with the efficiency and automation of supply-chain management solutions. The Network supports the deployment, installation and remote programming of brand-building server-side driven Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks on the World Wide Web (WWW), and provide brand managers, their agents and online trading partners the power to build stronger online brands, drive sales and eliminate existing friction in the retail chain through a collaborative carrier-class, indutrial-strength e-marketing communication network.

A method and system for predicting the profit attributable to a proposed sales promotion of a product, wherein the product has a wholesale price and a manufacturing cost per unit sales, including establishing a base volume for sales of the product in the absence of promotions; determining a sales lift for the plurality of single promotions; and correlating the sales lift with promotion information to provide a sales lift model. The method and system also include proposing a promotion having a cost per unit sales for a promotion time period and having a planned sale price for the product; applying the sales lift model to the proposed promotion to predict sales of the product for the promotion time period; and calculating manufacturer profit based upon the product's predicted sales, cost per unit sales for promotion, wholesale price, and manufacturing cost per unit sales during the promotion time period.

Media players are programmed to automatically connect to a media object distribution server upon activating events so that media promotions may be transmitted from the media object distribution server to the media players for display to their users. Determination of which media promotions are to be transmitted is based upon ranked lists for ad slots generated by on-line bidding for the ad slots, and pre-established budgets for advertisers having provided the media promotions. Following transmission of the media promotion to a media player, accounts for the manufacturer of the media player and the advertiser whose media promotion has been transmitted are updated by the media object distribution server so that the manufacturer may be compensated for the transmission and the advertiser may be charged for it.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing an interactive game of chance player (casino player) prospecting exchange service. The method and apparatus enable a gaming service provider's personnel to post promotions on the world wide web for tours and other gatherings of players of interest, search a player database based upon a series of qualifying criteria, and accept electronic reservations for these tours. The method and apparatus further enables a player to identify information that may enable them to qualify themselves based on their play history, types of play and other personal information that may be of interest to a gaming service provider. The method and apparatus further enables a player to be searched from a multiplicity of such players, based upon their travel history. The method and apparatus further enables a player to be searched based upon their desired destination. The method and apparatus further enables a player to be searched based on their preferred games or style of playing games of chance.

A secure point-of-sale (POS) portal architecture for delivering multiple services is provided. According to one exemplary aspect of the architecture, a number of services offered by various parties are integrated for delivery to merchants. The parties offering the services include, for example, payment processors and merchant acquirers and other external value-added service providers. The integrated services, in turn, are offered to merchants and / or their respective customers via one or more POS devices and its supporting system infrastructure at the merchant locations. The integrated services include, for example, acceptance of multiple payment instruments, payment processing, user dialog management, sales promotion and customer support, loyalty programs, back office processing, receipt capture, employee training, risk management, dispute resolution, system security, system administration etc. Moreover, these integrated services may be customized based on a merchant's particular requirements to provide a specific environment for delivering these services.

A method of dynamic pre-authentication includes receiving at an access point from one or more content platforms a white-list of internet domains that are to be deemed valid for serving content to a non-authenticated user. Updates to the white list are dynamically received from the one or more content platforms which are each responsible for a particular promotional campaign that features specific content. A request is received at the access point from a non-authenticated user for certain of the specific content, which is allowed such that a domain of the content platform responsible for the certain specific content is accessed by the user.

Methods and apparatus for creating a promotional event calendar are provided. A sales model and a cost model are created The value of offers and promotional events using the sales model and cost model is determined. Combinations of offers and promotional events based on determined value are selected to create a promotion event calendar subject to the conditions from at least one store. The apparatus includes an econometric engine for modeling sales as a function of price to create a sales model, a financial model engine for modeling costs to create a cost model, a promotional engine coupled to the econometric engine, and financial model engine to receive input from the econometric engine and financial model engine. The promotional engine analyzes a plurality of offers and a plurality of promotional events to optimally match offers with promotional events to create a promotional event calendar.

An automated sales promotion selection system uses neural networks to identify promising sales promotions based on recent customer purchases. The system includes a customer information device that receives customer data relating to customer purchases of items from an inventory of items, a central processing unit having a sales promotion neural network and a storage unit containing a plurality of item identifiers comprising potential customer purchases of additional items from the inventory, wherein the sales opportunity neural network responds to customer data received from the customer information device by determining if one or more of the item identifiers in the storage unit corresponds to an item likely to be purchased by one of the customers, and an output device that receives the item identifiers of the likely purchases determined by the sales promotion neural network and produces a sales promotion relating to at least one of the item identifiers.