Cross-device geolocation sensing for offer targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in identifying and redeeming relevant offers due to the complexity of offer-discovery systems, especially with increasing numbers of offers and location-relevant content, and existing systems struggle to provide granular location information to non-mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determines relevant offers for a geofenced area by receiving a request from a mobile user device, identifying associated merchants, ranking candidate offers, and transmitting them to the device, while also distributing coupons or offers based on geolocation sensed by another device, using a processor to manage user profiles and offer data across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If offer-discovery systems store information about offers from a relatively large number of merchants to provide comprehensive listings, then the comprehensiveness of offer listings is improved, but users face an increasingly complex task of identifying relevant offers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large set of offers by organizing them into merchant-specific groups and further dividing them based on user context (device type, location, browsing history). This segmentation transforms the overwhelming comprehensive list into manageable, context-relevant subsets that are easier for users to navigate and identify relevant offers from.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and pre-organizing offers based on user profiles, device characteristics, and contextual information before the user actually searches. Offers are pre-filtered, pre-ranked, and pre-formatted according to the specific device type (mobile vs. desktop) and user context, so that when users access the system, they immediately see relevant offers without having to manually filter through comprehensive listings.
2Measurement precision
If the system provides fine grained location information (e.g., within 100 meters) for location-relevant offers, then the precision of location-based offers is improved, but desktop devices face difficulty in obtaining such granular location data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal location data collection system that adapts to different device capabilities. For mobile devices with GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth, the system collects precise location data. For desktop devices without these capabilities, the system alternatively uses IP address geolocation or browser-based location services. This multi-functional approach ensures that location-based offers can be provided across all device types, maintaining system versatility while achieving the best possible location precision for each device category.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the location detection parameters and methods based on the device type. Mobile devices use high-precision parameters (GPS coordinates, WiFi MAC addresses, Bluetooth beacon identifiers) while desktop devices use alternative parameters (IP address, browser geolocation API). The system adjusts the precision level and data collection methodology according to the capabilities of the accessing device, ensuring both high precision where possible and broad adaptability across all devices.
3Ease of operation
If users browse for offers on mobile devices when they have free minutes, then offer discovery convenience is improved, but users often forget to redeem offers at the store or near their home/desktop computer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary notification system that bridges the gap between offer discovery on mobile devices and offer redemption at physical locations. The system acts as a mediator by monitoring user location via geofencing technology and automatically sending notifications to both mobile and desktop devices when users approach merchants with relevant offers. This intermediary notification layer reminds users of pending offers and facilitates timely redemption without requiring users to manually remember or track their own offer usage across different devices and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop that tracks user offer discovery and redemption status across multiple devices. When users browse offers on mobile devices, the system records these offers and provides feedback through notifications when users are geographically close to the relevant merchants. The system continuously monitors user location and offer redemption status, providing real-time feedback to prompt users to complete their intended actions, thereby reducing the time loss associated with forgotten offers.
4Adaptability or versatility
If merchants issue increasing numbers of offers with increasingly complex sets of redemption constraints, then the variety and attractiveness of offers is improved, but the challenge of remembering and correctly using offers increases for consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service system where the technology automatically handles the complexity of offer redemption constraints without requiring user intervention. The system stores detailed redemption rules (time windows, location requirements, applicable products, minimum purchase amounts) and automatically verifies whether users meet these constraints. When users approach merchants with relevant offers, the system self-evaluates the redemption eligibility based on stored constraints and presents only applicable offers, eliminating the need for users to manually remember or interpret complex redemption terms across multiple offers.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a process of distributing offers to non-location-sensing devices based on a geolocation sensed by another device, the process comprising: obtaining a geolocation of a user from a mobile device of the user; associating the geolocation of the user with an identifier of the user in an offers engine; receiving a request for an offer from another computing device of the user, the request including or prompting obtaining data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user; retrieving the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device by identifying the user with the data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user account; selecting, with the offers engine, a responsive offer based on the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device; and sending the responsive offer to the other computing device of the user.