NFC Mobile Game System for Brick-and-Mortar Foot Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Merchants face challenges in incentivizing mobile customers to purchase goods and services at physical brick-and-mortar locations and encouraging repeat business, as existing promotional methods often fail to effectively engage mobile users.

Innovation Solution

A system that provides games and challenges to mobile devices via near-field communication (NFC), where successful completion of these games or challenges earns users unique identifiers redeemable for discounts or promotions at participating merchants, leveraging a service provider to manage and deliver content, and integrating with point-of-sale systems for real-time validation and discount application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional promotional methods (coupons, discounts) are used to incentivize customers, then purchase incentive is improved, but customer engagement and repeat business are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchase incentiveVSAvoidcustomer engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms static promotional coupons into dynamic, interactive game-based experiences that adapt to customer behavior. Games can be customized based on location, time, and customer preferences, creating evolving engagement opportunities that traditional static coupons cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces games and challenges as intermediary elements between the merchant and customer. Instead of direct coupon distribution, the system uses game mechanics as a mediator to engage customers, build brand interaction, and then reward them with promotional offers, creating a more engaging customer journey.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If online coupons are provided for mobile customers, then convenience is improved, but foot traffic to physical locations is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidfoot traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by providing games and challenges to customers before they visit the physical location. Customers engage with the mobile application and complete challenges in advance, which then qualifies them for in-store rewards, priming them to visit the physical location to redeem their earnings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a spatial dimension to mobile promotions by creating location-based games and challenges that require or reward visits to specific physical stores. This transforms purely online coupon distribution into a hybrid experience that bridges digital engagement with physical foot traffic through geolocation and store-specific challenges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If simple coupon distribution is used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but customer retention and repeat business are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcustomer retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic engagement through recurring games, challenges, and reward cycles. Customers can participate in multiple game instances over time, with new challenges periodically released to maintain engagement. This creates ongoing interaction patterns that foster long-term customer retention rather than one-time transactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback loops where customer game performance and participation are tracked, and rewards are adjusted based on engagement levels. The system provides feedback to customers about their progress, achievements, and upcoming rewards, creating a gamified retention mechanism that encourages repeat participation and long-term relationship building.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively incentivizes mobile users to visit physical locations by offering targeted promotions and rewards, enhancing customer engagement and repeat business for merchants through interactive and location-based challenges, while utilizing NFC for seamless transaction processing.

Implementation Method 1

provides games and challenges to mobile devices via near-field communication (NFC)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-field communication (NFC): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9471929B2Mobile game and promotion service

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 STERLING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing games, challenges, and/or promotions to mobile devices are usable to provide incentives to customers. According to one embodiment, a system can be provided. The system can be operable to receive information, such as location information, associated with a mobile device; transmit content being associated with a location of a merchant to the mobile device; receive an event outcome indicator associated with the content; provide a promotional offer to the mobile device when the event outcome indicator matches a desired event outcome indicated by a third-party or the merchant; and process the reward or promotional offer associated with the event outcome indicator via interaction with a point of sale system.