U.S. patent application number 13/681142 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for systems and methods for providing activity and participation incentives.
This patent application is currently assigned to VEGAS.COM, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Vegas.com, LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel Alan Greenspun.
Application Number | 20130080257 13/681142 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46491475 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130080257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greenspun; Daniel Alan |
March 28, 2013 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ACTIVITY AND PARTICIPATION
INCENTIVES
Abstract
An on-line computer activity is provided to users who generate
points through participation. Promotional and incentive offers are
displayed simultaneously with the activity to encourage
participating users to select and enjoy the offers. Accumulated
points may be applied to activate displayed offers to thereby allow
participating users to be eligible for offers as sufficient points
are accrued. Users are thereby filtered based on interest and
willingness to participate.
Inventors: |
Greenspun; Daniel Alan;
(Henderson, NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Vegas.com, LLC; |
Henderson |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
VEGAS.COM, LLC
Henderson
NV
|
Family ID: |
46491475 |
Appl. No.: |
13/681142 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13007959 |
Jan 17, 2011 |
|
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13681142 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0239 20130101;
G06Q 30/0224 20130101; G07F 17/3255 20130101; G06Q 30/0261
20130101; G06Q 30/0209 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.58 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising
instructions to cause a computing device to perform a method of
providing an incentive offer to user visiting a venue, the method
comprising: receiving an image corresponding to the user and taken
at the venue; storing the image in a computer memory; receiving
user profile information including contact information
corresponding to the user; storing the user profile information in
the computer memory; generating an incentive offer corresponding to
the venue; and transmitting the incentive offer to the user based
on the contact information.
2. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the method further comprises: receiving a plurality of
images corresponding to users taken at the venue; storing the
images in a computer memory; receiving user profile information
including contact information corresponding to the users; filtering
and selecting a subset of the images; generating incentive offers
for the venue; and transmitting the incentive offers to the users
corresponding to the subset of the images.
3. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
further comprising capturing an image of the user at the venue.
4. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the method further comprises sharing the stored image and
contact information with an entity that does not operate the
venue.
5. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein transmitting the incentive offer comprises generating and
transmitting an email.
6. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein transmitting the incentive offer comprises generating and
transmitting a text message.
7. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein transmitting the incentive offer comprises generating a
hard copy correspondence.
8. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the incentive offer relates to a tangible good provided at
the venue.
9. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the incentive offer relates to a service personally
provided to the user at the venue.
10. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein generating an incentive offer corresponding to the venue
comprises selecting the incentive offer based on the user
profile.
11. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein generating an incentive offer corresponding to the venue
comprises selecting the incentive offer based on the image.
12. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1,
wherein the incentive offer includes an expiration date and wherein
the method further comprises invalidating the incentive offer at
the expiration date.
13. A computer system to perform a method of providing an incentive
offer to a user visiting a venue, the system comprising: a
processor; a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium in
electrical communication with the processor and comprising computer
executable instructions configured to: receive an image
corresponding to the user and taken at the venue; store the image
in the computer-readable non-transitory storage medium; receive
user profile information including contact information
corresponding to the user; store the user profile information in
the computer-readable non-transitory storage medium; generate an
incentive offer corresponding to the venue; and transmit the
incentive offer to the user based on the contact information.
14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to: receive a plurality of
images corresponding to users taken at the venue; store the images
in the computer-readable non-transitory storage medium; receive
user profile information including contact information
corresponding to the users; filter and select a subset of the
images; generate incentive offers for the venue; and transmit the
incentive offers to the users corresponding to the subset of the
images.
15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to capture an image of the user
at the venue.
16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to share the stored image and
contact information with an entity that does not operate the
venue.
17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to transmit the incentive offer
by generating and transmitting an email.
18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to transmit the incentive offer
by generating and transmitting a text message.
19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to transmit the incentive offer
by generating a hard copy correspondence.
20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the incentive offer
relates to a tangible good provided at the venue.
21. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the incentive offer
relates to a service personally provided to the user at the
venue.
22. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to generate an incentive offer
corresponding to the venue by selecting the incentive offer based
on the user profile.
23. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable
instructions are further configured to generate an incentive offer
corresponding to the venue by selecting the incentive offer based
on the image.
24. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the incentive offer
includes an expiration date and wherein the method further
comprises invalidating the incentive offer at the expiration date.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This utility application claims priority to and is a
divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/007,959 entitled Systems and Methods for Providing Activity and
Participation Incentives which was filed Jan. 17, 2011, and which
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to a system and method for providing
interactive computer activities and providing incentives for
participating in the activities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which
proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for
providing an interactive computer activity to a user and providing
incentive offers.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system
having a network of computers for providing interactive computer
activities and incentive offers.
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a user interface
provided by the systems in FIG. 1 or 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] The disclosed systems and methods provide an on-line
computer activity that is likely to be enjoyable to select members
of the population. Promotional and incentive offers are displayed
simultaneously with the activity to entice participating users to
select and enjoy the offers. A point system may be employed to
allow participating users to earn points to take advantage of
displayed offers. Thus, only users who are willing to participate
in the activity are eligible for the offers as sufficient points
must be accrued. As disclosed, users are thereby filtered based on
interest and willingness to participate.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100
for providing an interactive activity for users of a web service
(e.g., website). One or more users 102 may be communicatively
coupled to a network 160. The users 102 may access the network 160
using respective computing devices 104, which may comprise any
computing device known in the art including, but not limited to: a
personal computing device (e.g., a personal computer), a portable
computing device (e.g., a laptop computer, a notebook computer, or
the like), a smart phone (IPhone.RTM., Android.RTM.,
Blackberry.RTM., or the like), a personal digital assistant (PDA),
a set top box (STB), a multi-media appliance, or the like.
[0009] Each of the computing devices 104 may comprise a respective
web application 106 to access and display content accessible via a
network 160. As used herein, a web application refers to any
application or process used to access content on a network.
Accordingly, a web application may refer to a web browser
application, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.RTM., Mozilla
Firefox.RTM., Google Chrome.RTM., Apple Safari.RTM., or the like. A
web application may further refer to any other type of application
that, although not principally directed to accessing/displaying
network content as a web browser, is capable of accessing and/or
displaying content from a network. For example, a word processor
may be a user agent in the sense that it provides network access
features, such as an online help feature, access to online
libraries (e.g., clip art libraries, etc.), and the like.
Similarly, an online ordering/reservation application may act as a
web application by interacting with network accessible
storefront/reservation systems. An email client may be referred to
as a web application in that it provides access to network data,
such as email messages, network content referenced (e.g., linked)
therein, and so on.
[0010] Web resource(s) and/or web services accessed by the
application(s) 106 may comprise content formatted according to the
HTML standard (or a related standard). The web resource(s) may be
transmitted to the application 106 over the network 160 using the
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) standard (or a related
standard). However, although HTML content transferred via HTTP is
discussed herein, the teachings of this disclosure should not be
read as limited to any particular content format and/or
communication protocol. As used herein, a web resource may refer to
any content that is displayable by a user agent (e.g., content
formatted according to the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML))
standard, or a related standard) and/or a plug-in to the user agent
(e.g., content that is displayable by a Flash.RTM. virtual machine,
a Java.RTM. virtual machine, or the like). Accordingly, a web
resource may comprise static and/or interactive (e.g., dynamic)
text, imagery, audio, video, interface components (e.g., maps,
configuration interfaces, etc.), games, editing tools, or the like.
As used herein, a web service may refer to any service which is
accessible via a network. Examples of web services include, but are
not limited to a web site, a web server, an FTP service, a Telnet
service, an online help application, an instant messaging service,
an email server, a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) service, a
Web Service Description Language (WSDL) compliant service, or the
like.
[0011] The network 160 may comprise any data communication network
known in the art including, but not limited to: a transmission
control protocol, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network, the Internet,
a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual
private network (VPN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN),
a wireless network (e.g., IEEE 802.11a-g, Bluetooth, or the like),
a combination of networks, or the like.
[0012] The users 102 may access a web server 110 using the network
160. The web server 110 may be communicatively coupled to the
network 160 using a communication interface 111, which may comprise
an Ethernet interface, a wireless communication interface, a PSTN
interface, or the like. The web server 110 may further comprise a
processor (not shown), a memory (not shown), computer-readable data
storage media (not shown), and/or one or more input/output devices
(not shown), such as a keyboard, mouse, KVM, or the like.
[0013] The processor may comprise any processing means known in the
art, such as one or more Intel Core2 Duo.RTM. processors, one or
more AMD Athlon.RTM. processors, and so on. Each of the one or more
processors may comprise a plurality of processing cores. In some
embodiments, the web server 110 may comprise a plurality of
processing modules (not shown), in a blade or similar
configuration. Accordingly, the web server 110 may comprise a
plurality of computing devices (e.g., servers) operating in a
cluster and/or load balancing configuration.
[0014] The memory (not shown) may comprise any volatile and/or
non-volatile memory known in the art. The computer-readable storage
media may comprise one or more discs (e.g., magnetic discs),
optical media, distributed media (e.g., in a storage area network
(SAN) or the like), or similar devices. The input/output devices
may comprise one or more keyboards (not shown), pointing devices
(not shown) (e.g., a mouse, track ball, or the like) displays (not
shown), KVM connections, or the like.
[0015] The web server 110 may further comprise a data storage
module 140, which may comprise any memory and/or data storage means
known in the art. The data storage module 140 may comprise one or
more computer-readable storage media, such as one or more discs,
optical media, distributed media (SAN), Flash memory, or the like.
As will be discussed below, the data storage module 140 may be used
to store one or more user profiles 144 of the users 102.
[0016] The web server 110 may comprise an activity and incentive
website 112, which may be stored on a computer-readable storage
media (not shown) of the web server 110. The website 112 may be
configured to provide information to the users 102 in a particular
format and/or according to a particular protocol, such as HTTP, or
in any other format capable of being consumed by the users 102
(e.g., capable of being read and/or displayed by the user computing
devices 104 and rendered by the applications 106 of the respective
users 102). As shown in FIG. 1, the website 112 may also include a
plurality of distinct modules (e.g., 132, 134, 136, 138, 142, and
146), which may be embodied on a computer-readable storage medium
and operable on the server 110.
[0017] The website 112 may be customized, meaning that the website
112 may be capable of tailoring the web resource(s) provided to the
users 102 according to a "context" (e.g., as embodied by a user
context) of the respective user 102. The context of a user 102 may
be developed from one or more interactions of the user 102 and/or
information stored in a user profile 144. The user profile 144 may
include a locale of the user 102, demographics of the user 102,
search terms submitted by the user 102, content accessed by the
user 102 on the website 112 and/or affiliated websites, other
personal information, and the like. In particular, accessed content
may include a wide variety of media content including social media
such as video, audio, literature, and the like. The user profile
144 may include a browsing history of user's preferences in social
media which may be indicative a user's preferences in goods and
services. The user profile 144 may also include physical and
physiological traits of a user such as age, race, health
conditions, and the like. Any data compiled in a user profile 144
may be referred to as a characteristic. A characteristic may be
helpful in determining likely user preferences based on aggregated
data for a class of users. For example, users in a certain age
group may exhibit statistically greater preferences for one type of
entertainment over another.
[0018] The systems and methods may query a plurality of different
storage locations to determine and/or store user profiles 144 and
user identifying information. The storage locations include, but
are not limited to cookie storage, Flash.RTM. storage, virtual
machine storage, and the like. As used herein, virtual machine
storage may be storage accessible via virtual machine or other
plug-in application running in conjunction with the user agent.
Flash.RTM. is one example of virtual machine storage. However,
although Flash.RTM. storage is described herein, one skilled in the
art would recognize that the teachings of this disclosure could be
adapted for use with other virtual machine types, such as a
Java.RTM. virtual machine, a Microsoft Silverlight.RTM. virtual
machine, or the like.
[0019] The website 112 may include a user monitor module 132, which
may monitor and record interactions of users 102 with the website
112. The interactions monitored by the user monitor module 132 may
include, but are not limited to: receiving user inputs to the
website 112 (e.g., a user 102 may fill in a form on the website,
which may indicate user demographics, locale, interests, and the
like), monitoring the content (e.g., web resource(s)) accessed by
the user 102, monitoring the user's 102 interaction with various
interfaces displayed on the website 112, monitoring user search
terms input into the website 112 and/or third-party search engine
(not shown), determining product related preferences of the user
102, and the like.
[0020] The user monitor module 132 may transmit user interaction
data indicative of the user's 102 interaction(s) with the website
112 and/or other third-party or affiliated websites to a user
profile module 134. The user profile module 134 may aggregate the
interaction data of users 102 to develop a user profile 144
therefrom. The contents of the user profile 144 may be used to
determine a "context" of a corresponding user 102, which may allow
the website 112 (and the resource configuration module 136
discussed below) to tailor the web resource(s) provided to the user
102, according to the user context.
[0021] The information input by the user 102 may be detected by the
user monitor module 132, which may transmit the user interaction
data to the user profile module 134. The user profile module 134
may use the interaction data to refine and/or develop the user
profile 144 for the user 102. The content of the website 112 may be
customized according to the content of the user profile 144 by the
resource configuration module 136. For example, if the user's 102
selections indicated a preference for particular goods or services,
advertised offers may be configured to provide incentives for
products and/or services likely to be of interest to the user 102.
If the user profile 144 indicates a locale of the user 102, the
resource configuration module 136 may provide web resource(s)
comprising information related to the user's 102 locale, promotions
available to residents of the locale, and the like. As will be
appreciated by one having skill in the art, any aspect of the web
resource(s) provided by the website 112 (e.g., content, layout,
theme, graphical assets, links, banner displays, and the like),
could be customized according to user context of the user 102 as
embodied in a respective user profile 144.
[0022] The user profile 144 (and user context information derived
therefrom) may allow the resource configuration module 136 to
tailor the user experience on the website 112 to the interests of
the user 102, to deliver consistent and meaningful communication
and incentive offers to the user 102 from initial contact with the
website 112 or across a plurality of associated websites. In some
embodiments, the user profile 144 may be aggregated and/or shared
among a plurality of affiliated websites. This may allow the group
of websites to provide consistent, context-aware web resource(s) to
the users 102 across the group of websites.
[0023] The website 112 may include a user identification module 138
to allow the website 112 to identify incoming users 102 and may
provide log-in capability for securely accessing a user account.
Identifying users 102 across multiple sessions at the website 112
and/or across multiple visits to affiliated websites (not shown)
may allow the website 112 to fully leverage the information
embodied in the user profiles 144. For example, the user profiles
144 may include user interaction data occurring over different
visits by a user 102 to the website 112. In addition, the user
profiles 144 may include interaction data observed at other,
affiliated websites (not shown). The user identification module 138
may allow the website 112 to identify users 102 across multiple
visits to the website 112 and/or identify users 102 that have
previously visited a website affiliated with the website 112 (even
if the user 102 has not yet visited the website 112).
[0024] The user identification module 138 may be communicatively
coupled to the user profile module 134 and to the resource
configuration module 136. The user identification module 138 may
associate user interaction data with a user profile 144 using a
user identifier, which may associate user interaction data with a
particular user profile 144 in the data storage module 140. In some
embodiments, a substantially unique user identifier value may be
used to associate a particular user 102 with a user profile
144.
[0025] Similarly, the user identification module 138 may allow the
resource configuration module 136 to access a user profile 144
associated with an incoming request (e.g., an HTTP request, such as
an HTTP GET, HTTP POST, or the like). This may allow the resource
configuration module 136 to obtain a user context associated with
the request to allow the resource configuration module 136 to
tailor the web resource returned to the user 102, according to the
user's preferences (e.g., as embodied in the user profile 144).
Similarly, the user identification module 138 may be configured to
identify requests from users 102 who have not yet visited the
website 112, but have visited a website that is affiliated with the
website 112. This may allow the website 112 to obtain user profile
and/or context information from the affiliated website, which, as
discussed above, may be used to customize the web resource(s)
provided to the user 102.
[0026] The user identification module 138 may be configured to
identify users 102 (e.g., obtain a user identifier associated with
the respective users 102) via a plurality of different mechanisms.
This may allow the user identification module 138 to reliably
identify different users 102, who may employ different applications
106 (e.g., different user agent applications) having different
configurations (e.g., proxy settings, security settings, etc.). The
user identification module 138 may be configured to identify users
102 with little impact on the user experience at the website 112.
As used herein, a user identifier and/or user identifying
information may refer to a unique identifier value, which may
enable distributed systems to uniquely identify a particular user
and/or a particular user agent instance. In some embodiments, a
user identifier may be globally unique (e.g., comprise sufficient
data and/or randomness, as to be reasonably sure that no two (2)
user identifiers will ever collide). Some user identifier values
may comprise an authentication credential to allow the user
identifier to be tied to a particular user, to a particular user
agent application (e.g., web browser instance), a particular
computing device, or the like. Such authentication credentials may
include, but are not limited to: an Internet Protocol (IP) address,
a media access control (MAC) value, a hardware identifier, a user
name and password, a personal identification number, a digital
signature, or the like.
[0027] Users 102 who visit the website 112 may have and/or be
assigned a user identifier, which may be a global unique identifier
value (GUID). The user identifier (e.g., GUID) may allow the
website 112 and/or affiliate websites (not shown) to uniquely
identify the user 102. The user identifier may allow the website
112 and/or resource configuration module 136 to lookup a user
profile 144 for the user 102 and/or to associate interaction data
with a particular user.
[0028] In some embodiments, the website 112 may be configured to
establish a user identifier for new users 102 (e.g., users who are
visiting the website 112 for the first time and have not yet
visited a website (not shown) affiliated with the website 112).
Alternatively, or in addition, the website 112 may be configured to
include user-identifying dynamic content in a web resource returned
to the users 102. The user-identifying dynamic content may be
configured to find a user identifier value set by the website 112
and/or a website (not shown) affiliated with the website 112. If
the user-identifying dynamic content cannot find a previously
assigned user identifier, the user-identifying dynamic content may
cause a new user identifier value to be generated and stored.
[0029] The user identifier may be generated by the user
identification module 138 and/or may be generated by the user 102
(e.g., using a client-side script, such as JavaScript or the like).
The user identifier may be included in subsequent requests to the
website 112 (e.g., as a URL parameter, first-party cookie, HTTP
header, or the like).
[0030] In some embodiments, the website 112 and/or user
identification module 138 may also cause the user 102 to store the
user identifier in storage location, such as a cookie, a global
first-party cookie, a third-party cookie, in Flash.RTM. storage, in
virtual machine storage, or the like. The storage location may
allow an affiliated website to access the user identifier of the
user 102.
[0031] The user identifier may be included on subsequent requests
to the website 112 (e.g., as a URL parameter, HTTP header, cookie,
or the like). The user identifier may allow the website 112 and/or
resource configuration module 136 to tailor content for the user
102 according to the user context 142 (e.g., derived from a
respective user profile 144). Accordingly, through the user
identifier, the website 112 and/or resource configuration module
136 may be customized according to preferences of a user 102. In
some embodiments, the website 112 and/or resource configuration
module 136 may be configured to embed the user identifier into the
web resource(s) returned to the user 102. For instance, outbound
links in the web resource may be modified to include the user
identifier (e.g., in outbound links, in FORM fields, or the like).
Alternatively, or in addition, the web resource may comprise one or
more dynamic elements (e.g., client-side executable scripts, such
as JavaScript) to rewrite the outbound links and/or forms in the
web resource to include the user identifier and/or to dynamically
append the user identifier to output links and/or form
submissions.
[0032] When a new user accesses the website 112 (e.g., via a link
on an affiliated website (not shown), a search engine result, a
sponsored link, a banner advertisement, or the like), the user
identification module 138 may be configured to determine whether
the user 102 has previously visited the website 112 and/or an
affiliated website (not shown). For instance, the user
identification module 138 may detect an incoming HTTP request 108
from a user 102. If the message 108 includes a user identifier, the
user identification module 138 may verify the identifier (e.g.,
verify that the user identifier corresponds to a stored user
profile 144 on the website 112 or an affiliate website (not
shown)). If the request 108 includes a valid user identifier, the
user identification module 138 may forward the message 108 to the
website 112 and/or the resource configuration module 136, which may
generate a context-aware web resource 138 for the user.
[0033] The website 112 may access one of a plurality of storage
mechanisms available, such as a global cookie, Flash.RTM. storage,
virtual machine storage, and the like, to confirm the user
identify, user profile and the like. In some embodiments, the
user-identifying dynamic content in the web resource 138 may filter
the storage locations to be queried according to the type of the
user's 102 application 106 and/or version of the application 106.
Alternatively, or in addition, the dynamic content in the web
resource 138 may be configured to obtain additional content (e.g.,
graphical assets and the like) for display to the user 102
responsive to obtaining the user identifier. The additional
resources may include content to customize the user's experience
according to the user context, such as a user locale, user
preferences, and the like.
[0034] The user-identifying dynamic content in the web resource may
query a series of storage mechanisms for a user identifier. In some
embodiments, the storage mechanisms queried by the user-identifying
dynamic content may be ordered according to a likelihood that the
mechanism will produce a result (e.g., based on a likelihood that
the mechanism will be supported by the application 106 and/or will
yield a result).
[0035] Various techniques for tracking user activity may include
use of browser cookies, cross-domain (e.g., third-party) cookies,
JavaScript, virtual machine storage (e.g., Flash.RTM. storage), and
the like which may allow a group of affiliated websites to provide
a consistent marketing message and/or user experience across the
website group. The affiliated websites may be configured to include
user identification information in a storage location that may be
accessible to other members of the group, such as a third-party
cookie.
[0036] The website 112 further includes an activity module 142 to
generate and manage user activities. The activity may include any
number of games, including puzzles, arcade-type games,
games-of-chance, strategy games, trivia games, and the like.
Participation in the activity may be enabled through conventional
keyboard, mouse, and touch-screen interaction. The activity is
intended to provide an enjoyable experience for the user 102 and
the activity may be selected based on the user's profile. Thus,
participating users may participate in different activities based
on various preferences including age, recreational preferences, and
the like.
[0037] The activity module 142 may monitor the time of user
participation and any thresholds of accomplishment. The activity
module 142 may then reward a user 102 based on participating time
and/or meeting activity thresholds by generating activity points
which may be redeemed for rewards. The activity points may be
referred to within the system by any arbitrary or fanciful term.
The activity points may be credited to a user's account and may be
accumulated over multiple activity sessions. The activity points
may also be rewarded upon the user 102 agreeing to set up a user
account and provide user information which is submitted to the user
profile. For example, a user 102 may be rewarded 500 points for any
initial participation, 500 points for setting up a user account,
and 500 points for providing an email. A user 102 may be rewarded
additional activity points if the user is willing to participate in
a survey and provide additional user information, all of which may
be submitted in a user profile 144.
[0038] The activity module 142 may further provide a user one or
more incentive offers. The incentive offer may be prominently
displayed as a discount, coupon, or full purchase value for a
related good or service. An incentive offer may be redeemed by
exchanging a user's accumulated activity points for the offer. The
incentive offer may be displayed next to the activity on a webpage
of the website 112 to encourage user selection. Thus, the incentive
offer is displayed simultaneously with the operation of the
activity. The incentive offer may have redeemable values based on
the user's current activity point totals or may be redeemable with
a slight increase in activity point totals. As noted, the incentive
offer may be a coupon or discount for a good or service. For
example, the incentive offer may be for a percentage reduction in
food and/or beverages, discounted hotel stay, discounted travel,
free slot plays, discounted live theater, and the like.
[0039] The good or service related to the offer may also be
selected based on the user profile 144 to increase the likelihood
of selection of the offer. Thus, the good or service may be based
on likely preferences as determined by a user's age, selection of
media content, travel reservation history, nationality, income
bracket, education, residential address, work address, or any one
of a number of characteristics. The user preferences may also be
determined by a user 102 directly indicating certain preferences
such as by completing a survey. The good or service may be based on
multiple user characteristics in a user profile. For example, a
service may be for a personally attended event in the user's
residential locale and be based on additional user's preferences.
The activity module 142 may also select the good or service based
on likely preferences for users with similar profiles. The
incentive offer may be displayed in a variety of graphical formats
and multiple incentive offers may be displayed sequentially to a
user 102. The incentive offer may also have an expiration date for
redemption which may be prominently displayed on the offer. As
such, a user 102 would be required to redeem the offer within the
pre-established time.
[0040] If an incentive offer is selected, the corresponding
activity points are reduced and the offer is deposited in a user's
account. In one embodiment, the website 112 includes a shopping
cart 146 which manages on-line user transactions. The shopping cart
146 records entry of the offer and notes the expiration date. If
the incentive offer is a discount or coupon, then money may be
further required to purchase the good or service. The shopping cart
146 may be configured to receive the item(s) to be purchased, apply
the discount or coupon, and charge a user for the remaining amount
owed.
[0041] In one embodiment, a user 102 may activate the shopping cart
146 and view an icon, or other graphical representation, relating
to the discount or coupon. The graphical representation may only be
displayed if the offer is before the expiration date. If the
discount or coupon is selected, then the user 102 may be queried if
the user 102 wishes to apply the coupon and purchase the good or
service. If the user 102 responds in the affirmative, the good or
service is deposited in the shopping cart 146 and the shopping cart
prompts for additional transaction information such as payment
information, shipping information (if applicable), and the like. If
the discount or coupon is applicable to multiple goods or services,
then a link may be provided to a webpage that allows a user to
select the good or service. For example, if the service is a
time-sensitive event requiring a reservation, then the user may
need to select the available date and time. Selected goods or
services may then be deposited in the shopping cart 146 and the
user may proceed with the on-line transaction.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, a system 200 is shown with one or more
users 202 that may be communicatively coupled to a network 260 via
respective computing devices 204 comprising respective applications
206. The users 202 may access one of a plurality of websites 210
over the network 260 hosted on one or more servers 212. The network
260 may include a transmission control protocol, Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) network, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide
area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), a public
switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless network (e.g., IEEE
802.11a-g, Bluetooth, or the like), a combination of networks, or
the like. Each server 212 may comprise one or more computing
devices and include a processor (not shown), memory (not shown),
data storage media (not shown), one or more communications
interfaces (not shown), input/output devices (not shown), and the
like. A server 212 may include a data storage module 214, on which
is stored one or more user profiles 216. Each user profile 216 may
comprise user context information (e.g., user preferences,
demographics, locale, interests, etc.) of a respective user 202.
The computing devices 204, applications 206, websites 210 and
servers 212 may be otherwise embodied as described in reference to
FIG. 1.
[0043] The websites 210 may have some form of common affiliation
(e.g., franchises of a product and/or service provider, marketing
group, industry association, contractual agreement, etc.). The
modules comprising the website (e.g., the user monitor module,
resource configuration module, and/or user identification module,
activity module, and/or shopping cart module) may be operable on
the respective server and/or embodied on a computer-readable
storage medium.
[0044] A server 212 may be operated by one organization, such as
first resort, and a second server 212 may be operated by a second,
affiliated resort, or even a competing resort under a agreement.
Corresponding websites 210 may be seamlessly accessed by users 202
without regard to the hosting entity.
[0045] The websites 210 may further be configured to track user
activity therebetween. As such, a user context (embodied as a user
profile 244) aggregated from user interaction data obtained by a
first one of the plurality of affiliated websites 210 may be used
to tailor the user experience at a second one of the plurality of
affiliated websites 210. Therefore, the user experience across the
affiliated websites 210 may be consistent as the websites 210
customize content for the individual users 202.
[0046] One or more of the affiliated websites 210 may monitor and
record interactions of the users 202 on the respective affiliated
website 210. The website 210 may transmit user interaction data to
a respective server 212 which derives user context information and
updates user profiles 216.
[0047] The servers 212 may be in electrical communication with a
customer data warehouse 250 which may include a server 252 with a
user profile data storage 254 which may comprise an aggregated data
storage module 256. The customer data warehouse 250 receives user
profiles from the servers 212 and compiles them into the aggregated
data storage module 256. As discussed, the servers 212 may be
operated by one or more affiliated or competing entities. The
entities may agree to share some or all of the user profile data in
order to compile the information into the aggregated data storage
module 256 and thereby provide an aggregate database of user
profiles. Participating entities may then access aggregated user
profiles at one location.
[0048] The aggregated user profiles may be compiled and presented
without specific user information. For example, a user's name and
contact information may be removed. Nevertheless, the aggregated
user profiles are beneficial in providing information on user
preferences for certain demographics. In analyzing aggregated user
profiles, appropriate incentive offers may be matched to a user 102
participating in an activity. For example, if the aggregated user
profiles indicate that people from 35 to 45 in age prefer hotels of
a certain chain or in a certain location, then incentive offers for
those hotels may be provided to those corresponding users
participating in an activity. In this manner, participating users
may be targeted with appropriate incentive offers.
[0049] The user profile data storage 254 may also include a
warehouse of specific user profiles 258. The specific user profiles
258 are not aggregated and contain profiles corresponding to unique
individuals. Access to the specific user profiles 258 may be
granted to participating entities based on established policies and
rules. The policies and rules may be dynamic to accommodate the
changing market conditions and relationships between participating
entities. A participating entity may be granted access to a
specific user profile and view information that an affiliated
entity or even a competing entity has provided on the specific
user. From this additional information, increased user profiling
occurs and superior targeting of incentive offers is possible. As
discussed herein, an entity may be a human individual, an
organization such as an affiliation of participants, a legal entity
such as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, and
the like.
[0050] A specific user profile 258 includes identification of the
user 102 and may include contact information and a variety of
demographic data. The specific user profile 258 may include a
history of a user's travel reservations, including airline
reservations, hotel and resort reservations, ticketed events,
dining reservations, and the like. As can be appreciated, incentive
offers may be provided to participating users 102 based on
demographic data and specific user preferences. For example, if a
user 102 frequently dines at Italian restaurants at a first resort,
a participating second resort may provide an incentive offer for
another Italian restaurant at their resort. Where the resorts are
in different travel markets, such cooperation may be deemed
mutually beneficial.
[0051] The specific user profile 258 may also include live time
information on a user 102. For example, the live time information
may include where the user 102 is presently checked into a hotel,
the current rental car reservations, return air travel
reservations, what dining reservations the user may hold for the
current day, and what ticketed events the user may have in the next
48 hours. As can be appreciated, these are exemplary points of live
time information and the full scope of such information is far
broader. Based on a user's current travel and recreational plans,
incentive offers may be provided that are convenient and attractive
to a user. A user 102 presently staying at a hotel may be provided
with incentive offers for establishments in or proximate to the
hotel. For example, an incentive offer may include gaming
incentives for a casino in or proximate to the hotel, dining
incentives near a ticketed event, discounted beverages in a bar
proximate to any location that a user 102 will frequent in their
travel plans, and the like. The specific user profiles 258 may also
include information on upcoming travel plans and appropriate
incentive offers may be provided in a like manner.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment is shown of a user
interface on a webpage 300 of the website 112. One of skill in the
art will appreciate that the displayed activity 302 and the
incentive offer 304 may generated in a variety of graphical
formats. The activity 302 allows for real time interaction of a
user based on received inputs to activity prompts. As discussed
above, the activity may include games-of-chance, such as a roulette
wheel, poker, black jack, bingo, and the like. The activity may
include puzzles such as word games, fitting objects with shapes and
sizes, brain teasers, and the like. The activity may include any
number of arcade games ranging from Pacman to first person
shooters. The activity may also include simple tabletop games such
as battleship or tic-tac-toe.
[0053] The activity 302 may display a running activity point total
for the present session. The activity 302 may also display a user's
total activity points in a user's account. The activity 302 may
reward activity points based on time participation and/or reaching
certain thresholds such as successfully completing a puzzle,
winning a hand of poker, solving a word riddle, finishing an arcade
game level, and the like. The activity 302 may also reward
additional activity points based on exceptional skill, part of a
promotion, i.e. all points on a certain day will be doubled, or
even based on random chance. The activity 302 may further reward
activity points if a user purchases activity points or otherwise
uses money to invest in the activity 302. For example, if a user
may pay money to upgrade the activity in some fashion or to improve
the user's chances of winning a threshold level in the activity.
Investing money in the activity 302 may also entitle the user to an
increase in activity points.
[0054] Participation in the activity 302 may require user
registration, entry of user profiling data, a registration fee, and
the like. In one embodiment, a user may be rewarded with activity
points for entry of user profiling data and/or a registration fee.
Alternatively, a registration fee may not be required so as to
increase the volume of user participation. The activity module 142
may prompt for specific user profiling data and offer activity
points. For example, the activity module 142 may prompt for a
user's email address and offer 5,000 activity points. If the user
102 declines, the activity module 142 may again prompt the user 102
for this information at a later time, such as before or after an
activity or as an intermission during an activity.
[0055] The incentive offer 304 may be displayed in proximity to the
activity 302 and simultaneously with participation with the
activity 302. The incentive offer 304 may include one or more
offers that are available to the user 102 based on the user's
current activity point total. Furthermore, the incentive offer 304
may include offers that require activity points in excess of a
user's current activity point total to encourage a user 102 to
continue participation. As discussed, the incentive offers may be
for the purchase of goods and services completely based on activity
points and may also be for discounts and coupons for goods and
services. The incentive offers may also encourage a user 102 to
purchase additional items at non-discounted prices. For example, an
odd number of ticketed seats for a theater event may encourage a
user 102 to buy an additional ticketed seat to arrive at an even
number. As another example, a discounted hotel stay on a Friday
night may encourage a user 102 to stay the Saturday night as well.
One of skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of options
are available to encourage increased user transactions.
[0056] The provided activity and incentive offer may be based on a
user profile. The user profile may be selected if a user is
required to log-in to participate or by user tracking. An
aggregated data storage module 256 may be accessed to determine
likely preferences for a user 102 with corresponding demographic
information. A specific user profile 258 may be accessed by the
system to enable targeting of incentive offers. Furthermore, the
webpage 300 may display one or more advertisements based on a user
profile.
[0057] It is contemplated that merchants providing the goods and
services may pay for participation in the disclosed system. Thus,
merchants pay the system provider a fee to have their respective
coupons listed as incentive offers. Alternatively, a merchant may
provide a good or service in order to participate in the disclosed
system. For example, a theater event provider may provide a certain
number of ticketed seats for selected venues. The system provider
may enroll the ticketed seats as part of the inventory for
incentive offers. The incentive offer may be for a discounted
ticketed seat and a user 102 would still be required to pay some
amount of money for the ticketed seat. Money payment from the user
would then be used to reimburse the system provider.
[0058] Merchants providing and honoring the incentive offers may
also earn the right to provide incentive offers through a bidding
process. Merchants may make offers to the system provider and the
system provider may reward the right to make an incentive offer to
the highest bidder. Bidding may be for the right to provide offers
to a subset of users 102, such as those falling into a certain
demographic category. For example, bidding may be for offers to
users 102 within a certain income level, certain preferences,
certain ages, and the like. Bidding may also be for the right to
make offers for specific users 102 who uniquely qualify for such
attention.
[0059] In addition to generating incentive offers based on
profiling and demographic information contained therein, incentive
offers may be based on physical appearance. An entity may take
digital images of a user 102 and commit them to a data storage
module, such as the data storage module 214 in a server. This may
occur, for example, when a user 102 is frequenting an entity's
establishment such as a night club, resort, casino or the like. The
entity may take and store the digital image with the user's consent
by offering the user 102 a free copy of the image, prominently
displaying the image on the property, offering a promotion, and the
like. The user 102 may be asked to provide an email or other
contact information to receive a copy of the image. The user's
contact information and digital information may be used to
establish or update a user profile 216. Thus, a plurality of user
profiles 216 may also contain one or images of a profiled user
102.
[0060] The images in a user profile 216 may be scanned manually or
through use of image recognition software to filter users 102.
Participating entities may then provide incentive offers to
selected users 102 to encourage users 102 to visit respective
establishments, properties, and the like. For example, social clubs
and similar evening entertainment establishments wish to encourage
visitation of attractive people to increase the reputation of their
property. In offering incentives and promotions to selected users,
a greater portion of the selected users will likely attend. Many
social venues depend on popularity and prestige of their customers
and will appreciate that increased traffic offered by the disclosed
system. Venues include physical establishments such as resorts,
hotels, casinos, restaurants, social clubs, dance halls, amusement
parks, and the like and which are operated by service providers
participating in some manner in the systems and methods disclosed
herein. A service provider may provide an incentive offer to any
one of a number of goods or services offered at the venue.
[0061] Incentive offers to selected users 102 may be provided
according to the systems and techniques disclosed herein, such as
through simultaneously displaying the incentive offer with an
activity. Alternatively, incentive offers may be mailed or emailed
to users 102 where contact information is available.
[0062] Participating entities may opt to share images in user
profiles 216 with other affiliated and even competing entities.
Enticement for sharing may be arranged through mutual exchange of
user profiles, monetary compensation, exchange of goods and/or
services and the like. Entities may directly exchange user profiles
216, including images, or transmit such information to the database
warehouse. Participating entities may then access the database
warehouse and review specific user profiles and then filter images.
Selected images from the database warehouse may then be used as
recipients for incentive offers.
[0063] Participation in the activity 302 filters the users 102 who
will be eligible for the incentive offer. In this manner, only
users 102 with interests in the provided activity are likely to
participate and take advantage of the listed associated offer.
Thus, an activity for a game-of-chance is likely to entice users
102 who enjoy recreational gaming. Incentive offers associated with
casinos will be more readily received and enjoyed. An activity for
an arcade game will likely entice teenage users 102 and
corresponding incentive offers would include popular teenage
activities.
[0064] The above description provides numerous specific details for
a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein.
However, those of skill in the art will recognize that one or more
of the specific details may be omitted, or other methods,
components, or materials may be used. In some cases, operations are
not shown or described in detail.
[0065] Furthermore, the described features, operations, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments. It will also be readily understood that the order
of the steps or actions of the methods described in connection with
the embodiments disclosed may be changed as would be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Thus, any order in the drawings or
Detailed Description is for illustrative purposes only and is not
meant to imply a required order, unless specified to require an
order.
[0066] Embodiments may include various steps, which may be embodied
in machine-executable instructions to be executed by a
general-purpose or special-purpose computer (or other electronic
device). Alternatively, the steps may be performed by hardware
components that include specific logic for performing the steps, or
by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.
[0067] Embodiments may also be provided as a computer program
product, including a computer-readable non-transitory and tangible
medium having stored instructions thereon that may be used to
program a computer (or other electronic device) to perform
processes described herein. The computer-readable medium may
include, but is not limited to: hard drives, floppy diskettes,
optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs,
magnetic or optical cards, solid-state memory devices, or other
types of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing
electronic instructions.
[0068] As used herein, a software module or component may include
any type of computer instruction or computer executable code
located within a memory device and/or transmitted as electronic
signals over a system bus or wired or wireless network. A software
module may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical
blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized as a
routine, program, object, component, data structure, etc., that
perform one or more tasks or implements particular abstract data
types.
[0069] In certain embodiments, a particular software module may
comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations of a
memory device, which together implement the described functionality
of the module. Indeed, a module may comprise a single instruction
or many instructions, and may be distributed over several different
code segments, among different programs, and across several memory
devices. Some embodiments may be practiced in a distributed
computing environment where tasks are performed by a remote
processing device linked through a communications network. In a
distributed computing environment, software modules may be located
in local and/or remote memory storage devices. In addition, data
being tied or rendered together in a database record may be
resident in the same memory device, or across several memory
devices, and may be linked together in fields of a record in a
database across a network.
[0070] It will be understood by those having skill in the art that
many changes may be made to the details of the above-described
embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of
this disclosure.
* * * * *