U.S. patent application number 15/662109 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-09 for distributing coupon content and transactional advertisements.
The applicant listed for this patent is Quotient Technology Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven R. Boal, Tino Gudelj, Ravi Kant Keswani, Manickababu Muthu, Gayathri Uday Nayak, Nahrin Reihaneh.
Application Number | 20170323303 15/662109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41319327 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170323303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muthu; Manickababu ; et
al. |
November 9, 2017 |
DISTRIBUTING COUPON CONTENT AND TRANSACTIONAL ADVERTISEMENTS
Abstract
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium having
processor-executable instructions recorded thereon is provided for
distributing transactional advertisements from a distribution site
over a network to online publishers. Transactional data items are
rendered by the online publishers, with control elements provided
from the distribution site, to control use of the transactional
data items on the user terminal.
Inventors: |
Muthu; Manickababu;
(Fremont, CA) ; Nayak; Gayathri Uday; (Cupertino,
CA) ; Reihaneh; Nahrin; (San Jose, CA) ;
Gudelj; Tino; (San Francisco, CA) ; Keswani; Ravi
Kant; (Fremont, CA) ; Boal; Steven R.; (Los
Altos, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Quotient Technology Inc. |
Mountain View |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
41319327 |
Appl. No.: |
15/662109 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13043238 |
Mar 8, 2011 |
9721255 |
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15662109 |
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12465634 |
May 13, 2009 |
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13043238 |
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61052996 |
May 13, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20130101;
G06Q 30/0239 20130101; G06Q 30/0225 20130101; G06Q 30/0238
20130101; G06Q 30/0277 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20120101
G06Q030/00; G06Q 30/02 20120101 G06Q030/02; G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02; G06Q 30/02 20120101 G06Q030/02; G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A system for distributing a transactional advertisement to a
user terminal, the system comprising: one or more storage media
storing a plurality of transactional advertisements; a publisher
interface module operable to generate a script to embed in a web
page that is to include transactional advertisements, wherein said
publisher interface module is operable to generate the script in
response to a request specifying an identifier of the web page from
a publisher of the web page; wherein the publisher interface module
comprises a validation component that is operable to dispatch a web
crawler to retrieve scanned data from the web page, and the
validation component is operable to use the scanned data to
validate that the web page is appropriate for display of one or
more of the plurality of transactional advertisements; and a
distribution module operable to deliver a transactional
advertisement data item corresponding to one or more selected
transactional advertisements of the plurality of transactional
advertisements to the user terminal in a manner that causes
respective coupon content of the selected transactional
advertisement to be displayed at the user terminal as part of the
web page; and said distribution module operable to select the one
or more selected transactional advertisements based on one or more
of: keywords from the web page, determination of popular
transactional advertisements as measured by one or more metrics,
historical information regarding past downloads of the web page by
the user or user terminal, and identification of demographics
information about the web page.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said distribution module is
operable to deliver a print control component to the user terminal
for restricting a manner in which the coupon content displayed as
part of the web page may be printed.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said distribution module is
operable to deliver the print control component to the user
terminal in response to receiving a request from the user terminal
to print the coupon content displayed as part of the web page.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a particular number of
instances of the coupon content.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a default printer in
communication with the user terminal.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a particular class of
printers.
7. A method for distributing a transactional advertisement to a
user terminal, the method comprising: storing a plurality of
transactional advertisements on one or more storage media;
generating a script to embed in a web page that is to include one
or more transactional advertisements in response to a request
specifying an identifier of the web page from a publisher of the
web page; dispatching a web crawler to retrieve scanned data from
the web page, and using the scanned data to validate that the web
page is appropriate for display of one or more of the plurality of
transactional advertisements; delivering at least one transactional
advertisement data item corresponding to at least one selected
transactional advertisement of the plurality of transactional
advertisements to a user terminal in a manner that causes coupon
content of the selected transactional advertisement to be displayed
to a user at the user terminal as part of the web page; and
selecting the at least one selected transactional advertisement
based on one or more of: keywords from the web page, determination
of popular transactional advertisements as measured by one or more
metrics, historical information regarding past downloads of the web
page by the user or user terminal, and identification of
demographics information about the web page; wherein the method is
performed by one or more computing devices.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising delivering a print
control component to the user terminal for restricting a manner in
which the coupon content displayed as part of the web page may be
printed.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising delivering the print
control component to the user terminal in response to receiving a
request from the user terminal to print the coupon content
displayed as part of the web page.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a particular number of
instances of the coupon content.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a default printer
connected to the user terminal.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the print control component
delivered to the user terminal restricts printing of the coupon
content displayed as part of the web page to a particular class of
printers.
13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
storing processor-executable instructions for distributing a
transactional advertisement to a user terminal, wherein the
instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
storing a plurality of transactional advertisements on one or more
storage media; generating a script to embed in a web page that is
to include transactional advertisements in response to a request
specifying an identifier of the web page from a publisher of the
web page; dispatching a web crawler to retrieve scanned data from
the web page, and using the scanned data to validate that the web
page is appropriate for display of one or more of the plurality of
transactional advertisements; delivering a transactional
advertisement data item corresponding to at least one selected
transactional advertisement of the plurality of transactional
advertisements to a user terminal in a manner that causes coupon
content of the selected at least one transactional advertisement to
be displayed as part of the web page; and selecting the selected at
least one transactional advertisement based on one or more of:
keywords from the web page, determination of popular transactional
advertisements as measured by one or more metrics, historical
information regarding past downloads of the web page by the user or
user terminal, and identification of demographics information about
the web page.
14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
of claim 13, further comprising instructions which when executed
cause delivering a print control component to the user terminal for
restricting a manner in which the coupon content displayed as part
of the web page may be printed at the user terminal.
15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
of claim 14, further comprising instructions which when executed
cause delivering the print control component to the user terminal
in response to receiving a request from the user terminal to print
the coupon content displayed as part of the web page.
16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
of claim 14, wherein the print control component delivered to the
user terminal restricts printing of the coupon content displayed as
part of the web page to a particular number of instances of the
coupon content.
17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
of claim 14, wherein the print control component delivered to the
user terminal restricts printing of the coupon content displayed as
part of the web page to a default printer connected to the user
terminal.
18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media
of claim 14, wherein the print control component delivered to the
user terminal restricts printing of the coupon content displayed as
part of the web page to a particular class of printers.
Description
BENEFIT CLAIM; RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit as a Continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 13/043,238, entitled "Distributing Coupon
Content And Transactional Advertisements", filed Mar. 8, 2011,
which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/465,634,
filed May 13, 2009, entitled "System and Method for Distributing
Coupon Content and Transactional Advertisements", which claims
benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/052,996,
filed May 13, 2008; the entire contents of each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The
applicant(s) hereby rescind any disclaimer of claim scope in the
parent applications or the prosecution history thereof and advise
the USPTO that the claims in this application may be broader than
any claim in the parent applications.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Different advertisement services currently exist for
publishers of websites and content. Generally, these services
enable publishers to enroll in a program where the service selects
and displays advertisements on the publisher's web site. The
advertisements are often selected to match the content of the
publisher's website. Traditionally, the content of the
advertisement may include text, images, or even video.
[0003] Coupons are items that can be used to procure something of
value (e.g. discount) in a transaction (e.g. for the purchase of a
product that is the subject of the coupon content). Typically,
coupons are issued for use in retail stores as a form of marketing
or promotion. In the past, coupons were distributed in print form
through mail, magazines, and newspapers. Increasingly, coupons are
distributed through the Internet. Coupons that are distributed over
the Internet can resemble traditional coupons (i.e. those
distributed through the mail or in newspapers), but such coupons
are printed from a user's computer.
[0004] Numerous types of coupons exist. Some coupons are
unstructured and other coupons are structured and formatted in
compliance with industry or published standards for coupons. The
typical components of structured coupons include an image and/or
text reciting the value of the offer, the product(s) offered, terms
and conditions, and a barcode that can be scanned and validated
(e.g., such as by a retailer).
[0005] This barcode is typically standardized (e.g., one
standardized barcode format is UPC Version A which has the
following format: 5 MMMMM FFFVV c)
[0006] In this format, the first digit(s) are either the number
five (5) or the number ninety-nine (99). This number identifies the
barcode as a coupon to the point-of-sale (POS) machine/logic. The
second set of digits is comprised of a five-digit manufacturer
identification number. In most cases, this number must match the
manufacturer identification number ("Manufacturer ID") of the item
being discounted by the coupon. This is shown as MMMMM above. The
next three (3) digits is a family code, summary code or super
summary code. This number is determined by a manufacturer and is
based on how the manufacturer is offering the coupon. The family
code hierarchy of the coupon is predetermined by a manufacturer and
used so that a coupon can only be redeemed for those items
associated with the manufacturer ID and family code of the coupon.
In the depicted format, the next two (2) digits are a value code.
This is taken from a predetermined listing, published by GS1
(formerly the Uniform Code Council). The final digit is a check
character that is calculated from the previous eleven (11) digits,
shown as c above.
[0007] The bar codes on coupons provide information that enables
the retailer to match the items the individual is purchasing with
the offers in the coupons. For example, a UPC A type coupon,
point-of-sale machine/logic identifies and reads the barcode on the
coupon, and compares the information of the barcode with the stored
information in the retailer's product file. Typically, the
machine/logic checks the items purchased by the customer in order
to identify an item with that same manufacturer ID number that is
within the barcode symbol on the coupon. If product(s) with the
same manufacturer ID exist in the purchase, the machine/logic
checks to see if the family code of the coupon accommodates the
product identifier of the items purchased. If there is a match, the
value of the coupon is deducted from the customer's order. If there
is no match, the machine/logic generates an error code.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for distributing coupon content
and/or other transactional advertisements, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a transactional
advertisement item, such as described with FIG. 1, according to one
or more embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for distributing coupon content
to enable printable and redeemable coupons for users, according to
an embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed process for enabling
distribution of coupon content and other transactional
advertisement content, according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for enabling a user of a
publisher web page to use provided coupon content, according to an
embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for enabling display of coupon
content or other transactional advertisement content, according to
an embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a handler script for use with one or more
embodiments described herein.
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates an interface for a publisher who
subscribes to a service such as provided with system 100 of FIG. 1,
under an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Embodiments described herein provide a system in which a
publisher of a website may subscribe to a distribution site in
order to receive transactional advertisements for their web site.
In particular, one form of transactional advertisement is coupon
content, which, under an embodiment, is delivered from a
distribution site to a publisher website (or other web property) in
a manner that enables a user of the web property (i.e. the
consumer) to act on and use (e.g., print) the coupon content. The
coupon content may be distributed to many publishers operating
independently from the distribution site, in a manner that enables
the distribution site to control the use of the coupon content by
users of the online publishers. Still further, one or more
embodiments provides that the distribution site distributes
transactional advertisements (such as coupon content) to any number
of online publishers with programmatically implemented restrictions
and controls, so as to restrict and control the use of the
transactional advertisement on the publisher's web property.
[0017] In the case of coupon content, embodiments provide that the
user is able to perform a print action that yields a properly coded
and formatted coupon. However, in order to inhibit coupon fraud or
misuse, embodiments provide that the coupon content is made
available to the publisher (e.g., on the publisher's web property)
with programmatic control elements that originate from a
distribution site in order to restrict and control the generation
of print form coupons from the coupon content. According to one or
more embodiments, the control elements restrict the user in the
number of times that a print operation can be performed on the
coupon content in order to generate a corresponding print form
coupon. The control elements may also implement other restrictions
that safeguard against the ability of the user to duplicate the
coupon content or otherwise print unauthorized versions or
quantities of the coupon.
[0018] As used herein, the term "transactional advertisement" means
promotional or advertisement content that has the additional
purpose of being used to facilitate a transaction. An example of a
transactional advertisement is coupon content, which (i) includes
content that advertises or promotes a product/service, and (ii) can
be acted upon by the user (e.g., a print request) in order to
generate a print form coupon. Another example of a transactional
advertisement includes content that advertises, promotes and
enables a transaction for the promoted product/service.
[0019] According to one or more embodiments, a system is provided
for distributing transactional advertisements over a network. The
system includes a storage medium and a plurality of modules that
operate on a distribution site of the transactional advertisements.
The storage medium stores data corresponding to a plurality of
transactional advertisement items. The plurality of modules
includes a publisher interface and a distribution module. The
publisher interface module is made accessible to a plurality of
publishers over the network. The publisher interface module also
enables individual publishers to specify one or more web properties
that are to include transactional advertisement items. The
distribution module is configured to select from the storage medium
a set of transactional advertisement items for each web
property.
[0020] In another embodiment, transactional advertisement items are
distributed over a network. At a distribution site of the
transactional advertisement items, a script is generated to execute
on a web property of a publisher site. The script may execute to
trigger one or more components operating on or with the
distribution site to deliver transactional advertisement items to
the publisher site. Responsive to the script executing from a user
terminal accessing the web property, one or more transactional
advertisement items are selected for the web property. The one or
more selected transactional advertisement items are communicated to
the web property of the publisher (from the distribution site) in
order to be rendered on the web property. The one or more selected
transactional advertisement items are rendered with control
elements provided from the distribution site to control use of the
transactional advertisement items on the user terminal.
[0021] Still further, another embodiment provides for maintaining a
collection of coupon content at a distribution site that is
available for online publishers. A plurality of online publishers
may subscribe to receiving coupon content from the distribution
site. The coupon content may be received or used on a web property
of the publisher. For a given web property of the publisher, one or
more coupon content is selected from the collection. The
distribution site programmatically transmits the coupon content to
the publisher web property where it is displayed for the user
(e.g., to print coupons).
[0022] One or more embodiments described herein provide that
methods, techniques and actions performed by a computing device are
performed programmatically, or as a computer-implemented method.
Programmatically means through the use of code, or computer
executable instructions. A programmatically performed step may or
may not be automatic.
[0023] Any of the embodiments described herein may be implemented
using modules. A module may include a program, a subroutine, a
portion of a program, or a software component or a hardware
component capable of performing one or more stated tasks or
functions. As used herein, a module can exist on a hardware
component independently of other modules, or a module can be a
shared element or process of other modules, programs or
machines.
[0024] Furthermore, any embodiments described herein may be
implemented through the use of instructions that are executable by
one or more processors. These instructions may be carried on a
computer-readable medium. Machines or modules shown in figures
provide herein include examples of processing resources and
computer-readable mediums on which instructions for implementing
embodiments of the invention can be carried and/or executed.
Examples of computer-readable mediums include permanent memory
storage devices, such as hard drives on personal computers or
servers. Other examples of computer storage mediums include
portable storage units, such as CD or DVD units, flash memory (such
as carried on many cell phones and personal digital assistants
(PDAs)), and magnetic memory. Computers, terminals, network enabled
devices (e.g. mobile devices such as cell phones) are all examples
of machines and devices that utilize processors, memory, and
instructions stored on computer-readable mediums.
[0025] System Description
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for distributing coupon content
and/or other transactional advertisements, according to an
embodiment. In an embodiment, a system 100 includes one or more
modules, including a publisher interface 110 and a distribution
module 120. System 100 may be associated with a distribution site
101 having a corresponding domain or web address. The components of
system 100 may be implemented using a combination of hardware that
includes one or more processors 121, memory resources 123, and a
network interface 125. For example, system 100 may be implemented
on a server (or combination of servers) that operate to provide
modules that correspond to publisher interface 110 and distribution
module 120. System 100 may be operated on a network so that the
publisher interface 110 is accessible over a network (such as the
Internet) to publishers 102. Publishers 102 may include website
operators, bloggers, or other content publishers that use websites
or network addresses. System 100 is linked to the publishers 102 by
the Internet (or other network), and the publishers 102 may operate
independently of system 100. For example, each publisher 102 may
operate on a domain that is different from that of system 100,
under control of an operator that is separate and independent than
an operator of system 100. The system 100 may maintain
transactional advertisement items 127, for use as part of its
distribution network. The transactional advertisement items 127 may
be maintained with one or more database(s) or other data
structure(s) that can be accessed and retrieved by one or more
components of the system 100. As an alternative, the transactional
advertisement items 127 may originate from a source outside of
system 100, such as from a third party.
[0027] The operator of system 100 may receive fees from sponsors of
advertisements and/or coupons based on parameters 119 that include
one or more of (i) coupons/advertisements that are viewed (i.e.
`impressions`); (ii) coupons or transactional advertisements that
are used (e.g. printed); and/or (iii) coupons that that are
actually redeemed. To incentivize publishers, the operator of
system 100 may implement fee distribution agreements, where
publishers receive a portion of the overall fees that the operator
of system 100 would otherwise collect. Thus, system 100 may enable
publishers to monetize their web content through display of
transactional advertisements, such as content that is redeemable as
a coupon.
[0028] In an embodiment, the publisher interface 110 provides
web-based interfaces for individual publishers 102 that wish to
subscribe to receiving the transactional advertisements. In one
embodiment, the publisher 102 interacts through a web page or other
interface to (i) specify a network address or location of his
content (e.g. website, URL, domain information); and (ii) create or
configure content for the transactional advertisement. In one
implementation, the publisher 102 may create or specify one or more
of (i) background appearance; (ii) foreground appearance; and (iii)
text. An embodiment of FIG. 8 illustrates an interface that the
publisher may use to create or configure transactional
advertisements.
[0029] In an embodiment, the publisher interface 110 includes a
validation component 114 that accesses the publisher's web content
to validate the content of the website. In one embodiment, the
validation component 114 dispatches a crawler to retrieve 119 text
and other scanned data 117 from the publisher's web property. A web
property may correspond to a website, a resource (such as a page or
file) provided at a website or location, or a network of websites
and locations. Examples of web properties include web pages, blogs,
or "networks" that are operated by a common entity across multiple
domains.
[0030] The validation component 114 may use the scanned or
retrieved data 117 as a mechanism for checking that the publisher
website provides appropriate surrounding content for display of
transactional advertisements. For example, the validation component
may operate to reduce brand tarnishment that may result from a
transactional advertisement being displayed with offensive or
inappropriate content. The validation component 114 may check
keywords and perform other safeguards that ensure the publisher's
domain is appropriate for display of certain transactional
advertisements.
[0031] Once the publisher 102 has enrolled, the publisher interface
110 may generate a script 115 or other set of code. In one
implementation, the script 115 is provided as JAVASCRIPT. The
publisher 102 may carry or manually incorporate the script 115 into
his web property so as to be embedded in the publisher's web page
112. The script 115 may execute when there is a download instance
by a user (e.g. individual who views the publisher's web content
through a web browser). In one embodiment, the script 115 acts as a
handler for server-initiated inclusion of other scripts onto the
web page (via transactional advertisement items 127). In addition
to acting as a handler, the script 115 may determine an
identification of the terminal of the user, and/or make a
determination (either independently or through interactions with
the server) as to whether the particular terminal of the download
instance of the web page 112
[0032] The distribution module 120 interacts with the web page 112
in order to select and provide transactional advertisement items
127. In particular, one or more embodiments provide that the
distribution module 120 retrieves or identifies key words and/or
other information about the web page 112 in order to perform a
relevance algorithm by which it can generate criteria for the
selection of transactional advertisement items 127 for transmission
to the web page 112 and the display order of such selected
transactional advertisement items. In one embodiment, the script
115 handles communications or otherwise facilitates identification
of key words from the web property for the distribution module 120.
The distribution module 120 bases the selection criteria 122 on
parameters that include one of more of the following (i) the
context of the web page 112 (e.g. key words), (ii) identification
or determination of popular transactional content items, as
measured by one or more metrics (e.g. for coupons, most profitable,
most downloaded, and/or most redeemed), and/or (iii) historical
information, including past history of the user or terminal that
downloads the web page 112 (e.g. what coupons the user has
previously printed or redeemed). Other parameters may also be used,
such as identification of demographics from information known about
the site of the web page 112. The publisher may also specify coupon
content (specifically, by type or class etc.) to exclude from being
included on the web page 112. Once the criteria 122 is determined,
the distribution module 120 may select transactional advertisement
data items 127 from the collection 140, and delivers transactional
advertisement items 127 to the web page 112 for the user. The
transactional advertisement items 127 are delivered with elements
such as described with FIG. 2. In an embodiment, the elements
include control elements for restricting use (e.g. precluding
unauthorized use or overuse) of the transactional data item. In
this way, some embodiments provide that the distribution site 101
is able to serve transactional advertisement items similar to
serving conventional online banner advertisement, for purpose of
enabling creation of print-form coupons that (i) comply with
industry standards, but (ii) are under control set forth from the
distribution site 101. In particular, the use of scripts or other
programmatic triggers that initiate delivery and handling of
transactional advertisement items enables such data items to be
served onto the publisher's web property with control elements that
regulate or control how the data items are used.
[0033] According to one or more embodiments, transactional
advertisement items correspond to coupon content which can be
printed by the user as a coupon and redeemed or used at a
point-of-sale. Coupon content may be distributed using elements
such as described with FIG. 2. A system such as described with FIG.
1 may distribute coupon content (or other transactional
advertisement items) such that print-form coupons can be printed by
individual users performing print operations. According to some
embodiments, the print form coupons may comply with formatting
standards, and represent issued coupon offers from a manufacturer
(or retailer). As described with some embodiments, such coupons may
be created in the online medium under many of the restrictions as
conventional offline coupons, even though the online distribution
site of the coupon content is separate from the web property at
which the coupon content is presented. Specifically, coupon content
may be printed into coupons that include product images and
information, bar codes, and water marks (or other security
features) that authenticate the coupon. As provided by embodiments
described herein, an advertiser can make a coupon offer accessible
to the public over an online medium, while maintaining control of
the print form coupons that can be created or printed from the
published coupon content. Such controls manage overuse and fraud.
In an online environment, overuse can occur if individual users
generate too many coupons (e.g., exceed the issuer's generation
limits) from one coupon data item.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a transactional
advertisement data item, such as described with FIG. 1, according
to one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, the elements of the
transactional advertisement items includes (i) elements 210 for
enabling presentation and programmatic actions, (ii) content
elements 212 corresponding to the selected transactional data items
127, (iii) a programmatic element 214 for enabling install of a
printer control component (as necessary), a (iv) a printer check
element 216, and (v) print consumption enabler 218.
[0035] The element 210 may include background art or layout, size
designations, and instructions for enabling specific layout
considerations or designs. The content elements 212 may correspond
to, for example, selected coupon content or advertisement. In one
embodiment, the programmatic element 214 corresponds to a program
(or trigger to locate and initiate install of a program) that is
installed on the terminal as a plug-in or other installed
application, to both allow and to control or place restrictions on
the ability of the user to print. In particular, as described
below, the programmatic element 214 may execute to restrict the
number of instances that a user can perform print operations. In
order to implement such control, one embodiment provides that the
programmatic element 214 includes a print `driver` that is
installed on user terminals, and which is triggered by the user
performing the print operation on coupon content. The programmatic
element 214 may (i) disable the ability of the user to select a
printer other than a default printer, (ii) preclude the user from
performing a print operation that would cause the transactional
data item to print to an image or otherwise be able to be
reproduced (with or without water marks).
[0036] In some implementations, the programmatic element 214 is not
always installed. For example, if the user of the web page 112
(FIG. 1) already has the install that is triggered or provided by
the programmatic element 214, the programmatic element 214 may not
be used on that download. The check element 216 may monitor the
printing activity (once the program specified by element 214 is
installed).
[0037] The check element 216 may monitor the number of instances
that the particular coupon is printed, or whether the printer that
performs the print operation is approved. For example, one or more
embodiments provide that the fax machines, or PDF distiller
printers are not enabled to print coupons from the transactional
advertisement items because those types of printers facilitate
unauthorized duplication.
[0038] The print consumption element 218 triggers the print action
so as to enable the print to occur without navigating the user away
from the web page 112. In particular, the print consumption element
218 enables in-place printing, so that the user's viewing of the
web page 112 is undisturbed after selecting to consume or otherwise
print a coupon (corresponding to displayed coupon content provided
on the web page 112). In one embodiment, the print consumption
element 218 may operate on the user terminal to bypass the user's
print wizard and make a direct print to the user's default printer.
A print wizard corresponds to an interface, typically made present
in response to a user's print command, that enables the user to
select a printer (e.g. which local or network printer), as well as
numerous settings for the printer (e.g. print quality, color versus
black and white, paper tray or size, collate sequence of pages). By
bypassing the print wizard, the user's attention is not distracted
from the web page.
[0039] As an example, the user may view web content on a publisher
site, then see transactional advertisement in the form of coupon
content. The user may `click` the coupon content. Rather than the
click action opening a new web page, one or more embodiments
provide that (assuming the programmatic element 214 is operating on
the user terminal) a print form coupon corresponding to the
displayed coupon content is printed to the user's default printer.
In such an implementation, no web page is opened for the coupon
content when the user `clicks` the transactional advertisement.
Thus, the user's view of the content on the web property of the
publisher is relatively undisturbed.
[0040] Methodology
[0041] Systems such as described with embodiments of FIG. 1 and
elsewhere may be used to implement various functions and features
for distributing coupons and other types of transactional
advertisements. In describing embodiments of FIG. 3-5, reference
may be made to elements of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 for purpose of
illustrating suitable components or elements for performing a step
or sub-step being described. Reference may be made to coupons and
coupon content as a specific form of transactional content.
However, as mentioned elsewhere, other forms of transactional
advertisement items also may be implemented with embodiments
described.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for distributing coupon content
to enable printable and redeemable coupons for users, according to
an embodiment. In a step 310, system 100 receives publisher
information from publishers who wish to include coupons as a type
of advertisement content on their website. For example, publishers
may be incentivized to share in revenue generation, such as
described with an embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0043] In step 320, coupon content is selected and displayed on the
publisher's website or other web property. A relevance algorithm
may be used, for example, as well as other criteria (e.g. such as
those pertaining to revenue generation and history) to select the
coupon content. The coupon content may be provided as an element
within the data items (e.g. see transactional advertisement items
127) that are delivered to the publisher's web page. Other
components may be provided in the data item to control printing of
the coupon content into coupons.
[0044] Accordingly, step 330 provides that the coupon content are
packaged or included with programmatic controls that control or
otherwise regulate the manner in which the coupon content can be
used. As described with an embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, one
manner of control includes controlling (i) the number of instances
that coupon content is printed into coupons, and (ii) the type of
printers that may `print` coupon content. Among other benefits,
such control enables the coupons to be restricted based on sponsor
or coupon supplier restrictions. Examples of such restrictions
include the number of identical coupons a user can redeem,
authentication regarding the coupon being redeemed (e.g., not an
unauthorized copy), and integrity of the contents of the coupon
(e.g., protect against unauthorized redemption value of the
coupon). Thus, for example, the user or the user's terminal may be
able to perform a print operation on the coupon content (e.g., to
create print form coupons redeemable at stores) a limit of once or
twice. To protect the integrity of the coupon offer, the
programmatic controls may limit what printers the user may use.
Specifically, the programmatic controls may preclude the user from
using a printer of an excluded class. In one embodiment, printers
of an excluded class include scanners, facsimile machines, and
certain digital print drivers (e.g., PDF printers and post script
printers), which can otherwise facilitate the creation of
fraudulent digital copies.
[0045] As an addition or alternative, an embodiment provides that
some print control may be implemented on a campaign wide level. For
example, some coupon content campaigns may limit the total number
of print operations that can be performed on a given coupon
content. Thus, for example, in some cases, a given coupon content
may not be printable if a limit is reached as to how many times the
coupon content has been printed by all users.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed process for enabling
distribution of coupon content and other transactional
advertisement content, according to one or more embodiments. In
step 410, publisher information may be received (e.g., see
publisher interface 110 of FIG. 1). The information may be received
through the publisher's interaction with an interface such as
described with FIG. 8.
[0047] Step 420 provides that the publisher content is verified as
being appropriate for display of coupons/transactional
advertisement (e.g., see validation component 114 of FIG. 1). Step
430 provides that a script (or other set of code) is generated for
the publisher to embed in his or her webpage or web properties. For
example, as described with an embodiment of FIG. 1, the publisher
interface 110 may generate the script 115 which the publisher can
incorporate into his web property. In an embodiment, the script is
operable (e.g., as a trigger) to retrieve coupon content from the
site 101. An example of a script is provided with FIG. 7.
[0048] Steps 440 and 450 are performed responsively at an instance
when a given user of a website downloads the webpage (or web
property) on which coupon/transactional advertisement content is to
be provided. Step 440 provides that coupon content or other
transactional content items are selected based on factors such as
relevance, revenue generation, and/or history of the user of the
web page. Relevance may be based on information that is determined
from or about the web property or directly from input provided by
the web property publisher. For example, text displayed on the web
property (e.g., web page) may be scanned and analyzed for keywords
to determine relevance. Metadata associated with the web property
may also be used. Still further, the advertiser (or issuer of the
coupon) may specify terms (e.g., key words) or criteria for
determining relevance for where that advertiser's coupon content is
published. And still further, the web property publisher may
specify certain coupon content criteria, such as not coupon content
from a particular advertiser. Revenue generation factors may, for
example, specify what coupon offers are most lucrative for the
distribution site or the publisher. The history parameter may
include parameters that indicate what coupons the particular user
has previously viewed.
[0049] As an addition or alternative, multiple coupon content items
may be selected for rendering of a web property of a given
publisher. The coupon content can be selected and/or prioritized
(e.g. top-down sort, with top position being prioritized) based on
factors that also include: (i) selecting or sorting coupon content
items based on how relevant each coupon content is to the content
of the publisher's web property or criteria (e.g. more relevant
coupon content being provided higher priority or sort); (ii) the
value of the coupon content to the distributor or publisher (e.g.
coupon issuer may provide added reward for some coupon offer's
use).
[0050] Still further, some embodiments provide that coupon content
is selected and/or prioritized for display in list format for the
user, based on a determination of relevance or interest to the user
(i.e. viewer of the web page). Such determinations may include
determining information about the individual users who render the
coupon content, then using that information to (i) select coupon
content, and/or (ii) sort or prioritize the coupon content. In one
embodiment, the user's terminal is identified, and referenced to
coupon offers that the user previously printed or used. Coupons
directed to a product, product type, or other classification that
were previously of interest to the user may be prioritized when
coupon content is selected or prioritized for the user. Conversely,
if the user has printed some coupon content (so to have reached
print limit), the coupon content may not be selected (or provided a
low priority when listed)/Still further, an embodiment provides for
determining geographic information about the user from, for
example, the user's IP address (via a geo-IP service). Upon
determination of the individual user's geographic region, coupon
content may be selected or sorted based on geographic specific
parameters. For example, coupon offers that are for retail centers
outside of the user's immediate geographic region are not selected
for that user, or alternatively provided a lower on the coupon
content list.
[0051] Step 450 provides that the coupon or other transactional
advertisement content is generated and rendered onto the web
property of the publisher. For example, the coupon content may be
displayed adjacent to text or other content, similar to a
conventional banner ad. But as coupon content, the data item may be
acted on by the user in order to generate a printed coupon. The
distribution site (see FIG. 1) which may be remote to the web
property may incorporate programmatic elements that control the
print operations that can be performed on the web property, so as
to manage overuse or fraud, among other reasons.
[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for enabling a user of a
publisher web property to use a coupon offer published on the web
property, according to an embodiment. In a step 510, a user may
access or interact with the webpage 112 (or other web property) of
the publisher that subscribes to the advertisement network
described with a system such as described with FIG. 1. In one
embodiment, the download (or other user activity) on the webpage
115 causes the browser of the user's terminal to run the script
115, which performs functions that include determining the
terminal's identification and/or determining whether the terminal
has installed or otherwise includes a print control component.
Terminal identification may be performed in many ways, including by
cookies downloaded on the user's computer. U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/274,348, which is incorporated by reference herein,
discloses techniques by which terminals may be identified for
purposes that include the ability to perform print operations on
coupon content. In one embodiment, the script 115 serves as a
handler that communicates with the server elements of system 100
for purposes that include incorporating additional scripts or
functionality into the page under download. This additional
functionality may be in the form of enabling system 100 to download
additional one or more additional scripts that enable functionality
such as described in steps below, or with one or more other
embodiments.
[0053] Accordingly, an embodiment provides that in step 520, one or
more additional scripts are generated for inclusion onto the web
page. According to one embodiment, the generated scripts may enable
the functionality and features such as described with an embodiment
of FIG. 2, scripts for providing (i) element 212 for creating
presentation and layout, (ii) print installation element 214, (iii)
print check 216 for device or limit, (iv) enablement of in position
print consumption (see element 218).
[0054] In step 530, system 100 receives from data generated by one
of the scripts that correspond to (e.g. script 115 or subsequent
script) the machine identification of the terminal that is viewing
the web page. The machine identification may be generated from
various identifiers on the user's machine, including the user's
hard drive identifier and MAC address. U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/274,348, which is incorporated by reference herein,
discloses techniques by which such machine identification may be
programmatically determined. Thus, one of the scripts may execute
on the terminal to procure this information.
[0055] Step 540 provides that coupon content is displayed on the
web page 112 as a form of transactional advertisement. The display
of the coupon content may be performed independent of identifying
the terminal. For example, a coupon content, similar to a banner
ad, may both promote a particular product to the user and enable
the user to receive a coupon (or offer) from the displayed coupon
content. Accordingly, in response to the user requesting to print
the coupon (step 550) content, a determination may be made in step
560 as to whether the user's device has a print control component
installed. As mentioned above, the print control component may
control (and thus provide safeguards preventing) (i) the user from
making too many prints from the coupon content, or (ii) `printing`
the coupon content to a printer that enables image manipulation
(such as a fax machine, or certain digital printers, such as PDF
printers, Post Script printers and Document Writer printers i.e.,
"excluded class of printers"). If the determination is that the
terminal has the control component, step 570 enables consumption of
the coupon content (or alternatively, other transactional content).
In the case of coupon content, consumption may correlate to
generation of a hardcopy (i.e. print-form) of the coupon from the
coupon content. In one embodiment, the hardcopy is generated
without affecting the user's view of the publishers' webpage. For
example, the print wizard on the user's terminal may be bypassed by
the control component, and the print function may be performed as a
background process, so that the browser maintains foremost view of
the webpage that the user is using.
[0056] If the determination is that the terminal does not have the
control component, step 580 provides that the user is provided a
prompt or message to download and install the control component. In
step 590, a determination is made as to whether the user performed
the download. If the user performed the download, the method
proceeds to step 570, where the coupon is consumed (e.g. printed).
If the user did not perform the download, step 595 provides that
the coupon content is displayed, but not usable. In the context
provided, this may correspond to the coupon content being
non-printable (and thus not usable as a coupon).
[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for enabling display of coupon
content (or content corresponding to other transactional
advertisement content), according to an embodiment. In particular,
one or more embodiments enable online publishers to present coupon
content in their own web content as a form of advertisement or
marketing (e.g. similar to banner ads). The coupon content is
presented in a manner that enables viewers of the web property to
`consume a transaction` of the coupon content without disturbing
their view of the publisher's content. In one embodiment, the users
on the publisher's web property are able to view the coupon content
and perform a print operation to print coupons, while continuously
maintaining the web property of the publisher under view and in
position. According to some implementations, the user's election to
perform the print operation does not, for example, open a print
wizard on the user's terminal, or cause the user's browser to
navigate to a new web page.
[0058] According to an embodiment, step 610 provides for presenting
coupon content as data items that are included or made a part of
the presentation of the publisher's web property. For example,
coupon content may be displayed similar to banner ads on a
perimeter portion of a web page. Step 620 provides for enabling
independent navigation or viewing of the coupon content, separate
from the remainder of the web page under view. In one
implementation, the user is able to (i) view closeup, and (ii)
scroll in a coupon window from one coupon content item to another.
These actions may be performed in-position, meaning the webpage
under view remains prominent, and the browser is not directed to
navigate to (or open) a new page to show the coupon content. Thus,
for example, the user may view coupon content (displaying one or
more offers) on the perimeter or other subsection of a page,
without navigating away or having the content on the page
obstructed.
[0059] Step 630 provides for enabling direct consumption of the
coupon content. As described with an embodiment of FIG. 5, this may
correspond to enabling the user to perform a direct print
operation. In such an operation, the print control component (or
other functionality) provided with the coupon content executes to
identify the default printer and to print to the default printer
while bypassing any prompts or wizards that the printer interface
may typically provide.
[0060] As described with other embodiments, step 630 may be
performed with programmatic controls that preclude over-printing or
printing to a file or location that enables unauthorized
duplication.
[0061] Script
[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates a handler script for use with one or more
embodiments described herein. A handler script 710 may correspond
to, for example, script 115 which initiates a sequence of
communication events between a publisher's web page 112 (see FIG.
1) and the system 100 (FIG. 1). The communication events may bring
into or incorporate additional scripts of functions that the
browser may perform in rendering the coupon content. As described
above, such additional functionality may design layout, detect
print control components, perform printer checks for device and
limit use and perform other functions. The script may include line
items that identify the publisher's domain ("script ID" and "bid")
so that the publisher cannot incorporate the handler script onto
another web page. Such control precludes the script from being
incorporated into a non-approved web page (i.e. validation
component 114 of FIG. 1 has not approved the content). The handler
script 710 may also include format code based on standardized
parameters relating to, for example, size of placement, and
tracking information to enable the publisher to track the content.
Additionally, the handler script 710 may include a call to a page
or other network resource that has additional scripts or
functionality, such as those described with one or more other
embodiments.
[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates an interface for a publisher who
subscribes to a service such as provided with system 100 of FIG. 1,
under an embodiment. a publisher may interact with the interface
810 to specify the format for the generated coupon/transactional
content, including background coloring and display feedback
(showing the operator what his format selections appear like).
Among other features, the publisher may select background, border,
summary color, and text color using a color palette or other color
selection tool. The publisher may also specify alternative
advertisements or services should selected coupon or transactional
content not be available at a given instance (e.g., such as when a
user scrolls through all of the coupons that are selected for his
page). The publisher may also select a tracking identifier. Other
implementations may enable the publisher to designate
classifications for the type of coupon or transactional content
that he wishes to include on the web page.
[0064] Alternatives
[0065] While numerous embodiments described recite coupon content
as a type of transactional advertisement content, one or more
embodiments contemplate other kinds of such content. For example,
transactional advertisement content may correspond to an
advertisement banner that enables the user to purchase the
displayed product on site, without further web navigation to other
sites.
[0066] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and
variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this area.
Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore,
it is contemplated that a particular feature described either
individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other
individually described features, or parts of other embodiments,
even if the other features and embodiments make no mentioned of the
particular feature. Thus, the absence of describing combinations
should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such
combinations.
* * * * *