U.S. patent application number 17/316268 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-30 for systems and methods for providing diversified promotional messages.
The applicant listed for this patent is Groupon, Inc.. Invention is credited to Rahim Daya, Michalis Potamias.
Application Number | 20210406955 17/316268 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005829988 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210406955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daya; Rahim ; et
al. |
December 30, 2021 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIVERSIFIED PROMOTIONAL
MESSAGES
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing diversified
promotions are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a
system including circuitry configured to provide diversified
promotions within an impression or other communication including
multiple promotions. For example, promotions may be associated with
diversity characteristics to determine the diversity of promotional
offerings within an impression and/or within a series of
impressions over a period of time sent to a targeted consumer. When
an impression is determined to lack diversity based on the
diversity characteristics of the promotions, the system may be
configured to take corrective action such as by replacing at least
one promotion with a replacement promotion that provides greater
diversity to the impression.
Inventors: |
Daya; Rahim; (Chicago,
IL) ; Potamias; Michalis; (San Francisco,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Groupon, Inc. |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005829988 |
Appl. No.: |
17/316268 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14473933 |
Aug 29, 2014 |
11030648 |
|
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17316268 |
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61872574 |
Aug 30, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0254
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one
memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus to access promotion data from a
promotion database indicating available promotion data records;
generate an impression, configured for rendering on a display of a
consumer device, targeted to a consumer account associated with the
consumer device, wherein the impression comprises a plurality of
promotion display indications respectively associated with a
plurality of promotion data records, wherein at least one of the
promotion data records is selected from a relevant promotion set
that satisfies a relevance threshold for a consumer demographic of
the consumer account, and wherein the relevant promotion set is
determined by: accessing, from the promotion database, promotion
data indicating test promotions that are each associated with a
prefeature period, generating a test impression for a test consumer
account indicating a test promotion that is in its feature period
based on the promotion data associated with the test promotion,
providing the test impression to one or more test consumer devices
determined based on a sampling of consumer accounts, receiving
promotion purchase data from the one or more test consumer devices
indicating purchases of the test promotion, determining a set of
consumer demographics for consumers associated with the one or more
test consumer devices, determining a conversion rate for the test
promotion for a consumer demographic similar to the consumer
demographic of the consumer account based on the promotion purchase
data, in circumstances where the conversion rate satisfies a
pre-defined threshold, flagging the test promotion and a set of
promotions associated with the test promotion as satisfying a
relevance threshold relative to the consumer account, and flagging
the set of promotions associated with the test promotion as the
relevant promotion set; and provide the impression to the consumer
device associated with the consumer account for rendering on the
display of the consumer device via the network.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the
plurality of promotion data records are selected from the available
promotion data records based at least in part on a relevance
ranking of the available promotion data records with respect to the
consumer account.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of promotion
display indications are configured for rendering simultaneously on
the display of the consumer device.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein sizes of images associated
with one or more promotion display indications of the plurality of
promotion display indications are increased, based on at least one
of feature period and relevance, so as to occupy a more prominent
visual area on the display of the consumer device.
25. The apparatus of claim 21, further caused to: determine a
promotion count for the impression indicating a number of promotion
display indications associated with promotion data records that the
impression is configured to display; determine whether the
plurality of promotion display indications of the impression is
less than the promotion count; and in response to determining that
the plurality of promotion display indications is less than the
promotion count, update the impression by adding an additional
promotion display indication associated with an additional
promotion data record.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the additional promotion
data record is selected from the relevant promotion set that
satisfies the relevance threshold for the consumer demographic of
the consumer account.
27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein promotion purchase data is
only received from a subset of the one or more test consumer
devices.
28. The apparatus of claim 21, further caused to: track promotion
data records provided to the consumer device; generate historical
consumer data indicating the promotion data records provided to the
consumer device; and store the historical consumer data in a
consumer database.
29. A machine-implemented method comprising: accessing, by
circuitry connected with consumer devices via a network, promotion
data from a promotion database indicating available promotion data
records; generating, by the circuitry, an impression, configured
for rendering on a display of a consumer device, targeted to a
consumer account associated with the consumer device, wherein the
impression comprises a plurality of promotion display indications
respectively associated with a plurality of promotion data records,
wherein at least one of the promotion data records is selected from
a relevant promotion set that satisfies a relevance threshold for a
consumer demographic of the consumer account, and wherein the
relevant promotion set is determined by: accessing, from the
promotion database, promotion data indicating test promotions that
are each associated with a prefeature period, generating a test
impression for a test consumer account indicating a test promotion
that is in its feature period based on the promotion data
associated with the test promotion, providing the test impression
to one or more test consumer devices determined based on a sampling
of consumer accounts, receiving promotion purchase data from the
one or more test consumer devices indicating purchases of the test
promotion, determining a set of consumer demographics for consumers
associated with the one or more test consumer devices, determining
a conversion rate for the test promotion for a consumer demographic
similar to the consumer demographic of the consumer account based
on the promotion purchase data, in circumstances where the
conversion rate satisfies a pre-defined threshold, flagging the
test promotion and a set of promotions associated with the test
promotion as satisfying a relevance threshold relative to the
consumer account, and flagging the set of promotions associated
with the test promotion as the relevant promotion set; and
providing, by the circuitry, the impression to the consumer device
associated with the consumer account for rendering on the display
of the consumer device via the network.
30. The machine-implemented method of claim 29, wherein at least
one of the plurality of promotion data records are selected from
the available promotion data records based at least in part on a
relevance ranking of the available promotion data records with
respect to the consumer account.
31. The machine-implemented method of claim 29, wherein the
plurality of promotion display indications are configured for
rendering simultaneously on the display of the consumer device and
wherein sizes of images associated with one or more promotion
display indications of the plurality of promotion display
indications are increased, based on at least one of feature period
and relevance, so as to occupy a more prominent visual area on the
display of the consumer device.
32. The machine-implemented method of claim 29 further comprising,
by the circuitry: determining a promotion count for the impression
indicating a number of promotion display indications associated
with promotion data records that the impression is configured to
display; determining whether the plurality of promotion display
indications of the impression is less than the promotion count; and
in response to determining that the plurality of promotion display
indications is less than the promotion count, updating the
impression by adding an additional promotion display indication
associated with an additional promotion data record, wherein the
additional promotion data record is selected from the relevant
promotion set that satisfies the relevance threshold for the
consumer demographic of the consumer account.
33. The machine-implemented method of claim 29, wherein promotion
purchase data is only received from a subset of the one or more
test consumer devices.
34. The machine-implemented method of claim 29 further comprising,
by the circuitry: tracking promotion data records provided to the
consumer device; generating historical consumer data indicating the
promotion data records provided to the consumer device; and storing
the historical consumer data in a consumer database.
35. A computer program product comprising at least one
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having
computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the
computer-executable program code portions comprising program code
instructions configured to: access promotion data from a promotion
database indicating available promotion data records; generate an
impression, configured for rendering on a display of a consumer
device, targeted to a consumer account associated with the consumer
device, wherein the impression comprises a plurality of promotion
display indications respectively associated with a plurality of
promotion data records, wherein at least one of the promotion data
records is selected from a relevant promotion set that satisfies a
relevance threshold for a consumer demographic of the consumer
account, and wherein the relevant promotion set is determined by:
accessing, from the promotion database, promotion data indicating
test promotions that are each associated with a prefeature period,
generating a test impression for a test consumer account indicating
a test promotion that is in its feature period based on the
promotion data associated with the test promotion, providing the
test impression to one or more test consumer devices determined
based on a sampling of consumer accounts, receiving promotion
purchase data from the one or more test consumer devices indicating
purchases of the test promotion, determining a set of consumer
demographics for consumers associated with the one or more test
consumer devices, determining a conversion rate for the test
promotion for a consumer demographic similar to the consumer
demographic of the consumer account based on the promotion purchase
data, in circumstances where the conversion rate satisfies a
pre-defined threshold, flagging the test promotion and a set of
promotions associated with the test promotion as satisfying a
relevance threshold relative to the consumer account, and flagging
the set of promotions associated with the test promotion as the
relevant promotion set; and provide the impression to the consumer
device associated with the consumer account for rendering on the
display of the consumer device via the network.
36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein at least one
of the plurality of promotion data records are selected from the
available promotion data records based at least in part on a
relevance ranking of the available promotion data records with
respect to the consumer account.
37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the plurality
of promotion display indications are configured for rendering
simultaneously on the display of the consumer device and wherein
sizes of images associated with one or more promotion display
indications of the plurality of promotion display indications are
increased, based on at least one of feature period and relevance,
so as to occupy a more prominent visual area on the display of the
consumer device.
38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the
computer-executable program code portions further comprise program
code instructions configured to: determine a promotion count for
the impression indicating a number of promotion display indications
associated with promotion data records that the impression is
configured to display; determine whether the plurality of promotion
display indications of the impression is less than the promotion
count; and in response to determining that the plurality of
promotion display indications is less than the promotion count,
update the impression by adding an additional promotion display
indication associated with an additional promotion data record,
wherein the additional promotion data record is selected from the
relevant promotion set that satisfies the relevance threshold for
the consumer demographic of the consumer account.
39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein promotion
purchase data is only received from a subset of the one or more
test consumer devices.
40. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the
computer-executable program code portions further comprise program
code instructions configured to: track promotion data records
provided to the consumer device; generate historical consumer data
indicating the promotion data records provided to the consumer
device; and store the historical consumer data in a consumer
database.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/473,933, titled "Systems and Methods for Providing
Diversified Promotional Messages," filed Aug. 29, 2014, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/872,574,
titled "Systems and Methods for Providing Diversified Promotional
Messages," filed Aug. 30, 2013, both of which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the invention relate, generally, to
techniques for providing promotions to consumers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Via electronic networks (e.g., the Internet), promotional
systems provide promotions associated with merchants to consumer
devices. Oftentimes, a promotional system may provide multiple
promotions to consumers (e.g., within a single communication or
over a period of time) that are of different merchants and/or for
different products, services, or experiences. In this regard, areas
for improving current systems have been identified.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, solutions
to improve such systems have been realized and are described
herein. Some embodiments may provide for a system configured to
provide impressions including programmatically diversified
promotions to consumer devices consumers. The system may include a
promotion database and one or more servers. The one or more servers
may include communication circuitry configured to form a connection
with the consumer devices via a network. The processing circuitry
may be configured to: access promotion data from the promotion
database indicating promotion data records that are available and
one or more diversity characteristics for each promotion data
record, wherein the one or more diversity characteristics include a
first diversity characteristic; generate an impression targeted to
a consumer account indicating a plurality of promotion data
records, wherein the plurality of promotion data records is
selected from the available promotion data records based at least
in part on a relevance ranking of the available promotion data
records with respect to the consumer account; determine, based on
the promotion data, whether the first diversity characteristic of a
first promotion data record has the same value as the first
diversity characteristic of a second promotion data record, wherein
the first promotion data record and the second promotion data
record are part of the plurality of promotion data records; in
response to determining that the first diversity characteristic of
the first promotion data record has the same value as the first
diversity characteristic of the second promotion data record,
update the impression by replacing the first promotion data record
with a third promotion data record associated with a different
value for the first diversity characteristic than the first
promotion data record; and provide the impression to a consumer
device associated with the consumer account via the network. For
example, the first diversity characteristic may include one of a
promotion category and a merchant.
[0005] In some embodiments, the system may further include a
consumer database. The processing circuitry of the one or more
servers may be further configured to: access, from the consumer
database, historical consumer data indicating one or more diversity
characteristic values associated with promotion data records that
have been provided to the consumer account within a predetermined
time; determine whether the first promotion data record of the
plurality of promotion data records includes a diversity
characteristic that has the same value as at least one of the one
or more diversity characteristic values; and in response to
determining that the first promotion data record includes a
diversity characteristic that has the same value as the at least
one of the one or more diversity characteristics, update the
impression by replacing the first promotion data record with a
fourth promotion data record associated with a different value for
the diversity characteristic than the first promotion. For example,
the diversity characteristic may include one of a promotion
category and a merchant.
[0006] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the one or
more servers may be further configured to: determine an
availability period for the third promotion data record based on
the promotion data; determine whether the availability period has
lapsed; and in response to determining that the availability period
has failed to lapse; update the impression by replacing the first
promotion data record with the third promotion data record.
[0007] In some embodiments, processing circuitry of the one or more
servers may be further configured to: determine a promotion count
for the impression indicating a number of promotion data records
that the impression is configured to indicate; determine whether
the plurality of promotion data records of the impression is less
than the promotion count; and in response to determining that the
plurality of promotion data records is less than the promotion
count, update the impression by adding an additional promotion data
record to the impression. In some embodiments, the processing
circuitry configured to generate the impression indicating the
plurality promotion data records includes the processing circuitry
being configured to generate the impression indicating the
plurality of promotion data records that are each associated with a
feature period that has failed to lapse. Furthermore, the
additional promotion data record may be associated with a feature
period that has lapsed. In some embodiments, the additional
promotion data record may be associated with a different first
diversity characteristic value than the first diversity
characteristic of each of the plurality of promotion data
records.
[0008] In some embodiments, the additional promotion data record
may be associated with a different first diversity characteristic
value than first diversity characteristics values associated with
promotion data records that have been provided to the consumer
device within a predetermined period of time. The processing
circuitry of the one or more servers may be further configured to:
track promotion data records provided to the consumer device;
generate historical consumer data indicating the promotion data
records provided to the consumer device; store the historical
consumer data in a consumer database.
[0009] Some embodiments may provide for a machine-implemented
method for providing impressions including programmatically
diversified promotions to consumer devices. The method may include:
accessing, by circuitry connected with the consumer devices via a
network, promotion data from a promotion database indicating
promotion data records that are available and one or more diversity
characteristics for each promotion data record, wherein the one or
more diversity characteristics include a first diversity
characteristic; generating, by the circuitry, an impression
targeted to a consumer account indicating a plurality of promotion
data records, wherein the plurality of promotion data records is
selected from the available promotion data records based at least
in part on a relevance ranking of the available promotion data
records with respect to the consumer account; determining, based on
the promotion data and by the circuitry, whether the first
diversity characteristic of a first promotion data record has the
same value as the first diversity characteristic of a second
promotion data record, wherein the first promotion and the second
promotion are part of the plurality of promotion data records; in
response to determining that the first diversity characteristic of
the first promotion data record has the same value as the first
diversity characteristic of the second promotion data record,
updating, by the circuitry, the impression by replacing the first
promotion data record with a third promotion data record associated
with a different value for the first diversity characteristic than
the first promotion data record; and providing, by the circuitry,
the impression to a consumer device associated with the consumer
account via the network. For example, the first diversity
characteristic may include one of a promotion category and a
merchant.
[0010] In some embodiments, the method may further include, by the
circuitry: accessing, from a consumer database, historical consumer
data indicating one or more diversity characteristic values
associated with promotion data records that have been provided to
the consumer account within a predetermined time; determining
whether the first promotion data record of the plurality of
promotion data records includes a diversity characteristic that has
the same value as at least one of the one or more diversity
characteristic values; and in response to determining that the
first promotion data record includes a diversity characteristic
that has the same value as the at least one of the one or more
diversity characteristics values, updating the impression by
replacing the first promotion data record with a fourth promotion
data record associated with a different value for the diversity
characteristic than the first promotion data record. For example,
the diversity characteristic may include one of a promotion
category and a merchant.
[0011] In some embodiments, the method may further include, by the
circuitry: determining an availability period for the third
promotion data record based on the promotion data; determining
whether the availability period has lapsed; and in response to
determining that the availability period has failed to lapse;
updating the impression by replacing the first promotion data
record with the third promotion data record.
[0012] In some embodiments, the method may further include, by the
circuitry: determining a promotion count for the impression
indicating a number of promotion data records that the impression
is configured to indicate; determining whether the plurality of
promotion data records of the impression is less than the promotion
count; and in response to determining that the plurality of
promotion data records is less than the promotion count, updating
the impression by adding an additional promotion data record to the
impression. In some embodiments, generating the impression
indicating the plurality of promotion data records may include
generating the impression indicating the plurality of promotion
data records that are each associated with feature period that has
failed to lapse. Furthermore, the additional promotion data record
may be associated with a feature period that has lapsed. In some
embodiments, the additional promotion data record may be associated
with a different first diversity characteristic value than the
first diversity characteristic of each of the plurality of
promotion data records. In some embodiments, additional promotion
data record may be associated with a different first diversity
characteristic value than first diversity characteristic values
associated with promotion data records that have been provided to
the consumer account within a predetermined period of time.
[0013] Some embodiments may provide for an apparatus configured to
provide impressions including programmatically diversified
promotions to consumer devices. The apparatus may include networked
processing circuitry connected with the consumer devices. The
networked processing circuitry may be configured to: access
promotion data from a promotion database indicating promotion data
records that are available and one or more diversity
characteristics for each promotion data record, wherein the one or
more diversity characteristics include a first diversity
characteristic; generate an impression targeted to a consumer
account indicating a plurality of promotion data records, wherein
the plurality of promotion data records is selected from the
available promotion data records based at least in part on a
relevance ranking of the available promotion data records with
respect to the consumer account; determine, based on the promotion
data, whether the first diversity characteristic of a first
promotion data record has the same value as the first diversity
characteristic of a second promotion data record, wherein the first
promotion data record and the second promotion data record are part
of the plurality of promotion data records; in response to
determining that the first diversity characteristic of the first
promotion data record has the same value as the first diversity
characteristic of the second promotion data record, update the
impression by replacing the first promotion data record with a
third promotion data record associated with a different value for
the first diversity characteristic than the first promotion data
record; access, from a consumer database, historical consumer data
indicating one or more diversity characteristic values associated
with promotion data records that have been provided to the consumer
account within a predetermined time; determine whether a fourth
promotion data record of the plurality of promotion data records
includes a diversity characteristic that has the same value as at
least one of the one or more diversity characteristic values; in
response to determining that the fourth promotion data record
includes a diversity characteristic that has the same value as the
at least one of the one or more diversity characteristics, update
the impression by replacing the fourth promotion data record with a
fifth promotion data record associated with a different value for
the diversity characteristic than the fourth promotion; and provide
the impression to a consumer device associated with the consumer
account via the network. In some embodiments, the first diversity
characteristic may include one of a promotion category and a
merchant.
[0014] Some embodiments may include circuitry and/or media
configured to implement the methods and/or other functionality
discussed herein. For example, one or more processors, and/or other
machine components may be configured to implement the functionality
discussed herein based on instructions and/or other data stored in
memory and/or other non-transitory computer readable media.
[0015] These characteristics as well as additional features,
functions, and details of various embodiments are described below.
Similarly, corresponding and additional embodiments are also
described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Having thus described some embodiments in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an example system in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows example circuitry in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows an example of a method for providing an
impression including diversified promotions performed in accordance
with some embodiments;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows an example impression in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows an example of a method for providing an
impression including diversified promotions performed in accordance
with some embodiments;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows an example of a method for providing promotion
inventory shock management performed in accordance with some
embodiments; and
[0023] FIG. 7 shows an example of a method for providing a
promotion performance test performed in accordance with some
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Glossary
[0024] As used herein, an "impression" includes a communication, a
display, or other perceived indication, such as e-mail, text
message, webpage, application alert, mobile applications, other
type of electronic interface or distribution channel and/or the
like, of one or more promotions. In that sense, an impression may
provide an indication of one or more promotions.
[0025] A "promotion," as used herein, includes any type of offered,
presented or otherwise indicated reward, discount, coupon, credit,
deal, incentive, discount, media or the like that is indicative of
a promotional value or the like that upon purchase or acceptance
results in the issuance of an instrument (e.g., electronic or
otherwise) that may be used toward at least a portion of the
purchase of particular goods, services and/or experiences defined
by the promotion.
[0026] As used herein, "promotion data," refers to data that
defines a promotion and parameters of the promotion.
[0027] As used herein, a "promotion data record" refers to a
promotion or promotion data that is stored as a record in a
database, such as a promotion database configured to store a
collection of promotion data records.
[0028] As used herein, a "diversity characteristic" refers to
criteria by which diversity among a group promotion data records
(e.g., selected for inclusion within an impression) may be
determined. Some example diversity characteristics of a promotion
may include the identity of the offering merchant of the promotion,
the promotion category of the promotion, the price, or the
redemption (e.g., merchant shop) location.
[0029] As used herein, a "diversity characteristic value" refers to
a value of a diversity characteristic. For example, promotion data
records of different offering merchants may have different
diversity characteristic values for the merchant diversity
characteristic. In another example, promotion data records of
different categories of goods defined by the promotion may have
different diversity characteristic values for the promotion
category diversity characteristic, such as "Food and Drink,"
"Events and Activities," "Shopping," "Beauty and Spa," for a
promotion category diversity characteristic.
[0030] As used herein, "historical consumer data" refers to data
indicating one or more diversity characteristic values associated
with promotion data records that have been provided to the consumer
account via impressions. Historical consumer data may further
indicate times at which impressions indicating the promotion data
records were sent.
[0031] Embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all
embodiments contemplated herein are shown. Indeed, various
embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
[0032] Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products
described herein may be operable to provide impressions to
consumers including diversified promotions. For example, in some
embodiments, a system may be configured to generate an impression
by accessing promotion data (e.g., from a database) indicating
promotions that are available for offering to consumers. For
example, the database may include promotion data defining the
available promotions and associated promotion data, such as
promotion data defining a feature period for each promotion. The
feature period, for example, may include an end date and prior to
lapse of the end date, a promotion may be given greater priority
for being included in an impression as a "fresh" deal. The system
may be further configured to generate an impression (e.g., for a
consumer via a consumer account) indicating a plurality of
promotions that are each in a respective feature period.
[0033] Some embodiments may further provide for techniques for
updating, modifying or otherwise generating an impression to ensure
that the impression includes diversified promotions. For example,
in some embodiments, the system may be configured to check
intra-impression diversity to ensure that promotion diversity for
an impression including multiple promotions. Each promotion may be
associated with one or more diversity characteristics by which
diversity may be determined. Some example diversity characteristics
of promotions may include merchant (e.g., the merchant that is
offering or otherwise associated with the promotion) and/or
promotion category (e.g., type of goods, services and/or
experiences). Here, an impression including two or more promotions
from the same merchant and/or promotion category may be determined
to lack diversity and corrective action may be taken. For example,
the system may be configured to replace a first promotion of the
impression that has a same diversity characteristic value (e.g.,
same merchant and/or same promotion category) as a second promotion
of the impression, such as with a third promotion that is
associated with a different diversity characteristic value than the
first promotion.
[0034] In some embodiments, other example diversity characteristics
other than merchant and promotion category may alternatively and/or
additionally be used, such as price (e.g., to provide greater
diversity of promotion price ranges) and/or location (e.g., to
provide greater diversity in neighborhood locations of a consumer's
city). In that sense, while merchant and promotion category
diversity characteristics are discussed in detail herein, similar
techniques may be suitable to other diversity characteristics
and/or combinations thereof.
[0035] Some embodiments may additionally or alternatively provide
for techniques for updating, modifying or otherwise generating an
impression to ensure that the impression includes inter-impression
diversity, such as for a series of impressions sent over a
predetermined period of time (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).
In some embodiments, the system may be configured to access
historical consumer data indicating one or more diversity
characteristic values associated with promotions that have been
provided to a consumer account within a predetermined time. For
example, an impression including a merchant and/or promotion
category that has been previously sent to the same consumer within
the predetermined period of time may be determined to lack
diversity and corrective action may be taken. Here, the system may
be configured to replace a promotion of the impression having a
shared (inter-impression) diversity characteristic value, such as
with another promotion (e.g., in a promotion bank or other
promotion data database) that is associated with a different
diversity characteristic value than the one or more diversity
characteristic values associated with promotions that have been
provided to a consumer account within the predetermined period of
time.
[0036] In that sense, some embodiments may provide for offering
"diversified" targeted advertising messages to consumers, where
diversity can be defined by looking within a communication (e.g.,
an impression) and/or a series of communications with the consumer.
For example, consumers may subscribe (e.g., by creating a consumer
account with the system) to a service that provides for a series of
impressions to consumer devices of the consumers, such as on a
scheduled basis and/or in response to merchant and/or consumer
requests. Historical consumer data indicating one or more diversity
characteristics associated with promotions that have been provided
to the consumer account and/or the promotions may be tracked for
each impression sent and/or stored in a computer readable medium
such as a database.
[0037] Based on receiving or otherwise accessing promotion data
from a computer readable medium (e.g., a database, which may
include the historical consumer data or may be separate therefrom)
indicating the promotion parameters (e.g., feature date,
availability date, etc.) and diversity characteristics of available
promotions, the circuitry may be configured to provide diverse and
targeted impressions of the available promotions, such as via the
Internet, email, and/or SMS text, to a consumer device associated
with the targeted consumer and/or consumer account.
[0038] As such, individual consumers can receive individually
targeted messages that are diverse to the consumer relative to
previously sent individually targeted messages, thereby alleviating
the prohibitive costs of manually tracking and building diverse
impressions, such as on a daily basis, for each consumer of a large
scale commercial system.
[0039] Some embodiments may further provide for a promotion bank.
The promotion bank may include promotion data defining promotions
and may serve as a repository from which impressions may be
generated. In some embodiments, such as when there are insufficient
promotions in their feature period to generate a complete
impression, the system may be configured to access the promotion
bank to add a promotion (e.g., that is not in its feature period
but is otherwise still available for offer) to the impression. In
some embodiments, after the promotion data defining promotions are
provided to the promotion bank, the system may be configured to
programmatically generate and send impressions that are diverse
and/or targeted to particular consumers by accessing the promotion
bank. Some embodiments may further provide for techniques for
promotion performance testing which may be leveraged to provide
targeted and diverse promotions to consumers based on consumer
demographics.
[0040] As used herein, the terms "data," "content," "information"
and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to data
capable of being captured, transmitted, received, displayed and/or
stored in accordance with various example embodiments. Thus, use of
any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of
the disclosure. Further, where a device is described herein to
receive data from another device, it will be appreciated that the
data may be received directly from the another device or may be
received indirectly via one or more intermediary devices, such as,
for example, one or more servers, relays, routers, network access
points, base stations, and/or the like, sometimes referred to
herein as a "network." Similarly, where a device is described
herein to send data to another device, it will be appreciated that
the data may be sent directly to the another device or may be sent
indirectly via one or more intermediary devices, such as, for
example, one or more servers, relays, routers, network access
points, base stations, and/or the like.
[0041] As used herein, the term "method" refers to one or more
steps that may be performed by a device, apparatus, system,
circuitry, one or more processors, or the like. Where an example
method is shown as including more than one step, it will be
appreciated that the steps may be performed in different orders
than as shown in the example and that not all steps are necessarily
required. Furthermore, the methods are described herein as being
performed by example structures for clarity and are not limited to
those structures (e.g., a particular server, device, apparatus,
etc.) in some embodiments.
Exemplary System Architecture
[0042] FIG. 1 shows an example system 100 in accordance with some
embodiments. System 100 may include promotion and marketing system
102 (or "system 102"), network 104, consumer device 106, and
merchant device 108. System 102 may be communicably connected with
consumer device 106 and merchant device 108 via network 104. System
102 may include server 110 and database 112.
[0043] Server 110 may include circuitry, networked processors, or
the like configured to perform some or all of the server-based
processes described herein and may be any suitable network server
and/or other type of processing device. In some embodiments, system
102 may function as a "cloud" with respect to the consumer device
106 and/or merchant device 108. In that sense, server 110 may
include several servers performing interconnected and/or
distributed functions. To avoid unnecessarily overcomplicating the
disclosure, server 110 is shown and described herein as a single
server.
[0044] Database 112 may be any suitable network storage device
configured to store some or all of the information described
herein. For example, database 112 may be configured to store
promotion data indicating promotions that are available and their
parameters. In some embodiments, the promotion data may further
include an associated feature period (e.g., indicating a time in
which a promotion is featured, fresh, new, or otherwise
prioritized), an availability period (e.g., indicating a time in
which the promotion is available to be offered to consumers),
and/or one or more diversity characteristics for each promotion
(e.g., merchant, category, price, location, etc.). In some
embodiments, database 112 may be further configured to store
historical consumer data for tracking promotions and/or associated
diversity characteristics that have been sent to a consumer,
consumer account, and/or consumer device. Database 112 may be
further configured to store consumer information including consumer
account information, login information (e.g., identification and/or
authentication data), consumer account history, etc. As such,
database 112 may include, for example, one or more database
systems, backend data servers, network databases, cloud storage
devices, etc. To avoid unnecessarily overcomplicating the
disclosure, database 112 is shown and described herein as a single
database.
[0045] Network 104 may include one or more wired and/or wireless
communication networks including, for example, a wired or wireless
local area network (LAN), personal area network (PAN), metropolitan
area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), or the like, as well
as any hardware, software and/or firmware for implementing the one
or more networks (such as, e.g., network routers, switches, hubs,
etc.). For example, network 104 may include a cellular telephone,
mobile broadband, long term evolution (LTE), GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA,
IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, WiFi, dial-up, and/or WiMax
network. Furthermore, network 104 may include a public network,
such as the Internet, a private network, such as an intranet, or
combinations thereof, and may utilize a variety of networking
protocols now available or later developed including, but not
limited to TCP/IP based networking protocols.
[0046] Consumer device 106 may be associated with a consumer and/or
consumer account, such as a consumer with a consumer account
provided by system 102. Although a single consumer device 106 is
shown, system 100 may include any number of consumer devices that
may be associated with various other consumers and/or consumer
accounts. Consumer device 106 may be a mobile device and/or a
stationary device. For example, consumer device 106 may be a mobile
device such as a cellular telephone (including smartphones and/or
other types of mobile telephones), laptop, tablet, electronic
reader, e-book device, media device, and/or the like. Additionally
and/or alternatively, consumer device 106 may be a stationary
device such as a desktop computer, work station, point-of-sale
device, or the like.
[0047] Merchant device 108 may be associated with a merchant and/or
provider of promotions. Although a single merchant device 108 is
shown, system 100 may include any number of merchant devices that
may be associated with various other merchants. In some
embodiments, merchant device 108 may be configured to provide
point-of-sale (POS) functionality for the merchant, such as at the
merchant's shop. Furthermore, merchant device 108 may be a
stationary and/or mobile device. In some embodiments, system 102
may be configured to receive promotion data indicating a promotion
for goods and/or services and/or one or more parameters of the
promotion (e.g., target audience, timing, purchase value,
promotional value, residual value, etc.). System 102 may then
generate and/or provide one or more impressions including the
promotion to consumer devices 102.
[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of example circuitry
200, some or all of which may be included in system 102, server
110, database 112, user device 106, and/or merchant device 108. In
accordance with some example embodiments, circuitry 200 may include
various means, such as one or more processors 202, memories 204,
communications modules 206, and/or input/output modules 208.
[0049] In some embodiments, such as when circuitry 200 is included
in system 102, diversified promotion module 210 may also or instead
be included with processor 202. As referred to herein, "module"
includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to perform
one or more particular functions. In this regard, the means of
circuitry 200 as described herein may be embodied as, for example,
circuitry, hardware elements (e.g., a suitably programmed
processor, combinational logic circuit, integrated circuit, and/or
the like), a computer program product comprising computer-readable
program instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable
medium (e.g., memory 204) that is executable by a suitably
configured processing device (e.g., processor 202), or some
combination thereof.
[0050] Processor 202 may, for example, be embodied as various means
including one or more microprocessors with accompanying digital
signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without an
accompanying digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors,
one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers,
processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other
processing elements including integrated circuits such as, for
example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or FPGA
(field programmable gate array), or some combination thereof.
Accordingly, although illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single processor,
in some embodiments, processor 202 may comprise a plurality of
processing means. The plurality of processing means may be embodied
on a single computing device or may be distributed across a
plurality of computing devices collectively configured to function
as circuitry 200. The plurality of processing means may be in
operative communication with each other and may be collectively
configured to perform one or more functionalities of circuitry 200
as described herein. In an example embodiment, processor 202 may be
configured to execute instructions stored in memory 204 or
otherwise accessible to processor 202. These instructions, when
executed by processor 202, may cause circuitry 200 to perform one
or more of the functionalities described herein.
[0051] Whether configured by hardware, firmware/software methods,
or by a combination thereof, processor 202 may comprise an entity
capable of performing operations according to embodiments of the
present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example,
when processor 202 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like,
processor 202 may comprise specifically configured hardware for
conducting one or more operations described herein. As another
example, when processor 202 may be embodied as an executor of
instructions, such as may be stored in memory 204, the instructions
may specifically configure processor 202 to perform one or more
algorithms, methods or operations described herein. For example,
processor 202 may be configured to execute operating system
applications, firmware applications, media playback applications,
media editing applications, among other things.
[0052] Memory 204 may comprise, for example, volatile memory,
non-volatile memory, or some combination thereof. Although
illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single memory, memory 204 may comprise a
plurality of memory components. The plurality of memory components
may be embodied on a single computing component or distributed
across a plurality of computing components. In various embodiments,
memory 204 may comprise, for example, a hard disk, random access
memory, cache memory, flash memory, a compact disc read only memory
(CD-ROM), solid state memory, digital versatile disc read only
memory (DVD-ROM), an optical disc, circuitry configured to store
information, integrated circuitry, chemical/biological memory,
paper, or some combination thereof. Memory 204 may be configured to
store information, data, applications, instructions, or the like
for enabling circuitry 200 to carry out various functions in
accordance with example embodiments discussed herein. For example,
in at least some embodiments, memory 204 may be configured to
buffer input data for processing by processor 202. Additionally or
alternatively, in at least some embodiments, memory 204 may be
configured to store program instructions for execution by processor
202 and/or data for processing by processor 202. Memory 204 may
store information in the form of static and/or dynamic information.
This stored information may be stored and/or used by circuitry 200
during the course of performing its functionalities.
[0053] Communications module 206 may be embodied as any component
or means embodied in circuitry, hardware, a computer program
product comprising computer readable program instructions stored on
a computer readable medium (e.g., memory 204) and executed by a
processing device (e.g., processor 202), or a combination thereof
that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to another
device, such as, for example, a second circuitry 200 and/or the
like. In some embodiments, communications module 206 (like other
components discussed herein) can be at least partially embodied as
or otherwise controlled by processor 202. In this regard,
communications module 206 may be in communication with processor
202, such as via a bus. Communications module 206 may include, for
example, an antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver,
network interface card and/or supporting hardware and/or
firmware/software for enabling communications. Communications
module 206 may be configured to receive and/or transmit any data
that may be stored by memory 204 using any protocol that may be
used for communications. Communications module 206 may additionally
and/or alternatively be in communication with the memory 204,
input/output module 208 and/or any other component of circuitry
200, such as via a bus. Communications module 206 may be configured
to use one or more communications protocols such as, for example,
short messaging service (SMS), Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol,
Bluetooth, etc.), radio frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 1.4 GHz,
and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, GSM, GSM plus EDGE,
CDMA, quadband, and other cellular protocols, VOIP, or any other
suitable protocol
[0054] Input/output module 208 may be in communication with
processor 202 to receive an indication of an input and/or to
provide an audible, visual, mechanical, or other output. In that
sense, input/output module 208 may include means for performing
analog-to-digital and/or digital-to-analog data conversions.
Input/output module 208 may include support, for example, for a
display, touch screen, keyboard, button, click wheel, mouse,
joystick, an image capturing device, microphone, speaker, biometric
scanner, and/or other input/output mechanisms. In embodiments where
circuitry 200 may be implemented as a server or database, aspects
of input/output module 208 may be reduced as compared to
embodiments where circuitry 200 may be implemented as an end-user
machine or other type of device designed for complex user
interactions. In some embodiments (like other components discussed
herein), input/output module 208 may even be eliminated from
circuitry 200. Alternatively, such as in embodiments wherein
circuitry 200 is embodied as a server or database, at least some
aspects of input/output module 208 may be embodied on an apparatus
used by a user that is in communication with circuitry 200.
Input/output module 208 may be in communication with memory 204,
communications module 206, and/or any other component(s), such as
via a bus. Although more than one input/output module and/or other
component can be included in circuitry 200, only one is shown in
FIG. 2 to avoid overcomplicating the disclosure (e.g., like the
other components discussed herein).
[0055] In some embodiments, diversified promotion module 210 may
also or instead be included and configured to perform the
functionality discussed herein related to providing diversified
promotions to consumers. In some embodiments, some or all of the
functionality of diversified promotion module 210 may be performed
by processor 202. In this regard, the example processes discussed
herein can be performed by at least one processor 202 and/or
promotion search module 210. For example, non-transitory computer
readable storage media can be configured to store firmware, one or
more application programs, and/or other software, which include
instructions and other computer-readable program code portions that
can be executed to control processors of the components of system
200 to implement various operations, including the examples shown
herein. As such, a series of computer-readable program code
portions may be embodied in one or more computer program products
and can be used, with a device, server, database, and/or other
programmable apparatus, to produce the machine-implemented
processes discussed herein.
[0056] Any such computer program instructions and/or other type of
code may be loaded onto a computer, processor or other programmable
apparatus's circuitry to produce a machine, such that the computer,
processor other programmable circuitry that executes the code may
be the means for implementing various functions, including those
described herein. In some embodiments, one or more external systems
(such as a remote cloud computing and/or data storage system) may
also be leveraged to provide at least some of the functionality
discussed herein.
[0057] As described above and as will be appreciated based on this
disclosure, various embodiments may be implemented as methods,
mediums, devices, servers, databases, systems, and the like.
Accordingly, embodiments may comprise various means including
entirely of hardware or any combination of software and hardware.
Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a computer program
product on at least one non-transitory computer readable storage
medium having computer readable program instructions (e.g.,
computer software) embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable
computer-readable storage medium may be utilized including
non-transitory hard disks, CD/DVD-ROMs, flash memory, optical
storage devices, quantum storage devices, chemical storage devices,
biological storage devices, magnetic storage devices, etc.
[0058] Embodiments have been described above with reference to
block diagrams of components, such as functional modules, system
components and circuitry. Below is a discussion of an example
process flowcharts describing functionality that may be implemented
by one or more components discussed above and/or other suitably
configured circuitry. Each block of the block diagrams and process
flowcharts, and combinations of blocks diagrams and process
flowcharts, respectively, can be implemented by various means
including computer program instructions. These computer program
instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special
purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus,
such as processor 202, to produce a machine, such that the computer
program product includes the instructions which execute on the
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to create
a means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart
block or block diagrams.
[0059] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer-readable storage device (e.g., memory 204) that can direct
a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer-readable storage device produce an article of
manufacture including computer-readable instructions for
implementing the function discussed herein. The computer program
instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other
programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of
operational steps to be performed on the computer or other
programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process
such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other
programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions
discussed herein.
[0060] Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart
illustrations support combinations of means for performing the
specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the
specified functions and program instruction means for performing
the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block
of the block diagrams and process flowcharts, and combinations of
blocks in the block diagrams and process flowcharts, can be
implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems that
perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of
special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
Providing Impressions with Diverse Promotions
[0061] FIG. 3 shows an example of a method 300 for providing an
impression including diversified promotions, performed in
accordance with some embodiments. In particular, method 300 may be
performed to provide intra-impression diversity for the promotions
of an impression. Method 300 is described as being performed by
system 102 (e.g., server 110), however, other suitably configured
structures (e.g., one or more servers, a networked device,
hardware, software, firmware, circuitry, etc.) may also be used in
various embodiments.
[0062] Method 300 may begin at 302 and proceed to 304, where server
110 may be configured to provide promotion data indicating
promotions that are available and one or more diversity
characteristics for each promotion. For example, server 110 may be
configured to provide the promotion data by accessing the promotion
data (e.g., from a non-transitory computer readable medium) and/or
generating the promotion data. For example, in some embodiments,
server 110 may be configured to access the promotion data by
communicating with database 112, where the promotion data may be
stored.
[0063] In some embodiments, the promotion data may indicate the
promotions that are available in a promotion bank that may include
active or otherwise available promotions, as well as unavailable
promotions such as pending promotions, unredeemable (e.g.,
redemption period lapsed) promotions, discontinued promotions, or
the like. In some embodiments, each promotion may be associated
with an availability period. Server 110 may be configured to
determine whether a promotion is an available promotion based on
determining whether the availability period has lapsed. If the
availability period has not lapsed, the promotion may be determined
to be available, such as for offer to a consumer via an
impression.
[0064] The one or more diversity characteristics for each promotion
may indicate, respectively, one or more criteria by which diversity
may be determined. Some example diversity characteristics of
promotions may include merchant, promotion category, price, and/or
location. For example, the merchant diversity characteristic of a
promotion may have a value that indicates the merchant that is
offering or otherwise associated with the promotion. The promotion
category diversity characteristic may have a value that indicates
the type of goods, services and/or experiences defined by the
promotion. Some example promotion category diversity characteristic
values may include "Food and Drink," "Events and Activities,
"Shopping," "Beauty and Spa," etc. In some embodiments, more narrow
and/or broad promotion category diversity characteristics may be
used. For example, "Food and Drink" could be separated into even
narrower diversity characteristics such as "Asian Food," (or even
narrower, "Chinese Food," Japanese Food," etc.), "Mexican Food,"
"bars," "nightclubs," "restaurants," etc. While the merchant and
category diversity characteristics are discussed in detail in
connection with method 300, techniques similar and/or the same to
those discussed herein may be readily applied to other diversity
characteristics and/or combinations thereof by a person of skill
having the benefit of the disclosure herein.
[0065] In some embodiments, the promotion data may further indicate
a feature period for each promotion. The feature period associated
with each promotion may indicate a period of time in which a
promotion is featured, fresh, new, or otherwise prioritized over
other promotions, such as promotions outside of their feature
period. For example, promotion data indicating a promotion that has
been recently provided by a merchant device or otherwise added to
the promotion bank may be featured by determining a feature period
set to lapse at a future time.
[0066] At 306, server 110 may be configured to generate an
impression for a consumer account indicating a plurality of
promotions based on the promotion data. For example, the impression
may be a communication, a display, or other perceived indication,
such as a flyer, print media, webpage, e-mail, text message,
application alert, mobile applications, other type of electronic
interface or distribution channel and/or the like, of the plurality
of promotions. In some embodiments, the plurality of promotions of
the impression may include promotions that are each in the
associated feature for each respective promotion.
[0067] FIG. 4 shows an example impression 400, in accordance with
some embodiments. In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured
to provide impression 400 to a consumer device associated with the
consumer account and/or consumer, such as in connection with a user
interface configured to allow the consumer to interact with server
110 (e.g., to browse and/or purchase one or more promotions, among
other things). Impression 400 may include indications of promotions
402, 404, 406 and 408 and associated data. For example, promotion
402 may include an image relevant to the promotion, a promotion
name, a merchant indicator, a promotion price, and a description.
In some embodiments, one or more of the promotions of an impression
may be featured more prominently than others (e.g., as determined
by feature period, relevance to the consumer, etc.), such as
promotion 402 which is shown as being displayed over a larger
portion of the visual "real estate" of impression 400 than the
other promotions and at the top of impression 400.
[0068] In some embodiments, an impression may be associated with a
promotion count indicating a number of promotions that the
impression is configured to indicate or otherwise include. For
example, impression 400 may be associated with a promotion count of
4 when impression 400 is configured to include four promotions,
such as promotions 402, 404, 406 and 408 shown FIG. 4.
[0069] Returning to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, server 110 may be
configured to determine the plurality of promotions of the
impression based on whether the promotions are associated with a
respective feature period that has failed to lapse. In some
embodiments, server 110 may be further configured to rank
promotions by featured period and/or otherwise determine the
plurality of promotions of the impression based on factors such as
longest feature period (e.g., remaining until lapse), shortest
feature period, time of addition to the promotion bank (e.g., as
may be defined by the promotion data stored in database 112),
relevance to the consumer's interests or purchasing history, and/or
the like. For example, the plurality of promotions of the
impression may be determined to indicate a plurality of (e.g., as
determined by the promotion count) the highest ranking promotions
under one or more (e.g., weighted) criteria of the ranking criteria
discussed herein.
[0070] At 308, server 110 may be configured to determine, based on
the promotion data, whether the first diversity characteristic of a
first promotion (e.g., of the plurality of promotions of the
impression) shares the same value as the first diversity
characteristic of a second promotion (e.g., of the plurality of
promotions of the impression). In some embodiments, server 110 may
be further configured to determine whether any of the plurality of
promotions share a common first diversity characteristic value.
[0071] For example, where the diversity characteristic includes a
merchant, server 110 may be configured to determine whether the
first promotion and the second promotion are associated with the
same merchant. In another example, where the diversity
characteristic includes a promotion category, server 110 may be
configured to determine whether the first promotion and the second
promotion are associated with the same promotion category.
Additionally, in some embodiments, server 110 may be further
configured to determine whether the first promotion includes a
related first diversity characteristic with the second promotion.
For example, two or more promotion category values may be
associated or otherwise determined to be related based having a
similar and/or related diversity characteristic value, such as two
merchants in the same economic market and/or two promotion
categories directed to substitute and/or complementary goods,
services, and/or experiences.
[0072] In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to
tolerate an impression having only a small number of non-diverse
promotions. For example, server 110 may be configured to determine
whether three or more promotions share diversity characteristic
value, and in response to determining that three or more promotions
share the same diversity characteristic value, server 110 may be
further configured to replace at least one of the three or more
promotions with a different promotion having a different diversity
characteristic. In various embodiments, the threshold for
determining diversity and taking corrective action may vary. For
example, server 110 may be configured to ensure complete
intra-impression diversity for the merchant diversity
characteristic while tolerating some redundancy for the promotion
category diversity characteristic. In another example, server 110
may be configured to ensure complete intra-impression diversity for
the promotion category diversity characteristic while tolerating
some redundancy for the merchant diversity characteristic.
[0073] In response to determining that the first diversity
characteristic of the first promotion has the same (and/or a
related) value as the first diversity characteristic of the second
promotion, method 300 may proceed to 310, where server 110 may be
configured to update the impression by replacing the first
promotion (e.g., or the second promotion) with a third promotion
associated with a different value for the first diversity
characteristic than the first promotion.
[0074] For example, where first diversity characteristic includes
the merchant, server 110 may be configured to replace the first
promotion with the third promotion associated with a different
merchant than the first promotion, thereby creating diversity in
the impression between the second promotion (e.g., kept in the
impression) and the third promotion (e.g., being added to replace
the first promotion).
[0075] In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to select
the third (e.g., replacement) promotion based on feature period of
promotions, such as promotions in the promotion bank as defined by
the promotion data. For example, the third promotion may be
determined to be associated (e.g., based on the promotion data
stored in database 112) with a feature period that has not lapsed
before being added to the impression and promotions associated with
lapsed feature periods may be excluded from consideration.
[0076] In some embodiments, server 110 may be additionally or
alternatively configured to select the third promotion based on the
availability period of promotions, such as the promotions in the
promotion bank. For example, the third promotion may be determined
to be associated (e.g., based on the promotion data stored in
database 112) with an availability period that has not lapsed
before being added to the impression and promotions associated with
lapsed availability periods or otherwise unavailable for offering
may be excluded from consideration.
[0077] In some embodiments, server 110 may additionally or
alternatively be configured to select the third promotion based on
the promotion data (e.g., defining the parameters of the promotion)
and using historical data indicating the interests and/or purchase
history of the consumer. In that sense, replacement promotions may
in some embodiments provide for targeted offers that have a
particular relevance to a particular consumer.
[0078] In some embodiments, the determination of diversity between
the first and second promotions and/or the replacement of the first
promotion with the third promotion may occur during the generation
of the impression at 306. In another example, the impression may be
first generated to include the number of promotions as specified by
the promotion count (e.g., based on the promotions being in their
feature period and without considering diversity) with promotion
replacement based on diversity considerations being performed in a
subsequent step. Here, promotions in their feature period may be
given higher priority while simultaneously ensuring that the
impression includes diverse promotions.
[0079] At 312, server 110 may be configured to provide the
impression to a consumer device associated with the consumer
account. For example, the consumer device may be associated with
the consumer and/or consumer account, such as based on the consumer
device sending login data associated with a consumer account to
server 110 or like. As discussed above, server 110 may be
configured to provide the impression using any suitable
communication channel e-mail, text message (e.g., short messaging
service (SMS)), webpage, application alert, mobile application,
other type of electronic interface or distribution channel and/or
the like.
[0080] Returning to 308, in response to determining that the first
promotion and the second promotion fail to share the at least one
diversity characteristic, method 300 may proceed to 312, where
server 110 may be configured to provide the impression to a
consumer device associated with the consumer account. Method 300
may then proceed to 314 and end.
[0081] FIG. 5 shows an example of a method 500 for providing an
impression including diversified promotions, performed in
accordance with some embodiments. In particular, method 500 may be
performed to provide inter-impression diversity for the promotions
of an impression, such as based on tracking previously sent
impressions and the promotions indicated therein and/or the
associated diversity characteristics of the promotions. Method 500
is described as being performed by system 102 (e.g., server 110),
however, other suitably configured structures (e.g., one or more
servers, a networked device, hardware, software, firmware,
circuitry, etc.) may also be used in various embodiments. In some
embodiments, method 500 may be performed in connection with method
300, such as to ensure both intra-impression and inter-impression
diversity.
[0082] Method 500 may begin at 502 and proceed to 504, where server
110 may be configured to access, from a non-transitory computer
readable medium, historical consumer data indicating one or more
diversity characteristic values associated with promotions that
have been provided to the consumer account within a predetermined
time. For example, in some embodiments, server 110 may be
configured to access the historical consumer data by communicating
with database 112, where the historical consumer data may be
stored.
[0083] In some embodiments, server 110 may be further configured to
generate the historical consumer data. For example, after providing
the impression to the consumer device at 312 of method 300, server
110 may be further configured to generate historical consumer data
associating the consumer and/or consumer account with the
promotions indicated by the impression. Server 110 may be further
configured to track promotions and/or associated diversity
characteristics for each communication sent to the consumer and/or
consumer account (e.g., such as via multiple impressions over a
predetermined period of time) and update the historical consumer
data accordingly.
[0084] At 506, server 110 may be configured to determine whether a
first promotion of the plurality of promotions of an impression
(e.g., as generated at 306 of method 300) includes a diversity
characteristic that has the same value as at least one of the one
or more with the one or more diversity characteristics associated
with promotions that have been provided to the consumer account
within the predetermined time. In some embodiments, server 110 may
be further configured to determine whether each promotion of the
plurality of promotions of the impression includes a matching
diversity characteristic with the one or more diversity
characteristics associated with promotions that have been provided
to the consumer account within the predetermined time. Here, for
example, one or more of the promotions of the impression may be
replaced to achieve greater inter-impression diversity in view of
the historical consumer data.
[0085] In some embodiments, the predetermined time may define a
time in which a promotion having a diversity characteristic in
common with another promotion that has been previously sent (e.g.,
via an impression) to the same consumer may be determined to lack
diversity and corrective action may be taken, such as by updating,
modifying or otherwise generating the impression as discussed
herein. For example, in some embodiments, the predetermined time
may be defined as a week such that the promotions provided to the
consumer device on each day of the week do not share any diversity
characteristics, or alternatively, do not share one or more
particular diversity characteristics of interest. In various
embodiments, the diversity characteristic may include the merchant
diversity characteristic, the promotion category diversity
characteristic, and/or any other suitable diversity characteristic
based on which promotion diversity may be determined.
[0086] In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to
tolerate varying amounts of non-diverse inter-impression
promotions. For example, server 110 may be configured to determine
whether the diversity characteristic of the first promotion has the
same value as at least two of the diversity characteristics
associated with promotions that have been provided within the
predetermined time, and if so, server 110 may be further configured
to replace the first promotion. Here, two promotions within the
predetermined time may be allowed to share a common diversity
characteristic. In other examples, more than two (e.g., three,
four, etc.) promotions within the predetermined time may be allowed
to share the common diversity characteristic. In some embodiments,
different diversity characteristics (e.g., merchant, promotion
category, etc.) may have different amounts of inter-impression
tolerance for non-diversity.
[0087] In response to determining that the first promotion of the
impression includes a diversity characteristic that has the same
value as at least one of the one or more diversity characteristics
(e.g., associated with the promotions that have been provided to
the consumer account within the predetermined time), method 500 may
proceed to 508, where server 110 may be configured to update the
impression by replacing the first promotion with a second promotion
associated a different value for the diversity characteristic than
the one or more diversity characteristics and/or the diversity
characteristic of the first promotion. In some embodiments, some of
the discussion at 310 of method 300 may be applicable at 508. For
example, the second promotion may be determined from other
available promotions based on feature periods, historical data
and/or preferences of consumers, and/or various ranking criteria
discussed above.
[0088] At 510, server 110 may be configured to provide the
impression to a consumer device associated with the consumer
account. The discussion at 312 of method 300 may be applicable at
510, and is not repeated to avoid unnecessarily overcomplicating
the disclosure.
[0089] Returning to 506, in response to determining that the first
promotion of the impression fails to include a diversity
characteristic that has the same value as at least one of the one
or more diversity characteristics associated with the promotions
that have been provided to the consumer account within the
predetermined time, method 500 may proceed to 510, where server 110
may be configured to provide the impression to a consumer device
associated with the consumer account. Method 500 may then proceed
to 512 and end.
[0090] FIG. 6 shows an example of a method 600 for providing
promotion inventory shock management, performed in accordance with
some embodiments. In particular, method 600 may be performed to add
one or more available promotions to an impression when the
promotion data indicates an insufficient number of promotions in
their feature period to satisfy the promotion count of the
impression. Method 600 is described as being performed by system
102 (e.g., server 110), however, other suitably configured
structures (e.g., one or more servers, a networked device,
hardware, software, firmware, circuitry, etc.) may also be used in
various embodiments. In some embodiments, method 600 may be
performed in connection with methods 300 and/or 500.
[0091] Method 600 may begin at 602 and proceed to 604, where server
110 may be configured to generate promotion data indicating
promotions that are available, an associated feature period for
each promotion, and one or more diversity characteristics for each
promotion. For example, server 110 may be configured to receive the
promotion data from merchant devices 108, via user input, and/or
from some other networked device. In some embodiments, the
promotion data may define a promotion bank that includes at least
each promotion that is available for offer, and in various
embodiments, also promotions unavailable promotions (e.g.,
discontinued, expired, etc.). Here, server 110 may be configured to
modify, update, or otherwise generate an impression based on the
promotions and associated promotion data stored in the promotion
bank (e.g., in database 112). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the
promotion data discussed above in connection with methods 300 and
500 may be accessed from the promotion bank.
[0092] At 606, server 110 may be configured to generate an
impression for a consumer account indicating a plurality of
promotions that are each in their feature period based on promotion
data. The discussion at 306 of method 300 may be applicable at 606
and is not repeated to avoid unnecessarily overcomplicating the
disclosure. In some embodiments, server 110 may be further
configured to determine the plurality of promotions as targeted
promotions for the consumer, such as based on one or more relevance
rules. For example, promotions that are redeemable beyond a certain
distance from the consumer and/or consumer device location may be
filtered out from the promotion bank of potential candidates. In
another example, historical data indicating consumer activity,
preferences, purchase history, or the like may be used to ensure
that one or more of the plurality of promotions of the impression
are relevant to the consumer.
[0093] At 608, server 110 may be configured to determine a
promotion count for the impression indicating a number of
promotions that the impression is configured to indicate. The
discussion at 306 of method 300 may also be applicable at 608. With
reference to FIG. 4, for example, impression 400 may be associated
with a promotion count of 4 when impression 400 is configured to
include four promotions, such as promotions 402, 404, 406 and 408
shown FIG. 4.
[0094] At 610, server 110 may be configured to determine whether
plurality of promotions of the impression is less than the
promotion count. As discussed above at 606, the plurality of the
promotions of the impression may include promotions that are each
in their feature period and/or satisfy various relevance rules. In
that sense, depending on fluctuations in inventory for promotions
in their feature period (and/or promotions satisfying one or more
relevance rules), the plurality of promotions of the impression may
be determined to be less the promotion count for the impression.
For example, where only 3 promotions within a predetermined
distance to the consumer are in their feature period and the
impression count is 4, server 110 may be configured to determine
that the plurality of promotions of the impression is less than the
promotion count.
[0095] In response to determining that the plurality of promotions
of the impression is less than the promotion count, method 600 may
proceed to 612, where server 110 may be configured to update the
impression by adding a promotion to the impression. In some
embodiments, the promotion being added may include a lapsed feature
period and/or an availability period that has failed to lapse.
Similarly, one or more relevance rules may be applied in selecting
the promotion, such as from the promotion pool including many
available promotion candidates.
[0096] In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to ensure
intra-impression diversity and/or inter-impression for the
impression. For example, such as where intra-impression diversity
is leveraged, server 110 may be configured to update the impression
by adding the promotion such that the promotion is associated with
a different first diversity characteristic value than the first
diversity characteristic values of each of the plurality of
promotions (e.g., as added to the impression at 606). In some
embodiments, the promotion being added may be associated with
different one or more diversity characteristic values in comparison
with the corresponding one or more diversity characteristics of
each of the plurality of promotions. In another example, such as
where inter-impression diversity is leveraged, server 110 may be
configured to update the impression by adding the promotion such
that the promotion is associated with a different first diversity
characteristic value than first diversity characteristic values
associated with promotions that have been provided to the consumer
account within a predetermined period of time. In that sense, the
discussions above regarding promotion diversity in connection with
methods 300 and 500 may be applicable to method 600.
[0097] At 614, server 110 may be configured to provide the
impression to a consumer device associated with a consumer account.
The discussion at 312 of method 300 may be applicable at 614, and
is not repeated to avoid unnecessarily overcomplicating the
disclosure.
[0098] Returning to 610, in response to determining that the
plurality of promotions of the impression fails to be less than the
promotion count, method 600 may proceed to 614, where server 110
may be configured to provide the impression to a consumer device
associated with a consumer account. Method 600 may then proceed to
616 and end.
Promotion Performance Test
[0099] Some embodiments may provide for techniques for testing the
performance of a promotion with consumers. For example, a promotion
may be associated with a prefeature period that begins and ends
prior to the beginning of the feature period of the promotion.
While the promotion is in its prefeature period, the promotion may
be a test promotion included in one or more impressions sent to
consumer devices associated with a (e.g., random) sampling of
consumers and/or accounts. Based on purchases of the test promotion
by the consumers and the consumer demographics of purchasers,
various conversion rates for the test promotion may be determined
for various consumer demographics. These conversion rates may then
be used to provide targeted promotions of particular relevance to
other consumers, such as based on the consumer demographics of the
other consumers.
[0100] FIG. 7 shows an example of a method 700 for providing a
promotion performance test, performed in accordance with some
embodiments. Method 700 is described as being performed by system
102 (e.g., server 110), however, other suitably configured
structures (e.g., one or more servers, a networked device,
hardware, software, firmware, circuitry, etc.) may also be used in
various embodiments.
[0101] Method 700 may being at 702 and proceed to 704, where server
110 may be configured to access, from a computer readable medium,
promotion data indicating test promotions that are available and an
associated prefeature period for each test promotion. For example,
in some embodiments, the test promotions may be stored in the
promotion bank with other available promotions, such as in database
112.
[0102] At 706, server 110 may be configured to generate an
impression for a consumer account indicating a test promotion that
is in its feature period based on the promotion data. For example,
the impression may include a plurality of promotions including one
or more test promotions. Non-test promotions, when included in the
impression, may be in their feature period and/or may be associated
with a lapsed feature period. In that sense, method 700 may be
performed in connection with methods 300, 500 and/or 600.
[0103] At 708, server 110 may be configured to provide the
impression to consumer devices associated with a random sampling of
consumer accounts. For example, server 110 may be configured to
provide the impression to 4,000 randomly selected consumers of the
consumers associated with the system (e.g., such as via consumer
accounts).
[0104] At 710, server 110 may be configured to receive promotion
purchase data from one or more consumer devices indicating
purchases of the test promotion. The one or more consumer devices,
for example, may be a subset of the consumer devices that received
the impression at 708.
[0105] At 712, server 110 may be configured to determine a consumer
demographic for consumers associated with the one or more consumer
devices. Some example consumer demographics may include distance
from merchant (e.g., within 5 miles, 10 miles, etc.), gender, age,
purchase history, consumer preferences, or the like. For example,
where distance from the merchant is used, server 110 may be
configured to determine that the promotion purchase data received
from the one or more consumer devices may be associated with
consumers that within a particular distance range from the merchant
(e.g., within 5 miles). In another example, where gender is used,
server 110 may be configured to determine that the promotion
purchase data received from the one or more consumer devices may be
associated with consumers of a certain age or age range.
[0106] At 714, server 110 may be configured to determine a
conversion rate for the test promotion for the consumer demographic
based on a number of impressions including the test promotion
provided to consumers of the consumer demographic and a number of
purchases of the test promotion by consumers of the consumer
demographic. For example, where distance from the merchant within 5
miles is the consumer demographic of interest, server 110 may be
configured to determine a conversion rate for the test promotion
based on a number of impressions including the test promotion
provided to consumers within 5 miles of the merchant and a number
of purchases of the test promotion by consumers within 5 miles of
the merchant.
[0107] In some embodiments, server 110 may be configured to
determine each consumer demographic of interest and determine
conversion rates for the test promotion for each consumer
demographic of interest. In that sense, server 110 may be
configured to determine a plurality of conversion rates for the
test promotion with each conversion rate being associated with
different one or more (e.g., weighted) consumer demographics.
[0108] In some embodiments, after determining a conversion rate for
a consumer demographic for a test promotion, server 110 may be
configured provide the test promotion as a non-test promotion. For
example, the promotion may be offered to consumers as part of one
or more impressions using the techniques discussed herein. In some
embodiments, targeted promotions having a particular relevance to a
consumer (e.g., based on the consumer demographics of the consumer
and the conversion rate for the consumer demographic) may be sent
to consumer devices associated with the consumer in favor of
promotions having a lesser relevance to the consumer. In that
sense, some embodiments may provide for techniques for
programmatically providing diverse and targeted promotions. Method
700 may then proceed to 716 and end.
Conclusion
[0109] Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind
to one skilled in the art to which these embodiments pertain having
the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing
descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the
techniques discussed herein involving providing diversified
promotions can be easily be extended to other contexts where
diversified goods, services, and/or experiences may be offered to
consumers. Therefore, it is to be understood that embodiments and
implementations are not to be limited to the specific example
embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments
are intended to be included within the scope of the appended
claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used
in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation.
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