System and Method of Real Time Deal Notification to People Nearby

Abstract

This invention is about computer software and mobile-device-implemented methods, services and user interfaces for allowing a set of user or users to notify of special offers to other set of user or users. Utilizing this method and location based GPS technology, a set of user creates data which is stored in a middle layer such as a cloud system or database and then displayed on the other set of user's device. In this method, one set of user creates data and another set of user receives data. The data passes through the middle layer, identifies the devices in a defined latitude and longitude and displays the data on those devices. This data could be created from and received on various independent platforms using their API or tools specifically created for the data creation and receiving function.

Claims

1. A system and deal notification process using software application, mobile application or web site, comprising: a module providing the functionality for the businesses to offer deals to the people nearby their business based on location data; a module providing the functionality for the businesses to price items for discount based on the various variable information available at that time when the deal is being issued which otherwise must be predicted or guessed; a module providing the functionality for businesses to offer a deal that is timed and can be issued instantly; a module providing the functionality for businesses to choose start and end time for their offer giving them total flexibility; a module providing the functionality for the businesses to type a deal that they want to offer which is sent as a push notification; a module providing the functionality for the users to receive deal notification that does not require user to click, open, type or use any codes, show the offer to receive the offer a module providing the functionality for the users to receive deal notifications a module which keeps on running in the users background and activates only when the business if offering a deal based on user preference and location data a module providing the functionality for the users to invite other users with the application a module providing the functionality for the users to search and select the criteria of the businesses the users are interested to get notifications from

2. The system of delivery of deal offers to users from businesses using push notification system in claim 1, further comprising of the system wherein the offers sent by businesses are delivered as push notification in users' mobile device,

3. The system as in claim 1, further comprising of business profile creation module, wherein a business enters data in the system;

4. The system as in claim 1, further comprising of a deal offer creation module wherein a business creates an offer;

5. The system as in claim 1, further comprising of an automated deal creation module wherein a business can enter the deals with set criteria such as when to active the automated deals

6. A method for deal notification process comprising; a method to offer deals to the people nearby; a method for the businesses to price items for discount based on the various variable information available at that time when the deal is being issued which otherwise must be predicted or guessed; a method for businesses to offer a deal that is timed and can be issued instantly; a module providing the functionality for businesses to choose start and end time for their offer; a method for the businesses to type a deal that they want to offer a method wherein deals are notified by push notification; a method of deal notification that does not require user to click, open, type or use any codes, show the offer to receive the offer a method through which the users receive deal notifications a method of deal notification which keeps on running in the background and activates only when the business if offering a deal based on user preference and location data a method through which the users search and select the criteria of the businesses the users are interested to get notifications from

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein a business send a deal notification to people nearby the business;

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein a business prices the items or lists an item for deal based on many information available at that time when the deal is issued which otherwise must be predicted or guessed;

9. The method as in claim 6, wherein a business can offer a timed deal that is set to begin instantly and expire within few hours;

10. The method as in claim 6, wherein a business can input the details of the deal;

11. The method as in claim 6 wherein the deals are sent via a push notification;

12. The method as in claim 6, wherein a user does not need to engage with the system to view or use the offer;

13. The method as in claim 6, wherein the system for deal notification keeps on running in the background and activates only if the set criteria of the users are met.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is the interface for a business to join the deal offering platform. A business provides the information of the owner or manager, contact information, business details and contact information. In the next step, the business points itself to a location on the map. This location's latitude and longitude is then stored in the server.

[0017] FIG. 2 is the interface provided to the business to offer a deal. Business writes the details of what it intends to offer, validity begin date and time, and validity end date and time.

[0018] FIG. 3 lists the history of the deals the business has offered in the past. With one click, the business can also activate the same offer.

[0019] FIG. 4 is the software that will act as a client for the deal notifications to be delivered. In this case, the software is installed on the device.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows the various categories and businesses a user can select to receive deal notifications from. The user can also choose the distance from businesses the user is willing to get notification from. For example, the user can choose to receive a deal notification by a Coffee Shop located within 10 miles of the user's location and if the deal is offered between 1 PM to 2 PM. User can keep the criteria very broad to hear from all businesses or very narrow limiting to hear from only select businesses.

[0021] FIG. 6 shows that the user has completed setting the preferences from which businesses the users want to get notifications. This step completes the software installation process. No further action is necessary to be taken by the user to receive the notification offers and using them.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a sample notification that shows up as a push notification on the users' device. This figure shows the same messages that are written by the business in FIG. 2. Business location in FIG. 1 is matched with the location of the user to send the notification.

[0023] FIG. 8 is the list of the active deals notified to the user. As the deals expire or the user moves to a different location, this list gets updated. Active deals in the new location appear on the screen and the deals no longer in the location or no longer active are removed.

[0024] FIG. 9 shows that a user can take an action on the notification. It shows the action link is hyperlinked to provide value to the user and also to other service providers.

[0025] FIG. 10 shows sample actions that users can take to use the offer for example, reserve a table, order ahead and pay online for pickup or delivery.

[0026] FIG. 11 shows the option for users to edit the preferences on the business they want to hear from.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] 1. Offer Deals

[0028] This process sends an offer that a business is willing to extend to locals. Businesses register for the platform, for example, Salereporter website or Salreporter Mobile App. In the platform, the business can type a customized offer. Business then selects or types the date and time the offer is valid from and the expiration date and time the offer expires. Once the business writes what it is offering and validity period, it can push the details to the server. The server delivers the offer details in the form of push notification.

[0029] The user sees the offer details and the validity time period. User does not need to click on the phone to see the offer.

[0030] By using this invention, businesses can reach out to potential customers for example, when their foot traffic is low. Businesses can use this invention for a variety of other reasons, including but not limited to, reaching out to local potential customers during lunch special, a new product launch, specials of the day, deal of the day, happy hours or anything that brings the value to the business.

EXAMPLE

[0031] In this example, Business B sends a deal notification to Users U.

Steps:

[0032] 1) Business B creates a deal offer. Deal offer may contain these fields including but not limited to. [0033] a) Details of the offer. [0034] b) Offer start time [0035] c) Offer end time [0036] d) Business name [0037] e) Business location [0038] f) Business contact information

[0039] 2) Business B launches the offer.

[0040] 2. Receiving Deal Offers

[0041] Users install the software on their devices, and optionally save preferences from which businesses they want to hear special offers from. They can select from the business categories, name of business, area in the map, or other selection criteria to tailor their interests. Once the software is installed in the device, users do not need to click, open or navigate through the software since the offers are delivered as push notifications.

[0042] User location data is continuously updated on the service provider's system. As user moves in new location, users' location is checked against the location of the business who is offering a deal specific to the interest of the user. If the user and business location data are in close proximity, for example, fifteen miles, and if the interest of the user matches with the deal offered by the business, the user is notified.

[0043] 3. Dynamically Priced Automated Offers

[0044] Offers are created automatically by the system for the businesses. In this automated process, a business is not required to create the offers manually. Based on the data gathered from the business such as the price the time of the day when the business experiences less foot traffic, less sales, excess inventory, competitor offers, deal offer system automatically creates the offer and sends to the users. For example, if a business has experienced slow foot traffic between 11 AM to 1 PM in the past six months, the system automatically creates an offer that is valid for this time period.

[0045] 4. Search

[0046] Using a mobile device, this invention uses geo-location with GPS to allow a user search for businesses offering deals within their immediate vicinities. The search is map based wherein the businesses with offers are displayed on the map on the vicinity of the member's location. Users also have the ability to search for the category of business, location, offer type, business name and several other criteria. For example, if User A is interested in hearing from Starbucks Coffee within 1 miles of his location, user can search and specify these criteria on the software application. When Starbucks Coffee within one mile of this user offers a deal, User A is notified of the deal.