Method and system for generating real-time directions associated with product promotions

Abstract

A method and system for generating customized incentives involving electronic distribution of coupons to remote personal computers based on proximity of the computer to a retail center are disclosed. A repository, such as an online service provider or a web site on the Internet, stores packages of incentive data for downloading automatically or on demand to a user's computer. A plurality of data fields is used to associate a user's location with a specific incentive. The incentive data corresponds to remote user computers in a predetermined geographic area. Means for identifying remote user computers in a predetermined geographic area and means for providing direction data, such as maps, etc. to the remote user computer are disclosed.

1 . A system for generating real time directions associated with product promotions for consumers comprising: 
 a repository for storing incentive data corresponding to predetermined geographic area having at least one retail center;    location means for receiving or retrieving user location data corresponding to the location of a remote user computer;    association means for associating the incentive data with the location of the remote user computer and the location of the retail center;    generation means for generating or retrieving direction data corresponding to the remote user computer and the retail center; and    transmission means for transmitting the incentive data and the direction data to the remote user computer.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for displaying the direction data on the monitor of the remote user by selection at a user interface.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a mouse or mouse-type selection device.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the direction data is displayed on the monitor after a one click selection at the mouse or mouse-type selection device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said direction data is a textual description of a route from the remote user computer to the retail center.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said direction data is a map of a route from the remote user computer to the retail center.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said location means comprises a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database for storing distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof and means for associating the distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof with the location of the remote user computer and the location of the retail center.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising means for displaying the distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof on the monitor of the remote user computer.  
     
     
         10 . A method for generating real time directions associated with product promotions for consumers comprising: 
 storing incentive data corresponding to predetermined geographic area having at least one retail center;    receiving or retrieving user location data corresponding to the location of a remote user computer;    associating the incentive data with the location of the remote user computer and the location of the retail center;    generating or retrieving direction data corresponding to the remote user computer and the retail center; and    transmitting the incentive data and the direction data to the remote user computer.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying the direction data on the monitor of the remote user by selection at a user interface.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises a mouse or mouse-type selection device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the direction data is displayed on the monitor after a one click selection at the mouse or mouse-type selection device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said direction data is a textual description of a route from the remote user computer to the retail center.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said direction data is a map of a route from the remote user computer to the retail center.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user location data is obtained by a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising storing distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof and associating the distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof with the location of the remote user computer and the location of the retail center.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising displaying the distance data, time data, mileage data or combinations thereof on the monitor of the remote user computer.