System and method for managing and redeeming offers with a location-based service

Abstract

A location-based service is provided that may be integrated with venue systems, credit card processing systems, and/or loyalty systems for purposes of increasing the likelihood that offers will be accepted and sales of products and services will be made. Such a system according to various embodiments may leverage a social network of the user, and extend particular brand loyalties throughout the social network. That is, certain offers may be passed among users of the social network, permitting others to take advantage of offers thereby increasing the brand awareness and loyalty of particular venues. Further, according to certain embodiments, because an offer management and redemption system may be integrated with a to location-based service, offers may be extended at or near the venue location. To this end, users may be provided one or more tools for accepting, purchasing and/or redeeming offers.

1 . A method for processing an offer, the method comprising acts of:
 determining, in a distributed computer system of a location-based service, a location-based service identity of a user;   defining, in a computer system of a loyalty program, a loyalty program identity associated with the a loyalty program account;   associating, within the distributed computer system of a location-based service, the location-based service identity of the user with the loyalty program identity;   determining a location of a mobile device associated with the user; and   performing an action relating to the loyalty program identity associated with the a loyalty program account responsive to the determined location.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of storing, in the distributed computer system of a location-based service, at least one offer associated with a loyalty program. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising an act of determining that the determined location is proximate to a venue at which the at least one offer may be accepted. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising an act of presenting, to the user in a display of the mobile device associated with the user, an indication of the at least one offer responsive to the act of determining that the determined location is proximate to a venue at which the at least one offer may be accepted. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising an act of permitting the user to redeem the offer at the venue. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of storing an indication in the distributed computer system of the location-based service, the indication identifying that the user is checked in to the venue. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the act of presenting the indication of the at least one offer is responsive to an act of providing a control of the mobile device that, when activated, displays one or more offers that are capable of being accepted at the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein one or more offers are displayed only if the user is an authorized account holder in the loyalty program. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising an act of receiving loyalty to program identification information at the venue, and responsive to receiving the loyalty program identification information, providing the at least one offer associated with a loyalty program to the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising an act of providing an indication of the at least one offer to the user proximate to a location of the venue. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising an act of printing, at the venue location, a coupon identifying the at least one offer during a checkout of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising an act of indicating, to the user in a display of the mobile device, the at least one offer. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of storing, by the distributed computer system of a location-based service, an indication of the association of the location-based service identity of the user with the loyalty program identity. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of accepting act of receiving loyalty program identification information at the venue comprises an act of swiping a loyalty program card at the venue. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of accepting act of receiving loyalty program identification information at the venue comprises an act of receiving, from the user, loyalty program account information at the venue. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising an act of sending, by a computer system associated with the venue to the distributed computer system of the location-based service, an indication that the at least one offer was redeemed at the venue. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising indicating, to the user in the to display of the mobile device, the indication that the at least one offer was redeemed at the venue.