Distributing content based on transaction information

Abstract

Content providers can target individuals for receipt of selected content based, at least in part, on profiles associated with users. The associations between the users and the profiles are determined based on analysis of receipts for transactions completed by the users. These receipts contain information that is indicative of the individuals' spending habits. Electronic correspondence associated with the users is scanned to identify the receipts and information is extracted from the receipts for use in the analysis. The individuals can opt-in to receive content targeted to the profiles associated with their accounts without allowing the content providers to have direct access to their receipts or their identity. The individuals can also opt-out if they no longer want to receive targeted content.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A computer-implemented method for distributing content, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor and from a user, a request for content;   in response to receiving the request for content, selecting, by the processor, content for transmission to the user, wherein the content is selected from available content based on a user's profile membership information and wherein the user's profile membership information comprises transaction information for purchases completed by the user that are obtained from one or more electronic messages comprising a receipt for a purchase; and   transmitting the selected content to the user.   
     
     
         50 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , further comprising obtaining, by the processor, the transaction information for purchases completed by the user from the receipt for the purchase in the electronic messages delivered to the user. 
     
     
         51 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein selecting content comprises selecting, by the processor, matching the user's profile membership information and a profile of the available content. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , further comprising identifying, by a processor, the profile membership information based on an anonymous identifier included in the request for content. 
     
     
         53 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein transmitting the selected content comprises transmitting contents of an e-mail message with which the selected content is to be displayed. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein the request further includes at least one of brand preference information, product classification preference information, service classification preference information, payment preference information, and portal preference information. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein the profile membership information is determined based on analysis of consumer spending information obtained from the transaction information. 
     
     
         56 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 55 , wherein the profile membership information is determined based on analysis of demographic information. 
     
     
         57 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , wherein the selection of content is further based on a geographic location where the user is accessing the electronic message. 
     
     
         59 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 determining whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase; and   extracting the transaction information from the receipt.   
     
     
         60 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 59 , wherein determining whether the electronic message comprises the receipt comprises identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number in at least one of content of the electronic correspondence and an attachment to the electronic correspondence. 
     
     
         61 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 59 , wherein determining whether the electronic message comprises the receipt comprises receiving an indication from the user that the electronic message comprises the receipt. 
     
     
         62 . A system for distributing content, the system comprising:
 a receiver that receives a request for content;   at least one processor that selects content for transmission in response to the request for content, wherein the content is selected from available content based on a user's profile membership information and wherein the user's profile membership information comprises transaction information for purchases completed by the user that are obtained from one or more electronic messages comprising a receipt for a purchase; and   a transmitter that transmits the selected content.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the request further includes at least one of brand preference information, product classification preference information, service classification preference information, payment preference information, and portal preference information. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the profile membership information is determined based on analysis of consumer spending information obtained from the transaction information. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the profile membership information is determined based on analysis of demographic information. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the selection of content is further based on a geographic location where the user is accessing the electronic message. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one processor selects content from the available content based on matching the user's profile membership information and profile of the available content. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one processor further identifies the profile membership information based on an anonymous identifier included in the request for content. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the transmitter transmits content of an e-mail message with which the selected content is to be displayed. 
     
     
         71 . A computer-implemented method for distributing content, comprising:
 evaluating, by a processor, an electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;   in response to a determination that the electronic message comprises a receipt, extracting, by a processor, information from the receipt;   selecting, by a processor, content based at least in part upon the information extracted from the receipt; and   presenting, by a processor, the selected content.   
     
     
         72 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein presenting the selected content comprises appending the selected content to a subsequent electronic message. 
     
     
         73 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages. 
     
     
         74 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein the information extracted from the receipt comprises at least one of information regarding a product or service purchased, an amount of payment, a source of payment, a payment method used to complete a purchase, a frequency of purchase, information regarding a merchant from which a purchase was made, and a location at which a purchase was made. 
     
     
         75 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein the selection of content is further based on a geographic location of the user. 
     
     
         76 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of content of the electronic message and an attachment to the electronic message. 
     
     
         77 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 76 , wherein the word associated with the receipt includes one of payment, receipt, purchase, transaction, order, billing, shipping, shipped, and total. 
     
     
         78 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 71 , wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises the receipt for the purchase comprises receiving an indication that the electronic correspondence comprises a receipt. 
     
     
         79 . A computer-implemented method for distributing content, comprising:
 accessing electronic receipts obtained from an e-mail account;   analyzing transaction information associated with the receipts to determine whether the transaction information meets a membership criterion associated with a targeting profile of an advertisement system; and   automatically associating the e-mail account with the targeting profile based on a determination that the transaction information meets the criterion.   
     
     
         80 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 79 , further comprising selecting an advertisement for delivery to the e-mail account based on the association between the e-mail account and the targeting profile, and displaying the selected advertisement in conjunction with an e-mail message requested for the e-mail account. 
     
     
         81 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 evaluating, by a processor, an electronic message associated with an e-mail account to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt for a purchase;   in response to a determination that the electronic message comprises a receipt, obtaining information from the receipt; and   storing the obtained information in a data store.   
     
     
         82 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 81 , wherein evaluating the electronic message to determine whether the electronic message comprises a receipt comprises identifying at least one of a word associated with the receipt, a symbol that represents a currency, and a receipt identification number for the receipt in at least one of (a) content of the electronic message and (b) an attachment to the electronic message. 
     
     
         83 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 81 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, a request for content;   associating the e-mail account with a targeting profile based on the information obtained from the receipt;   selecting, by a processor, content for transmission in response to the request for content, the content being selected from available content based on the targeting profile associated with the e-mail account; and   transmitting the selected content in response to the request for content.   
     
     
         84 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 83 , wherein the selected content is transmitted in an e-mail message. 
     
     
         85 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 83 , wherein the selected content includes at least one of an advertisement, a coupon, and a discount. 
     
     
         86 . A computer-implemented method for distributing content, comprising:
 searching, by a processor, an electronic device for information identifying at least one consumer product stored on the device;   in response to finding information identifying at least one consumer product stored on the device, obtaining information regarding the at least one consumer product;   receiving, by a processor, a request for content;   selecting, by a processor, content for transmission in response to the request for content, the content being selected from available content based on the information regarding the at least one consumer product; and   transmitting the selected content in response to the request for content.   
     
     
         87 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 86 , wherein the at least one consumer product comprises at least one of music, a movie, a television show, an audio book, an electronic book, a game, an application, and a recorded audio message. 
     
     
         88 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 86 , wherein the selecting content is further based on information obtained from electronic receipts for transactions completed via the electronic device.