Method and system for using wi-fi location data for location based rewards

Abstract

Providing a purchase incentive to a mobile device based for example the user's location, predicted route of travel, and prior transactions. A tracking server computer determines a number of locations of a mobile device as it travels along a route and an associated timeframe when it is at each of the locations. The tracking server computer records the locations and associated timeframes in a location log and analyzes the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at that location. The tracking server computer then determines a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device and generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant and delivers the purchase incentive to the mobile device. In the alternative, the incentive may be generated by a merchant computer or the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a reward to a mobile device comprising:
 a mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot;   the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot;   the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log;   the mobile device automatically generating a reward as a function of the location of the mobile device; and   the mobile device displaying the reward on a display screen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of the mobile device generating a notification of the reward. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the notification comprises an audible notification. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the notification comprises a visual notification. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the notification comprises a tactile notification. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device automatically generates the reward as a function of a plurality of locations stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the mobile device recording in the location log a timeframe associated with the location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the mobile device automatically generates the reward as a function of the location and the associated timeframe stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the mobile device automatically generates the reward as a function of a plurality of locations and associated timeframes stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward comprises a purchase incentive for use at a merchant at the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of redeeming the reward. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward expires after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device automatically generates a reward on the occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the triggering event comprises a user request. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device accumulates a plurality of rewards. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the mobile device analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and 
 the mobile device generating the reward based on the prior transaction log. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant associated with the prior transaction log. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the reward is generated for use with a merchant not associated with the prior transaction log. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the reward is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the reward is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the prior transaction log is stored on an external server computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer. 
     
     
         27 . A mobile device comprising wireless communications circuitry, processing circuitry, a display screen, and a memory, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to execute an app on the mobile device which performs the steps of:
 the mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot;   the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot;   the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log;   the mobile device automatically generating a reward as a function of the location of the mobile device; and   the mobile device displaying the reward on the display screen.   
     
     
         28 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the app is further programmed to perform the step of the mobile device generating a notification of the reward. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile device of  claim 28  wherein the notification comprises an audible notification. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile device of  claim 28  wherein the notification comprises a visual notification. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 28  wherein the notification comprises a tactile notification. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the app is further programmed to automatically generate the reward as a function of a plurality of locations stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the app is further programmed to record in the location log a timeframe associated with the location. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile device of  claim 33  wherein the app is further programmed to automatically generate the reward as a function of the location and the associated timeframe stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile device of  claim 33  wherein the app is further programmed to automatically generate the reward as a function of a plurality of locations and associated timeframes stored in the location log of the mobile device. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the reward comprises a purchase incentive for use at a merchant at the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the app is further programmed to perform the step of redeeming the reward. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the reward expires after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the mobile device automatically generates a reward on the occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
         40 . The mobile device of  claim 39  wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         41 . The mobile device of  claim 39  wherein the triggering event comprises a user request. 
     
     
         42 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the app is further programmed to perform the step of accumulating a plurality of rewards. 
     
     
         43 . The mobile device of  claim 27  further comprising the app on the mobile device performing the steps of:
 the mobile device analyzing a prior transaction log associated with the mobile device, the prior transaction log comprising records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; and 
 the mobile device generating the reward based on the prior transaction log. 
 
     
     
         44 . The mobile device of  claim 43  wherein the reward is based on a type of prior transactions executed by the mobile device. 
     
     
         45 . The mobile device of  claim 43  wherein the reward is based on a value of prior transactions executed by the mobile device. 
     
     
         46 . The mobile device of  claim 43  wherein the prior transaction log is stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         47 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the mobile device is a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         48 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the mobile device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         49 . The mobile device of  claim 27  wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.