System including point-of-sale (POS) terminal for redemption of a brand based promotional offer based upon mobile device location and related methods

A system may include a promotions server for storing a brand-based beverage promotional offer and a mobile wireless communications device associated with a user. The system may also include a point-of-sale (POS) terminal located at a beverage serving establishment for acquiring user identification information, opening a user beverage tab and communicating the user identification information to the promotions server, and closing and communicating the user beverage tab to the promotions server. The user beverage tab may identify a brand of a beverage ordered by the user. The promotions server may determine that the mobile device is at the beverage serving establishment and send a notification of the brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile device. The promotions server may also determine that the brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the brand-based beverage promotional offer and communicate the brand-based beverage promotional offer to the POS terminal for redemption thereat.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of electronics, and more particularly, to the location-based processing of promotional offers and related methods.

BACKGROUND

Sales of a particular product or service may be based upon how well that product or service is marketed to a consumer. One form of marketing is a coupon, typically in paper form, for a discount toward the product or service. Some coupons may be retailer specific, for example, only redeemable for the discount at a particular retailer, while other coupons may be product specific from a manufacturer and redeemable at any retailer.

A coupon, while typically in paper form, may be in digital form and may be referred to a digital promotion. A digital promotion may be selected or “clipped” via a mobile phone and saved to a digital wallet for redemption at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, for example. A typical coupon is applicable to a given product and has a redeemable value that may vary based upon the quantity of a given item, for example, brand of item, size of the product in terms of packaging, and/or the price point of the given item. A typical coupon may also be redeemable only at a given retailer and/or within a threshold time period.

SUMMARY

A brand-based promotional offer system may include a promotions server configured to store at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer and a mobile wireless communications device associated with a user. The brand-based promotional offer system may also include a point-of-sale (POS) terminal located at a beverage serving establishment and configured to acquire user identification information and open a user beverage tab and communicate the user identification information to the promotions server. The POS terminal may also be configured to close the user beverage tab and communicate the user beverage tab to the promotions server, the user beverage tab identifying a brand of a beverage ordered by the user. The promotions server may be configured to determine that the mobile wireless communications device is at the beverage serving establishment, and send a notification of the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile wireless communications device. The promotions server may also be configured to determine that the brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicate the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the POS terminal for redemption thereat.

The POS terminal may include a POS device processor and a payment card reader coupled thereto. The POS device processor may be configured to open the user beverage tab based upon reading a payment card associated with the user via the payment card reader, for example. The promotions server may be configured to send the notification based upon reading the payment card.

The mobile wireless communications device may include a geographic position determining device and a mobile device processor cooperating therewith to communicate a geographic position of the mobile wireless communications device to the promotions server. The promotions server may be configured to determine that the mobile wireless communications device is at the beverage serving establishment based upon the geographic position, for example.

The user identification information may include at least one of a payment card identifier associated with the user, a name of the user, and a phone number associated with the user, for example. The POS terminal may be configured to acquire user identification information wirelessly from the mobile wireless communications device.

The mobile wireless communications device may include a display and a mobile device processor coupled thereto. The notification may be displayed on the display, for example.

The notification may include at least one of an application notification, a short message service (SMS) message, and an email, for example. The at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer may include a discount toward the brand of the beverage ordered by the user.

The user beverage tab may identify a value associated with the brand of the beverage ordered by the user, for example. The promotional offer server may be configured accept an order for the beverage ordered by the user based upon the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer.

A method aspect is directed to a method of processing a brand-based promotional offer. The method may include using a promotions server including a memory and a processor coupled thereto to store in the memory at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer and determine that a mobile wireless communications device associated with a user is at the beverage serving establishment, and send a notification of the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile wireless communications device. The promotions server may also be used to determine that a brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicate the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for redemption thereat. The POS terminal may be located at a beverage serving establishment and configured to acquire user identification information, open a user beverage tab and communicate the user identification information to the promotions server, and close the user beverage tab and communicate the user beverage tab to the promotions server, the user beverage tab identifying the brand of a beverage ordered by the user.

A non-transitory computer readable medium aspect is directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes computer executable instructions for processing a brand-based beverage promotional offer that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include storing in a memory coupled to the processor at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer. The operations may also include determining that a mobile wireless communications device associated with a user is at a beverage serving establishment, and sending a notification of the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile wireless communications device. The operations may further include determining that a brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicating the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for redemption thereat. The POS terminal may be located at the beverage serving establishment and configured to acquire user identification information, open a user beverage tab and communicate the user identification information to the promotions server, and close the user beverage tab and communicate the user beverage tab to the promotions server, and the user beverage tab may identify the brand of a beverage ordered by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1 and 2, a brand-based promotional offer system20includes a promotions server30. The promotions server30includes a promotions processor31and a promotions memory32coupled to the promotions processor. The promotions memory32stores brand-based beverage promotional offers, for example, associated with a particular brand of adult beverage. Of course, the promotions memory32may store other brand-based beverage promotional offers, for example, for soft drinks, nutritional beverages, etc.

The brand-based promotional offer system20also includes a mobile wireless communications device40associated with a user. The mobile wireless communications device40illustratively includes a portable housing41, a mobile device processor42, a mobile device memory43coupled to the mobile device processor41, and wireless communications circuitry44coupled to the mobile device processor. The mobile wireless communications device40also includes a display45, such as, for example, a touch display, carried by the portable housing41and coupled to the mobile device processor42. The mobile wireless communications device40may include one or more input devices47and other types of output devices.

The mobile wireless communications device40may also include a geographic position determining device46cooperating with the mobile device processor42to communicate a geographic position of the mobile wireless communications device to the promotions server30. The geographic position determining device46may be a global positioning system (GPS) device. The mobile wireless communications device40may be a mobile phone or smartphone, a table computer, or other type of mobile wireless communications device, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The system20also includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal50located at a beverage serving establishment23. The POS terminal50may be remote from the promotions server30, for example. The POS terminal50may include a POS device processor51and a POS device memory52coupled to the POS device processor. The POS terminal50may also include a payment card reader53coupled to the POS device processor51. The payment card reader53may be a magnetic card reader, optical card reader, and/or a touchless, e.g., near-field communication (NFC), card reader. Of course, the payment card reader53may be another type of payment card reader.

The payment card reader53may cooperate with the POS device processor51to read, for example, a payment card via a swipe. A payment card may include a credit card, gift card, debit card, etc. The POS terminal50may also include a touch screen display54coupled to the POS device processor51. In some embodiments, the POS terminal50may include a separate display and input device, i.e., not a touch screen display.

The POS terminal50may also include POS terminal wireless communications circuitry55coupled to the POS device processor51and cooperating therewith to communicate wirelessly with the mobile wireless communications device40via a communications network. The POS terminal50may also include wired communications circuitry56coupled to the POS device processor51and cooperating therewith to communicate, for example, with the promotions server30, via the communications network, which may include the internet.

Referring now additionally to the flowchart70inFIG. 3, and beginning at Block72, operation of the brand-based promotional offer system20will now be described. The POS terminal50is configured to acquire user identification information (Block74). The user identification information may include any one or more of a payment card identifier associated with the user (e.g., credit/debit card number), a name of the user, and a phone number associated with the user. The POS terminal50may acquire other and/or additional user identification information. The user identification information may be acquired, for example, wirelessly from the mobile wireless communications device40, via the mobile device wireless communications circuitry44and the POS terminal wireless communications circuitry55(e.g., Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). The user identification information may be acquired by manual entry at the POS terminal50or by swiping of a payment card via the payment card reader53, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

At Block76, the POS terminal50opens a user beverage tab and communicates the acquired user identification information to the promotions server30. The POS device processor51may open the user beverage tab based upon reading the payment card associated with the user via the payment card reader53. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the user beverage tab may be opened and the user identification information acquired based upon the same reading or swiping of the payment card, for example. In some embodiments, the user information may be acquired and the user beverage tab opened in separate operations.

At block78, the promotions server30determines that the mobile wireless communications device is at the beverage serving establishment23and sends a notification of the brand-based beverage promotional offers to the mobile wireless communications device40for display on the display45(Block80). For example, the notification may be in the form of an in-application notification where an application on the mobile device cooperates to perform the functions described herein, a short message service (SMS) message, and/or an email. Of course, the notification may be another type of notification. The notification may notify the user of a “first drink on us” promotion good toward a beverage of the specified brand at the beverage serving establishment23. The notification may notify the user of multiple brand-based promotions including the brand and value of the promotion. If, at Block78, the mobile wireless communications device40is not at the beverage serving establishment23, the promotions server30may poll for the location of the mobile wireless communications device, for example, so long as the corresponding application is running on the mobile wireless communications device.

The promotions server30may determine that the mobile wireless communications device40is at the beverage serving establishment23based upon the geographic position of the mobile wireless communications device40. More particularly, the geographic position of the mobile wireless communications device40may be wirelessly communicated from the mobile wireless communications device to the promotions server30to determine whether the geographic position matches a beverage serving establishment23associated with or participating in one or more of the brand-based promotions. The promotions server30may alternatively or additionally determine that the mobile wireless communications device40is at the beverage serving establishment23based upon authentication or communication of the mobile wireless communications device with the POS terminal50, which in turn may communicate this information and/or location determining information associated with the POS terminal to the promotions server. It should be understood that while operations are being described in a particular sequence, the operational sequence is not limited to that described herein. For example, the promotions server30may determine whether the mobile wireless communications device40is at the beverage serving establishment23on an on-going basis and/or before, after, or concurrently with the acquisition of user identification information.

In some embodiments, the notification may be optionally sent based upon reading of the payment card at the POS terminal50. In other words, the notification may be sent when the mobile wireless communications device40is determined to be at the beverage serving establishment23and upon swiping of the payment card at the payment card reader53, for example, to open the beverage tab.

In some embodiments, if, for example, a payment card associated with the user is swiped at the payment card reader53, and the mobile wireless communications device40associated with the user is determined not to be at the beverage serving establishment23, this may be indicative of potential fraud, and the promotions server30may send a notification for display on the mobile wireless communications device of the potential fraudulent use of the payment card along with the name and/or location of the beverage serving establishment. The promotions server30may also communicate with the POS terminal50, and/or other payment processing servers to notify of the potential fraud and/or not permit the opening of the user beverage tab.

At Block81, the promotions server30may accept an order for the beverage ordered by the user based upon the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer. For example, an “order now” button49may be displayed on the display45, and the user may provide input to the mobile wireless communications device40to place an order. The order may be communicated from the mobile wireless communications device40to the promotions server30. Alternatively, the order may be placed at the POS terminal50and communicated to the promotions server30.

At Block82, the POS terminal50closes the user beverage tab and communicates the user beverage tab to the promotions server30. The user beverage tab that is sent to the promotions server30includes or identifies the brand of each beverage ordered by the user and a corresponding value or dollar amount. The user beverage tab may be closed by manual entry via the POS terminal50, the payment card reader53, and/or through communications between the mobile wireless communications device40and the POS terminal, for example, using NFC.

At Block84, the promotions server30determines that the brand of beverage ordered by the user, and included on their beverage tab, matches the brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicates the brand-based beverage promotional offer or offers to the POS terminal50for redemption thereat (Block86). Upon redemption, the brand-based beverage promotional offer is applied to the corresponding brand of beverage on the user beverage tab as a discount. The discount may correspond to the full or partial value of the beverage. In other words, the user's beverage tab is reduced by the value of the discount or promotional offer against the value of the corresponding beverage. If the user did not order or purchase the brand of beverage for the promotion (i.e., no match between the brand-based beverage promotional offer and the brand of beverage ordered by the user), no brand based promotional offer is communicated to the POS terminal50, and thus no discount is applied. In some embodiments, the closing of the user beverage tab may be time limited. In other words, the user may have a limited amount of time, for example, from notification, to redeem the brand-based beverage promotional offer. The method ends at Block90.

A method of processing a brand-based beverage promotional offer that includes using a promotions server30that includes a memory32and a processor31coupled thereto to store in the memory at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer. The method also includes using the promotions server30to determine that a mobile wireless communications device40associated with a user is at a beverage serving establishment23, and send a notification of the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile wireless communications device. The method also includes using the promotions server30to determine that a brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicate the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal50for redemption thereat. The POS terminal50is located at the beverage serving establishment23and configured to acquire user identification information, open a user beverage tab and communicate the user identification information to the promotions server30, and close the user beverage tab and communicate the user beverage tab to the promotions server, the user beverage tab identifying the brand of a beverage ordered by the user.

While circuitry and components of the embodiments have been described herein separately relative to their respective functions, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the circuitry may be embodied on a single integrated circuit (IC) or circuit component, and/or combined into one or more ICs or circuit components. Moreover, the functions or operations described herein may be performed through the execution of computer executable instructions embodied on a computer readable medium. For example, a non-transitory computer readable medium may include computer executable instructions for processing a brand-based beverage promotional offer that when executed by a processor31cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include storing in a memory32coupled to the processor at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer. The operations may also include determining that a mobile wireless communications device40associated with a user is at the beverage serving establishment23, and sending a notification of the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to the mobile wireless communications device. The operations may further include determining that a brand of beverage ordered by the user matches the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer, and communicating the at least one brand-based beverage promotional offer to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal50for redemption thereat. The POS terminal50may be located at the beverage serving establishment and configured to acquire user identification information, open a user beverage tab and communicate the user identification information to the promotions server, and close the user beverage tab and communicate the user beverage tab to the promotions server, and the user beverage tab may identify the brand of a beverage ordered by the user.