Marketing communication tracking

Abstract

Tracking and management data for distribution of marketing communications and an associated response is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as they traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of customers are formulated.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 storing, by a computer, user data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the user data includes data corresponding to a particular user of the plurality of users;   detecting, by the computer, that a first electronic communication was sent to the particular user, wherein the first electronic communication is associated with a first tracking identifier;   based on the first tracking identifier, the computer detecting a time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user;   receiving, by the computer, a second tracking identifier, wherein the second tracking identifier is associated with a second electronic communication sent from the particular user after receipt of the first electronic communication;   based on the second tracking identifier, the computer determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication;   based on the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier, the computer determining a time interval between the time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user and a time the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user;   storing, by the computer, the determined time interval as user response activity data;   based on the storing, the computer updating the user data to include the user response activity data; and   based on the updated data, the computer determining marketing statistics for at least one of the plurality of users.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first tracking identifier includes encoded data that identifies the particular user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 based on a fixed memory offset, the computer formatting at least a portion of the user response activity data as a binary large object (BLOB).   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first tracking identifier includes at least one of the following identifiers: an intelligent mail code, a barcode, a digital certificate, biometric information, a machine readable code. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second tracking identifier is received from at least one of the following senders: a distribution service provider, a delivery service provider, a merchant, the particular user. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 based on the time interval, the computer predicting a behavior characteristic indicative of a response behavior of the particular user.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 wherein the determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication is based on information encoded in the second tracking identifier.   
     
     
         31 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory has stored thereon instructions executable by the system to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 storing user data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the user data includes data corresponding to a particular user of the plurality of users; 
 detecting that a first electronic communication was sent to the particular user, wherein the first electronic communication is associated with a first tracking identifier; 
 based on the first tracking identifier, detecting a time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user; 
 receiving a second tracking identifier, wherein the second tracking identifier is associated with a second electronic communication sent from the particular user after receipt of the first electronic communication; 
 based on the second tracking identifier, determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication; 
 based on the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier, determining a time interval between the time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user and a time the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user; 
 storing the determined time interval as user response activity data; 
 based on the storing, updating the user data to include the user response activity data; and 
 based on the updated data, determining marketing statistics for at least one of the plurality of users. 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication is based on a comparison of the second tracking identifier to the first tracking identifier indicating that the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier are identical. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 storing, in the memory, each of the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier as a binary large object (BLOB).   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 comparing the time interval to a threshold time value; and   based on a result of the comparing indicating that the time interval exceeds the threshold time value, adjusting a due date for the particular user.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 comparing the time interval to a threshold time value; and   based on a result of the comparing indicating that the time interval exceeds the threshold time value, adjusting a cash flow expectation for at least one of the plurality of users.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 based on the time interval, identifying one or more behavior characteristics indicative of a solicitation-response behavior associated with the particular user; and   adjusting content of a third electronic communication based on the solicitation-response behavior.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the second tracking identifier includes at least one of the following identifiers: an intelligent mail code, a barcode, a digital certificate, biometric information, a machine readable code. 
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computer system to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 storing user data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the user data includes data corresponding to a particular user of the plurality of users;   detecting that a first electronic communication was sent to the particular user, wherein the first electronic communication is associated with a first tracking identifier;   based on the first tracking identifier, detecting a time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user;   receiving a second tracking identifier, wherein the second tracking identifier is associated with a second electronic communication sent from the particular user after receipt of the first electronic communication;   based on the second tracking identifier, determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication;   based on the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier, determining a time interval between the time that the first electronic communication was delivered to the particular user and a time the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user;   storing the determined time interval as user response activity data;   based on the storing, updating the user data to include the user response activity data; and   based on the updated data, determining marketing statistics for at least one of the plurality of users.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the determining that the second electronic communication was sent from the particular user in response to the first electronic communication is based on a common portion between the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 based on a fixed memory offset, formatting the user response activity data as a block of binary large object (BLOB).   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the first tracking identifier and the second tracking identifier include encoded data that identifies the particular user. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 comparing the time interval to a threshold time value; and   based on a result of the comparing indicating that the time interval fails to meet the threshold time value, determining content of a third electronic communication based on a non-responsive behavior characteristic.   
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 applying a statistical analysis to the updated data; and   based on a result of the statistical analysis, prioritizing billing operation for at least one of the plurality of users.