Method and apparatus for distributing advertisements using social networks and financial transaction card networks

Abstract

An exemplary method for distributing an offer to a mobile device includes identifying a location of a first mobile device, identifying offer preferences for a user of the first mobile device, and distributing the offer to the first mobile device. The offer is an offer for the purchase of goods or services, the offer meets the offer preferences of the user of the first mobile device, and the offer is encoded with a first offer identifier corresponding to the user of the first mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for distributing an offer to a mobile device, comprising:
 identifying a location of a first mobile device;   identifying offer preferences of a user of the first mobile device; and   distributing the offer to the first mobile device, wherein the offer is for the purchase of goods or services, wherein the offer meets the offer preferences of the user of the first mobile device, and wherein the offer is encoded with a first offer identifier corresponding to the user of the first mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 redeeming the offer at a merchant; and   identifying, in an account corresponding to the first mobile device, of the redemption of the offer, wherein the identification is based on the encoded first offer identifier.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forwarding the offer from the first mobile device to a second mobile device, and wherein the offer is further encoded with a second offer identifier corresponding to a user of the second mobile device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 redeeming the offer at a merchant;   identifying, in an account of the user of the first mobile device, of the redemption of the offer, wherein the identification is based on the encoded first offer identifier; and   identifying, in an account of the user of the second mobile device, of the redemption of the offer, wherein the identification is based on the encoded second offer identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer is associated with a merchant, and wherein the first mobile device is proximate to the merchant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the first mobile device includes designating based on the purchasing history of the user of the first mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the first mobile device include demographic information of the user of the first mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the location of the first mobile device includes using the Global Positioning System. 
     
     
         9 . A system for distributing an offer to a mobile device, comprising:
 a server configured to store offer preferences of a user of the mobile device, identify a location of the mobile device, and distribute the offer to the mobile device, wherein the offer is for the purchase of goods or services, wherein the offer meets the stored offer preferences of the user of the mobile device, and wherein the offer is encoded with an offer identifier corresponding to the user of the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to identify, in an account corresponding to the user of the mobile device, redemption of the offer, wherein the identification is based on the encoded offer identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the offer is further encoded with a second offer identifier corresponding to a user of a second mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to identify, in an account corresponding to the user of the second mobile device, redemption of the offer, wherein the identification is based on the encoded second offer identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to identify a location of the mobile device, wherein the offer is associated with a merchant, and wherein the first mobile device is proximate to the merchant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the identification of the location of the mobile device includes using the Global Positioning System. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the mobile device includes designating based on the purchasing history of the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the mobile device include demographic information of the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . A system for receiving an offer, comprising:
 a mobile device configured to receive an offer, wherein:   the offer is for the purchase of goods or services;   the offer meets offer preferences of a user of the mobile device;   and the offer is encoded with an offer identifier corresponding to the user of the mobile device;   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the offer is associated with a merchant and wherein the mobile device is proximate to the merchant. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the mobile device includes designating based on the purchasing history of the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the offer preferences of the user of the mobile device include demographic information of the user of the mobile device.