Method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing a user platform for a real-time marketplace

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided herein to facilitate negotiation between consumers and merchants for promotions. In one embodiment, a method for generating promotion impressions is provided which includes receiving, via a user interface, a request for a promotion, wherein the request comprises one or more indications of consumer preferences for the promotion and causing transmission of the request to a promotion and marketing service. The method further comprises receiving an impression comprising promotion data for one or more merchants based at least in part on the one or more indications of preferences. The method further comprises receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a promotion to purchase wherein the promotion is selected from the promotion data in the impression. The method further comprises transmitting the selection of the promotion to purchase to the promotion and marketing service. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to:
 receive one or more transactional constraints for a promotion associated with a merchant device in response to a selection of the promotion via a user interface of a consumer device, wherein the selection of the promotion is associated with one or more consumer selection parameters;   determine whether the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device; and   transmit the selection of the promotion to a promotion and marketing service system in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to further cause the one or more computers to:
 receive an impression comprising the promotion and one or more other promotions, wherein the impression is generated based on one or more consumer preferences; and   cause rendering of the impression via the user interface of the consumer device, wherein the promotion is selected from the user interface.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to further cause the one or more computers to:
 receive the one or more other promotions from one or more other merchant devices.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to further cause the one or more computers to:
 receive a request for the promotion via the user interface, wherein the request comprises one or more consumer preferences for the promotion.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to further cause the one or more computers to:
 transmit the request to the promotion and marketing service system; and   receive an impression comprising at least the promotion, wherein the impression is generated based on the one or more consumer preferences.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to further cause the one or more computers to:
 determine a counter-offer for the promotion in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters do not conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device, wherein counter-offer comprises a different promotion associated with one or more different transactional constraints.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more transactional constraints comprise a timing constraint for the selection of the promotion. 
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device comprising a processor, one or more transactional constraints for a promotion associated with a merchant device in response to a selection of the promotion via a user interface of a consumer device, wherein the selection of the promotion is associated with one or more consumer selection parameters;   determining, by the computing device, whether the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device; and   transmitting, by the computing device, the selection of the promotion to a promotion and marketing service system in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, an impression comprising the promotion and one or more other promotions, wherein the impression is generated based on one or more consumer preferences; and   causing, by the computing device, rendering of the impression via the user interface of the consumer device, wherein the promotion is selected from the user interface.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, the one or more other promotions from one or more other merchant devices.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the computing device, a request for the promotion via the user interface, wherein the request comprises one or more consumer preferences for the promotion.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the computing device, the request to the promotion and marketing service system; and   receiving, by the computing device, an impression comprising at least the promotion, wherein the impression is generated based on one or more consumer preferences.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 determining, by the computing device, a counter-offer for the promotion in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters do not conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device, wherein counter-offer comprises a different promotion associated with one or more different transactional constraints.   
     
     
         30 . A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 receive one or more transactional constraints for a promotion in response to a selection of the promotion associated with a merchant device via a user interface of a consumer device, wherein the selection of the promotion is associated with one or more consumer selection parameters;   determine whether the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device; and   transmit the selection of the promotion to a promotion and marketing service system in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device.   
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 receive an impression comprising the promotion and one or more other promotions, wherein the impression is generated based on one or more consumer preferences; and   cause rendering of the impression via the user interface of the consumer device, wherein the promotion is selected from the user interface.   
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 receive the one or more other promotions from one or more other merchant devices.   
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 receive a request for the promotion via the user interface, wherein the request comprises one or more consumer preferences for the promotion.   
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 33 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 transmit the request to the promotion and marketing service system; and   receive an impression comprising at least the promotion, wherein the impression is generated based on one or more consumer preferences.   
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computers cause the one or more computers to:
 determine a counter-offer for the promotion in response to a determination that the one or more consumer selection parameters do not conform to the one or more transactional constraints provided by the merchant device, wherein counter-offer comprises a different promotion associated with one or more different transactional constraints.   
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more transactional constraints comprise a timing constraint for the selection of the promotion.