Method, apparatus, and computer program product for facilitating the activation of promotions using short codes

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for facilitating immediate activation of a promotion. One example embodiment may include an apparatus for facilitating immediate activation of a promotion, the apparatus comprising registration circuitry configured to receive promotion component information, the promotion component information comprising one or more products or services and a price, generate a promotion comprising the promotion component information, and assign promotion identification information to the promotion; and activation circuitry configured to receive information provided in a text message, the text message comprising at least the promotion identification information, a command, the text message addressed to a short code, the command indicative of an instruction to perform with regard to the promotion identified by the promotion identification information.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that cause the apparatus to:
 receive promotion component information;   generate a promotion based at least in part on the promotion component information;   assign promotion identification information to the promotion;   configure a short code accessible by a plurality of users, wherein each user of the plurality of users is assigned at least one keyword utilized to differentiate between the plurality of users or determine which of the plurality of users will receive at least one message sent to the short code;   transmit the short code to at least a first merchant device, wherein the short code is configured to enable activation of the promotion via transmission of a message addressed to the short code;   receive, via a cellular networking service and from a second merchant device with Wi-Fi connection inaccessible, the message addressed to the short code, wherein the message comprises a command, at least a first keyword associated with a particular user of the plurality of users, and at least the promotion identification information;   validate at least the first keyword associated with the particular user corresponds to the promotion identified by the promotion identification information; and   in response to validation, activate the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the command, wherein to activate the promotion the apparatus is caused to:
 identify at least one consumer device to receive the promotion; and 
 cause communication of an electronic marketing communication associated with the promotion to the at least one consumer device. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of users are associated with the same merchant. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of users comprises a plurality of distinct merchants. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the promotion identification information comprises a dedicated keyword corresponding to the promotion. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein to identify the at least one consumer device to receive the promotion, the apparatus further caused to:
 identify the at least one consumer device proximate, in real-time, to a merchant location associated with the promotion or a location specified in a promotion component associated with the promotion.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , the apparatus further caused to:
 receive at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receive, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivate the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   enable the at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion to be redeemed subsequent to deactivation of the promotion.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , the apparatus further caused to:
 receive at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receive, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivate the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   in response to deactivation of the promotion, automatically facilitate a transfer of a value associated with the purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion associated with at least the first consumer device.   
     
     
         29 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving promotion component information;   generating a promotion based at least in part on the promotion component information;   assigning promotion identification information to the promotion;   configuring a short code accessible by a plurality of users, wherein each user of the plurality of users is assigned at least one keyword utilized to differentiate between the plurality of users or determine which of the plurality of users will receive at least one message sent to the short code;   transmitting the short code to at least a first merchant device, wherein the short code is configured to enable activation of the promotion via transmission of a message addressed to the short code;   receiving, via a cellular networking service and from a second merchant device with Wi-Fi connection inaccessible, the message addressed to the short code, wherein the message comprises a command, at least a first keyword associated with a particular user of the plurality of users, and at least the promotion identification information;   validating at least the first keyword associated with the particular user corresponds to the promotion identified by the promotion identification information; and   in response to validation, activating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the command by at least:
 identifying at least one consumer device to receive the promotion; and 
 causing communication of an electronic marketing communication associated with the promotion to the at least one consumer device. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of users are associated with the same merchant. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of users comprises a plurality of distinct merchants. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , wherein the promotion identification information comprises a dedicated keyword corresponding to the promotion. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , wherein identifying the at least one consumer device to receive the promotion comprises:
 identifying the at least one consumer device proximate, in real-time, to a merchant location associated with the promotion or a location specified in a promotion component associated with the promotion.   
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
 receiving at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receiving, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   enabling the at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion to be redeemed subsequent to deactivation of the promotion.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 29 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
 receiving at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receiving, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   in response to deactivation of the promotion, automatically facilitating a transfer of a value associated with the purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion associated with at least the first consumer device.   
     
     
         36 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon that, in execution with at least one processor, is configured for:
 receiving promotion component information;   generating a promotion based at least in part on the promotion component information;   assigning promotion identification information to the promotion;   configuring a short code accessible by a plurality of users, wherein each user of the plurality of users is assigned at least one keyword utilized to differentiate between the plurality of users or determine which of the plurality of users will receive at least one message sent to the short code;   transmitting the short code to at least a first merchant device, wherein the short code is configured to enable activation of the promotion via transmission of a message addressed to the short code;   receiving, via a cellular networking service and from a second merchant device with Wi-Fi connection inaccessible, the message addressed to the short code, wherein the message comprises a command, at least a first keyword associated with a particular user of the plurality of users, and at least the promotion identification information;   validating at least the first keyword associated with the particular user corresponds to the promotion identified by the promotion identification information; and   in response to validation, activating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the command by at least:
 identifying at least one consumer device to receive the promotion; and 
 causing communication of an electronic marketing communication associated with the promotion to the at least one consumer device. 
   
     
     
         37 . The computer program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of users comprises a plurality of distinct merchants. 
     
     
         38 . The computer program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the promotion identification information comprises a dedicated keyword corresponding to the promotion. 
     
     
         39 . The computer program product according to  claim 36 , wherein identifying the at least one consumer device to receive the promotion comprises:
 identifying the at least one consumer device proximate, in real-time, to a merchant location associated with the promotion or a location specified in a promotion component associated with the promotion.   
     
     
         40 . The computer program product according to  claim 36 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
 receiving at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receiving, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   enabling the at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion to be redeemed subsequent to deactivation of the promotion.   
     
     
         41 . The computer program product according to  claim 36 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:
 receiving at least one purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion by at least a first consumer device;   receiving, via the cellular networking service, a second message addressed to the short code, wherein the second message comprises a second command, and at least the promotion identification information;   deactivating the promotion identified via at least the promotion identification information based at least in part on the second command; and   in response to deactivation of the promotion, automatically facilitating a transfer of a value associated with the purchased but not redeemed instance of the promotion associated with at least the first consumer device.