Offline to online sales conversion

• US 10,332,171 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dischler, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kenneth W
• Application Number:
  US15/262,144
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0643 Hash functions, e.g. MD5, SHA, HMAC or f9 MAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0863 involving passwords or one-time passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for using one-time keys in a packet data network H04L63/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3228 One-time or temporary data, i.e. information which is sent for every authentication or authorization, e.g. one-time-password, one-time-token or one-time-key

Abstract

Various aspects can be implemented for increasing offline to online sales conversion. In general, one aspect can be a method that includes generating a coupon identifier dynamically at a retail location based on a unique password. The method also includes assigning tracking information and a variable sales price discount associated with a variable expiration time to the coupon identifier. The method further includes issuing the coupon identifier to a customer at the retail location for use in a future online sales transaction. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, by a computer system, a security token that is associated with a given entity;

authenticating, by the computer system, the security token;

accepting, by the computer system and from the given entity, input requesting a code based on the authentication of the security token, data identifying the given entity, and an encryption key;

in response to receiving the input, generating, by the computer system, the code that provides access to an item online and identifies a particular store as an origin of the code;

encrypting the code using the encryption key;

providing the code to a client device;

receiving data indicating that the encrypted code has been input online;

decrypting the code using the encryption key;

in response to receiving the code, confirming that the code is valid;

receiving data indicating that the item was obtained using the code; and

storing data indicating that the item was obtained online using the code and associating the obtained item with the particular store based on the code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is further based on data identifying a time at which the code was generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the code comprises generating the code for one-time use.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

obtaining authenticating information with the input requesting the code; and

authenticating the request based on the authenticating information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is further based on data identifying a variable expiration time that comprises one or more of the following expiration times:

30 minutes, one hour, one day, or one week.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the code comprises transmitting the code over a network to the client device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the code over the network comprises including the code in one or more of the following messages:

an e-mail message, a multimedia message, a text message, and a wireless application protocol (WAP) message.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising:

determining a time of redemption the code; and

comparing the time of redemption with the variable expiration time,

wherein confirming that the code is valid is based, at least in part, on the comparing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the data indicating redemption of the code comprises receiving the code at an Internet website.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is encrypted using a public key encryption system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the code comprises generating the code in real-time in response to receiving the input requesting the code.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the code does not exist prior to the generating.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that the item is available online,

wherein the code is generated in response to determining that the item is available online.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a one-time password that is generated by the security token; and

comparing the one-time password to one or more time-synchronized passwords generated by the computer system,

wherein authenticating the security token is based on comparing the one-time password to one or more time-synchronized passwords generated by the computer system.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a PIN input,

wherein the security token is authenticated based on the received PIN matching a stored PIN that is associated with the security token.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the security token is a hardware implemented security token.

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 perform operations comprising;

detecting, by a computer system, a security token that is associated with a given entity;

authenticating, by the computer system, the security token;

accepting, by the computer system and from the given entity, input requesting a code based on the authentication of the security token, data identifying the given entity, and an encryption key;

in response to receiving the input, generating, by the computer system, the code that provides access to an item online and identifies a particular store as an origin of the code;

encrypting the code using the encryption key;

providing the code to a client device;

receiving data indicating that the encrypted code has been input online;

decrypting the code using the encryption key;

in response to receiving the code, confirming that the code is valid;

receiving data indicating that the item was obtained using the code; and

storing data indicating that the item was obtained online using the code and associating the obtained item with the particular store based on the code.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a one-time password that is generated by the security token; and

comparing the one-time password to one or more time-synchronized passwords generated by the computer system,

wherein authenticating the security token is based on comparing the one-time password to one or more time-synchronized passwords generated by the computer system.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a PIN input,

wherein the security token is authenticated based on the received PIN matching a stored PIN that is associated with the security token.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

detecting, by a computer system, a security token that is associated with a given entity;

authenticating, by the computer system, the security token;

accepting, by the computer system and from the given entity, input requesting a code based on the authentication of the security token, data identifying the given entity, and an encryption key;

in response to receiving the input, generating, by the computer system, the code that provides access to an item online and identifies a particular store as an origin of the code;

encrypting the code using the encryption key;

providing the code to a client device;

receiving data indicating that the encrypted code has been input online;

decrypting the code using the encryption key;

in response to receiving the code, confirming that the code is valid;

receiving data indicating that the item was obtained using the code; and

storing data indicating that the item was obtained online using the code and associating the obtained item with the particular store based on the code.