Mobile device applications, other applications and associated kiosk-based systems and methods for facilitating coin saving

• US 10,346,819 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Stock, Alexander, Rubin, Adam, Chung, Eric, Sarda, Theron, Greenblatt, Jonathan, King, Kevin, Frieden, Cord, Montgomery, Tricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilder, A. Hunter
• Application Number:
  US14/946,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20170148001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38215 Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/00 Counting coins in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/18 Book-keeping or economics

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods and systems for saving coins and applying the coin value toward the purchase of selected products are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the methods and systems described herein can be utilized by parents, grandparents, etc. to encourage and facilitate saving by children. For example, in some embodiments a mobile application is provided that enables a child to select a product to purchase as a “reward” for achieving a savings goal. The mobile application can also enable the child (and/or the child'"'"'s parent) to set the savings goal, and track the child'"'"'s progress in reaching the goal as saved coins are periodically exchanged at one or more coin counting kiosks. Other embodiments of the disclosed technology enable the parent and/or child to receive a notification when the child reaches the savings goal, and apply the saved funds toward the purchase of the selected reward.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a coin receiving region of a coin counting kiosk, a plurality of random coins from a user for a coin exchange transaction;

counting, by a coin discriminator of the coin counting kiosk the plurality of random coins to determine a total coin value;

providing the user with a unique code, wherein the unique code is stored in a remote database and associated with the total coin value; and

providing a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to cause a processor of a user device to;

display one or more items available for purchase and a corresponding purchase price for each of the items;

receive a selection of one of the items from the user;

receive a savings goal from the user, wherein the savings goal is associated with the selected item and is less than the purchase price of the selected item;

receive the unique code from the user;

send the unique code to the remote database;

in response to sending the unique code, receive the coin value from the remote database;

display the coin value and at least one of the savings goal or the purchase price; and

when a sum of the coin value plus any additional values associated with any additional unique codes received from the user is greater than or equal to the savings goal, display a message indicating that the savings goal has been met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is further configured to cause the processor of the user device to:

individually receive an additional one or more unique codes from the user,

individually send each of the additional unique codes to the remote database;

in response to individually sending each of the additional unique codes, individually receive corresponding additional coin values from the remote database; and

display a total amount saved to the user, wherein the total amount saved is equal to a sum of the first coin value plus the additional coin values,

wherein the unique code is a first unique code, wherein the coin exchange transaction is a first coin exchange transaction,

wherein the coin value is a first coin value,

wherein each of the additional unique codes is associated with a corresponding additional coin exchange transaction conducted at one of a plurality of consumer operated coin counting kiosks, and

wherein each of the additional coin exchange transactions included counting a plurality of coins to determine an additional coin value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer-readable medium is further configured to cause the processor of the user device to:

when the total amount saved is greater than or equal to the savings goal, display a link to a webpage associated with the selected item, wherein the webpage facilitates purchasing the item online.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is configured to encourage children to save coins and/or bills, wherein displaying one or more items includes displaying a plurality of child appropriate products for purchase, and wherein receiving a savings goal includes receiving a savings goal that represents a dollar amount saved by a child to apply toward to the purchase price of the selected product.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the total coin value is equal to 100% of a value of the coins exchanged in the coin exchange transaction.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the total coin value is equal to 100% of a value of the coins exchanged at the one consumer operated coin counting kiosk in the coin exchange transaction;

and wherein the voucher is also redeemable for at least one of cash and merchandize at a point of sale for less than 100% of the value of the coins exchanged in the coin exchange transaction.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable medium is further configured to cause the processor of the user device to:

receive a product search query from the user, wherein displaying one or more items available for purchase includes displaying content from a third party online retailer in response to the search query.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable medium is further configured to cause the processor of the user device to:

receive a product search query from the user, wherein displaying one or more items available for purchase includes displaying a plurality of child appropriate products from a third party online retailer in response to the search query.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer-readable medium is further configured to cause the processor of the user device to:

receive electronic payment of a prepayment amount from the user, wherein a sum of the prepayment amount and the savings goal is equal to the purchase price of the selected item.

10. A networked computer system configured to facilitate saving money for purchase of a selected product, the networked computer system comprising:

a coin counting kiosk comprising;

a coin receiving region configured to receive a plurality of random coins from a user;

a coin discriminator;

a first processor; and

a first memory storing instructions to be executed by the first processor to;

cause the coin discriminator to count the plurality of random coins to determine a total coin value; and

cause the coin counting kiosk to provide the user with a unique code, wherein the unique code is stored in a remote database and associated with the total coin value, and

a server configured to provide a user device with computer-readable instructions, wherein the user device includes a second processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to;

receive a product selection, the product selection having a purchase price;

receive a savings goal, wherein the savings goal is a dollar amount that is less than the purchase price;

receive the unique code;

in response to receiving the unique code, obtain and receive the total coin value from the remote database; and

when a sum of the total coin value plus any additional values associated with any additional unique codes received from the user is greater than or equal to the savings goal, display a message indicating that the savings goal has been met.

11. The networked computer system of claim 10, wherein the total coin value is equal to 100% of a total value of the plurality of coins exchanged at the coin counting kiosk.