Method and system for distribution of electronic coupons
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for distributing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a remote host electronic coupon ordering system;
(b) causing said ordering system to prompt a user to select coupon customization criteria;
(c) using said customization criteria to generate an alpha-numeric access code; and
(d) providing in combination said access code and a computer-readable storage medium containing a control program, a non-customized collection of electronic coupons, and coupon unrelated content to said user, said control program being operable in response to input of said access code to limit a user'"'"'s access to said non-customized collection of electronic coupons to a discrete, customized collection of said non-customized electronic coupons.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method and system enabling the electronic dissemination of electronic coupons combined with both coupon-related and coupon-unrelated information stored on a computer readable storage medium, and a control program limiting a user'"'"'s access to only such coupons as have been authorized through user input of an access code.
90 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for distributing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a remote host electronic coupon ordering system;
(b) causing said ordering system to prompt a user to select coupon customization criteria;
(c) using said customization criteria to generate an alpha-numeric access code; and
(d) providing in combination said access code and a computer-readable storage medium containing a control program, a non-customized collection of electronic coupons, and coupon unrelated content to said user, said control program being operable in response to input of said access code to limit a user'"'"'s access to said non-customized collection of electronic coupons to a discrete, customized collection of said non-customized electronic coupons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In combination, a printed alpha-numeric access code and a computer-readable storage medium containing computer executable code for instructing a computer to operate in a particular manner when used by a computer, said computer-readable storage medium comprising:
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a first collection of data objects comprising a non-customized collection of electronic coupons;
a second collection of data objects comprising access codes, each said access code corresponding to at least one of said electronic coupons;
a third collection of data objects comprising coupon unrelated content; and
a control program operable to instruct a computer to operate as follows;
(i) directing the computer to prompt a user to input said printed access code;
(ii) directing the computer to receive as input from said user said access code;
(iii) directing the computer to compare said access code input from said user with said second collection of data objects; and
(iv) directing the computer to limit a user'"'"'s access to said first collection of data objects to a discrete, customized collection of electronic coupons corresponding to said access code input by said user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for distributing electronic coupons, comprising:
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a server computer hosting an electronic coupon ordering service accessible via client computers to a plurality of potential users, said server computer providing a user interface comprising input controls including means for enabling a user to select coupon customization criteria, and means for enabling a user to enter identifying and financial information, means for generating an alpha-numeric access code using said coupon customization criteria;
means for printing said alpha-numeric access code; and
means for transmitting in combination said alpha-numeric access code and a computer-readable storage medium to said user, said computer readable storage medium containing a control program, a non-customized collection of electronic coupons, and coupon unrelated content, said control program being operable in response to input of said access code to limit a user'"'"'s access to said non-customized collection of electronic coupons to a discrete, customized collection of said non-customized electronic coupons. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification