System and method for creation, distribution, exchange, redemption and tracking of digitally signed electronic coupons

• US 20020010627A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E-Koopon SARL
• Original Assignee: E-Koopon SARL
• Inventors: Lerat, Gilles
• Application Number:
  US09/858,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date

Abstract

This invention refers to a means to generate, distribute, exchange, verify and redeem coupons in a public network environment, such as the Internet. This provides a safe way to create and distribute coupons from a Manufacturer to one or more Retailers, while at the same time giving the user all information corresponding to the coupon features.

Claims

1. A method of creating and signing digital representations of uniquely identified coupons for a plurality of users comprising:

providing a digital coupon having a serial number, information about a manufacturer, a date of start of validity, a date of end of validity, specific location information for redemption, association with a product or a range of products, information about the product being discounted, discount rules including, but not limited to, amount, currency and type of discount; and

embedding a digital signature in the coupon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the redemption information is a URI or a range of URI.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital coupon is divided in two parts, a first part being digital coupon data containing information about the nature of the discount, and a second part being an image that can be displayed over the Internet, or through other media.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital coupon is divided into an image part and a data part, each part being protected by a digital signature using a hash algorithm and a public/private key pair, and wherein the digital signature is embedded in the data part.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein discount information is associated with a product, a range of products, or whole contents of a shopping cart generated by a customer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein discount information is expressed inside an independent structure of the data contained in the digital coupon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein discount amount and type may be dependent on various parameters such as digital coupon lifespan.

8. A method of distributing Digital Coupons over the Internet or over any network using a client and server mechanism comprising:

generating a coupon file;

signing the digital coupon file; and

sending the digital coupon to a selected recipient through an Internet protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein digital signature of the coupon takes place in real time, as coupons are requested from the recipient.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein digital coupons are created, digitally signed and stored as files in advance on a digital coupon server.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a server sends back to the recipient information for registration of the digital coupon download.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the protocol in use for communication between the recipient and the server is HTTP.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a template for the digital coupons is propagated to another digital coupon server Retailer authorized to make reductions by a digital coupon Manufacturer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the protocol in use for communication between the recipient and the server is SSL over HTTP.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein a server application embodies information provided by a user such as a password to allow verification of the user'"'"'s claimed ownership of the Digital Coupon at redemption.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein each recipient application is uniquely identified.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the recipient receiving the Digital Coupons is a browser used to navigate on the Internet.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein Digital Coupons are distributed through a banner ad.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein Digital Coupons are moved using floppy disks or any other kind of information medium, independently of any interaction with a server used for creation.

20. A method for a user to verify integrity and validity of a selected Digital Coupon at any selected time comprising:

presenting to a server responsible for Digital Coupon information relevant to price reduction;

obtaining a confirmation of validity;

generating an error message; and

sending the error message to the recipient if the Digital Coupon is not valid.

21. The method of claim 20, where an authentication takes place between the recipient and the server, to verify that the server really is who it claims to be.

22. The method of claim 20, where an entity that accepts the digital coupon is not the same as an entity that created it.

23. A method for a user to redeem a Digital Coupon at a desired moment of a buying process comprising:

verifying by a coupon server validity of a specific coupon;

storing information regarding said Digital Coupon in a database;

subtracting a price of an item being ordered from the discount specified in the Digital Coupon; and

generating an order regarding the purchase made by the user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein coupon redemption occurs at the beginning of a transaction or after a purchase order has been made.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein redemption information is propagated to a manufacturer of the Digital Coupon using CORBA.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the user redeeming a Digital Coupon is uniquely identified.