System and method for providing electronic vouchers

• US 20020038237A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MRD Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: MRD Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Duchow, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

The system and method provide access to a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via the Internet. The structured computer program displays a list of producers from a producer database to the buyer, receives a selected producer from the buyer, and stores the selected producer in memory. It displays a list of products from a product database, based on the selected producer, to the buyer, receives a selected product from the buyer, and stores the selected product in memory. It requests information from the buyer such as the buyer”s zip code and email address, receives the zip code and email address from the buyer, and stores the zip code and email address in memory. Based on the selected product and the zip code, it selects a reseller geographically closest to the buyer from a reseller database and based on the selected producer and product it selects a cash value discount and expiration date from a discount database. Finally, it sends an electronic voucher to the buyer via email containing the selected producer and product, the reseller, the cash value discount, and the expiration date.

Claims

1. A system for providing electronic vouchers, comprising:

a means for running a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via a network;

a means for the structured computer program to receive a plurality of buyer information;

a memory means for storing the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a reseller database and select a reseller from the reseller database based on the plurality of buyer information; and

a means for the structured computer program to communicate the reseller and a discount to the buyer.

5. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein:

the network is the Internet.

6. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the discount comprises:

a cash value discount and an expiration date.

7. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein:

the means for communicating the reseller and the discount to the buyer is by sending an electronic voucher to the buyer via email.

8. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein:

the means for communicating the reseller and the discount to the buyer is by displaying the reseller and the discount to the buyer through the website.

9. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1 or 2, wherein the means for selecting a reseller from a reseller database comprises:

selecting the reseller geographically located closest to the buyer based on the plurality of buyer information.

10. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the plurality of buyer information comprises:

a zip code and an email address.

11. A system for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for selecting a reseller from a reseller database comprises:

selecting the reseller geographically located closest to the buyer based on the zip code.

2. A system for providing electronic vouchers, comprising:

a means for running a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via a network;

a means for the structured computer program to access a product database, display a list of products from the product database to the buyer through the website, and receive a product selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to receive a plurality of buyer information;

a memory means for storing the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a reseller database and select a reseller from the reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information; and

a means for the structured computer program to communicate the reseller and a discount to the buyer.

3. A system for providing electronic vouchers, comprising:

a means for running a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via a network;

a means for the structured computer program to access a product database, display a list of products from the product database to the buyer through the website, and receive a product selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to receive a plurality of buyer information;

a memory means for storing the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a reseller database and select a reseller from the reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a discount database and select a discount from the discount database based on the product selection; and

a means for the structured computer program to communicate the reseller and the discount to the buyer.

4. A system for providing electronic vouchers, comprising:

a means for running a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via a network;

a means for the structured computer program to access a producer database, display a list of producers from the producer database to the buyer through the website, and receive a producer selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to access a product database, display a list of products from the product database based on the producer selection to the buyer through the website, and receive a product selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to receive a plurality of buyer information;

a memory means for storing the producer selection, the product selection, and the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a reseller database and select a reseller from the reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

a means for the structured computer program to access a discount database and select a discount from the discount database based on the producer selection and the product selection; and

a means for the structured computer program to communicate the reseller and the discount to the buyer.

12. A system for providing electronic vouchers, comprising:

a means for running a structured computer program through a website by a buyer via the Internet;

a means for the structured computer program to access a producer database, display a list of producers from the producer database to the buyer through the website, and receive a producer selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to access a product database, display a list of products from the product database based on the producer selection to the buyer through the website, and receive a product selection from the buyer;

a means for the structured computer program to receive a zip code and an email address from the buyer;

a memory means for storing the producer selection, the product selection, the zip code, and the email address;

a means for the structured computer program to access a reseller database and select a reseller located geographically closest to the buyer from the reseller database based on the product selection and the zip code;

a means for the structured computer program to access a discount database and select a cash value discount and an expiration date from the discount database based on the producer selection and product selection; and

a means for the structured computer program to communicate the producer selection, the product selection, the reseller, the cash value discount, and the expiration date to the buyer by sending an electronic voucher to the buyer via email.

12-1. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a structured computer program through a website to a buyer via a network;

displaying a product through the website;

displaying a buyer information entry screen to the buyer through the website, receiving a plurality of buyer information from the buyer, and storing the plurality of buyer information in the memory means;

selecting a reseller from a reseller database based on the plurality of buyer information; and

communicating the reseller and a discount to the buyer.

14. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a structured computer program through a website to a buyer via a network;

displaying a plurality of products from a product database to the buyer through the website, receiving a product selection from the buyer, and storing the product selection in a memory means;

displaying a buyer information entry screen to the buyer through the website, receiving a plurality of buyer information from the buyer, and storing the plurality of buyer information in the memory means;

selecting a reseller from a reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

communicating the reseller and a discount to the buyer.

17. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein:

the reseller and the discount are communicated to the buyer by sending the buyer an electronic voucher containing the reseller and the discount via email.

18. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein:

the reseller selected is the reseller geographically located closest to the buyer based on the plurality of buyer information.

19. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein:

the reseller and the discount are communicated to the buyer by displaying the reseller and the discount on the website.

20. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, or 16, comprising the additional step of:

communicating the plurality of buyer information and the discount to the reseller.

25. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, or 24, wherein:

the network is the Internet.

26. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13,14,15, 16, 22, 23, or 24, wherein the discount comprises:

a cash value discount and an expiration date.

29. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, or 24, wherein the plurality of buyer information comprises:

a zip code and an email address.

15. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a structured computer program through a website to a buyer via a network;

displaying a plurality of products from a product database to the buyer through the website, receiving a product selection from the buyer, and storing the product selection in a memory means;

displaying a buyer information entry screen to the buyer through the website, receiving a plurality of buyer information from the buyer, and storing the plurality of buyer information in the memory means;

selecting a reseller from a reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

selecting a discount from a discount database based on the product selection; and

communicating the reseller and the discount to the buyer.

16. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a structured computer program through a website to a buyer via a network;

displaying a plurality of producers from a producer database to the buyer through the website, receiving a producer selection from the buyer, and storing the producer selection in a memory means;

displaying a plurality of products from a product database to the buyer based on the producer selection through the website, receiving a product selection from the buyer, and storing the product selection in the memory means;

displaying a buyer information entry screen to the buyer through the website, receiving a plurality of buyer information from the buyer, and storing the plurality of buyer information in the memory means;

selecting a reseller from a reseller database based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information;

selecting a discount from a discount database based on the producer selection and the product selection; and

communicating the reseller and the discount to the buyer.

21. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

providing access to a structured computer program through a website to a buyer via the Internet;

displaying a plurality of producers from a producer database to the buyer through the website, receiving a producer selection from the buyer, and storing the producer selection in a memory means;

displaying a plurality of products from a product database to the buyer based on the producer selection through the website, receiving a product selection from the buyer, and storing the product selection in the memory means;

displaying a buyer information entry screen to the buyer through the website, receiving a zip code and an email address from the buyer, and storing the zip code and the email address in the memory means;

selecting a reseller from a reseller database geographically located closest to the buyer based on the product selection and the zip code;

selecting a cash value discount and an expiration date from a discount database based on the producer selection and the product selection; and

communicating the reseller, the cash value discount, and the expiration date to the buyer by sending the buyer an electronic voucher containing the reseller, the cash value discount, and the expiration date via email.

22. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

accessing a structured computer program through a website via a network;

viewing a product through the website;

viewing a buyer information entry screen through the website and entering a plurality of buyer information; and

receiving an electronic voucher that includes a reseller and a discount.

27. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 22, 23, or 24, wherein:

the electronic voucher is received via email.

28. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 22, 23, or 24, wherein:

the electronic voucher is viewed through the website.

30. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 22, 23, or 24, further comprising the steps of:

printing the electronic voucher; and

redeeming the electronic voucher at the reseller listed on the electronic voucher for the discount listed on the electronic voucher.

31. A method for providing electronic vouchers, as recited in claims 22, 23, or 24, further comprising the steps of:

presenting the plurality of buyer information to the reseller; and

receiving the discount.

23. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

accessing a structured computer program through a website via a network;

viewing a plurality of products through the website and making a product selection;

viewing a buyer information entry screen through the website and entering a plurality of buyer information; and

receiving an electronic voucher that includes a reseller and a discount.

24. A method for providing electronic vouchers, comprising the steps of:

accessing a structured computer program through a website via a network;

viewing a plurality of producers through the website and making a producer selection;

viewing a plurality of products through the website and making a product selection;

viewing a buyer information entry screen through the website and entering a plurality of buyer information; and

receiving an electronic voucher that includes a reseller and a discount.

32. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, comprising the steps of:

advertising a plurality of discounts available for a plurality of products;

being contacted by a buyer regarding the discounts;

receiving a product selection and a plurality of buyer information from the buyer;

selecting a reseller and a discount based on the product selection and the plurality of buyer information; and

communicating the reseller and the discount to the buyer.

33. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, as recited in claim 32, wherein the discount comprises:

a cash value discount and an expiration date.

34. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, as recited in claim 32, wherein:

the reseller and the discount are communicated to the buyer over the telephone.

35. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, as recited in claim 32, wherein:

the reseller and the discount are communicated to the buyer by mail.

36. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, as recited in claim 32, wherein:

the reseller and the discount are communicated to the buyer via facsimile.

37. A method for providing a discount to a buyer that is redeemable at a specific reseller, as recited in claim 32, wherein:

the reseller selected is the reseller geographically located closest to the buyer based on the plurality of buyer information.