System and method for electronically redeeming coupons
First Claim
1. A method for electronically redeeming consumer-selected coupons, comprising:
- electronically storing coupon data on a portable coupon card, said coupon data including a plurality of coupons selected by a consumer, an expiration date for redemption of said consumer-selected coupons, a plurality of redemption numbers representing the number of times respective consumer-selected coupons may be redeemed prior to said expiration date;
providing said portable coupon card to said consumer;
electronically scanning a bar code associated with a product selected by said consumer to derive a price and inventory information related to said product;
electronically scanning said portable coupon card of said consumer so as to read said coupon data stored thereon;
reducing said price associated with said selected product based on said coupon data stored on said portable coupon card.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for processing and redeeming coupons comprises a host computer connected to a database of coupon card accounts associated with a plurality of coupon cards. Each account includes at least a consumer identifier, consumer-selected coupons, and a consumer-selected vendor identifier. At least the consumer identifier and coupon data is magnetically stored on a respective card. A coupon card account may be established from a remote computer connected to the host computer via a computer network or through a remote point-of-purchase machine. The host computer transmits account data to a consumer-selected vendor computer. When a coupon card and selected products are presented to the vendor, the vendor computer discounts the price of the products according to the coupon data on the card and modifies its inventory records as well. Coupons may be redeemed a predetermined number of times prior to a predetermined expiration date.
47 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for electronically redeeming consumer-selected coupons, comprising:
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electronically storing coupon data on a portable coupon card, said coupon data including a plurality of coupons selected by a consumer, an expiration date for redemption of said consumer-selected coupons, a plurality of redemption numbers representing the number of times respective consumer-selected coupons may be redeemed prior to said expiration date;
providing said portable coupon card to said consumer;
electronically scanning a bar code associated with a product selected by said consumer to derive a price and inventory information related to said product;
electronically scanning said portable coupon card of said consumer so as to read said coupon data stored thereon;
reducing said price associated with said selected product based on said coupon data stored on said portable coupon card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A coupon processing system, comprising:
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a first database of coupon card accounts associated with a plurality of portable coupon cards, each account including a personal identification number associated with a particular consumer, data representing a plurality of consumer-selected coupons, an expiration date for redemption of said consumer-selected coupons, a plurality of redemption numbers representing the number of times respective coupons may be redeemed prior to said expiration date, and a consumer-selected vendor name;
means for storing respective account data on a respective portable coupon card;
a host computer connected to said first database and connected to a computer network;
a vendor computer connected to said computer network and adapted to communicate with said host computer for receiving account data of a particular account for which said consumer-selected vendor name is associated with said vendor computer;
a second database of information related to a plurality of vendor products, said vendor product information including at least a price and inventory information related to each vendor product;
wherein said vendor computer is electronically connected to said second database;
means electrically connected to said vendor computer for reading said account data stored on said respective portable coupon card; and
means electrically connected to said vendor computer for identifying a particular vendor product selected by a consumer for purchase, said vendor computer adapted to modify said inventory information in said second database based on a sale of said particular product and to calculate a final purchase price of said particular product based on said account data read from said respective portable coupon card. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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14. A transaction instrument, comprising:
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a generally rectangular card having an alphanumeric identification code imprinted on a first side thereof and a plurality of product identifiers imprinted on said first side, said plurality of product identifiers representing a plurality of consumer-selected coupons; and
a magnetic strip on a second side of said card, said magnetic strip adapted to store data representing at least said plurality of consumer-selected coupons and said personal identification number.
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Specification