Coupon rebate business method using portable presonal communication devices

• US 20030220839A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin Khang Nguyen
• Original Assignee: Martin Khang Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Martin Khang
• Application Number:
  US10/461,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A shopping method for receiving purchase discounts including subscribing to a discount purchase service, receiving consumer coupon discount information from the discount purchase service using at least one of a public telephone network and the Internet; purchasing an item having a coupon discount according to the coupon discount information; and receiving a discount as specified by the coupon discount information.

Claims

1. A shopping method for receiving purchase discounts comprising the steps of:

subscribing to a discount purchase service;

receiving consumer coupon discount information from the discount purchase service using at least one of a public telephone network and the Internet;

purchasing an item having a coupon discount according to the coupon discount information; and

receiving a discount as specified by the coupon discount information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the discount is received during the purchase, at a point of purchase, as a reduction in purchase price.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the discount is received after the purchase, as a rebate, from the discount purchase service, the discount purchase service receiving a refund of an amount equal to the rebate plus a service fee from a manufacturer of the item purchased.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the discount is received after the purchase, as a rebate, from the manufacturer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer coupon discount information is received in a wireless communications device from the discount purchase service and further comprising wireless communication of the coupon discount information and purchaser information at a point of purchase to enable the coupon discount.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless communication device is one of a cell phone, pager and PDA.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the consumer coupon discount information appears as a facsimile of a printed coupon on a display of the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer coupon discount information is received in a smart card using a card reader/writer, from the discount purchase service and further comprising card-swipe communication of the coupon discount information and purchaser information at a point of purchase to enable the coupon discount.