Electronic coupon distribution system
First Claim
1. A method of operating an electronic coupon distribution system comprising the steps of:
- collecting user information from a user of a client system indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user without obtaining information sufficient to specifically identify the user;
associating a user ID with the user information at a main server system;
selecting coupons according to the user ID to thereby identify coupons appropriate for the user based on the user'"'"'s demographic characteristics; and
, transmitting the selected coupons from the main server system to the client system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of secure electronic couponing is disclosed which includes a main server system, and a client system interconnected by a distributed computer network, such as the Internet. Coupon data and advertising data are encrypted to thereby reduce the likelihood that such data may be misused, such as by unauthorized duplication. In addition, the client system is identified by a user identification that is allocated and associated with user information collected from the user of the client system. The user information is indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user without being sufficiently personal to specifically identify the user, thus preserving privacy. An icon is provided which, when flashing, alerts the user to the fact that new coupons are available.
150 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operating an electronic coupon distribution system comprising the steps of:
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collecting user information from a user of a client system indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user without obtaining information sufficient to specifically identify the user;
associating a user ID with the user information at a main server system;
selecting coupons according to the user ID to thereby identify coupons appropriate for the user based on the user'"'"'s demographic characteristics; and
,transmitting the selected coupons from the main server system to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A coupon distribution system, comprising:
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means for collecting user information from a user of a remote client system indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user without obtaining information sufficient to specifically identify the user;
means for associating a user ID with the user information at a main server system;
means for selecting coupons according to the user ID to thereby identify coupons appropriate for the user based on the user'"'"'s demographic characteristics; and
,means for transmitting the selected coupons from the server system to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of secure electronic coupon distribution comprising the steps of:
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collecting user information from a user of a client system;
associating a user ID with the user information;
selecting coupons according to the user ID;
encrypting coupon data corresponding to the selected coupons; and
,transmitting the encrypted coupon data from the main server system to the client system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of secure electronic coupon distribution comprising the steps of:
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associating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) including a promotional code with a coupon;
displaying the coupon to a user;
disabling access to the URL by the user; and
,invoking the URL with a browser to thereby enable the user to redeem the coupon. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification