Systems and methods for distributing coupons

• US 20040044573A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul R. Barous
• Original Assignee: Paul R. Barous
• Inventors: Barous, Paul R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,489,681 B2
• 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 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for distributing coupons by a retailer. The coupons distributed in the invention are “third-party” coupons, that is, coupons for goods or services that are unrelated to those of the retailer and offered by a third-party retailer. For example, if the coupons are being distributed by a supermarket, then the coupons may be for tools at a home-improvement store or for tax services by an accountant. The distribution methods of the invention increases the revenue of a retailer. More specifically, a consumer is presented a coupon when the value of the transaction exceeds a threshold. In a number of embodiments, the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer. Accordingly, consumers will be motivated to increase spending so that coupons can be earned. The methods and apparatus of the invention are equally applicable to both “brick and mortar” and “click and mortar” retailing. In the latter, consumers may shop on the Internet and print out coupons during checkout if the threshold for a particular website is met.

Claims

1. A method for distributing third-party coupons by a retailer, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating whether a value of a transaction exceeds a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a coupon when the value of the transaction exceeds the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

increasing the value of the transaction until the value exceeds the threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving a coupon when the value exceeds the threshold.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer.

6. A method for distributing third-party coupons by a retailer, the method comprising:

printing a coupon when a total sale of a transaction exceeds a threshold.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

maintaining a subtotal of the transaction; and

calculating a difference between the subtotal and the threshold.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

enabling the coupon to be selected from a plurality of coupons when the subtotal is greater than the threshold.

10. A check-out system for distributing third-party coupons by a retailer, the system comprising:

a printer; and

a processor connected to the printer for;

calculating a subtotal of a transaction; and

printing a coupon when the subtotal exceeds a threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a secondary monitor for displaying the average sale.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the secondary monitor further displays a plurality of coupons for selection by a consumer.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the servers enables a coupon to be selected from a plurality of coupons prior to printing.

14. A system for distributing third-party coupons by a retailer on the Internet, the Internet including a computer with a monitor and a printer, the system comprising:

a server connected to the computer via the Internet for;

causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed on the monitor;

displaying a threshold in the GUI;

calculating a subtotal of a transaction;

displaying the subtotal in the GUI; and

enabling the computer to print a coupon when the subtotal exceeds the threshold.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the server further:

calculates a difference between the subtotal and the threshold; and

displays the difference in the GUI.

18. A method for increasing revenue for a retail outlet, the method comprising:

distributing a third-party coupon when the value of a transaction exceeds a threshold;

the third-party coupon providing a discount on goods or services offered by a third-party retailer that are unrelated to the goods or services offered by the retail outlet.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the distributing step further comprises:

distributing the third-party coupon when the value of a transaction exceeds the average sale per transaction of the retail outlet.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

selling advertising space to the third-party retailer at the retail outlet.