Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization

• US 20040054590A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Redford, Liane, Mazour, James, Shimko, Bryan, Viswanathan, Rajkumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,060 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 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0227 Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.

Claims

1. A system for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:

a token configured to store an electronic coupon and a redemption tally, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed by a holder of the token for a corresponding reward under the reward program; and

a token acceptance device configured to store a redemption limit relating to the electronic coupon, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed for the corresponding reward under the reward program, the token acceptance device further configured to receive information relating to a transaction from the holder;

wherein the holder indicates to the token acceptance device that the electronic coupon is to be redeemed and applied to the transaction; and

wherein upon receiving indication of redemption of the electronic coupon, the token acceptance device compares the redemption limit to the redemption tally and determines whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed and applied to the transaction.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a reward host configured to allow a reward program sponsor to establish the redemption limit and communicate the redemption limit to the token acceptance device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the redemption limit in response to one or more conditions.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the redemption limit is established based on one or more criteria that are specific to the holder of the token.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein if it is determined that the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed, the token acceptance device updates the redemption tally of the token.

8. A system for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:

a reward host configured to store a redemption limit, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times an electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed for a reward under the reward program; and

a token acceptance device configured to receive the redemption limit from the reward host, the token acceptance device further configured to receive a token, the token having stored thereon a redemption tally, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed by a holder of the token for the reward under the reward program, the token acceptance device also configured to receive information relating to a transaction from the holder;

wherein the holder indicates to the token acceptance device that the electronic coupon is to be redeemed and applied to the transaction; and

wherein upon receiving indication of redemption of the electronic coupon, the token acceptance device compares the redemption limit to the redemption tally and determines whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed and applied to the transaction.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow a reward program sponsor to establish the redemption limit and communicate the redemption limit to the token acceptance device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the redemption limit based on one or more conditions.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the redemption limit is established based on one or more criteria that are specific to the holder of the token.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet (PC), a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein if it is determined that the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed, the token acceptance device updates the redemption tally of the token.

15. A method for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:

retrieving a token image from a token, the token image having an electronic coupon and a redemption tally relating to the electronic coupon, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed for a corresponding reward under the reward program; and

comparing the redemption tally to a redemption limit, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed for the corresponding reward under the reward program.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

storing the redemption limit in a token acceptance device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

allowing a reward program sponsor to establish the redemption limit; and

communicating the redemption limit to the token acceptance device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the redemption limit is established based on one or more criteria that are specific to a holder of the token.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

allowing the reward program sponsor to change the redemption limit based on one or more conditions.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein comparing the redemption tally to the redemption limit further comprises:

determining whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

if it is determined that the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed, updating the redemption tally of the token.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

23. A system for resolving coupon redemption conflicts, comprising:

a token configured to store an electronic coupon redeemable for a corresponding reward under a reward program; and

a token acceptance device configured to receive information relating to a paper-based coupon, the token acceptance device further configured to store a set of rules pertaining to redemption of the electronic coupon and the paper-based coupon, the token acceptance having control logic configured to use the set of rules to determine whether there is a conflict when the electronic coupon and the paper-based coupon are concurrently presented for redemption.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a reward host configured to allow a reward program sponsor to define the set of rules and communicate the set of rules to the token acceptance device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the set of rules in response to one or more conditions.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet (PC), a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein when it is determined that there is a conflict, redemption of either the electronic coupon or the paper-based coupon is deferred.

29. A system for resolving coupon redemption conflicts, comprising:

a reward host configured to store a set of rules pertaining to the redemption of an electronic coupon and a paper-based coupon; and

a token acceptance device configured to receive the set of rules from the reward host, the token acceptance device further configured to receive information relating to the paper-based coupon and a token, the token having stored thereon the electronic coupon;

wherein upon receiving indication that the electronic coupon and the paper-based are concurrently presented for redemption, the token acceptance device uses the set of rules to determine whether the concurrent redemption of the electronic coupon and the paper-based coupon will result in a conflict.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow a reward program sponsor to define the set of rules and communicate the set of rules to the token acceptance device.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the set of rules based on one or more conditions.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein upon determining that there is a conflict, redemption of either the electronic coupon or the paper-based coupon is deferred.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

35. A system for managing coupon redemption and conflict resolution, comprising:

a reward host configured to store a redemption limit and a set of rules pertaining to redemption of an electronic coupon and a paper-based coupon, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed by a holder of the token for a corresponding reward under a reward program; and

a token acceptance device configured to;

receive the redemption limit and the set of rules from the reward host,

receive a token and its associated token image, the token image including the electronic coupon and a redemption tally, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed by the holder, and

receive information relating to the paper-based coupon;

wherein upon receiving indication that the electronic coupon is to be redeemed, the token acceptance device compares the redemption limit and the redemption tally and determines whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed; and

wherein upon receiving indication that the electronic coupon and the paper-based coupon are concurrently presented for redemption, the token acceptance device uses the set of rules to determine whether the concurrent redemption of the electronic coupon and the paper-based will result in a conflict.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow a reward program sponsor to establish the redemption limit and communicate the redemption limit to the token acceptance device.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the redemption limit based on one or more conditions.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the redemption limit is established based on one or more criteria that are specific to the holder of the token.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow a reward program sponsor to define the set of rules and communicate the set of rules to the token acceptance device.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the set of rules based on one or more conditions.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein upon determining that there is a conflict, redemption of either the electronic coupon or the paper-based coupon is deferred.

42. The system of claim 35 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

43. The system of claim 35 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.