Electronic coupon distribution and redemption system and method

• US 20040107135A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Quantum Dynamics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Dynamics, LLC
• Inventors: Deatherage, Jennifer, Deatherage, Craig
• Application Number:
  US10/308,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107135A1
• 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 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk

Abstract

A system and method for distributing and redeeming discount coupons electronically. The system includes a card, a card reader, and a coupon data server computer. The card has user identification data stored thereon, and the card reader is operable to read, and transmit, the stored user identification data. The coupon data server computer stores discount coupon data stored that has not been selected by a user of the card, and is in communication with the card reader. The coupon data server computer is operable to receive the user identification data transmitted by the card reader and, in response thereto, to transmit at least a portion of the stored discount coupon data.

Claims

1. A coupon redemption system, comprising:

a card having at least user identification data stored thereon;

a card reader operable to read the user identification data from the card and transmit the user identification data; and

a coupon data server computer having at least discount coupon data stored thereon that has not been selected by a user of the card, the coupon data server computer in communication with the card reader and operable (i) to receive the user identification data transmitted by the card reader and, in response thereto, (ii) to transmit at least a portion of the stored discount coupon data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is further operable to receive the discount coupon data transmitted by the coupon data server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit the discount coupon data received from the coupon data server computer.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to receive the discount coupon data from the card reader.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable (i) to receive the discount coupon data from the card reader and, in response thereto, (ii) to supply purchase discount data.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a product identification processor in communication with the card reader and operable to transmit product identification data representative of one or more products selected for purchase to the card reader.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit the received product identification data for at least those products selected for purchase that are eligible to receive discounts based at least in part on the stored discount coupon data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the product identification processor is further operable to read product identification indicia on the products selected for purchase and generate the product identification data therefrom.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to receive the discount coupon data transmitted by the coupon data server computer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable (i) to receive the discount coupon data from the coupon data server computer and, in response thereto, (ii) to supply purchase discount data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a product identification processor in communication with the card reader and operable to transmit product identification data representative of one or more products selected for purchase to the card reader.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit the received product identification data for at least those products selected for purchase that are eligible to receive discounts based at least in part on the stored discount coupon data.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the product identification processor is further operable to read product identification indicia on the products selected for purchase and generate the product identification data therefrom.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the card reader is coupled to a communications network; and

the user identification data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader transmits the user identification data via radio frequency transmission.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the coupon data server computer is coupled to a communications network; and

the discount coupon data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification data is stored on one or more magnetic strips coupled to the card.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is a smart card having a memory for storing at least the user identification data therein.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification data is stored on the card as bar codes.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more clearinghouse computers coupled to receive at least a portion of the discount coupon data transmitted from the coupon data server computer,

wherein the discount coupon data received by the clearinghouse computers is used to determine reimbursement amounts.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupon data server computer is at least periodically coupled to receive the discount coupon data from one or more manufacturer computers.

22. A coupon selection and redemption system, comprising:

a card having at least user identification data stored thereon;

a first card reader operable to read the user identification data from the card and transmit the user identification data;

a coupon data server computer including at least user-specific discount coupon data stored thereon and operable to transmit the user-specific discount coupon data in response to a user-specific request, the user-specific discount coupon data associated with the user identification data; and

an intermediate client-server computer in communication with the first card reader and the coupon data server computer, the intermediate client-server computer operable to;

(i) transmit the user-specific request to, and receive the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from, the coupon data server computer, and

(ii) receive the user identification data transmitted from the first card reader, and automatically transmit the user-specific discount coupon data received from the coupon data server in response to receiving the user identification data transmitted from the first card reader.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first card reader is further operable to transmit redeemed user-specific discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first card reader is further operable to receive the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted by the intermediate client-server computer.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first card reader is further operable to transmit the user-specific discount coupon data received from the intermediate client-server computer.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to;

(i) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the first card reader; and

(ii) transmit user-specific redeemed discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable (i) to receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the first card reader and, in response thereto, (ii) to supply purchase discount data and thereby generate the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the discount processor is further operable to transmit redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first card reader is further operable to receive the redeemed user-specific redeemed discount coupon data transmitted by the discount processor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein:

the first card reader is further operable to transmit the user-specific redeemed discount coupon data; and

the intermediate client-server computer is further operable to receive the redeemed discount coupon data transmitted from the first card reader.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the intermediate client-server computer is further operable to transmit the redeemed discount coupon data to the coupon data server computer.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a product identification processor operable to read product identification indicia on the products selected for purchase and generate the product identification data therefrom.

33. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to;

(iii) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the intermediate client-server computer; and

(iv) transmit user-specific redeemed discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable (i) to receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data from the intermediate client-server computer and, in response thereto, (ii) to supply purchase discount data and thereby generate the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the intermediate client-server computer is further operable to receive the redeemed discount coupon data transmitted by the checkout system.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the intermediate client-server computer is further operable to transmit the redeemed discount coupon data to the coupon data server computer.

37. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a second card reader in communication with the intermediate client-server computer and operable to read the user identification data from the card and transmit the user identification data to the intermediate client-server computer,

wherein the intermediate client-server computer, in response to receipt of the user identification data from second card reader, transmits the user-specific request to the coupon data server computer.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the intermediate client-server computer includes a second card reader operable to read the user identification data from the card; and

the intermediate server computer is further operable to transmit the user-specific request to the coupon data server in response to the second card reader reading the user identification data from the card.

39. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the first card reader is coupled to a communications network; and

the user identification data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein the first card reader transmits the user identification data via radio frequency transmission.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the coupon data server computer is coupled to a communications network; and

the discount coupon data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

42. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

one or more web pages each having one or more electronic coupons formatted for display on, and selection from, a browser display screen of a client computer.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the user-specific discount coupon data is stored on the coupon data server computer in response to a user selecting one or more of the electronic coupons displayed in the browser display screen.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the one or more web pages are stored on the coupon data server computer.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the one or more web pages are stored on one or more separate server computers.

46. The system of claim 22, wherein the intermediate client-server computer is a stand-alone kiosk.

47. The system of claim 22, wherein the user identification data is stored on one or more magnetic strips coupled to the card.

48. The system of claim 22, wherein the user identification data is stored on the card as bar codes.

49. The system of claim 22, wherein the card is a smart card having a memory for storing at least the user identification data therein.

66. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the coupon data server computer is coupled to a communications network; and

the discount coupon data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

50. A coupon selection and redemption system, comprising:

a card having at least user identification data stored thereon;

a card reader operable to read the user identification data from the card and transmit the user identification data;

a coupon data server computer including at least user-specific discount coupon data stored thereon and operable to (i) receive the transmitted user identification data and (ii), in response thereto, to transmit the user-specific discount coupon data, the user-specific discount coupon data associated with the user identification data.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit redeemed user-specific discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the card reader is further operable to receive the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted by the coupon data server computer.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit the user-specific discount coupon data received from the coupon data server computer.

54. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to;

(i) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the card reader; and

(ii) transmit user-specific redeemed discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable to;

(i) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the card reader; and

(ii) supply purchase discount data, in response to receiving the user-specific discount coupon data, to thereby generate the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the discount processor is further operable to transmit redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first card reader is further operable to receive the redeemed user-specific redeemed discount coupon data transmitted by the discount processor.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein:

the card reader is further operable to transmit the user-specific redeemed discount coupon data; and

the coupon data server computer is further operable to receive the redeemed discount coupon data transmitted from the card reader.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a product identification processor operable to read product identification indicia on the products selected for purchase and generate the product identification data therefrom.

60. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

a checkout system operable to;

(i) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the card reader; and

(ii) transmit user-specific redeemed discount coupon data, the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data representative of electronic coupons that have been redeemed by a user.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the checkout system comprises:

a discount processor operable to (i) receive at least a portion of the user-specific discount coupon data from the card reader and (ii), in response thereto, to supply purchase discount data and thereby generate the redeemed user-specific discount coupon data.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the card reader is further operable to receive the redeemed discount coupon data transmitted by the checkout system.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the card reader is further operable to transmit the redeemed discount coupon data to the coupon data server computer.

64. The system of claim 50, wherein:

the card reader is coupled to a communications network; and

the user identification data is transmitted at least over the communications network.

65. The system of claim 50, wherein the card reader transmits the user identification data via radio frequency transmission.

67. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

one or more web pages each having one or more electronic coupons formatted for display on, and selection from, a browser display screen of a client computer.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the user-specific discount coupon data is stored on the coupon data server computer in response to a user selecting one or more of the electronic coupons displayed in the browser display screen.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the one or more web pages are stored on the coupon data server computer.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the one or more web pages are stored on one or more separate server computers.

71. The system of claim 50, wherein the intermediate client-server computer is a stand-alone kiosk.

72. The system of claim 50, wherein the user identification data is stored on one or more magnetic strips coupled to the card.

73. The system of claim 50, wherein the user identification data is stored on the card as bar codes.

74. The system of claim 50, wherein the card is a smart card having a memory for storing at least the user identification data therein.

75. A method of redeeming coupons electronically, comprising:

storing user identification data on a card;

storing discount coupon data that has not been selected by a user of the card on a coupon data server computer;

reading the user identification data from the card and transmitting the user identification data; and

transmitting at least a portion of the stored discount coupon data from the coupon data server computer in response to the reading of the user identification data.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

identifying products selected for purchase,

wherein the discount coupon data that are transmitted are based at least in part on the products identified.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the discount coupon data that are transmitted are that which are associated with the products identified.

78. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

applying discounts to one or more products selected for purchase based at least in part on the transmitted discount coupon data; and

generating redeemed discount coupon data representative of the discounts the were applied to the one or more selected products.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

transmitting the redeemed discount coupon data to one or more clearinghouse client computers.

80. A method of redeeming coupons electronically, comprising:

storing user identification data on a card;

storing user-specific discount coupon data on a coupon data server computer, the user-specific discount coupon data associated with the user identification data;

transmitting the user-specific discount coupon data from the coupon data server computer to an intermediate computer in response to a request;

reading the stored user-specific identification data from the card; and

transmitting the user-specific discount coupon data from the intermediate computer in response to the reading of the stored user-specific identification data.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

identifying products selected for purchase,

wherein the user-specific discount coupon data that are transmitted from the intermediate computer are based at least in part on the products identified.

84. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

applying discounts to one or more products selected for purchase based at least in part on the user-specific discount coupon data transmitted from the intermediate computer; and

generating redeemed discount coupon data representative of the discounts the were applied to the one or more selected products.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

transmitting the redeemed discount coupon data to one or more clearinghouse client computers.

86. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

transmitting a webpage having one or more electronic coupons displayable in, and selectable from, a client computer browser display screen.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

storing the user-specific discount coupon data in response to a client computer user selecting the one or more electronic coupons displayed on the webpage.

88. The method of claim 80, wherein the request to transmit the user-specific discount coupon data from the coupon data server computer comprises:

reading the stored user-specific identification data from the card using a card reader associated with the intermediate computer.

82. The method of claim 83, wherein the discount coupon data that are transmitted from the intermediate computer are that which are associated with the products identified.