Method and system for providing rebates
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for distributing rebate forms, the method comprising steps of:
- detecting an identification code of a product at a point-of-sale;
accessing, based upon said identification code, rebate information for one or more rebate programs;
determining from the rebate information for one or more rebate programs whether said product has an associated rebate program; and
printing out the rebate form at the point-of-sale for the associated rebate program of said product;
wherein the rebate form serves as a proof-of-purchase for said product.
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Abstract
A method and system for distributing rebate forms at a point-of-sale (S204) of product. Information regarding rebate offers is kept in a database (S206), and retrieved at the time of a sale (S226) for use in printing a rebate form (S232) for the product. Rebate forms for more than one product may be printed on the same form.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for distributing rebate forms, the method comprising steps of:
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detecting an identification code of a product at a point-of-sale;
accessing, based upon said identification code, rebate information for one or more rebate programs;
determining from the rebate information for one or more rebate programs whether said product has an associated rebate program; and
printing out the rebate form at the point-of-sale for the associated rebate program of said product;
wherein the rebate form serves as a proof-of-purchase for said product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for distributing rebate forms at a checkout stand, the apparatus comprising steps of:
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a scanner at the checkout stand for detecting an identification code of a product;
a rebate information database in communication with the checkout stand, said rebate information database containing information of an associated rebate program for the product; and
a printer at the checkout stand for printing out the rebate form for the associated rebate program of said product;
wherein the rebate form serves as a proof-of-purchase for said product.
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17. A method of providing rebate forms at a point-of-sale of a product, the method comprising steps of:
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establishing a communication link between an information system of a retail store and a rebate clearinghouse;
storing information about a rebate program for said product in a database of said retail store;
configuring an information system of said retail store to print the rebate forms for said rebate program;
printing the rebate form at a point-of-sale within said retail store in response to a purchase transaction of the product, the printing of said rebate form being based upon information provided by the information system;
wherein information of the purchase of said product is communicated via the communications link from the retail store to the clearinghouse.
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18. A method for providing a rebate to a customer, the method comprising steps of:
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determining, at a point-of-sale, rebate information for a product having an associated rebate program;
printing out a rebate form at the point-of-sale for the associated rebate program of said product;
receiving, at a clearinghouse, the rebate form from said customer;
machine reading data from said rebate form by the clearinghouse; and
providing the rebate to the customer based upon results of the machine reading data step. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for distributing rebate forms, the method comprising steps of:
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detecting an identification code of a product at a point-of-sale;
accessing, based upon said identification code, rebate information for one or more rebate programs;
determining from the rebate information for one or more rebate programs whether said product has an associated rebate program; and
making the rebate form electronically available to a consumer computer;
wherein the rebate form serves as a proof-of-purchase for said product. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification