Method and Apparatus for Coupon Management and Redemption
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for the electronic management and redemption of coupons. The system incudes an integrated coupon card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, a scanner, and a communications port. The coupon card is capable of scanning coupon bar codes from paper coupons and receiving redemption requirement data from a periphery device. The coupon card will allow bar codes and redemption requirement data to be transferred to a periphery device and will store what bar codes were redeemed because they corresponded to purchase data received from a cash register memory. The system further incudes one or more periphery devices having a microprocessor, a first communications port for communicating with said coupon card, and a second communications port for communicating with a cash register. The periphery devices receive purchase data from a cash register memory and compare said purchase data to coupon bar codes received from a coupon card in order to determine which coupons are redeemable. The system also incudes a server computer which will be connected to the periphery devices. The server computer will collect redeemed coupon information from the periphery devices and also provide the periphery devices with information such redemption requirement data or coupons which may be loaded onto a coupon card. A clearing house will collect coupon redemption information from all servers in the system to create redemption reports. The clearing house allows redemption requirement data and other information to be transferred through the servers to individual periphery devices and/or coupon cards.
163 Citations
61 Claims
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1-41. -41. (canceled)
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42. An integrated data card to enable receiving of coupon data for subsequent transmittal to a periphery device containing purchase data from a cash register, said data card comprising:
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a. a microprocessor;
b. a random access memory;
c. a coupon data receiver; and
d. a communications port for receiving redemption requirement data associated with said coupon data from a periphery device;
wherein said microprocessor, said random access memory, said receiver, and said communications port are operatively connected and can communicate with said periphery device;
to permit said coupon data acquired by said receiver and redemption requirement data received from said periphery device through said communications port to be stored in said random access memory means;
wherein coupon data from said data card and purchase data from said periphery device are compared and said microprocessor determines what coupon data corresponds with said purchase data; and
wherein said data card has a plurality of operational keys and programming allowing arrangement of coupon records in selective sub-groups. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method to enable easy recording and storage of coupon data in a data card and the subsequent transmittal to and display of coupon records containing said coupon data in a periphery device, said data card being an integrated data card having a microprocessor, a random access memory, a receiver for acquiring coupon data, and a communications device for receiving coupon redemption requirement data from said periphery device, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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a. acquiring coupon data via said receiver, b. said data card communicating with said periphery device to allow said periphery device to read what coupon data was recorded in said random access memory of said data card, c. transmitting from said periphery device through said communications device to said random access memory of said data card updated coupon redemption requirement data received from a database located remotely from a store wherein said periphery is located, d. comparing the read coupon data to purchase data from a cash register to determine what credits should be recorded by said periphery device, and e. recording in said random access memory of said data card that coupon data used to record credits by said periphery device. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. A system for the electronic storage and redemption of coupons, comprising:
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a. an integrated data card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, and a communications device;
wherein said data card is capable of receiving coupon data and redemption requirement data;
transmitting coupon data and redemption requirement data to a periphery device; and
storing what coupon data corresponds to purchase data received from a cash register memory;
b. a periphery device comprising;
i. a microprocessor and a first communications device communicating with said data card, wherein said periphery device receives purchase data from a cash register memory and compares said purchase data to coupon data received from said data card; and
ii. a display screen and a plurality of operational keys allowing selective manipulation of individual coupons prior to said coupons being applied to a sale of goods.
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- 55. A system according to claim 55, further comprising a server computer which receives redeemed coupon data from said periphery device.
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56. A system according to claim 56, further comprising a clearinghouse that receives redeemed coupon data from said server computer.
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57. A system according to claim 57, wherein said clearinghouse receives redeemed coupon data from a plurality of local server computers and compiles payment and marketing data in formats useful to business entities.
Specification