Method and apparatus for electronic message (coupon) distribution
First Claim
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1. An electronic coupon system including:
- a vendor coupon database for storing unique coupon identifiers for a plurality of coupons;
means for comparing the identifier of a coupon presented on a cell phone for redemption with the coupon identifiers in the coupon database to provide an output based on the comparison results; and
means responsive to the output of the comparing means for accepting or rejecting a presented coupon.
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Abstract
A system and method for creating and retrieving coupons using an electronic coupon database includes registering coupons with the database by a vendor, and then registering cell phones, also with the database; so that cell phones subsequently can request coupons from the database. The coupons are encrypted and sent to the requesting registered cell phone, which then decrypts the coupons for display and redemption at a point of sale. Provision is made to prevent the transfer of coupons from the requesting cell phone to some other cell phone in the system.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic coupon system including:
- a vendor coupon database for storing unique coupon identifiers for a plurality of coupons;
means for comparing the identifier of a coupon presented on a cell phone for redemption with the coupon identifiers in the coupon database to provide an output based on the comparison results; and
means responsive to the output of the comparing means for accepting or rejecting a presented coupon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a vendor coupon database for storing unique coupon identifiers for a plurality of coupons;
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10. A coupon retrieval system including in combination:
- means for registering a cell phone in a system database;
means for registering vendor information and coupon information in the system database;
means for supplying a coupon from the database to a registered cell phone user upon request initiated by the cell phone user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- means for registering a cell phone in a system database;
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16. A coupon retrieval system including in combination:
- a coupon delivery source;
a cell phone registered with the coupon delivery source and having a unique identification number associated with coupons to be received thereby from the coupon delivery source. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- a coupon delivery source;
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18. A method for creating and retrieving coupons including establishing a coupon database;
- supplying coupon information for coupons to be redeemed from the coupon database by a vendor;
registering cell phones with the coupon database for enabling registered cell phones subsequently to obtain coupons from the database;
providing registered cell phones with unique decryption codes;
supplying encrypted coupon information to a registered cell phone upon request for such a coupon from the registered cell phone to the coupon database;
encrypting the coupon information with the unique encryption code for the requesting cell phone; and
decrypting a received requested coupon at the registered cell phone for subsequent presentation and redemption. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
- supplying coupon information for coupons to be redeemed from the coupon database by a vendor;
Specification