Method and System for Distribution and Use of Coupons

• US 20070162341A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: McConnell, Von, Rayburn, Terry
• Application Number:
  US11/688,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods

Abstract

A method and system for coupon distribution and use. A merchant provisions a coupon with a coupon server, and the coupon server delivers the coupon to a consumer'"'"'s device via SMS, WAP push, e-mail, instant messaging, or in another manner. The consumer then presents the device to a merchant at a point of purchase, to convey the coupon from the consumer'"'"'s device to the merchant for validation and redemption with respect to a sales transaction between the consumer and the merchant. The coupon can be conveyed from the consumer'"'"'s device to the merchant in various ways, such as via radio frequency transmission or reading of the coupon from a display of the device.

Claims

6-1. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the at least one coupon parameter on a display of the subscriber device,

wherein presenting the subscriber device to the merchant so as to convey the at least one coupon parameter to the merchant comprises presenting to the merchant the subscriber device display bearing the displayed at least one coupon parameter.

15. A method of coupon distribution and use comprising, in combination:

sending to a mobile station an SMS message carrying a number of coupon parameters cooperatively defining a coupon;

receiving the SMS message at the mobile station, and displaying the coupon parameters on a display of the mobile station; and

presenting the mobile station display to a merchant so as to convey at least one of the coupon parameters to the merchant, whereby the merchant receives the at least one coupon parameter from the display of the mobile station and uses the at least one coupon parameter in a sales transaction.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the merchant mechanically reading the at least one coupon parameter from display of the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

the merchant signaling with a coupon server to validate and redeem the coupon.

18. A coupon delivery and use method comprising, in combination:

sending a coupon to a mobile station, the coupon defining coupon parameters;

displaying the coupon parameters at the mobile station;

presenting the mobile station with displayed coupon parameters to a merchant; and

the merchant receiving at least a portion of the displayed coupon parameters from the display of the mobile station and sending the at least a portion of the coupon parameters to a coupon server, whereby the coupon server may validate the coupon.

19. A coupon delivery and use method comprising, in combination:

receiving into a merchant'"'"'s system, via a radio frequency interface between the merchant'"'"'s system and a consumer'"'"'s mobile station, a coupon that was transmitted to and received by the mobile station; and

signaling from the merchant system to a coupon server to validate the coupon received by the merchant'"'"'s system, and to redeem the coupon for use in a sales transaction between the consumer and the merchant.

20. The coupon delivery and use method of claim 19, wherein the coupon comprises a plurality of coupon parameters including at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a product or service being promoted, a value of the coupon, an expiration date of the coupon, and at least one merchant to whom the coupon is presentable for redemption.