SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS COUPON TRANSACTIONS

• US 20080003987A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COM Investments LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eagle River Holdings LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Mechaley, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A system and method for delivering coupon messages to a consumer wireless device utilizes a fixed communication device that functions as a base station for the consumer wireless device. The fixed communication device has limited coverage zone. When the consumer wireless device comes within the coverage zone of the fixed communication device, the consumer wireless device selects the fixed communication device as the preferred base station. Upon completion of registration, the fixed communication device transmits one or more coupon messages to the consumer wireless device. The consumer may enter the associated retail establishment and complete a transaction using the received coupon message. The consumer wireless device may be viewed manually, or the display scanned or read electronically to accept the coupon message in the retail establishment.

Claims

1. A retail coupon system for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area networks, the system comprising:

a retail facility open to consumers;

a transmitter associated with the retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the transceiver configured to have a limited transmission range on licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to a consumer wireless device;

a receiver to receive data communications from the consumer wireless device;

an antenna operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver; and

a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to detect when the consumer wireless device is within range of the transmitter, and upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the transmitter, the controller being configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a coupon message to the consumer wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a printing device located within the retail facility.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scanning device located within the retail facility.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupon message includes unique identification data.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupon message includes symbology data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupon message includes coupon expiration data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured for two-way communication with the consumer wireless device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the receiver is configured to receive an acknowledgement message from with the consumer wireless device to confirm receipt of the coupon message by the consumer wireless device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the coupon message to the consumer wireless device using a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured to communicate with a computer network external to the retail facility.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured to communicate with a computer network within the retail facility.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data storage structure configured to store data identifying the consumer wireless device and the coupon message transmitted to the consumer wireless device.

13. A retail coupon redemption method for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area networks, the method comprising:

detecting when a consumer wireless device moves within communication range of a fixed communication device associated with a retail facility open to consumers;

upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the fixed communication device, transmitting a coupon message to the consumer wireless device;

receiving the coupon message at the consumer wireless device; and

displaying the received coupon message.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing the received coupon message in the consumer wireless device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising redeeming the coupon message within the retail facility.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein redeeming the coupon message comprises printing the coupon message at the retail facility.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein redeeming the coupon message comprises scanning a display of the consumer wireless device the coupon at the retail facility.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the coupon message includes symbology data.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the coupon message includes coupon expiration data.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement from the consumer wireless device to confirm receipt of the coupon message by the consumer wireless device.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the transmitting the coupon message to the consumer wireless device uses a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing data identifying the consumer wireless device and identifying the coupon message transmitted to the consumer wireless device.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the fixed communication device, querying the stored data to determine whether the coupon message has been previously transmitted to the consumer wireless device; and

transmitting the coupon message to the consumer wireless device only if the coupon message has not been previously transmitted to the consumer wireless device.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a plurality of coupon messages to the consumer wireless device.

25. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting when a consumer wireless device moves within communication range of a fixed communication device associated with a retail facility comprises detecting when a consumer wireless device moves within communication range of a plurality of fixed communication devices associated with a plurality of corresponding retail facilities;

and

upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the plurality of fixed communication devices, transmitting coupon messages from each of the plurality of corresponding retail facilities to the consumer wireless device.

26. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting when a consumer wireless device moves within communication range of a fixed communication device associated with a retail facility comprises detecting when each of a plurality of consumer wireless devices move within communication range of a fixed communication device associated with a retail facility;

and

upon detection that each of the plurality of consumer wireless devices is within range of the fixed communication device, transmitting a coupon message from the retail facility to each of the plurality of consumer wireless devices.

27. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the fixed communication device, sending an authorization request to obtain authorization to transmit the coupon message to consumer wireless device; and

transmitting the coupon message to the consumer wireless device only upon receipt of the authorization.

28. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating with a computer network to obtain data related to the coupon message.