Couponing system
First Claim
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1. A method of offering coupons through a couponing system to a consumer at a point of sale, such method comprising the steps of:
- detecting entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale;
searching a database using the identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with a predetermined card;
calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the predetermined card; and
displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the predetermined card and which calculated discount is not applicable with competing cards.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for a method of offering coupons to a consumer at a point of sale. The method includes the steps of detecting entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale, searching a database to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item when used with a predetermined credit card and calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the predetermined credit card; and displaying the calculated discount to the consumer.
45 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of offering coupons through a couponing system to a consumer at a point of sale, such method comprising the steps of:
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detecting entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale;
searching a database using the identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with a predetermined card;
calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the predetermined card; and
displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the predetermined card and which calculated discount is not applicable with competing cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for offering coupons through a couponing system sponsored by a card company to a consumer at a point of sale where the point of sale accepts a card provided by the sponsoring card company, such apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale;
means for searching a database using the detected identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with the card provided by the sponsoring card company;
means for calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the card; and
means for displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the card provided by the sponsoring card company and which is not applicable with competing cards. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for offering coupons through a couponing system sponsored by a bank card company to a consumer at a point of sale where the point of sale accepts a bank card, such apparatus comprising:
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a point of sale terminal adapted to detect entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale;
a database adapted to identify a coupon based upon the detected identifier of the item and that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with the bank card;
a discount processor adapted to calculate a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the bank card; and
a display for displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the bank card and which calculated discount is not applicable with other bank cards. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification