INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC COUPONS

• US 20080065490A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Team Digital Consulting LLC
• Inventors: Novick, Walter, Brinkley, Brian, Relf, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,076,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A networked electronic coupon management system is disclosed for managing electronic coupons. The system includes tightly integrated database, application server, and client components facilitating performing electronic coupon definition, issuance, and redemption operations. The operations include creating electronic coupons, wherein each electronic coupon includes a unique coupon ID, creating customer accounts, wherein each customer account comprises a unique customer ID; creating manufacturer accounts, wherein each manufacturer account comprises a Unique ID; and creating retailer accounts, wherein each retailer account comprises a unique retailer ID; and assigning a unique electronic coupon ID to a unique customer ID. Thereafter the system validates the electronic coupon with a product purchase transaction by a customer associated with the unique customer ID. Furthermore, funds transfers associated with the product purchase transaction are tracked, and historical transactional level data is maintained for all customer, manufacturer and retailer accounts.

Claims

1. A system for managing electronic coupons including components, comprising computer executable instructions within a computer-readable medium for:

creating electronic coupons, wherein each electronic coupon includes a unique coupon ID;

creating customer accounts, wherein each customer account comprises a unique customer ID;

creating manufacturer accounts, wherein each manufacturer account comprises a Unique ID;

creating retailer accounts, wherein each retailer account comprises a unique retailer ID;

assigning a unique electronic coupon ID to a unique customer ID;

validating the electronic coupon with a product purchase transaction by a customer associated with the unique customer ID;

tracking funds transfer associated with the product purchase transaction; and

maintaining historical transactional level data for all customer, manufacturer and retailer accounts.