COUPON CARD GENERATION WEB SERVICE
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a web service;
a selection from a web browser of at least one electronic coupon from a database having a plurality of said electronic coupons each;
being associated with a sponsor account issued to a sponsor of a discount by an issuer; and
for being receivable by a merchant to give the discount on a purchase, wherein the discount is to be debited from the sponsor account and credited to a merchant account issued by another said issuer to the merchant to reimburse the merchant for the discount;
anda specification including;
a rendering capability of a client executing the web browser for rendering a hard copy of the at least one said electronic coupon using a first peripheral device with which the client is in communication;
a type of a portable coupon device, associated with a consumer account issued by another said issuer, and acceptable as payment for a future said purchase to be made on the consumer account;
andan identifier for the consumer account to be debited for the payment for the future said purchase less the discount;
retrieving, from the database;
a rendering image corresponding to the rendering capabilities of the first peripheral device for the hard copy;
a memory location to store discount information in a memory of the type of the portable coupon device; and
the discount information including an identifier for;
the sponsor account;
the discount amount; and
the purchase that is eligible for the discount from the merchant and including at least one of a good and a service;
andtransmitting to the web browser, via the web service, the rendering image, the memory location, and the discount information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is presented where, at a web service, a selection of an electronic coupon from a database is received from a web browser. The electronic coupon is associated with the account of the electronic coupon sponsor and is receivable by a merchant for a discount which is debited from the sponsor'"'"'s account and credited to the merchant'"'"'s account. A specification is then received that includes the rendering capability of the client, a type of portable coupon device associated with a consumer account and acceptable as payment for a future purchase, and an identifier of the consumer account. Next, a rendering image, a location to store the discount information in the memory of the type of the portable coupon device, and the discount information is retrieved from the database. Finally, the web browser transmits, via the web service, the rendering image, memory location, and discount information.
74 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving at a web service; a selection from a web browser of at least one electronic coupon from a database having a plurality of said electronic coupons each; being associated with a sponsor account issued to a sponsor of a discount by an issuer; and for being receivable by a merchant to give the discount on a purchase, wherein the discount is to be debited from the sponsor account and credited to a merchant account issued by another said issuer to the merchant to reimburse the merchant for the discount; and a specification including; a rendering capability of a client executing the web browser for rendering a hard copy of the at least one said electronic coupon using a first peripheral device with which the client is in communication; a type of a portable coupon device, associated with a consumer account issued by another said issuer, and acceptable as payment for a future said purchase to be made on the consumer account; and an identifier for the consumer account to be debited for the payment for the future said purchase less the discount; retrieving, from the database; a rendering image corresponding to the rendering capabilities of the first peripheral device for the hard copy; a memory location to store discount information in a memory of the type of the portable coupon device; and the discount information including an identifier for; the sponsor account; the discount amount; and the purchase that is eligible for the discount from the merchant and including at least one of a good and a service; and transmitting to the web browser, via the web service, the rendering image, the memory location, and the discount information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code disposed therein, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
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receiving at a web service; a selection from a web browser of at least one electronic coupon from a database having a plurality of said electronic coupons each; being associated with a sponsor account issued to a sponsor of a discount by an issuer; and for being receivable by a merchant to give the discount on a purchase, wherein the discount is to be debited from the sponsor account and credited to a merchant account issued by another said issuer to the merchant to reimburse the merchant for the discount; and a specification including; a rendering capability of a client executing the web browser for rendering a hard copy of the at least one said electronic coupon using a first peripheral device with which the client is in communication; a type of a portable coupon device, associated with a consumer account issued by another said issuer, and acceptable as payment for a future said purchase to be made on the consumer account; and an identifier for the consumer account to be debited for the payment for the future said purchase less the discount; retrieving, from the database; a rendering image corresponding to the rendering capabilities of the first peripheral device for the hard copy; a memory location to store discount information in a memory of the type of the portable coupon device; and the discount information including an identifier for; the sponsor account; the discount amount; and the purchase that is eligible for the discount from the merchant and including at least one of a good and a service; and transmitting to the web browser, via the web service, the rendering image, the memory location, and the discount information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a web service capable of receiving; a selection from a web browser of at least one electronic coupon from a database having a plurality of said electronic coupons each; being associated with a sponsor account issued to a sponsor of a discount by an issuer; and for being receivable by a merchant to give the discount on a purchase, wherein the discount is to be debited from the sponsor account and credited to a merchant account issued by another said issuer to the merchant to reimburse the merchant for the discount; and a specification including; a rendering capability of a client executing the web browser for rendering a hard copy of the at least one said electronic coupon on using a first peripheral device with which the client is in communication; a type of a portable coupon device, associated with a consumer account issued by another said issuer, and acceptable as payment for a future said purchase to be made on the consumer account; and an identifier for the consumer account to be debited for the payment for the future said purchase less the discount; the database having stored therein; a rendering image corresponding to the rendering capabilities of the first peripheral device for the hard copy; a memory location to store discount information in a memory of the type of the portable coupon device; and the discount information including an identifier for; the sponsor account; the discount amount; and the purchase that is eligible for the discount from the merchant and including at least one of a good and a service; and a means for transmitting to the web browser, via the web service, the rendering image, the memory location, and the discount information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification