Electronic coupon creation deployment, transference, validation management, clearance, redemption and reporting system and interactive participation of individuals and groups within the system

• US 20110029363A1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Astorenearme, Inc.
• Inventors: Fornari, James Daniel, Gillenson, Amy
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.15
• 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 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0216 Investment accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/90 Financial instruments for climate change mitigation, e.g. environmental taxes, subsidies or financing

Abstract

This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion.

Claims

1. A computer implemented, opt-in incentive transaction system comprising:

a. a consumer designated incentive receiving device;

b. an incentive comprising at least a plurality of redemptive action requirements wherein one requirement is a transaction;

c. at least one processor for processing the incentive;

c. at least one storage device for storing processor-executable instructions;

d. means for controlling the at least one processor to execute the instructions and to deliver the incentive to the consumer incentive receiving device;

e. means for receiving data from a point-of-sale device reporting the transaction associated with the incentive;

f. means for comparing the transaction and redemptive action with the redemptive action requirements and determining whether the redemptive action requirements have been satisfied;

g. means for transmitting confirmation to the consumer of the satisfaction of the redemptive action requirements; and

,

h. means for transmitting the incentive in accordance with the consumer'"'"'s instruction.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an opt-in registration module.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising communication means for transmitting at least one item of consumer transaction data to a second receiving device.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising communication means for transmitting at least one item of consumer transaction data to at least one user of a social networking application.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising selection means to permit the consumer to select the at least one user of the social networking application.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising communication means for transmitting at least one item of consumer transaction data between users of a social networking application.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising selection means to permit the consumer to select the users of the social networking application.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one processor for determining what activity is undertaken by at least one user of a social networking application in response to receipt of at least one item of consumer transaction data and processing said activity for possible application to the processor-executable instructions.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transaction is a purchase.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a redemption action requirement is the use of a financial network identifier.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the financial system identifier is a magnetically readable strip.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the financial system identifier is a credit card.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the financial system identifier is a debit card.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the financial system identifier is a reward card.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the incentive receiving device is a mobile device.

16. The system of claim 2 herein the opt-in registration module is a consumer aggregator.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to receive consumer requests for an incentive.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising processor control means configured to transmit the incentive requested by the consumer.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising processor control means configured to transmit an incentive determined by the system to be within predetermined rules relating to the requested incentive.

20. The system of claim 1 in which the processor-executable instructions include at least one predetermined rule relating to the transmission of incentives.

21. The system of claim 1 in which the processor-executable instructions include a series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives.

22. The system of claim 21 in which the predetermined rules may be adapted in relation to data received by the system.

23. The system of claim 22 in which the data received by the system comprises statistical data related to a consumer.

24. The system of claim 22 in which the data received by the system comprises statistical data related to consumers.

25. The system of claim 22 in which the data received by the system comprises statistical data related to redemptive actions undertaken by consumers.

26. The system of claim 22 in which the data received by the system comprises statistical data related to the frequency of actions undertaken by consumers.

28. The system of claim 6 in which the data received by the system comprises statistical data related to contacts between the users of the social networking application.

29. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives includes at least one rule related to location of the consumer.

30. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives includes at least one rule related to the incentive redemption location.

31. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives includes at least one rule related to inventory.

32. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives includes at least one rule related to SKU information.

33. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives includes at least one rule related to UPC information.

34. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives may be modified.

35. The system of claim 21 in which the series of predetermined rules relating to the transmission of incentives may include a plurality of rules relating to the same parameter.

36. The system of claim 1 in which the delivery of the incentive is conditional upon a consumer opting in to the system.