SYSTEM FOR IN-STORE COUPON DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION

• US 20110082729A1
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Green Virtual Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Green Virtual Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Carvallo, Jesus, Salazar, Raul A.
• Application Number:
  US12/575,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• 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 30/0258 Registration

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing of electronic coupons are disclosed. A plurality of touch screen devices are deployed in aisles of a store. The touch screen devices display coupons for products located in the corresponding aisles after administration devices detect the presence of a registered user in an aisle. The touch screen device accepts selection of coupons and the selections are uploaded to a main server. A point-of-sale administration device detects the presence of a registered user and downloads the pre-selected coupons from main servicer for redemption.

Claims

1. A method for processing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:

accepting a selection by a registered user of an electronic coupon associated with a particular product;

creating a record including data identifying said registered user and the selected electronic coupon; and

transmitting said record to a main server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a mobile device identification associated with the user; and

verifying user registration based on the mobile device identification;

wherein the step of creating a record further comprises using the mobile device identification as the data identifying said registered user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting a mobile device identification comprises receiving over a Bluetooth interface a code identifying the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection by a registered user is entered through a touch screen device in a store.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a record is carried out by a data administration device in a store.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said data administration device is adapted to include a wireless Bluetooth interface.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of alerting the registered user through an audible sound emitted after the mobile device identification has been detected.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of placing a display device in an aisle within a store and displaying an image corresponding to an electronic coupon for a product in that aisle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving user registration information, including receiving mobile device identification information through a Bluetooth discovery process.

10. A method for processing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:

accepting a selection by a registered user of an electronic coupon associated with a particular product;

creating a record including data identifying said registered user and the selected electronic coupon; and

transmitting said record to a mobile device corresponding to the registered user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting said record to a mobile device comprises transmitting the record over a Bluetooth interface.

12. A method for processing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:

verifying the identification of a registered user at a point-of-sale;

retrieving from a store server data corresponding to an electronic coupon pre-selected by the registered user; and

redeeming the pre-selected coupon if a particular product is presented at the point-of-sale.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of verifying the identification of a registered user comprises at least one of the following:

detecting identification information from a mobile device corresponding to the user;

reading an identification from an RFID tag;

or

reading identification information from a magnetic strip.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of redeeming the selected coupon comprises at least one of the following:

retrieving a record with coupon and customer data from a data administration device;

scanning a coupon displayed on an data administration device;

or

scanning a coupon displayed on a mobile device corresponding to the user.

15. A method for processing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:

creating coupon data files for distribution to a plurality of remote computing devices in a store;

creating a subset of the coupon data files based on predetermined criteria;

transmitting said subset of the coupon data files to at least one remote server in a store;

receiving from the at least one remote server a report of electronic coupon redemptions per customer;

reorganizing data in the report based on the manufacturer of products associated with redeemed coupons; and

creating a report of coupon redemptions per manufacturer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said predetermined criteria comprises consumer demographics.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising printing the report on special security paper.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising encrypting the report and transmitting the encrypted report to the manufacturer.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the report to the manufacturer through an encrypting connection.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising receipt of confirmation that manufacturer has received the encrypted report.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising receipt of confirmation that manufacturer has received the encrypted report.

22. A system for processing electronic coupons comprising:

a plurality of display devices for displaying coupon information to customers;

a plurality of input devices for customer data entry;

a plurality of data administration devices connected to the plurality of display devices and input devices for processing user selection of coupons and storing coupon information displayed;

a point-of-sale device for redeeming coupons, said point-of-sale device being connected to a point-of-sale administration device; and

a main server for exchanging coupon and customer data with the plurality of data administration devices and with the point-of-sale administration device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one data administration device includes a radio receiver for identifying a mobile device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one display device is a touch screen device and the touch screen functions as one of the plurality of input devices.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the input devices incorporates an antenna for detection of a mobile device.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the point-of-sale administration device includes a screen for displaying electronic coupons.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the point-of-sale device includes a scanner.

28. A method for processing electronic coupons comprising the steps of:

detecting removal of a product from a bin;

displaying promotions of other products in the same bin;

detecting whether one of said other products has been removed from the bin;

detecting a mobile identification number corresponding to a user removing the products from the bin;

creating an electronic coupon and associating said electronic coupon with said removed products; and

transmitting a record with said electronic coupon and customer data to a main server.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of detecting whether one of said products has been removed comprises reading an RFID tag associated with the one of said products.