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METHOD OF VALIDATING A DISCOUNT OFFER

  • US 20110093323A1
  • Filed: 10/20/2009
  • Published: 04/21/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method of validating a discount offer on a product, comprising:

  • obtaining discount information from a coupon at a dispenser adapted to dispense the product, the dispenser located at a first location, wherein the discount information includes a unique discount identifier and a discount amount;

    sending the discount information to a local controller located at the first location, said local controller adapted to control the dispenser, wherein the local controller includes a local database adapted to store identifiers associated with previously redeemed coupons;

    attempting to communicate with a central system to validate the coupon;

    in response to the attempting to communicate being unsuccessful, attempting to locate the unique discount identifier in the local database to determine whether the coupon has been redeemed;

    in response to the attempting to locate revealing that the unique discount identifier has not been redeemed, sending a message to the dispenser to approve the discount offer;

    reducing an amount charged to the customer by the discount amount; and

    adding the redeemed unique discount identifier to the local database.

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