Coupon Codes

• US 20110106593A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Roy
• Application Number:
  US12/916,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving by one or more computer systems information corresponding to a coupon code to be applied to a consultation between a consumer of services and a service provider; verifying by the one or more computer systems a validity of the coupon code by determining that that one or more attributes of the consumer of services match one or more criteria associated with the coupon code; and applying the coupon code to a consultation fee associated with the consultation between the consumer of services and the service provider.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprises:

receiving by one or more computer systems information corresponding to a coupon code to be applied to a consultation between a consumer of services and a service provider;

verifying by the one or more computer systems a validity of the coupon code by determining that that one or more attributes of the consumer of services match one or more criteria associated with the coupon code; and

applying the coupon code to a consultation fee associated with the consultation between the consumer of services and the service provider.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating a medical service with one or more coupon codes; and

receiving a request from the consumer of services to search the one or more coupon codes based on a specific medical service.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

searching the one or more coupon codes based on the specific medical service indicated in the request received from the consumer of services.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from the consumer of services to filter one or more coupon codes based on a date associated with the one or more coupon codes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a message from the consumer of services to activate the coupon code; and

activating the coupon code.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning a dollar value to the coupon code; and

calculating an amount of the consultation fee by subtracting the dollar value of the coupon code from an amount the consumer of services is charged for the consultation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein verifying comprises:

retrieving one or more rules associated with the coupon code, with the one or more rules specifying one or more attributes of a consumer that is eligible to use the coupon code;

retrieving, from a database, information associated with the consumer of services; and

applying the one or more rules to the retrieved information associated with the consumer of services.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the coupon code, one or more services available to the consumer of services at a discounted consultation fee; and

receiving a selection from the consumer of services of at least one service available at the discounted consultation fee.

9. One or more machine-readable media configured to store instructions that are executable by one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

receiving by one or more computer systems information corresponding to a coupon code to be applied to a consultation between a consumer of services and a service provider;

verifying by the one or more computer systems a validity of the coupon code by determining that that one or more attributes of the consumer of services match one or more criteria associated with the coupon code; and

applying the coupon code to a consultation fee associated with the consultation between the consumer of services and the service provider.

10. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

associating a medical service with one or more coupon codes; and

receiving a request from the consumer of services to search the one or more coupon codes based on a specific medical service.

11. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 10, further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

searching the one or more coupon codes based on the specific medical service indicated in the request received from the consumer of services.

12. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

receiving a request from the consumer of services to filter one or more coupon codes based on a date associated with the one or more coupon codes.

13. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

assigning a dollar value to the coupon code; and

calculating an amount of the consultation fee by subtracting the dollar value of the coupon code from an amount the consumer of services is charged for the consultation.

14. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

determining, based on the coupon code, one or more services available to the consumer of services at a discounted consultation fee; and

receiving a selection from the consumer of services of at least one service available at the discounted consultation fee.

15. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processing devices; and

one or more machine-readable media configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising;

receiving by one or more computer systems information corresponding to a coupon code to be applied to a consultation between a consumer of services and a service provider;

verifying by the one or more computer systems a validity of the coupon code by determining that that one or more attributes of the consumer of services match one or more criteria associated with the coupon code; and

applying the coupon code to a consultation fee associated with the consultation between the consumer of services and the service provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine-readable media are further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

associating a medical service with one or more coupon codes; and

receiving a request from the consumer of services to search the one or more coupon codes based on a specific medical service.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more machine-readable media are further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

searching the one or more coupon codes based on the specific medical service indicated in the request received from the consumer of services.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine-readable media are further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

receiving a request from the consumer of services to filter one or more coupon codes based on a date associated with the one or more coupon codes.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine-readable media are further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

assigning a dollar value to the coupon code; and

calculating an amount of the consultation fee by subtracting the dollar value of the coupon code from an amount the consumer of services is charged for the consultation.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine-readable media are further configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions comprising:

determining, based on the coupon code, one or more services available to the consumer of services at a discounted consultation fee; and

receiving a selection from the consumer of services of at least one service available at the discounted consultation fee.