Online coupon distribution system and method

• US 20110276373A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marjorie Juszczak, Nicholas Juszczak
• Original Assignee: Marjorie Juszczak, Nicholas Juszczak
• Inventors: Juszczak, Nicholas, Campion, Judith, Juszczak, Marjorie
• Application Number:
  US12/662,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276373A1
• 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 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees

Abstract

The online coupon distribution system and method distributes discount coupons through a website. The website is designed and constructed to include a “trifold” process that blends discount coupon purchasing with cost effective advertising and charitable contributions into a powerful web presence. The process is called cooperative couponing. The system sells coupons and allocates generated revenue among merchants, a website principal, and a designated charity. The website identifies local merchants in a geographic area. Coupons are electronically distributed on a daily basis. The website features target goal coupons, two subsidiary coupons providing discounts, and five additional weekly merchant coupons strategically placed on the website. The website permits website users to designate a charitable contribution to a charity of their choice based on their coupon purchase.

Claims

9-1. The online coupon distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising means for sending deal updates to customers via content updating of said e-commerce website.

12. A computer-implemented online coupon distribution method, comprising the steps of:

storing coupons to be sold on an e-commerce website;

registering coupon customers of the e-commerce website;

allowing registered coupon customers to purchase the coupons from the e-commerce website; and

automatically distributing proceeds from the purchase of coupons to a principal of the e-commerce website, merchants associated with the coupons, and a charitable entity, the proceeds distribution being allocated according to a predetermined allocation formula.

13. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of accepting customer selection of said charitable entity.

14. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

registering said merchants associated with said coupons; and

identifying a geographic area in which said merchants operate.

15. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of electronically distributing, on a daily basis, a first plurality of target goal coupons, a second plurality of subsidiary discount coupons, and a third plurality of additional weekly merchant coupons strategically located on said e-commerce website.

16. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, wherein a first predetermined number of coupon offers is made available for one day only and a second predetermined number of coupon offers is made available for one week.

17. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, wherein said e-commerce website builds and expands e-mail targeted subscriptions within designated geographical areas.

18. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of paying daily coupon merchants on a daily basis, and paying weekly coupon merchants on a weekly basis.

19. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method, according to claim 12, further comprising the step of sending deal updates to customers via daily emails, RSS feed updates, social networking messages, microblogging services, content updating of said e-commerce website, and content pushing to mobile devices of said customers.

20. The computer-implemented online coupon distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

offering metrics tools allowing merchants to specify reports analyzing effectiveness of their coupons and obtaining more information about their customers; and

offering metrics tools allowing charitable organizations to see the kinds of coupons generating donations to the charitable organization.