SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING COUPONS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing incentives via an electronic network, the method comprising:
- receiving, over the electronic network, confirmation from a user indicating the user'"'"'s acceptance of an incentive transmitted to the user over the electronic network, the incentive including a discount associated with one or more products or services offered by a retailer;
receiving, over the electronic network, a request from the user to purchase at least one of the one or more products or services associated with the discount; and
,providing, over the electronic network, the user with an option of
1) applying the incentive towards the purchase of the at least one product or service selected by the user or
2) saving the incentive for another purchase.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for tracking and managing the distribution, activation, and redemption of online coupons are provided. In one aspect, the online coupon may be transmitted to one or more users as an electronic mail (“email”) coupon. A user may then act upon the online coupon to view, activate and redeem the incentive offered by the coupon. A user'"'"'s actions in response to the online coupon, such as the viewing actions, activation actions, and redemption actions, may be tracked and managed to reduce the possibility of fraud or misuse, and to identify the efficacy of the incentives offered by the coupon.
45 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for processing incentives via an electronic network, the method comprising:
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receiving, over the electronic network, confirmation from a user indicating the user'"'"'s acceptance of an incentive transmitted to the user over the electronic network, the incentive including a discount associated with one or more products or services offered by a retailer; receiving, over the electronic network, a request from the user to purchase at least one of the one or more products or services associated with the discount; and
,providing, over the electronic network, the user with an option of
1) applying the incentive towards the purchase of the at least one product or service selected by the user or
2) saving the incentive for another purchase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for activation and redemption of online coupons, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication that an online coupon transmitted to the user over a network has been viewed by the user; activating, with a processor, the online coupon in response to receiving an activation request over the network, the online coupon being activated in association with an electronic address of the user; and
,receiving, over the network, a request for purchase of one or more items selected by the user, and providing an option, but not a requirement, to the user to redeem the activated online coupon towards the purchase of one or more eligible items in the one or more items selected for purchase by the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor for processing coupons, the instructions, when executed by a processor, configuring the processor to:
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receive confirmation from a user indicating the user'"'"'s acceptance of an coupon transmitted to an electronic address of the user, the coupon including a discount associated with one or more items sold by a retailer; activate the coupon in association with the electronic address of the user in response to receiving the confirmation, and notify the user at the electronic address that the coupon has been activated; receive a request from the user to purchase a selected one of the one or more items sold by the retailer in association with the electronic address of the user; and
,provide the user with a first option to purchase the selected item using a payment method selected by the user and a second option to apply the coupon towards the purchase of the selected item. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification