METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING COUPONS/PURCHASES BASED ON RADIO FREQUENCY MEMORY TAG DETECTION

• US 20120310720A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Balsan, Damien, Hautala, Ismo Tapio, Ahmed, Zahid N., Selby, Mark, Tolvanen, Tapio Mika Kalevi
• Application Number:
  US13/436,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An approach is provided for processing promotional information for facilitating a point-of-sales transaction via radio frequency (RF) memory tags. A platform causes, at least in part, a capture of promotional information from a radio frequency memory tag associated with a merchant. The tags are placed at locations including a point-of-sales terminal, store entrance or near a poster to facilitate customer access. The platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the promotional information to present one or more offers at a device, and receives an input for selecting at least one of the one or more offers for redemption. In response, the platform causes, at least in part, a validation of the redemption of at least one of the one or more offers. The platform then causes, at least in part, a presentation of the validation at the device for a confirmation by the merchant.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

a capture of promotional information from a radio frequency memory tag associated with a merchant;

a processing of the promotional information to present one or more offers at a device;

an input for selecting at least one of the one or more offers for redemption;

a validation of the redemption of at least one of the one or more offers; and

a presentation of the validation at the device for a confirmation by the merchant.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a generation of location information, a code, an icon, a color, a graphic, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the validation,

wherein the presentation of the validation includes, at least in part, the location information, code, the icon, the color, the graphic, or a combination thereof known to the merchant.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the confirmation by the merchant is based, at least in part, on confirming the code, the icon, the color, the graphic, or a combination thereof with a service.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

an authentication of the radio frequency memory tag,

wherein the redemption is based, at least in part, on the authentication.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

other promotional information stored at the device; and

a comparison of the promotional information and the other promotional information,

wherein the one or more offers are presented based, at least in part, on the comparison.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the other promotional information includes, at least in part, information read from one or more other radio frequency memory tags associated with the merchant, from one or more web pages associated with the merchant, from one or more communications associated with the merchant, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

causing, at least in part, generation of at least one report of the redemption, the validation, the confirmation, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency memory tag is unique to the merchant, one or more point-of-sales systems associated with the merchant, one or more clerks associated with the merchant, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a capture of promotional information, a point of sales identifier, product information, or a combination thereof related to a product available for purchase from the merchant; and

an input for selecting to purchase the product based, at least in part, on the promotional information, the one or more offers, the point of sales identifier, the product information, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a generation of a payment for purchasing the product based, at least in part, on the selection to purchase, the merchant information, user information, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, an authentication of the radio frequency memory tag,

wherein the redemption is based, at least in part, on the authentication.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

cause, at least in part, a capture of promotional information from a radio frequency memory tag associated with a merchant;

process and/or facilitate a processing of the promotional information to present one or more offers at a device;

receive an input for selecting at least one of the one or more offers for redemption;

cause, at least in part, a validation of the redemption of at least one of the one or more offers; and

cause, at least in part, a presentation of the validation at the device for a confirmation by the merchant.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a generation of a code, an icon, a color, a graphic, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the validation,

wherein the presentation of the validation includes, at least in part, the code, the icon, the color, the graphic, or a combination thereof known to the merchant.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the confirmation by the merchant is based, at least in part, on confirming the code, the icon, the color, the graphic, or a combination thereof with an service.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine other promotional information stored at the device; and

cause, at least in part, a comparison of the promotional information and the other promotional information,

wherein the one or more offers are presented based, at least in part, on the comparison.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the other promotional information includes, at least in part, information read from one or more other radio frequency memory tags associated with the merchant, from one or more web pages associated with the merchant, from one or more communications associated with the merchant, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one report of the redemption, the validation, the confirmation, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency memory tag is unique to the merchant, one or more point-of-sales systems associated with the merchant, one or more clerks associated with the merchant, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a capture of promotional information, a point of sales identifier, product information, or a combination thereof related to a product available for purchase from the merchant; and

determine an input for selecting to purchase the product based, at least in part, on the promotional information, the one or more offers, the point of sales identifier, the product information, or a combination thereof.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a generation of a payment for purchasing the product based, at least in part, on the selection to purchase, the merchant information, user information, or a combination thereof.