INTEGRATED COUPON STORAGE, DISCOVERY, AND REDEMPTION SYSTEM

• US 20120323664A1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: KLEMS, Ryan Rowat
• Application Number:
  US13/162,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing and redeeming electronic coupons on a mobile device. The invention may also cause a mobile device to generate an alert when it is at or in the vicinity of a location such as a retail store where an electronic coupon held by the mobile device may be redeemed. An alert may also be caused when the mobile device is used in a sales transaction at the location. The electronic coupons may be redeemed in a number of ways including scanning an image displayed on the mobile device, communicating with a wireless network, or through an integrated near field payment system offered by the location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing a coupon in a coupon wallet associated with a user device;

detecting when the user device associated with the coupon wallet has entered an area proximate to a business at which the coupon is redeemable; and

presenting by the device, a notification relating to the coupon in response to the detection.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business when it receives a communication signal emitted from the business.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business when the device is used in a sales transaction with the business.

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

receiving an itemized list of products or services to be purchased from a business device used in the sales transaction with the business.

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

automatically presenting the coupon referenced in the device notification to the sales transaction.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business from a geopositioning determination feature on the device.

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

attempting to validate the coupon by transmitting coupon identifying information to a verification server; and

receiving a responsive communication validating the coupon.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the coupon is associated with an expiration date, and the notification is presented in response to the coupon'"'"'s impending expiration.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein information relating to the coupon is stored on the device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein information relating to the coupon is stored on a server.

11. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a coupon wallet for storing a coupon and associated with a mobile device;

a processor configured to detect when the user device associated with the coupon wallet has entered an area proximate to a business at which the coupon is redeemable; and

a display configured to present a notification relating to the coupon in response to the detection.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a mobile device having the memory, the processor and the display as its components.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a geolocation database in electronic communication with the processor configured to store location coordinates of business locations wherein the coupon is redeemable,

the processor being further configured to establish a geo-fence around a location coordinate of a business location where the coupon is redeemable, the location coordinate having been received from the geolocation database, whereby the processor detects when the user device associated with the coupon wallet has entered an area proximate to a business.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a business device configured to process a sales transaction and in electronic communication with the mobile device;

the processor being further configured to detect a product involved in the sales transaction on the business device for which a coupon is redeemable, whereby the processor detects when the user device associated with the coupon wallet has entered an area proximate to a business.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a coupon server configured to store information related to the coupon, and in electronic communication with the coupon wallet.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a verification server configured to store coupon validation information and redemption information, and in electronic communication with the coupon wallet to confirm the coupon'"'"'s validity.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing a coupon in a coupon wallet associated with a user device;

detecting when the user device associated with the coupon wallet has entered an area proximate to a business at which the coupon is redeemable; and

presenting by the device, a notification relating to the coupon in response to the detection.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business when it receives a communication signal emitted from the business.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business when the device is used in a sales transaction with the business.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an itemized list of products or services to be purchased from a business device used in the sales transaction with the business.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising:

automatically presenting the coupon referenced in the device notification to the sales transaction.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the device is determined to have entered the area proximate to the business from a geopositioning determination feature on the device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising:

attempting to validate the coupon by transmitting coupon identifying information to a verification server; and

receiving a responsive communication validating the coupon.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the coupon is associated with an expiration date, and the notification is presented in response to the coupon'"'"'s impending expiration.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein information relating to the coupon is stored on the device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein information relating to the coupon is stored on a server.