METHOD FOR REDEEMING ELECTRONIC COUPONS
First Claim
1. A method for redeeming a merchant'"'"'s electronic coupon by a consumer and providing email addresses of consumers while redeeming a coupon to the merchant for the benefit of the merchant using an Internet, comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining at least a portion of an image of the coupon by a consumer;
b) providing the consumer with an email address of the merchant;
c) using the email address of the merchant to construct an email by the consumer to send to the merchant;
d) attaching the image or portion of the image of the coupon to the email by the consumer;
e) sending the email to the merchant by the consumer;
f) receiving the email by the merchantg) accumulating and storing the email addresses of a plurality of consumers by the merchant from the emails that are received by the merchant seeking redemption of an electronic coupon; and
h) analyzing the stored emails to determine what responses might be sent to consumers that would benefit the merchant;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A merchant provides a consumer with its email address along with at least a portion of one or more images of coupons. The consumer selects a desired coupon for redemption and sends an email to the merchant attaching the image or a portion of the image, or the URL or a Quick Response Symbol (QR code) of the coupon. The merchant, upon receipt, verifies the authenticity of the coupon and redeems it if valid. The merchant accumulates and stores emails from consumers who have sought redemption of coupons. These accumulated consumer emails and email addresses are analyzed to determine how the emails and/or email addresses can used by the merchant for communicating with consumers by email to promote the merchant'"'"'s goods and services.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for redeeming a merchant'"'"'s electronic coupon by a consumer and providing email addresses of consumers while redeeming a coupon to the merchant for the benefit of the merchant using an Internet, comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining at least a portion of an image of the coupon by a consumer; b) providing the consumer with an email address of the merchant; c) using the email address of the merchant to construct an email by the consumer to send to the merchant; d) attaching the image or portion of the image of the coupon to the email by the consumer; e) sending the email to the merchant by the consumer; f) receiving the email by the merchant g) accumulating and storing the email addresses of a plurality of consumers by the merchant from the emails that are received by the merchant seeking redemption of an electronic coupon; and h) analyzing the stored emails to determine what responses might be sent to consumers that would benefit the merchant; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for redeeming a merchant'"'"'s electronic coupon or offer by a consumer and providing email addresses of consumers to a merchant for the additional benefit of the merchant using an Internet, comprising the steps of:
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a. sending an email to the merchant indicating what coupon the consumer wants to redeem; b. redeeming the coupon or offer for the selected goods or services if it is valid; c. accumulating and storing the emails received by the merchant from consumers seeking redemption; and d. analyzing the stored emails to determine what responses might be sent by email to consumers that would benefit the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification