CHECK-OUT BASED DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION OF DIGITAL PROMOTIONS

• US 20130159090A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Boal, Steven R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,346,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

Coupon information is provided electronically in association with receipts for transactions at physical stores and/or online stores. A retailer causes performance of a transaction in which one or more items are purchased. An interface configured to accept input indicating a customer identifier, such as an email address, associated with the transaction is provided. When input has been received via the interface, it is determined whether the identifier is associated with a known customer identity. If the customer identifier is associated with a known identity, digital coupons associated with that identity are applied against the transaction. An electronic receipt is further provided for the transaction via, for instance, the provided email address or a web-based application in which a session is established in connection with the identity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a retailer, receiving input specifying items for purchase in transactions with customers;

at least partially responsive to receiving first input via an interface that is configured to accept at least a first customer identifier associated with a first transaction, determining that the first customer identifier is associated with a known customer identity;

identifying one or more digital coupons associated with the first customer identifier;

at least partially responsive to receiving the first input and determining that the first customer identifier is associated with a known customer identity;

causing performing the first transaction, in which a first set of one or more items are purchased, at least in part, using the one or more digital coupons associated with the particular customer identifier;

causing communicating an electronic receipt for the first transaction via at least one of an email message or a web-based application;

at least partially responsive to not receiving, via the interface, in association with a second transaction, any input that indicates any customer identifier associated with any known customer identity;

causing performance of the second transaction, in which a second set of one or more items are purchased;

causing provision of a printed receipt for the second transaction;

wherein at least the steps of receiving, providing, and determining are performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer identifier is an email address, and wherein causing communicating the electronic receipt comprises at least one of:

causing sending the email message comprising the electronic receipt to the email address, or causing sending a message to the email address notifying that the electronic receipt is available via the web-based application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing communicating the electronic receipt comprises causing sending transaction details for the first transaction to a server, wherein the server is configured to use the transaction details to provide the electronic receipt on behalf of the retailer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing providing coupon information with the electronic receipt.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more digital coupons comprises querying a server computer using the customer identifier and receiving, in response to the querying, information identifying the one or more digital coupons.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the customer identifier is associated with a known customer identity comprises said querying the server computer using the customer identifier.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, from a retailer, account identifying information for a customer;

identifying an account associated with the account identifying information;

identifying one or more digital coupons associated with the account;

providing to the retailer coupon availability data indicating that the one or more digital coupons are associated with the account identifying information;

receiving, from the retailer, transaction information for a transaction between the retailer and the customer, the transaction information including the account identifying information and coupon redemption data indicating that the one or more digital coupons were applied to the transaction;

generating an electronic receipt based on the transaction information;

providing the electronic receipt via an electronic address associated with the account;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the account identifying information is an email address, wherein providing the electronic receipt comprises at least one of providing the electronic receipt in an email message to the email address or sending a message to the email address notifying the customer that the electronic receipt is available via a web-based application.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers;

wherein the data describing the one or more coupon offers includes one or more links by which the customer may request performance of saving one or more additional digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers;

automatically saving one or more digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting one or more coupon offers for which the customer is eligible based on the transaction information;

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing the one or more coupon offers.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more computing devices that perform the method are one or more servers operated by a coupon distributor, wherein the coupon distributor is separate from the retailer.

14. A coupon server computer comprising:

point of sale interface logic configured to receive, from a retailer, account identifying information for the customer;

account identifying logic coupled to the point of sale interface logic and configured to identify an account associated with the account identifying information;

coupon availability logic coupled to the point of sale interface logic configured to identify one or more digital coupons associated with the account;

wherein the point of sale logic is further configured to provide to the retailer coupon availability data indicating that the one or more digital coupons are associated with the account identifying information;

wherein the point of sale logic is further configured to receive, from the retailer, transaction information for a transaction between the retailer and the customer, the transaction information including the account identifying information and coupon redemption data indicating that the one or more digital coupons were applied to the transaction;

receipt forming logic configured to generate an electronic receipt based on the transaction information;

electronic messaging logic configured to form and send an electronic message providing access to the electronic receipt via an electronic address associated with the account.

15. The coupon server computer of claim 14, wherein the account identifying information is an email address, wherein providing the electronic receipt comprises at least one of providing the electronic receipt in an email message to the email address or sending a message to the email address notifying the customer that the electronic receipt is available via a web-based application.

16. The coupon server computer of claim 14, wherein the electronic messaging logic is further configured to provide, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers.

17. The coupon server computer of claim 14, wherein the electronic messaging logic is further configured to provide in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers;

wherein the data describing the one or more coupon offers includes one or more links by which the customer may request performance of saving one or more additional digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

18. The coupon server computer of claim 14, wherein the electronic messaging logic is further configured to:

provide, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers; and

automatically save one or more digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

19. The coupon server computer of claim 14, further comprising coupon offer selection logic configured to select one or more coupon offers for which the customer is eligible based on the transaction information;

wherein the electronic messaging logic is further configured to provide, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing the one or more coupon offers.

20. The coupon server computer of claim 14, wherein the electronic messaging logic is further configured to provide the electronic receipt via an electronic address by:

sending the electronic message to an electronic address, the electronic message comprising a link configured to send a login request to a server;

receiving, at the server, the login request from a client;

receiving, at the server, in association with the login request, credentials corresponding to the account;

in response to the server receiving the login request and the credentials, sending the electronic receipt to the client.

21. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause:

receiving, from a retailer, account identifying information for a customer;

identifying an account associated with the account identifying information;

identifying one or more digital coupons associated with the account;

providing to the retailer coupon availability data indicating that the one or more digital coupons are associated with the account identifying information;

receiving, from the retailer, transaction information for a transaction between the retailer and the customer, the transaction information including the account identifying information and coupon redemption data indicating that the one or more digital coupons were applied to the transaction;

generating an electronic receipt based on the transaction information;

providing the electronic receipt via an electronic address associated with the account;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the account identifying information is an email address, wherein providing the electronic receipt comprises at least one of providing the electronic receipt in an email message to the email address or sending a message to the email address notifying the customer that the electronic receipt is available via a web-based application.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers;

wherein the data describing the one or more coupon offers includes one or more links by which the customer may request performance of saving one or more additional digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing one or more coupon offers;

automatically saving one or more digital coupons for the one or more coupon offers to the account.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

selecting one or more coupon offers for which the customer is eligible based on the transaction information;

providing, in at least one of the electronic receipt or in information for which the electronic receipt comprises a link, data describing the one or more coupon offers.

27. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the instructions are configured to be executed by one or more processors belonging to one or more servers operated by a coupon distributor, wherein the coupon distributor is separate from the retailer.