System and Method for Redeeming an Electronic Promotion Code at a Point of Sale

• US 20130282462A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Budingfangzhou Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Beijing Budingfangzhou Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Xu, Lei, Zhou, Wei, Bao, Juqiang, Dai, Wanhui
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

An authentication device and a mobile device work together for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale. Upon receipt of an electronic promotion code, the authentication device encrypts the electronic promotion code and transmits the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device. In response, the mobile device decrypts the encrypted promotion code and determines whether the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions. If so, the mobile device displays a message, indicating a successful redemption of the promotion code at the point of sale. In some implementations, the message includes a confirmation code, which is provided to the authentication device for generating a transaction log record. In some implementations, the mobile device also generates a separate transaction log record for the promotion code and transmits the transaction log record to a remote server for further processing.

Claims

1. A method for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale, the method comprising:

at an authentication device having memory and one or more processors;

receiving a user input of an electronic promotion code;

encrypting the electronic promotion code;

transmitting the encrypted promotion code to a mobile device at the point of sale, wherein the mobile device is held by a customer visiting the point of sale;

receiving a confirmation code, wherein the confirmation code is generated by the mobile device; and

storing the confirmation code in a storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic promotion code is entered by an authorized person working at the point of sale.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic promotion code is kept confidential from the customer visiting the point of sale.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication device includes a speaker and transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a high-frequency audio signal; and

broadcasting the high-frequency audio signal to the mobile device via the speaker of the authentication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication device includes a radio-frequency transceiver and transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a radio-frequency signal; and

broadcasting the radio-frequency signal to the mobile device via the radio-frequency transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a netbook computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to generate the confirmation number after authenticating the encrypted promotion code.

8. A method performed by an authentication device and a mobile device for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale, the method comprising:

at the authentication device;

receiving a user input of an electronic promotion code;

encrypting the electronic promotion code; and

transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device;

at the mobile device;

receiving the encrypted promotion code;

decrypting the encrypted promotion code; and

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, displaying a message on the mobile device, indicating a successful redemption of the promotion code.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

at the mobile device;

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a transaction log record and transmitting the transaction log record to a remote server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

at the mobile device;

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and including the confirmation code in the transaction log record before transmitting the transaction log record to the remote server.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

at the mobile device;

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and displaying the confirmation code on a display of the mobile device; and

at the authentication device;

receiving a user input of the confirmation code;

generating a transaction log record including the confirmation code and a timestamp; and

storing the transaction log record in a storage device coupled to the authentication device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

at the mobile device;

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and transmitting the confirmation code back to the authentication device; and

at the authentication device;

receiving a confirmation code from the mobile device;

generating a transaction log record including the confirmation code and a timestamp; and

storing the transaction log record in a storage device coupled to the authentication device.

13. An authentication device for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale, the authentication device comprising:

a microcontroller unit;

a user input device; and

memory for storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the microcontroller unit, cause the authentication device to;

receive an electronic promotion code through the user input device;

encrypt the electronic promotion code;

transmit the encrypted promotion code to a mobile device at the point of sale, wherein the mobile device is held by a customer visiting the point of sale;

receive a confirmation code, wherein the confirmation code is generated by the mobile device; and

store the confirmation code in a storage device that is communicatively coupled to the authentication device.

14. The authentication device of claim 13, wherein the electronic promotion code is entered by an authorized person working at the point of sale.

15. The authentication device of claim 13, wherein the electronic promotion code is kept confidential from the customer visiting the point of sale.

16. The authentication device of claim 13, further including a speaker and wherein the program for transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes one or more programs for:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a high-frequency audio signal; and

broadcasting the high-frequency audio signal to the mobile device via the speaker of the authentication device.

17. The authentication device of claim 13, further including a radio-frequency transceiver and wherein the program for transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes one or more programs:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a radio-frequency signal; and

broadcasting the radio-frequency signal to the mobile device via the radio-frequency transceiver.

18. The authentication device of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is one selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a netbook computer.

19. The authentication device of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is configured to generate the confirmation number after authenticating the encrypted promotion code.

20-22. -22. (canceled)