COUPON COPY PROTECTION

• US 20140108117A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quotient Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Keswani, Ravi Kant, Muthugopalakrishna, Manicka, Guan, Qingcai, Weitzman, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,424,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification

Abstract

A data distribution system which includes business groups, a client system and a main database system is described. Coupons and coupon data may be exchanged between the business groups, the client system and the main database system. Each coupon being exchanged may include one or more fraud protection features that can neither be altered nor tampered by users, consumers or retailers.

Claims

1. A coupon repository comprising a storage device or memory storing one or more coupons that includes a coupon that includes:

a first text region that specifies expiration information;

a first image region that has a first image overlapping a portion of the first text region;

a second text region that indicates a coupon value;

a second image region that has a second image superimposed on a portion of the second text region.

2. The coupon repository of claim 1, wherein the coupon further includes:

a first border on at least one side of the coupon.

3. The coupon repository of claim 2, wherein the first border is embedded with coupon data that is related to the coupon.

4. The coupon repository of claim 3, wherein the coupon data includes one or more of the following:

a platform identifier of a computing platform from which the coupon will be printed;

a browser identifier identifying a type of browser that will be used for printing the coupon;

a coupon identifier for identifying the coupon;

a number of times the coupon has been printed;

a date on which the coupon will be printed; and

a time at which the coupon will be printed.

5. The coupon repository of claim 1, wherein the first image renders the first text region unreadable if reproduced by a copy machine or the second image renders the second text region unreadable if reproduced by a copy machine.

6. The coupon repository of claim 1, wherein the coupon includes a platform identifier that is associated with a client device.

7. The coupon repository of claim 1, wherein the coupon includes, on at least one side of the first text region, a second border that indicates expiration information and that is embedded with data that is related to the coupon.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, on at least one side of the first text region, a second border that indicates expiration information and that is embedded with data that is related to the coupon.

8. A method comprising:

generating a first image and a second image;

displaying, on a coupon, a first text region that specifies expiration information and a first image region that has the first image overlapping a portion of the first text region;

displaying, on the coupon, a second text region that indicates a coupon value and a second image region that has the second image superimposed on a portion of the second text region;

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

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a first border on at least one side of the coupon.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the first border includes embedding the first border with coupon data that is related to the coupon.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the coupon data includes one or more of the following:

a platform identifier of a computing platform from which the coupon was printed;

a browser identifier identifying a type of browser used for printing the coupon;

a coupon identifier for identifying the coupon;

a number of times the coupon has been printed;

a date on which the coupon was printed; and

a time at which the coupon was printed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first image renders the first text region unreadable after reproduction or the second image renders the second text region unreadable after reproduction.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a platform identifier associated with a client; and

displaying the platform identifier on the coupon.

15. A system comprising:

a product image module that is configured to display a product image on a coupon;

an expiration data module that is configured to display expiration data on the coupon;

a coupon identification module that is configured to generate an identifier that is unique to the coupon;

a product module that is configured to provide information about a product on the coupon.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a bar code module that is configured to generate a bar code that identifies the product.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a border module that is configured to render a border that includes coupon information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the coupon information indicates one or more of a specific coupon, a time and date on which the coupon is printed, or a coupon value.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an instructions module that is configured to imprint, on the coupon, rules, policies, or instructions that are associated with usage of the coupon.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a graphic module that is configured to produce one or more images that are overlaid over one or more text regions of the coupon.