SOCIAL INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCE
First Claim
1. A method of validating an electronic incentive provided to users, the method comprising:
- distributing an electronic incentive to a first user, the electronic incentive providing a first discount amount for an item or service;
receiving, from a merchant server, a first indication that the electronic incentive has been redeemed at a merchant point of sale terminal;
validating that the electronic incentive referred to in the first indication is the electronic incentive distributed to the first user; and
dynamically altering the first discount amount into a second discount amount different than the first discount amount, so that a redemption of the electronic incentive by the first user provides a discount equal to the second discount amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an example embodiment, a method of validating an electronic incentive provided to users is provided. An electronic incentive can be distributed to a first user. The electronic incentive provides a first discount amount for an item or service. A first indication that the electronic incentive has been redeemed at a merchant point of sale terminal can later be received. Validation may then occur to ensure that the electronic incentive referred to in the first indication is the electronic incentive distributed to the first user. Then, the first discount amount can be dynamically altered into a second discount amount different than the first discount amount, so that a redemption of the electronic incentive by the first user provides a discount equal to the second discount amount.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of validating an electronic incentive provided to users, the method comprising:
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distributing an electronic incentive to a first user, the electronic incentive providing a first discount amount for an item or service; receiving, from a merchant server, a first indication that the electronic incentive has been redeemed at a merchant point of sale terminal; validating that the electronic incentive referred to in the first indication is the electronic incentive distributed to the first user; and dynamically altering the first discount amount into a second discount amount different than the first discount amount, so that a redemption of the electronic incentive by the first user provides a discount equal to the second discount amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A server comprising:
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a processor; memory; a coupon module configured to; receive, from a merchant server, a first indication that an electronic incentive distributed to a first user has been redeemed at a merchant point of sale terminal by a second user, the electronic incentive providing a first discount amount for an item or service; validate that the electronic incentive refined to in the first indication is the electronic incentive distributed to the first user; and dynamically alter the first discount amount into a second discount amount different than the first discount amount, so that a redemption of the electronic incentive by the first user provides a discount equal to the second discount amount. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium having instruction data to cause a machine to execute a method of validating an electronic incentive provided to users, the method comprising:
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distributing an electronic incentive to a first user, the electronic incentive providing a first discount amount for an item or service; receiving, from a merchant server, a first indication that the electronic incentive has been redeemed at a merchant point of sale terminal; validating that the electronic incentive referred to in the first indication is the electronic incentive distributed to the first user; and dynamically altering the first discount amount into a second discount amount different than the first discount amount, so that a redemption of the electronic incentive by the first user provides a discount equal to the second discount amount. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification