System and method for controlling distribution of coupons
DCFirst Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of portable cards;
a first computer network including a first plurality of computers, each having a respective first network address, the plurality of first computers including a first computer having means for sending a first signal including a first network address, an inter-network address corresponding to a computer on another network, and a signal corresponding to a product;
a second computer network including a second plurality of computers, each having a respective second network address;
means, responsive to the inter-network address from the first signal, for sending a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product; and
means, responsive to the signal corresponding to the product from the second signal, for sending a card signal, to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and
means, spatially removed from the previous means, for reading the card signal from the portable card.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dispensing and redeeming the electronic discount coupons. The system includes a personal computer (PC) having hardware and software for receiving an electronic coupon from the system of computer networks, translating the received coupon into a binary format, and sending the binary-formatted coupon to a card-writing device. The card-writing device writes the coupon data onto a portable customer card ("smart card") approximately the size of a credit card. Subsequently, the customer goes to the store with the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, the customer is credited with the value of a coupon when UPC data from a bar code reader corresponds to a coupon stored on the card.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of portable cards; a first computer network including a first plurality of computers, each having a respective first network address, the plurality of first computers including a first computer having means for sending a first signal including a first network address, an inter-network address corresponding to a computer on another network, and a signal corresponding to a product; a second computer network including a second plurality of computers, each having a respective second network address; means, responsive to the inter-network address from the first signal, for sending a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product; and means, responsive to the signal corresponding to the product from the second signal, for sending a card signal, to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and means, spatially removed from the previous means, for reading the card signal from the portable card.
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2. In a system including a computer network, a plurality of customers, and a computer that sends a coupon signal in a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers, a coupon processing system comprising:
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a receiver that receives the coupon signal sent in the first signal; a determiner that determines whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and a transmitter that conditionally transmits the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a system including a computer network, and a plurality of customers, a method comprising the steps, performed for a customer in the plurality of customers, of:
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sending a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to the customer, and a coupon signal; receiving the coupon signal; after the receiving step, determining whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A coupon system for a system including a computer network, and a plurality of customers, the coupon system comprising:
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means for sending a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers, and a coupon signal; means for receiving the coupon signal; means for determining whether a coupon, corresponding to the received coupon signal, has been previously processed; and means for conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a system including a communication system, a plurality of customers, and a computer that sends a coupon signal in a first signal in the communication system, a coupon system comprising:
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a receiver that receives the coupon signal sent in the first signal; a determiner that uses a record for previous coupons to determine whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and a transmitter that conditionally transmits the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a system including a communication system, and a plurality of customers, a method comprising the steps, performed for a customer in the plurality of customers, of:
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sending a first signal in the communication system, the first signal including a coupon signal; receiving the coupon signal; after the receiving step, using a record for previous coupons to determine whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification