Method of and system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons
First Claim
1. A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising:
- a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for transmitting an electronic coupon to said client system over said communications channel, without regard to predetermined client criteria;
said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for storing said electronic coupon in said memory; and
,a second server system connected to said communications channel, said second server system being adapted to establish a connection with said client system and for detecting said electronic coupon stored on said client system, said second server system further being adapted to redeem said electronic coupon.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention consists of a method and system for enabling and enhancing electronic commerce over a communications channel.
The system includes a communication channel coupled to at least two terminals having the ability to send and receive information. Where one terminal is deemed to be the client A, and the other terminal is deemed the server B. Upon receiving a request for information from the client A, the server B transfers the requested information. In addition to the requested information, the server B adds certain additional information either in the form of a coupon C (that can be enciphered), or in the form of a pointer to a coupon database, that allows the client A to be recognized by other servers B'"'"' not necessarily related to the server B, issuing the original information C. Any server(s) B'"'"' that subsequently recognizes client A as the client A makes requests for information to the new server(s) B'"'"' would only have the ability to recognize portions of the information C related to it. When client A makes certain electronic requests from server B'"'"', server B'"'"' will simultaneously make a request to a database on server D that will authenticate the information C that transpired between client A and server B'"'"'. Upon authentication and verification by server D, server B'"'"' will allow client A to proceed with any transactions and/or any request for information subject to other criteria of server B'"'"'.
518 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising:
-
a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for transmitting an electronic coupon to said client system over said communications channel, without regard to predetermined client criteria; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for storing said electronic coupon in said memory; and
,a second server system connected to said communications channel, said second server system being adapted to establish a connection with said client system and for detecting said electronic coupon stored on said client system, said second server system further being adapted to redeem said electronic coupon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising:
-
a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system including means for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure associating said client system with said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory; and
,retrieval means for establishing a connection with said client system, for detecting and retrieving said electronic token stored on said client system, and for redeeming said electronic coupon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of:
-
A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) transferring said electronic coupon from said server to said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and
,F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of:
-
A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) associating said electronic coupon with said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and
,F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. A system for distributing electronic coupons comprising:
-
a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure including at least data pointing to said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory, such that in a subsequent network transaction said electronic coupon may be detected by a second server and utilized to modify said subsequent network transaction.
-
Specification