Method and system for distributing and reconciling electronic promotions
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through at least one communications network, comprising:
- maintaining an account for each consumer;
associating each consumer account with a unique key;
permitting access by said consumer to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said at least one communications network, said access including said consumer'"'"'s purchasing history of promotions through said consumer account;
presenting promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said unique key over a selected communications network, including said at least one communications network to said consumer;
receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; and
reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer.
3 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a consumer through the Internet or other means is provided. An account which is associated with a unique key is maintained for each consumer account. Access is permitted to the consumer account upon presentation of the unique key over the Internet. The consumer is presented discount or other promotional choices of items available in at least one store associated with the key, or a collection of such stores, over the Internet and the selections of the discount or promotional choices made by the consumer over the Internet or other means are recorded. Upon purchase of items at the associated store by the consumer, such data are received, and the selections and purchases are reconciled to record a credit in the customer account. Unlike paper or electronic coupons, no consumer action other than the selection of promotions desired is required for item purchase.
573 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through at least one communications network, comprising:
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maintaining an account for each consumer;
associating each consumer account with a unique key;
permitting access by said consumer to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said at least one communications network, said access including said consumer'"'"'s purchasing history of promotions through said consumer account;
presenting promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said unique key over a selected communications network, including said at least one communications network to said consumer;
receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; and
reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
maintaining a database of only said key, at least one financial institution account number, and purchasing history for each consumer.
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36. The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a credit card number.
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37. The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a debit card number.
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38. The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a smart card number.
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39. The method of claim 33 wherein said consumer account maintaining step includes a name of each customer.
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40. The method of claim 37 wherein said reconciling step further comprises:
communicating said credit to a financial institution account through said financial institution account number so that said financial institution account may be credited.
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41. The method of claim 40 wherein said financial institution account is maintained in a smart card.
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42. The method of claim 1 wherein said access permitting step is over the Internet.
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43. The method of claim 42 wherein said access permitting step further comprises accessing said consumer account through a Web site upon presentation of said unique key by the consumer.
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44. The method of claim 43 wherein said Web site is associated with said store.
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45. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of offering promotions to said consumer derived from received data of consumer purchases.
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46. The method of claim 45 wherein said promotion offering step comprises targeting large aggregates of consumers.
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47. The method of claim 45 wherein said promotion offering step comprises targeting individual consumers.
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48. The method of claim 47 wherein said targeting step comprises inferring said individual consumers from purchasing and promotion selection data of said consumers.
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49. The method of claim 48 wherein promotions offered to a targeted individual consumer include promotions for products and services based upon purchasing and promotion selection data of said consumer, said promotions for products and services unrelated to items actually purchased by said consumer.
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50. A system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers comprising:
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a first communications network interconnected to a plurality of first computers interfacing with said plurality of consumers;
at least one second computer connected to said first communications network, said second computer maintaining an account for each consumer, said account including a database, each consumer account accessible upon presentation of a unique key over said first communications network, said accessed account showing promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said key; and
a second communications network distinct from said first communications network, said second communications network interconnecting said second computer and at least one computer at said associated store so that said second computer and said store computer can exchange recorded selection data of promotion choices and purchase data of items at said associated store over said second communications network to reconcile said selections and purchases to credit said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification