Method for electronic distribution and redemption of coupons on the world wide web

• US 6,336,098 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Toohey, James J., Allard, David J., Szabo, Robert M., Fortenberry, Keith N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/22, 705/28, 705/26, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system for electronic distribution and redemption of coupons on a computer network. The method includes the steps of: providing an electronic coupon in the form of a machine readable computer file; permitting a user of a client machine to receive the computer file via the computer network when the user accesses a selected coupon distribution web site; storing the computer file on the client machine; and authorizing a benefit when the computer file is received by a selected coupon redemption web site via the computer network. The method can further include the steps of transmitting the computer file from the coupon redemption web site to the centralized computer facility; and verifying the authenticity of the computer file prior to authorizing the benefit.

Claims

1. A method for electronic distribution and redemption of coupons on a computer network, comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic coupon in the form of a machine readable computer file;

permitting a user of a client machine to receive said computer file via said computer network when said user accesses a selected coupon distribution web site, and to store said computer file in a memory of said client machine and receiving said computer file at a selected coupon redemption web site, separately situated and operated from said selected coupon distribution web site, via said computer network, from said client machine;

performing an e-commerce purchase transaction at said coupon redemption web site;

separately situtated and operated from said selected coupon distribution web site;

authorizing a benefit to said user as part of said e-commerce purchase transaction when said computer file received by said coupon redemption web site pertains to a product purchased as part of said e-commerce transaction.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

creating said computer file at a centralized computer facility; and

transmitting said computer file to said distribution web site via said computer network.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

verifying the authenticity of said computer file prior to authorizing said benefit by using information encoded in said computer file.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database at a centralized computer facility;

requesting certain predefined user information from said user as a condition for said user receiving said computer file;

encoding said user information as part of said computer file;

transmitting a record at least partly comprised of said information, from said coupon redemption web site to said centralized computer facility via said computer network; and

storing data comprising said record as part of said database.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said record is comprised of at least one of an associated transaction number, a supplier/manufacturer name, a date on which said computer file was transferred to a user, a date the file was received at said coupon redemption web site, a merchant identification number, identification of the product purchased, the user name, and the user'"'"'s e-mail address.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein said centralized computer service facility operates on behalf of product manufacturers and is distinct from the coupon distribution web site, said method further comprising the step of reconciling said record with an inventory reduction to link each record of a retail sale and coupon redemption to a specific reduction in inventory at said coupon redemption web site for said product, whereby said coupon distribution web site is prevented from fraudulently redeeming coupons for cash value.

7. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of providing said database to a data mining organization for analysis.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of determining said benefit based upon a benefit definition which is included as part of said computer file.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said coupon distribution web site said coupon redemption web site are separate one from the other.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said benefit is selected from one of the group consisting of a discount relative to a purchase price, a credit applicable to the purchase price of a product, and a special offer.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said computer file contains at least one of a coupon serial number, an expiration date, a graphic image, a benefit definition and a product information data set.

12. A programmable computer connectable to a plurality of web sites in a computer network in which users of client machines can access and receive computer data from said plurality of web sites, comprising:

a centralized computer facility having means for generating an electronic coupon responsive to a predetermined set of coupon criteria, said electronic coupon comprised of a computer file;

means for delivering said computer file to a predetermined coupon distribution web site on said computer network, said coupon distribution web site responsive to at least one of said client machines to deliver said electronic coupon to said client machine for storage thereon;

means for receiving said computer file from said client machine at a coupon redemption web site separately situated and operated from said coupon distribution web site via said computer network and completing an e-commerce purchase transaction at said separately situated and operated web site; and

means for authorizing a benefit to said user of said client machine as part of said e-commerce transaction when said computer file received by said coupon redemption web site pertains to a product purchased as part of said e-commerce transaction.

13. The programmable computer according to claim 12 further comprising:

means provided at said centralized computer facility for reconciling said record to verify that a product sale has occurred at said coupon distribution web site for each instance in which one of said electronic coupons has been received at said centralized computer facility from said coupon redemption web site;

and wherein said centralized computer service facility operates on behalf of product manufacturers and is distinct from the coupon distribution web site in order to prevent said coupon distribution web site from fraudulently redeeming coupons for cash.

14. The programmable computer according to claim 12 wherein said computer file contains at least one of a coupon serial number, an expiration date, a graphic image, a benefit definition and a product information data set.

15. The programmable computer according to claim 12 wherein said record is comprised of at least one of an associated transaction number, a supplier/manufacturer name, a date on which said computer file was transferred to a user, a date the file was received at said coupon redemption web site, a merchant identification number, identification of the product purchased, the user name, and the user'"'"'s e-mail address.