System and method for electronically managing and redeeming coupons

• US 6,467,686 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Swofford, Andre Guthrie, Silva, Mark
• Original Assignee: Allen Swofford, Andre Guthrie, Silva, Mark
• Inventors: Guthrie, Andre, Silva, Mark, Swofford, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/569,653
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/381, 235/375, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/20
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for managing the coupon redemption process electronically. A hand held device is used to store electronic coupons, which is then taken to retail stores for redemption of the electronic coupons during check-out. At check-out, the device downloads the electronic coupon data and the data is stored in the retail store'"'"'s computer. The data from the retail store'"'"'s computer is uploaded into coupon clearinghouse computer to enable retail stores to obtain redemption of the rebates owed to it from the manufacturers. The manufacturers can track coupons better and collect spending data about consumers. The method and device automates and improves coupon redemption process.

Claims

1. A method of crediting coupons to a consumer comprising the steps of:

locating a coupon having scannable coupon information;

scanning said scannable coupon information with a device having a memory, a display screen, and a bar-code algorithm;

determining whether said scannable coupon information for said coupon already exists in said memory for validity dates and if so declining to store said scannable coupon information in said memory and indicating that said coupon is already stored within said device;

if not, then

storing said scannable coupon information in a memory of said device;

attaching a unique customer identifier for the consumer to said scannable coupon information;

connecting said device to a cradle and obtaining a connection with a coupon database;

uploading said scannable coupon information and the unique customer identifier into the coupon database;

comparing said scannable coupon information with coupon information in said coupon database and the unique customer identifier with previously stored customer data to determine if a valid user is accessing the coupon database and if not, terminating the connection;

if so, then

obtaining said coupon information in said coupon database relating to said scannable coupon information;

downloading and storing said coupon information with a validation code from said coupon database into the memory within said device;

organizing said coupon information;

displaying coupon information on said display screen of said device;

transporting said device to a store;

scanning scannable pricing information provided on products for purchase with a pricing system in said store;

storing said pricing information in a memory of said pricing system;

adding said pricing information from each of said products to calculate a total price;

inserting said device in a second cradle and making a second connection with the pricing system;

uploading said scannable coupon information and the validation code into said pricing system at said store;

comparing said scannable coupon information with said scannable pricing information and the validation code with a corresponding validation code provided by a manufacturer;

reducing a total price of said products by said coupon value represented by said scannable coupon information if the validation code matches the corresponding validation code;

deleting said scannable coupon information from said memory of said device when said scannable coupon information corresponding to a particular coupon is matched with said scannable pricing information and the validation code matches the corresponding validation code; and

completing a purchase transaction for the products.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying coupon information is performed by displaying a brand name, a type of product, a size applicable to the product, a coupon value, an expiration date, an advertising code, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein organizing said coupon information is performed by categorizing the coupon information by a brand name, a type of product, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein scanning said scannable coupon information is performed by manually entering a UPC number into the device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein scanning said scannable coupon information is performed by downloading the scannable coupon information directly from the coupon database during the downloading and storing said coupon information with a validation code step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein scanning said scannable coupon information is performed by scanning a bar code on a product and obtaining the scannable coupon information from the coupon database.

7. The method of claim 1 further including updating the unique customer identifier and the stored customer data and with current personal information about the consumer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cradle and the second cradle are selected from a group consisting of a docking station, a serial bi-directional data port, an infrared transceiver device, a magnetic disk writing device, a laser transmit-receive interface, and a wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the locating a coupon having scannable coupon information is performed by utilizing a coupon that is selected from the group consisting of a coupon, a rebate, and a raincheck.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating a cumulative coupon savings for the consumer by adding the coupon value for each purchase transaction during a defined interval.

11. The method of claim 10 where the defined interval is selected from the group consisting of a present shopping trip, a month to date, and a year to date.

12. A device for storing and uploading coupon information comprising:

a housing having a guide slot for connecting with a cradle;

a battery in said housing;

a charger port on a side of said housing to receive a power input for charging said battery;

a scanner device for reading scannable information off of paper;

a microprocessor;

an audio signal device;

a random access memory;

a read only memory containing operating routines;

a display screen for displaying coupon information;

an insert button to store selected scanned information in a memory of said device;

a delete button to delete selected store information from said memory of said device;

a top of said device having a scanner face;

a bottom of said device having a data interface port;

a scan button to scan scannable information;

wherein said operating routines comprise a bar code algorithm;

a comparison routine for determining whether said scannable coupon information for said coupon already exists in said memory for validity dates and if so declining to store said scannable coupon information in said memory and indicating that said coupon is already stored within said device, if not, then storing the scannable coupons information;

a second comparison routine for comparison said scannable information with coupon information in a coupon database and a unique customer identifier with previously stored customer data to determine if a valid user is accessing the coupon database and if not, terminating the access connection;

if so, then completing a data gathering routine for obtaining said coupon information in said coupon database relating to said scannable coupon information;

a downloading routine for downloading and storing said coupon information with a validation code from said coupon database into the memory within said device;

a sorting routine for organizing said coupon information; and

any combination thereof.

13. The device of claim 12 further including a manual coupon entry mechanism wherein the manual coupon entry mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a phone line, and a cradle.

14. The device of 12 wherein the scanner device comprises an optical scanner.

15. The device of 12 wherein the scanner device comprises a laser scanner.

16. The device of 12 Wherein the display screen is selected from the group consisting of a LCD screen, an active matrix screen, a passive matrix screen, and a gas plasma display panel.

17. The device of 12 further comprising a voice chip to convert written information into verbal information.

18. A system for crediting coupons to a consumer comprising:

a coupon having scannable coupon information;

a device having a memory, a display screen; and

a bar-code algorithm for scanning said scannable coupon information;

a comparison routine within the memory of the device for determining whether said scannable coupon information for said coupon already exists in said memory for validity dates and if so declining to store said scannable coupon information in said memory and indicating that said coupon is already stored within said device;

if not, then

a memory of said device for storing said scannable coupon information;

a unique customer identifier to attach customer data to said scannable coupon information;

a cradle for connecting to said device wherein the cradle has a modem for obtaining a connection with a coupon database and uploading said scannable coupon information and the unique customer identifier into the coupon database;

a second comparison routine within the memory of the device for comparing said scannable coupon information with coupon information in said coupon database and the unique customer identifier with previously stored customer data to determine if a valid user is accessing the coupon database and if not, terminating the connection;

if so, then

a data gathering routine within the memory of the device for obtaining said coupon information in said coupon database relating to said scannable coupon information;

a downloading routine within the memory of the device for downloading and storing said coupon information with a validation code attached to the validation code from said coupon database into the memory within said device;

a sorting routine within the memory of the device for organizing said coupon information;

a store for transporting the device to;

a pricing system within the store for scanning scannable pricing information provided on products for purchase wherein the pricing system includes a memory for storing said pricing information;

a calculating routine within the pricing system for adding said pricing information from each of said products to calculate a total price;

a second cradle for connecting to the device and making a second connection with the pricing system;

an uploading routine within the pricing system for uploading said scannable coupon information and the validation code into said pricing system at said store;

a comparison routine within the pricing system for comparing said scannable coupon information with said scannable pricing information and the validation code with a corresponding validation code provided by a manufacturer and reducing a total price of said items by said coupon value represented by said scannable coupon information if the validation code matches the corresponding validation code; and

a deleting routine within the pricing system for deleting said scannable coupon information from said memory of said device when said scannable coupon information corresponding to a particular coupon is matched with said scannable pricing information and the validation code matches the corresponding validation code.

19. The system of claim 18 further including:

a store server for storing redemption information wherein the redemption information is determined by adding amounts reduced as a result of the comparison routine;

a connection between the pricing system and the store server; and

an information accumulator for uploading redemption information wherein the information accumulator includes a computer system comprising a database, a backup system, a central processing unit, and a modem for establishing a second connection between the clearinghouse and the store server; and

a report generating routine to determine redemption amounts a manufacturer owes a supermarket chain.

20. The system of 18 wherein the information accumulator is selected from the group consisting of a clearinghouse, a home office of the store, and the Internet.

21. The system of 18 wherein the coupon is selected from a group consisting of a coupon, a rebate, and a raincheck.

22. The system of 18 wherein the first cradle and the second cradle are selected from a group consisting of a docking station, a serial bi-directional data port, an infrared transceiver device, a magnetic disk writing device, a laser transmit-receive interface, and a wireless device.