Method and apparatus for coupon management and redemption

• US 6,932,270 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1997
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Way Ahead IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Peter W. Fajkowski
• Inventors: Fajkowski, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/297,532
• Time in Patent Office: 2,857 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for the electronic management and redemption of coupons. The system incudes an integrated coupon card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, a scanner, and a communications port. The coupon card is capable of scanning coupon bar codes from paper coupons and receiving redemption requirement data from a periphery device. The coupon card will allow bar codes and redemption requirement data to be transferred to a periphery device and will store what bar codes were redeemed because they corresponded to purchase data received from a cash register memory. The system further incudes one or more periphery devices having a microprocessor, a first communications port for communicating with said coupon card, and a second communications port for communicating with a cash register. The periphery devices receive purchase data from a cash register memory and compare said purchase data to coupon bar codes received from a coupon card in order to determine which coupons are redeemable. The system also incudes a server computer which win be connected to the periphery devices. The server computer will collect redeemed coupon information from the periphery devices and also provide the periphery devices with information such redemption requirement data or coupons which may be loaded onto a coupon card. A clearing house will collect coupon redemption information from all servers in the system to create redemption reports. The clearing house allows redemption requirement data and other information to be transferred through the servers to individual periphery devices and/or coupon cards.

Claims

1. A method for a radio broadcast of electronic coupon data to a specified storage device comprising the steps of:

a. registering a plurality of customers with a pager based service;

b. providing each customer with a storage device comprising a pager means for allowing each storage device to receive a signal which in not receivable by other storage devices within said service;

a. predetermining what coupon data will be broadcast to each of said a specific storage device devices; and

b. broadcasting signals carrying said coupon data wherein said signals are modified to be receivable by said pager means in each storage device such that each storage device receives said coupon data predetermined for said storage device, but not coupon data predetermined for other storage devices within said service.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pager means comprises a radio frequency receiver tuned to one or two frequencies.