Method and system for distributing and reconciling electronic promotions
First Claim
1. A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through a communications network, comprising:
- maintaining a consumer account for each consumer, said consumer account having a limited direct identification of said consumer with said consumer account to exclude identification of said consumer by name;
associating each consumer account with only a unique key, at least one financial institution account number, and a purchasing history for each consumer, thereby said consumer account having said limited direct identification;
permitting access to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said communications network;
presenting promotion choices of items available at least one store associated with said unique key over said communications network;
recording selections of said promotion choices made by said consumer over said communications network;
receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store;
storing said data of purchased items as a part of said purchasing history for said consumer associated with said consumer account for said consumer; and
reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer account of said consumer or a financial institution account associated with the at least one financial institution account number of said consumer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a consumer through the Internet 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 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.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through a communications network, comprising:
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maintaining a consumer account for each consumer, said consumer account having a limited direct identification of said consumer with said consumer account to exclude identification of said consumer by name; associating each consumer account with only a unique key, at least one financial institution account number, and a purchasing history for each consumer, thereby said consumer account having said limited direct identification; permitting access to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said communications network; presenting promotion choices of items available at least one store associated with said unique key over said communications network; recording selections of said promotion choices made by said consumer over said communications network; receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; storing said data of purchased items as a part of said purchasing history for said consumer associated with said consumer account for said consumer; and reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer account of said consumer or a financial institution account associated with the at least one financial institution account number of 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)
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38. A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through a communications network, comprising:
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maintaining a consumer account for each consumer;
said consumer account having a limited direct identification of said consumer with said consumer account to exclude identification of said consumer by name;associating each consumer account with only a unique key, at least one financial institution account number, and a purchasing history for each consumer, thereby said consumer account having said limited direct identification; permitting access to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said communications network; accepting offered promotions over said communications network of at least one item for presentation to consumers, said offered promotions from a promoter of said item; presenting promotion choices from said offered promotions of items available at least one store associated with said unique key over said communications network; recording selections of said promotion choices made by said consumer over said communications network; receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; storing said data of purchased items as a part of said purchasing history of said consumer associated with said consumer account for said consumer; and reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer account of said consumer or an financial institution account associated with the at least one financial institution account number of said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification