Rebate processing system and method providing promotions database and interface

• US 7,120,591 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Parago, Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Michael D., Wright, Mason, Doxey, Jack W., Melvin, Kelly R., Minor, Barbara A., Solomon, Steven B., Johnsen, Kenneth R., Spottiswood, Juli C., Adams, Andrew F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US09/470,582
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/14, 705/23, 705/26, 705/27, 705/35, 705/39, 705/40, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/14.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides computer-aided processing of a rebate on a product. The system includes a rebate processing center communicating over a network with a manufacturer, a distributor, and a consumer. The rebate processing center maintains a promotion table and a transaction table in order to facilitate processing of product rebates and to offer the consumer a choice of disbursement options.

Claims

1. A computer-based interface for facilitating rebate processing, the interface operable to:

display a plurality of fields for entry by a user to create a promotion for a product bearing a rebate;

receive promotion information for the promotion, the promotion information comprising a product identifier and a plurality of disbursement options for receiving an authorized rebate, at least one of the disbursement options having a cash value to a recipient different than another one of the disbursement options;

communicate promotion information to a remote rebate processing center; and

receive a status of the promotion based on purchases of the product, the status indicating a number of rebate requests for the promotion and a number of authorized rebates fulfilled for each of the disbursement options for the promotion.

2. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.

3. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein promotion information comprises:

a product identifier;

an end date for the promotion; and

a geographic target for the promotion.

4. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is operable to receive and communicate promotion information repeatedly to create a plurality of promotions for the remote rebate processing center.

5. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is web-based and is further operable to communicate promotion information and receive a status of the promotion electronically using the Internet.

6. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the status of the promotion comprises:

a number of rebate requests; and

a breakage rate.