Retail coupon distribution apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication application executable on a network comprising:
- a client process executable on a processor in a two-way communication device, the two way communication device including a display screen capable of displaying a barcode image suitable for scanning by a barcode scanner;
a server process executable on a processor communicatively coupled over the network to the client process;
a coupon depository coupled to the server process capable of storing a plurality of coupons, the coupons including an encoding of a barcode image, the server process including an operation of sending a particular coupon to the client process, the client process including an operation for decoding the respective barcode image encoding corresponding to the particular coupon and displaying the respective barcode image on the display screen; and
the server process including an operation responsive to a global positioning signal locating a user position, the operation for determining whether the user position is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring a first coupon in the coupon depository and, if so, sending the first coupon to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile communication system utilizes a mobile two-way communication device such as a cellular telephone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA), palm-held computing device, and the like, connected to a network. The mobile two-way communication device has a display screen, such as an liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, that is capable of displaying a barcode. The image of a barcode is displayed on the two-way communication device by creating an optical image that can modulate a laser in motion, such as the laser used in a retail barcode scanning device.
48 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communication application executable on a network comprising:
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a client process executable on a processor in a two-way communication device, the two way communication device including a display screen capable of displaying a barcode image suitable for scanning by a barcode scanner; a server process executable on a processor communicatively coupled over the network to the client process; a coupon depository coupled to the server process capable of storing a plurality of coupons, the coupons including an encoding of a barcode image, the server process including an operation of sending a particular coupon to the client process, the client process including an operation for decoding the respective barcode image encoding corresponding to the particular coupon and displaying the respective barcode image on the display screen; and the server process including an operation responsive to a global positioning signal locating a user position, the operation for determining whether the user position is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring a first coupon in the coupon depository and, if so, sending the first coupon to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication application executable on a network communicatively coupled to a server process, the communication application comprising:
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a client process executable on a processor in a two-way communication device, the two-way communication device including a display screen capable of displaying a barcode image suitable for scanning by a barcode scanner, the client process including; an interactive input process capable of receiving input signals for the two-way communication device; a communication initiating process responsive to the input signals for sending application initiation signals to the server process via the network; a communication receiving process responsive to communication signals from the server process for receiving coupon information from the server process, the coupon information including an encoded barcode image; a display process responsive to the receipt of the coupon information for decoding the encoded barcode image and displaying the barcode image; and wherein the server process is responsive to a global positioning signal locating a user position by determining whether the user position is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring a first coupon in the coupon depository and, if so, sending the first coupon to the user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication application executable on a network comprising:
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an electronic coupon clearinghouse coupled to the network and containing a plurality of electronic coupons, the electronic coupons including respective encoded barcode images; a coupon database coupled to the electronic coupon clearinghouse; a server coupled to the network, the server capable of accessing the electronic coupon clearinghouse and receiving selected electronic coupons from the electronic coupon clearinghouse; a two-way communication device capable of communicating on the network and receiving electronic coupons from the server via the network, the two-way communication device capable of decoding the encoded barcode images and displaying the barcode images on a screen display; and wherein the server is responsive to a global positioning signal locating a user position by determining whether the user position is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring a particular coupon in the coupon depository and, if so, sending the particular coupon to the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing a user of a two-way communication device with an electronic coupon, the system comprising:
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a network; a two-way communication device connected to and forming at least part of the network, the two-way communication device including a display; a server connected to and forming at least part of the network; a coupon depository connected to the server, the coupon depository storing a plurality of coupons, at least some of the coupons including an associated barcode image;
whereinthe server is effective to forward select coupons and associated barcode images to the two-way communication device in response to a global positioning signal locating a user position by determining that the user is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring the select coupon from the coupon depository; and the two-way communication device is effective to receive the select coupons and associated barcode images and display the barcode images on the display. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for providing a user of a two-way communication device in a network with an electronic coupon, the network including a server and a coupon depository connected thereto, the coupon depository storing a plurality of coupons, at least some of the coupons including an associated barcode image, the two-way communication device including a display, the method comprising:
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forwarding select coupons and associated barcode images to the two-way communication device from the server in response to a global positioning signal locating a user position by determining that the user position is in a vicinity near a retailer honoring a particular coupon in a coupon depository; receiving the select coupons and associated barcode images at the two-way communication device; and displaying the barcode images on the display. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification