Wireless electronic couponing technique

• US 7,308,254 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rissanen, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X.
• Application Number:
  US09/461,353
• Time in Patent Office: 2,918 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/500, 455/517, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/414.7, 455/411, 455/410, 455/412.2, 455/186.1, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/375, 235/487, 235/380, 705/34, 705/40, 705/14, 705/525, 705/16, 705/26, 705/19, 705/64, 705/37, 705/44, 705/69
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

An electronic couponing technique includes transferring coupon information, which may include a coupon ID (identification) to a first portable terminal and storing same therein. The portable terminal displays a representation of the transferred coupon information on a display thereof. The stored coupon information may be transferred from the portable terminal to another terminal for redemption. The stored coupon information may also be transferred from the portable terminal to another portable terminal. Various schemes may be used to transfer the coupon information including a Bluetooth low-range radio link or an optical bar code scanner scanning an optical bar code or an infrared link or a wireless link from the portable terminal. The Internet or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) may also be used in transferring the coupon information to and from the various terminals.

Claims

1. An electronic couponing method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to a first portable terminal via a network regardless of location in the network and storing the coupon information therein, said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user;

wirelessly transferring at least part of the stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from the first portable terminal to another terminal for redemption during a transaction;

validating in the another terminal the transferred coupon information if the coupon information corresponds to any of the goods and/or services involved in the transaction;

if the coupon information is validated, calculating the discount provided by the coupon information to the purchase of goods and/or services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the coupon information is transferred to the first portable terminal with a Bluetooth radio link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the coupon information is transferred from the Internet to the first portable terminal via a wireless link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the stored coupon information is transferred from the first portable terminal to another portable terminal via a Bluetooth radio link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the stored coupon information is transferred from the first portable terminal to another terminal via an infrared link.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the stored coupon information is transferred from the first portable to another terminal via the Internet via a wireless link.

2. An electronic couponing method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to a first portable terminal via a network regardless of location in the network and storing the coupon information therein, said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user; and

wirelessly transferring at least part of the stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal to effect wider distribution of the coupon information so as to permit users of each of said first and second portable terminals to redeem said coupon information during different transactions.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least part of the coupon information is transferred to the first portable terminal with a Bluetooth radio link.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein at least part of the coupon information is transferred from the Internet to the first portable terminal via a wireless link.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein at least part of the stored coupon information is transferred from the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal via an infrared link.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein at least part of the stored coupon information is transferred from the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal via a Bluetooth radio link.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein said first transfer unit further comprises a wireless link.

3. An electronic couponing system comprising:

a first portable terminal having a memory;

a first transfer unit for wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to said first portable terminal, said first portable terminal storing the coupon (ID) number in said memory thereof, a visual representation of the coupon information being stored in a remote server for subsequent downloading to another terminal when needed, said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

a display disposed within said first portable terminal for displaying a representation of said downloaded coupon information from said first portable terminal;

means for permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user; and

a second transfer unit for wirelessly transferring at least part of said stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number to another terminal for redemption during a transaction,

wherein said another terminal validates transferred coupon information if the coupon information corresponds to any of the goods and/or services involved in the transaction, and if the coupon information is validated, calculates the discount provided by the coupon information to the purchase of goods and/or services.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein said first transfer unit comprises a Bluetooth radio link.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein said second transfer unit comprises a Bluetooth radio link.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein said second transfer unit comprises an infrared link.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein said second transfer unit further comprises a wireless link.

20. The system of claim 3, wherein said first transfer unit further comprises a wireless link.

4. An electronic couponing system comprising:

a first portable terminal having a memory;

a first transfer unit for wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to said portable terminal said portable terminal via a network regardless of location in the network, storing the coupon (ID) information in said memory thereof, a visual representation of the coupon information being stored in a remote server for subsequent downloading to another terminal said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

a display disposed within said first portable terminal for displaying a representation of said downloaded coupon information;

means for permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user;

a second portable terminal; and

a second transfer unit for wirelessly transferring at least part of said stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from said first portable terminal to said second portable terminal to effect wider distribution of the coupon information so as to permit users of each of said first and second portable terminals to redeem said coupon information during different transactions.

19. The system of claim 4, wherein said first transfer unit comprises a Bluetooth radio link.

21. The system of claim 4, wherein said second transfer unit further comprises a wireless link.

22. The system of claim 4, wherein said second transfer unit comprises an infrared link.

23. The system of claim 4, wherein said second transfer unit comprises a Bluetooth radio link.

24. An electronic couponing method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to a first portable terminal via a network regardless of location in the network, and storing the coupon (ID) information therein, a visual representation of the coupon information being stored in a remote server for subsequent downloading to another terminal, said coupon information entitled the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

displaying a representation of the transferred coupon information on the first portable terminal;

permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information, with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user;

wirelessly transferring at least part of the stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from the first portable terminal to another terminal for redemption during a transaction;

validating in the another terminal the transferred coupon information if the coupon information corresponds to any of the goods and/or services involved in the transaction;

if the coupon information is validated, calculating the discount provided by the coupon information to the purchase of goods and/or services; and

wirelessly transferring at least part of the stored coupon information including the coupon ID number from the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal via the network to effect wider distribution of the coupon information so as to permit users of each of said first and second and other portable terminals to redeem said coupon information during different transactions.

25. An electronic couponing system comprising:

a mobile phone having a memory and a scanner for scanning coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number;

said mobile phone storing the coupon information in said memory thereof, a visual representation of the coupon information being stored in a remote server for subsequent downloading to another mobile phone, said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

a display disposed within said mobile phone for displaying a representation of said scanned coupon information;

means for permitting a user of the mobile phone to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the mobile phone that, compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user;

a second transfer unit for wirelessly transferring at least part of said stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from said mobile phone to another terminal for redemption during a transaction,

wherein said another terminal validates the transferred coupon information if the coupon information corresponds to any of the goods and/or services involved in the transaction, and if the coupon information is validated, calculating the discount provided by the coupon information to the purchase of goods and/or services;

a second mobile phone; and

a third transfer unit for transferring at least part of said stored coupon information including the coupon ID number from said first mobile phone to said second mobile phone to effect wider distribution of the coupon information so as to permit users of each of said first and second mobile phones to redeem said coupon information during different transactions.

26. An electronic couponing method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transferring by pushing coupon information including a coupon identification (ID) number to a first portable terminal via a network regardless of location in the network and storing the coupon information therein, said coupon information entitles the carrier of the coupon information to a discount on the purchase of goods and/or services, said pushing being performed without requiring action by the first portable terminal;

permitting a user of the first portable terminal to initiate a coupon matching sequence in the first portable terminal that compares the stored coupon information with wireless transmissions of promotions in effect at a retail outlet when entered and if a match occurs granting discounts on goods and services or other benefits to the user;

wirelessly transferring at least part of the stored coupon information corresponding to granted discounts on goods and services resulting from said coupon matching sequence including the coupon ID number from the first portable terminal to another terminal for redemption during a transaction;

validating in the another terminal the transferred coupon information if the coupon information corresponds to any of the goods and/or services involved in the transaction;

if the coupon information is validated, calculating the discount provided by the coupon information to the purchase of goods and/or services; and

transferring at least part of the stored coupon information from the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal via the Internet via a wireless link.