Couponing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of offering coupons by a bankcard issuer through a couponing system to a consumer at a point of sale, such method comprising the steps of:
- selecting an item for inclusion in the couponing system;
detecting entry of an identifier of the item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale;
searching a database using the identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with a card of the bank card issuer;
calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item when purchased with the card; and
displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the card and which calculated discount is not applicable with competing cards.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for a method of offering coupons to a consumer at a point of sale. The method includes the steps of detecting entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale, searching a database to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item when used with a predetermined credit card and calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the predetermined credit card; and displaying the calculated discount to the consumer.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of offering coupons by a bankcard issuer through a couponing system to a consumer at a point of sale, such method comprising the steps of:
-
selecting an item for inclusion in the couponing system; detecting entry of an identifier of the item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale; searching a database using the identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with a card of the bank card issuer; calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item when purchased with the card; and displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the card and which calculated discount is not applicable with competing cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for offering coupons through a couponing system sponsored by a bank card company to a consumer at a point of sale where the point of sale accepts a bank card provided by the sponsoring bank card company, such apparatus comprising:
-
means for selecting an items for inclusion in the couponing system; means for preparing a discount file containing an identifier of said item means for detecting entry of said identifier of the item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale; means for searching a database using the detected identifier of the item to identify a coupon that provides a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with the bank card provided by the sponsoring bank card company; means for calculating a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the bank card; and means for displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the bank card provided by the sponsoring card company and which is not applicable with competing bank cards. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for offering coupons through a couponing system sponsored by a bank card company to a consumer at a point of sale where the point of sale accepts a bank card such apparatus comprising:
-
a point of sale terminal adapted to detect entry of an identifier of an item to be purchased by the consumer at the point of sale; a discount file containing an identifier of said item a database adapted to identify a discount based upon the detected identifier of the item and providing a discount on a purchase price of the item to any consumer when used with the bank card; a discount processor adapted to calculate a discount offered by the coupon for purchase of the item with the bank card; and a display for displaying at the point of sale the calculated discount available to the consumer based upon use of the bank card and which calculated discount is not applicable with other bank cards. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification