Electronic coupon processing system
First Claim
1. An electronic coupon processing system for eliminating a presentation of printed coupons at a checkout register, comprising:
- a plurality of consumer identification means wherein each consumer identification means is associated with a consumer;
a plurality of consumer accounts associated with said plurality of consumer identification means;
a database for storing information for each of said plurality of consumer accounts;
at least one means separate from a checkout register for each consumer to enter unutilized coupon information from printed coupons in the consumer'"'"'s possession into said associated consumer account based on input of the consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means so as to eliminate any need to present printed coupons at a checkout register;
at least one checkout register capable of collecting a consumer'"'"'s purchase information, said register additionally being connected to said database;
means associated with said checkout register for reconciling the unutilized coupon information in each consumer'"'"'s consumer account with the consumer'"'"'s purchase information based solely on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means; and
means for updating said consumer'"'"'s consumer account to reflect utilization of coupons, wherein said at least one means for each consumer to enter unutilized coupon information from printed coupons is the only means provided for consumers to add unutilized coupon information into their consumer account, the system includes means to add unutilized coupon information directly to consumer accounts; and
means for providing Internet review of unutilized coupon information in a consumer'"'"'s consumer account based on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means.
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Abstract
A system and method for the electronic processing of discount coupons are described. The present invention comprises a coupon database containing coupon information that is associated with a specific consumer. The coupon database is operated in conjunction with a system for recording product information that is sold to a consumer at any particular store. The information from the register system is reconciled with information from the coupon database in order to give the consumer any credit for coupons that are attributed to his or her account. The coupon database is subsequently updated to reflect the transactions and the discounts given to the consumer. The consumer information, including both the information relating to coupons and the information relating to other products purchased, can be added to a database for marketing analysis. The store information relating to redeemed coupons is forwarded electronically to the manufacturers for rebate to the store.
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic coupon processing system for eliminating a presentation of printed coupons at a checkout register, comprising:
- a plurality of consumer identification means wherein each consumer identification means is associated with a consumer;
a plurality of consumer accounts associated with said plurality of consumer identification means;
a database for storing information for each of said plurality of consumer accounts;
at least one means separate from a checkout register for each consumer to enter unutilized coupon information from printed coupons in the consumer'"'"'s possession into said associated consumer account based on input of the consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means so as to eliminate any need to present printed coupons at a checkout register;
at least one checkout register capable of collecting a consumer'"'"'s purchase information, said register additionally being connected to said database;
means associated with said checkout register for reconciling the unutilized coupon information in each consumer'"'"'s consumer account with the consumer'"'"'s purchase information based solely on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means; and
means for updating said consumer'"'"'s consumer account to reflect utilization of coupons, wherein said at least one means for each consumer to enter unutilized coupon information from printed coupons is the only means provided for consumers to add unutilized coupon information into their consumer account, the system includes means to add unutilized coupon information directly to consumer accounts; and
means for providing Internet review of unutilized coupon information in a consumer'"'"'s consumer account based on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a plurality of consumer identification means wherein each consumer identification means is associated with a consumer;
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10. An electronic coupon process for eliminating a presentation of printed coupons at a checkout register, comprising:
- a system associating a plurality of consumers with a plurality of consumer identification means;
the system associating a plurality of consumer accounts with said plurality of consumer identification means;
the system storing information for each of said plurality of consumer accounts in a database;
entering, at a location separate from a checkout register, unutilized coupon information from printed coupons in a consumer'"'"'s possession into said associated consumer account based on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means to eliminate any need to present printed coupons at a checkout register;
collecting said consumer'"'"'s purchase information at a checkout register that is connected to said database;
reconciling the unutilized coupon information in said consumer'"'"'s consumer account with the purchase information based solely on input of said consumer identification means of said specific consumer; and
updating a consumer account of said consumer to reflect utilization of coupons, wherein consumers are limited to adding unutilized coupon information into their consumer account solely from printed coupons in their possession, the system can add unutilized coupon information directly to consumer accounts; and
providing Internet review of unutilized coupon information in a consumer'"'"'s consumer account based on input of said consumer'"'"'s consumer identification means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a system associating a plurality of consumers with a plurality of consumer identification means;
Specification