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Method and apparatus for coupon management and redemption

  • US 8,025,224 B2
  • Filed: 05/05/2008
  • Issued: 09/27/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A coupon management system comprising:

  • a portable electronic device comprising a microprocessor, memory operatively connected to the microprocessor, an optical scanner operatively connected to the microprocessor, a communications port operatively coupled to the microprocessor; and

    a periphery device comprising a display screen and a plurality of operational keys allowing selective manipulation of individual coupon records prior to the coupon records being applied to a sale of goods, the periphery device adapted to perform operations comprising;

    receiving, from the portable electronic device, data from coupon records in the portable electronic device;

    receiving, from a cash register, purchase data identifying products being purchased;

    automatically determining whether products being purchased correspond to coupon records in the portable electronic device; and

    in response to determining that products being purchased correspond to coupon records in the portable electronic device, automatically causing corresponding coupon redemption transactions;

    wherein the portable electronic device further comprises at least one routine stored in the memory and executable by the microprocessor to perform operations comprising;

    scanning coupon bar codes from printed coupons via the optical scanner;

    in response to scanning the coupon bar codes, storing, in the memory, coupon records containing at least part of the scanned bar codes;

    during a checkout process, sending data from at least one of the coupon records in the portable electronic device to the periphery device;

    receiving, from the periphery device, checkout data identifying coupons that are being redeemed during the checkout process; and

    in response to receiving the checkout data, automatically removing from the memory at least part of the coupon record for each coupon identified as having been redeemed.

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