Method and apparatus for coupon management and redemption
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for the electronic management and redemption of coupons. The system includes an integrated coupon card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, a scanner, and a communications port. The coupon card is capable of scanning coupon bar codes from paper coupons and receiving redemption requirement data from a periphery device. The coupon card will allow bar codes and redemption requirement data to be transferred to a periphery device and will store what bar codes were redeemed because they corresponded to purchase data received from a cash register memory. The system further includes one or more periphery devices having a microprocessor, a first communications port for communicating with said coupon card, and a second communications port for communicating with a cash register. The periphery devices receive purchase data from a cash register memory and compare said purchase data to coupon bar codes received from a coupon card in order to determine which coupons are redeemable. The system also includes a server computer which will be connected to the periphery devices. The server computer will collect redeemed coupon information from the periphery devices and also provide the periphery devices with information such redemption requirement data or coupons which may be loaded onto a coupon card. A clearing house will collect coupon redemption information from all servers in the system to create redemption reports. The clearing house allows redemption requirement data and other information to be transferred through the servers to individual periphery devices and/or coupon cards.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A coupon management system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A portable electronic device for managing coupons, the portable electronic device comprising:
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a microprocessor; memory operatively connected to the microprocessor; an optical scanner operatively connected to the microprocessor, the optical scanner operable to read bar code data from printed coupons; a communications port operatively coupled to the microprocessor; and 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, communicating via the communications port with a periphery device containing purchase data from a cash register identifying products being purchased, wherein the operation of communicating comprises; sending data from at least one of the coupon records in the portable electronic device to the periphery device; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for managing coupons, the method comprising:
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using an optical scanner of a portable electronic device to scan coupon bar codes from printed coupons; in response to scanning the coupon bar codes, storing, in a memory of the portable electronic device, coupon records containing at least part of the scanned bar codes; during a checkout process, communicating, via a communications port of the portable electronic device, with a periphery device containing purchase data from a cash register identifying products being purchased, wherein the operation of communicating comprises; sending data from at least one of the coupon records to the periphery device; and after sending data from at least one of the coupon records 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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification