System and method for wireless coupon transactions
First Claim
1. A retail coupon system for use with a wireless cellular communication device using a communication protocol for wide-area wireless networks and operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the system comprising:
- a retail facility open to consumers;
a transmitter associated with the retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the transmitter configured to function as a wireless network base station having a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to the wireless cellular communication device;
a receiver associated with the retail facility to receive data communications from the wireless cellular communication device;
an antenna operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver; and
a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, and upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, the controller being configured to automatically perform a base station registration process with the detected wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, and, upon completion of the registration process, to cause the transmitter to transmit a coupon message from the retail facility to the wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device to thereby permit direct communication between the retail facility and the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for delivering coupon messages to a consumer wireless device utilizes a fixed communication device that functions as a base station for the consumer wireless device. The fixed communication device has limited coverage zone. When the consumer wireless device comes within the coverage zone of the fixed communication device, the consumer wireless device selects the fixed communication device as the preferred base station. Upon completion of registration, the fixed communication device transmits one or more coupon messages to the consumer wireless device. The consumer may enter the associated retail establishment and complete a transaction using the received coupon message. The consumer wireless device may be viewed manually, or the display scanned or read electronically to accept the coupon message in the retail establishment.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A retail coupon system for use with a wireless cellular communication device using a communication protocol for wide-area wireless networks and operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the system comprising:
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a retail facility open to consumers; a transmitter associated with the retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the transmitter configured to function as a wireless network base station having a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to the wireless cellular communication device; a receiver associated with the retail facility to receive data communications from the wireless cellular communication device; an antenna operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver; and a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, and upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the transmitter, the controller being configured to automatically perform a base station registration process with the detected wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, and, upon completion of the registration process, to cause the transmitter to transmit a coupon message from the retail facility to the wireless cellular communication device using the communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device to thereby permit direct communication between the retail facility and the wireless cellular communication device on the frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A retail coupon redemption method for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the method comprising:
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using a communication protocol for wide-area wireless networks to detect when a wireless cellular communication device moves within communication range of a fixed communication device having a transmitter and a receiver and associated with a retail facility open to consumers, the fixed communication device being configured for operation in accordance with the communications protocol; upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the fixed communication device, registering the wireless cellular communication device with the fixed communication device using frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks using a registration process in accordance with the communications protocol, and using the transmitter to transmit a coupon message from the retail facility to the wireless cellular communication device; receiving the coupon message at the wireless cellular communication device; and displaying the received coupon message on a display of the wireless cellular communication device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A retail coupon system for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless network, the system comprising:
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a base station associated with a retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the base station being configured to have a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies and to communicate with a wireless cellular communication device using a wireless communication protocol; and a base station controller operatively coupled to the base station, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the base station, and upon detection that the wireless device is within range, the controller being configured to; perform a base station registration process with the wireless cellular communication device using the wireless communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device, and cause the base station to transmit a coupon message to the wireless cellular communication device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A retail coupon system for use with a plurality of retail facilities operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the system comprising:
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a plurality of base stations, each associated with a respective one of the plurality of retail facilities and located proximate the respective retail facility, each of the plurality of base stations being configured to have a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies to thereby define a cellular coverage region for each respective base station and to communicate with wireless cellular communication devices operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks; and a base station controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of base stations, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of a first of the plurality of base stations, and upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range, the controller operatively coupled to the first base station being configured to; perform a base station registration process with the wireless cellular communication device, and cause the first base station to transmit a coupon message to the registered wireless cellular communication device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification