Retail point-of-transaction system, program products, and related methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction using electronic coupons

• US 8,225,995 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gangi, Frank Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US12/880,035
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/492, 235/381, 235/383, 235/379, 705 70- 75
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 : the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 : the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification

Abstract

Retail point-of-transaction systems, program products, and related computer implemented methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a retail sales point-of-sale transaction which includes the use of one or more electronic coupons is provided. The retail point-of-sale system can include a computer having memory and configured to facilitate one or more transactions each of which include the use of one or more electronic coupons through a retail point-of-transaction terminal positioned remote from, and adapted to be in communication with, the computer. The computer can also include a set of instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to redeem one or more electronic coupons for one or more retail transactions responsive to a customized set of identification data provided by the computer responsive to a data profile derived from a set of personal data of at least one of a plurality of remotely positioned users.

Claims

1. A method of processing electronic coupons, the method comprising:

receiving coupon data from a merchant;

receiving identification data from a user;

associating the identification data with the coupon data;

electronically transferring the coupon data, as an electronic coupon, to the user in a format that is readable by a POS terminal at a merchant location;

receiving from the merchant an indication that a user seeks to redeem the electronic coupon;

verifying the electronic coupon is valid;

sending to the merchant authorization to redeem the coupon; and

sending to the merchant at least a portion of the identification data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of electronically transferring the coupon data comprises downloading the coupon data to a cellular telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of electronically transferring the coupon data comprises downloading the data in a format that can be read by a bar code scanner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification data includes a user'"'"'s name and a user'"'"'s personal ID.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electronically transferring the coupon data to the user in a format that is readable by a POS terminal at the merchant location comprises displaying the coupon data in a bar code readable format.

6. A method of processing electronic coupons, the method comprising:

receiving coupon data from a merchant;

receiving identification data from a user, wherein the identification data includes a user'"'"'s name, a user'"'"'s personal ID, and a membership ID

associating the identification data with the coupon data;

electronically transferring the coupon data, as an electronic coupon, to a cellular telephone of the user in a format that is readable by a bar code scanner at a POS terminal at a merchant location;

receiving from the merchant an indication that a user seeks to redeem the electronic coupon;

verifying the electronic coupon is valid;

sending to the merchant authorization to redeem the coupon; and

sending to the merchant at least a portion of the identification data.

7. A system for processing electronic coupons comprising:

a database configured to store coupon data of a merchant that is associated with a data profile of a user, the data profile including personal data of the user; and

a server configured to access the database and configured to be accessible over a communications network, the server running instructions to

upload the coupon data to the user in a format that is readable by a point-of-transaction terminal at a merchant location;

receive from a merchant an indication that the user desires to redeem the coupon; and

provide to the merchant confirmation to redeem the coupon based at least in part upon the user data associated with the coupon data.

8. The system of claim 7 further including instructions to:

provide to the merchant at least a portion of the data profile.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the data profile includes personal identification data and personal financial data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the personal financial data includes data selected from the group consisting of credit card data, prepaid card data, debit card data, frequent purchaser data, bank account data, and combinations of the above.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the server is maintained by the merchant.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the data profile further includes data generated in response to previous transactions by the user.