Method and system for redeeming product marketing rebates
First Claim
1. A method of using a rebate computer processing system to process a rebate claim associated with a purchaser of one or more promoted products in an identified purchase transaction processed by a point of sale processing system, the purchase transaction having a unique transaction identifier provided to the purchaser, the unique transaction identifier independent of any identification of the promoted products, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving in the rebate computer processing system information relating to one or more promotional offers associated with the promoted products, including a value associated with each promotional offer;
(b) receiving in the rebate computer processing system information including at least the unique transaction identifier and a product code for at least each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction;
(c) providing a user interface configured to permit direct purchaser submission of the rebate claim via a communications network, the rebate claim comprising a submission that includes at least the unique transaction identifier in association with information identifying the purchaser;
(d) after the purchase transaction, receiving in the rebate computer processing system the rebate claim submitted via the user interface;
(e) after receipt of the rebate claim, comparing with the rebate computer processing system the product code for each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction against the information relating to one or more promotional offers, and determining the collective value associated with any promotional offers applicable to the one or more promoted products purchased in the identified transaction; and
(f) providing the purchaser with the collective value.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for processing product marketing rebate claims submitted by a consumer in satisfaction of a rebate offer, the consumer having purchased designated products in a qualified transaction recorded by a point-of-sale data processing and storage system that issues a receipt containing a corresponding transaction serial number. The method comprises providing a designated site of a computer information network and accessible by the consumer, and receiving a rebate claim on the designated site. The rebate claim comprises (i) the transaction serial number corresponding to the qualified transaction, and (ii) identifying information corresponding to the consumer. The transaction serial number and the identifying information is stored as a stored data record. An electronic file transfer is received from the point-of-sale data processing and storage system comprising purchase data records, each record comprising the list of products purchased and the transaction serial number for a qualified transaction in which at least one designated product was purchased. Each stored data record is associated with a purchase data record having an identical serial number, and the records are processed to validate the rebate claim. Finally, the value of the rebate offer is then transferred to the consumer. Consumer access by the designated site may be via the global computer information network or by telephone, and may also optionally integrate paper-based and smart/credit/debit-card-based rebate claims. A system for performing the above method is also claimed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of using a rebate computer processing system to process a rebate claim associated with a purchaser of one or more promoted products in an identified purchase transaction processed by a point of sale processing system, the purchase transaction having a unique transaction identifier provided to the purchaser, the unique transaction identifier independent of any identification of the promoted products, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving in the rebate computer processing system information relating to one or more promotional offers associated with the promoted products, including a value associated with each promotional offer; (b) receiving in the rebate computer processing system information including at least the unique transaction identifier and a product code for at least each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction; (c) providing a user interface configured to permit direct purchaser submission of the rebate claim via a communications network, the rebate claim comprising a submission that includes at least the unique transaction identifier in association with information identifying the purchaser; (d) after the purchase transaction, receiving in the rebate computer processing system the rebate claim submitted via the user interface; (e) after receipt of the rebate claim, comparing with the rebate computer processing system the product code for each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction against the information relating to one or more promotional offers, and determining the collective value associated with any promotional offers applicable to the one or more promoted products purchased in the identified transaction; and (f) providing the purchaser with the collective value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for processing a rebate claim associated with a purchaser of one or more promoted products in an identified purchase transaction at a point of sale processing system, the purchase transaction having a unique transaction identifier provided to the purchaser, the unique transaction identifier independent of any identification of the promoted products, the method comprising:
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a user interface configured to permit direct purchaser submission of the rebate claim via a communications network; and an electronic storage and receiving device configured to; (a) receive and store information relating to one or more promotional offers associated with the promoted products, including a value associated with each promotional offer; (b) receive and store information including at least the unique transaction identifier and a product code for at least each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction; (c) receive and store a rebate claim submitted via the user interface after the identified purchase transaction, the rebate claim comprising a submission that includes at least the unique transaction identifier in association with information identifying the purchaser; and a rebate computer processor connected to the electronic storage and receiving device and programmed to, in response to receipt of the rebate claim; (d) compare the product code for each promoted product purchased in the identified transaction against the information relating to one or more promotional offers, and (e) determine the collective value associated with any promotional offers applicable to the one or more promoted products purchased in the identified transaction; and a transfer device configured to transfer the collective value to the purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification