Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization

• US 8,682,716 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Redford, Liane, Shimko, Bryan, Mazour, James, Viswanathan, Rajkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US13/540,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.22, 705/14.25, 705/14.26, 705/14.27, 705/14.28, 705/14.3, 705/14.33, 705/14.36, 705/14.38
• US Class Current: 705/14.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0219 based on funds or budget
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0227 Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.

Claims

1. A system for resolving coupon redemption conflicts, comprising:

a token acceptance device configured to receive information relating to a first coupon, the token acceptance device further configured to store a set of redemption resolution rules pertaining to redemption of a second electronic coupon and the first coupon, the token acceptance device having control logic configured to use the set of redemption resolution rules to determine whether there is a conflict when the second electronic-coupon and the first coupon are concurrently presented for redemption for a same transaction, and

wherein both the first coupon and the second electronic coupon are redeemed together for the same transaction when no conflict exists, and wherein the system prioritizes either the first coupon or the second electronic coupon for redemption based on the redemption resolution rules when there is a conflict between the first coupon and the second electronic coupon.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a token configured to store the second electronic coupon redeemable for a corresponding reward under a reward program.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a reward host configured to allow a reward program sponsor to define the set of rules and communicate the set of rules to the token acceptance device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the reward host is further configured to allow the reward program sponsor to change the set of rules in response to one or more conditions.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a token configured to store the second electronic coupon redeemable for a corresponding reward under a reward program, wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the token acceptance device includes one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a tablet (PC), a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein when it is determined that there is a conflict, redemption of either the second electronic coupon or the first is deferred.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first coupon is a paper based coupon.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system prioritizes between the first coupon and the second electronic coupon when there is a conflict based on the redemption resolution rules instead of based on any identifiers associated with the coupons.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system prioritizes between the first coupon and the second electronic coupon when there is a conflict based on the redemption resolution rules indicating circumstances under which one or more electronic coupons stored on a token can be redeemed concurrently with a coupon from a different source for the same transaction.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the token acceptance device is further configured to enable a rewards program sponsor to define the circumstances under which one or more electronic coupons stored on a token can be redeemed concurrently with a coupon from a different source for the same transaction.

12. A method for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:

receiving, at a token acceptance device, data relating to a first coupon from a portable token adapted to store one or more electronic coupons relating to one or more rewards programs;

storing a set of redemption resolution rules pertaining to redemption of the first coupon and a second electronic coupon from a different source;

determining, by the token acceptance device, if there is a conflict when the second electronic coupon and the first coupon are concurrently presented for redemption in a same transaction; and

resolving, by the token acceptance device, the conflict, wherein both the first coupon and the second electronic coupon are redeemed together for the same transaction when no conflict exists, and wherein the system prioritizes for redemption either the first coupon or the second electronic coupon based on the redemption resolution rules when a conflict exists between the first coupon and the second electronic coupon.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

storing a redemption limit associated with the second electronic coupon in the token acceptance device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the redemption limit is established based on one or more criteria that are specific to a holder of the token.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first coupon is a paper coupon.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

storing a redemption limit associated with the second electronic coupon in the token acceptance device; and

allowing the reward program sponsor to change the redemption limit based on one or more conditions.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the token includes one of a smartcard card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the token is a phone.