Mobile phone based rebate device for redemption at a point of sale terminal

• US 8,700,457 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered IP LLC, KDS Real Estate Investors, LLC
• Original Assignee: William H. Bollman
• Inventors: Craft, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Application Number:
  US12/003,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.24, 705/14.34, 705/14.36, 705/14.38, 705/27, 705/14, 705/14.1, 705/14.26, 705/14.39, 705/26, 705/14.25, 455/414.1, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• 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 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• 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 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

Virtual mobile rewards, gift cards, and/or physical world retailers'"'"' loyalty and reward programs are aggregated into a common account accessible and transactional from an Internet capable mobile radio device. Subscribers gain access to discounted codes, coupons, rebates, gift cards, and/or limited time offers, on their mobile device for food, travel, lifestyle, electronics, and entertainment products that fit their lifestyle spending habits, enabling users to edit participating retailers, manage separate account balances, and present preferred discounted offers at retailers and apply discount towards purchase of goods.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device, comprising:

obtaining at a physical point of sale (POS) terminal, from a given mobile device, a discount code to redeem for a product or service;

reversing said discount code to determine a mobile identifier;

routing a discount authorization request to a centralized processing network application server aggregating retail discounts specifically for said given mobile device;

in response to said authorization request, communicating authentication for said discount code to said point of sale (POS) terminal; and

triggering an update to an account for said given mobile device to reflect use of said discount code.

2. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 1, wherein:

said given mobile device includes an application comprised of a menu interface to delete, add, or suggest retailer programs from said account of said user of said mobile device, or to choose from pre-bundled personas.

3. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 2, wherein:

said application synchronizes with an online database.

4. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 3, further comprising:

accepting a gift value into said account for said user of said mobile device.

5. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 4, wherein:

said gift value is initiated into said account for said user of said mobile device from a different mobile device.

6. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 3, further comprising:

accepting a loyalty reward value into said account for said user of said mobile device.

7. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 3, wherein:

said application server synchronizes with multiple external environments to provide a single account for said given mobile device including management of a plurality of different loyalty programs.

8. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 3, wherein:

said account for said user of said mobile device includes a plurality of retailer sub accounts.

9. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 8, wherein:

said discount code is unique to one of said plurality of retailer sub accounts.

10. Apparatus for facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device, comprising:

obtaining at a physical point of sale (POS) terminal, from a given mobile device, a discount code to redeem for a product or service;

reversing said discount code to determine a mobile identifier;

routing a discount authorization request to a centralized processing network application server aggregating retail discounts for said given mobile device;

in response to said authorization request, communicating authentication for said discount code to said point of sale (POS) terminal; and

triggering an update to an account for said given mobile device to reflect use of said discount code.

11. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 10, further comprising:

accepting a gift value into said account for said user of said mobile device.

12. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 11, wherein:

said gift value is initiated into said account for said user of said mobile device from a different mobile device.

13. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 10, further comprising:

accepting a loyalty reward value into said account for said user of said mobile device.

14. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 10, wherein:

said application server synchronizes with multiple external environments to provide a single account for said given mobile device including management of a plurality of different loyalty programs.

15. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 10, wherein:

said account for said user of said mobile device includes a plurality of retailer sub accounts.

16. The method of facilitating discount processing with an Internet capable mobile device according to claim 15, wherein:

said discount code is unique to one of said plurality of retailer sub accounts.