Secure coupon distribution

• US 8,775,245 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CB Neptune Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: News America Marketing Properties LLC (News Corporation)
• Inventors: Christie, William, Beliveau, Jeffery, Lellouche, Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US12/704,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.26
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823

Abstract

Systems and method are provided for ensuring secure and validated coupon generation and distribution, and the prevention of fraudulent coupon printing. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is provided to a consumer, where the URL points to a dynamic coupon webpage presentable to the consumer, and where the URL includes a link identifier indicative of a coupon contained on the dynamic coupon webpage to be printed. The URL may include a member identifier (MID) that uniquely identifies the consumer and provides security regarding the printing of the coupon by limiting the number of prints that the consumer can make of the coupon. Furthermore, a token may be utilized in conjunction with the MID for additional security regarding the printing of the coupon by preventing the printing of the coupon if the token is invalid or expired.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing for an entity that is not a user, using one or more computers, a first location identifier for use on a first public-facing webpage to the entity, and a non-public location identifier that points to a token generator configured in the one or more computers, the first location identifier pointing to a second webpage that includes a link identifier indicative of a discount certificate to be printed;

receiving from a server of the entity that is not a user a token request at the token generator identified by the non-public location identifier, using the one or more computers, the token request comprising the non-public location identifier, the link identifier and a key for the discount certificate that is stored in one or more databases, and at least a user identifier associated with the user;

verifying the key for the discount certificate, using the one or more computers;

generating, if the key for the discount certificate is verified, using the one or more computers, a particular token in response to the token request and determining a generation time when the particular token was generated and storing or having stored that generation time in the one or more databases, wherein the token generator generates the particular token based at least in part upon the user identifier;

passing the particular token back to the entity that is not a user, whereupon the particular token is appended to the first location identifier;

receiving a print request to print the discount certificate, the print request comprising the first location identifier with the appended particular token;

accessing, using the one or more computers, the generation time stored in the one or more databases and determining whether a threshold time has expired; and

verifying, using the one or more computers, the user identifier; and

authorizing the print request only if the first location identifier has appended thereto, the particular token that was generated in response to the token request, and the threshold time for the token has not expired relative to the time when the token was generated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location identifier is a public, consumer-facing Uniform Resource Locator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-public location identifier is a non-public Uniform Resource Locator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-public location identifier points to a token generator of a discount certificate distributor system operating the second webpage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first webpage is operated by one of a discount certificate distributor and a partner of a discount certificate distributor, and wherein the second webpage is operated by the discount certificate distributor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second webpage-comprises a microsite personalized for the partner of the discount certificate distributor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is a randomly generated fixed-length string of characters uniquely identifying the user assigned during user registration, and with at least one of a discount certificate distributor operating the first webpage and a discount certificate distributor partner system operating the first webpage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location identifier has additional information appended thereto, the additional information being customizable and meaningful to a discount certificate distributor partner system operating the first webpage.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing a parameter recovery identifier to allow joining of user identifier data with redemption data to determine whether the user purchased at least one of a product and service associated with the discount certificate that was printed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount certificate comprises an electronic coupon.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizing the printing step further comprises not authorizing the printing of the discount certificate unless a number of times the discount certificate has been printed is less than an allowed number.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizing the printing step further comprises not authorizing the printing of the discount certificate unless the printing of the discount certificate is to occur at an actual printing device.

13. A system, comprising:

one or more databases, stored on a computer-readable storage device, comprising;

(a) respective keys for respective coupon discounts; and

(b) respective token generation times;

a server comprising one or more computers operatively connected to the one or more databases; and

a computer-readable memory operatively connected to the server and including;

computer executable code configured to provide for an entity that is not a user, a first location identifier for use on a first public-facing webpage to the entity, and a non-public location identifier that points to a token generator configured in the one or more computers, the first location identifier pointing to a second webpage that includes a link identifier indicative of a discount certificate to be printed;

computer executable code configured to receive from a server of the entity that is not a user a token request at the token generator identified by the non-public location identifier, the token request comprising the non-public location identifier, the link identifier and a key for the discount certificate that is stored in the one or more databases, and at least a user identifier associated with the user;

computer executable code configured to verify the key for the discount certificate;

computer executable code configured to generate, if the key for the discount certificate is verified, a particular token in response to the token request and determine a generation time when the particular token was generated and to store or have stored that generation time in the one or more databases, wherein the token generator generates the particular token based at least in part upon the user identifier;

computer executable code configured to pass the particular token back to the entity that is not a user, whereupon the particular token is appended to the first location identifier;

computer executable code configured to receive a print request to print the discount certificate, the print request comprising the first location identifier with the appended particular token;

computer executable code configured to access, using the one or more computers, the generation time stored in the one or more databases and to determine whether a threshold time has expired; and

computer executable code configured to verify, using the one or more computers, the user identifier and authorize the print request only if the first location identifier has appended thereto, the particular same-token that was generated in response to the token request, and the threshold time for the token has not expired relative to the time when the token was generated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first location identifier is a public, consumer-facing Uniform Resource Locator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the non-public location identifier is a non-public Uniform Resource Locator.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the non-public location identifier points to a token generator of a discount certificate distributor system operating the second webpage.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first webpage is operated by one of a discount certificate distributor and a partner of a discount certificate distributor, and wherein the second webpage-hosted on the server is operated by the discount certificate distributor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second webpage-comprises a microsite personalized for the partner of the discount certificate distributor.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the user identifier is a randomly generated fixed-length string of characters uniquely identifying the user assigned during user registration with at least one of a discount certificate distributor operating the first webpage and a discount certificate distributor partner system operating the first webpage.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first location identifier has additional information appended thereto, the additional information being customizable and meaningful to a discount certificate distributor partner system operating the first webpage.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising, providing a parameter recovery identifier to allow joining of user identifier data with redemption data to determine whether the user purchased at least one of a product and service associated with the discount certificate that was printed.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the discount certificate comprises an electronic coupon.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer code configured to prevent authorizing the printing of the discount certificate unless a number of times the discount certificate has been printed is less than an allowed number.

24. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer code configured to prevent authorizing the printing of the discount certificate unless and the printing of the discount certificate is to occur at an actual printing device.