System and method for delivering an authorized in-store promotion to a consumer

• US 9,117,226 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oncard Marketing Incorporated (Neptune Retail Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Oncard Marketing Incorporated (Neptune Retail Solutions)
• Inventors: Sarelson, Seth H., Treiber, Johnathan A., Hansen, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Coppola, Jacob C.
• Application Number:
  US13/007,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud

Abstract

A system and method for delivering an authorized in-store promotion to a consumer includes storing in an offer database a plurality of offer data items for use in creating an in-store promotion. The method further includes storing in an authorization database an authorization parameter. In response to receiving a request from a consumer device to present the in-store promotion, the server uses the authorization parameter to verify that the request is authorized without requesting additional information from a consumer operating the consumer device. When the request is authorized, the server dynamically generates the in-store promotion using at least one of the plurality of data items stored in the offer database. Once generated, the server transmits the in-store promotion to the consumer device without any system-specific client software to be stored by the consumer device.

Claims

1. A method for digitally delivering an authorized in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, comprising the steps of, without the need for consumer registration for the service and without requiring software for the service on the consumer device to print in-store promotions from the service:

storing in an offer database on a computer a plurality of offer data items for use in creating an in-store promotion;

storing in an authorization database on a computer a plurality of unique authorization parameters, each unique authorization parameter being associated with an in-store promotion;

receiving a selection from a user of an authorization parameter to be verified by the server computer, when the user creates the in-store promotion, wherein the authorization parameter is configurable by the user;

generating a plurality of hyperlinks to the in-store promotion and including in each hyperlink a different one of the plurality of unique authorization parameters;

distributing the plurality of hyperlinks over one or more digital communication channels to consumer devices for consumers, without requiring the consumers to be registered with the service;

in response to a consumer invoking a first hyperlink of the plurality of hyperlinks on a consumer device, receiving at the server computer a request from the consumer device to present the in-store promotion, wherein the request includes at least a first unique authorization parameter, of the plurality of unique authorization parameters, included in the first hyperlink;

verifying by the server computer that the request is authorized by using the authorization database, the first unique authorization parameter included in the request, and the authorization parameter selected by the user, and without requesting additional information from the consumer operating the consumer device;

in response to verifying the request is authorized, dynamically generating, by the server computer, the requested in-store promotion using at least one of the plurality of offer data items stored in the offer database; and

transmitting the dynamically generated in-store promotion from the server computer to the consumer device through a digital communication channel without requiring the consumer device to have software from the service for the consumer device to print the in-store promotion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a user may select one or more of a plurality of authorization parameters to be verified prior to the sever computer dynamically generating the in-store promotion.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting an error message over a digital communication channel from the server computer to the consumer device if the request is not authorized.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

redirecting the consumer device if the request is not authorized.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer device executes a browser, the method further comprising the server computer receiving a browser identifier with the request.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization parameter limits websites posting the in-store promotion and wherein the step of verifying that the request is authorized comprises determining whether the in-store promotion is requested through an authorized website.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of storing domains of authorized websites and the step of verifying further comprises the step of verifying a domain of a website through which the request is received.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization parameter restricts forwarding of the in-store offer by the consumer device.

9. A computer system for delivering delivering an authorized in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a conaumer through a digital communication channel, the system comprising:

an offer database on a computer storing a plurality of offer data items for use in creating an in-store promotions;

an authorization databaseon a computer storing a plurality of unique authorization parameter;

each unique authorization parameter being associated with an in-store promotion; and

a server in communication with the offer database and the authorization database,

wherein the server computer is configured to receive a selection from a user of an authorization parameter to be verified by the sever computer, when the user creates the in-store promotion, wherein the authorization parameter is configurable by the user;

wherein the server computer is further configured to generate a plurality of hyperlinks to the in-store promotion and to include in each hyperlink a different one of the plurality of unique authorization parameters;

wherein the server computer is configured to distribute the plurality of hyperlinks over one or more digital communication channels to consumer devices for consumers, without requiring the consumers to be registered with the service, and

wherein, in response to a consumer invoking a first hyperlink of the plurality of hyperlinks on a consumer device, the server computer is configured to receive a request from the consumer device to present the in-store promotion, wherein the request includes at least a first unique authorization parameter, of the plurality of unique authorization parameters, includes in the first hyperlink,

wherein the server computer is configured to verify that the request is authorized by using the authorization database, the first unique authorization parameter included in the request, and the authorization parameter selected by the user, and without requesting additional information from the consumer operating the consumer device;

wherein the server computer is configured to dynamically generate, after verifying that the request is authorized, the requested in-store promotion using at least one of the plurality of offer data items stored in the databases; and

wherein the server computer is configured to transmit the dynamically generated in-store promotion to the consumer device over a digital communication channel without requiring the consumer device to have software from the service for the consumer device to print the in-store promotion.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the user may select one or more of a plurality of authorization parameters to be verified by the server computer prior to dynamically generating the in-store promotion.

11. The computer system of claim 9 wherein use of the authorization parameter is configurable by a user.

12. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the server computer transmits an error message over a digital communication channel to the consumer device if the request is not authorized.

13. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the server computer redirects the consumer device if the request is not authorized.

14. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the consumer device executes a browser and the server computer tracks a browser identifier.

15. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the authorization parameter limits websites posting the in-store promotion and wherein the server computer determines whether the in-store promotion is requested through an authorized website to verify that the request is authorized.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the authorization database stores domains of authorized websites and the server computer compares a domain of a website through which the request is received with the domains of authorized websites stored by the authorization database.

17. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the authorization parameter restricts forwarding of the in-store offer by the consumer device.