System and method for delivering a restricted use in-store promotion to a consumer

• US 9,147,196 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• 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: Hansen, Gregory, Sarelson, Seth H., Treiber, Johnathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALE, TIM B
• Application Number:
  US13/008,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a restricted use 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 and generating at a server a hyperlink including the authorization parameter. In response to receiving a request from a consumer device to present the in-store promotion, the server verifies that the consumer browser invoked the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter. The server also verifies the status of the authorization parameter. If the consumer browser invoked the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter and the status is active, 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.

Claims

1. A method for digitally delivering a restricted use in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, comprising:

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

storing in an authorization database on a computer a plurality of authorization parameters, wherein at least some of the authorization parameters have a corresponding status stored in the authorization database;

receiving a selection from a user of;

one or more offer data items from the offer database for an in-store promotion, wherein the in-store promotion has an identifier identifying the in store promotion in the offer database and associated with the selected one or more offer data items, and

an authorization parameter, with a corresponding status, to be associated with the in-store promotion, wherein use of the authorization parameter to limit access to the promotion is configurable by the user from among a set of options comprising a number, specified by the user, of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion, and wherein the corresponding status is updated to inactive after the number of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion is received;

in response to the selection from the user, generating a hyperlink related to the in-store promotion, wherein the hyperlink includes at least;

a. a unique reference locator for a program that dynamically generates the in-store promotion,

b. the identifier identifying the in store promotion, and

c. the selected authorization parameter;

in response to the selection from the user, storing the selected authorization parameter, with the corresponding status, in the authorization database in a manner associated with the in-store promotion;

causing the hyperlink including the selected authorization parameter for the in-store promotion to be distributed over one or more digital communication channels to one or more consumer devices for one or more consumers, without requiring the consumers to be registered with the service;

in response to a consumer invoking the hyperlink on a consumer device, receiving at a server computer a request from the consumer device to access the in-store promotion related to the hyperlink, wherein the request includes information related to the request and at least the authorization parameter from the hyperlink and the identifier of the in-store promotion;

in response to receiving the request, the server computer running the program identified by the unique reference locator, the program configuring the server computer to;

a. verify that the request is authorized by using the authorization parameter included in the request and the status of the authorization parameter from the authorization database;

b. in response to verifying the request is authorized, dynamically generate the requested in-store promotion using the offer data items selected for the in-store promotion identified in the request and stored in the offer database;

c. further in response to verifying the request is authorized, update the status of the authorization parameter in the authorization database for the in-store promotion; and

d. transmit 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 updating the status comprises changing the status to inactive after the in-store promotion is accessed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the status comprises changing the status to inactive after a print request for the in-store promotion is issued.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the status comprises changing the status to inactive after the in-store promotion is printed a predetermined number of times.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the hyperlink including the selected authorization parameter for the in-store promotion to be distributed over one or more digital communication channels comprises sending the hyperlink through electronic mail.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the hyperlink including the selected authorization parameter for the in-store promotion to be distributed over one or more digital communication channels comprises posting the hyperlink on an authorized website.

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

transmitting an error message from the server to the consumer device if the consumer device did not invoke the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter.

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

transmitting an error message from the server to the consumer device if the status is inactive.

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

redirecting the consumer device if the consumer device did not invoke the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter.

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

redirecting the consumer device if the status is inactive.

11. A method for digitally delivering a restricted use in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, comprising:

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

storing in an authorization database on a computer a plurality of authorization parameters and, for each authorization parameter, a corresponding status, each of the plurality of authorization parameters being associated with one of the plurality of in-store promotions;

receiving a selection from a user of;

offer data items from the offer database for an in-store promotion, wherein the in-store promotion has an identifier identifying the in store promotion in the offer database and associated with the selected offer data items,

an authorization parameter, with a corresponding status, to be associated with the in-store promotion, and

a number, specified by the user, of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion, wherein the corresponding status is updated to inactive after the number of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion is received;

in response to the selection from the user, generating a hyperlink related to the in-store promotion wherein the hyperlink includes at least;

a. a unique reference locator for a program that dynamically generates the in-store promotion,

b. the identifier identifying the in store promotion, and

c. the selected authorization parameter;

causing the hyperlink including the selected authorization parameters for the in-store promotion to be distributed over one or more digital communication channels to one or more consumer devices for one or more consumers, without requiring the consumers to be registered with the service;

in response to a consumer invoking the hyperlink on a consumer device, receiving at a server computer a request from the consumer device to access the in-store promotion related to the hyperlink, wherein the request information related to the request and includes at least the authorization parameter from the hyperlink and the identifier of the in-store promotion;

in response to receiving the request, the server computer running the program identified by the unique reference locator, the program configuring the server computer to;

a. verify that the request is authorized by using the authorization parameter included in the request and the status of the authorization parameter from the authorization database;

b. in response to verifying the request is authorized and verifying that the authorization parameter status is active, dynamically generate the requested in-store promotion using the offer data items selected for the in-store promotion identified in the request and stored in the offer database;

c. further in response to verifying the request is authorized, update the status of the authorization parameter in the authorization database for the in-store promotion; and

d. transmit 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.

12. A computer system for digitally delivering a restricted use in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, the computer system comprising:

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

an authorization database on a computer storing a plurality of authorization parameters, wherein at least some of the authorization parameters have a corresponding status; and

a server computer in communication with the offer database and the authorization database, wherein the server computer includes computer program code in storage and a processing device that executes the computer program code to configure the server computer to;

receive a selection from a user of;

offer data items from the offer database for use in an in-store promotion, wherein the in-store promotion has an identifier identifying the in store promotion in the offer database and associated with the selected offer data items,

an authorization parameter, with a corresponding status, to be associated with the in-store promotion, and

a number, specified by the user, of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion, wherein the corresponding status is updated to inactive after the number of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion is received;

in response to the selection from the user, generate a hyperlink related to the in-store promotion wherein the hyperlink includes at least;

a. a unique reference locator for a program that dynamically generates the in-store promotion,

b. the identifier identifying the in store promotion, and

c. the selected authorization parameter associated with the in store promotion;

cause the hyperlink to be distributed over one or more digital communication channels to one or more consumer device for one or more consumers, without requiring the consumer to be registered with the service;

in response to a consumer invoking the hyperlink on a consumer device, receive a request from the consumer device to access the in-store promotion related to the hyperlink, wherein the request includes information related to the request and at least the selected authorization parameter from the hyperlink an the identifier of the in-store promotion; and

in response to receiving the request, run the program identified by the unique reference locator, the program configuring the server computer to;

a. verify that the request is authorized and the status of the authorization parameter included in the hyperlink is active, using the authorization database,

b. in response to a determination that the request is authorized and the status of the authorization parameter is active, dynamically generate the requested in-store promotion using at least one of the plurality of offer data items stored in the offer database,

c. further in response to a determination that the request is authorized and the status of the authorization parameter is active, update the status of the authorization parameter for the requested in-store promotion in the authorization database, and

d. transmit the dynamically generated in-store promotion 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.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the server changes the status of the authorization parameter to inactive after the in-store promotion is accessed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the server changes the status of the authorization parameter to inactive after a print request for the in-store promotion is issued.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the server changes the status of the authorization parameter to inactive after the in-store promotion is printed a predetermined number of times.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the server makes the hyperlink available to potential consumers through a digital distribution channel.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the digital distribution channel is email.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the digital distribution channel is posting the hyperlink on an authorized website.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the server transmits an error message to the consumer device if the consumer device did not invoke the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the server transmits an error message to the consumer device if the status is inactive.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the server redirects the consumer device if the consumer browser did not invoke the hyperlink containing the authorization parameter.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the server redirects the consumer device if the status is inactive.

23. A system for digitally delivering a restricted use in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, the system comprising:

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

an authorization database arranged to store on computer storage a plurality of authorization parameters, each of the plurality of authorization parameters having a corresponding status and being associated with one of the in-store promotions; and

a server computer in communication with the offer database and the authorization database, wherein the server computer includes computer program code in storage and a processing device that executes the computer program code to configure the server computer to;

receive a selection from a user of;

offer data items from the offer database for use in an in-store promotion, wherein the in-store promotion has an identifier identifying the in store promotion in the offer database and associated with the selected offer data items, and

an authorization parameter, with a corresponding status, to be registered in the authorization database and associated with the in-store promotion, wherein use of the authorization parameter to limit access to the promotion is configurable by the user from among a set of options comprising a number, specified by the user, of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion, and wherein the corresponding status is updated to inactive after the number of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion is received;

in response to the selection from the user, cause a hyperlink to be distributed to multiple consumer devices over digital communication channels, the hyperlink being related to the in-store promotion wherein the hyperlink includes at least;

a. a unique reference locator for a program that dynamically generates the in-store promotion,

b. the identifier identifying the in store promotion, and

c. the selected authorization parameter associated with the in store promotion;

in response to a consumer invoking the hyperlink on a consumer device, receive a request from the consumer device to access the in-store promotion related to the hyperlink, wherein the request includes information related to the request and at least the selected authorization parameter from the hyperlink and the identifier of the in-store promotion; and

in response to receiving the request, run the program identified by the unique reference locator, the program configuring the server computer to;

a. verify the status of the authorization parameter included in the request using the authorization database,

b. in response to verifying that the authorization parameter status is active, dynamically generate the requested in-store promotion using the selected offer data items stored in the offer database,

c. further in response to verifying that the authorization parameter status is active, update the status of the authorization parameter for the requested in-store promotion in the authorization database, and

d. transmit the requested in-store promotion 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.

24. A computer system for digitally delivering a restricted use in-store promotion from a server computer for a service to a consumer device for a consumer through a digital communication channel, the computer system comprising:

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

an authorization database on a computer with storage including a plurality of authorization parameters, each of the plurality of authorization parameters having a corresponding status and being associated with one or more of the in-store promotions; and

a server computer in communication with the offer database and the authorization database, wherein the server computer includes computer program code in storage and a processing device that executes the computer program code to configure the server computer to;

receive a selection from a user of;

offer data items from the offer database for use in an in-store promotion, wherein the in-store promotion has an identifier identifying the in store promotion in the offer database and associated with the selected offer data items, and

an authorization parameter, with a corresponding status, to be registered in the authorization database and associated with the in-store promotion, wherein use of the authorization parameter to limit access to the promotion is configurable by the user from among a set of options comprising a number, specified by the user, of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion, and wherein the corresponding status is updated to inactive after the number of permitted requests to access the in-store promotion is received;

after receiving the selection from the user, distribute a hyperlink generated for the in-store promotion, the hyperlink being distributed to multiple consumer devices over digital communication channels wherein the hyperlink includes at least;

a. a unique reference locator for a program that dynamically generates the in-store promotion,

b. the identifier identifying the in store promotion, and

c. the selected authorization parameter associated with the in store promotion;

in response to a consumer invoking the hyperlink on a consumer device, receive a request for the in-store promotion related to the hyperlink, the request further including information related to the request and at least the authorization parameter from the hyperlink and the identifier of the in-store promotion; and

in response to receiving the request, run the program identified by the unique reference locator, the program configuring the server computer to;

a. verify the status of the authorization parameter using the authorization database,

b. after verifying that the authorization parameter status is active, dynamically generate the requested in-store promotion incorporating an offer identifier and at least the selected offer data items for the in-store promotion stored in the offer database,

c. update the status of the authorization parameter for the in-store promotion in the authorization database after generating the in-store promotion, and

d. transmit the generated in-store promotion to the consumer device without requiring the consumer device to have software from the service for the consumer device to print the in-store promotion.