Online promotion redemption control

• US 20020065720A1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucian Kapuscinski, Rufus H. Carswell
• Original Assignee: Lucian Kapuscinski, Rufus H. Carswell
• Inventors: Kapuscinski, Lucian, Carswell, Rufus H.
• Application Number:
  US09/962,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing online promotions is disclosed. A coupon issuing server is used to provide promotions in the form of certificates, coupons, tickets and any other offer on a network that can be downloaded and redeemed either on paper or electronically. The server provides software to computers on a network. The software is used to identify individual computers and to allow the individual computer only one copy of each of the promotions thereby preventing multiple copies of a promotion to be used by any one user.

Claims

1. A promotion misredemption control system, comprising:

a device adapted to receive promotion data; and

a process located on the device having instructions to;

receive and store the promotion data on the device;

compare the promotion data with previous data; and

generate a signal if a misredemption is detected.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is a computer on a network.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a central server is connected to the network.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is generated if the promotion data matches the previously stored data.

4. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the previous data is in the computer received from the central server.

6. A misredemption control system, comprising:

a central server connected to a network;

at least one additional computer connected to the network; and

a database connected to the network, the database including promotional information.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising copies identifying information data stored in the database.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the computer is adapted to receive identifying information.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the server is adapted to receive the identifying information from the computer and compare the identifying information to the copy of the identifying information.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the server is adapted to generate a message for the computer that the identifying information has matched the copy of the identifying information.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the computer is adapted to generate a misredemption signal based on the message.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising optionally rejecting the promotion if the identifying information does not match the copy of the identifying information.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising optionally accepting the promotion if the identifying information matches the copy of the identifying information.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the copy of the identifying information is stored on a central server on a network.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the identifying information is received by a computer on a network.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the server compares the identifying information to the copy of the identifying information.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the server generates a misredemption message if the identifying information and the copy of the identifying information do not match.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer generates a misredemption signal based on the misredemption message.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising generating a message indicating whether the promotion is acceptable for redemption.

21. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising generating a signal if a misredemption is detected.

12. A method for the prevention of promotion misredemption, comprising:

providing identifying information on a promotion;

storing a copy of the identifying information;

distributing the promotion;

receiving the identifying information when the promotion is presented for redemption; and

comparing the identifying information to the copy of the identifying information.