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Electronic consumer incentive distribution system

  • US 20020077895A1
  • Filed: 12/18/2000
  • Published: 06/20/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. An electronic consumer incentive distribution system for allowing a merchant to electronically distribute, and a consumer to electronically acquire, promotions, rebates, discounts and other incentives utilizing a computer and electronic connections for conveniently and efficiently providing information about and access to such incentives, comprising, in combination;

  • a plurality of an electronic business device (EBD) each of which includes an optional first link whereby a merchant may communicate with a distributor and communicate a desire to provide a consumer incentive, the communication further providing the incentive beginning date and ending date as well as an authorization number for the incentive, and the merchant business device also utilizing a second link of the business device to communicate with and authorize a service provider to advertise incentives which are then made available by the service provider to a consumer;

    a plurality of a unique consumer identification numbers (CIN) and incentive authorization numbers (IAN) each of which is associated with an individual consumer;

    an electronic service provider device (ESPD) including a service provider computer which further includes a program to assign and record a plurality of numerals which become the consumer unique identification number and the computer is adapted to effect communications by the second link to a business device, and exchange information received from the business device concerning an authorized incentive to be provided, and whereby a service provider device may initiate contact via a third link with a consumer and advise a consumer of authorized incentives, and a consumer is enabled by the third link to receive an incentive and select an incentive program in which a consumer desires to participate, and in making a selection the service provider device approves a consumer'"'"'s unique identification number to receive an incentive at a point of purchase, the service provider device also adapted to provide a fourth link to an identification reception device being located at a point of purchase, with the service provider device being coupled to and communicating with the identification reception device and the coupling and communication between the service provider device and the identification reception device enabling the approval of the incentive at the point of purchase, and the service provider device is adapted to run a file program which lists a consumer'"'"'s preferences and all of a consumer'"'"'s past requests for information regarding consumer goods and specific incentives;

    a plurality of an electronic consumer device (ECD) each of which is being coupled to the electronic service provider device by the third link, the consumer device being capable of communicating the unique consumer identification number and the unique authorization number to and from the service provider device, and the electronic consumer device being adapted to use search programs by which the electronic consumer device is coupled to and adapted to communicate with the electronic service provider device, and by using the electronic consumer device a consumer may search for incentives that the consumer is interested in and the consumer may select such incentives as desired for utilization in making purchases;

    a plurality of identification devices (IDD), each of which is adapted to be capable of transmitting signals, the identification device being provided to a consumer by a service provider and the identification device is then possessed and utilized by the consumer, with the identification device adapted to contain, and being capable of transmitting, a unique identification number and, optionally, a unique authorization number;

    a plurality of electronic reception devices (ERD) each of which is being coupled to an identification device and via the fourth link to a service provider device, and being located at the point of purchase of items which are subject of an incentive, the devices being capable of receiving a signal containing a unique consumer identification number and, optionally, an authorization number from a consumer'"'"'s identification device and being capable of communicating the number to the service provider device and the reception device receiving authorization via the fourth link approving the incentive, and the electronic reception device is capable of authorizing an incentive at a point of purchase.

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