ENCRYPTED COUPONS

• US 20020128903A1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KERNAHAN, KENT
• Original Assignee: KERNAHAN, KENT
• Inventors: KERNAHAN, KENT
• Application Number:
  US09/379,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

A system and a method transmits the electronic coupon to a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), for use. Prior to transmitting the electronic coupon, the computer may encrypt the electronic coupon. A consumer next displays the electronic coupon on the PDA to a merchant and the merchant gives the appropriate discount to the consumer. The electronic coupon can be displayed on the PDA with an electronic coupon application. To redeem the electronic coupon, a merchant may be required to enter a passphrase to verify the contents of the electronic coupon. Sometimes an activation agent also may also be required to enter a passphrase to activate the electronic coupon. In another system, the server links the electronic coupon to a geographic location on an electronic map. The electronic map is displayed on the PDA by the electronic coupon application. Whenever a geographic location linked to an encrypted coupon is displayed, the electronic coupon application displays an icon of the electronic coupon. Furthermore, the consumer can perform a coupon search in the map application to find the electronic coupon. In addition, advertising fees for the merchants can be base on the number of times a coupon is displayed, activated, and redeemed.

Claims

1. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

transmitting a coupon from a first computer to a personal digital assistant; and

displaying the coupon on the personal data assistant;

receiving a discount specified by the coupon from a merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

generating the coupon by the first computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

encrypting the electronic coupon by the first computer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the act of:

entering a passphrase into the personal digital assistant by one of a merchant and an activation agent.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the act of:

decrypting a portion of the electronic coupon by the personal digital assistant using the passphrase.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

restricting the use of the coupon to one of a time, a place, and a location by the personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

restricting the number of times an electronic coupon can be used.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving occurs after the coupon have been displayed a number of times.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

generating the coupon by a second computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the act of:

transmitting the coupon by the second computer to the first computer.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the act of:

encrypting the coupon by the second computer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of:

displaying an icon of the coupon on the map.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of:

searching for the coupon by a location on the map.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of:

searching for the coupon by type.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of:

generating the coupon by the first computer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the act of:

encrypting the coupon by the first computer.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of:

generating the coupon by a second computer.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the act of:

encrypting the coupon by the second computer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the act of:

transmitting the coupon by the second computer to the first computer.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the map is one of a city, a conventional center, a shopping center, and a store.

12. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

transmitting a coupon from a first computer to a personal digital assistant; and

displaying a map on the personal data assistant;

displaying the coupon on the personal data assistant;

receiving a discount specified by the coupon from a merchant.

22. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

receiving a demographic information of a consumer;

selecting a first coupon, wherein the selecting is based on the demographic information received;

transmitting a first coupon to a personal digital assistant of the consumer from a first computer; and

displaying the coupon on the personal digital assistant.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

transmitting the first coupon from a second computer to a first computer.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the act of:

transmitting the first coupon and the second coupon from a second computer to the first computer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting the first coupon and the second coupon from a second computer to the first computer.

31. The coupon system of claim 28, wherein the personal digital assistant has stored therein a plurality of instructions for encrypting and decrypting the coupon.

32. The coupon system of claim 28, wherein the personal digital assistant has stored therein a plurality of instructions for displaying a map.

24. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

selecting a first coupon for a consumer;

transmitting the coupon from the first computer to a personal digital assistant of the consumer;

displaying the coupon on the personal digital assistant; and

recording a display of the first coupon by the personal digital assistant.

selecting a second coupon for the customer by the first computer, wherein the selecting is based on the recorded display of the first coupon; and

transmitting the second coupon from the first computer to the personal digital assistant of the consumer.

26. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

encrypting a first coupon;

transmitting the coupon to a personal digital assistant of a consumer;

decrypting a portion of the coupon by the personal digital assistant;

recording the decrypting of the first coupon by the personal digital assistant;

selecting a second coupon for the customer, wherein the selecting is based on the recorded decrypting of the first coupon;

transmitting a second coupon to the personal digital assistant of the consumer.

28. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

displaying a coupon on a personal digital assistant;

calculating advertising fees based on the number of times a coupon is displayed on the personal digital assistant.

29. A method for using a coupon comprising the acts of:

decrypting a portion of an encrypted coupon on a personal digital assistant;

calculating advertising fees based on the number of times a coupon is decrypted on the personal digital assistant.

30. A coupon system comprising:

a coupon;

a first computer having stored therein the coupon; and

a PDA having stored therein the coupon.

33. The coupon system of claim 30, wherein the map is one of a city, a conventional center, a shopping center and a store.