Methods for e-coupon extension

• US 20020161631A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Banerjee, Dwip N.
• Application Number:
  US09/821,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161631A1
• 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 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method for redeeming e-coupons beyond their expiration. The method comprises: maintaining an e-coupon database that comprises an e-coupon identifier, an e-coupon expiration condition such as an expiration date, and a post-expiration instruction; receiving a request to redeem the e-coupon associated with the e-coupon identifier when the e-coupon is expired; and executing the post-expiration instruction associated with the e-coupon identifier. Preferably, the request to redeem an e-coupon is received from a consumer using a graphical user interface. A preferred post-expiration instruction is selected from the group consisting of rejecting the e-coupon, fully redeeming the e-coupon, partially redeeming the e-coupon, issuing an alternative e-coupon for the same product or a substitute product, and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining an e-coupon database that comprises an e-coupon identifier, an e-coupon expiration condition, and a post-expiration instruction;

receiving a request to redeem the e-coupon associated with the e-coupon identifier when the e-coupon is expired; and

executing the post-expiration instruction associated with the e-coupon identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing the e-coupon from an e-coupon server.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring the e-coupon server through a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the post-expiration instruction is selected from the group consisting of rejecting the e-coupon, fully redeeming the e-coupon, partially redeeming the e-coupon, issuing an alternative e-coupon, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing an alternative e-coupon for a product selected from the same product and a substitute product.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the e-coupon database further comprises an estimated value of the coupon, and wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing an alternative e-coupon with an estimated value in proportion to the expired e-coupon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration condition is an expiration date.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the post-expiration instruction only if one or more transaction conditions are true.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more transaction conditions includes existence of a characteristic of a consumer profile.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the consumer profile is whether the consumer is a return consumer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to redeem an e-coupon is received from a consumer using a graphical user interface.

13. The e-coupon server of claim 12, further comprising:

issuing means for issuing an e-coupon from an e-coupon server.

14. The e-coupon server of claim 12, further comprising:

a graphical user interface for configuring the e-coupon server.

15. The e-coupon server of claim 12, wherein the post-expiration instruction is selected from the group consisting of rejecting the e-coupon, fully redeeming the e-coupon, partially redeeming the e-coupon, issuing an alternative e-coupon, and combinations thereof.

16. The e-coupon server of claim 12, wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing an alternative e-coupon for a product selected from the same product and a substitute product.

17. The e-coupon server of claim 12, wherein the e-coupon database further comprises estimating means for estimating the value of the coupon, and wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing means for issuing an alternative e-coupon with an estimated value in proportion to the expired e-coupon.

18. The e-coupon server of claim 12, wherein the expiration condition is an expiration date.

19. The e-coupon server of claim 12, further comprising:

executing means for executing the post-expiration instruction only if one or more transaction conditions are true.

20. The e-coupon server of claim 19, wherein the one or more transaction conditions includes existence of a characteristic of a consumer profile.

21. The e-coupon server of claim 20, wherein the characteristic of the consumer profile is whether the consumer is a return consumer.

22. The e-coupon server of claim 12, wherein the request to redeem an e-coupon is received from a consumer using a graphical user interface.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

issue a substitute e-coupon to the consumer.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to:

redeem the substitute e-coupon upon receipt from the consumer.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the post-expiration instructions are to redeem the e-coupon despite expiration, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

redeem the e-coupon.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate the discount value of the expired e-coupon to the consumer; and

apply the discount value to a different product.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, further comprising:

issuing instructions for issuing the e-coupon from an e-coupon server.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising:

configuring instructions for configuring the e-coupon server through a graphical user interface.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the post-expiration instruction is selected from the group consisting of rejecting the e-coupon, fully redeeming the e-coupon, partially redeeming the e-coupon, issuing an alternative e-coupon, and combinations thereof.

32. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing instructions for issuing an alternative e-coupon for a product selected from the same product and a substitute product.

33. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the e-coupon database further comprises an estimated value of the coupon, and wherein the post-expiration instruction comprises issuing instructions for issuing an alternative e-coupon with an estimated value in proportion to the expired e-coupon.

34. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the expiration condition is an expiration date.

35. The computer program product of claim 28, further comprising:

executing instructions for executing the post-expiration instruction only if one or more transaction conditions are true.

36. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the one or more transaction conditions includes the existence of a characteristic of a consumer profile.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the characteristic of the consumer profile is whether the consumer is a return consumer.

38. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the request to redeem an e-coupon is received from a consumer using a graphical user interface.

12. An e-coupon server, comprising:

maintaining means for maintaining an e-coupon database, wherein the e-coupon database comprises an e-coupon identifier, an e-coupon expiration condition, and a post-expiration instruction;

receiving means for receiving a request to redeem the e-coupon associated with the e-coupon identifier; and

executing means for executing the post-expiration instruction associated with the e-coupon identifier.

23. A system comprising:

a memory device having a database therein for maintaining information relating to a plurality of e-coupons, the information comprising an expiration condition and post-expiration instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

receive a consumer request to redeem one or more of the plurality of e-coupons that are shown by the database to be expired;

execute post-expiration instructions associated with the one or more expired e-coupons.

28. A computer program product including instructions embodied on a computer readable medium, the instructions comprising:

maintaining instructions for maintaining an e-coupon database that comprises an e-coupon identifier, an e-coupon expiration condition, and a post-expiration instruction;

receiving instructions for receiving a request to redeem the e-coupon associated with the e-coupon identifier when the e-coupon is expired; and

executing instructions for executing the post-expiration instruction associated with the e-coupon identifier.