System, method and apparatus for distributing and redeeming customer selected coupons
First Claim
1. A system for distributing and redeeming a coupon which is ordered by a customer, said system comprising:
- a coupon distribution center for distributing the coupon to the customer; and
a redemption center for redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center, said redemption center operable to communicate with said coupon distribution center to receive from said coupon distribution center data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center, and to transmit to said coupon distribution center data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed loop system for distributing and redeeming coupons ordered by a customer including a coupon distribution center for distributing the coupons and a redemption center for redeeming the coupons distributed by the coupon distribution center. A controller is operatively connected to the coupon distribution center and the redemption center for providing a closed loop, real time interconnection between the distribution center and the redemption center and associated components such as databases and production aids. This modular integration and hard linkage of the intrinsic functions involved in executing promotions, permits total control of a coupon offer program from birth to expiration. The distribution center interfaces directly with the consumer, presents coupon offerings in a text list for rapid access, permits easy coupon selection, enables the user to chose the preferred delivery method and selection of coupon type and delivery destination. Since coupons are only selected by the customer, and the coupon offer list contain text only, customer interface is easy and rapid, and can be readily accessed with a PDA, a cellular phone, laptop, or desktop PC.
170 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A system for distributing and redeeming a coupon which is ordered by a customer, said system comprising:
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a coupon distribution center for distributing the coupon to the customer; and
a redemption center for redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center, said redemption center operable to communicate with said coupon distribution center to receive from said coupon distribution center data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center, and to transmit to said coupon distribution center data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for distributing and redeeming coupons ordered by customers via an electronic data network, said system comprising:
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a coupon distribution center in communication with the electronic data network for offering the coupons to the customers via the electronic data network, receiving coupon orders from the customers via the electronic data network, and sending the coupons to the customers; and
a redemption center for redeeming the coupons distributed by the coupon distribution center, said redemption center being in communication with said coupon distribution center for receiving from said coupon distribution center data associated with the coupons distributed by said coupon distribution center, and for transmitting to said coupon distribution center data relating to the coupons redeemed by said redemption center. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for distributing and redeeming a coupon ordered by a customer, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) distributing the coupon issued by a coupon issuer to the customer from a distribution center;
(b) sending first data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center to a redemption center;
(c) redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center when the coupon is presented for redemption; and
(d) transmitting second data relating to the coupons redeemed by said redemption center to said coupon distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for distributing and redeeming a coupon ordered by a customer via an electronic data network, said comprising the steps of:
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(a) offering the coupon to the customer on an interactive site connected to the electronic data network;
(b) dispatching the coupon to the customer from a distribution center when the customer orders the coupon through the interactive site;
(c) sending first data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center to a redemption center;
(d) redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center when the coupon is presented for redemption;
(e) sending second data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center to said coupon distribution center; and
(f) reconciling the distribution and redemption datum to close the financial transaction and extract promotion information relating to performance. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for distributing and redeeming a coupon, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling a customer to select a coupon through an electronic data network by using a network access device operable to communicate with the electronic data network without downloading or printing the coupon through said network access device;
(b) creating the coupon in paper form, said coupon encoded with an identification of the customer;
(c) dispatching said coupon to the customer through a coupon distribution center;
(d) sending first data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center to a redemption center;
(e) redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center when the coupon is presented for redemption; and
(f) transmitting second data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center to said coupon distribution center.
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70. A method for distributing and redeeming a coupon, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling a customer to select at least one of a plurality of coupons through an electronic data network by using a network access device operable to communicate with the electronic data network, wherein the coupon is displayed to the customer only in text form to facilitate rapid transmission of terms of the coupon to the customer through the network access device;
(b) creating the coupon selected by the customer, wherein said coupon is encoded with an identification of the customer;
(c) dispatching said selected coupon to the customer through a coupon distribution center;
(d) sending first data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center to a redemption center;
(e) redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center when the coupon is presented for redemption; and
(g) transmitting second data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center to said coupon distribution center.
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71. A method for distributing and redeeming a coupon, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling a customer to select a coupon through an electronic data network by using a network access device operable to communicate with the electronic data network;
(b) enabling the customer to select one of a plurality of forms of the coupon and one of a plurality of delivery methods for dispatching the coupon to the customer;
(c) creating the coupon in the form selected by the customer, said coupon encoded with an identification of the customer;
(d) dispatching said coupon to the customer using the delivery method selected by the customer through a coupon distribution center;
(e) sending first data associated with the coupon distributed by said coupon distribution center to a redemption center;
(f) redeeming the coupon distributed by the coupon distribution center when the coupon is presented for redemption; and
(g) transmitting second data relating to the coupon redeemed by said redemption center to said coupon distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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Specification