Computer implemented method and system for on-line redemption of coupons

• US 20050144074A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carlson Companies Incorporated (Carlson Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Carlson Companies Incorporated (Carlson Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schrum, Harold E., Fredregill, Willard R.
• Application Number:
  US10/933,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A computer implemented real-time consumer reward point accumulation system in which a consumer accumulates points immediately in a centralized data storage of a host incentive award system upon coupons being redeemed at an interactive web site that is networked to the host incentive award system. The coupons are redeemed by inputting consumer identification data and a unique coupon identification number acquired off of a coupon into appropriate fields on a web page of an Internet web site, optionally facilitated by the use of an electronic scanning device that scans the data from the consumer'"'"'s program identification card and/or a printed bar-code on the coupon. Upon user engagement, the Internet web site transmits the consumer identification data and the coupon number to the loyalty program host system. The loyalty program host system queries the information received and locates a consumer award account record and a coupon record. The consumer award account record includes an associated consumer loyalty program point total, and the coupon record, associated with the unique coupon identification number, has the associated loyalty program award point total. The system immediately adds the associated loyalty program award point total to an initial consumer award point total retrieved from the consumer award account record and stores the revised point total in the centralized data storage in real time. The updated loyalty program point total is available for use by the consumer for Internet or in-store purchases at retailer outlets. The consumer experience at the web site is tailored to the consumer by leveraging the consumer'"'"'s history of product purchases to provide promotional information specifically relevant to the individual consumer. The system further leverages the information regarding which promotions are specifically relevant to each consumer by optionally emailing the consumer with information about the promotions deemed relevant to the consumer.

Claims

1. A point reward method for manufacturer coupons, comprising:

providing lists of unique coupon identification data to a plurality of product manufacturers;

distributing products with printed coupons corresponding to the unique identification data packaged therewith;

reading identification data of coupons of products purchased by consumers with data reading devices which can be associated with individual consumer internet access devices;

transmitting consumer identification data and coupon identification data from consumers'"'"'internet access devices to a point host system;

validating the coupon identification data and awarding points to accounts for the identified consumers; and

billing the product manufacturers based on points awarded corresponding to the unique identification data coupons.