Method and apparatus for coupon management and redemption

• US 20050230473A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter W. Fajkowski
• Original Assignee: Peter W. Fajkowski
• Inventors: Fajkowski, Peter W.
• Application Number:
  US11/140,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for the electronic management and redemption of coupons. The system incudes an integrated coupon card comprising a microprocessor, a random access memory means, a scanner, and a communications port. The coupon card is capable of scanning coupon bar codes from paper coupons and receiving redemption requirement data from a periphery device. The coupon card will allow bar codes and redemption requirement data to be transferred to a periphery device and will store what bar codes were redeemed because they corresponded to purchase data received from a cash register memory. The system further incudes one or more periphery devices having a microprocessor, a first communications port for communicating with said coupon card, and a second communications port for communicating with a cash register. The periphery devices receive purchase data from a cash register memory and compare said purchase data to coupon bar codes received from a coupon card in order to determine which coupons are redeemable. The system also incudes a server computer which will be connected to the periphery devices. The server computer will collect redeemed coupon information from the periphery devices and also provide the periphery devices with information such redemption requirement data or coupons which may be loaded onto a coupon card. A clearing house will collect coupon redemption information from all servers in the system to create redemption reports. The clearing house allows redemption requirement data and other information to be transferred through the servers to individual periphery devices and/or coupon cards.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

16. A method for a point-of-sale acceptance of a rebate offer comprising the steps of:

a. providing a periphery device which may receive purchase data from a cash register at a point-of-sale;

b. transferring data on rebate offers to said periphery device from a database located remotely from a store wherein said periphery is located;

c. comparing in said periphery device data on rebate offers to purchase data to determine if any purchased items have corresponding rebates;

d. providing a means for a customer to indicate acceptance of said rebate offer;

e. calculating the monetary value of said rebate offers which correspond to said purchase data;

f. providing said periphery device with information from which the identity of a customer accepting the rebates may be determined; and

g. providing said remotely located database with notice of said customer'"'"'s acceptance.

33. In a system for the electronic storage and redemption of coupons having a data card electronically storing first and second coupons, a method for altering the value of said second coupon comprising the steps of:

a. redeeming said first coupon;

b. determining whether said second coupon has been redeemed;

c. altering the value represented by said second coupon if said second coupon has not been redeemed.

41. A method for a point-of-sale acceptance of a rebate offer comprising the steps of:

a. providing purchase data from a cash register at a cashier stand;

b. transferring data on rebate offers to said cashier stand from a database located remotely from a store wherein said cashier stand is located;

c. comparing in said data on rebate offers to purchase data to determine if any purchased items have corresponding rebates;

d. providing a means for a customer to indicate acceptance of said rebate offer;

e. calculating the monetary value of said rebate offers which correspond to said purchase data;

f. providing said cashier stand with information from which the identity of a customer accepting the rebates may be determined; and

g. providing said remotely located database with notice of said customer'"'"'s acceptance.