Electronic device capable of delivering coupons to a POS system and to a sales server

• US 20070203792A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bindu Rama Rao
• Original Assignee: Bindu Rama Rao
• Inventors: Rao, Bindu Rama
• Application Number:
  US11/712,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

Using the coupons stored in an electronic device, a user can reduce the cost of their purchases during a sales event conducted with the point-of-sale (POS) device. The user can download coupons and rebate information to the electronic device from a sales portal, or they can be sent to the electronic device by the sales portal, such coupons are used in sales transactions with POS computers or even in online sales transactions. A sales client in the electronic device facilitates successful completion of interrupted sales transactions.

Claims

1. An electronic device that can be used for a sales transaction by a user wherein the sales transaction is conducted with a point-of-sale (POS) device, the sales transaction comprising at least one item that is purchased and a total amount, the electronic device comprising:

an account information stored in the electronic device, that is communicated by the electronic device to the point-of-sale device during the sales transaction;

a coupon stored in the electronic device that can be used to reduce the total amount associated with the sales transaction conducted with the POS device;

the electronic device capable of receiving a request for the coupon from the POS device and determining if it has the coupon;

the electronic device selectively communicating the coupon to the POS device, when requested, during the sales transaction, thereby reducing the total amount associated with the sales transaction.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device automatically determines if the coupon stored in the electronic device is appropriate for the at least one item that is purchased and communicating the coupon automatically to the POS device if it determines that to be the case.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device stores a plurality of coupons and wherein the electronic device automatically determines if at least one of the plurality of coupons stored in the electronic device is appropriate for the at least one item that is purchased and communicating those of the plurality of coupons that are determined to be appropriate automatically to the POS device during the sales transaction.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the electronic device deletes those of the plurality of coupons after they have been communicated to the POS device.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a sales client;

the sales client facilitating the download of the coupon to the electronic device from a sales portal communicatively coupled with the electronic device;

the sales client deleting the coupon if the coupon expires before it is employed in the sales transaction;

the sales client employing the coupon in the sales transaction conducted with the POS device when the sales client determines that it is appropriate to use the coupon in the sales transaction; and

the sales client deleting the coupon after it has been employed in the sales transaction.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5 further comprising:

the electronic device capable of interacting with the POS device when the POS device is a remote sales server;

the electronic device communicatively coupled to the remote sales server via one of a cellular network, a WLAN network, a WiFi based wireless network, Internet, and a WIMAX based wireless network;

the sales client facilitating completion of an interruption in the sales transaction by reestablishing a communication with the remote sales server and providing coupons appropriate for the sales transactions more than once if necessary.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a programmed card that manages the account information stored in the programmed card;

a coupon manager application embedded in one of the programmed card and the electronic device;

the coupon manager application managing the addition of the coupon, the deletion of the coupon, the download of the coupon and use of the coupon in the sales transaction with the POS device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the programmed card is a contactless Felica card IC chip embedded in the electronic device.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the programmed card is one of SIM Card, SmartCard, Felica card IC chip based module, and a credit card.

10. The method of conducting a sales transaction between a mobile device and a point-of-sale (POS) device, the method comprising:

authenticating mutually, by the mobile device and the POS device;

notifying, by the mobile device, availability of at least one coupon corresponding to the sales transaction;

requesting, by the POS device, information regarding the at least one coupon;

delivering, by the mobile device, information regarding the at least one coupon;

communicating, by the mobile device, an account information and associated security information to the POS device;

adjusting, by the POS device, the total amount for the sales transaction incorporating the at least one coupon;

sending, by the POS device to the mobile device, a final transaction details; and

deleting, by the POS device, selectively, the at least one coupon.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein notifying further comprises:

determining the purchase items in the sales transaction by the mobile device;

identifying those of a plurality of coupons stored in the mobile device that can be employed in the sales transaction; and

collecting the at least one coupon for subsequent delivery to the POS device.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein determining comprises the POS device communicating a list of user selected purchase items to the mobile device and wherein identifying comprises searching through a collection of stored coupons in the mobile device for relevant ones based upon the list of user selected purchase items.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein searching comprises creating a search criteria for processing the collection of stored coupons based on at least one of product item identification, product SKEW information, a manufacturer name and a company name.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein communicating further comprises:

retrieving the account information and associated data;

encrypting the account information and associated data; and

transferring the account information and associated data.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the account information comprises one or more of a credit card information, a debit card information, and a subscriber identity information.

16. A point-of-sale (POS) device that is used to conduct sales transactions, the POS device comprising:

an interface to interact with a mobile device to which the POS device is communicatively coupled, the mobile device comprising a programmed card, the programmed card being capable of storing an account information and at least one of a coupon, discount information and manufacturer'"'"'s rebate and providing them to the POS device;

the POS device communicating a list of purchased items and receiving the at least one of a coupon, discount information and manufacturer'"'"'s rebate associated with at least one of the list of purchased item, along with an account information, from the mobile device; and

the POS device incorporating the at least one of a coupon, discount information and manufacturer'"'"'s rebate received from the mobile device into the sales transaction.

17. The POS device according to claim 16 wherein the POS device communicates a sales information to the mobile device at the end of a sales transaction wherein the sales information is at least one of an invoice and a sales receipt.

18. The POS device according to claim 17 wherein the POS device receives an approval from a user via the mobile device after it communicates the at least one of an invoice and a sales receipt to the mobile device, and, in response, conducts a billing transaction with a remote billing server.

19. The POS device according to claim 16 wherein the POS device causes a search of all stored coupons in the programmed card and retrieval of the at least one of a coupon, discount information and manufacturer'"'"'s rebate coupons from the mobile device by providing the list of purchased items.

20. The POS device according to claim 16 selectively seeking verification of coupon the at least one of a coupon, discount information and manufacturer'"'"'s rebate coupons retrieved from the mobile device from a server and receiving one of a confirmation or a rejection in response from the server.