Multiple offer coupon

• US 20080077484A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Semersky, David J., Samal, Subodh K., Ampe, Edward C., Hamilton, Scott R., Pozorski, Lara J., Main, Renee, Miller, Nissa
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,410 B2
• 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 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

A coupon system includes a coupon identification code, a database, and a point-of sale terminal. The database stores at least a portion of the coupon identification code linked to a plurality of offers for commercial advantages. The point-of-sale terminal is in communication with the database. During use, the coupon identification code is entered into the point-of-sale terminal, and of the point-of-sale terminal is adapted to determine the plurality of offers linked with the coupon identification code and terms for redeeming one or more of the plurality of offers based at least in part on reference to the database such that the point-of-sale terminal discounts a current purchase based upon the terms for redeeming the one or more plurality of offers. Other coupons and related systems and methods also disclosed.

Claims

1. A coupon system comprising:

a coupon identification code;

a database storing at least a portion of the coupon identification code linked to a plurality of offers for commercial advantage; and

a point-of-sale terminal in communication with the database;

wherein during use, the coupon identification code is entered into the point-of-sale terminal, and the point-of-sale terminal is adapted to determine the plurality of offers linked with the coupon identification code and terms for redeeming one or more of the plurality of offers based at least in part on reference to the database such that the point-of-sale terminal discounts a current purchase based upon terms for redeeming the one or more of the plurality of offers.

2. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the terms for redeeming are stored in one of the database and the point-of-sale terminal, and determining the terms for redeeming includes referencing the terms stored in at least one of the database and the point-of-sale terminal.

3. The coupon system of claim 1, further comprising a printed medium and a redemption card removably coupled with the printed medium, the redemption card including the coupon identification code.

4. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code and a list identifying the plurality of offers are included on a purchase receipt.

5. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code and a list identifying the plurality of offers to a consumer are included on an electronic form coupon configured to be electronically delivered to the consumer.

6. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code is associated with a financial credit account.

7. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of offers is available for redemption during a single purchase transaction.

8. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of offers is available for a single use, and each of the plurality of offers is configured to be redeemed during any one of a plurality of purchase transactions.

9. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of offers is available for use during multiple purchase transactions

10. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code is characterized by an absence of the terms for redeeming each of the plurality of offers.

11. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code is one of a plurality of coupon identification codes each linked to the plurality of offers, and wherein each of the plurality of coupon identification codes is differentiated from other ones of the plurality of coupon identification codes.

12. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code includes an account identifier associated with one of a plurality of accounts.

13. The coupon system of claim 12, wherein the one of the plurality of accounts is associated with a consumer.

14. The coupon system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of offers corresponding to the coupon identification code are customized to the consumer based on prior purchase behavior of the consumer.

15. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon identification code includes a linear bar code.

16. The coupon system of claim 1, further comprising means for manually tracking redemption of the plurality of offers for commercial advantage.

17. The coupon system of claim 1, wherein the database further stores an availability status of each of the plurality of offers.

21. The coupon of claim 15, further comprising an electronic distribution configured to be delivered via one of an email and a webpage, the electronic distribution including the means for linking.

18. A coupon configured to be redeemed at a point-of-sale terminal, the coupon comprising:

a plurality of offers for commercial advantage; and

means for linking each of the plurality of offers to a single coupon identification code, wherein the means for linking includes means for associating the plurality of offers with an account stored in a database separate from the coupon.

19. The coupon of claim 18, further comprising a substrate configured to be distributed to the at least one consumer, wherein the means for linking and visual indicia of the plurality of offers are printed on the substrate.

20. The coupon of claim 18, further comprising a substrate, and wherein the means for linking includes a redemption card including the coupon identification code, the redemption card being selectively coupled with the substrate.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

creating a consumer profile based on available consumer data; and

wherein selecting the plurality of offers is based at least in part on the consumer profile.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein distributing the coupon to the consumer includes providing a redemption card removably coupled with a remainder of the coupon, wherein the redemption card includes the coupon identification code.

22. A method for offering financial discounts, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of offers for financial discount;

linking each of the plurality of offers to a coupon identification code in a database;

generating a coupon corresponding to the coupon identification code; and

distributing the coupon to a consumer.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising performing a status inquiry of the database to determine an availability status of each of the plurality of offers and printing the availability status for at least a portion of the plurality of offers.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising redeeming at least one of the plurality of offers on a first purchase including:

accessing the database to identify the plurality of offers linked to the coupon identification code,

comparing the plurality of offers to details of the first purchase to determine which of the plurality of offers are eligible for redemption on the first purchase,

applying a financial discount corresponding to each of the plurality of offers determined to be eligible for redemption on the first purchase, and

updating an availability status of the at least one of the plurality of offers in the database.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising redeeming at least one of the plurality of offers on a second purchase subsequent to the first purchase.

28. A coupon system comprising:

a coupon including a base substrate and a redemption card removably coupled with the base substrate, the base substrate including indicia visually identifying a plurality of offers for commercial advantage, and the redemption card including a coupon identification code corresponding to the plurality of offers for commercial advantage;

a database storing at least a portion of the coupon identification code and an availability status for each of the plurality of offers; and

a point-of-sale terminal in communication with the database;

wherein during use, the coupon identification code is entered into the point-of-sale terminal, and the point-of-sale terminal is adapted to use the coupon identification code to reference the availability status for each of the plurality of offers from the database such that the point-of-sale terminal applies a commercial advantage to a purchase, the commercial advantage corresponding to a portion of the plurality of offers deemed to be available upon reference to the availability status.

29. The coupon system of claim 28, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is adapted to apply the commercial advantage to the purchase based on terms for redeeming each of the plurality of offers deemed to be available, wherein the terms are stored in at least one of the database and the point-of-sale terminal.