REDEMPTION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC COUPONS

• US 20080300970A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scheibe, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US11/754,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300970A1
• 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 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for redeeming an electronic coupon. The electronic coupon corresponds to an advertiser and has an associated coupon identifier. The coupon identifier is received as part of a first communication session with a communication device. Redemption of the electronic coupon is facilitated where the communication device is associated with the advertiser.

Claims

1. A method for redeeming an electronic coupon, the electronic coupon corresponding to an advertiser and having an associated coupon identifier, the method comprising:

receiving the coupon identifier as part of a first communication session with a communication device; and

facilitating redemption of the electronic coupon where the communication device is associated with the advertiser.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing the electronic coupon to a consumer by transmitting the coupon identifier to a mobile device associated with the consumer.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving the coupon identifier as part of a second communication session with the mobile device; and

communicating whether the electronic coupon is valid to the consumer via the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising issuing a new electronic coupon to the consumer where the electronic coupon is invalid.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the coupon identifier to the mobile device is accomplished using an SMS message.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the communication device is associated with the advertiser with reference to a mapping between the advertiser and a phone number associated with the communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the communication device is associated with the advertiser by requesting an advertiser identifier during the first communication session.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication session with the communication device is initiated by the communication device with a phone number which includes the coupon identifier.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering the advertiser by associating a first phone number corresponding to the communication device with the advertiser, and registering the consumer by associating a second phone number corresponding to a mobile device with the consumer, the method further comprising associating the coupon identifier with the first and second phone numbers.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the electronic coupon is valid, wherein facilitating redemption of the coupon comprises indicating that the coupon is valid as part of the first communication session.

11. A computer program product for redeeming an electronic coupon, the electronic coupon corresponding to an advertiser and having an associated coupon identifier, the computer program product comprising at least one computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions being configured to cause at least one computer to:

receive the coupon identifier as part of a first communication session with a communication device; and

facilitate redemption of the electronic coupon where the communication device is associated with the advertiser.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to issue the electronic coupon to a consumer by transmitting the coupon identifier to a mobile device associated with the consumer.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to:

receive the coupon identifier as part of a second communication session with the mobile device; and

communicate whether the electronic coupon is valid to the consumer via the mobile device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to issue a new electronic coupon to the consumer where the electronic coupon is invalid.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein transmitting the coupon identifier to the mobile device is accomplished using an SMS message.

16. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to determine whether the communication device is associated with the advertiser with reference to a mapping between the advertiser and a phone number associated with the communication device.

17. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to determine whether the communication device is associated with the advertiser by requesting an advertiser identifier during the first communication session.

18. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the first communication session with the communication device is initiated by the communication device with a phone number which includes the coupon identifier.

19. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to register the advertiser by associating a first phone number corresponding to the communication device with the advertiser, and register the consumer by associating a second phone number corresponding to a mobile device with the consumer, the computer program instructions being further configured to cause the at least one computer to associate the coupon identifier with the first and second phone numbers.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one computer to determine whether the electronic coupon is valid, and to facilitate redemption of the coupon by indicating that the coupon is valid as part of the first communication session.

21. A method for redeeming an electronic coupon, the electronic coupon corresponding to an advertiser and having an associated coupon identifier, the method comprising:

providing a first phone number corresponding to a communication device associated with the advertiser to a coupon redemption system;

transmitting the coupon identifier as part of a first communication session between the communication device and the coupon redemption system; and

redeeming the electronic coupon where the coupon redemption system indicates the electronic coupon to be valid.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising specifying terms to the coupon redemption system according to which the electronic coupon is generated.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing an advertiser identifier corresponding to the advertiser during the first communication session.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising initiating the first communication session by entering a second phone number which includes the coupon identifier.