Universal club card and real-time coupon validation

• US 7,240,843 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lobar Code Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lobar Code Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Paul, Charles Frederic, Chetty, Vijay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/614,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• 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: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for real-time validation and redemption of paper and electronic coupons; electronic coupon distribution; electronic clearing and reporting of paper and electronic coupon redemptions; and an “Universal Club Card” that combines coupon scanning, coupon redemption, coupon distribution, loyalty cards, club cards, gift cards, frequent shopper programs, store credits and many other retail store promotions into one efficient and convenient portable scanning device.

Claims

1. Adapted to a portable scanner system supporting electronic coupon validation and redemption, a portable scanner comprising:

a communication port;

an optical converter;

a processing unit in communication with the optical converter and the communication port; and

an internal memory coupled to the processing unit, the internal memory comprises a plurality of data storage groupings including (1) a first data storage grouping being a list of coupons, inaccessible for redemption, that are currently available for a particular geographic region, and (2) a second data storage grouping being a list of coupons, accessible for redemption, that were scanned and matched with a coupon of the first data storage grouping.

2. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the internal memory further comprises a third data storage grouping including a list of coupons, accessible for redemption, that were scanned and unmatched with a coupon of the first data storage grouping.

3. The portable scanner of claim 2, wherein the internal memory further comprises a fourth data storage grouping being configured to store a manufacturer code for each manufacturer participating in the portable scanner system.

4. The portable scanner of claim 1 further comprising a display to illustrate coupon descriptive information being alphanumeric characters to identify at least one of the following:

a value of a coupon, expiration date of a coupon, a description of a discounted product, and a description of a manufacturer of the discounted product.

5. The portable scanner of claim 4 further comprising an interface to enable a customer to control operations of the scanner, the interface comprises (i) at least one scroll key that, when depressed, enables a customer to scroll and review alphanumeric characters on the display, and (ii) a scan key that, when depressed, activates the optical converter to scan a data object.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the internal memory further contains a unique identification number to enable identification of scanner and the customer.