US6041309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons
Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corp
•
Filing: 1998-12-23
•
Granted: 2000-03-21
•
Expires: 2018-12-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention consists of a method and system for enabling and enhancing electronic commerce over a communications channel. The system includes a communication channel coupled to at least two terminals having the ability to send and receive information. Where one terminal is deemed to be the client A, and the other terminal is deemed the server B. Upon receiving a request for information from the client A, the server B transfers the requested information. In addition to the requested information, the server B adds certain additional information either in the form of a coupon C (that can be enciphered), or in the form of a pointer to a coupon database, that allows the client A to be recognized by other servers B' not necessarily related to the server B, issuing the original information C. Any server(s) B' that subsequently recognizes client A as the client A makes requests for information to the new server(s) B' would only have the ability to recognize portions of the information C related to it. When client A makes certain electronic requests from server B', server B' will simultaneously make a request to a database on server D that will authenticate the information C that transpired between client A and server B'. Upon authentication and verification by server D, server B' will allow client A to proceed with any transactions and/or any request for information subject to other criteria of server B'.
Inventors
- 👤 Raviv Laor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0225; G06Q30/0239; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for transmitting an electronic coupon to said client system over said communications channel, without regard to predetermined client criteria; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for storing said electronic coupon in said memory; and, a second server system connected to said communications channel, said second server system being adapted to establish a connection with said client system and for detecting said electronic coupon stored on said client system, said second server system further being adapted to redeem said electronic coupon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for transmitting an electronic coupon to said client system over said communications channel, without regard to predetermined client criteria; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for storing said electronic coupon in said memory; and, a second server system connected to said communications channel, said second server system being adapted to establish a connection with said client system and for detecting said electronic coupon stored on said client system, said second server system further being adapted to redeem said electronic coupon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising: a third server system connected to said communications channel, said third server system being adapted for communicating with said second server system and for authorizing the redemption of said electronic coupon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said second server system is adapted to redeem said coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client system and said second server system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said second server system is adapted to redeem said coupon by modifying a transaction initiated between said client system and said second server system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said communications channel includes a network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said communications channel includes a TCP/IP based network and said coupon includes a cookie.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said first server system and said second server system are the same server system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system including means for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure associating said client system with said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory; and, retrieval means for establishing a connection with said client system, for detecting and retrieving said electronic token stored on said client system, and for redeeming said electronic coupon.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system including means for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure associating said client system with said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory; and, retrieval means for establishing a connection with said client system, for detecting and retrieving said electronic token stored on said client system, and for redeeming said electronic coupon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said data structure includes data necessary for redemption and identification of a corresponding source and benefit, including at least data representative of a version number of said electronic coupon, data representative of a vendor capable of redeeming said electronic coupon, and data representative of a serial number identifying said electronic coupon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said electronic coupon resides on a distinct server system, and said data structure includes data pointing to said coupon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said retrieval means includes a second server system connected to said communications channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein (i) said first server system further includes a script for generating a website frame having a predetermined signature, such that said electronic token uniquely corresponds to said predetermined signature; and, (ii) said second server system further includes said script for generating said website frame having said predetermined signature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 11 further comprising: a third server system connected to said communications channel, said third server system including means for communicating with said second server system and for identifying and authorizing the redemption of said electronic coupon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said second server system includes means for redeeming said coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client system and said second server system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said second server system includes means for redeeming said coupon by modifying a transaction initiated between said client system and said second server system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said retrieval means includes said first server system, whereby said means for assigning and said retrieval means are implemented by a single server system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said coupon includes information representative of at least one aspect of a transaction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one aspect of a transaction includes one or more of the following: identification of goods or services, source of goods or services, price of goods or services, and discount from goods or services.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 8, further including printing means for automatically providing a hard-copy document corresponding to said electronic coupon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 8, further including means for authenticating and validating said electronic coupon prior to redeeming said coupon so as to substantially prevent unauthorized tampering with said coupon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein said means for authenticating is selected from the group consisting of version number analysis, serial number analysis, identification number analysis, encryption/decryption, and combinations thereof.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of: A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) transferring said electronic coupon from said server to said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and, F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of: A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) transferring said electronic coupon from said server to said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and, F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon according to claim 22, wherein prior to step A, the server receives a request for information from the client.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon according to claim 22, further comprising the step of: authenticating said electronic coupon and authorizing a transaction between said client and subsequent server as a function of an authenticated electronic coupon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between said subsequent server and an authentication server; and, said authentication server authenticating said electronic coupon and authorizing the redemption of said electronic coupon.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of: A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) associating said electronic coupon with said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and, F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon comprising the steps of: A) establishing a connection over a communications channel between a client and a server; B) associating said electronic coupon with said client without regard to predetermined client criteria; C) establishing a connection over a communications channel between said client and a subsequent server, said subsequent server including one of said server and other servers; D) said client requesting information from said subsequent server; E) said subsequent server recognizing said electronic coupon; and, F) said subsequent server redeeming said electronic coupon as a function of a transaction initiated between said client and said subsequent server.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method of distributing and redeeming an electronic coupon according to claim 26, further comprising the step of: prior to step B, generating, on said server, a first website frame having a predetermined signature such that an electronic token provided by said website frame to said client uniquely corresponds to said predetermined signature, said token having a data structure including at least data pointing to said electronic coupon; and, prior to step E, generating, on said subsequent server, a second website frame having said predetermined signature, such that said second website frame can access said electronic token.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for distributing electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure including at least data pointing to said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory, such that in a subsequent network transaction said electronic coupon may be detected by a second server and utilized to modify said subsequent network transaction.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for distributing electronic coupons comprising: a first server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said first server system being connected by a communications channel to a client system, said first server system being adapted for associating an electronic coupon with said client system and for providing an electronic token to said client system without regard to predetermined client criteria, said token having a data structure including at least data pointing to said electronic coupon; said client system including a computer processor and associated memory, said client system being adapted for receiving and storing said electronic token in said memory, such that in a subsequent network transaction said electronic coupon may be detected by a second server and utilized to modify said subsequent network transaction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US34915A
Cited
US4674041A
Cited
US4882675A
Cited
USRE34915E
Cited
US4791281A
Cited
US5185695A
Cited
US5117355A
Cited
US5202826A
Cited
US5287268A
Cited
US5557721A
Cited
US5193056A
Cited
US5237499A
Cited
US5502636A
Cited
US5305195A
Cited
US5249044A
Cited
US5353218A
Cited
US5305197A
Cited
US5708782A
Cited
US5420606A
Cited
US5380991A
Cited
US5557518A
Cited
US5515098A
Cited
US5761648A
Cited
US5905673A
Cited
US5970469A
Cited
US5806044A
Cited
US5903874A
Cited
US5794207A
Cited
US5884278A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-09-20 | 2004-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-21 | 2011-09-20 | 2012-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |