Patent US6330543B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6330543B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for distributing and reconciling electronic promotions
Assignee: DS IQ Inc
•
Filing: 1998-11-13
•
Granted: 2001-12-11
•
Expires: 2018-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a consumer through the Internet or other means is provided. An account which is associated with a unique key is maintained for each consumer account. Access is permitted to the consumer account upon presentation of the unique key over the Internet. The consumer is presented discount or other promotional choices of items available in at least one store associated with the key, or a collection of such stores, over the Internet and the selections of the discount or promotional choices made by the consumer over the Internet or other means are recorded. Upon purchase of items at the associated store by the consumer, such data are received, and the selections and purchases are reconciled to record a credit in the customer account. Unlike paper or electronic coupons, no consumer action other than the selection of promotions desired is required for item purchase.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan Kepecs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0215; G06Q30/0222; G06Q30/0224; G06Q30/0226; G06Q30/0236; G06Q30/0239; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0253; G06Q30/0255; G06Q30/0277; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 69
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through at least one communications network, comprising: maintaining an account for each consumer; associating each consumer account with a unique key; permitting access by said consumer to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said at least one communications network, said access including said consumer's purchasing history of promotions through said consumer account; presenting promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said unique key over a selected communications network, including said at least one communications network to said consumer; receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; and reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers through at least one communications network, comprising: maintaining an account for each consumer; associating each consumer account with a unique key; permitting access by said consumer to said consumer account upon presentation of said unique key over said at least one communications network, said access including said consumer's purchasing history of promotions through said consumer account; presenting promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said unique key over a selected communications network, including said at least one communications network to said consumer; receiving data of purchased items by said consumer at said associated store; and reconciling said selections and purchases to credit said consumer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reconciling step comprises recording a credit in said consumer account.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said consumer account comprises a financial institution account.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said financial institution account comprises a “deposit-only” account.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said consumer account comprises a store loyalty program account.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said consumer account comprises a discount account established by a third party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reconciling step comprises directly crediting consumer at said associated store.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said consumer account comprises a store loyalty program account.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said consumer account comprises a discount account established by a third party.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reconciling step comprises directly implementing an individualized price on certain selected and purchased items.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting specific discounts on specific items.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting a purchase incentive for one or more items available in said associated store, said purchase incentive unrelated to said one or more items.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting specific prices on specific items.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting said promotion choices by telephone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting said promotion choices by printer at said store.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting said promotion choices by electronic mail.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting said promotion choices by direct mail.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises presenting said promotion choices by a cash register printer at said store.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said presenting promotion choices step comprises calculating shelf prices for all consumers at said store.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording selections of said promotion choices made by said consumer over said communications network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of sending data of said recorded selections to one or more of said associated stores within a preselected time limit after said recording selection step so that said data is sent prior to purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of indicating discounts credited to said consumer account at the time of purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of invalidating said sent data of said recorded selections to one or more of said associated stores within a preselected time limit after said time of purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of inferring a likely associated store where purchase will occur by said consumer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said inferring step comprises inferring said likely associated store from the data of previously purchased items by said consumer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said inferring step comprises inferring said likely associated store from said unique key.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said one or more associated stores are preselected by said consumer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending data of said recorded selections to said associated store upon purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store so that discounts credited to said consumer account are indicated at the time of purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving data of purchased items step occurs upon purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving data of purchased items step occurs within a preselected time limit after purchase of items by said consumer at said associated store.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting data of previously purchased items by said consumer over said communications network to said consumer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said data presenting step further comprises formatting said data to industry standards.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said consumer account maintaining step has a limited direct identification of said consumer with said account.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said consumer account maintaining step excludes identification of said consumer by name.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 34 said consumer account maintaining step comprises: maintaining a database of only said key, at least one financial institution account number, and purchasing history for each consumer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a credit card number.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a debit card number.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a smart card number.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said consumer account maintaining step includes a name of each customer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said reconciling step further comprises: communicating said credit to a financial institution account through said financial institution account number so that said financial institution account may be credited.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 40 wherein said financial institution account is maintained in a smart card.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said access permitting step is over the Internet.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said access permitting step further comprises accessing said consumer account through a Web site upon presentation of said unique key by the consumer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said Web site is associated with said store.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of offering promotions to said consumer derived from received data of consumer purchases.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said promotion offering step comprises targeting large aggregates of consumers.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said promotion offering step comprises targeting individual consumers.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 47 wherein said targeting step comprises inferring said individual consumers from purchasing and promotion selection data of said consumers.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 48 wherein promotions offered to a targeted individual consumer include promotions for products and services based upon purchasing and promotion selection data of said consumer, said promotions for products and services unrelated to items actually purchased by said consumer.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers comprising: a first communications network interconnected to a plurality of first computers interfacing with said plurality of consumers; at least one second computer connected to said first communications network, said second computer maintaining an account for each consumer, said account including a database, each consumer account accessible upon presentation of a unique key over said first communications network, said accessed account showing promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said key; and a second communications network distinct from said first communications network, said second communications network interconnecting said second computer and at least one computer at said associated store so that said second computer and said store computer can exchange recorded selection data of promotion choices and purchase data of items at said associated store over said second communications network to reconcile said selections and purchases to credit said consumer.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for distributing and redeeming electronic promotions to a plurality of consumers comprising: a first communications network interconnected to a plurality of first computers interfacing with said plurality of consumers; at least one second computer connected to said first communications network, said second computer maintaining an account for each consumer, said account including a database, each consumer account accessible upon presentation of a unique key over said first communications network, said accessed account showing promotion choices of items available at at least one store associated with said key; and a second communications network distinct from said first communications network, said second communications network interconnecting said second computer and at least one computer at said associated store so that said second computer and said store computer can exchange recorded selection data of promotion choices and purchase data of items at said associated store over said second communications network to reconcile said selections and purchases to credit said consumer.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 50 wherein said second computer records data of selections of said promotion choices made by said consumer over said first communications network.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 51 wherein said second computer reconciles said selections and purchases to record a credit in said consumer account.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 51 wherein said store computer reconciles said selections and purchases to directly reduce a total price of selected and purchased items.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 50 wherein said second computer maintains only limited direct identification of each consumer in said account database.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 54 wherein said consumer account database excludes identification of said consumer by name.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 55 wherein a record of said consumer account database has only said key, at least one financial institution account number, and purchasing history for each consumer.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 56 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a credit card number.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 56 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a debit card number.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 56 wherein said financial institution account number comprises a smart card number.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 56 wherein said consumer account database includes a name for each customer.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 51 further comprising a third network connecting said second computer and a computer at a financial institution, said second computer communicating a credit to said financial institution computer so that an account of a consumer at said financial institution is credited to reconcile selections and purchases made by said consumer.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 50 wherein said first network comprises the Internet.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 62 wherein said first network further comprises a Web site presenting a consumer account accessible only upon presentation of said unique key by said consumer.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 63 wherein said Web site is associated with said store.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 63 wherein said Web site operates on a server, said server interacting with said second computer to access said consumer account.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 50 wherein said accessed account presents data of previously purchased items by said consumer.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 66 wherein said data of previously purchased items are formatted to industry standards.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |