Method and system for providing coupon saving using existing credit card processing infrastructure, and bar-coded coupon having 2-D component

A bar-coded coupon suitable for redemption at a point of sale location, comprising:

• a bar code symbol carrying an identifier of an account of an issuer of the coupon, an identifier of a consumer's account, and an identifier of an award amount to be awarded to the consumer's account and to be charged to the issuer's account.

A coupon card suitable for redemption at a point of sale location, comprising:

• at least one of a magnetic strip card and a smart cart carrying an identifier of an account of an issuer of the coupon, an identifier of a consumer's account, and an identifier of an award amount to be awarded to the consumer's account and to be charged to the issuer's account.

A method for processing a bar-coded coupon at a point of sale location, comprising:

• scanning a bar code symbol on the coupon to obtain an account identifier of an issuer of the coupon, a product or service identifier, and an identifier of a discount amount to be credited to a consumer upon purchase of the product or service, and to be charged to the issuer in accordance with the account identifier.

A method for processing a coupon card at a point of sale location, comprising:

• reading at least one of a magnetic strip card and a smart cart carrying an account identifier of an issuer of the coupon, a product or service identifier, and an identifier of a discount amount to be credited to a consumer upon purchase of the product or service, and to be charged to the issuer in accordance with the account identifier.

A computer program product for use in printing a bar-coded coupon suitable for redemption at a point of sale location, comprising:

• software adapted to be executed by a computer for use in printing a bar code symbol carrying an account identifier of an issuer of the coupon, a product or service identifier, and an identifier of a discount amount to be credited to a consumer upon purchase of the product or service, and to be charged to the issuer in accordance with the account identifier.

A computer program product for use in printing a bar-coded coupon suitable for redemption at a point of sale location, comprising:

• software adapted to be executed by a computer for use in printing a bar code symbol carrying an identifier of an account of an issuer of the coupon, an identifier of a consumer's account, and an identifier of an award amount to be awarded to the consumer's account and to be charged to the issuer's account.

A bar-coded coupon suitable for redemption at a point of sale location, comprising:

• a bar code symbol carrying an account identifier of an issuer of the coupon, a product or service identifier, and an identifier of a discount amount to be credited to a consumer upon purchase of the product or service, and to be charged to the issuer in accordance with the account identifier;
• wherein:
• the account identifier comprises at least one of a credit card number and debit card number.

A method for processing a bar-coded coupon at a point of sale location, comprising:

• scanning a bar code symbol on the coupon to obtain an account identifier of an issuer of the coupon, a product or service identifier, and an identifier of a discount amount to be credited to a consumer upon purchase of the product or service, and to be charged to the issuer in accordance with the account identifier;
• wherein:
• the account identifier comprises at least one of a credit card number and debit card number.