Secure method for providing, verifying, and clearing negotiable discount coupons utilizing a distributed processing network

A method for increasing security in the issuance of discount coupons to consumers, the method comprising:

• providing a traceable, printable medium to remote users for the printing of discount offer data thereon in order to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded security code traceable to the remote user to whom it was provided;
• maintaining, in at least one database, identification data related to each remote user to whom the traceable, printable medium was provided, the at least one database providing an electronic link between at least one aspect of the identification data and the prerecorded security code;
• establishing an electronic connection with a plurality of remote users;
• providing for electronic registrations by remote users with a program manager;
• linking the prerecorded security codes found on the traceable, printable medium with the remote user registrations;
• establishing an electronic connection to at least one issuing station that includes at least one searchable database of discount offers accessible via a distributed processing network;
• providing electronic verifications to each issuing station that a specific remote user has met one or more requirements imposed by the program manager to print discounts onto an issue of traceable, printable medium provided by the program manager;
• recording data for each discount offer chosen for print by a remote user;
• linking the recorded data to the security code found on the package of traceable, printable medium issued to the remote user choosing to print a particular discount offer;
• establishing an electronic connection to at least one redemption station where discount coupons may be redeemed;
• and
• providing electronic verifications to each redemption station of the authenticity of completed coupon shells including discount offer information printed thereon by remote users, which completed coupon shells are submitted for redemption.

A method for increasing security in the issuance of discount coupons to consumers, the method comprising:

• providing a traceable, printable medium to remote users, whose identities are verified through an official issuance or record, for the printing of discount offer data thereon in order to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded security code traceable to the remote user to whom it was provided;
• maintaining, in at least one database, identification data related to each remote user to whom the traceable, printable medium was provided, the at least one database providing an electronic link between at least one aspect of the identification data and the prerecorded security code;
• establishing an electronic connection with a plurality of remote users;
• providing for electronic registrations by remote users with a program manager;
• linking the prerecorded security codes found on the traceable, printable medium with the remote user registrations;
• providing a print control program to remote users to manage the printing of discount offer data and security data onto coupon shells;
• establishing an electronic connection to at least one issuing station that includes at least one searchable database of discount offers accessible via a distributed processing network;
• providing electronic verifications to each issuing station that a specific remote user has met one or more requirements imposed by the program manager to print discounts onto an issue of traceable, printable medium provided by the program manager;
• assigning and recording a code for each discount offer chosen for print by a remote user;
• linking each assigned and recorded code to the security code found on the package of traceable, printable medium issued to the remote user choosing to print a particular discount offer;
• establishing an electronic connection to at least one redemption station where discount coupons may be redeemed;
• providing electronic verifications to each redemption station of the authenticity of completed coupon shells including discount offer information printed thereon by remote users, which completed coupon shells are submitted for redemption;
• and
• providing a service for the electronic clearing of completed coupon shells presented for redemption;
• which electronic clearing is accomplished by verifying a predetermined relationship between the security codes and the assigned and recorded codes printed by remote users.

A system for increasing security in the issuance of discount coupons to consumers, the system comprising:

• means for providing printable medium to remote users to allow for the printing of discount offer data thereon to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded security code traceable to the remote user to whom it was provided;
• means for maintaining verifiable identification data related to each remote user to whom the printable medium was provided;
• means for electronically linking at least one aspect of the identification data with the prerecorded security code found on the printable medium provided to a remote user;
• means for recording data related to specific discount offers chosen for print by a remote user;
• and
• means for linking the recorded data related to specific discount offers with the prerecorded security codes found on the traceable, printable medium onto which the discount offers are printed.

A system for verifying the authenticity of coupons containing discounts printed by remote users and for the electronic clearing of negotiable discount coupons containing remote user printed discounts, the system comprising:

• means for providing printable medium to remote users to allow for the printing of discount offer data thereon to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded security code traceable to the remote user to whom it was provided;
• means for maintaining verifiable identification data related to each remote user to whom the printable medium was provided;
• means for electronically linking at least one aspect of the identification data with the prerecorded security code found on the printable medium provided to a remote user;
• means for recording data related to specific discount offers chosen for print by a remote user;
• means for linking the data related to specific discount offers with the prerecorded security codes found on the traceable, printable medium onto which the discount offers are printed;
• means for providing electronic verifications to at least one issuing station of the validity of specific remote users to participate in the printing of discount offers onto traceable, printable medium;
• means for providing electronic verifications to at least one redemption station that a particular coupon including remote-user printed discounts presented for redemption has been printed on a valid issue of traceable, printable medium, and that the prerecorded security code found on the completed coupon shell matches one predetermined aspect of the recorded data related to the discount offer chosen and printed by the remote user;
• and
• means for clearing negotiable discount coupons including remote user printed discounts that have been presented for redemption, verified, and applied to a particular transaction.

A system for increasing security in the issuance of discount coupons to consumers and for verifying and clearing discount coupons presented for redemption, the system comprising:

• means for providing printable medium to remote users to allow for the printing of discount offer data thereon to create negotiable discount coupons, each traceable, printable medium comprising at least one coupon shell including a prerecorded security code traceable to the remote user to whom it was provided;
• means for maintaining verifiable identification data related to each remote user to whom the printable medium was provided;
• means for electronically linking at least one aspect of the identification data with the prerecorded security code found on the printable medium provided to a remote user;
• means for providing a print control program to remote users to manage the printing and placement of data onto coupon shells;
• means for assigning and recording codes to specific discount offers chosen for print by a remote user;
• means for linking the codes assigned to specific discount offers with the prerecorded security codes found on the traceable, printable medium onto which the discount offers are printed;
• means for providing electronic verifications to at least one issuing station of the validity of specific remote users to participate in the printing of discount offers onto traceable, printable medium;
• means for providing electronic verifications to at least one redemption station that a particular coupon including remote-user printed discounts presented for redemption has been printed on a valid issue of traceable, printable medium, and that the prerecorded security code found on the completed coupon shell matches one predetermined aspect of the assigned and recorded code printed by the remote user;
• and
• means for clearing negotiable discount coupons containing remote user printed discounts that have been presented for redemption, verified, and applied to a particular transaction.