METHOD FOR GENERATING, DISTRIBUTING, and REDEEMING ELECTRONIC COUPONS
AssigneeTech Fusion Corporation
InventorsWilliam Sullivan, Dennis Au, Chris Corbett, Dale Hachiya, Sean LeMons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for offering and distributing digital coupons from promoters to users via a network. The method includes the steps of receiving the digital coupons, storing them on a central computer, and associating them with a product identifier. The user selects a selected product identifier, and the digital coupons associated with the selected product identifier are then transmitted to the user, who can then select a selected digital coupon, for use. The promoter pays a fee for the placement of and/or use of each of the digital coupons.
Claims13
A method for offering and distributing digital coupons from promoters to users via a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving the digital coupons from the promoters via the network;
- storing the digital coupons on a computer memory;
- associating each of the digital coupons with a product identifier;
- storing the association of the digital coupons with the product identifier in a database;
- receiving a selected product identifier from one of the users;
- transmitting at least some of the digital coupons associated with the selected product identifier to the user;
- receiving a selected digital coupon from the user;
- providing a benefit to the user as designated by the selected digital coupon;
- and
- determining a payment due from the promoter for the placement of and/or use of each of the digital coupons.
A method for offering a digital coupon to users via a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving the digital coupon via the network;
- storing the digital coupon on a computer memory;
- transmitting an offer to associate the digital coupon with a product identifier in exchange for a given payment for placement and/or use of the digital coupon;
- receiving an acceptance of the offer;
- associating the digital coupon with the product identifier;
- storing the association between the digital coupon and the product identifier in a database;
- receiving a selected product identifier from one of the users;
- transmitting all of the digital coupons associated with the selected product identifier to the user;
- receiving a selected digital coupon from the user;
- processing the selected digital coupon to provide a discount to the user;
- and
- determining a payment due in response to the placement of and/or use of each of the digital coupons in response to the users viewing and/or selecting the digital coupons, per the accepted offer.
A method for receiving digital coupons for products from promoters via a network and associating each of the digital coupons with a price for placement of the digital coupon with a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a central computer having a computer processor and a computer memory;
- receiving the digital coupons from the promoters via the network into the computer memory for the central computer;
- associating each of the digital coupons with a product identifier;
- determining the price for placement of and/or use of each of the digital coupons in association with the product identifier;
- and
- storing the association between the digital coupons and the product identifiers in a master coupon database operably installed on the computer memory of the central computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.