Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization
AssigneeVisa U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsLiane Redford, Bryan Shimko, James Mazour, Rajkumar Viswanathan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.
Claims25
A system for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:
- a portable token configured to store an electronic coupon and a redemption tally, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed by a holder of the portable token for a corresponding reward under the reward program;
- a token acceptance device configured to communicate with the portable token and store a redemption limit relating to the electronic coupon, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed for the corresponding reward under the reward program, the token acceptance device further configured to receive information relating to a transaction from the holder;
- and
- a reward host configured to allow a reward program sponsor to establish the redemption limit and communicate the redemption limit to the token acceptance device;
- wherein the holder indicates to the token acceptance device that the electronic coupon is to be redeemed and applied to the transaction;
- wherein upon receiving indication of redemption of the electronic coupon, the token acceptance device compares the redemption limit to the redemption tally and determines whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed and applied to the transaction;
- wherein the token acceptance device automatically resolves redemption conflicts associated with a concurrent redemption of the electronic coupon and other coupons;
- and
- wherein the reward host is further configured to prioritize multiple coupon redemptions for the transaction.
A method for managing coupon redemption under a reward program, comprising:
- retrieving a token image from a portable token, the token image having an electronic coupon and a redemption tally relating to the electronic coupon, the redemption tally representing the number of times the electronic coupon has been redeemed for a corresponding reward under the reward program;
- comparing the redemption tally to a redemption limit, the redemption limit representing the maximum number of times the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed for the corresponding reward under the reward program;
- determining whether the electronic coupon is allowed to be redeemed;
- prioritizing multiple coupon redemptions;
- and
- automatically resolving redemption conflicts associated with a concurrent redemption of the electronic coupon and other coupons,
- wherein retrieving, comparing, and automatically resolving are performed by a token acceptance device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.