System and method for wireless coupon transactions

A retail coupon redemption method for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the method comprising:

• using a communication protocol for wide-area wireless networks to detect when a wireless cellular communication device moves within communication range of a fixed communication device having a transmitter and a receiver and associated with a retail facility open to consumers, the fixed communication device being configured for operation in accordance with the communications protocol;
• upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the fixed communication device, registering the wireless cellular communication device with the fixed communication device using frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks using a registration process in accordance with the communications protocol, and using the transmitter to transmit a coupon message from the retail facility to the wireless cellular communication device;
• receiving the coupon message at the wireless cellular communication device;
• and
• displaying the received coupon message on a display of the wireless cellular communication device.

A retail coupon system for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless network, the system comprising:

• a base station associated with a retail facility and located proximate the retail facility, the base station being configured to have a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies and to communicate with a wireless cellular communication device using a wireless communication protocol;
• and
• a base station controller operatively coupled to the base station, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of the base station, and upon detection that the wireless device is within range, the controller being configured to:
• perform a base station registration process with the wireless cellular communication device using the wireless communication protocol used by the wireless cellular communication device, and
• cause the base station to transmit a coupon message to the wireless cellular communication device.

A retail coupon system for use with a plurality of retail facilities operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks, the system comprising:

• a plurality of base stations, each associated with a respective one of the plurality of retail facilities and located proximate the respective retail facility, each of the plurality of base stations being configured to have a limited transmission range on the licensed frequencies to thereby define a cellular coverage region for each respective base station and to communicate with wireless cellular communication devices operating on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless networks;
• and
• a base station controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of base stations, the controller being configured to detect when the wireless cellular communication device is within range of a first of the plurality of base stations, and upon detection that the wireless cellular communication device is within range, the controller operatively coupled to the first base station being configured to:
• perform a base station registration process with the wireless cellular communication device, and
• cause the first base station to transmit a coupon message to the registered wireless cellular communication device.