Method and system for electronic purchases using an intelligent data carrier medium, electronic coupon system, and interactive TV infrastructure

A method for electronically transacting a purchase between a purchaser and a merchant, the method comprising:

• providing interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment with means for offering targeted incentives, the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment having a means for removably mating a data carrier medium with the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment, such that when the data carrier medium is mated to the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment, the data carrier medium communicates with the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment via electrical signals;
• accruing the targeted incentives via impression based ads by viewing programming with the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment;
• and
• automatically storing accrued targeted incentives on the data carrier medium via the interactive television (DTV/STB) equipment;
• wherein the targeted incentives are accrued without additional user interaction required with the interactive television (DTV/STB) to activate storage of the targeted incentives;
• wherein the data carrier medium comprises a processor for cooperatively processing the accrued targeted incentives, and an incentive is validated by a first digital signature and a use of the incentive is validated by a second digital signature;
• and
• wherein the data carrier medium generates the second digital signature, and the second digital signature is stored on the data carrier medium with an original version of the incentive including the first digital signature to produce a redeemed version of the incentive on the data carrier medium that is unique.