Virtual couponing method and apparatus for use with consumer kiosk

Abstract

A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”. Once redeemed, consumer ID information and Virtual Coupon™ information may be retrieved electronically and used to update a central database. Accurate data may then be produced illustrating which consumers or groups of consumers are redeeming which Virtual Coupons™. Such data may be used for marketing purposes or to generated further diskettes for distribution targeting specific consumers or groups of consumers with specific classes of Virtual Coupon™ offerings. The use of Virtual Coupons™ eliminates or reduces fraud, and allows a frequency card discount to be applied only a limited number of times.

1 . A system for providing electronic coupons linked to accounts associated with users, the system comprising:
 a computing device having one or more physical processors programmed to:   provide a selectable list of one or more electronic coupons to a user through a user interface;   receive, through the user interface, a selection of at least a first coupon from among the one or more electronic coupons, wherein the first coupon relates to an incentive to purchase a first item;   identify an account that is associated with the user;   associate the first coupon with the account;   receive an indication that the account is being used in a purchase transaction that includes the first item; and   cause the first coupon to be applied to the purchase transaction based on the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction and the association between the first coupon and the account.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the account comprises a frequent shopper account. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a frequent shopper card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the account comprises a payment account. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a debit card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a smart card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction is received from a retailer associated with the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 provide the first coupon to the retailer such that the first coupon is caused to be applied to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 receive redemption information that indicates a redemption of the first coupon and a consumer identification that identifies the user; and   update a consumer database based on the redemption information and the consumer identification, wherein the consumer database is used to target the user with one or more subsequent coupons.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the redemption information further includes a retailer identification that identifies the retailer at which the first coupon was redeemed such that purchases by the user across different retailers are stored in the consumer database. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 cause information indicating purchase of the first item to be stored in association with a consumer identification that identifies the user; and   target the user with one or more subsequent coupons based on the information indicating the purchase of the first item.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 obtain demographic information of the user; and   target the user with the first coupon based on the demographic information.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 provide a plurality of categories of items, including a first category of the first item, that is selectable through the user interface, wherein selection of a category causes one or more coupons related to the category to be provided.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 cause a value related to the first coupon to be added to a savings counter that includes an aggregate value of selected coupons and is displayed on the user interface.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:
 cause a graphical representation for each of the one or more coupons to be displayed through the user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises an interactive website. 
     
     
         17 . A computer implemented method for providing electronic coupons linked to accounts associated with users, the method being implemented on a computing device having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that when executed cause the one or more physical processors to perform the method, the method comprising:
 providing, by the one or more physical processors, a selectable list of one or more electronic coupons to a user through a user interface;   receiving, by the one or more physical processors, through the user interface, a selection of at least a first coupon from among the one or more electronic coupons, wherein the first coupon relates to an incentive to purchase a first item;   identifying, by the one or more physical processors, an account that is associated with the user;   associating, by the one or more physical processors, the first coupon with the account;   receiving, by the one or more physical processors, an indication that the account is being used in a purchase transaction that includes the first item; and   causing, by the one or more physical processors, the first coupon to be applied to the purchase transaction based on the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction and the association between the first coupon and the account.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the account comprises a frequent shopper account. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a frequent shopper card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the account comprises a payment account. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a debit card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction comprises an identification of a smart card being used in the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the indication that the account is being used in the purchase transaction is received from a retailer associated with the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , the method further comprising:
 providing the first coupon to the retailer such that the first coupon is caused to be applied to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , the method further comprising:
 receiving redemption information that indicates a redemption of the first coupon and a consumer identification that identifies the user; and   updating a consumer database based on the redemption information and the consumer identification, wherein the consumer database is used to target the user with one or more subsequent coupons.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the redemption information further includes a retailer identification that identifies the retailer at which the first coupon was redeemed such that purchases by the user across different retailers are stored in the consumer database. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 causing information indicating purchase of the first item to be stored in association with a consumer identification that identifies the user; and   targeting the user with one or more subsequent coupons based on the information indicating the purchase of the first item.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 obtaining demographic information of the user; and   targeting the user with the first coupon based on the demographic information.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 providing a plurality of categories of items, including a first category of the first item, that is selectable through the user interface, wherein selection of a category causes one or more coupons related to the category to be provided.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 causing a value related to the first coupon to be added to a savings counter that includes an aggregate value of selected coupons and is displayed on the user interface.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 causing a graphical representation for each of the one or more coupons to be displayed through the user interface.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface comprises an interactive website.