Method and system for generating certificates having unique id data

Abstract

A method and system for the electronic distribution of product redemption coupons to remote personal computers located at users' homes are disclosed. A centrally located repository, such as an online service provider or web site on the Internet, stores packages of coupon data for downloading on demand to the user's computer. A coupon generated by the system and method of the present invention comprises an encoded area that consists essentially of a unique Coupon Id. The unique Coupon Id is also recorded in a database comprising a plurality of data tables. At least one of the data tables associates each Coupon Id with one or more of a Promotion Id and a Consumer Id. Preferably, the Print Id is also associated in a data table with a Session Id and information regarding the date/time of printing. The Ids other than the Coupon Id may not be printed on the coupon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for printing promotions for users comprising:
 means for inputting a request for a promotion to be printed;   means for printing a promotion with a Unique ID encoded on the printed promotion, wherein the Unique ID is associated with least a Promotion ID and Consumer ID, wherein the Promotion ID and Consumer ID are not printed on the printed promotion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the promotion is a coupon. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the Promotion ID comprises information about the promotion including one or more of an item description, incentive description and issuer description. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the Consumer ID comprises information about a consumer including information about the consumer's demographic data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the Promotion ID comprises information about the promotion including on e or more of an item description, incentive description and issuer description and the Consumer ID comprises information about a consumer including information about the consumer's demographic data. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the Unique ID is associated with a Session ID. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the Unique ID is associated with a Date/Time ID. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the Session ID comprises information regarding the session during which the promotion was requested. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the Date/Time ID comprises information regarding the date and time when the promotion was generated or printed. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising redemption receipt means for receiving information regarding the redemption of the promotion and storing that information into the database in association with the Unique ID. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for determining if the coupon is valid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining receives a request from a point of service and generates validity information to the point of service. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the request is received over the Internet and provided to the point of service over the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining receives a request from redemption facility and generates validity information to the redemption facility. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the request is received over the Internet and provided to the redemption facility over the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining receives a request from a web site at which the promotion is being offered and generates validity information to the web site. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the request and validity information are transferred over the Internet.