Method and system for electronic distribution of product redemption coupons

Abstract

Provided is a method and system for the electronic distribution of product redemption coupons to remote personal computers located at users' homes. 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. The user may view, select, sort and print desired coupons from the downloaded package. The user's demographic as well as coupon selection data is provided back to the online service and coupon distributor and issuers for subsequent marketing analysis. The online service can perform subsequent coupon processing on previously downloaded coupon packages such as variation of discount amounts. The online service provider can also determine how many times a particular coupon was viewed. When the printed coupons are presented at a retail store, the discount is provided to the user. Upon redemption by the store via a coupon redeeming center, transaction data is also supplied to the coupon issuers and distributor for integration into marketing analysis. The electronic coupon system is secure due to the inclusion of user-specific identification indicia printed thereon.

1 - 46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . A method of operating an electronic coupon distribution system comprising the steps of: 
 collecting device information from a client system, the device information being insufficient to specifically identify a user of the client system;    associating a device ID with the device information at a main server system, the device ID being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    selecting a coupon according to the device ID to thereby identify the coupon appropriate for said user based on the device information; and,    transmitting the selected coupon from the main server system to the client system.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the device information is obtained from the user, the device information including at least one of a postal zip code associated with the user and a state in which the user resides.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  further including the step of: 
 associating the device ID with the client system, the main server system using the device ID to identify the client system.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further including the step of: 
 generating a printed version of one of the transmitted coupons at the client system that includes the device ID.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  further including the step of: 
 transmitting a request from the client system to the main server system to perform said using step wherein the request includes the device ID.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein said request transmitting step includes the substep of: 
 automatically including the device ID in the request without any intervention by the user of the client system.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51  wherein said request transmitting step occurs automatically without any intervention by the user.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said request transmitting step occurs at predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the client system operates in accordance with an operating system characterized by a graphical user interface (GUI), said method further including the steps of: 
 displaying an icon visible to the user in a first display state; and,    displaying the icon in a second display state different from the first display state when a new coupon is available for the user.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the second display state is a flashing display state.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 47  wherein said transmitting step includes the substeps of: 
 encrypting coupon data corresponding to the selected coupons at the main server system in accordance with a server system encryption strategy; and,    sending the server-encrypted coupon data to the client system.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting advertising data to the client system; and,    displaying at least a portion of the transmitted advertising data on a display portion of the client system.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the advertising data comprises a plurality of advertising impressions, and, wherein said displaying step comprises the substep of: 
 selecting one of the plurality of advertising impressions as a function of a selected subcategory of coupons available on the client system.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting events occurring at the client system;    storing the detected events in a user history file; and,    transmitting the user history file to the main server system.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein said detecting step includes the substeps of: 
 determining when one of a plurality of advertising impressions has been displayed on a display portion of the client system; and,    determining a sponsor identification of the advertising impression.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the storing step comprises the substep of: 
 encrypting the detected events to thereby generate encrypted user event information; and,    writing the encrypted user event information to the client system.    
     
     
         63 . A coupon distribution system, comprising: 
 means for collecting device information from a user of a client system indicative of one or more demographic characteristics of the user, the device information being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    means for associating a device ID with the device information at a main server system, the device ID being insufficient to specifically identify the user;    means for selecting coupons according to the device ID to thereby identify coupons appropriate for the user based on the user's demographic characteristics; and,    means for transmitting the selected coupons from the main server system to the client system.    
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63  wherein said collecting means includes means for obtaining from the user demographic characteristics including at least one of a postal zip code associated with the user and a state in which the user resides.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64  further including means for associating the device ID with the client system, the main server system using the device ID to identify the client system.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the device information is obtained from the user, the device information including a postal zip code associated with the user.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 47 , further including the step of updating coupon data stored in the user's remote computer without required interaction from the user.  
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein said collecting means includes means for obtaining from the user demographic characteristics including a postal zip code associated with the user.