Electronic offer management system and method therefor

Abstract

An electronic offer management system and method thereof is disclosed. In particular, the system comprises means for receiving information related to a plurality of offers distributed by a plurality of different offer distributors to customer for redemption at plurality of stores, means for automatically routing the information related to an offer to a point-of-sale system of each store in which the offer can be redeemed, and means for automatically clearing the offers redeemed by the customer at the stores. The system further comprises means for automatically reconciling financial obligations associated with each cleared offer, as well means for dynamically profiling customers so that improved offer targeting can be achieved.

1 . An electronic offer management system for electronic offer transactions, comprising:
 receiving means for receiving information by a network, the information related to a plurality of electronic offers redeemable at a plurality of stores, the electronic offers being distributed by a plurality of different offer distributors utilizing a plurality of distribution methods and media to customers of the plurality of stores wherein the plurality of electronic offers distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors are received from a plurality of sponsors;   standardizing information contained in the plurality of electronic offers distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors,   routing means for automatically routing the standardized information distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors to a point-of-sale system of each store in which the offer can be redeemed;   redeeming the offer at the point-of-sale system of at least one store coupled to the network;   routing means for automatically routing one or more redeemed offers from the point-of-sale system of a store to the network; and   clearing means for automatically clearing by the network the offers redeemed by the customers at the stores.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising settlement means for automatically reconciling financial obligations associated with each offer cleared by the clearing means, whereby a single, electronic audit of each offer transaction can be achieved. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clearing means comprises:
 means for receiving redemption information from the stores; and   means for comparing the redemption information to the offer information whereby each offer redeemed by the customers can be validated.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of offer distributors comprises at least one of an internet offer distributor, a retailer offer distributor, a kiosk offer distributor, a direct mail offer distributor, and an email offer distributor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising activation means for selectively activating and deactivating each offer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising profiling means for dynamically profiling the customers so that the offers can be targeted to specific customers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each offer corresponds to a reward, and wherein the system further comprises reward deferral means for deferring issuance of the reward to the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising offer consolidation means for consolidating the offers available through the system for presentation to the customer at a plurality of levels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of levels comprises at least one of an offer distributor level and a store level. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the offer information comprises at least one condition and wherein the at least one condition is at least one of an item purchase condition, a department purchase condition, a total purchase condition, a time of day condition and a day of the week condition. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the profiling means comprises at least one of a static profile, a persistent profile and a dynamic profile. 
     
     
         12 . A method of electronic management of electronic offer transactions, comprising:
 receiving information by a network, the information related to a plurality of electronic offers redeemable at a plurality of stores, the electronic offers being distributed by a plurality of different offer distributors to customers of the plurality of stores wherein the plurality of electronic offers distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors are received from a plurality of sponsors;   standardizing information contained in the plurality of electronic offers distributed by the plurality of different officer distributors;   automatically routing the standardized information distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors to a point-of-sale system of each store in which the offer can be redeemed;   redeeming the offer at the point-of-sale system of at least one store couple to the network,   automatically routing one or more redeemed offers from the point-of-sale system to the network; and   automatically clearing by the network the offers redeemed by the customers at the stores.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of automatically reconciling financial obligations associated with each cleared offer whereby a single, electronic audit of each offer transaction can be achieved. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving redemption information from the stores, and comparing the redemption information to the offer information whereby each offer redeemed by the customers can be validated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of selectively activating each offer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each offer corresponds to a reward, and wherein the method further comprises the step of deferring issuance of the reward to the customer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of consolidating the offers for presentation to the customer at a plurality of levels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of levels comprises at least one of an offer distributor level and a store level. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of dynamically profiling the customers so that the offers can be targeted to specific customers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the offer information comprises at least one condition and wherein the at least one condition is at least one of an item purchase condition, a department purchase condition, a time of day condition and a day of the week condition. 
     
     
         21 . A method of electronically managing electronic offer transactions, the method comprising:
 electronically receiving an electronic offer from an offer distributor, the offer having at least one offer property, at least one condition, and at least one reward;   standardizing information contained in the plurality of electronic offers distributed by the plurality of different offer distributors,   electronically distributing the standardized information to a point-of-sale system of a store in which the offer can be redeemed;   electronically determining whether the at least one condition of the offer has been met at the point-of-sale system;   redeeming the offer at the point-of-sale system of at least one store coupled to the network;   electronically receiving a redeemed offer from the point-of-sale system; and   comparing the redeemed offer with the stored offer.   
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  and further comprising authenticating the received offer from the distributor. 
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  and further comprising viewing the stored offer via a browser interface. 
     
     
         24 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  and further comprising viewing the stored offer via a kiosk. 
     
     
         25 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  and further comprising:
 creating one or more settlement details using information from the redeemed offer, and   electronically transmitting the one or more settlement details to a settlement agent.   
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  and further comprising:
 accruing data relating to the redeemed offer, and   profiling the accrued data.   
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 26  wherein the profile is selected from the group of a static profile, a persistent profile, and a dynamic profile. 
     
     
         28 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the offer is a consumer-specific offer. 
     
     
         29 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the step of electronically receiving an electronic offer from an offer distributor comprises:
 providing a customer information tracking system operatively connected to the point of sale system, the customer information tracking system being enabled to collect buying behavior information associated with a customer;   collecting customer buying behavior information from the customer information tracking system;   providing the customer buying behavior information to the offer distributor in such a manner so as to allow the offer distributor to create terms for the electronic offer that match profiles of the customer buying behavior information.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the customer buying behavior information comprises at least one of a date, a time, a checkout lane, an identification of a product purchased, a price paid for purchased product, a quantity of a product purchased, and a unique identifier associated with a customer. 
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for the method recited in  claim 12 . 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for the method recited in  claim 21 . 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electronic offers distributed by a plurality of different offer distributors utilizing a plurality of distribution methods and media comprises at least one of an in-store shopping device, a kiosk, a personal mobile data or voice communication device, a portable internet connection device or other electronic or printed media or communication device.