Paperless coupon redemption system and method thereof
US5380991A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07G1/12
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method of allowing a shopper to obtain the benefit of reduced prices for certain items without the necessity of redeeming paper coupons is described, The system employs an integrated circuit (IC) smart card containing an erasable memory therein. This memory would contain information relating to a discount coupon amount, as well as information relating to particular products which have been purchased. This card would be inserted into a reader/writer terminal provided at a retailer's checkout counter. Items which are purchased are scanned and compared with items to be discounted as well as the information provided by the customer IC smart card. After the cashier has totaled the customer's purchases, the information contained in the IC smart card would be altered accordingly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.