CN1879121A - Dynamic coupons - Google Patents

Abstract

Dynamic coupons, particularly e-Coupons in the form of dynamically changing coupons, such as may be exchanged, delivered, and presented on a small or large computer, a portable device like a PDA or cell phone (180) are provided to users (150). Various advantages offered in the coupon may automatically change according to dynamic information (410), such as any changing information such as the current and predicted weather, traffic congestion, economic indicators, and store buying patterns.

Description

Dynamic Coupons

cross reference

This application is cross-referenced to the document entitled "COUPON EXCHANGE NETWORKAND SERVICE BUREAU" with File No. YOR920030470PCT1, Same Day Transfer Serial Number, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all Purpose.

technical field

The present invention is directed to providing electronic coupons (e-Coupons) in the form of dynamically changing coupons that can be exchanged, communicated, and presented, for example, on computing devices including electronic devices such as PDAs or mobile phones. portable device.

Background technique

Various coupon distribution services exist on the World Wide Web. For example, CouponSurfer.com, a service available in 2003, offers coupons for reduced prices on items such as clothing, food, music, toys, and travel. There are generally two types of coupons offered. Offer "Internet" coupons or online coupons for Internet online stores such as Buy.com or Petsmart.com. Online coupons can be redeemed by clicking on a link in a web browser. Once the user clicks on a link, the user is taken to a retailer's website (eg, Petsmart) where the user can use the coupon to make a purchase. In some cases, a specific code or password may have to be entered on the retailer's website to receive the discount. If this is the case, specific instructions will be included in the coupon. The second type of coupons offered on Internet coupon distribution services are printable coupons. The user prints out the coupon using their computer's printer and physically takes the coupon to an actual store, such as a restaurant. These coupons may contain barcodes or other information so that they can be scanned at the actual store check-in. A disadvantage of these coupon services is that they cannot provide coupons whose characteristics can change rapidly with the time a user makes a purchase.

Contents of the invention

According to the above needs, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing dynamically changing coupons for certain discounts to users according to dynamic information in stores. The providing step includes the first user making a request to obtain the dynamically changing coupon for the offer, and forwarding the dynamically changing coupon to the user. Various benefits include product discounts, service discounts, receiving additional coupons, and product or service features. Portable coupon devices can be used to store and view coupons. Coupons may be modified based on one or more dynamic criteria, such as the number of other users using the targeted coupon, current weather, and business patterns. Coupon modification includes deletion of the coupon or graphical modification of the target coupon and its redemption value.

Description of drawings

These aspects, advantages and features of the present invention, as well as other aspects, advantages and features, will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exemplary collection of several coupon stakeholders interacting with the Coupon Service Bureau;

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary process for distributing coupons to users;

3 shows an exemplary process for a coupon service bureau to create, reciprocate, auction, and exchange coupons among one or more users;

Figure 4 illustrates the operation of a dynamic coupon;

Figure 5 shows the steps of enabling a user to request a specific user desired discount at the point of sale;

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a random dynamic coupon;

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the present invention is implemented as a device for providing coupon services to at least one store; and

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment in which the invention is implemented as a system.

Detailed ways

Dynamic electronic coupons refer to dynamically changing coupons that can be exchanged, communicated, and presented, for example, on devices such as PDAs or mobile phones. Coupons can be scanned from newspapers, or uploaded to a coupon facility on the Internet. Dynamic information refers to any changing information such as current and forecast weather, traffic congestion, economic indicators, and store buying patterns. The price of an item may depend on this dynamically changing information. Various offers in the form of coupons can be automatically changed according to dynamic information such as any changing information such as current and forecast weather, traffic congestion, economic indicators, and store purchase patterns such as.

The device can be any one of the following devices: a card, a smart card, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a mobile phone, or a mainframe computer or a minicomputer; and the download can use any one of the following methods This can be done in any number of ways: the Internet, web pages, phone booths in stores, phone booths in malls.

Feedback to suppliers can be done using a computer network and includes: demographic information, buyer information, product information, time of day (time of day) or price. Feedback to device users includes: product information, better offers in other stores, or the duration of a favorable coupon. Portable coupon devices can present auxiliary information such as advertisements, product information, product brochures, consumer reports, and safety information. Coupons may expire upon expiration. Users can be individual groups, companies, enterprises, societies, government groups. Coupons can be used to obtain discounts against other coupons. Coupons can be random. For example, there is a degree of confidence that a discount is likely to be available for a certain quantity on a given day.

The present invention focuses on the dynamic nature of all coupons, but in particular electronic coupons. For example, discounts on e-coupons can change at any time based on current weather conditions. A store, mall, or product manufacturer may wish to attract more (or fewer) buyers on a rainy day or depending on the number of sales that day. Relevant criteria include: time of day, number of sales for that day, rate at which products are selling, prevailing market conditions, weather conditions and reports, geopolitical issues, and the stock market.

A user may, for example, interact with a coupon device at a point of sale to request a better discount than that already offered. In this regard, the discount amount may vary based on interactions with third parties.

FIG. 1 shows several stores 110 and a product or service creator 120 that provides coupon information to a Coupon Service Bureau (CSB) 130 . Such information may include product or service information, the amount of the discount on the product or service, the duration of the discount, identification of specific recipients enjoying the discount, and the like. FIG. 1 also shows users 140 and 150 to whom the CSB sends coupon information. User 150 has an electronic coupon device 180 (CD) that contains coupon information provided by CSB 130. The CD typically includes memory (for storing one or more coupons), means for network communication, and optionally a display. Coupons can be loaded onto the CD via a computer network, paper scanner, or other electronic means. The coupon device (CD) can be any of the following: card, smart card, PDA, mobile phone, handheld, computer, and the download can be done using any of the following: Internet, web pages, phone booths in stores, phone booths in malls. User 160 and user 170 need not be recipients of coupon information, but may be potential creators of virtual coupons to be sent to other users 140,150.

Figure 2 shows how coupon information is distributed to users 140,150. In step 205, the store sends coupon information to CSB 130. In step 210, the product or service creator sends coupon information to CSB 130. In step 215, the individual user sends a message to the CSB. For example, a user may want his friends to receive a $10 discount on eyeglasses. Thus, information in this case may include product identification, discounts, and recipient identification such as strings of alphanumeric characters. This user-generated coupon is a virtual coupon because there is no manufacturer or store to originate it. In step 217, the user of the CSB may personally send the information to the CSB, eg for its own subsequent use. For example, a user may see a coupon in a magazine or on a web page, and would like the CSB to store and compose such coupons for later use by the user. In some cases, stores, manufacturers, and service providers will provide recipient identification so that only specific recipients can use the coupon.

In step 218, a software agent unaffiliated with potential coupon providers 205, 210, 215, and 217 may create coupons for the general population or specific recipients specified by the recipient identification. For example, to create a liquid economy or for other purposes, an agent may send a discount for buying a home in a particular area. The software agent may be run by a government or other third party, or the software agent may be self-running, ie, an independent agent.

In step 220, the CSB sends the coupon information to the recipient 140,150. In some cases, this information is sent because the recipient requested coupon information, and this information may reside in the coupon device 180 . In other cases, coupon information is sent to the recipient even if the recipient did not request it, such as when another user, such as user 160, sends a virtual coupon. If the user has a CD 180, this information can be sent to the CD. If the user does not have a CD, the coupons can be delivered by other means, such as sending them to the user's computer where they can be printed out. The recipient identification code can control which person or which CD can receive the coupon or can use the coupon.

In step 225, the user uses the coupon information. For example, this information may reside in the user's coupon device 180, which the consumer may take to a store or use in a store. A cashier can scan a barcode displayed on a CD or use some other common electronic interface to interface with a coupon device to register a discount. Where use of coupons is limited to specific recipients, a password may be required to authenticate the user. In the case of a virtual coupon, the sender 160 who sent (in step 215) the virtual coupon may have an account to which the CSB debits the account to repay the discount. In step 225, the user may also receive product information, brochures, advertisements, rebates, reviews, and other information related to the product and endorsed by the store, the manufacturer, a related person (such as a friend or employer), or third parties such as a consumer reporting agency. Other materials provided to CSB 130 by third parties. CSB can also notify users of better discounts elsewhere, as well as safety considerations.

In step 230, with the user's consent, information about the purchase may be sent back to the CSB. This information may include, for example, demographic information about the buyer, which the CSB may send to the store 110 or the product manufacturer 120 or the agent 218 . Demographic information may include the user's purchase history or other characteristics of the user. The information sent back can include non-demographic information such as time of day, rate of purchases in the store for a given time, and weather conditions so that store and product/service creators can better understand buying patterns and purchase forms. The CSB may charge the store, user, agent 218, individual 215, or product/service creator a fee for the services described in step 200, eg, a percentage of each transaction.

To accomplish this, the Coupon Service Bureau meters the number and nature of user requests, Coupon Service Bureau forwarding, and user redemptions, and then bills the first user based on the number and nature of requests, forwarding, and redemption (step 225) . The bureau may charge a certain amount for each request, forwarding, or redemption, or the bureau may charge a percentage of the purchase price or a percentage of the value of the discount. The fee may also depend on the nature of a given offer. For example, charges from discounts may exceed charges from granting rebates.

In FIG. 3 , CSB 130 enables users to create, trade, auction, and exchange coupons with or without product manufacturer or store participation. For example, in step 310, user 140 may indicate to CSB 130 that he has a coupon for a particular product that he wishes to exchange for another coupon. In step 320, the second user receives notification of the first coupon via CSB 130 and can issue an offer to the first user. For example, the offer may be to exchange the coupon provided by the first user at step 310 for a different coupon provided by the second user at step 330 . If the offer is accepted, the CSB exchanges (step 340) one coupon for another. Both users are happy. Optionally, the salesperson or product/service creator can be notified (step 350) of this exchange, along with the user's demographic information, to allow the salesperson or product/service creator to best understand the buyer's needs and demographic information .

Note that the "user" in FIG. 3 is not necessarily limited to potential customers, but may be other entities such as salespersons 205, 210 or software agents 218. In other words, these other entities may also wish to exchange coupons.

Figure 4 shows how dynamic coupons work. In step 410, the coupon user 150 receives dynamic coupon information. For example, new coupons can be created or discount values can be changed based on any of the following information: current weather (e.g. give a discount if it rains, or discount snowshoes depending on the weather) and forecasted weather, news Reports, movies, movie opening times, user purchase history, store sales records, time of day, number of sales for that day, rate at which products are selling, prevailing market conditions, geopolitical events, fuel prices, demographic information (e.g. , if the current purchase rate of a product is low for a 30-year-old woman living in an urban center, the discount can change to incentivize new demographic buying patterns), car traffic patterns, gasoline prices, prevailing economic conditions (stock markets, taxes, deductible taxes, etc.), the number of people in the store at that moment or predicted to be in the store, the time of day (for example, to avoid rush hour traffic), terrorism alert levels, going to the destination store The nature of the shops along the road, the history of traffic problems (such as congestion), the history of accidents, and crime statistics. In step 420, the user receives a discount using the dynamic coupon.

Figure 5 shows the process by which a user may request a particular user-desired discount at a point of sale. In step 510, the user requests a discount. For example, a user may have a coupon that discounts the price of a drilling machine by $5. However, he asks for a $10 discount. In step 510, the potential grantor may agree to provide such a discount. The granting party may be the store 205 , the product/service creator 210 , another person 215 giving the discount, or a software agent 218 . If the requested discount is not accepted by the potential grantor, the user may request an additional discount. If the granting party agrees, the new discount is applied in step 530, e.g. the value of the dynamic coupon can be changed on the CD 180 and the new discount value applied.

Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of a random dynamic coupon. Coupons for products such as computer mice may reside in the CD 180, 610. The discount may have certain values 620 corresponding to certain confidence levels 630 . For example, there is a 70% chance that the discount will be $10 and a 30% chance that it will be $15 on a particular date. The user may not even know the actual discount value that will be applied until the time of payment for the product. Therefore, users can use "blind" discounts with certain risks according to the probability.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method comprising providing dynamically changing coupons for an offer to at least one coupon user based on dynamic information used in at least one store. The providing step includes the first user requesting a dynamically changing coupon for the offer. The dynamically changing coupon is forwarded to the first user. In some embodiments of the method, the first user uses the coupon at the store to obtain an offer. These offers include product discounts, service discounts, discount periods, rebates, service features, service contract features, product features, ecological features, safety features, and preference indications. The offer can also be the receipt of other coupons. Coupons can be used to earn other coupons.

For example, a prospective purchaser of a lawnmower may use the CSB to obtain a targeted discount for the lawnmower. To obtain this discount, the user can use his coupon device to enter the word "lawnmower" and the maximum spend price and specific safety features. Input may be through a keyboard, microphone, or other computer input device. The CSB can then send a coupon to the user's coupon device so that the lawnmower will be lower than this price. These coupons are typically created by a coupon affiliate such as the product manufacturer, store, or even the friend who created the coupon. In fact, targeted coupons can be created by coupon stakeholders, such as a specific store, chain store, consumer environment sensor, weather sensor, product manufacturer, at least one other user, product manufacturer, service provider; government agency , family members, employer of the first user, first user, third-party agent, and any combination of these related persons. The word "sensor" refers to any detection entity. For example, a weather sensor may determine that the air temperature is below 32F and that it is likely to snow, and change the coupon discount for boots accordingly.

A user may receive many different kinds of targeted offers, such as product discounts, service discounts, discount periods, rebates, service features, service contract features, product features, ecological features, safety features, preference indications, independent software agents, and a combination of these offers. random combination. A software agent need not be related to a store, product provider, service provider or user.

The Coupon Service Bureau may obtain the targeted coupons from the first user, and may also obtain user-specific information from the first user. This user-specific information includes the first user's demographic information (such as a home address), the time of day that the coupon was created, the time of the day that the coupon was used (such as in a store for redemption), product information, and The purchase rate for a given product at a given time, as well as the user's age, gender, income, place of residence, marital status, number of family members, past purchasing habits, education, hobbies, race and beliefs. Demographic information may be stored on the consumer's device, in the coupon service bureau's user profile, or elsewhere. Coupon stakeholders can find this useful information to grasp and plan product marketing. At least one coupon stakeholder can monitor and store usage data of the target coupon.

Target coupons can be modified in various ways based on different criteria. For example, an offer such as a discounted price and represented by the number on the coupon and the color of the coupon may be based on an expiration date, the number of other users using the target coupon, current weather, forecast weather, news reports , movies, movie showtimes, user purchase history, store sales history, time of day, number of sales for that day, rate at which products are selling, prevailing market conditions, geopolitical events, fuel prices, demographic information, traffic patterns , gasoline prices, prevailing economic conditions, the number of people in the store at that moment or predicted to be in the store, time of day, terrorism alert levels, characteristics of stores along the way to the destination store, history of traffic problems , accident history, crime statistics, and any combination of these criteria.

Coupons can be modified in many ways. For example, a coupon displayed on the coupon device may be deleted, may have its own discount value or other benefits changed, or may be moved from one location to another. For example, coupons may be stored in different folders or otherwise categorized on the GUI. Graphical modifications include coupon color, size, font, texture, intensity, flashing speed, texture, and background pattern.

There is a huge peer-to-peer and related business arena facilitated through coupon service bureaus. For example, at least one Coupon Associate may receive targeted coupons or coupon usage data from other Coupon Associates in the at least one targeted Coupon Associate group. After the first user uses the target coupon, at least one coupon associate can redeem the target coupon. For example, a user may receive a coupon for a computer that can be purchased from a town near her friend. The user can then forward the coupon to her friends for her possible use. The forwarding step includes requesting that previous coupons be returned from the first user to the Coupon Service Bureau. The forwarding step may include another user providing the targeted coupon to the coupon service bureau in exchange for a coupon previously held by the first user.

The user may request a desired discount that is more favorable than the discount already offered. At this point, the discount amount may vary based on interactions with third parties.

The discount of the coupon can change according to the time when the user gets the coupon, or after the coupon has been sent to the user. For example, a user may go to a store with a $10 discount on shoes. This discount can be increased to $15 5 minutes before the moment he buys the shoes. These changes can be continuously sent to the coupon device.

The related person of the coupon can provide an identification, so that only a limited group of users can use the target coupon. For example, the manufacturer of certain medications may offer coupons for certain people who could benefit from the medication. One method of using a coupon service bureau includes: coupon user 150 using portable coupon device 180 to provide user information in the form of a coupon; information processor 182 using the user information in a manner that provides the coupon benefit to the coupon user; and The coupon downloader 183 downloads the coupon to the device; and the information sender 184 provides feedback to at least one coupon stakeholder. The processor, downloader and transmitter may be located in one or more places, such as on a coupon device or on a computer located at a service bureau. The download is done from a provider such as an internet provider, a website, a kiosk in a store, or a kiosk in a mall.

The feedback includes data selected from the following data groups: demographic information, buyer information, product information, time of day, cost of service, cost of product, and combinations thereof. Feedback to the device user may include special information selected from the group of special information: product information, better offers from other stores, favorable coupon durations, and any combination of these special information. The Coupon Service Bureau may be a third party that performs a task selected from the group of tasks of alerting the user that other similar coupons are available, alerting the user about the location of the product, and suggesting offers for other coupons.

The coupon facility enables users to electronically trade and exchange coupons on a coupon exchange network maintained by the Coupon Service Bureau. The coupon exchange employs an exchange technique selected from the group of techniques: barter, sale, auction; and any combination of these techniques. The electronic exchange is defined by constraints selected from the following defined group: time constraints, store location constraints, location constraints of exchangers of electronic coupons, product constraints, and price constraints.

Auxiliary information such as advertisements, product information, product brochures, consumer reports, and safety information may be presented in the portable coupon device. Coupon information is created by users or other agencies. For example, a user can create a coupon for a computer, send it online through a coupon exchange network to a friend who can use the coupon to get a discount on the computer. This virtual coupon will debit money from the user's own account and will function like a gift. Users can be individuals, companies, businesses, communities, and government groups. The information can be used to provide a set of coupons to the user. The user sends specific coupon information to the Coupon Service Bureau. For example, he scans a magazine coupon and has the Coupon Service Bureau retain the coupon information for convenience and later use. Coupons can be restricted to specific recipients if desired. The provider of coupon information may be a software agent.

An alternative embodiment is the device 700 shown in Figure 7, which provides coupon services to at least one store. The device includes: a coupon processing entity 710, which provides at least one coupon user with a dynamically changing coupon for an offer based on dynamic information used in at least one store; a requester device 720, which provides a coupon for the first user a request is made to obtain a dynamically changing coupon for the offer; and a coupon sender 730 that forwards the dynamically changing coupon to the first user.

Still another embodiment is the system shown in FIG. 8, which includes a coupon device 810; a coupon downloading device 820, which is used to download dynamically changing coupons to the coupon device according to dynamic information. Sometimes the system includes a communications module 830 for monitoring coupon usage and providing feedback to coupon stakeholders.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method comprising providing dynamically changing coupons for an offer to at least one coupon user based on dynamic information used in at least one store. The providing step includes: the first user making a request to obtain the dynamically changing coupon for the offer; and forwarding the dynamically changing coupon to the first user.

In some embodiments of the method: the first user is one of a plurality of coupon users, and at least one other of the plurality of coupon users makes a request to obtain a dynamically changing coupons, and the step of forwarding is performed by a coupon service bureau that serves a plurality of coupon users and serves at least one manufacturer.

In certain embodiments of the method, the invention further comprises at least one step selected from the steps of: Coupon Service Bureau metering user requests sent by a plurality of Coupon Users; Coupon Service Bureau metering the forwarding step Metering; Coupon Service Bureau bills each of a plurality of Coupon Users; and Coupon Service Bureau bills each of at least one product manufacturer; at least one user at least one store Apply coupons to obtain benefits; Coupon Service Bureau measures the number and nature of coupons applied by users; and bills each user based on the number and nature.

In some embodiments of the method: the offer includes: product discounts, service discounts, duration of discounts, rebates, service features, features of service contracts, product features, ecological features, safety features, preference indications, and any combination; and/or the step of making the request includes using a coupon device.

In some embodiments of the method, the method has the qualifier selected from the following group of limitations: the coupon is created by at least one coupon associate selected from the following group of coupon associates: a particular store, Chain stores, dynamically created by consumer environment sensors, dynamically created by weather sensors, product manufacturer, at least one other user, product manufacturer, service provider; government, family member, employer, first user, third party agent And any combination of these related parties; and/or at least one store directs the first user to at least one other store to obtain additional benefits; and/or additional benefits include: product discounts, service discounts, discount periods, rebates , service features, features of a service contract, product features, ecological features, safety features, preference indications, and any combination of these offers; and/or the coupon service bureau obtains the targeted coupon from the first user.

In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes obtaining user-specific information from the first user; and/or the user-specific information includes at least one piece of information selected from the following group of information: demographics of the first user information, time of day in access step, time of day in application step, product information, purchase rate for a given product at a given time, and user's age, gender, income, place of residence, marital status , number of family members, past buying habits, education, hobbies, race, beliefs; and/or the forwarding step includes requesting that the previous dynamically changing coupon be returned from the first user to the Coupon Service Bureau; and/or the The forwarding step includes another user providing a dynamically changing coupon to the Coupon Service Bureau in exchange for a coupon previously held by the first user; and/or dynamically modifying the coupon after the forwarding step; and any combination of these definitions.

In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes modifying the dynamically changing coupon based on coupon modification criteria comprising criteria selected from the group consisting of: expiration date, use of target offer Number of other users of the coupon, current weather, forecasted weather, news reports, movies, movie opening times, user purchase history, store sales records, time of day, number of sales for that day, rate at which products are sold, Prevailing market conditions, geopolitical events; fuel prices, demographics, traffic patterns, gas prices, prevailing economic conditions, the number of people in stores at that moment or predicted to be in stores, time of day, terrorist activity alerts class, nature of stores along the way to the destination store, history of traffic problems, history of accidents, crime statistics, and any combination of these criteria.

In some embodiments of the method, the step of modifying the dynamically changing coupon comprises a modification selected from the group consisting of: deleting the target coupon, graphically modifying the target coupon, changing the value of the target coupon, Move coupons from one location to another; and any combination of such modifications.

In some embodiments of the method, the method further comprises an additional step selected from the following additional group of steps: monitoring and storing use of the coupon by at least one stakeholder in the coupon stakeholder group; and/ or at least one Coupon Associate receives dynamically changing coupon usage data from at least one other Coupon Associate in the Coupon Associate group; and/or at least one Coupon Associate uses the dynamically changing Redeem the dynamically changing coupons after the coupons; and/or at least one of the coupon related parties provides an identification so that a limited group of users can use the dynamically changing coupons; and any combination of these additional steps.

In some embodiments of the method, the method has a definition selected from the group consisting of: a coupon device is a device selected from the group of devices: handheld devices, computers, cards, smart cards, PDAs, and mobile phones, and those combination of devices; and/or the coupon device is provided to the first user by a provider selected from the following group of providers: a coupon service bureau, at least one store, a product manufacturer, a service provider, the government, a family member, Employers and combinations of these providers.

In some embodiments, the invention is implemented as a device for providing coupon services to at least one store. The device includes: a coupon processing entity that provides at least one coupon user with a dynamically changing coupon for an offer based on dynamic information used in at least one store; and/or a requester device derived from at least one a first user of the coupon users to issue a request to obtain a dynamically changing coupon for the offer; and a coupon sender to forward the dynamically changing coupon to the first user.

In some embodiments, the present invention is implemented as a system, which includes a coupon device; and a coupon downloading device, which downloads dynamically changing coupons to the coupon device according to dynamic information. In additional embodiments, the system also includes a communication module that monitors coupon usage and provides feedback to coupon stakeholders.

In some embodiments, the system has a definition selected from the following limited group: the coupon device is portable; and/or the coupon device is a device selected from the following group of devices: smart card, PDA, mobile phone, computer devices; printers, audio devices, multimedia devices, smart meters, printing devices, and any combination of these devices; and/or the downloading device is a device selected from the following group of devices: Internet access, web server, telephone booth, and any combination of these devices ; and/or providing feedback to the coupon device; and/or holding the coupon device by a user group selected from the set of user groups: individuals, companies, businesses, communities, government groups, and combinations of these user groups ; and/or the dynamically changing coupon is a random coupon; and/or based on the interaction between the coupon device and the downloading device, the dynamically changing coupon is variable at the point of sale, thereby enabling coupon users to obtain more favorable and any combination of these qualifications.

The variations described in this invention may be implemented in any combination desired for each particular application. Therefore the particular definitions and/or enhanced embodiments described herein (which may have particular benefits for particular applications) need not apply to all applications. Likewise, not all limitations need to be implemented in a method, system and/or apparatus that incorporates one or more concepts of the present invention.

The present invention can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The visualization device according to the invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in a distributed fashion in which different elements are distributed over several interconnected computer systems. Any computer system (or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods and/or functions described herein) is suitable. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The invention can also be embedded in a computer program product which comprises all the features enabling the execution of the methods described herein and which, when loaded into a computer system, is capable of carrying out these methods.

A computer program method or computer program in this context comprises a set of instructions expressed in any language, code or symbol, where the set of instructions is intended to be translated directly or in another language, code or symbol and/or in other material form Existential replication enables systems with information processing capabilities to perform specific functions.

Accordingly, the present invention includes articles of manufacture comprising computer-usable media having embedded therein computer-readable program code means for implementing the functions described above. The computer readable program code means in the product comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to implement the method steps of the present invention. Similarly, the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having therein computer readable program code means for implementing the functions described above. The computer program code means in the computer program product comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to perform one or more functions of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented as a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying program instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for implementing one or more functions of the present invention.

It should be noted that the foregoing has outlined some of the more relevant objects and embodiments of the invention. The present invention can be used in many applications. Therefore, although the description has been made with respect to particular arrangements and methods, the objects and concepts of the present invention are suitable for and can be used with other arrangements and applications. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made without departing from the principle and scope of the invention. The examples should be construed as merely illustrating some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be achieved by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention in ways known to those skilled in the art.

Claims (20)

1. one kind comprises according to the multidate information that uses at least one shop and is provided for a kind of method of reward voucher of preferential dynamic change at least one coupon user, and the described step that provides comprises:

First user files a request to obtain to be used for the reward voucher of described preferential dynamic change; And

The reward voucher of described dynamic change is transmitted to described first user.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein said first user is a coupon user in a plurality of coupon user, and comprise that at least one other user in described a plurality of coupon user file a request to obtain to provide the reward voucher of described preferential dynamic change, and carry out described forwarding step by coupon service bureau, described coupon service bureau provides service for described a plurality of coupon user, and provides service at least one goods producer.

3. method according to claim 2 also comprises at least one step that is selected from following step group:

Described coupon service bureau is measured the user's request that is sent by described a plurality of coupon user;

Described coupon service bureau is measured described forwarding step;

Described coupon service bureau is each the coupon user book keeping operation in described a plurality of coupon user; And

Described coupon service bureau is each the goods producer's book keeping operation among described at least one goods producer.

4. method according to claim 1, at least one user among the described user uses described reward voucher in described at least one shop described preferential to obtain.

5. method according to claim 2 comprises that also described coupon service bureau measures number and character that described user uses described reward voucher, and is each user accounting according to described number and character.

6. method according to claim 1, wherein said preferential comprising: the feature of the time limit of product discount, service discounts, discount, returning, service features, service contract, product feature, ecological feature, security feature, preference indication and these preferential combinations.

7. method according to claim 1, wherein said step of filing a request comprises the application coupon device.

8. method according to claim 1 has the qualification that is selected from following qualification group:

Wherein said reward voucher is created by following at least one coupon associate: specific shop, chain store, dynamically by consumer's environmental sensor create, dynamically by weather sensor establishment, goods producer, at least one other user, goods producer, service provider, government, kinsfolk, employer, described first user, third party agency and these parties' combination in any;

It is other preferential to obtain that wherein said at least one shop is directed at least one other shop with described first user;

Wherein said other preferential comprising: the feature of the time limit of product discount, service discounts, discount, returning, service features, service contract, product feature, ecological feature, security feature, preference indication and these preferential combination in any;

Wherein coupon service bureau obtains targeted coupon there from described first user;

Also comprise from described first user and obtain user's information specific there;

Wherein said user's information specific comprises at least one information that is selected from following message block: first user's demographic information, insert in the step time, product information, the buying rate in a day in the time in one day, the applying step in preset time at given product, and the combination in any of user's age, sex, income, residence, marital status, kinsfolk's number, the buying habit in past, education degree, hobby, race, faith or these information;

Wherein said forwarding step comprises that request returns the reward voucher of previous dynamic change to coupon service bureau from described first user;

Wherein said forwarding step comprises that another user provides the reward voucher of described dynamic change to exchange the reward voucher of before having been held by described first user to coupon service bureau;

Wherein after described forwarding step, described reward voucher is revised dynamically; And

The combination in any of these qualifications.

9. method according to claim 1, comprise also according to the coupon modifications standard reward voucher of described dynamic change made amendment that described coupon modifications standard comprises following standard: expiration date, use begin time, user's the sales figure, the time in one day, the sales volume of that day, the speed that product is sold in purchase history, shop of other users' of targeted coupon number, current weather, the weather of prediction, news report, film, film; Main flow market condition, geopolitics incident; Fuel price, demographic information, travel pattern, gas price, main flow economic condition, the number in this moment shop or prediction will be in the shop number, the time in one day, terrorist activity Alert Level, go the combination in any of shop, destination along historical record, crime statistics information and these standards of the historical record of the character in the shop on road, traffic problems, accident.

10. method according to claim 9, the wherein said step that the reward voucher of described dynamic change is made amendment comprises: the deletion targeted coupon, targeted coupon is carried out figure revise, change the value of targeted coupon, reward voucher is moved on to another position from a position; And the combination in any of these modifications.

11. method according to claim 1 also comprises the other step that is selected from following other step group:

At least one party in the coupon associate group monitors and stores the use of described reward voucher;

At least one coupon associate at least one other coupon associate from described coupon associate group receive the use data of the reward voucher of dynamic change there;

Described at least one coupon associate is exchanged the reward voucher of described dynamic change after described first user has used the reward voucher of described dynamic change;

A party in described at least one coupon associate provides a sign, makes the reward voucher of described dynamic change be used by limited user crowd; And

The combination in any of the step that these are other.

12. one kind provides the equipment of coupon business at least one shop, described equipment comprises:

The reward voucher processing entities, it is provided for a kind of reward voucher of preferential dynamic change at least one coupon user according to the multidate information that uses at least one shop;

Requester device, it is used to the request of sending to obtain to be used for the reward voucher of described preferential dynamic change by first user in described at least one coupon user; And

The reward voucher transmitter, it transmits the reward voucher of described dynamic change to described first user.

13. product, it comprises the medium that computing machine can be used, be embedded with computer-readable program code means realizing providing the reward voucher of dynamic change in described medium, the described computer-readable program code means in the described product comprises the computer-readable program code means of the step that is used for making computer realization claim 1.

14. a machine-readable program storage device, it can be specialized by the programmed instruction that machine is carried out effectively, provide the method step of the reward voucher of dynamic change with execution, and described method step comprises the step in the claim 1.

15. computer program, it comprises the medium that computing machine can be used, be embedded with computer-readable program code means providing coupon business at least one shop in described medium, the computer-readable program code means in the described computer program comprises the computer-readable program code means of the function that is used for making computer realization claim 12.

16. a system that comprises coupon device and reward voucher download equipment, wherein the reward voucher download equipment is used for according to multidate information the reward voucher of dynamic change being downloaded to described coupon device.

17. system according to claim 16, it has the qualification that is selected from following qualification group:

Wherein said coupon device is of portable form;

Wherein said coupon device comprises: smart card, PDA, mobile phone, computing equipment; The combination in any of printer, audio frequency apparatus, multimedia equipment, intelligent table, printing device and these equipment;

Wherein said download equipment comprises: the combination in any of internet interface, Website server, call box and these equipment;

Wherein described feedback is offered described coupon device;

Wherein hold described coupon device: the combination of individual, company and enterprise, corporations, governmental body and these users group by user's group of the set that is selected from following user's group;

The reward voucher of wherein said dynamic change is a reward voucher at random;

Wherein based on the interaction between described coupon device and described download equipment, the reward voucher of described dynamic change is variable in the point of sale, thereby it is more preferential preferential that coupon user can be obtained; And the combination in any of these qualifications.

18. system according to claim 16 also comprises communication module, its use to reward voucher is monitored and is provided feedback to coupon associate.

19. method according to claim 1 has the qualification that is selected from following qualification group:

Wherein said coupon device is the equipment that is selected from following equipment group: the combination of handheld device, computing machine, card, smart card, PDA and mobile phone and these equipment;

Wherein described coupon device is offered described first user: coupon service bureau, described at least one shop, goods producer, service provider, government, kinsfolk, employer and these suppliers' combination by the provider that is selected from group of following provider.

20. computer program, it comprises the medium that computing machine can be used, described medium is embedded with computer-readable program code means realizing coupon system, and the described computer program code means in the described computer program comprises and is used for making computing machine to finish the computer-readable program code means of the function of claim 16.

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