Abstract: The present invention comprises a universal coupon redemption system and method for redeeming both paper and electronic coupons that eliminates fraud. The system and method provides verification, validation and authentication of coupon redemption transactions in a third party environment while eliminating the need to ship coupons to manufacturers for reimbursement. In one embodiment, the system and method also advantageously addresses the increasingly complex identification of coupons by removing the encoded redemption requirements from the coupon itself and moving the redemption requirements to a third party coupon processing appliance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 2010
Date of Patent:
September 10, 2013
Assignee:
Cunningham Electronics Corporation
Inventors:
William R. Cunningham, Douglas E. Devore
Abstract: A controlled offer redemption system used to create dynamic cooperative offers and charitable offers, and to validate, verify, and redeem manufacturers' offers, retailers' offers, cooperative offers, dynamic cooperative offers and charitable offers, to restrict the redemption of cooperative, dynamic cooperative and retailers' offers to particular retailers and to authenticate the offer redemption transactions. The system includes a master registry, an offer redemption terminal in communication with a retailer's point-of-sale (“POS”) system, a store portal and an offer clearinghouse. The offer system includes a means to generate an encrypted identifier (“token”) which is unique to each offer redemption transaction. The clearinghouse independently recreates the token based on the offer redemption record and the purchase event transaction log and authenticates the transaction as having originated under the controlled conditions imposed by the system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2007
Date of Patent:
January 3, 2012
Assignee:
Cunningham Electronics Corporation
Inventors:
William R. Cunningham, Richard W. White
Abstract: A controlled offer redemption system used to validate, verify, and redeem manufacturers' offers, retailers' offers, and cooperative offers, to restrict the redemption of retailers' offers and cooperative offers to particular retailers, and to authenticate the offer redemption transactions. The system is a closed system in a controlled environment. The system includes a master registry where offers are registered, an offer redemption terminal in communication with a retailer's point-of-sale (“POS”) system, a store portal and an offer clearinghouse. The store portal communicates with the registry to maintain an updated database of valid offers. The POS system communicates with the offer redemption terminal to validate and verify offers presented for redemption. The offer redemption terminal includes a means to generate an encrypted identifier (“token”) which is unique to each offer redemption transaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 2005
Date of Patent:
January 25, 2011
Assignee:
Cunningham Electronics Corporation
Inventors:
William R. Cunningham, Richard W. White
Abstract: A manufacturer's offer (“coupon”) redemption system used to validate and verify a manufacturer's offer and authenticate and substantiate an offer redemption transaction while minimizing fraud. The system is a closed system in a controlled environment. The system includes a central registry where manufacturers register their offers, a manufacturer's offer redemption terminal in communication with a retailer's point-of-sale (“POS”) system, and a manufacturer's offer clearinghouse. The POS system communicates with the registry to maintain an updated database of valid offers. The POS system communicates with the manufacturer's offer redemption terminal to validate and verify offers presented for redemption. The manufacturer's offer redemption terminal includes a means to generate an encrypted identifier (“token”) which is unique to each manufacturer's offer redemption transaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 4, 2004
Date of Patent:
January 25, 2011
Assignee:
Cunningham Electronics Corporation
Inventors:
William R. Cunningham, Richard W. White