Patents by Inventor Scott N. Christensen

Scott N. Christensen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140122207
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Scott N. CHRISTENSEN
  • Patent number: 8626581
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Scott N. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20110231237
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Scott N. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7917386
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used in conjunction with a frequency card program. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list of selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”. Once redeemed, consumer ID information and Virtual Coupon™ information may be retrieved electronically and used to update a central database. Accurate data may then be produced illustrating which consumers or groups of consumers are redeeming which Virtual Coupons™.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Scott N. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20030088461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: e-centives, Inc.
    Inventor: SCOTT N. CHRISTENSEN
  • Patent number: 6035280
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons.TM., rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons.TM. may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons.TM. displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons.TM. authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon.TM. may be considered "redeemed".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Scott N. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5710886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount coupons, rebate or gift certificates or the like tracks each coupon using a consumer ID number printed on the coupon. Coupons may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out selected coupons displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Each coupon may be printed only a limited number of times. Each coupon may be imprinted with a consumer ID number, preferably in the form of a bar code. Once redeemed, consumer ID information and coupon information may be retrieved from coupons forwarded to a coupon clearing house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: SellectSoft, L.C.
    Inventors: Scott N. Christensen, David D. Ingwersen