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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Techniques to provide run-time access to a database image through a target database management system (DBMS) are described. An empty database in the target DBMS (the “target database”) is created having substantially the same schema as the database image. At run-time, queries directed to the target database are intercepted and redirected to the database image. Information returned in response to the redirected query is modified so that internal database identifiers retrieved from the database image are replaced with like database identifiers associated with the target database management system. Thus, run-time access to database image content is provided without the need to load the database image's data content into a target database.

Abstract: Techniques to provide run-time access to a database image through a target database management system (DBMS) are described. An empty database in the target DBMS (the “target database”) is created having substantially the same schema as the database image. At run-time, queries directed to the target database are intercepted and redirected to the database image. Information returned in response to the redirected query is modified so that internal database identifiers retrieved from the database image are replaced with like database identifiers associated with the target database management system. Thus, run-time access to database image content is provided without the need to load the database image's data content into a target database.

Abstract: A computer program operating in accordance with the invention monitors WRITE requests issued by a data-writing program that accesses data sets, e.g., for updating the data sets, and READ requests issued by a data-reading program that accesses data sets, e.g., for copying the data. While a series of READ requests (e.g., a data set copying operation) is in progress, the computer program monitors all WRITE requests issued for the data set in question by the data-writing program. If the data-reading program has not yet read the data portion (e.g., a data page) that is to be updated, the computer program selectively creates a cached image of the data portion as it existed at the beginning of the series of READ requests and delivers the cached image to the data-reading program, thereby reducing the potential for internal inconsistencies in the copied data. The computer program advantageously permits such caching to be performed without the need for specialized caching hardware.

Abstract: The reorganization method of DB2 data files explores parallel processing, and asynchronous I/O to a great extent. It includes means to estimate an optimum configuration of system resources, such as storage devices (DASD devices), memory, and CPUs, etc, during reorganizations. The method mainly consists of four components, (1) concurrent indexing, (2) concurrent unloading of data file partitions, (3) efficient reloading of DB2 data pages and DB2 space maps, and (4) means to reduce access constraints to the DB2 recovery table.

Abstract: A manufacturers' coupon redemption system that is electronically controlled, and compatible in any supermarket using Universal Product Codes. The system includes a newly-styled, uniform coupon, with special bar code indicia redeemable on up to three families of products. At the supermarket, a special device for reading the coupons is provided that reads the coupons presented by the consumer. The system verifies that the consumer did, in fact, purchase the items specified, that the coupon has not expired, and other validation conditions. The unit communicates the results of the validation to the cash register for credit to the consumer's bill. The accepted coupon is then mutiliated to prevent reuse.