Patent ID: 9679288
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: G06Q

Claim:
1. A method comprising: receiving a product identifier and user account information from a remote device associated with a user via a communications network, the product identifier identifying a product that was scanned at a retail store by the remote device; responsive to receiving the product identifier, generating a vendor identification number (VIN) and a redemption code for one unallocated, individual copy of the product and associating the VIN and the redemption code to create a unique pairing of the VIN and the redemption code; storing the unique pairing as a record in a database, the unique pairing associated with the product identifier, wherein the record comprises a VIN data field including the VIN, a redemption code data field including the redemption code, a sold flag data field, an activated flag data field, and a reserved flag data field; transmitting the VIN to the remote device and marking the record in the database to set a reserved flag in the reserved flag data field indicating that the copy of the product is reserved for a pending sale; receiving an indication of a sale of the copy of the product from a point of sale device, the indication of the sale comprising the VIN; responsive to receiving the indication of the sale, marking the record in the database to set a sold flag in the sold flag data field and to set an active flag in the activated flag data field; associating the redemption code with a user account associated with the user account information; receiving an activation request for the copy of the product; and responsive to receiving the activation request and determining that the redemption code is active, activating the copy of the product.