Patent ID: 7933800
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of generating and redeeming a plurality of coupons, the method comprising: generating a first coupon including: selecting a first group of offers from a plurality of offers stored in a database based on prior purchasing behavior of a first consumer such that the first group of offers is individually customized to the first consumer, wherein selecting the first group of offers is performed by a coupon generation processor in communication with the database, and printing a first bar code, which identifies a first account stored in the database, indicating that the first coupon relates to the first group of offers, wherein the first account includes a status of each of the first group of offers and is associated with the first consumer; generating a second coupon including: selecting a second group of offers from the plurality of offers based on prior purchasing behavior of a second consumer such that the second group of offers is individually customized to the second consumer, wherein selecting the second group of offers is performed by the coupon generation processor, and each of the plurality of offers is redeemable for a discount on a corresponding one of a plurality of products offered for sale, and the first group of offers differs from the second group of offers, and printing a second bar code, which identifies a second account stored in the database, indicating that the second coupon relates to the second group of offers, wherein the second account includes a status of each of the second group of offers and is associated with the second consumer; distributing the first coupon to the first consumer; distributing the second coupon to the second consumer; and processing the first coupon at a point-of-sale terminal in communication with the database including: using the first bar code of the first coupon to identify the first group of offers and the first account, comparing the first group of offers associated with the first coupon to one or more products being purchased by the first consumer, and applying a discount to a purchase price of any of the one or more of products being purchased that correspond with the first group of offers; wherein the first bar code uniquely identifies the first consumer and a first financial account associated with the first consumer, the second bar code uniquely identifies the second consumer and a second financial account associated with the second consumer, and wherein processing the first coupon includes recording that the first coupon was redeemed using a third financial instrument associated with a third account, and the method further comprising: linking the first account to the third account as part of a single profile of the first consumer based on use of the third account while processing the first coupon.