Patent ID: 7013286
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for generating, distributing, storing, redeeming, validating and clearing electronic manufacturer coupons and electronic store coupons comprising the steps of: requesting by a manufacturer or promoter of a product or service or agent thereof that a coupon mint generate a number of coupons; generating by the coupon mint unforgable electronic blank coupons in response to said request from the manufacturer/promoter/agent, each said unforgable electronic blank coupon having the property that at a later stage it may be recognized as a valid coupon produced by the mint; customizing the generated blank coupons by a manufacturer/promoter/agent of an offer by writing terms and conditions and other details of the offer on the generated blank coupons; digitally signing the customized coupons by the manufacturer/promoter/agent; distributing the signed customized coupons to potential customers; optionally presenting by a customer the signed customized coupons electronically for redemption to an online store or printing the signed customized coupons and presenting them to a conventional offline store; checking by a store prior to accepting a coupon for redemption the authenticity of the coupon to verify the digital signature and also verify if the coupon was produced by the mint and has not been used earlier, said checking being done by contacting a verification center, said verification center verifying that the coupon to be redeemed is authentic and also verifying that the coupon was produced by the mint and has not already been used before; and collecting by the store all redeemed coupons and sending the redeemed coupons to the manufacturer/promoter/agent for clearing.