Patent ID: 8046257
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of executing a transaction using an electronic coupon, comprising: providing coupon campaign information to an engine, the coupon campaign information defining a discount value, a product family and a number of coupons to be distributed, each coupon within the coupon campaign having a coupon identification (ID); providing coupon publications including a machine-readable portion, the machine-readable portion encoding coupon data describing the coupon campaign information; retrieving the coupon data from the machine-readable portion of the coupon publication using a personal electronic device; using the coupon data to retrieve a coupon ID from the engine, the coupon ID being stored in the personal electronic device; using near-field communications (NFC) to transmit the coupon ID to a point of sale (POS) system using the personal electronic device, the personal electronic device being one of an NFC-enabled global system for mobile communications (GSM) station and an NFC-enabled code division multiple access (CDMA) phone, the personal electronic device operating a Java Card Applet for coupon management and a Java MIDlet for user interfacing, the POS system communicating with the engine to verify a validity of the coupon ID; applying a discount to a transaction in accordance with the discount value; and after the transaction is complete, modifying the coupon data on the personal electronic device to indicate a coupon associated with the coupon ID has been activated.