Abstract:
Novel apparatus and methods for secure promotions are disclosed. A unique identification code is utilized to validate promotions securely. The invention provides an efficient, quick, secure, and simple to implement technique for provision of promotions, in part, by utilizing novel and secure techniques.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/416,981, entitled “Secure Promotions,” filed Oct. 2, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to secure promotions and, more particularly, to secure apparatus and methods for use in conjunction with provision of promotions through a computer network, such as the Internet or an intranet.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Coupon fraud has always been a real issue posing problems for product promoters and the coupon industry in general. The fraud associated with redemption of non authorized coupons is estimated to be in the billions annually in the United States alone. Historically, the printing methods employed by the traditional free standing insert (FSI) industry have been among the largest barriers to fraud, as their common approach was well recognized by retail personnel, and variations in printing and paper were frequently spotted at the checkout stand. Criminals could take high value coupons from FSI&#39;s and reproduce them on expensive, four color presses, or using expensive printing equipment, make their own counterfeit coupons. To combat this, the industry generally followed the practice of distributing coupons on familiar FSI paper stock with vivid colors and printing on both sides. These steps have made it significantly expensive for fraudulent duplication and forgery efforts, thus generally leaving the bulk of this type of mal redemption to professional criminals.  
           [0006]    At the same time, the growth of the Internet has provided an enormous information and service resource to the millions of computer users around the world. One of these services is user printed coupons. With the new technology, new risks and issues are presented. For example, the user printed coupons create a new problem better known as non authorized promotions submitted to retailers (NAPSTRs).  
           [0007]    NAPSTRs are generally defined as Internet based promotions with the following characteristics: (a) delivered via the Internet such as through a Web site; (b) printed by a user on a printer device in the user&#39;s control; (c) third party offered and retailer authenticated and paid for (traditionally, the third party issuer has been a consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturer and personnel from the retailer are required to authenticate the veracity of an offer at the time of checkout); and (d) independently cleared promotions (where a clearinghouse provides a number of services supporting marketers who issue traditional and Internet based coupons and the retailers who redeem them, including the tracking of fraudulently submitted coupons).  
           [0008]    Internet based promotions offer benefits to consumers with access to the Internet. For example, users can print coupons just prior to their shopping trip. These coupons can be targeted based on the user&#39;s profile and location. Also, by having the user print the coupon on a local printer utilizing the user&#39;s paper and supplies, coupon marketers may achieve lower distribution costs.  
           [0009]    With these additional benefits, however, come many additional risks including the following:  
           [0010]    1. If a NAPSTR can be printed on a computer, it can be changed by a user. For examples, the user may redirect its computer output to a file, instead of a printer, and then modify that file accordingly. Moreover, user altered NAPSTRs appear identical to legitimate on line coupons. Thus, it is very easy for a NAPSTRs criminal to create “look a likes” to legitimate online user printed coupons.  
           [0011]    2. Identifying the veracity of a NAPSTR is difficult because retailers would have to rely on cash register clerks for checking coupons for authenticity. This is especially a difficult task when the coupons are printed on regular stock paper, found in most homes. Aside from the fraud costs, it is estimated that the training and communication costs to the retail industry could amount to multiple millions of dollars of expense per year should NAPSTRs practices become widespread.  
           [0012]    3. Knowing that fraud occurred after the fact will not prevent it. Most current systems for provision of coupons require post redemption processing. As a result, a NAPSTR may be redeemed without any precautions. In fact, a sponsor often does not find out about any fraudulent use until after the coupons are redeemed. Generally, NAPSTRs may be identified through an indicia printed on the coupon. These types of indicia are read only after a coupon reaches the clearinghouses, often weeks after the crime has been committed. In the event that the criminal was brazen enough to alter or reproduce a NAPSTR but not alter the user identification indicia, the coupon chain will be required to seek retribution from the identified user. This process is risky and cumbersome, in part, because of the lengthy and costly legal process involved. Also, the user may have registered under a fictitious name which may render the identification indicia useless.  
           [0013]    Further information about secure provision of promotions can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,830, issued to Engel et al., and assigned to ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc., the assignee of the present application, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.  
           [0014]    Therefore, what is needed is a simple to implement, inexpensive, and relatively fast, efficient, flexible, and secure solution for provision of promotions utilizing mostly existing technology already present in most stores via a computer network, such as the Internet or an intranet.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    According to the present invention, a technique is disclosed for provision of secure promotions. In an embodiment, a unique identification code is utilized to validate promotions securely. The invention provides an efficient, quick, secure, and simple to implement technique for provision of promotions, in part, by utilizing novel and secure techniques.  
           [0016]    In a further embodiment, a method of providing a promotion to a user is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing the user with the promotion and determining whether the user has selected the promotion. If the user has selected the promotion, a retailer is informed about the selected promotion. The method further includes the step of determining whether a selected promotion is being redeemed at the retailer. If the selected promotion is being redeemed at the retailer, it is determined whether the selected promotion corresponds to the promotion being redeemed. If the selected promotion corresponds to the promotion being redeemed, the method provides the user with the promotion.  
           [0017]    In a further embodiment, the act of determining whether the selected promotion corresponds to the promotion being redeemed includes: checking a first portion of a promotion identifier; if the first portion of the promotion identifier matches a target code, extracting a second portion of the promotion identifier; and accessing information within an item record associated with the second portion of the promotion code and including information regarding the promotion.  
           [0018]    In yet another embodiment, a system for provision of a secure promotion to a user is disclosed. The system includes a user location configured to provide the user with access to the secure promotion, a service location coupled to the user location, a retailer location coupled to the service location, and a unique id code associated with the secure promotion. The service location is configured to provide the secure promotion to the user for selection. The retailer location is configured to receive the secure promotion. The unique id code can have first and second portions. The first portion of the unique id code indicates whether the secure promotion is a special promotion and the second portion of the unique id code indicates a link to an item record. The item record has fields comprising data regarding an item associated with the secure promotion. The user can receive benefits of the secure promotion by providing the unique id code to the retailer.  
           [0019]    Further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    A better understanding can be obtained when the following detailed description of several disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings in which  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a sample bar code  100  in accordance with the number system character (NSC) scheme;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a computer system in which the present invention may be embodied;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a promotion system  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a simplified exemplary flow diagram of a method of secure promotion processing  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a secure promotion delivery system  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a simplified exemplary flow diagram of a method of secure promotion delivery  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a secure promotion redemption system  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a simplified exemplary illustration of a secure NSC bar code  800  for a sample certificate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of an item record  900  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    The present invention will now be described in reference to several embodiments that operate as secure promotions apparatus and methods. Specifically, examples will be described which illustrate particular features of the invention. The present invention, however, is not limited to any particular features nor limited by the examples described herein. Therefore, the descriptions of the embodiments that follow are for purposes of illustration and not limitation.  
         [0031]    To expedite redemption of promotions, certificates representing promotions can have a bar code which provides certain information in machine readable form to scanners available, for example, at retailer stores. FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a sample bar code  100  in accordance with the number system character (NSC) scheme. A type field  102  indicates the presence of the type of coupon. For example, a “5” indicates the presence of a manufacturer&#39;s coupon. A sponsor field  104  identifies the sponsor of the coupon, such as “37000” for Procter &amp; Gamble of Cincinnati, Ohio. A family code field  106  indicates the family code of the item associated with the coupon. The family code field  106  in conjunction with the sponsor field  104  can identify a sponsor&#39;s product line. For example, a sponsor code of “37000” and a family code of “100” identify Proctor &amp; Gamble&#39;s detergent line of products. A value code field  108  identifies the discount value of the coupon. Sample value codes can be determined by reference to the Universal Product Code (UPC) Application Standard for UCC Coupon Codes, published by the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. For example, a value code of “77” is associated with a $1.25 discount. A modulus field  110  identifies a check digit in accordance with the standards promulgated by the UCC, which standards are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention may be embodied on a computer system such as a system  200 , which comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  202 , a main memory  204 , an input/output controller  206 , a keyboard  208 , a pointing device  210  (e.g., mouse, track ball, pen device, or the like), a display device  212 , and a mass storage  214  (e.g., hard disk, optical drive, or the like). Additional input/output devices, such as a printing device  216 , may be included in the system  200  as desired. A communication device  218  can provide access to online services for example via the Internet or an intranet. The communication device  218  can be selected from a variety of devices such as an analog modem, a network card such as an Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Token Ring, a digital modem such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) and its varieties such as asynchronous DSL (ADSL), a wireless modem, and the like. The connection to the Internet and/or an intranet may provide access to a server  222  which can be any type of a server including a Web server, file transfer protocol (FTP) server, Novell® server, Sun® Microsystems, Inc. servers, and the like. As shown, access to a peer to peer server  224  can also be provided through the Internet and/or an intranet. As illustrated, the various components of the system  200  communicate through a system bus  220  or similar architecture. In an embodiment, the computer system  200  includes an IBM compatible personal computer, which is available from several vendors (including IBM of Armonk, N.Y.).  
         [0033]    The communication via the Internet provides a number of new capabilities that can revolutionize the promotion industry. These advances can provide great benefits to consumers, marketers, retailers, and promotion services organizations. Among these ground breaking capabilities are:  
         [0034]    Individualization  
         [0035]    Targeting  
         [0036]    Increased knowledge of consumer purchase behavior  
         [0037]    Development of one to one consumer relationships  
         [0038]    Continuity marketing and loyalty programs  
         [0039]    24/7 consumer communication  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a promotion system  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The promotion system  300  includes a user location  302 , a service location  304 , and a retailer location  306 . In its simplest form, the user location  302  can include a personal computer  308  (such as that discussed with respect to FIG. 2), a printer  310 , and an Internet connection  312 . The user location  302  can be coupled to the service location  304  or the retailer location  306  through, for example, the Internet or an intranet. The user location  302  can receive and send information from/to the service location  304  and the retailer location  306 . In cases where the user location  302  is coupled to the retailer location  306 , the retailer location  306  may send data from the user location  302  to the service location  304  via, for example, a connection  314 . In such an implementation, the retailer location  306  may utilize a retailer server  316  for sending the data from the user location  302  to a service server  318  which can be coupled to a service database  320  at the service location  304 . Alternatively, the retailer server  316  may be configured to directly communicate with the service database  320 .  
         [0041]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, the service database  320  can be coupled to a retailer host pricing system database  322 . The retailer location  306  can also include a point of sale controller  324  that can communicate with the retailer host pricing database  322  directly or via an intranet. The point of sale controller can be coupled to a terminal  326 . The terminal  326  can include other devices such as a scanner  328  and a printer (not shown).  
         [0042]    Accordingly, a user can access the retailer server  316  or service server  318  to, for example, select offered promotions, which can be stored in the service database  320 . The user can then either physically print out a certificate and take it to the retailer location  306  or electronically redeem the offer at the retailer location  306 . Of course, those with ordinary skill in the art would understand that the actual location of individual elements of FIG. 3 can be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is also envisioned that the retailer location  306  may be an online store without traditional terminals and the like, instead utilizing electronic commerce technology.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a simplified exemplary flow diagram of a method of secure promotion processing  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In block  402 , a user selects offers. The offers can be provided by a service system such as the service location  304  discussed with respect to FIG. 3. Selected offers can then be delivered to a retailer in step  404 , such as the retailer location  306  of FIG. 3. In step  406 , the products related to the selected offers of step  402  can be purchased either in person or electronically. It is envisioned that a purchase may include delivery of product samples in some embodiments. Step  408  provides the applicable discounts associated with the selected offers of step  402 . In case of product samples, the discount can be the total price of a given product. In step  410 , the offers are totaled and reported to a service system. The service system can be the service location  304  of FIG. 3. Alternatively, the service system may be a centralized entity such as a clearinghouse. Accordingly, the service system can be an electronic system or a paper based system.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a secure promotion delivery system  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated secure promotion delivery system  500  includes a service site  502 . The service site  502  can be a Web site. The service site  502  can provide a user interface (UI) for a user to select from a number of offers. The offers can include purchase incentives such as coupons, loyalty points, free product samples, and the like. The service site  502  may be, for example, similar to the service location  304  of FIG. 3. The service site  502  may be coupled to a service site database  504 . The service site database  504  may be coupled to the service site  502  through various electronic communication means such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, the Internet, an intranet, a dial up connection, or a wide area network (WAN). Other sites such as a retailer site  506  or a manufacturer site  508  may also be coupled to the service site database  504  to provide offers to users. In some embodiments, the retailer site  506  and manufacturer site  508  may be coupled to the service site database  504  through a retailer service site  510  and a manufacturer service site  512 , respectively. The retailer service site  510  and manufacturer service site  512  may provide a UI for the visitors to the retailer site  506  and the manufacturer site  508  to gain access to the offers and services provided through the service site database  504 . For example, a user may be provided with a UI in a framed environment where the framed information is directly or indirectly provided by different entities such as the retailer service site  510  or the manufacturer service site  512 .  
         [0045]    After a user makes its promotion selections through the service site  502 , retailer site  506 , or manufacturer site  508 , the service site database  504  can provide information for delivery of the selected promotions. For example, the selected promotions may be sent to the user via direct mail service  514 . The direct mail service  514  may be selected from a variety of services such as those provided by the United States Postal Service including bulk mail, first class mail, and the like. Alternatively, the selected promotions may be sent to the location, whether online or in a brick and mortar store, via electronic delivery service  516 . The electronic service  516  may for example, provide the promotions to the user by utilizing a retailer&#39;s frequent shopper card program. In a frequent shopper card program implementation, the selected promotions may be securely linked to the user&#39;s frequent shopper card number and redeemable by providing user identification at a retailer. The user identification may also be accomplished via other unique identifiers such as the user&#39;s phone number, social security, signature, voice recognition, and biometrics such as retina scans, fingerprints, and the like. Also, the user may utilize a local printing service  518  to print out a secure certificate on a printer which can then be presented at a retailer for redemption. The local printing service  518  may be selected from a number of options such as a local printer, a POS printer, a networked printer such as those connected to an intranet, a retail store printer, and the like.  
         [0046]    In some embodiments, it may be more desirable to utilize the electronic delivery service  516  or the direct mail service  514  over the local printing service  518 . This may be due to the fact that even legitimate user printed coupons can be prone to “Bad Scan” problems. This is often not due to the fault of the CPG marketer or the Internet coupon service, but rather due to the problems associated with most personal computer (PC) printing technology. For example, a low resolution of a user&#39;s printer or minor ink smudges, often unseen by the user, can each result in checkout scanning problems. These Bad Scans may create additional expenses to retailers in checkout labor, check stand supervision, accounting, and employee training, as well as potential “soft costs” associated with consumer and employee distrust of the POS system.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a simplified exemplary flow diagram of a method of secure promotion delivery  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method  600  includes step  602  wherein a user logs onto a retailer site, such as the retailer site  506  of FIG. 5. In an optional step  604 , the retailer site may link the user to a retailer service site such as the retailer service site  510  of FIG. 5. In step  606 , the user can select from offers from a plurality of promotional offers. In step  608 , the user can choose a preferred delivery method for the selected promotions. For example, the user can choose to have the promotion delivered via printing (step  610 ), electronically (step  616 ), and/or via direct mail (step  622 ). In some embodiments, steps  610 ,  616 , and  622  may correspond to services  518 ,  516 , and  514  of FIG. 5, respectively.  
         [0048]    If the user chooses printing (step  610 ), step  612  can send promotional images and/or bar codes to the user&#39;s browser or computing device. The promotional images can include a picture of the product being promoted together with a description and pricing information. In step  614 , the user may elect to print the sent information on a printer. If the user chooses electronic delivery (step  616 ), step  618  can send promotional information (such as a data file) to a retailer computer, such as a retailer server that can communicate with that retailer&#39;s sales apparatus (in case of retail stores often a POS terminal). In an optional step  620 , the user may elect to print information regarding the offers on a printer. The printed information can be a summary of offers, location of products within the store, which can be a map in case of retail stores or a link in case of online retailers. Alternatively, if the user chooses direct mail delivery (step  622 ), step  624  can send promotional information (such as a data file) to a print/mail facility, in an embodiment, a secure communication means, such as a dedicated T-1 line or WAN connection, can be provided to the print/mail facility. In step  626 , the user receives the certificates via direct mail. The received certificates can then be used to obtain discounts at a retailer, whether online (for example, by utilizing certificate codes) or in a store.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 7 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of a secure promotion redemption system  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  702 , a code is read by an input device, such as a scanner (e.g., the scanner  328  of FIG. 3) at a POS such as the terminal  326  of FIG. 3. The code can be any representation including a UCC bar code, an encrypted code, a two dimensional bar code, and the like. In an embodiment, the code may be a UCC bar code such as that discussed with respect to FIG. 1. Step  704  reads the manufacturer portion of the code for analysis. If the manufacturer portion of the code is not equal to a target code, step  706  validates the manufacturer and family code portions and determines a value code for a discount based on information stored within the POS application. Alternatively, if the manufacturer portion of the code is equal to the target code, in step  708 , an item file is accessed for the specific record. The item file can include data such as a specific price discount, loyalty point award information, any limitations or quantity requirements needed for validation, and the like. The item file may also contain manufacturer and family code data which may be required for validation. The item file can be, for example, stored in a POS database  710 . The item file can itself be a database. Alternatively, other local or remote databases can be utilized for storage of the item file.  
         [0050]    In step  712 , the POS database  710  can return the information from the item record that corresponds to the offered promotion. The item file can have any record number. Generally, in the widely deployed IBM 4690 POS system, the default range for the item records in the item file is from 40000 00000 to 40000 99999. The details of the IBM 4690 system can be found in manuals published by the IBM Corporation, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In some implementations for UCC bar coded promotions, the last five digits of the barcode can be utilized to link to the offered promotion at the POS. A step  714  can validate the offered promotion data against the current transaction, for example, for valid family code. If the family code of the presented promotion is valid, the promotion can then be applied and the transaction details stored in the transaction log of the POS system. Even though the above description of FIG. 7 discusses a POS system, it is envisioned that in case of online retailers an electronic commerce system can readily replace the POS system functionality.  
         [0051]    The recorded transaction log information can also store identification indicia from the presented promotional certificate, whether in electronic or physical formats. Alternatively, the identification indicia can be obtained from other sources such as a user identity card (such as a frequent shopper card), the user&#39;s home number, a secret code, a smart card, and the like. The stored identification indicia can be utilized to link the purchase or redemption activities of the user. For example, after the purchased items are scanned (or selected online), the identity of the user can be validated to see if that user has any offers outstanding, previously redeemed the promotional offer, exceeded the user&#39;s offer limits, and the like. The indicia can also be utilized to update records such as a loyalty point program.  
         [0052]    This data can be stored either integrally within the existing databases or within external databases (whether on site or accessible through a computer network). The data can also be periodically updated or be always linked through real time electronic connections. In an implementation with separate databases, it is envisioned that the POS system can have access to any number of databases including a transaction log database (which can store data regarding transactions, and the like), an item file (which can contain data regarding the items available for purchase), an offer database (which can include data regarding available promotional offers), and a user database (which can store data regarding the user including account numbers, store credit account balances, loyalty program balances, frequent shopper information, contact information, and/or the like).  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 is a simplified exemplary illustration of a secure NSC bar code  800  for a sample certificate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A type field  802  indicates the presence of the type of certificate. For example, a “5” indicates the presence of a manufacturer&#39;s coupon. A locally assigned field  804  can identify a locally assigned code (e.g., 11170) which recognizes this bar code as a special promotion requiring an item record lookup, such as that discussed with respect to FIG. 7. A specific promotion field  806  can indicate the specific promotion related to the looked up item record. For example, by referring to the item record 40000 10025 in an IBM 4690 POS system, the offered promotion value and requirements can be retrieved. A modulus field  808  can identify a check digit in accordance with the standards promulgated by the UCC, which standards are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In some embodiments, the modulus field  808  can be utilized for error detection and correction, for example, for hardware devices such as barcode readers.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 9 is a simplified exemplary block diagram of an item record  900  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. An item code field  902  stores an item code which can be extracted from the physical or electronic certificate, such as that discussed with respect to FIG. 8. A department number field  904  can include identifications for the department where the offer is redeemable or offered, such as meats, fresh produce, baby seats, women&#39;s clothing, and the like. A description field  906  can store human readable information for reference of the store personnel or user. A pricing method field  908  can identify the type of pricing for the offer (e.g., unit priced coupon, tiered pricing, and the like). A manufacture number field  910  can identify the item&#39;s manufacturer, such as 16000 for General Mills, Inc. A promo value field  912  can indicate the amount of the offer. For example, “0.35” can indicate that the user is entitled to thirty five cents off of the purchase price. A limit field  914  can indicate how many items can be purchased with the same discount value. For example, a “2” can indicate that the user is entitled to discounts on two of the items covered by the present item record. A family number field  916  can contain data that identifies the family of the manufacturer&#39;s products for the manufacturer identified by field  910 . In some embodiments, the family code can be a three digit number where each digit can refer to product categories, subcategories, and the like. For example, “100” may refer to all detergents, “110” may refer to all household detergents, “120” may refer to automobile detergents, and “111” may refer to household dishwashing detergents.  
         [0055]    In addition to the fields identified with respect to FIG. 9, other fields may be present in the item record, such as fields to keep information about the product inventory, weight/price requirements, item type (e.g., normal sale, deposit, refund, deposit return, manufacturer coupon, store coupon, and the like), loyalty points, and the like. Moreover, a user field (not shown) can include information about the users who are entitled to redeem the promotion. This field can alternatively be a link to a local or remote database where such data is kept.  
         [0056]    While the invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrated embodiment as well as other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those persons with ordinary skill in the art upon reference to this description. For example, a wireless device can be used to provide a seamless communication interface. Also, the UI may be provided via Email, interactive banner ads, interactive cable or satellite TV, cell phones, wireless devices, Internet appliances, Web based in store kiosks or displays, and the like. Furthermore, marketers can include recipes and other “brand building” marketing messages with the promotional offers. It will be, therefore, understood that the invention is defined not by the above description, but by the appended claims.