Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CUSTOM COUP01~1 PROCESS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDDt
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND - FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the creation, distribution and redemption of
coupons, specifically to
providing manufacturers and retailers a highly efficient, cost-effective
method of targeting qualified
consumers, and providing consumers with the ability to select specific
coupons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many manufacturers and retailers of goods and services use coupons as an
effective marketing
tool to attract consumers. These manufacturers/retailers include, but are not
limited to, consumer product
companies, supermarkets, and pharmaceutical companies. The coupons offered
typically allow for a
specific monetary discount off of the price of the product, or for a free item
with the purchase of an
identical item. These coupons are available to the consumer in a variety of
ways.
The standard method for distributing coupons is through a supplement in the
Sunday newspaper,
also known as a free standing insert. This method offers a wide distribution
of coupons to a vast majority
of the public. However, many of these potential consumers are not interested
in purchasing the advertised
goods even at the discounted price, or in searching the free standing insert
for possible items of interest and
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clipping the coupons, thereby resulting in a low two percent redemption rate.
Further, nothing is known
about the consumers' purchasing habits. Therefore, distributing coupons by
this method is costly and
inefficient.
A second method of distribution is a coupon offered through a
manufacturer/retailers
advertisement in a newspaper or magazine. This method contains many of the
drawbacks as listed for the
previous mode of distribution.
A third and more effective method of distribution of coupons is through direct
mail. The
redemption rate for this method is higher than the previous methods. However,
all of the same drawbacks
are present with the exception of taking time to clip the coupons as the
coupons are generally produced in a
stand alone fashion.
More recent methods of distribution of coupons are now available directly at
the retail
establishment. One such method is the use of coupon kiosks. This method
requires the customer upon
entering the store to select coupons through a kiosk that distributes the
coupon to the consumer upon
selection. This is accomplished by using a touch screen that displays a
limited variety of discounted items.
This method allows the customer to choose only those coupons which are of
interest to him without the
time consuming task of sorting through a large insert and clipping the coupons
for later use. Further, some
systems allow for tracking of individual consumer purchases through the use of
a plastic card, similar to a
credit card, with a magnetic stripe or UPC code. The drawback to the kiosk,
however, is that it provides
only a limited selection of coupons to the consumer, the consumer can only
access it while in the store, and
it is costly to operate.
Another method of in-store distribution of coupons is a coupon that is printed
out when the
consumer completes a purchase at the cash register. Upon purchasing selected
items, the in-store computer
generates a coupon for a similar item. While this coupon is more attuned to a
consumers purchasing
habits, there are still some drawbacks. First, the coupon cannot be used until
the customers' next purchase.
This allows for the coupon to be thrown away or forgotten on the next shopping
trip. Second, the coupon
issued is rarely for the same item the consumer bought, instead it is usually
for a competing brand. This
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makes the consumer less likely to use this coupon. Further, as has been noted
above, manufacturers and
retailers still do not receive detailed information on each customer, and the
process is costly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide the most complete and cost-e~cient
coupon program
available. Specifically, this invention seeks to increase redemption rates of
coupons for manufacturers and
retailers while lowering costs incurred by distribution and fraud. A further
objective is to provide
manufacturers and retailers with detailed information on consumers enabling
them to target qualifed
customers, and to customize their coupons accordingly. As to customers, the
objective is to allow the
customer to easily select only those coupons that are of interest by allowing
them to choose specific
products for which coupons are to be produced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different
alphabetic suffixes.
Fig 1 shows an overview of the entire custom coupon system.
Fig 2 shows the database sub-systems and integrated processes.
Fig 3 shows the use of a consumer registration process at a participating web
site.
Fig 4 shows the use of a consumer registration process at a participating
retailer web site.
Fig 5 shows the use of a retailer card system operating on the retailers'
premises.
Figs 6A to 6E show the consumer registration process used on the web sites.
Fig 7 shows the sub-system used for storing data specific to each consumer,
and the process for
maintaining the data.
Fig 8 shows the sub-system used for storing data specific to each
manufacturer, and the process
for maintaining the data
Figs 9A to 9E show the sub-system used for storing data specific to each
coupon, and the process
for maintaining the data.
FiglO shows the sub-system used to store and process coupon orders.
Figs 1 lA to I 1D show the on-line maintenance process used to track a
consumer's Internet
session.
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Figs 12A to 12D show the consumer validation process.
l
Figs 13A to 13H show the coupon selection process.
Fig 14 shows the order fulfillment process.
Figs 15A to 15H show the coupon activity reporting process.
Figs 16A to 16C show the performance reporting process.
Figs 17A to t7F show the electronic coupon printing process.
Figs 18A to 18E show the electronic coupon posting process.
Figs 19A to 19E show the electronic coupon management process.
Figs 20A to 20E show the electronic coupon redemption process.
Figs 21-I to 2) 3 show the electronic redemption reporting process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I. Summary of System Overview
Figure 1 represents the Custom Coupon System Overview that includes the Custom
Coupon
System, Participating Web Sites, Retailer Web Sites, Retailer Card Systems and
Consumers. The Custom
Coupon System, Participating and Retailer Web Sites, Retailer Card Systems,
and Consumers
communicate and interact with each other over the Internet through the
conventions and capabilities of the
World Wide Web.
Consumers interacting with the Custom Coupon System via Participating or
Retailer Web Sites, or
submitting Custom Coupon Program selection forms are participating in the
Custom Coupon Program. A
Consumer initiates an on-line Custom Coupon Program session and becomes a
Custom Coupon Program
participant when he or she selects the appropriate option on a Participating
or Retailer Web Site. A
Consumer without access to the World Wide Web on the Internet becomes a Custom
Coupon Program
participant when they first submit a Custom Coupon Program selection form by
mail.
This Custom Coupon System description refers to "Internet participants",
meaning those
consumers who interact with the Custom Coupon System via the Internet, and
"non-Internet participants",
meaning those consumers who interact with the Custom Coupon System via paper
coupon selection forms
sent via mail. Likewise it refers to "Internet session", meaning an on-line
interaction between a participant
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and the Custom Coupon Program via the Internet, and "non-Internet cycle",
meaning the interaction
between a participant and the Custom Coupon Program via printed forms
exchanged via the mail.
The Custom Coupon System operates on a standard, commercially available
hardware platform
with standard, commercially available operating system, Web server, and data
base management system
software with standard telecommunications access to the Internet. The
Participating and Retailer Web
Sites interact with the Custom Coupon System via the Internet, and each is
unique in its own right. The
Retailer Card Systems also interact with the Custom Coupon System via the
Internet, and each is unique in
their own right. The Consumers interact with the Custom Coupon System through
personalized user
interfaces in the form of Web Sites and interactive Web pages, and Custom
Coupon Program selection
forms.
The invention consists of the process by which Consumers are presented with
individualized
listings of manufacturer coupons, are allowed to select coupons they wish to
receive, and receive the
selected coupons in a highly secured manner appropriate to the Consumer's
status, either in printed or
electronic form.
2. Summary of Custom Coupou System
Figure 2 represents the Custom Coupon System consisting of four database sub-
systems and a unique
set of integrated processes. The Custom Coupon System is not dependent on a
specific hardware platform,
nor on specific software products.
The Consumer Sub-System includes a relational database that stores data
specific to each
Consumer participating in the Custom Coupon Program, and a set of processes
for tracking the Consumer's
demographic information and coupon selection history. This sub-system is vital
to the invention and
allows the Custom Coupon System, Participating Web Sites, and Retailer Web
Sites to personalize
interactions with the Consumer and track the Consumer's participation in the
Custom Coupon Program.
The Manufacturer Sub-System includes a relational database that stores data
specific to each
Manufacturer participating in the Custom Coupon Program, and a set of
processes for tracking the
Manufacturer's address, telephone numbers, contacts, invoicing, and related
information. This sub-system
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WO 99135551
is vital to the invention and allows the Custom Coupon System to properly
track and report a
Manufacturer's participation in the Custom Coupon Program.
The Coupon Sub-System includes a relational database that stores data specific
to each
manufacturer Coupon enrolled in the Custom Coupon System, and a set of
processes for capturing,
cataloging, storing, applying, printing, and tracking coupons and coupon-
specific data. This sub-system is
vital to the invention and allows the Custom Coupon System to present,
process, track, report, and
reproduce manufacturer coupons for Consumers and Manufacturer's participating
in the Custom Coupon
Program.
The Order Sub-System includes a relational database that stores data specific
to each set of
coupon selections requested by consumers participating in the Custom Coupon
Program, and a set of
processes for processing, tracking, transferring, scanning, and printing the
coupon Orders as determined by
the Consumer's status.
The Custom Coupon System is comprised of a structured set of processes that
ultimately present,
process, deliver, and report coupons for the Consumer, and report and invoice
coupon activity for the
Retailer and Manufacturer.
In a typical Internet Custom Coupon Program session, a Consumer accesses the
Internet, and then
visits a Participating or Retailer Web Site using the World Wide Web browser
software on their personal
computer. After the Consumer is properly registered (see section 3, Consumer
Registration Process), the
Participating or Retailer Web Site forwards specific Consumer information
relinquishes session control to
the Custom Coupon System.
The Custom Coupon System accepts the request for service from the
Participating or Retailer Web
Site, and immediately initiates the Consumer Validation Process. This process
involves the checking for
the existence of a previously stored Consumer record based on the Consumer's
identification number,
retailer card number, andlor address. If the Custom Coupon System determines
this is a "fast-time"
participant, a unique set of Consumer database records are created with the
data provided by the
Participating or Retailer Web Site.
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The Custom Coupon System then initiates a Coupon Selection Process which is
comprised of
several sub-processes (see section L3, Coupon Selection Process for details).
This process reviews ail
coupons enrolled in the Custom Coupon Program and applies a number of filters
to eliminate all but those
coupons eligible for selection by this specific Consumer. The coupons that
remain as eligible for selection
are then categorized and presented to the Consumer as a list of coupon
choices. To facilitate the
Consumer's choices, product descriptions, product images, audio and video
"commercials" are made
available for the Consumer to review. The Consumer makes his or her selections
by checking, or marking,
each coupon on the on-line form he or she wants to receive. When the consumer
indicates he or she is
finished selecting coupons, the savings these coupons represent are summarized
and a confirmation is
presented the Consumer. When the Consumer acknowledges the confirmation, a
coupon order is created.
In the non-Internet Custom Coupon Program cycle, the Consumer receives a
customized coupon
selection form in the mail, completes the form and mails it back to Custom
Coupon. The coupon selection
form is then scanned, the mark sense selections on the selection form are
recognized and related to the
appropriate coupon choice, and the Custom Coupon System creates a coupon
order.
The Custom Coupon System's Coupon Fulfillment Process is a perpetual process
that services
each coupon order after the order is created (see section 14, Coupon
Fulfillment Process for details). This
process determines how the coupon order is to be fulfilled, then either prints
the selected coupons for
mailing to the Consumer's residence, or electronically posts the coupons to
the Retailer's Card System.
The Custom Coupon System's Activity Reporting process is comprised of modules
that retrieve,
summarize, and produce Custom Coupon Program-level, Retailer, and Consumer
reports and ondemand
on-line queries.
The Custom Coupon System's Performance Reporting Process is comprised of
modules that
retrieve data from each sub-system and generate customized reports and
invoices for Custom Coupon
Program manufacturers and retail partners.
The Custom Coupon System's On-line Session State Maintenance Process maintains
information
about the Consumer's can ent Custom Coupon Program session for as long as the
Consumer is interacting
with the Custom Coupon System via the Internet. This process is essential to
the invention and allows a
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Consumer the freedom to begin, interrupt, then resume and eventually complete
a Custom Coupon
Program session according to their circumstances. This process maintains
information about the
Consumer, the session, and the coupons selected by the Consumer through coupon
order creation, or a ,
period of elapsed time that indicates the Consumer does not wish to finalize
his or her coupons selections at
this time.
3. Participating Web Site
Figure 3 represents a Participating Web Site and the singular Custom Coupon
Program process
that it is responsible for. This Web site may reside on any World Wide Web
server on the Internet and may
interact with the Custom Coupon System operating on its server pending proper
authorization by the
Custom Coupon Program administrators.
4. Retailer Web Site
Figure 4 represents a Retailer Web Site and the singular Custom Coupon Program
process that it is
responsible for. This Web site may reside on any World Wide Web server on the
Internet and may interact
with the Custom Coupon System operating on its server pending proper
authorization by the Custom
Coupon Program administrators. A Retailer Web Site is differentiated from a
Participating Web Site in the
type of consumer it supports, the specific Consumer information it forwards to
the Custom Coupon
System, and the type of coupons it's consumers may receive.
5. Retailer Card System
Figure 5 represents a Retailer Card System operating on the Retailer's
premises and hardware
platforms. Besides managing the Retailer's frequent shopper or club card
systems, the Retailer Card
System supports a few key processes which allow consumers to benefit from the
Custom Coupon Program
and electronic coupons. These processes include electronic coupon posting,
redemption, and reporting.
Integration with the Custom Coupon System is achieved via a set of standard
transactions that are
configurable to meet the needs of each Retailer Card System.
6. Consumer Registration Process
Figure 6 represents the Consumer Registration Process which is performed on
all Participating and
Retailer Web Sites. This process involves the gathering of specific Consumer
information for forwarding
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to the Custom Coupon System. The process may vary in appearance and behavior
on each Web site in
keeping with that Web site's mission, standards, and user interface, but it's
primary function is the same,
namely to retrieve and/or capture Consumer information pertinent to the coupon
selection and fulfillment
processes.
The Consumer Registration process is comprised of modules that identify the
Consumer as a first-
time or repeat participant, build personalized registration forms, process the
forms once submitted, store
form contents, and pass session control to the Custom Coupon System.
The Consumer information required of a Participating Web Site by the Custom
Coupon System
includes consumer identification number, name, address, and electronic mail
address. If the Consumer has
participated in the Custom Coupon Program previously, a consumer
identification number exists and may
or may not be known to the Consumer at the time of the Internet session.
The Consumer information required of a Retailer Web Site by the Custom Coupon
System
includes consumer identification number, retailer card system number, name,
address, and electronic mail
address. If the Consumer has participated in the Custom Coupon Program
previously, a consumer
identification number exists and may or may not be provided by the Consumer at
the time they choose to
initiate a Custom Coupon Program session. If the Consumer is a participant in
the Retailer's frequent
shopper or club card system, a retailer card system number exists and may or
may not be provided by the
Consumer at the they choose to initiate a Custom Coupon Program session. If
neither a consumer
identification number or a retailer card system number is provided, the
Consumers name and address is
required. An electronic mail address is always required.
Once gathered, this information and control of the Consumer's Internet session
is forwarded to the
Custom Coupon System via standard Internet and World Wide Web methods and
protocols.
7. Consumer Sub-system
Figure 7 represents the Custom Coupon System's Consumer Sub-system, a
relational database that
stores data specific to each Consumer participating in the Custom Coupon
Program and a set of processes
for maintaining that data. While other program modules handle interaction with
the Consumer
participating in the Custom Coupon Program, the modules in this sub-system are
responsible for carrying
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out low-level database tasks including those associated with defining, saving,
backing up, and restoring
records associated with consumers.
8. Manufacturer Sub-system
Figure 8 represents the Custom Coupon System's Manufacturer Sub-system, a
relational database
that stores data specific to each Manufacturer participating in the Custom
Coupon Program and a set of
processes for maintaining that data. The modules in this sub-system are
responsible for carrying out low-
level database tasks including those associated with defining, saving, backing
up, and restoring records
associated with manufacturers.
9. Coupon Sub-system
Figure 9 represents the Custom Coupon System's Coupon Sub-system, a relational
database that
stores data specific to each coupon enrolled in the Custom Coupon Program and
a set of processes for
creating and maintaining coupons on-line for access and use by other Custom
Coupon System processes.
The Coupon Definition Process establishes a new coupon in the database,
assigns it a coupon
identification number, and records a number of details about the coupon,
including manufacturer, effective
dates, value, product UPC code, consumer instructions, retailer instructions,
and links to image, audio
commercial, and video commercial components.
The Coupon Image Cataloging Process is a process which captures, converts, and
stores product
images (product slicks) in a standard format and in a way that they are easily
retrievable by other Custom
Coupon System processes.
The Audio Commercial Cataloging Process is a process which captures, converts,
and stores audio
commercials for products in a standard format and manner that they are easily
retrievable by other Custom
Coupon Program processes.
The Video Commercial Cataloging Process is a process which captures, converts,
and stores video
commercials for products in a standard format and manner that they are easily
retrievable by other Custom
Coupon Program processes.
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The Paper Coupon Creation Process is a series of steps that ultimately results
in a graphical image
of a manufacturer coupon that is subsequently used in the paper coupon
printing process.
10. Order Sub-system
Figure 10 represents the Custom Coupon System's Order Sub-system, a relational
database that
stores data specific to coupon orders requested by consumers participating in
the Custom Coupon Program,
and a set of processes for accessing, printing, posting, aging, summarizing,
and archiving coupon orders.
This process includes a module for posting coupon redemptions reported by
Retailer Card
Systems. The redemption records are received and posted against the current
active coupons on a daily
basis. 'This process sets and resets status fields in the active coupon
selection records that make up a
coupon order, and these status fields are subsequently used by the Coupon
Selection Process to indicate the
status of coupons presented to the Consumer. This daily process also moves
aged active orders into an
"archive" database and aggregates this data in historical reporting databases.
11. On-line Session State Maintenance Process
Figure I 1 represents the On-Iine Session State Maintenance Process which
keeps track of a
Consumer's Internet session with the Custom Coupon System from the time
session control is passed to the
Custom Coupon System by the Participating or Retailer Web Site until the
conclusion of the Coupon
Selection Process. This perpetually running process recognizes a new Custom
Coupon Program
participant, creates and then maintains a record of where the participant is
in the process of selecting
coupons and confirming the coupon order. It allows for participants to
temporarily suspend their
participation, and recognizes when participants resume their Custom Coupon
Program session.
I2. Consumer Validation Process
Figure 12 represents the Consumer Validation Process which is initiated at the
beginning of each
new Internet Custom Coupon Program session, and each time a paper coupon
selection form is processed.
In an Internet Custom Coupon Program session, this process accepts the
consumer data forwarded
from the Participating or Retailer Web Site, and determines whether this is a
first-time or a repeat Custom
Coupon Program participant. The Consumer's consumer identification number and
retailer card system
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number are used to make this determination, if these data fields are
available. If they are not available, the
Consumer's name and address are used to make this determination.
In the non-Internet Custom Coupon Program cycle, a paper coupon selection form
is received and
scanned, and the consumer's identification number is read off the form if the
form is being returned from a
repeat Custom Coupon Program participant. If a consumer identification number
is not available, the
Consumer's name and address are used to determine whether the Consumer is a
first-time or repeat Custom
Coupon Program participant.
If the Consumer is determined to be a repeat participant, his or her records
are updated. If the
Consumer is determined to be a first-time participant, a consumer
identification number is assigned, a
Consumer Database record is built, and all data forwarded to the Custom Coupon
System or retrieved from
the paper form is stored for use by other Custom Coupon System processes.
This process also determines whether the Consumer is ultimately to receive
printed paper or
electronic coupons at the time of coupon fulfillment. For Internet
participants, this is determined by the
existence or lack of a retailer card system number received from the
Participating or Retailer Web Site
when session control was forwarded to the Custom Coupon System. For non-
Internet participants, coupon
fulfillment continues to be by printed paper coupons.
13. Coupon Selection Process
Figure 13 represents the Custom Coupon System's unique Coupon Selection
Process. This multi-
step process considers the eligible coupons and the Consumer's origination
(Participating or Retailer Web
Site), geography, coupon selection history, and preferences in building a
customized coupon options list.
For Internet participants, this process presents a confumation page for the
Consumer's review
after the Consumer makes his or her selections. When the Consumer acknowledges
he or she is finished
selecting coupons and wishes to receive the coupons selected, this process
creates the coupon order to be
fulfilled.
For non-Internet participants, the fact that a coupon form was returned serves
as the
acknowledgment, and this process creates the coupon order to be fulfilled. .
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To determine which coupons are eligible for selection, the Custom Coupon
System reviews each
coupon in the Coupon Database. Coupons are determined to be eligible for
selection if the following are
true:
. the coupon's effective start date has passed
. the coupon's effective end date has not passed
The Coupon Selection Process then applies two filters to the list of eligible
coupons to customize
the list of coupon choices presented to the Consumer based on their retailer
affiliation and geographic
location. Coupons are determined to be eligible for selection if the following
are true:
~ the coupon is available for this Retailer (applicable if the Consumer's
origination is a Retailer
Web Site)
~ the coupon is available for this geographic area
All of the coupons that remain will be presented to the Consumer, but the
Coupon Selection
Process applies two additional filters to customize the list of coupon choices
based on the Consumer's
coupon selection history and preferences. Coupons are determined to be
eligible for selection if the
following are true:
~ the coupon is not currently an active (previously selected, but not yet
redeemed) coupon for
this Consumer
~ the coupon has not already been redeemed by this Consumer
~ the coupon does not belong to a coupon category this Consumer wishes to
ignore
The Coupon Selection Process then prepares the list of coupons that will be
presented to the
Consumer. These are organized by coupon category, flagged as having been
selected previously,
redeemed previously, or eligible for selection, and presented to the Consumer
as an on-line form (Internet
participants) or printed coupon selection form (non-Internet participants).
Each coupon listed has a brief
description. Internet participants are also presented with product images,
links to audio commercials, links
to video commercials, and links to manufacturer's Web sites depending on the
coupon.
Internet participants are instructed to make their selections by scrolling up
or down the fist of
coupons, checking the appropriate checkbox for each coupon they wish to
receive. Non-Internet
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participants are instructed to mark their selections by penciling in the mark
sense checkbox for each
coupon they wish to receive.
When an Internet participant indicates he or she is finished with coupon
selections, or when the
non-Internet participant's form is read in, the Coupon Selection Process
accepts the selections and
summarizes them. A check is made to insure the Consumer has selected a minimum
number of coupons.
If the Consumer is to receive printed paper coupons, the minimum number of
coupon selections required
may be in the range of one to two dozen. If the Consumer is to receive
electronic coupons, the minimum
number of coupon selections required is one coupon. If the minimum number of
coupons has not been
selected, the Internet participant is alerted and instructed to select at
least the minimum number of coupons,
while the non-Internet participant's form is rejected.
If the minimum or a greater number of coupons have been selected, a
confirmation Web page is
presented to the Internet participant. This page itemizes the coupons the
Consumer has selected and allows
the Consumer an opportunity to decide whether to select more coupons or to
conclude their Custom
Coupon Program session. This page lists each coupon selected, summarizes the
total savings represented
by the coupons selected, and informs the Consumer what action will take place
when the Consumer
acknowledges he or she is ready to conclude the Custom Coupon Program session
and to accept the
coupons selected. If the Consumer is to receive printed paper coupons, the
Consumer is informed that the
coupons selected will be printed and mailed to the Consumer's residence in a
specific number of days. If
the Consumer is to receive electronic coupons, the Consumer is informed that
the coupons selected will be
posted to the Consumer's retailer card, and will be "active" for a specific
number of days.
When the Internet participant indicates he or she acknowledges and accepts the
coupons selected
and wishes to conclude the Custom Coupon Program session, the Coupon Selection
Process creates a
coupon order containing all the data pertinent to the Consumer and the coupons
selections made in this
Internet Custom Coupon Program session.
When the non-Internet participant's form is "accepted", the Coupon Selection
Process creates a
coupon order.
14. Order Fulfillment Process
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Figure l4 represents the Order Fulfillment Process, a perpetually running
process that recognizes
when new coupon orders have been created and controls when they are fulfilled
in either of two ways. If
the coupon order is for printed paper coupons, the Order Fulfillment Process
queues the order for the Paper
Coupon Printing Process. If the coupon order is for electronic coupons, the
Order Fulfillment Process
queues the order for the Electronic Coupon Posting Process.
15. Coupon Activity Reporting Process
Figure 15 represents the Coupon Activity Reporting Process consisting of two
sets of modules,
one to generate hardcopy reports and another to generate ondemand on-line
reports.
To produce a standard set of Custom Coupon Program activity reports, this
process reads in all
active orders and historical order summary data, sorts the data, and produces
printed reports of Custom
Coupon Program participation and coupon activity. Reports include:
~ Custom Coupon Program Participation (nationally, regionally, and by specific
sub-program)
~ Coupon Activity Summary (nationally, regionally, by specif c sub-program, by
manufacturer,
by time period, alI coupons)
~ Coupon Activity Details (nationally, regionally, by specific sub-program, by
manufacturer,
by time period, by coupon)
To produce a standard set of Custom Coupon Program ondemand on-line reports
accessible to
Custom Coupon Program administrators, manufacturers, and retail partners, this
process reads in all active
orders and historical order summary data, sorts the data, and generates on-
line reports of Custom Coupon
Program participation and coupon activity. Reports included are identical to
the printed reports.
16. Performance Reporting Process
Figure 16 represents the Custom Coupon Program's Performance Reporting
Process, a set of
modules that produce manufacturer and retail partner-specific reports and
invoices. This process utilizes
data from alI sub-systems plus manufactwer and retail partner-specific
parameters to report on metrics and
goals, and to generate manufacturer invoices for coupons activity.
17. Paper Coupon Printing Process
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Figure 17 represents the Custom Coupon Program's highly automated Paper Coupon
Printing
Process. This process reviews all active coupon orders queued for printing,
sequences them, and then
services each order in turn.
An important step in the Paper Coupon Printing Process is the postalizing of
the mailing database
to take fuiiest advantage of the United States Postal Services' lowest first-
class mail rates. To do this, the
Consumer's address is compared to a database of United States postal route
information, and the applicable
"zip+4" and delivery point barcode information is identified, added to the
Consumer Database, and printed
as part of the mailing address.
To print a coupon order, the Paper Coupon Printing Process must retrieve each
coupon image
from the Coupon Database and position it on a "virtual" page held in computer
memory. When a page is
fully constructed in memory with up to 10 coupons on it, it is sent to a high-
speed laser printer for printing
on "ghost" paper, a type of paper designed to prevent fraudulent reproduction.
As the pages of coupons are printed, they are periodically checked for
quality. This step in the
process is manual and initiated by the printer operator via a sample hay on
the printer. The printing
continues while the printer operator visually inspects the sampled pages.
Using a standard bar code
scanner compatible with those found in retail stores, the printer operator
also scans the UPC bar code
printed on each coupon and visually verifies that the bar code scanned matches
the human readable bar
code printed on the coupon. The printing process continues, unless interrupted
by the operator.
In printing a coupon order, the Paper Coupon Printing Process must also
determine whether to
print a customized coupon selection form for the Consumer. If the Consumer is
a non-Internet participant,
then this process prints the customized coupon selection form constructed for
that Consumer (see section
13, Coupon Selection Process for details).
The printed coupon pages and new coupon selection forms are routed through
equipment that
automatically separates them by order and inserts them in mailing envelopes.
In addition, this specialized equipment intelligently inserts additional
printed materiais and
product samples into the maiiing envelopes according to programmed
instructions. This specialized
intelligent insertion process is highly configurable and adaptable to handling
inserts of varying dimension
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and weights, and allows for great flexibility in creating coupons packages for
Consumers that are
customized according to the coupon selections they have made.
After the final printed coupon page and intelligent insertions are made, the
mailing envelope is
automatically sealed and stacked for mailing. All postal paperwork is
generated prior to printing and
inserting.
18. Electronic Coupon Posting Process
Figure 18 represents the Electronic Coupon Posting Process which posts
electronic coupons to the Retailer
Card System. This perpetually running process retrieves each order queued for
posting, posts it to the
Retailer Card System, and responds to acknowledgments received from the
Retailer Card System.
Once a Retailer Web Site Internet participant's coupon order is created, a
"posting" database is
populated with the details of that order. This process then posts the
information to the Retailer Card
System and waits to process an acknowledgment of receipt from the Retailer
Card System. When the
acknowledgment is received, the order is moved into an "active order" database
for access by other Custom
Coupon System processes. If an acknowiedgment is not received in a timely
manner, this process
continues to post the coupon order data until an acknowledgment of receipt is
received.
19. Electronic Coupon Management Process
Figure 19 represents the Card System Management Process which operates on and
is unique to
each Retailer's Card System. This perpetually running process receives,
acknowledges, and posts
electronic coupons to the Consumer's retail card. This process also ages the
electronic coupons and purges
redeemed and expired coupons from the system periodically.
20. Electronic Coupon Redemption Process
Figure 20 represents the Electronic Coupon Redemption Process which operates
on and is unique
to each Retailer's Card System. As a Consumer's purchases are registered, this
process checks to see if an
active electronic coupon for each item exists, and if so, deducts the coupon
value from the Consumer's
total. As electronic coupons are "redeemed" in this manner, they are updated,
and a coupon redemption
record is eventually logged for reporting back to the Custom Coupon System.
21. Electronic Coupon Redemption Reporting Process
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Figure 21 represents the Electronic Coupon Redemption Reporting Process which
operates on
each Retailer's Card System. On a periodic basis this process retrieves all
recent electronic coupon
redemption records logged at the point-of sale, builds a transaction, and
posts that data back to the Custom
Coupon System.
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