System and method for generating and redeeming tokens

Claim 1

A method for generating and redeeming tokens having value comprising the steps of: transmitting, from a central location to remote locations having potential shoppers, electronic program signals conveying product information regarding at least one product available for purchase, said product information including token redemption information and value consideration information, said value consideration information having information regarding value consideration available upon purchase of said product; receiving and presenting said signals at said remote locations; providing token generating units at said remote locations, said units comprising entering means for selectively entering, at least partially, said product information; means for storing entered information; a token matrix adapted to record information; and means for writing information stored in said means for storing on said matrix; entering, at least partially, at said entering means product information selected by a potential shopper regarding a product intended for purchase; storing said entered information in said token generating unit; generating a token from said token generating unit by writing said entered information on said matrix and dispensing said token from said token generating unit to said potential shopper; providing a redemption facility for redeeming said token; presenting, by a shopper, said token at said redemption facility for redemption; authenticating, by said redemption facility, token redemption information on said presented token; and making value consideration of an authenticated token available, by said redemption facility, to a presenter of the token upon purchase by the presenter of the product identified on the token.

Claim 2

A method for generating and redeeming tokens having value comprising the steps of: transmitting, from a central location to remote locations having potential shoppers, electronic program signals conveying product information regarding at least one product available for purchase, said product information including token redemption information and value consideration information, said value consideration information having information regarding value consideration available upon purchase of said product; receiving and presenting said signals at said remote locations; providing token generating units at said remote locations, said units comprising entering means for selectively entering, at least partially, said product information; means for storing entered information; a token matrix adapted to record information; and means for writing information stored in said means for storing on said matrix; entering, at least partially, at said entering means product information selected by a potential shopper regarding a product intended for purchase; storing said entered information in said token generating unit; generating a token from said token generating unit by writing said entered information on said matrix and dispensing said token from said token generating unit to said potential shopper; providing a redemption facility for redeeming said token; presenting, by a shopper, said token at said redemption facility for redemption; authenticating, by said redemption facility, token redemption information on said presented token; and making value consideration of an authenticated token available, by said redemption facility, to a presenter of the token upon purchase by the presenter of the product identified on the token.

Claim 15

A system for generating redeemable tokens at remote locations of members of a broadcast audience, said system comprising: broadcast means at a central location for transmitting electronic program signals including product information; means at said members' locations for receiving and presenting said program signals; token generating units at said members' locations, each unit comprising: a housing; means, operable by individual ones of said members and connected to said housing, for selectively entering product information into a means for storing entered product information; a matrix removable connectable to said housing and adapted to record information thereon; token generating means connected to said means for selectively storing entered product information, said token generating means including means for recording at least a portion of selectively entered product information on said matrix upon activation of said generating means; and means, operable by a member of said audience, for activating said generating means to record said selected product information on said matrix to create a generated token.

Claim 16

A system for generating redeemable tokens at remote locations of members of a broadcast audience, said system comprising: broadcast means at a central location for transmitting electronic program signals including product information; means at said members' locations for receiving and presenting said program signals; token generating units at said members' locations, each unit comprising: a housing; means, operable by individual ones of said members and connected to said housing, for selectively entering product information into a means for storing entered product information; a matrix removable connectable to said housing and adapted to record information thereon; token generating means connected to said means for selectively storing entered product information, said token generating means including means for recording at least a portion of selectively entered product information on said matrix upon activation of said generating means; and means, operable by a member of said audience, for activating said generating means to record said selected product information on said matrix to create a generated token.

Claim 26

A method for increasing the redemption rate of discount coupons comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at said remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons comprising product information selected by individual shoppers; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; generating, upon activation of a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit in response to a shopper's selective entry of product information into said coupon generating unit, said coupon having the selected product information thereon; and giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of the selected product identified on said coupon.

Claim 27

A method for increasing the redemption rate of discount coupons comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at said remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons comprising product information selected by individual shoppers; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; generating, upon activation of a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit in response to a shopper's selective entry of product information into said coupon generating unit, said coupon having the selected product information thereon; and giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of the selected product identified on said coupon.

Claim 28

A method for determining the shopping pattern of TV-viewers, the method comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing at the remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; generating, upon activation by a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location, said coupon having at least a portion of said entered product information thereon; compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of a product identified on said coupon at a redemption location; and collecting each of said cumulative records of said generating units and making said cumulative records of said generating units available to a sponsor or advertiser.

Claim 29

A method for determining the shopping pattern of TV-viewers, the method comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing at the remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; generating, upon activation by a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location, said coupon having at least a portion of said entered product information thereon; compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of a product identified on said coupon at a redemption location; and collecting each of said cumulative records of said generating units and making said cumulative records of said generating units available to a sponsor or advertiser.

Claim 31

The method as in claims 24 or 25 wherein the step of generating includes providing information on the coupon to identify the shopper activating the generating unit.

Claim 33

A method for determining the shopping pattern of individual members of a broadcast audience, the method comprising steps of: (a) a first group of steps comprising: providing, at remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively activatable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons, said coupons having value and having product information, selected by individual shoppers, identified thereon; generating, upon activation of said generating unit by a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit in after a shopper's selective entry of product information into said coupon generating unit, said coupon having value and having identified thereon said selected product information; and giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of a selected product identified on said coupon; and (b) a second group of steps comprising: providing at said remote locations of individual shoppers means for compiling a cumulative record of product information identified on said coupons; compiling a cumulative record of an individual shopper's selected product information at said remote locations; and making said compiled cumulative record available to a sponsor by said individual shopper.

Claim 34

A method for determining the shopping pattern of individual members of a broadcast audience, the method comprising steps of: (a) a first group of steps comprising: providing, at remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit selectively activatable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for generating coupons, said coupons having value and having product information, selected by individual shoppers, identified thereon; generating, upon activation of said generating unit by a shopper, a coupon from said generating unit in after a shopper's selective entry of product information into said coupon generating unit, said coupon having value and having identified thereon said selected product information; and giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said coupon and purchase of a selected product identified on said coupon; and (b) a second group of steps comprising: providing at said remote locations of individual shoppers means for compiling a cumulative record of product information identified on said coupons; compiling a cumulative record of an individual shopper's selected product information at said remote locations; and making said compiled cumulative record available to a sponsor by said individual shopper.

Claim 35

A method for determining the shopping pattern of members of a broadcast audience, the method comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at the remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for selectively generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; selectively generating, upon activation by a shopper, individual coupons from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location, said coupon having at least a portion of said entered product information thereon; compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of individual coupons generated by said generating unit; giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said individual coupons and purchase of products identified on said coupons at a redemption location by said shopper; and surrendering said cumulative records, compiled by said generating units, to a sponsor.

Claim 36

A method for determining the shopping pattern of members of a broadcast audience, the method comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at the remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for selectively generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; selectively generating, upon activation by a shopper, individual coupons from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location, said coupon having at least a portion of said entered product information thereon; compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of individual coupons generated by said generating unit; giving value consideration to a shopper upon redemption of said individual coupons and purchase of products identified on said coupons at a redemption location by said shopper; and surrendering said cumulative records, compiled by said generating units, to a sponsor.

Claim 37

A method for making a cumulative record of intended purchases of individual shoppers available to sponsors comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for selectively generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; selectively generating, upon activation by a shopper, a product specific coupon from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location; disengaging said coupon from said generating unit to said shopper; compiling, at said shopper's remote location, a cumulative record of said generated coupons; and delivering information regarding said cumulative record to a sponsor.

Claim 38

A method for making a cumulative record of intended purchases of individual shoppers available to sponsors comprising steps of: transmitting, from a central location, electronic signals conveying product information, said product information including a product description, value information, and coupon redemption information; receiving and presenting said signals at remote locations of individual shoppers; providing, at remote locations of individual shoppers, a coupon generating unit operable by said shoppers, said coupon generating unit having means for selectively generating coupons and means for compiling a cumulative record of coupons generated by said generating unit; entering at least a portion of said product information by a shopper into said coupon generating unit; selectively generating, upon activation by a shopper, a product specific coupon from said generating unit at said shopper's remote location; disengaging said coupon from said generating unit to said shopper; compiling, at said shopper's remote location, a cumulative record of said generated coupons; and delivering information regarding said cumulative record to a sponsor.

Claim 39

A method of creating a marketing data base comprising steps of: permitting individual members of a remote broadcast audience who are shoppers to specify products targeted for purchase by providing to said members a coupon generating unit having product entry means; entering, by a member, a product specification into said member's coupon generating unit; generating a coupon from said generating unit in response to said step of entering, said coupon having value consideration available upon purchase of said specified product and redemption of said coupon; and compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of products targeted for purchase by said individual member to thereby create a data base that can be collected for each individual member and used to establish a marketing data base.

Claim 40

A method of creating a marketing data base comprising steps of: permitting individual members of a remote broadcast audience who are shoppers to specify products targeted for purchase by providing to said members a coupon generating unit having product entry means; entering, by a member, a product specification into said member's coupon generating unit; generating a coupon from said generating unit in response to said step of entering, said coupon having value consideration available upon purchase of said specified product and redemption of said coupon; and compiling, in said coupon generating unit, a cumulative record of products targeted for purchase by said individual member to thereby create a data base that can be collected for each individual member and used to establish a marketing data base.

Claim 41

The method according to claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 wherein said step of compiling comprises a plurality of recording steps, each recording step occurring each time a shopper activates said coupon generating unit.

Claim 42

The method according to claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 wherein said step of entering product information includes storing said product information in a memory of said coupon generating unit.

Claim 43

The method as in claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 further comprising analyzing a plurality of said cumulative records and thereby determining buying patterns of shoppers.

Claim 44

The method as in claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 further comprising a step of substantially simultaneously removing said cumulative record form said generating unit as a coupon matrix is being replenished in said generating unit.

Claim 45

The method as in claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 further comprising a step of storing said cumulative record at said shopper's remote location until retrieved by a sponsor.

Claim 46

The method as in claims 29, 30, 31 or 32, further comprising providing identification of a shopper on said shopper's cumulative record.