MXPA98000671A - Interactive marketing network and process using electroni certificates - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data processing system that uses electronic certificates through "on-line" networks of personal computers, televisions and other devices with video monitors or telephones. Each electronic certificate includes identification data and transaction data and may be printed by a printing device connected to a personal consumer input device or stored electronically in an assigned database, up to a specific expiration date. The certificate can be used for different purposes, it can even be used as a coupon for a price on a product or service, a gift or prize certificate, a reservation receipt or proof of payment. The consumer accesses the online data processing system, moves between the possibilities of choice and makes its specific selection. The data processing system provides reports on the selected certificates and their use after the selection. Certificate issuers also have online access to the data processing system and can create or revise offers and provide various instructions pertaining to certificates, including limitations on the number of certificates to be issued both globally and based on each individual consumer

Description

INTERACTIVE COMMERCIALIZATION NETWORK AND PROCESS USING ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the use of an interactive marketing network. More specifically, the present invention relates to the interactive use by service providers and consumers of electronic certificates on online networks. More often, consumers are gaining direct access to databases for information and entertainment, whether through telephone lines and coaxial cable or wireless connections from cellular systems and satellites. With this access called "online", consumers can use databases for a range of activities at virtually any time. In addition to granting freedom to the consumer, online access gives additional efficiency to companies that market products and services, whether the products are sold directly to the consumer by mail, or by a store. At the same time, several types of transactions are currently consumed using certificates such as coupons, tickets, etc. These certificates typically contain data (referred to in the claims as P1076 / 98MX "transaction data") that describe the particular transaction (for example, in the case of a coupon, the transaction data will include the description of the product, the number of coupons, and the expiration date). These certificates also typically contain data (referred to in the claims as "identification data") such as various numbers, letters, bar codes, or other symbols sufficient to uniquely identify each certificate. The need arises for the creation of a Online "electronic certificate" that can be used for promotional and transactional purposes, many have been used as coupons in traditional merchandising vehicles such as newspapers and postal parcels. Beyond offering a discount as an incentive to buy a characteristic product, the coupon is also money, printed in limited quantities by the issuer and frequently having unique serial numbers, expiration dates and "source codes" that indicate the medium whereby it was distributed (for example, newspaper, mailing list, distributor in warehouse, etc.), so that the issuers can follow the effectiveness of each means of marketing. Known coupon distribution systems, for example, fail to give a communication Interactive P1076 / 98MX between a service center and a third party, as taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,303,197 to Axler. While Axler's patent allows an operator to periodically "visit" a distribution machine, this does not allow for "real-time" interactivity (for example, it does not allow the operator to access and analyze contemporary demographic data with its input). Neither Axler (or any other system known from the prior art) provides for the creation of an online "electronic certificate", as described above. A data processing system and method according to the present invention successfully emulates the attributes of a coupon over an online network (ie, an "electronic coupon" is created). In addition, given direct access to consumers, the data processing system exceeds the capabilities of traditional vouchers to provide issuers with a greater degree of control in the selection of the offer, restriction of its use and follow-up of both the process of selection as a refund. Data system controls also make it possible for service providers, such as restaurants and hotels, to use an online electronic certificate as a promotional medium and a way to lower overhead costs in the provision of those transactions.

P1076 / 9TMX such as dinners, trips and ticket reservations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method of data processing that allows users to access an online database and use electronic certificates. The data processing system identifies and marks each electronic certificate with a code that distinguishes it from other certificates and with another code that identifies the user. In addition, the data processing system allows issuers of coupons to go online as well as create and specify controls that restrict the total number of certificates issued as well as the number that is to be issued to each individual. The data processing system also preferentially issues reports as soon as consumers choose a certificate from the database and have it downloaded to their resident storage systems or "remote computer terminals". Reports can be generated that show if the consumer has the certificate printed with the consumer's printer or if he has not sent, such as a computer record, back to the service database. All these reports can help the issuer in the search, security and confirmation P1076 / 98MX of a purchase or reservation. In a preferred embodiment, the data processing system of the present invention can issue electronic certificates created by an operator, and allows the storage and retrieval of the data corresponding to the certificates introduced by the users of a first set of communication of the distant computer terminals. This embodiment includes a service system that includes a first computer processor for processing the data and a first computer storage system for storing the data in a storage medium. Also included is an issuer system that includes a second computer processor for processing the data and a second computer storage system for storing the data in a storage medium. The issuing system allows the operator to provide the service system with instructions for issuing a predetermined type and number of electronic certificates. The service system is in selective electrical communication both with the transmitter system and with each of the remote computer terminals. The preselected identification data, stored within either the first or the second computer storage system and which can be used either by the first or the second processor P1076 / 98MX computer, is used to provide the first computer processor with the appropriate instructions for the association of each of the electronic certificates issued with one or more identification symbols. Users of distant computer terminals are then allowed to have controlled access to electronic certificates. A process for providing an interactive marketing system, capable of using electronic certificates that can be accessed online by remote computer terminals linked within a computer network is also part of the present invention. In this embodiment, an online network is provided that includes a broadcast site having a first computer processor and a first computer storage system, and a service site having a second computer processor and a second storage system of computer. The broadcast site and the service site are in electrical communication, and the service site and each of the remote computer terminals are also in electrical communication. Instructions for the issuance of a predetermined number of electronic certificates, each of the certificates that include the certificates, are transmitted from the issuing site to the service site.

P1076 / 98MX transaction data. Upon receiving these instructions, the service site reviews the electronic certificates to provide the electronic certificates issued with the unique identification data. Then, the revised electronic certificates can be accessed by the users of the distant terminals of the computer. The consumer data entered by the users of the remote computer terminals can be provided to the service site, and then they are selectively transmitted to the broadcast site. As each of these steps is required, it can be repeated selectively. In a second preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, a process for selectively storing, retrieving and transmitting the reservation data is provided. First, the computer operation system is provided, which includes a broadcast site with an issuing computer that has an initial set of reservation instructions, and a service site with a service computer that also has an initial set of instructions Reservation The computers of emission and of service of the system of operation of computer are in electrical communication. Then, it is transmitted from the remote computer terminals, electronically linked to the computer and service, the reservation data, updated. The data Updated reservation P1076 / 98MX are used by the service computer to review the initial set of reservation instructions, resulting in a revised set of reservation instructions contained within the service computer. Now, the data corresponding to the revised set of reservation instructions is transmitted from the service computer to the issuing computer. The data corresponding to the reservation instructions can be contained inside the service computer in the form of an electronic reservation coupon, which can be printed by the users of the remote computer terminals. Again, as it is referred to, these steps can be repeated selectively. In its broadest embodiment, the system of the present invention is used to create an electronic certificate. This system includes a computer system that can process and store data. The computer system is capable of creating a plurality of electronic certificates. Each of the electronic certificates contains the transaction data and unique identification data, and can be accessed by distant users linked to the computer system.

P1076 / 98MX BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The new features that characterize the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with the additional objects and accompanying advantages, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 represents the information flow in a system that distributes online coupons to consumers; Figure 2 is a flow chart of an electronic program routine for a coupon issuer according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a flowchart of a computer program routine for an online coupon service provider in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a flow diagram of a computer program routine for a user using the coupon service according to the present invention; Figure 5 represents the flow of information a system that provides reservations in a restaurant; Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a computer program routine for a restaurant according to the present invention; P1076 / 98MX Figure 7 is a flow chart of a computer program routine for the reservation service provider according to the present invention; and Figure 8 is a flowchart of a consumer computer program routine using the reservation service according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST PREFERRED MODALITY The present invention is directed to a data processing system and method for use in the distribution and use of electronic certificates such as coupons on online systems. Figure 1 is a general view that shows how information and activities flow from the creation of the electronic certificate to its selection and printing by the consumer, and its final reimbursement. The process starts with the issuance 1 of coupons that creates the voucher instructions (which will typically include the transaction data) and downloads them to the service database 2 that receives the interrupts and allocates the identification data and the restrictions broadcast. The service database 2 can then display the active coupon files to the consumer and make the designated amount available for download to the consumer's personal computer (PC) 3 or other input device. PC 3 of the consumer can not P1076 / 98MX download more electronic coupons than the number specified in the instructions of issue 1 of coupons. At any time before the expiration date of the coupons file, the user can use one of two methods to reimburse them, as shown in Figure 1. First, the electronic coupon can be printed with a printer attached to the consumer's PC 3 or other input device. Since the files relating to the electronic coupon remain in the storage device of the consumer's PC even after the consumer ends the program with the service database 2, the consumer can quickly disconnect from the online system, and print the coupon later, at your leisure. The expiration date, a unique serial number (which distinguishes this coupon from the others) and a barcode with the consumer's personal identification number (PIN) are printed on coupon 6. This data of identification are preferably assigned by the service database 2; The PIN number can be pre-assigned to individual consumers when they are registered to the system. That printed coupon can then be presented during the verification of a retail market, participant, and the indicated credit will be deducted from the P1076 / 98MX consumer invoice. With the second method of reimbursement of a coupon, the PC 2 of the consumer transmits the selected file 5 of coupons to the database 7 designated by the issuer, where it is stored with the same information as the printed coupon, including the transaction data and identification. The verification system in the retail market 8 will then automatically activate the discount if the consumer presented a store credit card or a credit card on the other hand and purchased the designated product. Preferably, the electronic transfer of the coupon from the consumer's PC to the database 7 can only be done online. (This allows the service database 2 to exactly follow the printing or presentation activity of the coupon, as discussed above). The information can also be passed back through the system, first to the service database 2 and then to the coupon issuer 1, in this way, information about the coupon files or other demographic information, for example, ("consumer data") and the coupon files may be sent to the consumer printer 4 or a sender database 7. Printed coupons 6, also reimbursed P1076 / 98MX could have their barcodes scanned by the service to identify, for search purposes who used the coupons. (For greater security, the bar code could be compared in the verification to ensure that the consumer's identity corresponds to the bar code.) This information could also be transmitted from a coupon file 5 that is automatically reimbursed. 2 represents a routine of a computer program that allows the coupon issuer to download new coupon instructions, also old instructions, or upload information on the use of coupons.The routine begins on coupons 9 with dial-up to service 10. For Having access to the system the sender first enters a password 11 to enter the system (time in which the use of a pre-assigned registration number may be required.) Then a main menu 12 is displayed. new coupon instructions, which starts with a download of coupon templates 13 along with orders to establish the number of coupons that are they will issue (both in total and to each individual consumer) and orders to establish expiration dates 14. Orders can also be issued to limit the distribution of coupons by area or for a family profile of the consumer. These P1076 / 98MX coupon instructions are added to previously issued coupons. The issuer can review these electronic coupons 16 and then modify the instructions regarding (for example) the issued numbers 17 or the due dates 18. The previously issued coupons can also be deleted from the system if the issuer decides to do so (it will be automatically deleted from the system after expiration). These changes are used to update the coupon instructions 19 resident in the service database. Issuers can also access the system for usage history 20 to determine the remaining number of previously issued coupons. Additionally, the issuer can upload the reports 21 based on the number of selected coupons 22, printed 23 and reimbursed 24. Another function of the computer program is to analyze the use based on the user's purchasing habits and demographic characteristics. These consumer data can be contained in the family profile, presented by the consumer to register in the system and be updated periodically with additional questions of use history. An issuer may display information about those who have selected the issuer coupons, analyzing the use of factors such as the region and demographic factors.

P1076 / 98MX In addition, the issuer can upload the user's reports 26 based on the selection 27, print orders 28 and refund 29. The service database, as shown in Figure 3, is the bridge between the issuer 1 of coupons and the consumer 3, and allows the flow of both incoming information and outgoing information. First, on an online network 33, the service receives the instructions 19 of coupons sent by the coupon issuer 1. The service computer program takes the instructions and assigns the necessary serial numbers 34 and issues the restrictions. These new coupons or exchanged coupons are then sent to update the 36 service coupons, active, already in the disk storage for that issuer. These active service coupons are part of the outgoing information sent to the consumer over the online network 37. The consumer's usage information is returned in another way through the network 38. The service system takes the information 39 from use in the selection and updates the number of active, service, remaining coupons. The information 41 of the family profile also enters from the consumer. The service takes this information and updates the user's reports 42 that are sent back through the network 44 to the sender, ending the information circuit.

P1076 / 98MX Figure 4 shows the routine of the consumer computer program. Start 45 with a display of the main menu 46. The consumer can view the coupons that have already been downloaded and are resident in the consumer's PC 55. There are two methods by which the consumer could activate coupons 48. The first would be to send the coupon file 49 to the consumer's printer. In this way, its bar code is associated with the consumer's PIN 50, which is accessed from the 64 database of the family profile. The consumer printer 4 then prints the coupon 6. At activation 48, a coupon could also be transmitted as a computer file 51, back through the network 52, to a database chosen by the issuer. When 48 coupons are activated, the consumer's resident computer program removes the coupon file that has been printed 54, updated the database of downloaded electronic coupons and displays 47 resident coupons. The system also automatically removes the expired coupon files that have already been activated 56. Another function of the resident computer program is display 62 and update 63 that the family profile 64 with the information entered by the consumer in response to the questions presented for the service. To have access to a new selection of P1076 / 98MX coupons, the consumer can dial into the service database 58, enter the PIN number 59, and see a display of all active service coupons 60. These coupons can then be selected and downloaded to the PC's 61 consumer. While online, the consumer's computer program automatically sends back to the service database information on the selection and print history of the consumer, as well as information on those downloaded coupon files that have expired. 56. It also sends back the updated information on the family profile 65 of the consumer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECOND MODALITY A second embodiment of the present invention is directed to a data processing system and method for use in automatic reservations on online systems for restaurants, hotels, and other service establishments. Figure 5 is a general view showing how training and activities flow from the initial allocation of the reservation by the restaurant, to its selection by the consumer and the final printing of a confirmation note by the consumer's printer. The automatic reservation process starts with the restaurant guest computer 66 that establishes the P1076 / 98MX number, time and type of reservations available, and download those instructions to the reservation service 67, which receives the instructions and assigns the confirmation numbers necessary to limit the restrictions. The reservation service 67 can then display the consumer service reservations, and make them available for access through the consumer's personal computer (PC) 68 or other input device. Once the consumer chooses the restaurant, time and type of reservation (ie, for two, for four, etc.), the data processing system immediately notifies the restaurant with a description of the reservation, name and telephone number of the consumer and the confirmation number. This information can be sent through the online computer network and also preferably by a designated facsimile machine (which can be more conveniently for telephone and restaurant facsimile staff instead of a computer). The consumer can then use a printer 69 attached to the consumer's PC 68, or other input device, to print a confirmation note 70. The confirmation note can have a description of the reservation, the name and telephone number of the consumer and the confirmation number This note will be presented to reception staff upon arrival P1076 / 98MX from the consumer to the restaurant and will be corroborated with the information that has been previously sent to the restaurant through the machine of the facsimile system. The feed back through the system, first to the service database 67, and then to the restaurant 66, in the information about the reservations made by the PC 68 of the consumer and the profile of the consumer has been presented as part of the registration process for the service ("consumer data"). This profile is continuously updated by the consumer in response to additional questions, and is also continuously updated by the system, in the follow-up of the reservations made by the consumer. Figure 6 depicts a computer program routine for the restaurant to set up separate reservations for the system, change old reservations, and upload the information in the reservation use. The routine starts 71 with the reservation service 72 dialing. To access the system, the restaurant first enters a password 73 to enter the system. Then a main menu 74 is displayed. Among the selections is the establishment of new reservations at 75. The type of reservation and the number of P1076 / 98MX reservation is determined by setting the available tables 76 (for example, the number of tables available to seat two 78, four 77, and six 79). The instructions also include setting the day and time of reservations 80. These reservation instructions can be added to previously issued, initial reservation instructions on disk storage 81. With reference still to Figure 6, the computer program can also be used to change previously issued reservations. The restaurant can review these electronic reservation "coupons" 82 and can modify the instructions of (for example) the numbers of available tables 83. In this operation, previously issued reservations can be deleted from the system in the restaurant option. The updated reservation instructions 81 are then sent to the service database. The system can also be accessed by restaurants for use history 85 to see the names and phone numbers of those who have made reservations 86, and to determine the number of reservations remaining for a given hour 87. The restaurant can also charge the information 88 of those who have used the service to book reservations at a particular location. It can be displayed P1076 / 98MX 89 a user profile and a user list can be displayed 93, or the restaurant can print user reports 90, and create a printed copy of profile 91 of the user or user list 92. The service of reservation, as shown in Figure 7 is again the bridge between restaurant 68 and consumer 68 and handles both incoming and outgoing information. First, over a network 94, online, the service receives the reservation instructions 95 sent by restaurant 66. The service computer program takes the instructions and assigns the necessary confirmation numbers to each reservation 96. These new reservations or reservations changed then the active service reservations 98 are already sent to update 97 in the disk storage for the restaurant. This reservation is active service are part of the outgoing information sent to the consumer 68 on the network 99 online. Still referring to Figure 7, the consumer use information is also moved from the consumer's PC back to the restaurant through the network 100. The service system takes the reservation made by the consumer 102 and updates the number of the consumer. active reservations, service, remaining 103. This information is also used to update restaurant 104 to P1076 / 98MX through a transmission to the facsimile machine 105 of the restaurant and through the network 106 of computers. Also incoming from the consumer is the information 101 of the user profile that is sent back to the restaurant through the computer network 106. Figure 8 shows the consumer computer program routine. Start 107 with a display of the main menu 108. The consumer can dial into the service database 109, enter the PIN number 110, and view a display of all the active service reservations 111. Then you can select and download 112 a reservation to the consumer's PC, where it is sent to the printer 113. In this way, the name and telephone number of the consumer is taken from the storage 117 of a user's profile information and 114 to the printing instructions for the confirmation note 116. A printer attached to the consumer's PC can be used to print 115 the confirmation note 116. While online, the consumer's computer program sends back the information of the consumer. consumer reservation service 119 to update the remaining service reservations. The reservation also updates the user profile 117 of the consumer. The updated user profile information P1076 / 98MX is also automatically sent back to the service while the consumer is online 120. The consumer can view user profile 121 and update profile 122 with answers to the suggested questions to the consumer during and after the registration process. It can be appreciated that the present invention can be designed for use with various online computer programs, including American Online®, Prodigy * and Microsoft®. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, while the preferred embodiments describe particular types of electronic certificates (coupons and reservation notes), various other types of electronic certificates may be used by systems designed in accordance with the present invention, including certificates used as proof of a gift. , prize or payment, and virtually any type of certificate or voucher. As another example, while the service database 2 will typically assign the identification data to the electronic certificate, this data could be transmitted and assigned together with the transaction data by the issuer 1 of coupons, or even by a third distant site . Also in P1076 / 98MX instead of using a separate transmitter and service computers, they could be consolidated into an individual computer for particular applications. Additionally, multiple sender computers, multiple service computers or combinations thereof could be used, given a particular application. Yet, further, while the preferred embodiments have described users with "remote computer terminals" consisting of personal computers, users could have access to the merchandising network of the present invention through various other access means, such as telephone lines, televisions or individual access stations indicated for use and distribution for several certificates (currently many similar cash machines are used). These other means of access will include the appropriate computer program and equipment that allow interactive capabilities with distant computers, similar to those described in the preferred modes using personal computers. These and other modifications and changes within the spirit and scope of the present invention are proposed to be covered by the appended claims.

P1076 / 98MX

Claims (19)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property: 1. A data processing system for issuing electronic certificates created by an operator and for allow the storage and retrieval of data corresponding to the certificates entered by the users and a first set of remote terminal communication of the computer, comprising: a service system that includes a first computer processor to process the data and a first system computer storage to store the data in a storage medium; an emitter system that includes a second computer processor for processing the data and a second computer storage system for storing the data in a storage medium, the issuer system that allows the operator to provide the service system for issuing a type and predetermined number of electronic certificates; the service system that is in selective electrical communication both with the emitting system and with each of the remote computer terminals; P1076 / 98MX preselected identification data, stored either within the first or the second computer storage system and that can be used either by the first or the second computer processor to provide the first computer processor with appropriate instructions to associate each of the electronic certificates issued with one or more identification symbols; remote computer terminals that allow users to have controlled access to electronic certificates. The data processing system according to claim 1, wherein remote computer terminals allow consumer data entered by users of remote computer terminals to be transmitted either to the service system or to the sender system. 3. The data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first computer processor allows the electronic certificates previously associated with the certification symbols to be transmitted from the service system to the sender system. 4. The data processing system, according to claim 1, wherein the electronic certificate is a refundable coupon. P1076 / 98MX 5. The data processing system according to claim 4, wherein the remote computer terminal is operably connected to a printer, allowing the printing of electronic certificates that constitute reimbursable coupons, with each reimbursable coupon corresponding to a particular product. The data processing system according to claim 5, further comprising a second set of remote computer terminals in electrical communication with service systems to selectively receive the coupon transmitted from the service system, the second set of distant computer terminals that provide instructions that indicate that coupons can be reimbursed in the purchase of the products that correspond to the coupons by the user. The data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the identification symbols associated with each electronic certificate include an expiration date, a serial number of the certificate, unique and a personal identification number capable of being produced in the Barcode. 8. The data processing system, according to claim 1, wherein the service system can P1076 / 98MX automatically review, store or provide the issuing system: (i) the preselected consumer data entered by the users of the remote computer terminals; or (ii) the data corresponding to the use, issuance or revisions to the electronic certificates. 9. The data processing system, according to claim 1, wherein the number of certificates that can be accessed by users of remote computer terminals is restricted in a controlled manner. 10. A system for creating electronic certificates that can be accessed by remote or remote users, comprising: a computer system linked to remote users for data storage, the computer system is capable of creating a plurality of electronic certificates, each one of the electronic certificates that contain the transaction data and the unique transaction data, the electronic certificates that are selectively accessible to the distant users. 11. A data processing system for issuing electronic certificates created by an operator, to allow the storage and retrieval of the data corresponding to the certificates introduced by the P1076 / 98MX users of remote communication computer terminals, comprising: a service system that includes a means for data processing and for data storage: an issuer system that includes a means to process data and to store data , the issuer system that allows the operator to provide the service system with instructions for issuing a predetermined number type of electronic certificates; the service system that is in selective electrical communication both with the emitting system and with each of the remote computer terminals; and preselected identification data, stored, either within the issuer or the service system, to provide the service system with the appropriate instructions to associate each of the issued electronic certificates with one or more identification symbols. 12. A system for creating an electronic certificate that contains transaction data and identification data, comprising: a service system that includes a means for data processing and for data storage; P1076 / 98MX 3 an issuer system that includes a means for data processing and for data storage, the issuing system that transmits electronic certificates that contain the transaction data to the service system; and the system that receives the electronic certificates that contain the transaction data, and that it associates with each electronic certificate with the identification data. 13. A data processing system for issuing electronic certificates created by an operator, and to allow the storage and retrieval of data corresponding to certificates entered by users of distant communication computer terminals, comprising: transmitter system located at a transmitter site and including a first computer processor for processing the data and a first computer storage system for storing the data in a storage medium, the second computer processor that allows the issuance and a number default of electronic certificates, each of the electronic certificates that have transaction data; an operator system located at a site of P1076 / 98MX service and that includes a second computer processor to process the data and a second data storage system to store the data in a storage medium, the operator system that is in electrical communication as well as the sender system as with distant computer terminals and which allows each of the electronic certificates to be associated with the identification data; the operator system that allows users of remote computer terminals to access electronic certificates, and select certificates to download on the remote computer terminal site; the operator system also stores almost simultaneously the consumer data transmitted from the users of the remote terminals of the computer, and that allows the selective access of this data by the issuing system. 14. A process for providing an interactive marketing system, capable of using electronic certificates that can be accessed online by distant computer terminals linked within a computer network, comprising the steps of: a. provide an online network that includes a broadcast site that has a first processor of P1076 / 98MX computer and a first computer storage system, and a service site that has a second computer processor and a second computer storage system, the broadcast site and the service site that are in electrical communication, and the service site and each of the distant terminals computer that is in electrical communication; b. send the instruction from the emission site to the service site to issue a predetermined number of electronic certificates, each of the certificates that include transaction data; c. transmit the data corresponding to the electronic certificates to the service site and create the updated electronic certificates by providing the electronic certificates issued with the identification data; d. transmit the data corresponding to the updated electronic certificates to the service site. 15. The process according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: e. provide the service site with consumer data transmitted from distant computer terminals; F. transmit consumer data from the P1076 / 9TMX service site to the issuing site; and g. Repeat steps b.-f. 16. The process according to claim 14, further comprising the step of selectively organizing consumer data and selectively transmitting this data to either the issuing site and the service site. 17. The process to selectively store, retrieve and transmit reservation data, which includes the steps of: a. provide a computer operating system that includes a broadcast site with an issuing computer that has an initial set of reservation instructions, and a service site with a service computer that also has the initial set of reservation instructions, the emission and service computers of the computer operating system that are in electrical communication; b. transmit the updated observation data from the remote computer terminals, linked electronically to the service computer, the updated reservation data that is used by the service computer to review the initial set of reservation instructions, resulting in a revised set of reservation instructions contained within the service computer; P1076 / 98MX c. transmit the data corresponding to the revised set of reservation instructions from the service computer to the issuing computer; d. selectively repeat steps b. and e. The process according to claim 17, wherein the data corresponding to the reservation instructions are contained within the service computer as a reservation coupon, electronic and additionally comprising the step of printing the reservation coupon. 19. The data processing system to issue electronic certificates by an operator, and to allow the storage and retrieval of the data corresponding to the certificates entered by the users of the distant communication computer terminals; a service system that includes a means to process the data and to store the data; an issuer system that includes a means to process the data and to store the data, the issuer system that allows the operator to provide the service system with instructions to conditionally issue a type and predetermined number of electronic certificates; the service system that is in communication P1076 / 98MX electric is selective both with the emitter system and with each of the terminals of the computer; preselected identification data stored either within the issuer or the service system, to provide the service system with the appropriate instructions to associate each of the issued electronic certificates with one or more identification symbols; the service system that conditions the issuance of the electronic certificates in the entry of the specific data of the consumer asked from the user of the remote terminal of the computer by the service system. P1076 / 98MX SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a data processing system that uses electronic certificates through "on-line" networks of personal computers, televisions and other devices with video monitors or telephones. Each electronic certificate includes identification data and transaction data and may be printed by a printing device connected to a personal consumer input device or stored electronically in a designated database, up to a specific expiration date. The certificate can be used for different purposes, including use as a coupon for a discount price on a product or service, a gift certificate or award, a reservation receipt or proof of payment. The consumer accesses the online data processing system, moves between the possibilities of choice and makes its specific selection. The data processing system provides reports on the selected certificates and their use after the selection. Certificate issuers also have online access to the data processing system and can create or review offers and provide various instructions pertaining to certificates, including limitations on the number of certificates P1076 / 98MX that will be issued both globally and based on each individual consumer. P1076 / 98MX