KR20090053876A

KR20090053876A - The structures and methods for using all discount coupons avaiable with one unique temporary identification number under the network which uses internet protocols

Info

Publication number: KR20090053876A
Application number: KR1020070120571A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 문종섭
Original assignee: 문종섭
Priority date: 2007-11-24
Filing date: 2007-11-24
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Also published as: WO2009078594A3; WO2009078594A2; WO2009078594A4

Abstract

The technical field of this patent is a new field that provides convenience and profits to consumers using the Internet network.

The problem to be solved is that when a consumer purchases a product at a discount store or supermarket, they have not forgotten the discount coupon to bring the discount or have not found it among the many coupons they bring, Even if you bring it with you, you want to protect the situation when it expires and misses the opportunity to obtain your own economic benefits.

The solution is to store various coupons issued by consumers on the Internet in a certain server. At this time, the server serves to keep a variety of coupons issued by various different companies in each consumer account, and when used by the consumer, to print a one-time ID (generally one-dimensional barcode or two-dimensional barcode), Send it to a mobile device (e.g. mobile phone), and at the checkout, send the one-time identification number (ID) to the server holding the coupon, and send all relevant coupon information that the identification number has to the checkout. At the cash register, the amount of coupons found is automatically subtracted from the total price.

Using this method, you can achieve various effects such as:

(One). The consumer does not need to bring a discount coupon on purpose.

(2) Among the many coupons you bring, it saves you the trouble of having to find one. Coupons are automatically retrieved from an internet storage server.

(3) By the effects of (1) and (2), the average consumer can get the most economic benefit. In addition, there are many economic benefits from coupon providers and coupon handling sites (restaurants and discount marts).

Internet, Internet discount coupon, barcode, mobile phone, one-time identification number, database search, storage server, discount store, supermarket.

Description

In the telecommunications network (Internet, WiBro, etc., all networks that can use the Internet), using the one-time identification number as a tool, the structure and methods for using all available discount coupons {The structures and methods for using all discount coupons avaiable with one unique temporary identification number under the network which uses internet protocols}

This field basically uses the technology used in the Internet. That is, in a communication network (Internet, WiBro, mobile phone network, etc.) that can use the Internet, the process is operated based on a structure that ensures the security of data. Therefore, instead of using the name of a communication network used later, it is simply used as the term Internet network. In addition, on the Internet, a database search technique is also necessary because a one-time identification number (ID) must be used to locate the coupon in the database for discount coupon storage. In addition, in order to transmit a one-time identification number to a mobile phone, it is also necessary to link the communication network with the mobile phone network and to settle the cost for the used discount coupon. Electronic billing and payment (B2B), and similarly, a "discount coupon provision server" that stores discount coupons for direct use to consumers and cost settlement with discount coupon provider Completion) should also be done electronically.

The technology required by this invention has no particular technology in detail, therefore, the latest literature to be cited is not necessary, provided that the technology that the examiner should understand is (1) general understanding of the Internet network, (2) Internet network. Understanding of security-related knowledge (e.g., VPN, mutual authentication, confidential communication, digital signature, etc.) used in the network, (3) searching the database, and (4) data communication between two terminals (client and server). In addition, knowledge of communication symbols and processes is needed to understand the sequence.

The problem to be solved is that when a consumer purchases a product at a discount store or supermarket, they have not forgotten the discount coupon to bring the discount or have not found it among the many coupons they bring, Even if you bring it with you, you want to protect the situation when it expires and misses the opportunity to obtain your own economic benefits. Therefore, without having to bring the coupons one by one, all the discount coupons available at the cashier to be able to use automatically without the effort of the consumer.

The solution is to store a variety of coupons that consumers issue on the Internet (various companies issue discount coupons that can be used offline at the level of their advertising) on a constant server. The coupons can be used for various purposes, such as movie theaters, restaurants, amusement parks, and discount marts. At this time, the server serves to keep a variety of coupons issued by a variety of companies in each customer's personal account. When a consumer wants to use a coupon, he or she issues a one-time identification number (ID), which is then available for use, usually by printing a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode on paper, or drawing on a mobile device (e.g. mobile phone). When the item is calculated at the cash register, the one-time identification number (ID) is transmitted to the server storing the coupon, and the server sends all relevant coupon information to the cash register. Allows you to automatically subtract the amount of coupon found from the price.

Using this method, you can achieve various effects such as:

(One). The consumer does not need to bring a discount coupon on purpose.

(3) By the effects of (1) and (2), the average consumer can get the most economic benefit.

(4) When the coupon is used at the checkout counter, the checkout tells the server (providing server) in which the coupon is stored, and thus can obtain data on the purchase status of each user. It is a way to obtain very important data for consumer management.

(5) The coupon issuing company can obtain various data about the characteristics of consumers from the discount coupon storage server. If you use coupons directly on paper offline, you will not be able to obtain information about each individual.

(6) Consumers can improve their advertising effect or brand image by accessing their own website to offer coupons in order to obtain coupons.

(7) The period of receiving coupons reduces the burden of much more work. That is, because (a) one-time identification number for all coupons is processed one by one, physical work is reduced, (b) processing time is fast, and (c) there is no need to store all discount coupons in space. (Must be kept for post settlement with the coupon issuing company), and (d) the coupon issuing company and the post settlement is done electronically (via a network (Internet, WiBro, etc.)), making work simpler and faster.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of this invention. That is, in FIG. 1, the issuer 100 issuing the discount coupon, the providing server 101 collecting and storing the discount coupon, the usage 103 using the discount coupon, and the discount coupon user 104 using the same. It is a relationship diagram. The discount coupon issuer 100 communicates with the discount coupon storage server 101 using a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) (110), and the discount coupon issuer 100 uses a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) The discount coupon user 103 communicates with the destination 112, the discount coupon user 104 is a one-time identification number 105 or downloaded from the discount coupon storage server via a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) or mobile phone network 113 or The coupon is issued and used at the discount coupon destination, and the discount coupon destination 103 has a one-time identification number or identification card in the form of a membership card that the user brings in order for the user to use the discount coupon. While communicating from the network 101 via the communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) (111), various information about the discount coupons that can be used are received.

The flow of the process is: (1) the user collects the coupon from the discount coupon issuer through the discount coupon storage server, and stores it in the storage server; and (2) when used, the one-time temporary identification number or membership card from the storage server. Obtain a form (with a bar code and magnetic card) (such as a mobile phone, a device that displays video, print it on a paper, or a membership card), and (3) use it at a discount coupon. Then, when using the discount coupon card (in one of the three forms above), the cashier uses a discount coupon card to store a variety of charges after purchase of the product, and the checkout counter is connected to a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) (if there are several checkout counters, the server that connects the checkout counter is connected again), find discount coupons that can be used, bring the information to the checkout, and reduce the fee. (4) The user of the discount coupon shall use the communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.) to the company that issued the discount coupon at the time of the settlement, and settle the settlement after exchanging the information necessary for computation, and (5) if necessary. If payment is to be made with the discount coupon use server and the discount coupon storage server, (6) the settlement coupon or the discount coupon issuing agent must also settle or exchange information. The description of this invention is described in this order.

At this time, communication between the servers 100, 101, and 103 requires security, which is performed by using a virtual private network (VPN) that creates a virtual private network between these computers, or a security scheme as shown in FIG. use. Before the data exchange, authentication (602, 603, 604) between the two computers, and at the same time after authentication, after exchanging the session keys (603, 604), the session key is used to perform confidential communication (encrypted data communication). This security scheme can be done using several well-known methods. When data communication is complete, this security structure ends (605, 606).

(1) Discount Coupon Collection Process

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process of collecting a discount coupon in FIG. 1. That is, in FIG. 2, the user 206 accesses a homepage that stores 200 discount coupons for communication networks (Internet, WiBro, etc.), and accesses various discount coupon issuers 201, 202, 203, 204 through this homepage. The necessary discount coupon is stored in the discount coupon storage server 200. At this time, the information of the discount coupon to be stored is stored in the discount coupon storage database 207 connected to (200). When the user connects to the discount coupon storage server (208), the communication that occurs is indicated by (212, 213), and the communication between the discount coupon storage server 200 and the discount coupon issuer is indicated by (213,214). At this time, the correct protocol for communication is shown in FIG. That is, the flow of data for the discount coupon appears through communication between three characters (that is, 651, 650, 652) in the order of numbers in FIG.

In relation to the collection of discount coupons, the information stored in the coupon storage database basically has the following structure.

Each discount coupon database structure: (1) Collector's Identifier (ID), (2) Name of the object to be discounted, (3) Barcode number of the object to be discounted, (4) Amount to be discounted, (5) Expiration date, (6) discount coupon identifiers, (7) special conditions (e.g. discounts for purchases of three or more, or only one use per day, etc.). At this time, (6) the discount coupon identification symbol is a unique identifier assigned to each discount coupon by each company that issues each coupon. This symbol is recorded in the issuance database (305 of FIG. 3) of the company as a unique number for each coupon when each company issues each coupon. This number is important because it will be used later for payment purposes at the point of use.

(2) The process of issuing a one-time identification number or membership card to use a discount coupon.

3 illustrates a process in which a user who stores a discount coupon in the discount coupon storage server 700 issues a one-time issue number or a membership card in order to use the discount coupon. In the figure, when user 701 requests coupon to store server (702), providing server 700 issues a one-time identification number (ID), which is printed on the user's print 706 in paper. The device 705 may be printed or sent to a device 705 capable of displaying a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode image 704 such as a user's mobile phone. This one-time identification number is for you whenever you need it. Print or send to your device. In addition, the reason for issuing in the form of a bar code is that, generally, all the one-dimensional bar code readers are provided at the checkout counter where the discount coupon is used.

Optionally, in place of a one-time identification number, it may be in the form of a membership card (708, credit card size, with a front, a one- or two-dimensional barcode printed with a member identification number and a backside with a magnetic strip). It may be issued in advance. However, when the card 708 is issued, the consumer may limit the expiration date at the storage server, as the consumer intends, and when the card is reissued after the expiration date, the storage server is different from the card previously issued. Issue another identification number. If necessary, the user's picture can also be printed, and the form of membership card issued in this way is delivered in the same manner as credit card delivery (709, mainly mail or handwriting). In use, the signature of the consumer must be preprinted on the reverse side.

The one-time issuance number (the same applies to the identification number used in the form of the card) plays an important role in this invention, the one-time issuance number is recorded in the database of the coupon storage server 700, each one-time number in the database Unique value that acts as the primary key of the database and consists of the following fields:

One-time issue number: user ID + expiration date of this number + authentication number assigned to this number + group of available coupons + discount coupon storage server name (or identification number corresponding to name)

The coupon group usable here designates one of the groups (or folders) each user can arbitrarily create on the coupon storage server. That is, when each user makes a randomly made and allows each group to move a coupon which can be used as their own intention, one group is designated. Also, if you do not specify a group, all available coupons that each user has, regardless of group. Can be used. The expiration date and certification number are specified by the user with the expiration date and certification number available for this issue number and can be changed at any time. The authentication number may not be specified. In this case, whenever the user uses this identification number in the field, the server generates a random number and sends it to the user such as a mobile phone.

Thus, the expiration date and certification number and one-time issuance number are specified, so even if the number is lost, the lost person is not economically injured. This authentication number serves as a password when the number is later used at the cash register.

(3) You wish to redeem your coupon on site with a one-time identification number or membership card.

4 is a schematic diagram when a user uses a discount coupon at a place of use. In the place where the discount coupon can be used (large discount store, movie theater, restaurant, etc.), once the item has been purchased, present the disposable identification number (725, 726) issued to the cashier or the membership card 731, The clerk at the point of use reads the identification number with a barcode reader. Then, the checkout counter 722 transmits this number to its discount coupon destination server 730, and the usage destination server 730 connects with the discount coupon storage server 720 to receive information necessary for product discount (727). Optionally, the discount coupon destination server 730 may test the information received from the discount coupon storage server 720 from the company 721 that issued the discount coupon (728). The information obtained in this way is reflected in the current price calculation to reduce the price of the coupon applied to the price to be paid by the consumer.

In order to obtain accurate coupon information, the protocol between the discount coupon destination server 730 and the discount coupon storage server 720 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. That is, according to the convention, either the protocol of FIG. 10 or the protocol of FIG. 11 is used.

10 and 11, in the two figures, processes 751, 752, 753 and 754 are the same.

Step 751: The user provides the user's one-time identification number, which is read by the checkout counter 722 of FIG. 4 and sent to the discount coupon storage server 720 by the discount coupon destination server 730 of FIG.

Process 752: Discount coupon storage server 720 asks the user for an authentication number. The authentication number may be stored in the discount coupon storage server 720 in advance, stored in memory, and answered, or the discount coupon storage server 720 may, at that time, be authenticated according to the user's selection. May be sent to a communication device such as a user's mobile phone.

Procedure (753): The user enters the memorized authentication number or the authentication number received by the mobile phone into the device (number only keypad) installed on the cash register. This input data is transmitted to the discount coupon storage server 720 in an encrypted state.

Step 754: If the discount coupon storage server 720 is correct the authentication number according to the identification number, and sends a confirmation signal to the discount coupon use destination server (730 of Figure 4), and if it is not, sends a negative signal.

Process 755 If the discount coupon destination server 730 receives a negative signal, it sends a negative signal to the checkout counter to inform the user that no discount coupon is available.

If not a negative signal,

(a) In FIG. 10,

The discount coupon destination server 730 sends all of the currently purchased items to the discount coupon storage server 720.

Step 756: The discount coupon storage server 720 finds all the discount coupons corresponding to the list of items sent from the discount coupon destination server 730 in the consumer's folder with the identification number, and sends the result. do.

(b) in FIG.

Process 755-1: All of the stored discount coupon information of the user having the discount coupon storage server 720 identification number is sent to the discount coupon destination server 730.

10 and 11 in common

Process 757: The discount coupon destination server 730 uses the necessary discount coupon using the information received in step 756, and informs the discount coupon storage server 720 of the result. Then, the discount coupon storage server 720, by itself, prevents the use of the discount coupon any more, and also records the information on the use place where the discount coupon was used. It also does a lot of additional work to the database.

(4) Subsequent settlement process for use of discount coupon.

5 is a settlement process using a communication network with an issuer that issued a discount coupon by the discount coupon user. This process is done at regular intervals. That is, the discount coupon use destination 301 itself sends the used discount coupon information stored in the coupon use database 304 to the discount coupon issuance destination 300 through the communication network 302. In this case, by transmitting the unique discount coupon number (this number has been previously assigned by the discount coupon issuer) and the name (or identification number) of the server provided with the discount coupon, among the stored discount coupon information, The discount coupon issuing destination 300 authenticates that the discount coupon use destination 301 holds a genuine discount coupon, and at the same time, has information on the storage server of the coupon. Then, the discount coupon use place and the issuer are settled according to the sequence of accounting programs they have.

(5) Settlement of the discount coupon issuer and the discount coupon store.

6 is a settlement process of a discount coupon issuer 800 and a discount coupon storage server 802. In this process, the discount coupon issuer 800 connects the discount coupon storage server 802 to the corresponding discount coupon storage server 802 through a communication network using information of the discount coupon storage server received from the discount coupon use destination (803). When the discount coupon issuer 800 sends information about the discount coupon already used and the point of use to the discount coupon storage 802 server, the server 802 compares the point of use information with the discount coupon information to thereby use the discount coupon. You can check it again. Accordingly, the discount coupon issuer 901 and the discount coupon storage server 902 can settle the agreement by themselves, and by contract, the discount coupon issuer can use the discount coupon issued by the person. Information may be requested, and the discount coupon storage server 902 transmits the information to the discount coupon issuer 901.

Here, the discount coupon storage server, the discount coupon using place, and the discount coupon issuing place are authenticated with each other for the settlement of costs, and when the certification is made, it is shown once again in detail in FIG. That is, in FIG. 7, when the discount coupon user 900 obtains information on the discount coupon, information about the discount coupon storage server 902 to be accessed is provided by an identification number brought by the user or from a membership card. Have When the discount coupon is used from the storage server, the retrieved coupon number and coupon issuer 903 information are stored in the internal database by the identification number. At a later time with the discount coupon issuer 902 and at the cost settlement, information 904 about the used discount coupon and the storage server that brought the coupon is sent to the issuer 901 where the discount coupon was issued. That is, where this coupon is issued, when processing this coupon, the discount coupon storage server 902 knows the information and is stored in its own database. The discount coupon issuer 901 knows the storage server of the discount coupon used when the discount coupon is used and the cost is settled, and therefore, when attempting the settlement with the discount coupon storage server, the discount coupon is issued to the correct storage server for the discount coupon used. Will be In this case, by providing the storage server 902 with information about the discount coupon using place 900, it is possible to check the use of the discount coupon used.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of this invention. That is, the issuer issuing the discount coupon, the providing server for collecting and storing the discount coupon, the user using the discount coupon, and the user using the discount coupon are collected and stored using a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.). It is a relation chart used at a local use place.

FIG. 2 is a diagram supplementing FIG. 1, in which a user collecting discount coupons collects discount coupons from various discount coupon providing companies through a server storing discount coupons through a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.). to be.

3 is a process in which a user who stores a discount coupon receives information about the discount coupon from a storage server. That is, at this time, a one-time identification number (ID) is issued, which is sent to a device capable of printing on paper or showing a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode such as a user's mobile phone when necessary. In addition, instead of the temporary identification number, a permanent number in the form of a membership card may be issued.

4 shows a user of a coupon having a issued coupon, when the user presents the disposable identification number to the checkout counter at the point of use, the user authentication with the storage server where the checkout counter and the discount coupon are stored, and the discount coupon usable by the disposable identification number. It shows the process of sending information about to the place of use. In addition, this figure is optional, in order to directly check the authenticity of the coupon, the computer of the discount coupon using the direct connection with the server that issued the discount coupon, showing the process of verifying the authenticity of the coupon. .

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a use server and an issuing server of a company that issues a coupon when the discount coupon user uses the coupon at the coupon use destination. It is also used as a way to determine if a issued coupon is normal or not false and used for later settlement of costs.

6 is a relation diagram for settlement of a discount coupon issuer and a discount coupon storage server. Importantly, at this time, the storage server checks the state in which the coupon stored in itself is used (use, etc.) and the information of the used coupon sent from the issuer.

7 is a flowchart of coupon issuance destination, coupon storage server, coupon use destination, and necessary data for three-party cost settlement.

8 shows a secure communication scheme between two computers (i.e., discount coupon issuer and discount coupon storage server, discount coupon issuer and discount coupon use destination, and discount coupon storage server and discount coupon use destination, ie all Data communication takes place in a secure structure.

9 is a diagram illustrating a process (protocol) in which a discount coupon user collects a coupon at a discount coupon providing destination and stores it in a storage server via a discount coupon storage server.

10 and 11 are protocols showing a process of receiving necessary coupon information from a coupon storage server using a disposable identification number at a discount coupon use destination. In accordance with the agreement between the place of use and the providing server, one of the methods of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is used.

Claims

In an environment in which a provider that provides a discount coupon, a user who uses the discount coupon, and a user who can use the discount coupon are connected to each other through a communication network (Internet network, WiBro network) that can use the Internet protocol,

(a) collecting, by a user, a coupon from a discount coupon issuing agency through a discount coupon storage server, and storing the coupon in a storage server;

(b) Receiving a one-time temporary identification number or form of membership card (with a barcode and magnetic card on it) from a discount coupon storage server (printed on a device showing a video such as a mobile phone, printed on paper, or on a membership card).

(c) use at a discount coupon location.

(d) When using the discount coupon card (in one of the three forms above) at the point of use, when paying for various charges after purchase, the checkout counter is connected to the discount card storage server where the information is stored. , WiBro, etc.) (if there are multiple checkout counters, the server that connects the checkout counter is connected again), find available discount coupons, bring the information to the checkout counter, and reduce the fee. At this time, the authentication process is included.

(e). When the discount coupon is used for payment, the company will connect to the company that issued the discount coupon through a communication network (Internet, WiBro, etc.), and complete the settlement after exchanging necessary information.

(f) If the discount coupon is to be settled with the discount coupon storage server, the discount coupon storage server and the discount coupon issuing agent or the exchange of information.

How to include.

The method of claim 1, wherein in the step (a), when the discount coupon user collects a coupon from the discount coupon providing server, each providing server assigns a unique identification number to each discount coupon. That is, then, then made immediately.

The type and characteristic of information according to claim 1, wherein, in the step (b), a one-time identification number is assigned. That is, when assigning a one-time identification number, a validity period is set by the user.

The type and characteristic of information according to claim 1, wherein, in the step (b), a one-time identification number is assigned. In other words, the authentication number may be designated by the user, or at the moment of use by the user, the coupon storage server may randomly produce.

The method of claim 1, wherein in the step (b), a representative discount coupon number for using a large number of discount coupons is a method of issuing a representative number (one identification number) instead of a fixed number or in the form of a member card. How to change the number, every time it is issued.

The method of claim 1, wherein in step (b), a method of selecting a media for issuing a single identification number (i.e., printing the number on a temporary plain paper, transmitting it to a device capable of displaying an image such as a mobile phone, or issuing a membership card). To do).

The method of claim 1, wherein in the step (b), when issuing one identification number, the method is issued in the form of a one-dimensional barcode or in the form of a two-dimensional barcode.

The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (d), in order to use the discount coupons, the representative disposable discount coupon identification number is sent through the communication network to the discount coupon storage server, and the discount coupon storage server is represented by the number. A full protocol method that sends a list of all available discount coupons for a user to a discount coupon destination, and then the checkout counter selects only those needed from the list sent from the storage server and informs the storage server of the results.

The method of claim 1, wherein in the step (f), the discount coupon issuer receives information of the user from the server for each of the discount coupons used from the discount coupon storage server and analyzes the characteristics of the users.

The process of verifying the authenticity of the discount coupon issuer, the discount coupon storage server, and the discount coupon use destination, the discount coupon used between the three parties.

That is, between the discount coupon issuing place and the place of use, (1) the place of use is the point of discount issuing place where each user is in the coupon storage step, and each coupon is a unique issue identification number to each individual user. When using a discount coupon, when the user uses the coupon, having the usage information connected to the coupon storage server, and acknowledging each other;

Two related methods between the coupon issuer and the discount coupon storage server are authenticated based on the use of the discount coupon used and whether or not the usage information of the discount coupon issuer matches the usage information of the server.