Digital Coupon Delivery System with Scannable Code Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coupon delivery systems face inefficiencies as they distribute a large number of coupons to customers, resulting in wasted resources and customer time sorting through unwanted coupons, as they struggle to accurately target interested recipients.
Innovation Solution
A digital coupon delivery system that uses scannable codes displayed in public kiosks or media, allowing merchants to dynamically add, edit, and remove coupons, enabling targeted delivery to interested customers and real-time adjustments to marketing strategies, with automatic discount application at points of sale.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coupons are distributed to a large number of customers through advertising campaigns, then the advertising reach and potential customer exposure are improved, but resource waste increases due to printing and delivering coupons that are not used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical paper coupons with digital coupon copies stored in a database and delivered electronically to customer devices. This allows unlimited distribution of coupon copies without additional printing costs, resolving the contradiction between wide advertising reach and paper waste. The digital coupon can be replicated and distributed to any number of customers without consuming additional physical resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical system of physical coupon distribution (printing, mailing, hand-delivery) with an electronic digital delivery system. Coupons are delivered as data files to customer devices, eliminating the need for physical production and distribution infrastructure. This substitution maintains advertising reach while eliminating resource waste associated with physical coupon materials and delivery logistics.
2Productivity
If digital coupons are delivered to many customers, then advertising exposure is improved, but server resources are wasted delivering coupons to customers who are not interested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by collecting and analyzing customer data (demographics, purchase history, browsing behavior, location) to determine customer interest in specific coupons. This feedback loop allows the system to intelligently target coupon delivery to customers who are actually interested, reducing server resource waste while maintaining effective advertising exposure. The system learns from customer responses and continuously improves targeting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-segmenting customer databases and pre-identifying target audiences for specific coupon campaigns based on customer profiles and preferences. Before actual coupon delivery, the system prepares targeted customer lists, ensuring that coupons are only delivered to interested customers. This preliminary targeting action eliminates wasted server resources on uninterested recipients while preserving advertising effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customers receive a large number of coupons, then more potential deals are available, but customer time is wasted sorting through unwanted coupons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by allowing customers to actively search for, select, and request specific coupons they desire through a user interface on their devices. Instead of passively receiving unsolicited coupons, customers can browse available coupons by category, store, or discount type and request only those they are interested in. This self-service approach provides unlimited coupon variety while eliminating sorting time, as customers directly obtain only the coupons they want.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-organizing and categorizing available coupons in the database according to customer preferences, product categories, and store types. The system prepares personalized coupon selections in advance based on customer profiles, so when customers access the system, their desired coupons are already organized and ready for selection. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for customers to sort through irrelevant coupons.
4Productivity
If merchants use traditional coupon distribution methods, then coupons can be distributed widely, but the ability to quickly adjust marketing strategies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by creating a flexible digital coupon system where merchants can instantly modify, update, or cancel coupons after distribution has begun. Unlike fixed physical coupons, digital coupons can be dynamically adjusted in real-time based on marketing performance, inventory changes, or promotional needs. The system maintains wide distribution capability while providing continuous adaptability, allowing merchants to respond quickly to changing market conditions without recalling physical coupons.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for delivering digital coupons to customers. A coupon delivery server is designed to manage coupons for displaying to users. The server provides a first user interface for an administrator to manage merchants of the system, provides a second user interface for merchants to customize coupons to be advertised, assigns a scannable code for each coupon, arrange coupons into a list, and display the list of coupons with assigned scannable codes on a display. When a user scans a code from the display via a mobile device, the user is presented a list of merchants, and when the user selects a particular merchant, relative scannable coupons are displayed on the mobile device, the user can then bring the scannable coupon to a point of sale of the selected merchant for automatically redemption of a discount to a purchase of the user.