Digital Coupon System for Automatic UPC Code Matching and Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers find searching for and clipping coupons to be cumbersome and time-consuming, despite various couponing methods available, and there is a lack of efficient identification of 'coupon stacking' opportunities.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that compares retailer and manufacturer coupons using universal product codes (UPCs) to identify matching codes, allowing for the display and automatic clipping of digital coupons with combined values, which can be selected or automatically placed in a digital wallet for redemption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If consumers manually search for and clip coupons from multiple sources, then they can access various discount offers, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of coupon optionsVSAvoidtime required to search for coupons

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges retailer coupons and manufacturer coupons into a unified digital coupon system. The system automatically compares UPC codes from both sources, identifies matching products, and combines the discounts into single digital coupons that can be clipped and redeemed together, eliminating the need for consumers to manually search and clip separate coupons from multiple sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically comparing UPC codes, identifying matching coupons, and combining discounts without requiring consumer intervention. The digital coupon system autonomously processes the matching and combination operations that would otherwise require manual consumer effort, thereby reducing the time and effort needed to find and use coupons

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If consumers manually compare retailer and manufacturer coupons, then they can identify stacking opportunities, but the process is complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification of stacking opportunitiesVSAvoidcomplexity of comparing multiple coupon types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that automatically compares retailer and manufacturer coupons using UPC codes as a common identifier. This intermediary system handles the complex comparison process, identifies stacking opportunities, and presents combined digital coupons to consumers, eliminating the need for consumers to manually compare multiple coupon types and understand the complexity of coupon stacking rules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10510091B1Systems, methods and computer program products for providing digital coupons to users

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 INMAR CLEARING INC

AI summary

A method of providing digital coupons to a user includes comparing a first plurality of codes with a second plurality of codes to identify one or more matching codes. The first plurality of codes are associated with products offered at a discount by a retailer, and the second plurality of codes are associated with products having a manufacturer discount associated therewith. A listing of one or more products associated with the respective one or more matching codes is displayed along with a digital coupon for each respective product. Each digital coupon has a combined value of the retailer discount and the manufacturer discount, and each digital coupon is user-selectable for placement in a digital wallet. In response to user selection, a digital coupon is placed within the digital wallet and is available for redemption at a location of the retailer.