KR100467576B1 - Method and system for distributing electronic coupons - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic coupon providing system.

According to the present invention, an electronic coupon providing system includes an electronic coupon reader and a mobile communication terminal, wherein the electronic coupon reader includes: a communication interface for communicating with an electronic coupon issuing server system for transmitting an electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal; An RF module for contactless RF communication with the mobile communication terminal; And transmitting an electronic coupon identifier received from the mobile communication terminal through the RF module to the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface and requesting approval, and from the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface. And a processor for receiving the response. Accordingly, by adopting contactless RF communication, it is convenient and safe to use at the point of sale to customers and merchants.

Description

Electronic coupon provision system {Method and system for distributing electronic coupons}

The present invention relates to an electronic coupon, and more particularly, to an electronic coupon provided to a mobile communication terminal of a customer.

As the number of mobile communication service subscribers increases, various service methods have been proposed based on the mobile communication infrastructure. The service method of transmitting the electronic coupon to the customer's mobile communication terminal is one of them.

Korean Patent Publication No. 99-24281 published on March 25, 1999, "E-coupon service system using personal mobile communication device" is a method that allows customers to receive e-coupon using personal mobile communication device. Is starting. The e-coupon issued at this time consists of an identifier and an identification code. Identifiers are delivered to the merchant in advance, and ID codes are distributed to an unspecified number of customers through advertising. The customer accesses the coupon server using a personal mobile communication device and then enters an identification code to request issuance of an e-coupon. The coupon server checks the affiliated store based on the identification code entered, and then sends Sends the ID assigned to the affiliated store. The customer shows the identification letter displayed on his personal mobile communication device to the affiliated owner, and the affiliated owner checks the authenticity by comparing with the previously assigned identification character and then offers a prize.

However, this requires that the customer know the identification code in advance and re-enter it each time it is needed. Furthermore, it is not easy for the merchant owner to check the authenticity of the identification letter displayed on the customer's personal mobile communication device. This is because it is not difficult to display the identification letter on the personal mobile communication device when the customer informs the identification letter of the corresponding coupon to another person. The way in which the identification character can be displayed due to the characteristics of the personal mobile communication device is relatively simple and is limited even in the kind thereof.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 01-21058, published on March 15, 2001, describes an electronic coupon distribution system and method using a wireless communication system. A method of transmitting a list to a mobile communication terminal of a customer is disclosed. This has the advantage of targeting marketing in a manner based on the marketing principle that the preference for electronic coupons varies depending on the location of the customer. However, likewise, there is a lack of a detailed description of the process of using and verifying the electronic coupon between the customer and the merchant at the point of sale.

The effectiveness of electronic coupons is very important at the point of sale because the effectiveness of various services using mobile communication terminals can be determined by whether they can be conveniently, effectively and safely at the point of sale. However, the conventionally proposed electronic coupon providing method has a problem that it can be confirmed that the convenience in the process provided to the customer, the use is cumbersome or difficult to secure in the process used.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic coupon providing system that can be used conveniently and effectively by customers and merchants at the point of sale.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for providing an electronic coupon that can obtain marketing data by collecting the electronic coupon usage history.

1 is a block diagram of a network in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is executed;

2 is a detailed block diagram of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 of FIG.

3 is an embodiment of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 of FIG.

4 is a detailed block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 3 and the electronic coupon reader 2 of FIG.

5 is a schematic diagram of a display screen of the mobile communication terminal 3;

6 is a reference diagram for explaining an electronic coupon providing method according to the present embodiment.

According to the present invention, in the electronic coupon providing system having an electronic coupon reader and a mobile communication terminal, the electronic coupon reader, the electronic coupon issuing server system for transmitting the electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal Communication interface for; An RF module for contactless RF communication with the mobile communication terminal; And transmitting an electronic coupon identifier received from the mobile communication terminal through the RF module to the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface and requesting approval, and from the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface. And a processor for receiving a response, wherein the mobile communication terminal comprises: a communication interface for receiving an electronic coupon recorded with an identifier from the electronic coupon issuing server system; A memory in which the electronic coupon is stored; An input / output unit which displays a menu screen for selecting an electronic coupon stored in the memory and receives a user input; A processor for moving the electronic coupon stored in the memory to an RF module in response to a user input through the input / output unit; And an RF module for receiving and storing the electronic coupon and transmitting the identifier of the electronic coupon to the electronic coupon reader through contactless RF communication.

The RF module of the electronic coupon reader includes an RF block for transmitting and receiving a non-contact RF signal to and from the mobile communication terminal; And a logic block that extracts the electronic coupon identifier from the RF signal received through the RF block and transmits the electronic coupon identifier to the processor, wherein the logic block processes the deletion request input from the processor and moves the movement through the RF block. It is preferable to transmit to a communication terminal.

The processor of the electronic coupon reader transmits a deletion instruction for the electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal through the RF module when a deletion instruction for the electronic coupon is received from the electronic coupon issuing server system together with the approval.

Furthermore, the coupon reader further includes a display unit, and the processor of the electronic coupon reader may further display the response received from the electronic coupon issuing server system in response to the approval request on the display unit.

The processor of the mobile communication terminal preferably deletes the electronic coupon stored in the RF module when the deletion command of the electronic coupon is received from the electronic coupon reader through the RF module.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is executed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 according to the present embodiment can be connected to the Internet and a wireless network. On the other hand, the mobile communication terminal 3 of the customer can be connected to the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 by being connected to the wireless network via the wireless relay station / base station 5. Furthermore, the electronic coupon reader 2 installed in the affiliated store can connect to the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 via the Internet or a wireless network. The mobile communication terminal 3 and the electronic coupon reader 2 are capable of contactless RF communication. "Merchant" means a person ordering the issuance of an electronic coupon.

The electronic coupon issuing server system (1) is a system operated by a person who issues an electronic coupon from a merchant to issue an electronic coupon or a consigned person. The electronic coupon is issued to a mobile communication terminal (3) of a customer who is a member. Send and approve the availability of the electronic coupon through communication with the electronic coupon reader (2) installed in the merchant.

In this embodiment, the wireless network is based on HDML / HDTP. HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language) is also called WML (Wireless Markup Language) as a language for content and application programs used in a mobile communication terminal having a relatively small display device. HDTP (Handheld Device Transport Protocol) is an open protocol that allows mobile terminals such as cellular phones, PCS, and pagers to access the Internet. HDTP can be compatible with industry standards such as TDMA, CDMA, TCP / IP, UDP / IP, GSM, and Short Message Service (SMS), and for wireless networks, unlike HTTP, which is not suitable for wireless networks due to transmission delays. It is an optimized language. Accordingly, it supports applications that provide the most optimized and inexpensive path for displaying various network data such as SMS, line data or packet data on the display screen of the mobile communication terminal. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the Internet supports HDML for communication with the mobile communication terminal 3 as a network based on a communication protocol such as TCP / IP or HTTP based on an IP address.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 includes an electronic coupon server 10, a mail server 13, a gateway 14, a member information database 18, and a coupon information database 19. .

Member information is stored in the member information database 18. The customer can access the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 through a PC or the mobile communication terminal 3 and register as a member. The member information includes a call number assigned to the mobile communication terminal 3. Further, the member information may include a member ID and password for logging in, an e-mail address, a list of requested electronic coupons, and a list of used electronic coupons. The coupon information database 19 stores merchant information, issuance condition information for the electronic coupon, and issuance history information. The merchant information includes the identification number of the electronic coupon reader (2), the issuance condition information includes the coupon issuance limit, issuance period, expiration date, the contents of the promotion to be included in the electronic coupon, etc. Issue date, issued electronic coupon identifier, used electronic coupon identifier, used date, used merchant identifier, and the like. When ordering issuance of a specific electronic coupon, the merchant transmits the issuing condition information on the electronic coupon to the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 or its operator through online / offline, and the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 or its operator. Registers the received issuing condition information in the coupon information database 19. The data structure employed in the member information database 18 and the coupon information database 10, a DBMS design scheme, and the like may be variously implemented.

The electronic coupon server 10 is provided with an electronic coupon issuing unit 11 and an electronic coupon approval unit 12 as a server for issuing an electronic coupon and approving the use of the electronic coupon. The electronic coupon issuing unit 11 generates an electronic coupon ordered in the coupon information database 19 and transmits the generated electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal 3 of a predetermined member registered in the member information database 18. As in the case of electronic money, an electronic coupon includes an electronic coupon identifier as electronic data generated by employing a password / security technology. The electronic coupon identifier includes a customer identifier in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the customer identifier is a call number assigned to the mobile communication terminal. The call number may be encrypted. The identifiers of the used electronic coupons can be collected and used as marketing materials to grasp the customer's preferences. For this purpose, the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 includes a marketing information generation unit to generate marketing information and online / Can be provided offline.

The electronic coupon approval unit 12 determines whether to approve use of a specific electronic coupon from the electronic coupon reader 2 and transmits the result to the electronic coupon reader 2. Further, the expiration date is checked, and the electronic coupon with the expiration date expired is ordered to be deleted along with the rejection of the electronic coupon.

The mail server 13 transmits an email message to the customer or an SMS to the mobile communication terminal 3. SMS (Short Message Service) is a service that can send a message up to 160 characters to the mobile communication terminal (3) using the GSM communication. The message may announce that the electronic coupon has been sent or other matters.

The gateway 14 is connected to the Internet or part of a wireless network to reformat the wireless network format or data in the Internet format to be transportable over the Internet or wireless network.

The electronic coupon issuing unit 11, the electronic coupon approval unit 12, the mail server 13 and the gateway 14 may each be coded as a separate program or part or all of them may be coded as a single program. Is appropriately made in consideration of the hardware system to be employed and other interoperable applications. However, in light of recent trends in which distributed n-tier structures are preferred in terms of efficiency, it is desirable that the servers be coded in separate programs.

3 is an embodiment of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 is a distributed 3-tier in which an electronic coupon server 10, a mail server 13, and a gateway 14 are separately installed and connected through a LAN / WAN. It can be seen that the structure is implemented. In another example, the electronic coupon approval unit 12 may be installed separately from the electronic coupon issuing unit 11. The member information database 18 and the coupon information database 19 are preferably attached to the electronic coupon server 10, but may be implemented as a distributed database that can be connected via LAN / WAN as necessary.

4 is a detailed block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 3 and the electronic coupon reader 2 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal 3 includes a wireless communication interface 31, a processor 32, a memory 33, and an input / output unit 34, and includes an RF module 30.

The wireless communication interface 31 enables wireless communication with the electronic coupon issuing server system 1. The input / output unit 34 includes a key input unit for receiving a control command from a user, a speaker unit for transmitting sound, and a display unit for displaying an SMS message, an e-mail message, and the like. The processor 32 displays a menu screen for downloading an electronic coupon from the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 or selecting an electronic coupon to be used according to the present embodiment. In addition, the electronic coupon is received from the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 and stored in the memory 33. Further, the processor 32 moves the electronic coupon selected from the user among the electronic coupons stored in the memory 33 to the RF module 30. The RF module 30 will be described later.

The electronic coupon reader 2 includes a communication interface 21, a processor 22, a memory 20, and an input / output unit 24 and includes an RF module 20. The communication interface 21 makes it possible to communicate with the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 via a wireless network or the Internet. The input / output unit 24 includes a key input unit, a speaker unit, and a display unit.

The RF module 30 of the mobile communication terminal 3 and the RF module 20 of the electronic coupon reader 2 constitute a set of RF communication systems. The RF module 30 of the mobile communication terminal 3 includes a memory 301 for storing an electronic coupon B or customer information, a logic block 302 for processing a communication process and a result, and a contactless RF communication. RF block 303 for performing. The RF module 20 of the electronic coupon reader 2 is also composed of an RF block 203 and a logic block 202. In the present embodiment, the logic block 202 processes the RF signal received through the RF block 203 and extracts the electronic coupon identifier and provides it to the processor 22.

Non-contact RF communication can be divided into electromagnetic induction method, electromagnetic coupling method through mutual induction, microwave method, and optical method. The electromagnetic induction method has an operating distance of less than 1m, the electromagnetic coupling method by mutual induction has several tens of mm, the microwave method has about 10m, the optical method has a working distance of about 20cm. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, an electron induction method or an electron coupling method is preferable. Contactless RF communication is performed in half-duplex communication, and the time base is divided into read sequences and write sequences. In the write sequence, the RF module 20 of the electronic coupon reader 2 transmits the modulated data and continuously transmits the unmodulated carrier in the read sequence, and the RF module 30 of the mobile communication terminal 3 performs the write sequence. The modulated data is transmitted based on the received carrier to transmit the modulated data in the read sequence. That is, in the write sequence, the RF module 20 of the electronic coupon reader 2 becomes the transmission mode, the RF module 30 of the mobile communication terminal 3 becomes the transmission mode, and vice versa in the read sequence.

5 is a schematic diagram of a display screen of the mobile communication terminal 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the user selects the electronic coupon A stored in the memory 33 through the menu key provided on the key input unit of the mobile communication terminal 3 or the menu key displayed on the menu screen, and confirms the confirmation key. When pressed (a), the electronic coupon A is displayed in turn (b). At this time, the user can browse the electronic coupon A using the movement key. When the desired electronic coupon is displayed on the display screen, press the confirm key to select the desired electronic coupon (b) and confirm the selection again (c) to move the selected electronic coupon (A) to the memory 301 of the RF module 30. Let's do it.

Referring to the electronic coupon providing method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention based on the configuration as described above are as follows.

6 is a reference diagram for explaining an electronic coupon providing method according to the present embodiment.

Here, the customer, the electronic coupon issuer and the electronic coupon issuer correspond to the mobile communication terminal 3, the electronic coupon reader 2 and the electronic coupon issuing server system 1, respectively.

First, the owner of the electronic coupon issuer (merchant manager, store owner, etc.) orders the coupon issuer from the electronic coupon issuer. Orders can be performed online / offline. Accordingly, the coupon issuer registers the order information in the coupon information database 19 (step 61). On the other hand, the customer subscribes as a member to the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 operated by the coupon issuer. Membership is usually made online through a customer's PC (not shown) or mobile communication terminal 3. Accordingly, the coupon issuer registers the customer as a member in the member information database 62 (step 62). Here, steps 61 and 62 may be performed independently of each other in any order.

The electronic coupon issuing unit 11 issues an electronic coupon based on the information stored in the coupon information database 19 (step 63), and transmits the electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal 3 of the target member extracted from the member information database 18. do. The issued electronic coupon includes an identifier and a call number assigned to the mobile communication terminal 3. Accordingly, it can be tracked which customer used which electronic coupon. Furthermore, the deletion module may be attached to the electronic coupon along with the expiration date. The deletion module is an application program executed by the processor 32 and deletes the identifier or the electronic coupon of the electronic coupon when the expiration date of the electronic coupon has elapsed.

The processor 32 of the mobile communication terminal 3 stores the electronic coupon received through the wireless communication interface 31 in the memory 33 (step 64). At this time, the mail server 13 may transmit a message indicating that the electronic coupon has been transmitted to the mobile communication terminal (3).

If the customer wants to use the electronic coupon by visiting the merchant, the customer searches the electronic coupon A stored in the memory 33 of the mobile communication terminal 3 and selects the electronic coupon to be used (step 65). The selected electronic coupon B is moved to the memory 301 of the RF module 30. On the other hand, the customer places the mobile communication terminal 3 within a distance capable of contactless RF communication with the electronic coupon reader (2). Accordingly, the identifier of the electronic coupon B is transmitted to the RF module 20 of the electronic coupon reader 2 through the logic block 302 and the RF block 303. The identifier of the electronic coupon B received through the RF block 203 of the electronic coupon reader 2 is transmitted to the processor 22 through the logic block 202 and the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface 21. Is sent to (1).

The electronic coupon approval unit 12 of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 checks the electronic coupon identifier and the expiration date stored in the coupon information database 19 and transmits a response to the approval request to the electronic coupon reader 2. do. The approval may be displayed on the input / output unit 24 of the electronic coupon reader 2. If the electronic coupon reader 2 has been approved for use or rejected but has received a deletion command after the expiration date of the electronic coupon, the electronic coupon reader 2 transmits a deletion command for the electronic coupon to the RF module 30 of the mobile communication terminal 3. do. Accordingly, the logic block 302 deletes the electronic coupon B stored in the memory 301. If the use of the electronic coupon (B) is approved, the owner of the electronic coupon issuer benefits the customer according to the contents of the promotion described in the electronic coupon.

Meanwhile, the usage history of the electronic coupon recorded in the database of the electronic coupon issuing server system 1 may be analyzed (step 67) and provided to the electronic coupon issuing owner as marketing information. In addition, it can be used as the basis information of the payment request for the electronic coupon issuer.

As described above, the present invention discloses a method for providing an electronic coupon that can be conveniently and safely used by customers and merchants at the point of sale by employing contactless RF communication. Furthermore, by including the identifier of the customer in the identifier of the electronic coupon, data for obtaining useful marketing information such as customer preference is collected.

Claims (10)

delete delete delete In an electronic coupon providing system having an electronic coupon reader and a mobile communication terminal, The electronic coupon reader includes a communication interface for communicating with an electronic coupon issuing server system for transmitting an electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal; An RF module for contactless RF communication with the mobile communication terminal; And transmitting an electronic coupon identifier received from the mobile communication terminal through the RF module to the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface and requesting approval, and from the electronic coupon issuing server system through the communication interface. A processor for receiving a response, The mobile communication terminal includes a communication interface for receiving an electronic coupon with an identifier recorded therefrom from the electronic coupon issuing server system; A memory in which the electronic coupon is stored; An input / output unit which displays a menu screen for selecting an electronic coupon stored in the memory and receives a user input; A processor for moving the electronic coupon stored in the memory to an RF module in response to a user input through the input / output unit; And an RF module for receiving and storing the electronic coupon and transmitting the identifier of the electronic coupon to the electronic coupon reader through contactless RF communication. The method of claim 4, wherein The RF module of the electronic coupon reader An RF block for transmitting / receiving a non-contact RF signal to / from the mobile communication terminal; And And a logic block which extracts the electronic coupon identifier from the RF signal received through the RF block and transmits the electronic coupon identifier to the processor. The method of claim 5, And the logic block of the electronic coupon reader processes a deletion request input from the processor and transmits the deletion request to the mobile communication terminal through the RF block. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, The processor of the electronic coupon reader transmits a deletion command for the electronic coupon to the mobile communication terminal through the RF module when a deletion command for the electronic coupon is received from the electronic coupon issuing server system and the authorization is received from the electronic coupon issuing server system. Electronic coupon providing system characterized in that. The method of claim 7, wherein The electronic coupon reader further includes a display unit, And the processor displays the response received from the electronic coupon issuing server system in response to the approval request on the display unit. delete The method of claim 4, wherein And the processor of the mobile communication terminal deletes the electronic coupon stored in the RF module when a deletion command of the electronic coupon is received from the electronic coupon reader through the RF module.