System and method for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale

1. A method for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale, the method comprising:

at an authentication device having a keyboard, a storage device, memory and one or more processors, wherein the authentication device is only capable of communicating with devices adjacent the point of sale via short-range audio or radio signals:

receiving a user input of an electronic promotion code through the keyboard;

encrypting the electronic promotion code;

transmitting the encrypted promotion code to a mobile device at the point of sale via the short-range audio or radio signals, wherein the mobile device is held by a customer visiting the point of sale;

receiving a confirmation code from the mobile device via the short-range audio or radio signals, wherein the confirmation code is generated by the mobile device and the mobile device is also configured to generate a first transaction log record including the electronic promotion code, the confirmation code, and a unique identifier of the mobile device and send the first transaction log record to a remote server;

storing the confirmation code in the storage device; and

generating a second transaction log record including the electronic promotion code and the confirmation code and storing the second transaction log record in the storage device, wherein the second transaction log record is subsequently copied into another storage device that is detachably connected to the authentication device and the copied second transaction log record is then loaded into the remote server and compared with the first transaction log record in connection with a verification operation of the transaction between the authentication device and the mobile device at the remote server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic promotion code is entered by an authorized person working at the point of sale.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic promotion code is kept confidential from the customer visiting the point of sale.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication device includes a speaker and transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a high-frequency audio signal; and

broadcasting the high-frequency audio signal to the mobile device via the speaker of the authentication device, wherein the mobile device is configured to convert the high-frequency audio signal back to the encrypted promotion code.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication device includes a radio-frequency transceiver and transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device further includes:

converting the encrypted promotion code into a radio-frequency signal; and

broadcasting the radio-frequency signal to the mobile device via the radio-frequency transceiver, wherein the mobile device is configured to convert the radio-frequency signal back to the encrypted promotion code.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is one selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a netbook computer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is configured to generate the confirmation code after authenticating the encrypted promotion code.

8. A method performed by an authentication device and a mobile device for redeeming an electronic promotion code at a point of sale, wherein the authentication device is only capable of communicating with the mobile device via short-range audio or radio signals, the method comprising:

at the authentication device having a keyboard, a storage device, memory and one or more processors:

receiving a user input of an electronic promotion code through the keyboard;

encrypting the electronic promotion code; and

transmitting the encrypted promotion code to the mobile device via the short-range audio or radio signals;

at the mobile device having a cellular wireless communication module, memory and one or more processors:

receiving the encrypted promotion code via the short-range audio or radio signals;

decrypting the encrypted promotion code; and

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions,

displaying a message on the mobile device, indicating a successful redemption of the promotion code and generating a first transaction log record including the electronic promotion code and a unique identifier of the mobile device and sending the first transaction log record to a remote server through the cellular wireless communication module;

at the mobile device:

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and displaying the confirmation code on a display of the mobile device; and

at the authentication device:

receiving a user input of the confirmation code through the keyboard;

generating a second transaction log record including the confirmation code and a timestamp; and

storing the second transaction log record in a storage device coupled to the authentication device, wherein the second transaction log record is subsequently copied into another storage device that is detachably connected to the authentication device and the copied second transaction log record is then loaded into the remote server and compared with the first transaction log record in connection with a verification operation of the transaction between the authentication device and the mobile device at the remote server.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

at the mobile device:

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and including the confirmation code in the transaction log record before transmitting the transaction log record to the remote server.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

at the mobile device:

after determining that the decrypted promotion code satisfies one or more predefined conditions, generating a confirmation code and transmitting the confirmation code back to the authentication device via the short-range audio or radio signals; and

at the authentication device:

receiving a confirmation code from the mobile device;

generating a second transaction log record including the confirmation code and a timestamp; and

storing the second transaction log record in a storage device coupled to the authentication device, wherein the second transaction log record is subsequently compared with the first transaction log record in connection with a verification of the transaction between the authentication device and the mobile device.