Patent ID: 6892180
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: G06Q,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
1. A device for automatically issuing commercial advantage coupons when clients go to a check-out of a store, in order to record and pay for articles purchased, comprising at least one computer system control server, to control at least one check-out, wherein the device comprises in common for each check-out in the store: at least one COUPON-TYPE file, for definition of the various types of coupons which can be issued by each check-out, in which there is recorded at least one of data which defines the characteristics common to the coupons, independently of their commercial advantage value and the conditions of allocation for issuing the coupons at the check-out; at least one CRITERIA file, distinct from the at least one COUPON-TYPE file, in which there are recorded, for each type of coupon in the at least one COUPON-TYPE file, records, each of which contains at least one of: data relating to the conditions of allocation for issuing of each coupon of this type, and concerning at least one of the articles purchased, the identity of the client, the date of purchase and the time of purchase; and data which makes it possible to determine the commercial advantage value of coupons of this type; means for at least one of acquiring and updating in the store, for each control server, of the data recorded in the COUPON-TYPE and CRITERIA files; and each control server is programmed to: permit recording of the articles corresponding to a purchase, then payment of the corresponding amount by the client, and recording of this payment, after the payment has been recorded, and for each type of coupon which can be issued by the corresponding check-out at least one of: comparison of the data relating to the articles purchased, with the conditions of allocation concerning the purchase made of articles, recorded in the at least one CRITERIA file, then, if the conditions of allocation concerning the articles purchased are fulfilled, composition of the coupon on the basis of data in the at least one COUPON-TYPE and the at least one CRITERIA files and of data recorded during purchase concerning the articles purchased, and in particular determination of the corresponding advantage value; and comparison of the data relating to the identity of the client, which may be recorded during payment, with the conditions of allocation concerning the identity of the client, which are recorded in the at least one CRITERIA file, then, if the conditions of allocation concerning the identity of the client are fulfilled, composition of the coupon on the basis of data in the at least one COUPON-TYPE and the at least one CRITERIA files and of the data recorded during the purchase concerning the identity of the client; and then issuing the coupon allocated to the client.