Abstract:
Systems and methods of promotion within a commercial system. Manufacturers fund a product discount specific to a retailer, thereby both stimulating sales of the product and stimulating visits to the retailer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to a commercial system and, more particularly, to a commercial system providing purchase incentives to customers.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Product promotions employing price discounts are a popular means to stimulate sales of products such as grocery store items. For example, discount coupons issued by a manufacturer are one type of product promotion. Product price discounts specific to a retailer are another type of product promotion. Product price discounts specific to a retailer act to promote both the product and the retailer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methods of effecting price discounting to effect product promotions.  
           [0006]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a retailer, and a plurality of manufacturers each associated with a respective product. The method comprises enabling a price adjustment for a first purchase with the retailer; effecting the first purchase with the retailer; generating a first signal corresponding to the first purchase and sending the first signal on a first signal path; generating a second signal corresponding to the first purchase and sending the second signal on a second signal path; receiving the first signal from the first signal path, and the second signal from the second signal path; and processing the first and second signals received in the previous step, to generate a third signal corresponding to an offset of funds between a selected manufacturer and the retailer, wherein the manufacturer is selected depending on a product subjected to the first purchase.  
           [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a processing system in a first system including a retailer, and a plurality of manufacturers each associated with a respective product. The processing system comprises a generator, in the retailer, that generates a first signal corresponding to a price-adjusted first purchase with a retailer and sending the first signal on a first signal path; a generator, in the retailer, that generates a second signal corresponding to the price-adjusted first purchase and sending the second signal on a second signal path; and a processor that receives the first and second signals, to generate a signal corresponding to an offset of funds between a selected manufacturer and the retailer, wherein the manufacturer is selected depending on a product subjected to the first purchase.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a processing system in a first system including a retailer, and a plurality of manufacturers each associated with a respective product, a processing system comprising: means for enabling a price adjustment for a first purchase with the retailer; means for effecting the first purchase with the retailer; means for generating a first signal corresponding to the first purchase and sending the first signal on a first signal path; means for generating a second signal corresponding to the first purchase and sending the second signal on a second signal path; means for receiving the first signal from the first signal path, and the second signal from the second signal path; and means for processing the first and second signals received in the previous step, to generate a signal corresponding to an offset of funds between a selected manufacturer and the retailer, wherein the manufacturer is selected depending on a product subjected to the first purchase.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a commercial system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a view of part of a store in the preferred system of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3A and 3B are another view of another part of the store in the preferred system.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a sign in the store of FIGS. 2, 3A, and  3 B.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is another sign in the store of FIGS. 2, 3A, and  3 B.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process performed in the preferred system.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7A is a diagram of circuitry in a checkout station of the store shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and  3 B.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7B is a diagram of a computer in the store shown in FIGS. 2,3A, and  3 B.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a printout representing a signal generated in the preferred system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a data flow diagram for explaining a process used to generate the signal represented by FIG. 8.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing data structures in the preferred system.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing other data structures in the preferred system.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 12A and 12B are a flowchart showing some of the processing of FIG. 6 in more detail. 
     
    
       [0022]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention. Throughout the drawings, corresponding parts are labeled with corresponding reference numbers.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows system  1 , a system of commercial promotion in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Compilation system  17  serves retailer  6 , retailer  11 , manufacturer  3 , and manufacturer  4 . Retailers  6  and  11  are in mutual competition. Retailer  6  includes store  53 , store  54 , store  68 , and compilation system  19 . Retailer  11  includes store  58 , store  59 , and compilation system  18 .  
         [0024]    The spatial location on the drawing sheet of FIG. 1 does not indicate geographic location. Stores within a particular retailer may be widely separated geographically, and stores of different retailers may be relatively close. For example, store  58  in retailer  11  may be in the same neighborhood as store  54  in retailer  6 .  
         [0025]    Manufacturers  3  and  4  are in mutual competition. Manufacturer  3  is the Lighthouse Company. The product line of the Lighthouse Company includes Lighthouse Light Bulbs. To stimulate sales, manufacturer  3  finances product promotions consisting essentially of advertised customer discounts on sales of Lighthouse Light Bulbs occurring only within retailer  6 . These promotions specific to retailer  6  are financed under budget  24  in manufacturer  3 .  
         [0026]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  3  also issues printed coupons, redeemable for a discount on Lighthouse Light Bulbs. Coupons for Lighthouse Light Bulbs are distributed in newspapers, for example, and are redeemable at any retailer, including retailers  6  and  11 . Coupons are financed under budget  25  in manufacturer  3 .  
         [0027]    Manufacturer  4  is the Delta Company. The product line of the Delta Company includes Delta Detergent. To stimulate sales, manufacturer  4  finances product promotions consisting essentially of advertised customer discounts on sales of Delta Detergent occurring only within retailer  6 . These promotions specific to retailer  6  are financed under budget  22  in manufacturer  4 .  
         [0028]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  4  also issues printed coupons, redeemable for a discount on Delta Detergent. Coupons for Delta Detergent are distributed in newspapers, for example, and are redeemable at any retailer, including retailers  6  and  11 . Coupons are financed under budget  23  in manufacturer  4 .  
         [0029]    Processes performed by the circuitry of the exemplary embodiments are described below. In this Patent Application, the word circuitry encompasses dedicated hardware, and/or programmable hardware, such as a CPU or reconfigurable logic array, in combination with programming data, such as sequentially fetched CPU instructions or programming data for a reconfigurable array.  
         [0030]    In reliance on signals generated by system  1 , manufacturer  4  reimburses retailer  6  for the discount given to customers, as described in more detail below.  
         [0031]    Retailer  6  is the ECO grocery store chain. Retailer  6  includes grocery stores  53 ,  54  and  68 . Computer systems  70  in stores  53 ,  54  and  68  detect discounted purchases and send a purchase report to compilation center  17 , via telecommunications signal paths  30 ,  32 , and  34 . Compilation center  17 , located in Athens, Ga. receives signals from signal paths  30 ,  32 , and  34  to generate a report for manufacturer  4 , and sends the report to manufacturer  4  via signal path  38 .  
         [0032]    Computer systems  70  in stores  53 ,  54 , and  68  also send a purchase report to compilation system  19 , in retailer  6 , via telecommunication signal paths  39 ,  40 ,and  41 . Compilation system  19 , which is an accounting center of retailer  6 , receives signals from signal paths  39 ,  40 , and  41  to generate a report for manufacturer  4 , and send the report to manufacturer  4  via signal path  42 .  
         [0033]    Compilation center  17  also receives signals from signal path  30 ,  32 , and  34  to generate a report for manufacturer  3 , and sends the report to manufacturer  3  via signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  receives the reports from center  17  and center  19 . In response to the reports from center  17  and center  19 , manufacturer  3  generates reimbursement for retailer  6 .  
         [0034]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  4  finances product promotions consisting essentially of advertised customer discounts on sales of Delta Detergent occurring only within retailer  6 . These promotions specific to retailer  6  are financed under budget  22  in manufacturer  4 .  
         [0035]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  4  finances product promotion consisting essentially of customer discounts on sales of Delta Detergent occurring within retailer  11 . These promotions specific to retailer  11  are financed under budget  26  in manufacturer  4 .  
         [0036]    Thus, manufacturer  4  includes computer system  8  storing budget  22 , which is a type of monetary amount for a product promotion and discount program for Delta Detergent. Computer system  8  also stores budget  26 , which is a type of monetary amount for another product promotion and discount program for Delta Detergent. Computer system  8  also stores budget  23 , which is a type of monetary amount for yet another product promotion and discount program for Delta Detergent.  
         [0037]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  3  finances product promotions consisting essentially of advertised customer discounts on sales of Lighthouse Light Bulbs occurring only within retailer  6 . These promotions specific to retailer  6  are financed under budget  24  in manufacturer  3 .  
         [0038]    To stimulate sales, manufacturer  3  finances product promotion consisting essentially of customer discounts on sales of Lighthouse Light Bulbs occurring within retailer  11 . These promotions specific to retailer  11  are financed under budget  27  in manufacturer  3 .  
         [0039]    Thus, manufacturer  3  includes computer system  9  storing budget  24 , which is a type of monetary amount for a product promotion and discount program for Lighthouse Light Bulbs. Computer system  9  also stores budget  27 , which is a type of monetary amount for another product promotion and discount program for Lighthouse Light Bulbs. Computer system  9  also stores budget  25 , which is a type of monetary amount for yet another product promotion and discount program for Lighthouse Light Bulbs.  
         [0040]    Retailer  11  is the Healthy grocery store chain. Retailer  11  operates grocery stores  58  and  59 . Computer systems  70  in stores  58  and  59  detect discounted purchases and send a purchase report to compilation system  17 , via telecommunications signal paths  36  and  37 .  
         [0041]    Computer systems  70  in stores  58  and  59  also send a purchase report to compilation system  18 , in retailer  11 , via telecommunication signal paths  44  and  45 . Compilation system  18 , which is an accounting center of retailer  11 , receives signals from signal paths  44  and  45  to generate a report for manufacturer  4 , and send the report to manufacturer  4  via signal path  48 .  
         [0042]    Compilation center  17  also receives signals from signal paths  36  and  37  to generate a report for manufacturer  3 , and sends the report to manufacturer  3  via signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  receives the reports from center  17  and center  18 . In response to the reports from center  17  and center  18 , manufacturer  3  generates reimbursement for retailer  11 .  
         [0043]    Compilation system  17  receives signals from signal paths  36  and  37  to generate a report for manufacturer  3 , and sends the report to manufacturer  3  via signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  receives the report from system  17 . In response to the report from system  17 , manufacturer  3  generates reimbursement for retailer  6 . In the response to the report from system  17 , manufacturer  3  generates reimbursement data for retailer  11 .  
         [0044]    In FIG. 1, “TO RETAILER 6” designates a dollar amount, or some other benefit, flowing to retailer  6 ; and “TO RETAILER 11” designates a dollar amount, or some other benefit, flowing to retailer  11 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 2, 3A, and  3 B are each a partial view of store  54  in retailer  6 . Store  54  has a plurality of product areas, each corresponding to a respective product. For example, product area  110  has bottles  112  of Delta Detergent. Each bottle of detergent  112  has a common Universal Product Code (UPC) symbol, which is a group of parallel lines encoding a number typically called a “bar code.” This number is part of a product identification system documented by the Uniform Code Council, Inc., Dayton, Ohio. The first digit is a number system character, which in this case is 0. The next five digits are a manufacturer ID. The next 5 digits are an item number. The last digit is a check digit. UPC product code 0 17075 42312 3 uniquely identifies Delta Detergent.  
         [0046]    Product area  120  has boxes of pasta  122 . Each box of pasta  122  has a common UPC symbol encoding a UPC product code (0 17031 00005 3) uniquely identifying Old World pasta.  
         [0047]    Product area  130  has boxes of light bulbs  132 . Each box of light bulbs  132  has a common UPC symbol encoding a UPC product code (0 17054 generator 1027 6) uniquely identifying Lighthouse light bulbs. Similarly, other product areas in store  54  each have a set of respective products contiguously grouped together. Respective units of a certain product have a common UPC symbol, different from UPC symbols on units of other products, that uniquely identifies the certain product. Respective units of a certain product also have a common human readable word label, different from labels on units of other products, that uniquely identifies the certain product with words. Product area  140  has bottles of ABC brand ketchup  142  contiguously grouped together on shelves. Product area  160  has loaves of Boxer brand bread  162  contiguously grouped together on shelves.  
         [0048]    From time to time, system  1  promotes certain products with a discount pricing display. For example, FIG. 2 shows shelf label  116  adjacent to Delta Detergent and shelf label  118  adjacent to Lighthouse Light Bulbs.  
         [0049]    Checkout station  303  includes cash register system  63  and data compilation system  20 . Data compilation system  20  communicates with cash register system  63  via serial data cable  28 . Checkout station  304  includes cash register system  31  and data compilation system  21 . Data compilation system  21  communicates with cash register system  31  via serial data cable  28 . Checkout station  305  includes cash register system  33  and data compilation system  16 . Data compilation system  16  communicates with cash register system  33  via serial data cable  28 . Store  54  includes network cable  8  and network cable  10 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 4 shows shelf label  116  in more detail.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 shows shelf label  118  in more detail.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 6 shows a processing performed in the preferred system. Store personnel mount store labels, such as labels  116  and  118 , in a store, such as store  54 . (step  20 ). At store  54 , customers removes products from shelves and bring the products to checkout station  303 , for example. (step  25 ). More specifically, each customer tows a shopping cart to hold selected products. Customer  210  tows cart  212 , customer  220  tows cart  222 , customer  230  tow cart  232 , customer  480  tows cart  482 , customer  280  tows cart  282 , and customer  390  tows cart  392 . A customer removes a product from a shelf and places the removed product into his cart. The customer thus shops throughout the store.  
         [0053]    Checkout station  303  then scans the products and store  54  determines a price for each product depending on a number of factors, including whether the product is subject to a manufacturer-funded discount specific to retailer  6 , as indicated by a shelf label such as label  116  or  118 . (step  35 ). Station  303  receives a message from financial computer  71  containing price information for the scanned product. In the case of a product subject to the manufacturer-funded discount, the message from financial computer  71  may contain the discounted price (the adjusted price). Alternately, station  303  may itself determine whether a product is subject to a discount, by communication with another processor, for example, and then adjust a basic price, received in the message from computer  71 , to obtain the discounted price. In other words, the discount may manifest itself in station  303  merely by displaying and charging a certain price or, alternately, the discount may also manifest itself with a different program execution path in station  303 , via a User Exit for example.  
         [0054]    Store  54  temporarily stores a record of the transaction in computer  71  (step  40 ). Store  54  temporarily stores another record of the transaction on computer  72  (step  45 ). Manufacturer  4  correlates the two records stored in steps  40  and  45  (step  50 ).  
         [0055]    [0055]FIGS. 7A and 7B are a block diagram of computer  72  and checkout station  303 . Checkout station  303  includes cash register system  63  and data compilation system  20 . Data compilation system  20  communicates with cash register system  63  via serial data cable  28 . Cash register system  63  includes an IBM 4680-4690 Point of Sale System. CPU  350  executes instructions  343  in random access, addressable memory  323 . CPU  350  communicates with cash register keyboard  306 , bar code reader  310 , pole display  317 , and printer  354  via RS-485 serial bus  351 . CPU  350  send data to, and receives data from cable  8  via network interface  15 . Cash register keyboard  306  allows manual entry of alpha-numeric-data. Bar code reader  310  generates a bar code signal, and sends the bar code signal to CPU  350 . Poll display  317  displays product data in response to signals from CPU  350 . Disk  325  provides long term storage.  
         [0056]    In system  20 , CPU  352  executes program  342  in random access, addressable memory  333 . CPU  352  send data to, and receives data from cable  10  via network interface  29 .  
         [0057]    A physical layer includes an RS-232 asynchronous serial connection on which CPU  350  in system  63  communicates with CPU  352  in system  20  via RS232 line  28 .  
         [0058]    A data link layer between systems  63  and  20  includes a frame with a start code octet, one or more data octets, a checksum octet, and an end code octet. Every frame transmitted requires an ACK/NAK response. When system  20  receives a frame with a correct checksum, system  20  sends an ACK response; otherwise system  20  sends a NAK response. If system  63  does not receive a response within a reasonable amount of time, system  63  declares a timeout condition and resend the frame.  
         [0059]    An application layer between systems  63  and  20  includes a series of commands and responses, as discussed in more detail below.  
         [0060]    Table 1 below summarizes an Item Committed command sent from system  63  to system  20  in the application layer supported by the data link layer, which in turn is supported by the physical layer. Five parameters for the Item Committed command include:  
                   TABLE 1                           P0   Sales type           0 × 30 = Normal Sales           0 × 31 = Refund/Return           0 × 34 = Cancel Normal Sales           0 × 35 = Cancel Refund/Return       P1   UPC product code. (12 digits, packed decimal).       P2   Price. (4 digits, packed decimal).       P3   Quantity. (3 digits, packed decimal).       P4   Weight. (6 digits, packed decimal).                  
 
         [0061]    It is presently preferred that sending of commands from system  63  be implemented by customizing system  63  with a “user exits,” which are a standardized mechanism by which the IBM 4860-4690 system calls custom routines, as described in the IBM 4680-4690 Supermarket Application: Programming Guide, SC30-3634, Third Edition (January 1997). Some exits employed in this customization may include TSUPEC2—After a Customer Checkout Transaction is Completed, and TSUPEC14—After Reading the Keyboard/Scanner, and TSUPEC23—Before Writing a Line to the Display.  
         [0062]    Checkout stations  304  and  305  each have the same circuitry as that of as checkout station  303 .  
         [0063]    When system  20  receives an application layer command from system  63 , system  20  sends the command to computer  72 . In response to receiving a command, computer  72  sends any needed response to system  20 , and system  20  then sends the response to system  63 .  
         [0064]    During a checkout transaction for a customer at station  303 , computer  72  maintains station data  50 . Station data  50  includes data about transactions at checkout station  303 , including a list of products selected by the customer.  
         [0065]    During the checkout transaction for a customer at station  304 , computer  72  maintains station data  51 . Station data  51  includes data about transactions at checkout station  304 , including a list of products selected by the customer.  
         [0066]    During the checkout transaction for a customer at station  305 , computer  72  maintains station data  52 . Station data  52  includes data about transactions at checkout station  305 , including a list of products selected by the customer.  
         [0067]    In computer  72 , CPU  353  executes instructions  68  in random access, addressable memory  45 . CPU  353  sends data to, and receives data from, cable  10  via network interface  14 .  
         [0068]    When computer  72  receives an Item Committed command identifying a product selected by a customer at station  303 , computer  72  adds the product to a basket list in station data  50 .  
         [0069]    Computer  72  sends a report to center  17 . In response to the report, center  17  generates a composite report and sends the composite report to manufacturer  3  via signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  processes this composite report with reimbursement requests, represented by signal path  43  in FIG. 1, to verify accuracy of reimbursement requests. In other words, manufacturer  3  generates a signal responsive to signals on signal path  35  and signal path  43 . An example of such a signal is shown on hardcopy printout  103  of FIG. 8.  
         [0070]    Center  17  also generates a composite report for manufacturer  4  and sends the composite report to manufacturer  4  via signal path  38 . Manufacturer  4  processes this composite report with reimbursement requests, represented by signal path  42  in FIG. 1, to verify accuracy of reimbursement requests. In other words, manufacturer  4  generates a signal responsive to signals on signal path  38  and signal path  42 . This signal generated by manufacturer  4  is analogous to the signal shown on hardcopy printout  103  of FIG. 8.  
         [0071]    In summary, system  1  essentially enables a type of price discount with a contract between a manufacturer and a retailer, and with circuitry in the manufacturer and the retailer. For example, system  1  sets up a type of retail price adjustment, by allocating a budget  26  and creating a contract between manufacturer  4  and retailer  11 . The contract provides for a retail price of $3.95, instead of $4.85, for Delta Detergent and for manufacturer  4  to reimburse, or otherwise credit, retailer  11  for each consumer purchase made at the discount price. Manufacturer  4  receives a set of data from signal path  48  and another set of data from signal path  38 . Manufacturer  4  processes these two sets of data to generate a monetary amount corresponding to an offset of funds between manufacturer  4  and retailer  11 .  
         [0072]    For example, system  1  allocates a budget  22  and creates a contract between manufacturer  4  and retailer  6 . The contract provides for a retail price of $3.95, instead of $4.85, for Delta Detergent and for manufacturer  4  to reimburse, or otherwise credit, retailer  6  for each consumer purchase made at the discount price. Manufacturer  4  receives a set of data from signal path  42  and another set of data from signal path  38 . Manufacturer  4  processes these two sets of data to generate a monetary amount corresponding to an offset of funds between manufacturer  4  and retailer  6 .  
         [0073]    For example, system  1  allocates a budget  27  and creates a contract between manufacturer  3  and retailer  11 . The contract provides for a retail price of $2.15, instead of $2.95, for Lighthouse Lightbulbs and for manufacturer  3  to reimburse, or otherwise credit, retailer  11  for each consumer purchase made at the discount price. Manufacturer  3  receives a set of data from signal path  48  and another set of data from signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  processes these two sets of data to generate a monetary amount corresponding to an offset of funds between manufacturer  3  and retailer  11 .  
         [0074]    For example, system  1  allocates a budget  24  and creates a contract between manufacturer  3  and retailer  6 . The contract provides for a retail price of $2.15, instead of $2.95, for Lighthouse Lightbulbs and for manufacturer  3  to reimburse, or otherwise credit, retailer  6  for each consumer purchase made at the discount price. Manufacturer  3  receives a set of data from signal path  43  and another set of data from signal path  35 . Manufacturer  3  processes these two sets of data to generate a monetary amount corresponding to an offset of funds between manufacturer  3  and retailer  6 .  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 9 shows generators  105  and  102  in computer system  9  in manufacturer  3  for verifying reimbursement request from retailer  6  or retailer  11 . For example, to verify reimbursement request for retailer  6 , generator  102  receives reimbursement request invoices records  104  via signal path  43 . Generator  102  correlates records  106  with records  104  to generate a report  103 . Report  103  indicates when records  104  request reimbursement for purported transactions having no corresponding record in records  106 .  
         [0076]    Computer system  8  in manufacturer  4  also includes a generator  105  and a generator  102 .  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 10 shows a record  104  in more detail. Record  104  includes an invoice field  64  containing an invoice identifier, a date field  65 , and field pairs  66 - 67 . In each field pair  66 - 67 , field  66  contains a product identification code and field  67  contains a reimbursement amount for the product in the corresponding field  66 .  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 11 shows records  106  in more detail. Records  106  include multiple checkout transaction records  93  received from compilation system  17  via signal path  35 . Each record  93  includes a list of UCC Product Code of items purchased during the checkout transaction. Each record  93  includes a date-time field  73 , indicating the time of day and date that a customer checked out of a retail store. Each field  75  includes a UCC Product Code and transaction price. Generator  105  stores field  75  in association with a respective matched field  77 , to generate records  106 . Field  77  is to record whether the particular transaction item has been matched against an invoice indicated by records  104 .  
         [0079]    [0079]FIGS. 12A and 12B show processing formed by generator  102  shown in FIG. 9. Generator  102  selects a first record in records  104 . (step  5 ). For each type of product in the current record  104 , generator  102  sets a respective accumulator equal to the amount of reimbursement request for that product. (step  10 ).  
         [0080]    Generator  102  searches records  106  for an unmatched record  75  (“E record”) corresponding to a non-zero accumulator. Such a record field  75  will have an associated matched field value  77  of 0, and will be contained in a record  93  having a date-time field  73  within the range of the date field  65  of the current record  104 . The range may be, for example, the month preceding the date in field  65 . If such a record is found (step  20 ), generator  102  decrements the corresponding accumulator by the difference between the transaction price in field  75  and the normal price for the product, and marks the field  75  by setting matched value field  77  equal to TRUE (step  30 ).  
         [0081]    If any remaining accumulators are non-zero (step  35 ), generator  102  passes control to step  20 . Alternately, if there are no non-zero accumulators remaining (step  35 ), all reimbursement requests recorded by the current record  104  have been confirmed by records  106  or reported as excess in step  32 . Generator  102  than generates a report summary.  
         [0082]    Referring again to step  20 , if generator  102  does not find an unmatched record  75  corresponding to the non-zero accumulator being processed, control passes to step  32 . Generator  102  generates a report section to report the excess. (Step  32 ). Generator  102  sets the accumulator, corresponding to the excess reported in step  32 , equal to zero. (Step  34 ). Control then passes to step  35 .  
         [0083]    Generator  102  tests to see whether there are remaining records  104  (step  45 ), selects the next record  104  if there are records remaining (step  50 ), and passes control to step  10 .  
         [0084]    Systems  21  and  31  in station  304  have the same circuitry as systems  20  and  63 , respectively. Systems  16  and  33  in station  305  have the same circuitry as systems  20  and  63 , respectively.  
         [0085]    Each of stores  53 ,  68 ,  58 , and  59  has the circuitry of store  54  disclosed above.  
         [0086]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicants&#39;general inventive concept. The invention is defined in the following claims. In general, the words “first,” “second,” etc., employed in the claims do not necessarily denote an order.