A METHOD FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING DONATIONS

Abstract: A method for making and collecting donations. A card is encoded with data identifying the card and a fund-raising entity. The card is presented by a donor desiring to make a donation to the fund-raising entity, and the encoded information on the card is entered into a computer which is preferably a computer-based cash register. A currency amount is also entered into the computer, and the computer associates this entered amount with the data identifying the card and the fund-raising entity. The entered currency is collected from the donor and distributed to the entered fund-raising entity by a variety of means.

Description: A METHOD FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING DONATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to charitable donations. More particularly, it relates to a novel sys¬ tem for making and collecting charitable donations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fund-raising organizations typically solicit and collect charitable donations using conventional adver¬ tising and money-transfer techniques. For example, an organization may send a mass mailing or print a newspaper advertisement requesting donations. The donations, which are usually in the form of a check or money-order, are typically mailed to a post office box or address. The donations are then cashed or deposited through a finan¬ cial institution. Another popular method of raising funds is to purchase television time and run advertisements or spon¬ sored program. The viewers are asked to call in and make a donation. The donations are typically made by credit card over the phone, or by mailing a check or money order to a post office box or address. Although popular, these fund-raising methods are expensive and can require a great deal of labor and plan¬ ning to implement. Also, the expense involved in such fund raising methods prohibits smaller fund-raising or¬ ganizations from using them. Retail outlets and other businesses have allowed fund-raising organizations to place collection boxes or fund-collection lists in their stores in order to allow customers to make charitable donations. The effecti¬ veness of such "box-and-list" methods has been limited, primarily because the collection process has not been sufficiently integrated with the normal financial tran¬ sactions made by customers. The following terms may be used throughout this disclosure and are to be given their intended meaning as understood in the art, including but not necessarily li¬ mited to the following general definitions. The terms "article" or "item" refer to a product or other merchandise that can be marked with a bar code and identified by a computer-based cash register machine. The terms "bar code" or "bar code symbol" refer to a representation of an article number in a form suita¬ ble for scanning and/or reading by computer-based machines. The term "encode" refers to placing data and/or information into the form of a code. The term "EAN" stands for International Article Number (previously referred to as European Article Num¬ ber) which is the uniform standard for item coding in the world, excluding the United States and Canada. The term "UPC" stands for Uniform Product Code, which is the uniform standard for item coding in the Uni¬ ted States and Canada. The term "article number" refers in general to the number code represented in the EAN and UPC codes. The term "PLU" stands for price-look-up, which generally refers to the retrieval of a price from a com¬ puter file, rather than retrieval of the price from a keyboard entry. The term "POS" stands for point-of-sale, which generally refers to the point at which goods are pur¬ chased either in a retail outlet. The term "EPOS" stands for electronic-point-of- sale, which generally refers to all electronic equipment used at the point of sale, including scanning equipment, electronic scales, credit card readers, and the like. The term "ECR" stands for electronic-cash-regis¬ ters, which are cash registers having no scanning system and limited processing capacity. The terms "laser scanner" refer to an electronic bar code reading device that uses a low power laser as its light source. The terms "light pen" refer to a hand held bar code reading device that must be passed across the sym¬ bols of a bar code in order to read it. The terms "machine readable" refer to any code or other graphical representation capable of being read by scanning devices. The term "scanning" refers to reading a code by a machine. The term "wand" refers to a light pen used to scan codes. The terms "boot" or "booting" refer to the ope¬ ration of clearing used information from the working me¬ mory of a computer-based device. This is typically done before a new set of instructions is executed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present in¬ vention to provide an improved system for making and col¬ lecting charitable donations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple, low-cost, reliable and efficient system for making and collecting charitable donations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for making charitable donations in which the ability to reach potential donors is greatly inc¬ reased. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for making charitable donations in which the potential for theft, fraud, or mishandling of funds is limited, thus improving the overall integrity and trustworthiness perceived by donors. These and other objects and advantages are rea- lized in accordance with the present invention by provi¬ ding an article having encoded data capable of being read by a conventional computer-based cash register or an au¬ tomatic teller machine. The encoded data identifies the article and the beneficiary who will receive the donati¬ on. The encoded data may also include a variety of addi¬ tional information, such as the amount of the donation or the establishment that distributed the article. The ar¬ ticle is preferably a donation card made from paper, cardboard, plastic, or other materials. The card may contain printed information identifying the beneficiary. The printed information may include graphical representa¬ tions, photographs, or a narrative describing the details of a particular program to which the donation would be applied. The disclosed donation cards may be widely dist¬ ributed to potential donors by a variety of conventional means such as newspapers or mail. The may also be dist¬ ributed at stores, financial institutions, public buil¬ dings, and other establishments. The donor presents the card to a computer-based cash register or automatic tel¬ ler machine. The computer includes the following featu¬ res: means for entering data; means for storing data that notifies the computer that the presented article is a donation card; means for storing data identifying a bene¬ ficiary; means for storing a currency amount of a donati¬ on to a beneficiary; means for associating entered cur¬ rency amounts with entered data identifying a presented item as a donation card; means for associating entered currency amounts with entered data identifying a benefi¬ ciary; and means for collecting the currency amount from the donor. The encoded data on the card is entered into the computer at the data entry means. The encoded data noti¬ fies the computer that the presented article is a donati¬ on card and that a charitable donation is about to be made to the entity identified on the card. The currency amount of the donation is also entered at the data entry means. The compute: 1 associates the entered currency amount with the er 3d data identifying the donation card and the enti or rec r±ng the charitable donati¬ on, and the specif 1 currency amount is collected from the donor. Thus, the present invention achieves several advantages. The above-described cards can be easily in¬ tegrated into the regular product-line of any retail es¬ tablishment that uses computer-based cash-registers/ter¬ minals to identify products and collect funds for pur¬ chases. Thus, fund-raising activities may be easily in¬ tegrated with the normal cash-collecting and accounting systems utilized in retail trades. By making use of the disclosed system, fund-raising entities can organize their fund-raising activities through large retail out¬ lets, thus receiving exposure to a large pool of poten¬ tial donors on a regular basis. The need for providing labor dedicated to collecting funds is reduced and in some cases may be eliminated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flow diagram of a presently pre¬ ferred system embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the hardware and/or software components that may be used in connection with the system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3a is an encoded donation card for use in connection with the system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3b illustrates the EAN-13 standard bar code used in connection with the donation card illustra¬ ted in Figure 3a; Figure 3c illustrates the UPC-A standard bar code used in connection with t; . donation card illustra¬ ted in Figure 3a; and Figures 4a to 4e are flow diagrams illustrating a the general operation of the computer hardware and software used to implement the system shown in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a pre¬ sently preferred embodiment of a system 10 for making and collecting donations. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the hardware and/or software components that may be used in connection with the system shown in Figure 1. The components illustrated in Figure 2 include identification means 12, data entry means 14 in com¬ munication with a first computer 16, means for collecting funds 18 in communication with the first computer 16, means for transferring funds 20 in communication with the first computer 16, and a second computer 22 in communica¬ tion with the first computer 16. The second computer 22 may also communicate with the means for collecting funds 18 and the means for transferring funds 20. A bi-direc¬ tional data bus line 24 may be provided to connect the first and second computers 16, 22 to the computer system of a financial institution 26. The system 10 illustrated in Figure 1 begins in block 30 by distributing identification means 12 to po¬ tential donors. The identification means 12 has encoded data thereon identifying the identification means 12 and at least one beneficiary. When the donor is ready to make a charitable donation to the beneficiary identified on the identification means 12, the identification means 12 is presented the data entry means 14 in block 32. The data entry means 14 reads the encoded data on the identi¬ fication means 12 in block 34. The encoded data on the identification means 12 may include one or more predetermined currency amounts of the donation. The system 10 determines in block 36 whet¬ her or not a currency amount is included in the encoded data. If the currency amount is not included in the en¬ coded data, the currency amount is entered separately at the data entry means 14 in block 38, and the system 10 returns to block 40. If the currency amount is included in the encoded information, the system 10 moves directly to block 40 from block 36. In block 40, the system 10 associates the entered currency amount with the data identifying the identification means 12 and the benefi¬ ciary. In block 42, the funds are collected from the donor, and in block 44 the collected funds are transfer¬ red to the beneficiary. The identification means 12 may be a donation card made from plastic, paper, cardboard, or other mate¬ rials. An example of a card 12a embodying the identifi¬ cation means 12 is illustrated in Figure 3a. The card 12a may also be provided as part of another printed pro¬ duct such as a newspaper, a periodical, an advertisement, a direct mail item, a direct distribution material, a prospectus, or the like. The card 12a may be clipped or cut or otherwise separated from the attached printed pro¬ duct, and presented at a participating retail outlet or other business establishment in order to make the desired donation. The card 12a may also be provided as a coupon such as an individual, serial, separate or detachable coupon. Alternatively, the card 12a may also be provided as an appendage, such as a sticker, attachable to some other product, article, packaging, or the like. It is also contemplated that the card 12a may be reusable or disposable. For disposables, the card 12a may be manufactured from an inexpensive mass-produced product, such as a detachable coupon printed in a pe¬ riodical. For reusables, the card 12a may be manufactu¬ red from a more sturdy material, such as plastic or heavy cardboard. A reusable plastic card could also serve as a membership card of an organization (e.g. major credit card) , a customer card of a retail outlet (e.g. check- cashing card), or the like. The donation card 12a illustrated in Figure 3a includes printed matter 46 and encoded data 48. The printed matter 46 may include art-work, drawings, carica¬ tures, photos and other graphic depictions. The printed matter may further include word descriptions identifying the beneficiary, describing the beneficiary, describing the particular program soliciting charitable donations, describing instructions for using the donation card, and other information. The encoded data 48 may also take a variety of forms. For example, the encoded data 48 may be mechanically encoded (e.g. punched holes), optically en¬ coded (e.g. bar code) or magnetically encoded (e.g. mag¬ netic strip) . It is further contemplated that the enco¬ ded data may be provided as a microcircuit encoded on a microchip mounted on the identification means 12. Prefe¬ rably, the encoded data 48 is bar code utilizing the In¬ ternational Article Number (EAN) standard or the Uniform Product Code (UPC) standard. The EAΝ standard is the uniform standard for item coding in the world, except for the United States and Canada. The International Article Numbering Association is an organization responsible for coordinating, developing and promoting article numbering worldwide. The UPC standard is the uniform standard for the United States and Canada. The Uniform Code Council is an organization responsible for administering article numbering standards in North America. EAN is generally used in the manufacturing in¬ dustry, wholesale trades and retail trades. Currently, there are two versions of EAN: EAN-13 CODE and EAN-8 CO¬ DE. The standard EAN-13 article number includes a prefix flag (two digits) , manufacturer number (five digits) , article/product reference digits (five digits) and a "check digit" (one digit) . The prefix flag defines the country, and the manufacturer number identifies the manu¬ facturer with four or five numbers. The article/product reference digits define the particular item or consumer unit, and each unit must be defined as a different num¬ ber. The check digit is used to confirm that the code is correctly composed. The standard EAN-8 article number is an eight- digit short version of the EAN-13 article number. EAN-8 includes a prefix flag (two digits) , article/product re- ference digits (five digits) and a "check digit" (one digit) . The encoded data 48 illustrated in Figure 3a is a is a truncated version of EAN-13 code. The general form of the UPC code is slightly different from the EAΝ code, but otherwise the UPC code operates the same way as the EAΝ code. Currently, there are three standard versions of the UPC code used to iden¬ tify individual products*. UPC-A code is a standard 12 digit version (there is also a 13th digit but it is al¬ ways zero and it is never visible) . Figure 3c illustra¬ tes the UPC-A code. UPC-D code is a version that allows for encoding 14 to 32 characters to include additional specialized information. UPC-E code is a short version (zero compression) wherein six digits are directly pre¬ sented in the bar code symbol. However, when the symbols are decoded, they are restructured into twelve digits. The encoded data 48 may include a variety of information that could be useful in connection with or¬ ganizing, accounting for and tracking the various types of information related to charitable donations. The en¬ coded data 48 should at least identify the identification means 12 and the beneficiary. The encoded data may also include information specifying the targeted use of the donation. The encoded data 48 may also include informa¬ tion for tracking the history of an individual donation card 12a, or information indicating the method of distri¬ buting the particular card 12a, or some other type of historical record-keeping information. The encoded data 48 may also set a fixed level for the currency amount of the donation, or a variety of possible currency amounts for the donation. Finally, the encoded data 48 may open a line connection 24 to the beneficiary's bank account or to the donor's bank account for making a direct elect¬ ronic transfer of funds using the computer system of a financial institution 26. The first computer 16 illustrated in Figure 2 is equipped with data entry means appropriate for detecting the encoded data 48 found on the identification means 12. For mechanically encoded data such as punched holes, the data entry means 14 is a mechanical reader. For bar co¬ des, the data entry means 14 is an optical reader, and for magnetic codes, the data entry means 14 is a magnetic reader. The data entry means 14 should also include a keyboard for manually entering data such as the article number of the encoded data 48, or the as the amount of the charitable donation. The first computer 16 is preferably a conven¬ tional computer-based cash register of the type used in retail stores and other business establishments worldwi¬ de. Such registers typically include a code reader for automatically entering encoded data, a keyboard for manu¬ ally entering data, a sliding door including trays for receiving currency, and a display for providing prompts to the operator and/or customer. Such a register further includes the conventional processor and memory hardware utilized by computers to execute instructions and store and manipulate data. In this situation, of course, the data entry is performed by a clerk or teller as part of their normal duties, which typically involve scanning bar coded merchandise into the computer-based cash register and accepting currency from customers for the merchandi¬ se. An example of a suitable computer-based cash register is the "Beetle" family of POS computers (model numbers 2000/20 and 2000/40) available from Siemens Nix- dorf Informationsystems, AG, in Munich Germany. A U.S affiliate of Siemens Nixdorf Informationsys ems, AG, in Munich Germany, is Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems, Inc., Burlington Massachusetts. The Siemens 2000/20 and 2000/40 POS computers generally provide an IBM compatible AT-based system architecture; an Intel 80286, 12 MHZ mic¬ roprocessor; two MB DRAM memory; 32 KB CMOS non-volatile memory; MS-DOS 5.0 operating system; connector for exter¬ nal memory card; 16-bit AT slot for an LAN or WAN adapter (for stand alone operation) ; VGA card; 20 MB hard disk; a cash drawer; POS keyboard with 60 keys (46 of which are programmable) ; central lock; a three-track swipe card reader (integrated with the keyboard) ; a twenty character alpha-numeric customer display; a hand held scanning bar code reader; and a stationary scanning bar code reader. The second computer 22 illustrated in Figure 2 is generally known in the retail trade as a "server" com¬ puter 22. The server computer 22 includes mass-storage files for accumulating and organizing the daily events processed by the first computer 16. The server computer 22 may be connected to a plurality of first computers 16 to form a network. As used in connection with the dis¬ closed system, the mass-storage files of the server com¬ puter 22 include a file marked for donations, and within this file there are several fields of information. Each field is dedicated to it own particular article number which also defines a particular code and a particular card. Each of these have a line in the file, and these lines collect information concerning the particular co¬ de/card. The server computer 22 stores every event rela¬ ted to every code/card in its mass storage. For example, the server computer 22 can keep track of how many cards have been sold during a given time period , the time of day each card was sold, the additional purchases made by the donor, and the total donations for each card or for all cards together. Also, if the identification means 12 is encoded with the large capacity UPC-D code, the enco¬ ded data 48 may include additional information that may also be tracked and organized by the server computer's (22) mass-storage. Such additional data could include the method by which the identification means 12 was dist¬ ributed (direct mail, newspaper advertisement, etc.). If each identification means 12 is provided with a unique code and sent to particular donors by direct mail, the encoded information may identify the name and address of the donor. If the first computer 16 is in a stand-alone configuration, the sever computer 22 may be omitted, and thus, the first computer 16 would be provided with its own on-board mass storage capabilities. It is also con¬ templated that several associated retail units could be served via an on-line connection to a central server com¬ puter. The donations collected by the system 10 of the ^ present invention may be transferred from the retail col¬ lecting entity to the beneficiary fund-raising entity in several ways. For example, as described above, the com¬ puter-based cash register terminal (16) transfers payment data to the mass-storage of the server computer 22, which is generally located in the accounting department of the retail entity. The funds are then paid to the benefi¬ ciary at a frequency agreed upon in advance, using con¬ ventional currency transfer procedures such as checks or direct electronic deposits via a line connection 24 to the computer system of a chosen financial institution 26. Alternatively, if the first computer 16 is in a stand alone configuration having it own mass-storage, the first computer may be in direct on-line contact 24 with the computer system of a chosen financial institution 26. In this manner, the donations may be transferred to the ac¬ count of the beneficiary directly from the account of the retail entity or from the account of the donor on a real time basis. The system 10 of the present invention may be implemented using commercially available software prog¬ rams currently finding widespread use in retail busines¬ ses around the world. One example of a suitable software program is the "Calypso" retail software program availa¬ ble from Siemens Nixdorf Informationsystems, AG, in Mu¬ nich Germany. The Calypso program is designed for use on a variety of platform from stand-alone configurations to multi-server configurations networked with host systems. Calypso is capable of running on the Siemens 2000/20 (DOS) and 2000/40 (UNIX) systems, and may be programmed simply and efficiently using the "C" programming langu¬ age. One of the key advantages of the system 10 embo¬ dying the present invention is the ability to easily in¬ tegrate the system 10 into the electronic inventorying, purchasing and accounting systems of existing retail bu¬ sinesses. Programs and hardware such as Calypso and the Siemens Beetle family of POS terminals, are quickly adap¬ ted to incorporate the fund-raising system 10. First, a specific program file (donations file) is created for collecting fields of information on the donations collec¬ ted. Second, the particular EAN or UPC codes are added to the newly created donations file. Figures 4a to 4e is a flow diagram 50 illustra¬ ting the general operation of the computer hardware and software used to implement the system shown in Figure 1. The diagram 50 utilizes a conventional POS terminal ha¬ ving a code reader access to sufficient mass-storage ca¬ pabilities, either its own or through a server computer terminal. The first section of the diagram 50 is the Initialize Section 52 shown in Figure 4a. The Initialize section 52 starts at block 60 and then asks in block 62 whether the software is ready. If the answer to the in¬ quiry in block 62 is no, the program is booted in block 64 and the Initialize Section 52 then returns to block 66. If the answer to the inquiry in block 62 is yes, the Initialize Section 52 proceeds directly to block 66 which asks whether there are several code readers. If the answer to the inquiry in block 66 is yes, the Ini¬ tialize Section 52 selects the desired code reader in block 68 and returns to block 70. If the answer to the inquiry in block 66 is no, the Initialize Section 52 mo¬ ves directly to block 70. In block 70 the Initialize Section 52 asks whet¬ her the chosen code reader is provided with automatic figure identification. If the answer to the inquiry in block 70 is no, the Initialize Section 52 boots the rea¬ der in block 72, and then determines whether the boot was ' successful in block 74. If the answer to the inquiry in block 74 is no, the Initialize Section 52 moves to block 76 and determines whether or not it will move to manual feeding. If the answer to the inquiry in block 74 is yes, the Initialize Section 52 returns to block 78 and starts reading the code. From block 78 the program moves to the Identification Section 54 shown in Figure 4b. The Identification Section 54 begins by reading the code at block 80. The Identification Section 54 then attempts to identify the code in block 82. If the code is not properly identified in block 82, the Identificati¬ on Section 54 moves to block 84 which asks the user whet¬ her or not the code should be read again. If the answer to the inquiry in block 84 is yes, the Identification Section 54 returns to its beginning in block 80. If the answer to the inquiry in block 84 is no, the Identifica¬ tion Section 54 moves to block 86 which again determines whether to move to a manual feed. If the code is successfully identified in block 82, the Identification Section 54 moves to block 88 which reads the data content of the code. The correctness of the coded data is checked in block 90. From block 90, the Identification Section 54 moves to the inquiry in block 92 which determines whether the obtained data is acceptable. In other words, the software searches the computer's memory to determine whether the article iden¬ tified in the code is found in the computer's memory. The software looks for the existence of the article code represented in encoded data. If the code is "011111222229," (UPC-A), the digit 0 identifies the arti¬ cle everywhere in the world as a North American product. The digits 11111 identify that the article is a product of, for example, "Fund-Raising America, Inc.." The di¬ gits 22 identify the beneficiary as, for example, the American Cancer Society. The digits 222 identify the article as being associated with a certain campaign cal¬ ling for a minimum donation of donation of $10.00. The digit 9 is the check digit calculated from the previous digits. Consequently, if the answer to the inquiry in block 92 is no, the Identification Section 54 moves to block 84, and the operator scans the product again. If the answer to the inquiry at block 92 is yes, the code can be found in memory, and the Identification Section 54 moves to the inquiry in block 94. In block 94, the Identification Section 54 de¬ termines whether or not the software can transfer the encoded data into the mass-storage. Mass-storage may be in the POS terminal itself, a network server, or a cent¬ ral computer with a direct on-line transmission connecti¬ on. If the software cannot transfer the encoded data into mass-storage (because of a software malfunction or other technical problem) , block 96 allows the operator to enter the encoded data into mass-storage manually from the keyboard. Otherwise, the Identification Section 54 proceeds to block 98 to perform a PLU operation. The purpose of block 98 is to find in mass-storage any pre- stored additional information, such as the price asso¬ ciated with the article, by using newly stored data con¬ tent of the code as a basis or as a key to access this additional information. For example, in the case where a particular ar¬ ticle can only be used to donate one predetermined amount of money to a particular beneficiary, block 98 is where the software looks for the pre-stored information. This information is stored in the mass-storage and, using the data content of the code as a key, the software extracts this fixed amount and any other additional information that may be used in later steps of the program. For example, if the code in question is "011111222229," (UPC- A) , when this code is entered into the system and stored into mass storage, the code informs the software that the donation value is fixed at $10.00, and transfers this fixed donation amount to the computer-based cash ter¬ minal. The software also extracts the additional inst¬ ructions that, when this particular code is entered, the cash register should show on its display monitor the text "Donation American Cancer Society $10.00" and later print this line of text on the donor's receipt. The Execution Section 56 begins in block 102. The operator initiates the "End of Events" sequence in block 102 by making the appropriate keyboard entry when all of the purchases made by the customer, including all donations and other purchases, have been entered and pro¬ perly processed by the POS terminal. The Execution Sec¬ tion 56 then reads the data content of the code in block 104 and processes all of the events in block 106. Such events may include "Count Sums" which is the total of the purchases made by the donor, or "Check Customer Rewarding System" which could be included if for example the retail outlet has a system whereby every 1000th donor receives a gift. At block 108, the Execution Section 56 boots the payment event, and the operator selects the method of payment as cash or credit card. The Execution Section 56 then moves to block 110 which prints a verification of the events which have occurred with each event being printed on a separate line. The operator acknowledges receipt of the payment in block 112, and the mass-storage files are accessed in block 118. The Execution Section 56 then increments certain sales accounting variables in block 114. For the disclosed embodiment, these variables may include the number of donations sold or the dollar amount of donations sold. The Execution Section 56 moves to block 122 and updates the events in mass-storage by using the code data as the key for entering the necessary files in mass-sto¬ rage. The files updated in block 122 may include a file that tracks the sales of one particular cash register terminal, a file that tracks the sales figures of one particular operator, and other files. The operation de¬ fined in block 122 may be repeated several time depending upon the number of donations and/or other purchases made by the individual customer. The cash register terminal is booted again in block 124 on order to process new events, and the Execution Section 56 ends in block 126. Figure 4e illustrates the general features of the Account Execution Section 58. The Account Execution Section 58 is executed by the server computer (22) using its mass-storage information. Daily events by all of the different cash register terminals in a given network are all stored in the files of the server's mass storage. This information is used for in-store follow-ups and for accounting. The Account Section 58 performs two general functions. First, it processes the donation events for a given beneficiary during a chosen period of time. Se¬ cond, it processes all other follow-up information for the retail outlet, or for the beneficiary receiving the donations. The Account Section 58 accesses the mass-storage files in block 132. In block 146, the necessary informa¬ tion is extracted using the coded data as a key for ente¬ ring the needed mass-storage files. In block 148, the follow-up information is listed and may be printed or otherwise transferred to particular entities desiring the information. Block 138 transfers the payment related information extracted in block 146 to block 140. In block 140, the collected donations are paid to the chari¬ table entities designated by the encoded data. Payment may be executed by transferring the amount electronically as a line transfer from the account of the retail outlet to the account of the beneficiary. Alternatively the payment may be printed on a check by a printer assigned to the server computer 22. In block 142, the information of the "current period file" may be used to update another file for col¬ lecting "history data", and the "current period" file is cleared up while payment is acknowledged. In the situation where the computer-based cash register is an ECR terminal with no mass storage, the accounting information is gathered by generating daily control strips from each ECR terminal. The control strips may be generated by providing a key on the keybo¬ ard dedicated to "donations." The operator must press the donations key every time a donation is processed. This automatically places the total sum of the all ente¬ red donations on the control strip under donations. Be¬ cause this is a lump sum, an ECR terminal cannot receive donations for more than one beneficiary at a time. The control strips must be collected periodically and taken to the accounting department for payment to the benefi¬ ciary. CUMULATIVE (ACCUMULATIVE?) FILE "DONATIONS" File is created separately. New codes are added to it either through the use of a scanner or manually using conventional adding(?) routines (methods?) . File is updated with cumulative and periodic information on a real-time-basis (e.g. numbers (of cards processed) , cur¬ rency amounts (collected) , and other information extract¬ ed from the contents of the codes processed) . The size of the file is determined (defined?) by the quantity of the codes stored in the file, not separate donation events registered. Desired querys are easy to make, since the file is composed of summed up records of information (re¬ cords of information already summed up?) . Thus the file operates user-friendly. METHOD OF SETTING FORTH INFORMATION (=OUTPUT?) (MANNER/METHOD OF ENTERING INFORMATION =INPUT?) (INPUT/OUTPUT NAME OF THE FIELD METHOD?) (Code (=key) numeric) Prefix flag numeric Manufacturer numeric Entity identification numeric Article identification numeric Check digit numeric Means fo distribution numeric Accumulative numbers of sold numeric Accumulative currency amount numeric Current period numbers of sold numeric Current period currency amount numeric Last date of event date Record established (founded?) date Attention!-field character etc... Initially and prior to any processing or purchasing events the item code of a donation card is recorded/ stored into the file as a key. This can be done either by scanning the code into the file with a light pen (in some cases a stationary scanner) connected to the server com¬ puter, or recording it manually from the keyboard. When once recorded, the code then acts as a key opening the record and fields of that record to enter of events linked to this particular donation card. Addition to the file is executed in the program as follows: (- Can file "Donations" be found? Block 120, if Yes) - Open file - Deblock contents of the basic code - Update equivalent records - Does the contents of the code include add on encodati- on? - If Yes, deblock and update eqvivalent records - If No, move on - If new events, return to establish a new deblock re¬ cord routine - If no new events, close file SEQUENCE FILE The size of the file grows on grounds of events entered into it. An event is added to the file as a new record each time an equivalent donation card is processed by the cash register terminals. Each new event is a new "card" in the file: the pack increases in "height" each time a new event occures. There is no need to create a separate file. One record of a file is one event. Accura¬ te information can be extracted from the file, classified in e.g. terminal by terminal, operator by operator or time of the day. NAME OF THE... METHOD OF... (Code (=key) numeric) Code storing numeric Consecutive digit identification numeric (=tracking do¬ nors) Outlet identification numeric Cash register terminal identifi¬ numeric cation Time numeric Date date Operator identification numeric Pre-stored currency amount numeric Currency amount received numeric Add to the total sales of the boolean (Yes/No; dona- outlet? tions=No) Method of payment numeric and so on and so forth... Recording/storing the item code of a donation card as a key can be executed as before stated. When new record is created, the data content of the item code is connected to a series of fields extrac¬ ted automatically from the "general guidance program" of the cash register terminal. That is to say that the ter¬ minal automatically connects the outlet identification field, cash terminal identification field, time field etc. to the item code currently processed. The consecutive digit identification field means that if individual cards (=donors) have individual conse¬ cutive identification digit fields, this is when these are stored into the mass storage for later use. Each operator identifies himself to the terminal by using a key entry or some other method of identifica¬ tion before starting his "shift". When this identificati¬ on has been completed, the terminal henceforth transmits this field of information automatically as a field of each record created. Currency amount collected is recorded thereafter either by connecting the code to the PLU-sequence of the mass-storage (the donation value is then transferred au¬ tomatically as a field in the record) , or by the operator entering this amount into the mass-storage from keyboard. Add to the total sales of the outlet field means that the currency amount of a donation is automatically excluded from the total sales figures of the outlet. It is a fi¬ nancial transaction, not an event of selling something. Method of payment field is transmitted automati¬ cally after the operator has made an appropriate key ent¬ ry indicating this information. Addition to the file is executed in the program as follows: - Establish new record (item code + outlet identification field + cash terminal identification field etc. Note that it does not mean adding up here: it means integrating one field with another) - Open file Add event record as the latest record on file - If new events, return to establish a new create record routine - If no new events, close file The formated file can be used in a variety of ways. - Summaries, sortings, transfers, extractions, deletions, etc. can be executed - Records can be transferred for to be used in another programs (Analyzing programs, spread sheet programs, data base programs etc.) - Records can be transferred to the data base of a large main frame computer Note that as a rule something specific has to be done with a record prior to any specialized executions (e.g. if the record is to be used in a spread sheet program, the program might require that the record is first deb¬ locked and the deblocked fields sorted and reorganized - together with other records which are to be used in the program execution - before actually processed in the program. This deblocking and the like is usually done by the specialized program itself as a preliminary measure.) What this "something specific" is, depends totally on the requirements that the program in question states for the data material it can process. (These two types of files can, if so desired to¬ gether constitute a directory called "Donations". This would, however, lead to a need of restructuring the flow¬ charts, and would propably mean nothing more than just one additional unnecessary step in the program.) The files described here can also run simul¬ taneously (well, actually one after the other) guiding the cash register. The cumulative file collects specific fields of information linked exclusively to the fund raising system and its identification means. The sequence file collects fields of information which are common to and collectively collected on all different products and events processed by the cash register terminals of the outlet in question. With the exception of the donor trackning consecutive digit identification-field, which is best placed here, since it must be operated as a se¬ quence file. The sequence file can, of course, be one created specially for donation purposes. It can also be the com¬ mon file for all data information collected on all events processed by the cash register terminals using the item code as a key, and regardless of what "article class" the purchase falls into. The most feasable solution would propably be to use the cumulative version as the "Donations" file col¬ lecting exclusive donations information, and to use a common sequence file to collect the bits of information common to all items processed by the cash register ter¬ minal. Information on these two files could then, if nee¬ ded, be combined and processed by using specialized prog¬ rams, such as for example a spread sheet program. The present Figure 4e illustrates this alternative. It execu¬ tes updating a separate "Donations" file first, and then moves on to update the common file. (If Figure 4e does not find a separate "Dona¬ tions" file, it proceeds to block 140 to update the com¬ mon file/-files in the masstorage with all of the infor¬ mation extracted from the contents of the code of the donation card in question.) Thus, it can be seen from the above description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accom¬ panying drawings, that the present invention achieves several advantages. For example, the above-described identification means can be easily integrated into the regular product-line of any retail establishment that uses computer-based cash-registers/terminals to identify products and collect funds for purchases. Thus, fund- raising activities may be easily integrated with the nor¬ mal cash-collecting and accounting systems utilized in retail trades. By making use of the disclosed system, fund-raising entities can organize their fund-raising activities through large retail outlets, thus receiving exposure to a large pool of potential donors on a regular basis. The need for providing labor dedicated to collec¬ ting funds is reduced and in some cases may be eli¬ minated. While the above-described embodiments of the invention are preferred, those skilled in this art will recognize modifications of structure, arrangement, compo¬ sition and the like which do not part from the true scope of the invention. The invention is defined by the appen- ded claims, and all devices and/or methods that come wit¬ hin the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalents, are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A method of collecting donations, the steps comprising: providing donors with encoded data identifying at least one entity; providing a computer having data entry means, said computer being programmed to perform the following functions: accept at said data entry means said enco¬ ded data identifying said at least one en¬ tity; accept at said data entry means a currency amount of a charitable donation from said donor to said at least one entity; and associate said currency amount with said encoded data identifying said at least one entity. 2. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data is carried on a card. 3. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data comprises punch codes. 4. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data comprises bar codes. 5. The method defined in Claim 4 wherein said bar code comprises EAN code. 6. The method defined in Claim 4 wherein said bar code comprises UPC code. 7. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data comprises a magnetically encoded strip. 8. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data comprises a microcircuit chip. 9. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said encoded data further identifies at least one currency amount of a donation from said donor to said at least one entity. 10. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said data entry means comprises a code reader and a keyboard. 11. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said data entry means comprises a code reader capable of opti¬ cally interpreting said encoded data. 12. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said data entry means comprises a code reader capable of mechanically interpreting said encoded data. 13. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said data entry means comprises a code reader capable of mag¬ netically interpreting said encoded data. 14. The method defined in Claim 1 wherein said computer comprises a computer-based cash register. 15. The method defined in Claim 1 further comp¬ rising the step of entering into said data entry means said encoded data identifying said at least one entity. 16. The method defined in Claim 15 further comprising the step of entering into said data entry- means a currency amount of a donation from said donor to said at least one entity. 17. The method defined in Claim 16 further comprising the step of collecting said currency amount from said donor. 18. A method of collecting donations, the steps comprising: providing a donor with means for identifying at least one entity for receiving the charitable donation; providing a computer comprising: means for entering data; means for storing data identifying said at least one entity; means for storing at least one currency amount of a donation to said at least one entity; means for associating said at least one currency amount with said data identifying said at least one entity; and means for collecting said currency amount from said donor; entering at said means for entering data said means for identifying said at least one entity; entering at said means for entering data said at least one currency amount of a donation to said at least one entity; and collecting said at least one currency amount from said donor. 19. The method defined in Claim 18 further comprising the step of transferring said at least one currency amount to said at least one entity. 20. The method defined in Claim 19 wherein: said computer has means for initiating elect¬ ronic currency transactions at a financial institution via an on-line connection to an electronic transaction system of said financial institution; and said at least one currency amount is transferred to said at least one entity via said electronic transac¬ tion system. 21. The method defined in Claim 18 wherein said means for identifying at least one entity comprises a card bearing encoded data identifying at least one enti¬ ty. 22. The method defined in Claim 21 wherein said encoded data comprises punch codes. 23. The method defined in Claim 21 wherein said encoded data comprises bar codes. 24. The method defined in Claim 23 wherein said bar code comprises EAN code. 25. The method defined in Claim 23 wherein said bar code comprises UPC code. 26. The method defined in Claim 21 wherein said encoded data comprises a magnetically encoded strip. 27. The method defined in Claim 21 wherein said encoded data comprises a microcircuit chip. 28. The method defined in Claim 18 wherein said means for identifying at least one entity further identi¬ fies at least one currency amount of a donation from said donor to said at least one entity. 29. The method defined in Claim 18 wherein said means for entering data comprises a code reader and a keyboard. 30. The method defined in Claim 18 wherein said computer comprises a computer-based cash register. 31. A method of collecting donations, the steps comprising: distributing an article having encoded data to potential donors; receiving said article from one of said poten¬ tial donors; and entering said encoded data into a data entry means of a computer-based cash register; said encoded data identifying to said computer- based cash register said article and a beneficiary for receiving a donation from said one of said potential do¬ nors. 32. The method defined in Claim 31 further comprising the steps of entering at said data entry means an amount of said donation. 33. The method defined in Claim 31 further comprising the step of collecting said donation from said one of said potential donors. 34. The method defined in Claim 33 further comprising the step of transferring said donation to said beneficiary. 35. The method defined in Claim 31 wherein said encoded data further identifies to said computer a prede¬ termined amount of said donation. 36. The method defined in Claim 31 wherein said encoded data further identifies to said computer a means by which said article was distributed. 37. The method defined in Claim 31 wherein said computer-based cash register stores said entered encoded data into a mass-storage means. 38. A fund raising means, comprising a printed card of plastic material, paper board, carton or similar printable sheet material, said card being provided with printed information concerning at least the fund raising purpose and the fund raising organizer; and said card being further provided with coded information, for example in the form of a bar code, automatically rea¬ dable and processable by code-detecting means and compu¬ ter-based cash register of the type used in retail stores and similar business establisments.

Inventors: REINIKAINEN PEKKA, REINIKAINEN, PEKKA
Applicants: STEPHEN IND INC OY, STEPHEN INDUSTRIES INC. OY
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: G06K19, G06Q20, G06Q30, G07G1