BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION AT THE PHARMACY

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable instructions that covertly identify a consumer who is purchasing a medical treatment and/or medication and use the consumer's current medical information and/or medication information to provide the consumer with a promotion targeted at least in part based upon the current medical information and/or medication information. In an exemplary embodiments, the current medical information and/or medication information is a current medication prescription of the consumer.

Description: BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION AT THE PHARMACY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field ofthe Invention: This invention is directed to using medical information from a consumer to provide a targeted promotion. More specifically, this invention is directed to the automated recognition of a covert or overt consumer for identifying a medical treatment ofthe consumer and providing a targeted promotion based upon the medical treatment. Discussion ofthe Background: Predictive targeting describes a marketing technique wherein marketing efforts are directed to an individual or group of individuals that have characteristics which indicate the likelihood of a certain behavior, such as a purchase. The examined characteristics commonly include historical and/or demographic data. By targeting marketing efforts to an individual or group likely to be interested in a product according to a predictive profile, the expense of marketing can be reduced, and even small groups of individuals interested in a product can receive information regarding the product on a low cost per capita basis. A more complete description of predictive targeting and marketing is given, e.g., in "The Direct Marketing Handbook," Edward L. Nash, ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1992, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and in United States Patents 6,026,370, 5,974,399, 5,892,827, 5,832,457, 5,612,868, 5,173,851, 4,910,672, 6,014,634, 6,055,573 the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. One ofthe limitations of traditional predictive targeting includes an underutilization and/or difficulty with the utilization of current information regarding circumstances and events that may lead to a behavior or purchase. These circumstances and events may often prove to have a higher predicative value than a simple historical record, but are often difficult to record and/or obtain. Common examples where current information regarding circumstances and events is used to provide a promotion include providing new car purchase discounts to graduating college students, coupons for home repair goods to purchasers of homes, and "ambulance chasers" offering personal injury legal services to those involved in accidents. By predicting purchase behavior based on a current occurrence or circumstance such as a graduation, a home purchase, or an accident, product information can be provided on a low cost per capita basis even when the purchase of such a product is a rare occurrence in the representative demographic population or when there is no historical record of such a purchase. The benefits of predicting purchase behavior based on a current event or circumstance are rarely justified in light ofthe cost of determining the existence of such a current occurrence or circumstance, except in the case of large ticket items. In the examples given above, a marketer must, for example, contact a university for a list of graduating students, search public records for recent property transactions, or chase ambulances throughout a city. In other words, there is often too little incentive for a consumer to provide the information regarding the consumer's current event and/or circumstance information. Thus, circumstance/event data remains largely underutilized and/or difficult to utilize. One particular type of current event/circumstance information that is underutilized is information regarding the medical state of a consumer. For various ethical, medical, financial, privacy, social, and legal reasons, consumers and/or health care providers are reticent to distribute medical information to marketers and/or salespeople. Since many diseases and disease states are rare, have little or no historical precedent, and/or are relatively evenly distributed among different demographic groups, marketing and product information for medical products is often not available, since the cost of identifying diseased individuals and distributing marketing promotions is too high. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system, and computer-readable instructions for effectively issuing targeted promotions based upon a consumer's medical condition (i.e., medical events and/or circumstances). Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system, and computer- readable instructions for insuring consumer privacy while the consumer receives targeted promotions. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel method, system, and computer-readable instructions for insuring consumer privacy while the consumer receives medication to treat a current disease and/or disease state. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system, and computer- readable instructions for speeding the process of acquiring medication for a consumer. A yet further object of this invention is to provide a novel method, system, and computer-readable instructions for insuring identification of a consumer requesting medication. These and other objects ofthe invention are realized by providing a novel method, system, and computer-readable instructions that identify a consumer who is purchasing a medical treatment and/or medication. In an exemplary embodiment, this identification is covert biometric identification ofthe consumer. After the consumer is covertly or overtly identified, the consumer's current medical information and/or medication information is used to provide the consumer with a promotion targeted at least in part based upon the current medical information and/or medication information. In an exemplary embodiment, the current medical information and/or medication information is a current medication prescription ofthe consumer. In an exemplary embodiment, the covert identification is likewise used to indicate the presence of an anonymous individual desiring the medications and/or medical equipment to a person or group that will be preparing the medications and/or medical equipment, preferably without explicitly identifying the individual. In one embodiment, this indication would be an indication to a pharmacist that there is an unidentified individual desiring a particular medication in a store and/or shopping area. In yet another embodiment, the targeted promotion is provided in conjunction with a brochure providing more detailed information about the consumer's medical condition and/or medication. As used herein, the terms "covert consumer," "covert identification," and "covertly identifying" a consumer refer to the identification ofthe consumer by a system that can use this identification information to identify a medical treatment for the consumer and to cause preparation and/or delivery of this medical treatment without disclosing the consumer's name to those performing the preparation and/or delivery. As used herein, the term "promotion" refers to any offer, advertisement, newsletter, incentive, coupon, commercial, recipe, and/or communication for promoting one or more goods and/or services. The inventors have described in the current invention a method, a device, and computer-readable instructions for providing targeted promotions to a consumer based on the consumer's current medical event/circumstance information while simultaneously maintaining that consumer's privacy. This is especially important when medical information is used to predict a consumer's behavior. Furthermore, this method, device, and computer- readable instructions accomplish these goals in an inexpensive manner, and furthermore save the consumer time and public exposure while treating a medical condition. Finally, this method, device, and computer-readable instructions should insure a more reliable identification of the consumer while the consumer seeks to acquire medication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation ofthe invention and many ofthe attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary network structure for issuing promotions based upon consumer input; FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a second exemplary network structure for issuing promotions based upon consumer input; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate exemplary data record structures; FIG. 4a and 4b illustrate further exemplary data record structures; FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process for issuing targeted promotions based upon a consumer's medical condition; FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a second process of issuing targeted promotions based upon a consumer's medical condition; FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a third process of issuing targeted promotions based upon a consumer's medical condition; FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a fourth process of issuing targeted promotions based upon a consumer's medical condition; and FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a computer system programmed to perform one or more ofthe special purpose functions ofthe present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, which illustrates an exemplary network structure for issuing promotions based upon consumer input. This network structure will include at least one interaction site 630, 640, or 650 that, in preferred embodiments, is connected by way of a network 620 to a central database system 610. In alternate embodiments, network 620 can be dispensed with in whole or in part, or an interaction site 630, 640, or 650 can be implemented on a computer system such as the central database system 610 . Thus, the network 620 can be implemented either as a traditional communications or telecommunications network, or as an electrical lead, wire, or bus within a computer. The processor 611 of central database system 610 is used for coding and decoding data transmitted over network 620, controlling reading and writing of data in memory tables 612a-d, and analyzing the data in memory tables 612a-d. The processor 611 can be any processor configured for high volume data transmission and performing a significant number of mathematical calculations in processing communications (possibly as a webserver), database searches, and computational algorithms. A conventional personal computer or workstation with sufficient memory and processing capability may be configured to act as processor 611. A PENTIUM III microprocessor such as the 1GHz PENTIUM III for the SC 242 manufactured by Intel Inc., a Motorola 500 MHz POWERPC G4 processor, and the Advanced Micro Devices 1 GHz AMD ATHLON processor may all be used as the processor 611. The memory tables 612a-d can be any sort of processor-accessible data medium, including but not limited to any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-Rom, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic data. The network 620 may be a local area network, a wide area network, a virtual private network, and/or a connection via a public switched telephone network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network 620 includes a number of connection modalities, including a cable- modem connection, a DSL connection, a dial-up modem connection, and/or other suitable connection mechanisms. The first type of interaction site, kiosk interaction site 630, includes a kiosk terminal 630a that would be located at, in an exemplary embodiment, the entrance of a store, shopping area, shopping center, mall or the like. The interaction site 630 can include a processor similar to processor 611, but in an exemplary embodiment it is simply dedicated to the reception and transmission of data over network 620 and the coding and decoding of that data when received from input device 630c and output to promotion output device 630b. Kiosk interaction site 630 is designed to be operated by the consumer and, in some embodiments, allow the covert identification ofthe consumer. Simple placement ofthe kiosk interaction site 630 distant from the location where a medical treatment or medication is being prepared adds a layer of privacy and security to the identification process. Furthermore, by locating kiosk interaction site 630 at the entrance of a vendor or group of vendors, preparation ofthe medical treatment or medication for delivery to the individual can begin forthwith, saving the consumer time. Kiosk interaction site 630 includes an ID input device 630c that receives identifying information from a consumer and forwards that information to a processor 611 where it is compared with identification table 612a to provide a nameless and anonymous identification ofthe consumer and an indication of he presence of he consumer at kiosk interaction site 630. ID input device 630c can be any of a number of recognition devices that do or do not specifically require consumer identification by name, or simply allow the consumer to covertly or overtly identify himself or herself as present at kiosk interaction site 630. Examples of suitable embodiments of ID input device 630c include keyboards, touch screens, computer mouses, bar code readers, magnetic readers (including strip, disk, and tape readers), smart card readers, pressure sensors, motion detectors, fingerprint readers, iris recognition devices, genetic identification devices, electromagnetic receivers, voltmeters, heat sensors, and other transducers capable of being interfaced with a digital processor and that will recognize passwords, patterns, keywords, sequences or other identifiying information. Input device 630c must simply be capable of receiving identification input from a consumer. In an exemplary embodiment, the ID input device 630c is biometric. In other words, the ID input device 630c uses biological information and/or parameters to identify the consumer. One significant advantage of this approach includes the fact that biological information is, almost by definition, name-free. In other words, the biological information used to identify the consumer will not undesirably identify that individual to other parties. This adds yet another layer of security to the identification process. Furthermore, biometric identification remains relatively difficult to falsify and/or steal from an individual, thus helping insure delivery ofthe medical treatment or medication to the correct individual. Suitable types of biometric identification include fingerprint readers, voice and iris recognition devices, and genetic identification devices including gene chips. Fingerprint readers are described in, for example, US patents 4,747,147, 5,109,427, 3,882,462, 5,631,971, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, a scanner as ID input device 630c creates a digital image of a fingerprint by transducing the pattern of light reflected from a fingertip. A processor 611 using Fingerprint Identification (FID) software can be used to analyze the pattern of reflected light by searching for two types of specific features. One feature is the core, or center ofthe print. The other features are minutia ~ points at which ridges end or divide. The processor 611 thus describes a series of vectors relating the minutia. Even if a finger is off-center or rotated during the scan, the vectors describing the relationships between the minutia do not significantly change and are complex enough to be unique. Ridges and minutia are used to perform one of two possible identifications, one-to-one or one-to-many. A one-to-one search occurs in an identity verification system (INS), which is used for security purposes. The IVS knows in advance who you claim to be, and compares the pattern of minutia of a fingerprint patterned freshly scanned at ID input device 630c and transmitted from kiosk terminal 630a to processor 611 with a known record ofthe fingerprint stored in the database identification table 612a. Because not all minutia may be captured due to a cut or other aberration, the best the processor 611 can do is determine a probability that the print matches some other fingerprint in identification table 612a. When a known print from identification table 612a matches within an acceptable margin, the processor 611 "identifies" the individual. The best known example of a one-to-many search is performed by the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) used by law enforcement. Also called a cold search, it is most commonly used to compare a fingerprint from an unknown person, against a database of known persons and fingerprints to determine whether the person is already in the database. To narrow the number of prints the unknown must be compared against, the FID first counts the ridges in one direction from the core to the rim ofthe print. Although counting ridges is quick, it is inherently inaccurate. The number of ridges on the same finger can easily change from print to print, depending on how hard the finger is pressed against the scanner. Also, the range of ridges on all fingers is not that varied and usually yields a count between 10 and 20. However, ridge counting still eliminates obvious mismatches. The processor 611 then examines the possible matches generated by ridge counting, looking for further similarities in the pattern of minutia. Speech recognition is described in US patents 6,640,490, 5,751,904, and 5,745,64, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, speech recognition software controlling a processor 611 must first go through an enrollment of candidate voices that are to be recognized by the software and store this enrollment information in an identification table 612a. In order to add his or her voice to the list of candidate voices, a person must dictate a known text for a suitable time, commonly 10 minutes to an hour. From this sampling, the software creates a table of vocal references for many individuals in an identification table 612a, which are the ways in which the speaker's pronunciation of phonemes varies from models of speech. After enrollment, the speaker can later dictate the text he or she wants the software to compare with the vocal references ofthe candidate voices into a microphone acting as ID input device 630c, preferably one that uses noise-cancellation to eliminate background sounds. The quality ofthe microphone acting as ID input device 630c and power ofthe computer processor 611 are relevant to the quality of speech recognition. The speaker can use continuous speech, which is normal speech without pauses between words. The analog signal generated by the microphone acting as ID input device 630c is sampled at rates commonly above 30 kHz but preferably above 50 kHz by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in kiosk terminal 630a and converted using pattern recognition algorithms to a set of measurements of several factors, including pitch, volume, frequency, length of phonemes, and silences. The measurements can be compressed for quicker processing, and the software's speech engine makes adjustments to the measurements by factoring in, for example, background sounds and the acoustic characteristics ofthe microphone. The acoustic recognizer such as a neural network algorithm controlling processor 611 compares the corrected measurements from kiosk terminal 630a to a database of previous measurements associated with the candidate individuals, compiled by previously sampling the speech of those individuals and stored in identification data record 612a. For each measurement, such as pitch, the recognizer finds the database entries in identification table 612 a that most closely match that specific measurement. To narrow the selection further, the engine compares another measurement, to the measurement of only those database entries in identification table 612a that received a high score on the exemplary pitch measurement. The process continues until the processor 611 finds the candidate voice that most closely matches the sample voice across the entire range of measurements. An alternate embodiment of ID input device 630c relies upon DNA fingerprinting tests to covertly identify the consumer. DNA fingerprinting tests are based on the genetic differences that exist between individuals, and are described in the article entitled "Automation of DNA Finge rinting: a Multi-Color Fluorophore Approach" published by Applied Biosystems. Other exemplary approaches in those described in US patents 5,831,065, 5,576,180, 4,880,750, and 6,077,668, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, in one embodiment, currently, the most informative genetic markers for characterization of humans are the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci. VNTR alleles differ in size by the number of tandem repeat sequences. DNA can be isolated from blood or other cell or tissue samples and the DNA sequences of VNTR loci can be specifically amplified by PCR. When PCR with automated DNA purification, automated primer synthesis, and automated fluorescent fragment analysis are performed, individuals can be biometrically identified. These procedures have been automated using commercially available equipment, namely the GENEPURE™ 341 Nucleic Acid Purification System, the PCR-MATE™ 391 DNA Synthesizer, and the GENE SCANNER™ 362 Fluorescent Fragment Analyzer available from Applied Biosystems. Briefly describing these steps, DNA can purified using the Applied Biosystems GENEPURE 341 Nucleic Acid Purification System. This instrument is used for the automated purification of nucleic acid from a broad range of sample types. A protocol specifically designed for handling small quantities of DNA on the GENEPURE system makes use ofthe system's phenol-chloroform chemistry and BASEBINDER resin. Whole blood samples (50 μL) can be diluted to 1.5 mL with Tris-buffered saline (TBS) and loaded directly into a GENEPURE reaction vessel containing 2X Lysis Buffer that had been previously delivered by the GENEPURE system and heated to 60°C. The system can next deliver Proteinase K and perform a one-hour digestion while shaking. Then the system can perform two extractions with a phenol/water/chloroform reagent and one extraction with chloroform. The BASEBINDER resin can be added to each reaction vessel and the system used to deliver sodium acetate and isopropanol. Under these conditions, the genomic DNA binds to the resin. The system can collect the resin/precipitate complex on a PRECIPITATE II filter and rinse it with efhanol to remove any trace contaminants. The DNA can then be eluted from the resin with water. Prior to the purification, oligonucleotide primers specific for three VNTR target loci can be synthesized on a PCR-MATE 391 DNA Synthesizer using fast oligonucleotide deprotecting (FOD) phosphoramidites and the standard 0.2 μmol scale synthesis cycle. Common target VNTR loci are Apo B (1), pMCTl 18 (2), and ρNZ22 (3). To permit the attachment of a fluorescent dye, an AMINOLINK 2™ amine linker can be added to the 5' end of each ofthe primers during the last monomer addition using the standard synthesis cycle. After cleavage and deprotection ofthe oligonucleotides, a fluorescent dye-NHS ester can be coupled to the primers to be labeled through the AMINOLINK 2 moiety. DNA samples can be amplified at the VNTR low using the GENEAMP PCR DNA Amplification System from Perkin-Elmer Cetus Instruments and the fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide primers. The primers were designed with a different dye label for in situ labeling of PCR products as follows: Apo B (FAM-blue), pMCTl 18 (JOE-green), and pYNZ22 (TAMRA-yellow). Aliquots ofthe fluorescence-labeled PCR products can be combined with an internal- lane size standard, GENESCAN-1000, labeled with the ' red" fluorophore, ROX. Samples can then be loaded into a 2% agarose gel on a GENE SCANNER and electrophoresed through a 4-cm "well-to-read region" at 4 volts/cm. The GENE SCANNER system uses multi-color, fluorescent based DNA sequencing technology for submarine agarose gel electrophoresis. The system incorporates a multi-line argon ion laser, which scans across the gel to excite fluorescence from passing dye-labeled PCR products. The emitted light is filtered collected, and transferred as digital signals, which are automatically analyzed by a computer to assign fragment lengths and quantify fluorescence. Thereafter, the measured fluorescent patten is compared with previously measured fluorescent patterns in identification table 612a corresponding to a number of candidate individuals. This continues until a matching pattern associated with a specific individual is located. Regardless ofthe nature of ID input device 630c, once identification data is produced and/or digitized, it can be transferred from kiosk terminal 630a to processor 611 of central database system 610. Naturally, this can be done by way of a network 620, or alternatively the processor 611 can be part of kiosk interaction site 630 (not shown). Nevertheless, the identification data is relayed to processor 611, where it is compared to tables stored in identification data storage records 612a. An exemplary data structure for identification data storage records 612a is illustrated as Data Record A 710 of FIG. 3 a. Upon identification of a matching or near-matching record, the processor 611 further accesses data storage records 612b , 612c, and 612d. Individual consumer data storage record 612b contains data regarding the individual consumer such as, for example, current medical treatments and/or medications that the consumer is using or prescribed to use and new medical treatments or medications prescribed by health care providers, demographic information, health information, allergy information, and/or a historical record of past purchases, and an exemplary data structure thereof is illustrated in Data Record C 730 of FIG. 4a. Once processor 611 identifies the consumer, the consumer's individual table 612b is accessed by processor 611 and the data therein is put to many potential uses. A first potential use ofthe consumer's individual table 612b is to indicate to the consumer at kiosk terminal 630a the potential medical treatments and/or medications available to the consumer. In one embodiment, this information can include, for example cost information, insurance coverage information, a selection function whereby the consumer selects one from a number of potential medical treatments and/or medications, and/or information regarding the medical treatments and/or medications itself, such as side effects and/or drug interactions, gathered from information stored in medical/medication information 612c. One further potential use of consumer's individual table 612b is to indicate to a vendor, for example a pharmacist, that a consumer is present or about to be present in the vendor's store, that this potentially still unidentified consumer requests a particular medical treatment and/or medication, and that the vendor should commence preparation of a selected medical treatment and/or medication. This potential use saves the consumer time and helps preserve the consumer's identity, when necessary. Thus, information identifying the requested medical treatment and/or medication (either in the absence of or with information regarding the consumer) could be sent over network 620 to vendor interaction site 650 operated by and presumably located at the vendor. At vendor interaction site 650, the medical treatment and/or medication information is output using medical/medication information output device 650b to the vendor so that the vendor may commence preparation ofthe medical treatment and/or medication. The medical/medication information output device 650b can thus be a computer monitor, printers (paper or otherwise), magnetic writing devices (including disk drives, magnetic strip writers, tape writers), bar code writers, or any other output device capable of indicating the nature ofthe selected medical treatment and/or medication to the vendor. In an exemplary embodiment, another identification input device 650c is located at the interaction site 650, so that when the consumer receives the selected medical treatment and/or medication, the consumers identification can be confirmed again. In an exemplary embodiment, the reception ofthe selected medical treatment and/or medication is also anonymous. For example, identification input device 650c would control access to a locker in which the selected medical treatment and/or medication has previously been placed. The consumer can thus receive the selected medical treatment and/or medication without face to face contact with the vendor or pharmacist. A primary use ofthe consumer's individual table 612b is to determine a suitable promotion for issuance at promotion output device 630b based upon the potential medical treatments and/or medications available or recommended to the consumer. This is done in light ofthe information stored in medical/medication data storage record 612c and client and/or product data storage record 612d. Medical/medication data storage record 612c contains data regarding the medical treatment and/or the medication, and is used both to ensure safe administration and use thereof, as well as to determine a suitable promotion using the information provided by the fact that the individual consumer has requested the medical treatment and/or the medication. An exemplary data structure for medical/medication data storage records 612c is illustrated as Data Record B 720 of FIG. 3b. Client and/or product data storage record 612d contains data regarding the clients who have contracted to have targeted promotion distributed according to the present invention, as well as information regarding their products and is used to determine a suitable targeted promotion. An exemplary data structure for client and/or product data storage records 612c is illustrated as Data Record D 740 of FIG. 4b. Thus, when a medical treatment and/or medication is selected or identified using the consumer's individual table 612b and potentially feedback from the consumer at kiost terminal 630a, information regarding this medical treatment and/or medication is drawn from medical/medication data storage records 612c. Information relevant to determining a suitable promotion might include, for example, other or complementary treatments and/or symptoms ofthe diseases and/or disease states for which medical treatment and/or medication is commonly prescribed and/or used. Thus, medical/medication data storage records 612c regarding a topical antibiotic cream indicative of an open wound or sore would include the fact that such wounds or sores are commonly bandaged in some way, while a prescription for a systemic antibiotic would include a list of common, flu-like symptoms (fever, runny nose, headache, sore throat) likely to be associated with such a prescription. Once the symptoms and/or other or complementary treatments are determined by processor 611 using medical/medication data storage records 612c, the client and/or product data storage record 612d is searched to find client's product(s) that match the identified symptoms or serve as alternate and/or complementary treatments. Thus, in the case of a topical antibiotic cream discussed above, the client and/or product data storage record 612d would be searched until a client providing bandages is located, and a suitable promotion for that client's bandages is identified. In the case of a systemic antibiotic, the client and/or product data storage record 612d would be searched until a client providing, for example, rubbing alcohol to lower a fever, a decongestant to clear up a runny nose, an analgesic to treat a headache, and/or a throat lozenger to treat a sore throat is located and a suitable promotion is determined. In an exemplary embodiment, the nature ofthe suitable promotion is returned to kiosk terminal 630a, upon which the promotion is output using promotion output device 630b. Promotion output device 630b likewise can be made of any of a number of different devices, including a computer monitor, printers (paper or otherwise), magnetic writing devices (including disk drives, magnetic strip writers, tape writers), bar code writers, television screens, radio broadcast, Internet data transmission, print advertisement in a newspaper or newsletter, or simply electronic promotions communicated automatically to another device, such as, for example, a check-out cashier or a credit card company, and thus need not be located at kiosk interaction site 630 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In another alternate embodiment, the nature ofthe suitable promotion is returned to a care provider's terminal 640a, of a care provider's interaction site 640 upon which the promotion is output using promotion output device 640b. Many health care providers currently register prescribed and/or recommended medical treatment and/or medications using a network system similar to the one indicated. By providing a promotion at the location where the health care provider is located (for example, a doctor's office or hospital), the promotion is thus provided as soon as possible, and the health care provider is given the opportunity to discuss the value ofthe promotion with the individual. Furthermore, since the promotion would appear to originate with the health care provider, such a promotion might be given more weight by a consumer. The promotion provided at promotion output devices 630b and/or 640b can refer to any offer, advertisement, newsletter, incentive, coupon, commercial, recipe, and/or communication for promoting one or more goods and/or services. In one embodiment, the promotion is provided along with or within a newsletter such as a Health Resource newsletter, as described in US Patent 6,067,524, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. An alternate embodiment ofthe system described in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The primary difference is the fact that several processors 611, 611a, and 611b accessing different database systems 610, 615, and 660 are available. This embodiment is envisaged if different vendors contract to run the different database systems. For example, the company Smarttouch could run the identification database system 660 as described in, 5,982,914, 5,838,812, 5,805,719, 5,613,012, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, in FIG. 2, the vendor interaction site 650 having store terminal 650a has been eliminated. In this case, kiosk interaction site 630 could be located anywhere within a store, but at the site where the selected medical treatment and/or medication will be received. In this case, the savings in time and added security realized by greeting the consumer with kiosk interaction site 630 at the entrance of a store or group of stores would not be realized, but hardware costs would be minimized by eliminating redundant equipment. FIG. 3 a and 3b illustrate two different data records structures 710 and 720 that may be used to store an individual's identification data and data regarding a medical treatment or medication in data storage records 612a and 612c of FIG. 1 or alternatively 660a and 616a of FIG. 2, respectively. Identification factors 710d, 710e, and 710f and compared with the same parameters measured at ID input device 630c, or alternatively 650c. Once a suitable match or near-match is found, the associated consumer's name (or other identifying info) 710c is drawn from the record 710. Medication information 720d, 710e, 710f, and 710g is associated with a particular medication name or other identifying information 720c and used to select a suitable product for the targeted promotion provided at promotion output devices 630b and 640b of FIG. 1 and 630b of FIG. 2. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrates two different data record structures 730 and 740 that may be used to store an individual consumer's data and data regarding a client's product and promotions available for that product of data storage records 612b and 612d of FIG. 1 and/or 612b and 616b of FIG. 2, respectively. The consumer's name (or other identifying info) 710c can be used to identity a corresponding data record 730 using element 730c thereof. Thereby, a wide range of consumer information 730e, 730f, 730g, and 730h regarding the consumer's medical, demographic, and/or historical information can be used when determining a suitable targeted promotion. This is used in conjuntion with the information available regarding client's products in data record D 740. The elements 740d, 740e, and 740f are compared with the medication information 720d, 710e, 710f, and 710g from the selected medical treatment and or medication in light of consumer information 730e, 730f, 730g, and 730h to determine if a promotion for that product would and should be targeted medication. Thus, the name ofthe individual can be stored in a data field associated with that individual's identifying information, as illustrated in FIG. 3a, data record A 710, as long as that name is not easily accessible to the vendor or preparer. The identification of step 5100 can occur in a public facility such as a kiosk in a food store, the checkout cashier of a food store, or at a private facility such as at home using, for example, an Internet connection, interactive TV, or other network device. It is only necessary that the individual be isolated from the vendor such that the identification can be convert and the individual remain anonymous. In step 5200, a suitable targeted promotion can be selected based upon previously determined medical information regarding that consumei. This medical information can be a medical record, a prescription, information regarding a disease state, or other information that the consumer has provided. If the identification mechanism in step 5100 is covert, the consumer's identity will remain unknown to the medical treatment and/or medication provider and/or preparer such as a pharmacist. In one embodiment, the promotion selection process can occur in light of other consumer information such as demographic, historical, or other medical information, but it is not necessary to have this further information in order to provide a targeted promotion according to the present invention. In the simplest embodiment, a number of medication fields 720d, 720e, 720f, and 720g of medical treatment/medication data record B 720 are simply compared with targeting information fields 740d, 740e, and 740f of client/product data record D 740 until a correspondence therebetween is found and the product(s) with the corresponding targeting information fields 740d, 740e, and 740f are selected. In the alternate embodiment, one or more ofthe product(s) with the corresponding targeting information fields 740d, 740e, and 740f are further examined in light of, for example, the demographic, historical, and medical information fields of 730g, 730h, and 730e of individual consumer data record C 730. Once the consumer has been identified (covertly or overtly) and a suitable targeted promotion selected, a targeted promotion can be delivered to the consumer in step 5300. Delivery ofthe targeted promotion can occur in any of a number of different locations, for example at interaction sites 630 or 640 such as those illustrated in FIG. 1, at the consumer's home, at the cashier when the consumer is making a purchase, in a newsletter, a commercial, a mailing, a newpaper article, a website advertisement, a radio broadcast, or any other locations where a targeted promotion can be delivered. Thus, the promotion need not be received volitionally by the consumer. In other words, it could be automatically delivered upon triggering by a specific act ofthe consumer such as, e.g., logging on to a web site, purchasing a product, receiving a medical newsletter, opening a mailbox, using a credit card, using a customer card, watching a television program, and/or listening to a radio program, for example. The promotion of step 5200 can constitute, e.g., an offer, advertisement, incentive, coupon, commercial, recipe, and communication for promoting one or more goods and/or services. FIG. 6 is a flowchart that includes a new step 6200 wherein the consumer's medical treatment and/or medication is identified. This can be done automatically, for example by the processor 611 of FIG. 1 using the data records stored in individual consumer table 612b, or it can be done in conjunction with the consumer located at, for example, interaction site 630. Consumer assistance is particularly required when a number of medical treatments and/or medications are available to the consumer. In this case, the consumer may optionally elect to receive only one ofthe available medical treatments and/or medications. FIG. 7 is a flowchart that includes a new step 7500 wherein the identified medical treatment and/or medication is delivered to the consumer. In this step, a vendor would select the (one or more) identified medical treatment and/or medication from amongst a number of available medical treatments and/or medications, and deliver the (one or more) identified medical treatment and/or medication to the consumer. Selection could thus include picking a proper medication off of a shelf and placing a proper dosage in a container, or readying the proper medical equipment for use upon the consumer. Delivery can be by any of a number of different mechanisms including the anonymous locker mechanism discussed earlier, as well as any other method for delivering and/or providing the identified medical treatment and/or medication to the consumer including surgical interventions. FIG. 8 illustrates explicitly one ofthe advantages ofthe present invention, namely that multiple steps can occur at least in part simultaneous, as illustrated by steps 8400 and 8500 occuring in parallel. Thus, while the targeted promotion is being prepared in step 8500, the desired medical treatment and/or medication can be prepared in step 8400. This saves the consumer time, and gives the consumer another reason for sharing his or her medical data with a marketer. Naturally, both the promotion and the desired medical treatment should be delivered to the consumer, as illustrated in steps 8600 and 8700, respectively. The order of these two steps is arbitrary. For example, the medical production could be delivered first in a step 8400 and the promotion delivered in step 8600 at a later date. This order is particularly useful in the case of chronic diseases or disease states or in the case where a client's product is not available at the same vendor where the identified medical treatment or medication is available. For example, an individual receiving medication for certain forms of arthritis at a pharmacist could receive a target promotion relating to a spa in the mail at a later date. FIG. 9 illustrates a computer system 801 that can form several different units in an embodiment ofthe present invention. For example, computer system 801 can alternately form the central database system 610 or the interaction sites 630, 640, or 650 of FIG. 1. For this reason, the computer system 801 will be described using unique reference numerals. When a part of computer system 801 that is analogous to a part in another figured is described, this will be explicitly stated in the text. Computer system 801 includes a bus 803 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 805 coupled with bus 803 for processing the information. Processor 805 can form processor 611 of FIG. 1. Computer system 801 also includes a main memory 807, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device (e.g., dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), flash RAM), coupled to bus 803 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 805. In addition, main memory 807 may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 805. Computer system 801 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 809 or other static storage device (e.g., programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), and electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM)) coupled to bus 803 for storing static information and instructions for processor 805. A storage device 811, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 803 for storing information and instructions. Storage device 811 can contain the data storage records 612a, 612b, 612c, and 612d of FIG. 1. The computer system 801 may also include special purpose logic devices (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) or configurable logic devices (e.g., generic array of logic (GAL) or reprogrammable field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)). Other removable media devices (e.g., a compact disc, a tape, and a removable magneto-optical media) or fixed, high density media drives, may be added to the computer system 801 using an appropriate device bus (e.g., a small computer system interface (SCSI) bus, an enhanced integrated device electronics (IDE) bus, or an ultra-direct memory access (DMA) bus). Such removable media devices and fixed, high density media drives can also contain the data storage records 612a, 612b, 612c, and 612d of FIG. 1. The computer system 801 may additionally include a compact disc reader, a compact disc reader- writer unit, or a compact disc juke box, each of which may be connected to the same device bus or another device bus. Computer system 801 may be coupled via bus 803 to a display 813, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying information to a computer user. Display 813 can form a promotion output device 630b, 640b, or 650b of FIG. 1, especially wherein the promotion is a recipe or an advertisement. The display 813 may be controlled by a display or graphics card. The computer system includes input devices, such as a keyboard 815 and a cursor control 817, for communicating information and command selections to processor 805. The keyboard 815 and a cursor control 817 can form an input device 640c, or can be used to accept a password as identification as ID input device 630c or 650c of FIG. 1. The cursor control 817, for example, is a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 805 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 813. In addition, a printer (not shown) may provide a promotion output device 630b or 640b, or medical/medication information output device 650b of FIG. 1, especially wherein the promotion is a coupon. The computer system 801 performs a portion or all ofthe processing steps ofthe invention in response to processor 805 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in a memory, such as the main memory 807. Such instructions may be read into the main memory 807 from another computer readable medium, such as storage device 811. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 807. In alternative embodiments, hard- wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. As stated above, the system 801 includes at least one computer readable medium or memory programmed according to the teachings ofthe invention and for storing data structures, tables, records, or other data described herein. Examples of computer readable media are compact discs, hard disks, floppy disks, tape, magneto-optical disks, PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc. Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media, the present invention includes software for controlling the computer system 801, for driving a device or devices for implementing the invention, and for enabling the computer system 801 to interact with a human user. Such software may include, but is not limited to, device drivers, operating systems, development tools, and applications software. Such computer readable media further includes the computer program product ofthe present invention for performing all or a portion (if processing is distributed) ofthe processing performed in implementing the invention. The computer code devices ofthe present invention may be any interpreted or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpreters, dynamic link libraries, Java classes, and complete executable programs. Moreover, parts ofthe processing ofthe present invention may be distributed for better performance, reliability, and/or cost. The term "computer readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 805 for execution. A computer readable medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, and magneto-optical disks, such as storage device 811. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 807. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 803. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications. Common forms of computer readable media include, for example, hard disks, floppy disks, tape, magneto-optical disks, PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, or any other magnetic medium, compact disks (e.g., CD-ROM), or any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, or other physical medium with patterns of holes, a carrier wave (described below), or any other medium from which a computer can read. Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying out one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 805 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions for implementing all or a portion ofthe present invention remotely into a dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 801 may receive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector coupled to bus 803 can receive the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on bus 803. Bus 803 carries the data to main memory 807, from which processor 805 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 807 may optionally be stored on storage device 811 either before or after execution by processor 805. Computer system 801 also includes a communication interface 819 coupled to bus 803. As described previously, communication interface 819 can itself form a promotion output device 630b, 640b, or 650b wherein an electronic promotion is communicated electronically to a remote system. Such electronic promotions can include, for example, electronic coupons automatically transmitted to the register of a vendor, electronic order placed directly with a vendor upon the consumer's discretion, or credits allocated to a consumer's account upon purchase or order of a product. Communication interface 819 provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 821 that is connected to a local network 823. For example, communication interface 819 may be a network interface card to attach to any packet switched local area network (LAN). As another example, communication interface 819 may be an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) card, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 819 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Network link 821 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 821 may provide a connection to a computer 825 through local network 823 (e.g., a LAN) or through equipment operated by a service provider, which provides communication services through a communications network 827. Communications network 827 can form network 620 of FIG. 1. In one embodiment, computer 825 is one ofthe interactions sites 630, 640, or 650, while computer 601 is the central database system 610 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, local network 823 and communications network 827 preferably use electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 821 and through communication interface 819, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 801, are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information. Computer system 801 can transmit notifications and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 821 and communication interface 819. Obviously, numerous modifications and variations ofthe present invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A method comprising the steps of: identifying a consumer using identification information; determining a medical treatment recommended for said consumer using said identification information; selecting a targeted promotion based at least in part upon said medical treatment of said consumer; and delivering said targeted promotion to said consumer. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of: preparing said medical treatment for said consumer; and delivering said medical treatment to said consumer. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of delivering said medical treatment comprises: receiving again said identification information from said consumer; reidentifying said consumer using said identification information. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said receiving again identification information and reidentifying are performed at a location different from said receiving identification information and said identifying. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said delivering said medical treatment further comprises: placing said medical treatment in a locker. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said preparing said medical treatment comprises preparing a prescription medication. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said medical treatment is a prescription medication. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving identification information comprises measuring a biological parameter of said consumer. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said identifying said consumer comprises comparing said biological parameter with a plurality of previously measured biological parameters from a plurality of candidate consumers. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said measuring a biological parameter comprises scanning a fingerprint of said consumer. 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said measuring a biological parameter comprises recording a voice of said consumer. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said measuring a biological parameter comprises fingerprinting a nucleotide base of said consumer. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving identification information is performed at at least one of a store entrance and an entrance to a group of stores. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said store is a pharmacist. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a medical treatment comprises steps of: prompting said consumer with a list of a plurality of potential medical treatments; and receiving a selected medical treatment from said plurality of potential medical treatments. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of potential medical treatments is a plurality of medications for which said consumer has a plurality of prescriptions. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a targeted promotion comprises: associating said medical treatment with a complementary treatment; searching a list of a plurality of potential client products for a directed client product corresponding to said complementary treatment of said medical treatment; and selecting said directed client product. 18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein selecting a targeted promotion comprises: associating said medical treatment with a symptom; searching a list of a plurality of client products including a treatable symptom of each of said plurality of client products; and selecting a directed client product based on a relationship between said treatable symptom of said directed client product and said symptom of said medical treatment. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises covertly identifying said consumer such that an identity of said consumer is hidden from a person preparing said medical treatment. 20. A system, comprising: a medical treatment identification system configured to identify a medical treatment for a consumer and to output information corresponding to said medical treatment; a processor configured to receive said medical treatment information for said consumer and to select a targeted promotion for said consumer based at least in part on said medical treatment information; a promotion output device configured to provide said targeted promotion to said consumer. 21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said medical treatment identification system comprises: a consumer database including a first field configured to store a plurality of candidate medical treatment information wherein said medical treatment information is selected from said plurality of candidate consumers' medical treatment information. 22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said medical treatment identification system further comprises: a consumer identification device configured to gather identification information from said consumer; and an identification database configured to store a plurality of candidate consumers' identification information to be searched for a nearly matching consumer identification information that nearly matches said gathered identification information. 23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said consumer identification device comprises a fingerprint scanner. 24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said consumer identification device comprises a microphone. 25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said consumer identification device comprises a nucleic acid analysis system. 26. The system according to claim 22, wherein said consumer identification device comprises a card reading device. 27. The system according to claim 22, wherein said consumer identification device comprises a magnetic strip reading device. 28. The system according to claim 20, wherein said medical treatment comprises a medication. 29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said medication comprises a prescription medication. 30. The system according to claim 20, wherein said promotion output device comprises a coupon printer. 31. The system according to claim 20, wherein said promotion output device comprises a newsletter. 32. The system according to claim 20, wherein said promotion output device is located in a store. 33. The system according to claim 20, wherein said promotion output device is located at a health care provider. 34. The system according to claim 20, wherein said medical treatment identification system is located in a store. 35. A system comprising: a consumer identification device configured to acquire identification information from a consumer; a consumer identification database configured to provide a plurality of candidate consumer identification information; a consumer database configured to provide a plurality of candidate consumer information; a product database configured to provide a plurality of candidate product information; a medical database configured to provide a plurality of medical treatment information; a processor configured to select a nearly matching consumer identification information from said plurality of candidate consumer identification information, to select a matching consumer information from said plurality of candidate consumer information based on said nearly matching consumer identification information, to select a selected medical treatment information from said plurality of medical treatment information based at least in part upon said matching consumer information, and a targeted product information from said plurality of candidate product information based at least in part upon said selected medical treatment information; and a promotion output device configured to receive said targeted product information from said processor and to output a targeted promotion to said consumer. 36. A system comprising: means for identifying a medical treatment for a consumer; means for providing a targeted promotion based upon said identified medical treatment. 37. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 1. 38. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 1. 39. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 2. 40. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 3. 41. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 8. 42. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 15. 43. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 17. 44. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 18.

Inventors: FEINGOLD CINDI, HARICH AMY, FEINGOLD, CINDI, HARICH, AMY
Applicants: CATALINA MARKETING INT, CATALINA MARKETING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F19, G06Q30, G06Q50, G07C9, G07F7