Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and system for the promotional or goods or services, including marketing, advertising and coupon procurement and validation, in connection with pharmaceutical containers and an internet based management of the same.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/267,813 filed Dec. 9, 2009 entitled “Method of Advertising On Pharmaceutical Containers With Codes Linked to Remote Coupons”, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
         [0003]    All patents and publications described or discussed herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure relates generally to promotional material, including marketing, advertisement, and coupon materials, used in conjunction with a container, such as a vial, bottle, and the like, and a closure, which may be described as a cap or a top. The combination of the container and closure can be described as a closure and container assembly or a pharmaceutical storage system. The closure and container assembly stores and dispenses materials, particularly pharmaceuticals including prescription medications in liquid, pill, capsule, or tablet forms. 
         [0005]    There are many types of closure systems described in the art. For example there are closures that are child resistant, closures that are non child resistant, and closures that are convertible from child resistant to non child resistant, from non child resistant to child resistant, or convertible between the two modes as desired. 
         [0006]    Most of the prior development in this field has been directed at improvements to the containers and/or closures that are used to store pharmaceuticals. Little development has been directed towards the actual labeling, information provided with the pharmaceuticals, or the labeling attachment to the container. 
         [0007]    Another factor in today&#39;s global economy is the desire for product and service providers to capture the attention of consumers and potential consumers to entice those consumers to buy and/or use their products or services. There is a logical consistency to the use of advertising media or avenues that will put the advertisement in front of the consumers that are more likely to use those goods or services. For example, advertisements for children&#39;s toys have a logical placement during the broadcast of children&#39;s shows, such as cartoons, to attract the interest of the children in those particular toys. Correspondingly, advertisements for products that are directed specifically to persons interested in sports, such as sports equipment, logically have a placement during the broadcast of sporting events or in sporting magazines. 
         [0008]    Along this line, businesses desire to have flexibility in the products and services offered, control over the distribution and access to those same products and services, and control disclosure to the consumers of the availability to any discounts to those products and services. This is apparent in the finite lifespan for advertising content directed at products and services generally. Name, the advertisements for various offers and discounts on products and services are often offered to the consumers with a limited time redemption period. At or near the end of that limited time redemption period, the company that is the product or service provider typically begins the promotion of, or discount offer to, the next product or service to which the company will focus. 
         [0009]    In the pharmaceutical industry, advertisements have typically been positioned either on the post-sale carrying bag that contains the pharmaceutical storage system, and its associated pharmaceuticals positioned therein, or as a part of an informational flyer positioned in or on the carrying bag. Typically, the carrying bag and informational flyer are quickly discarded after the user obtains, or purchases, the pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the advertising message fails to be effectively conveyed and can even be discarded without review within a matter of days, hours, or even minutes of receipt thereof by the user. 
         [0010]    Throughout the life of a pharmaceutical prescription as it is consumed by the patient, the pharmaceutical storage system is the only item that is continuously accessed and referenced by the user, such as patient or caregiver. Conventionally, the space on a pharmaceutical container, namely the label or labels positioned thereon, has been used to provide information concerning the pharmaceuticals contained therein including the dosage warnings and other pertinent information. As such, there is a medium there to provide advertisements to the captive audience that has requested and received the container and the associated labeling thereon where that captive audience will have repeated future exposure to that medium and it advertisements. 
         [0011]    Additionally, two forms of technology have aided in the access of information in all facets of business. These items are bar-code-type data tracking and the internet. The general use of these two items are generally know in other industry and have potential application in a pharmaceutical setting whereby data tracking and access to information is available. 
         [0012]    In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a coordinated advertisement system that is used in conjunction with pharmaceutical storage systems. The advertisement system preferably has flexibility for an advertiser to alter the message, be it information, promotional, marketing or otherwise, and provided in a medium that can be accessed by the target consumer. The ability to access the message preferably has flexibility to stay with the pharmaceutical storage system purchased, for example on the container, through the life of the pharmaceutical prescription housed therein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present disclosure is directed to a promotional method and system adapted for use with a pharmaceutical storage system, a pharmacy, and in conjunction with a location remote from the pharmaceutical storage system, such as website, that can substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. The objects and other advantages of the disclosure can be further realized and attained by those features of the disclosure particularly pointed out in the description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0014]    The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and system for the promotion of goods or services, including marketing, advertising and coupon procurement and validation, in connection with pharmaceutical storage systems and an internet based management of the same. The pharmaceutical storage system includes a closure, or top, and a pharmaceutical container shaped to house pharmaceuticals where the container includes one or more labels positioned on one or more external surfaces of the container. One or more of those labels can include an advertisement and/or instructions that directs a user of the container to access a location remote from the pharmaceutical storage system in order to gain access to a variety of promotional, marketing, advertising and information data. 
         [0015]    The present disclosure includes a method of delivering promotional materials between a pharmacy and a user of a pharmaceutical storage system. The pharmaceutical storage system includes a container, closure, and at least one label. The method comprises providing a central processing unit having a database accessible by the internet. One of the databases includes predetermined promotional materials. 
         [0016]    Additionally, the method includes providing customization options for a pharmacy to create individualized promotional material at the central processing unit. The central processing unit receives a promotional material choice from the pharmacy that uses a remote pharmacy interface and then verifies the promotional material choice from the pharmacy. The method further links at least one coupon to the promotional material choice and links the promotional choice to an information access code. The method further includes providing the pharmaceutical storage system with the information access code. 
         [0017]    The method then teaches receiving a request at the central processing unit for access to the promotional material choice from the user with the information access code using a remote user interface. The method then allows a user to pick at least one coupon from the promotional material choice, validates the coupon and then restricts at least partial subsequent access by the information access code to the promotional material choice after validation of the coupon. 
         [0018]    Preferably the promotional material choice is selected from the predetermined promotional materials and the individualized promotional material. The method further allows storage of the coupon by the user and printing of the coupon by the user to occur approximately at the time of the validation. The method can also include recording the validation at the central processing unit and notifying the pharmacy of the validation. 
         [0019]    Once validated, the system can further restrict access to the coupon by the information access code or user, restrict all access to the promotional material choice by the user or information access code, or allow subsequent access to one or more second coupons associated with the promotional material choice and allow a user to access those additional coupons associated with the predetermined promotional materials while still restricting access to the originally selected coupon. 
         [0020]    The method also can include providing the pharmacy secure access through a remote pharmacy interface and the internet to the central processing unit to create the individualized promotional material from at least one of the predetermined promotional materials. The method can allow the pharmacy to alter the length of effective time, the products covered, and the discount amount of the predetermined promotional material to create the individualized promotional material. Additionally, the method can allow alteration of the appearance of the predetermined promotional material to create the individualized promotional material. 
         [0021]    The system is used in connection with a pharmaceutical storing and dispensing device having a closure and container. The pharmaceutical storing and dispensing device includes a label having alphanumeric indicia containing the medical information. These alphanumeric indicia can be orientated on the label in multiple manners, such as substantially parallel or perpendicular with the axis of the container. The label can include the patient&#39;s name, name of the medicine, and optionally other medical information concerning the pharmaceutical within the container or the user of the container. The label or an alternate label type structure can an information marker positioned on the container in such a manner as to inform a person that uses the container and closure assembly of the existence of the promotional material via an internet connection. 
         [0022]    The information marker on the pharmaceutical storage system can include the access code and directions to the internet based interface. The internet based interface, such as a personal computer, smart phone, or other internet capable device, allows the user to input the access code and view information, such as information at World Wide Web location known as a website, specifically tailored to correspond to one or more interests or needs the user is likely to have. 
         [0023]    For example, the information will be associated with a desired set of information as determined by the pharmacy at which the user obtained the pharmaceutical storage system. The system allows for both data and access tracking as linked to the code inputted by the user. This allows the system administrator to control access to the amount of information viewed and received by the user during access at the website. This can greatly enhance the longevity of the label and system as compared to current advertising models, while providing control of the promotions offered. 
         [0024]    The internet based coordination between a pharmacy, a system administrator, and the consumer/user allows for flexibility in the promotional items offered by the pharmacy, or even third parties, and the promotional offers actually selected by the consumer/user. Again, this can greatly enhance the longevity of the label and system as compared to current advertising models, while providing control of the promotions offered. 
         [0025]    It is therefore a general object of the current disclosure to provide a method and system of coordinated promotional material access in connection with pharmaceutical storage systems. 
         [0026]    Another object of the current disclosure is to provide a system that coordinates labels on pharmaceutical storage systems with an internet based access to promotional materials. 
         [0027]    Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method of allowing an entity to select, modify and coordinate promotional materials at a web site on the internet to provide promotional material options to a customer purchasing goods or services remote from the website. 
         [0028]    Yet another object of the present disclosure is to allow a consumer to access various promotional materials preselected for that consumer to view based upon a third party&#39;s selection of promotional materials. 
         [0029]    Yet still another object of the present disclosure is to validate a coupon selection by a user from a customized preselected promotional material group by a third party good or service supplier. 
         [0030]    Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is an example of a flow chart schematic of a method in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an example of a flow chart schematic of a method in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is an example of a pharmaceutical storage system used in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is an example of a pharmaceutical storage system used in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is an example of a pharmaceutical storage system used in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a pharmaceutical container used in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is an example of a list of predetermined promotional materials used with a method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is an example of an interactive aspect between a system administrator and a pharmacy as part of a method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is an example of an interactive aspect between a system administrator and a pharmacy as part of method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is an example of an interactive aspect between a system administrator and a pharmacy as part of method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  is an example of an interactive aspect between a system administrator and a pharmacy as part of method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  is an example of a data gathering mechanism that is available as part of method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  shows an example of pharmacy directed modification to create individualized promotional materials in accordance with a method of the current disclosure. 
           [0044]      FIG. 14  is an example similar to  FIG. 13 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 15  is an example similar to  FIGS. 13-14 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 16  is an example similar to  FIGS. 13-15 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 17  is an example of an interactive interface between a pharmacy and a system administrator. 
           [0048]      FIG. 18  is an example of an interactive interface between a pharmacy and a system administrator. 
           [0049]      FIG. 19  is an example of an interactive interface between a pharmacy and a system administrator. 
           [0050]      FIG. 20  is an example of an interactive interface between a pharmacy and a system administrator. 
           [0051]      FIG. 21  is an example of an interactive interface between a pharmacy and a system administrator. 
           [0052]      FIGS. 22 and 23  are examples of the interface between the user and a system administrator in a method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
           [0053]      FIG. 24  is an example of coupon validation using a method taught in accordance with the current disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    As generally shown in the Figures, disclosed herein is a system used to coordinate promotional material between a pharmacy, a system administrator, and a user of a pharmaceutical storage system using a website and a pharmaceutical storage system. 
         [0055]    As generally shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the pharmaceutical storage system  10  is pharmaceutical storage system as generally known in the industry that is used for storage and dispensing pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical storage system includes a container  12  and a closure  14  that facilitates storage of the pharmaceuticals within the container  12 . The container  12  includes a body  16  that includes at least one label  18  positioned thereon. The system further includes an information marker  20  that contains information that directs the user of the container to a data location on the internet, such as a website location that is part of the World Wide Web. The information marker  20  preferably provides a user with an information access code  22  that can be used to access data at the data location. 
         [0056]    The label  18  can include various types of traditional medical information, such as the patient&#39;s name, pharmaceuticals, dosage, warnings, and other typical prescription label information. The information marker  20  can be part of the label  18  or a separate label type structure that is fixed to the body  16  of the container  12 , or the closure  14 . Alternately, the information marker  20  could be formed as part of the container  12  or closure  14 . The information marker  20  is designed to at least relay notice to the user of the information data and accessibility to the website by use of the code. The information marker  20  is positioned on the container in such a manner as to inform a user of the container and closure, such a prescription patient or a care giver of the patient, of the existence of promotional material at the data location via an internet connection. 
         [0057]    The system includes at least one processor, or central processing unit, that is accessible by multiple parties through an internet based interface on the World Wide Web. This access can be available by a personal computer, smart phone, or other internet capable device. The system administrator, pharmacy and user can each have their own access portals and interface with the system. 
         [0058]    Access to various features of the system can be restricted as desired. For example, a system administrator, the pharmacy, and the user can have various levels of access to specific portions of the web system. Typically, pharmacy can use the internet based system to establish what information is presented at the website and what promotional materials are available to a user. The pharmacy can have access to the predetermined promotional materials and have the ability to customize individual promotional materials for presentation to the user at the website. The user can have the ability to access the promotional material choice by the pharmacy as that choice is linked to the information access code as well as the ability to validate or collect a coupon or discount offered by the pharmacy at the website. The system administrator will have unfettered access to all aspects of the system. 
         [0059]    The pharmacy can select a promotional material choice from numerous prefabricated promotional materials established by the system administrator. As an example in  FIGS. 7-10 , using this system and method a system administrator can provide a pharmacy with numerous predetermined promotional item selections. These predetermined promotional items can be selected in various forms, covering various products and services, and applicable in a variety of advertising instances. For example, the pharmacy can select a label type structure to have a specific coupon, discount, coupon key, or information as desired. The pharmacy can decide to have this selection, the promotional material choice, for inclusion on the pharmaceutical container  12 . 
         [0060]    The pharmacy has various customization options on these predetermined promotional materials, including the allowance of access to the promotional material choice by the user, the period of valid use of the promotional material choice including restrictions to specific days and/or times of the year as well as the number of times the promotional choice can be used. For example, the pharmacy can restrict a coupon that it selects as its promotional material choice to only be valid for a set number of days or months, for set days throughout the week, or restrict the number of uses that a consumer can use that coupon. 
         [0061]    The pharmacy can establish their promotional material choice to include the coupon, discount, or information directly on the label like structure, or can direct the user or reader of that label like structure to the aforementioned internet web site wherein the user can select from one or more coupons, discounts, or information at the site. 
         [0062]    The promotional material choice can be customized by the pharmacy and specifically tailored to its needs. This customization includes specific time limitations, geographical limitations, discount amounts, and product and service specific offerings including those that are unique to the pharmacy location, customer base, business, or other unique characteristics. As exampled in  FIGS. 11 , and  13 - 16 , the pharmacy can also modify the appearance of the promotional materials as desired. This modification includes customized artwork, logo, designs, and the like. 
         [0063]    The system is set up to allow for interaction between the pharmacy and system administrator to facilitate approval of the customized promotional material. For example, as seen in  FIGS. 13-16 , the system requires authorization from both the system administrator as to the viability of the proposed artwork from the pharmacy. The administrator will verify the potential application of the desired customized appearance of the promotional choice and the feasibility of that altered appearance on the information marker. Additionally, the system requires verification and authorization from the pharmacy as to the appearance of its customized choice in the appearance of the individualized promotional material choice. Specifically, the system can provide a proof by which the pharmacy authorizes the customized design and/or artwork that will be the individualized appearance on the promotional materials as desired by the pharmacy. 
         [0064]    The pharmacy can then save those settings for future access by its users and customers as accessed through the user portion of the website through the information access code on the information marker. 
         [0065]    The pharmacy then has several options as to the use of the promotional material choice, whether it be from the predetermined promotional materials or one of the individualized or customized promotional materials. In a preferred embodiment, the pharmacy can request the system administrator to produce the label like structures on which the promotional material choice and/or information marker is located. The administrator can then deliver these label-like structures to the pharmacy for inclusion on a pharmaceutical storage system. Alternately, the system can be set up such that a pharmacy can choose to print the label like structure at its location based upon the approved promotional material choice. 
         [0066]    A user can then use the information marker, the information access code, and the website to access the user interactive portion of the system. At this website location, the user will preferably be directed to a location specifically designed for customers of the pharmacy, as shown in  FIGS. 22-23 . The user will have access to the promotional material choice, including any coupons, discount and the like as selected by the Pharmacy and associated with that particular information access code. This user can then have the capability to validate one or more of those coupons and either store the coupon in a digital format or print those coupons for subsequent use at the pharmacy. This encourages a return visit to the pharmacy and additional business for the pharmacy while providing an economic value to the user. 
         [0067]    Access by the pharmacy and the user can be automatically gathered by the system. The system administrator through the system and software contained therein can then compile reports as needed to inform the pharmacy of the effectiveness of the system including detailed reports on access for frequency specific coupons and specific promotions validated by the user and other related marketing information. Additionally, the pharmacy&#39;s data system can be integrated with this system to track the redeemed coupons that were validated by the user. This can help guide the pharmacy in its future promotional efforts. 
         [0068]    As mentioned before, the system administrator can provide the framework with the internet based system to allow various options and customization aspects for the pharmacy. This can include multiple generic coupons options as well as multiple customization options for coupons tailored to specific pharmacy needs. Additionally, the system can benefit the user by providing multiple coupon or discount options on numerous products that in an effort to match a coupon or discount to an actual product the user desires to purchase. 
         [0069]    The system can also include avenues for the pharmacy to coordinate its information conduit including a homepage that is associated with the code to which the user can access that specifically reminds the user where the pharmaceuticals were purchased, namely which pharmacy and reinforces brand recognition to that user. 
         [0070]    The promotional material choice can be specifically directed at goods or services that are medically related to the pharmaceutical in the container. This capability is achieved when the pharmacy&#39;s database of user information is linked to a point of purchase system. The point of purchase system can be set up to search for approved promotional material choices that math up with the specific user&#39;s data in the database when the sale is made. The advertisement can be specifically directed at items that the user may associate with the pharmaceuticals dispensed in the pharmaceutical storage system. For example, advertisements directed at diabetic testing equipment can be positioned on a pharmaceutical container that carries a prescription of diabetic medicine therein. As such the advertisements can be user specific. 
         [0071]    Alternately, the advertisements can be general to a specific location such as local businesses within a predetermined distance of the pharmacy or group of pharmacies where the pharmaceutical storage system was purchased. Specific items can be advertised, such as specials for particular business, such as the pharmacy where the pharmaceutical storage system was purchased. Additionally, coupons, such as removable coupons, can be added to the advertising sections. 
         [0072]    Promotional materials, as referred to herein, can include marketing, advertising, coupons, discounts, and similar information typically targeted to consumers and as is known in the art. 
         [0073]    A user, as referred to herein, is preferably the person for whom the pharmaceutical was written, such as the patient of the prescribed pharmaceutical. The user can also be a person that has access to the pharmaceutical storage system subsequent to the distribution of that pharmaceutical storage system by the pharmacy, such as a caregiver of the patient. In most instances, the user is also a consumer of the pharmacy and a person to whom the promotional items are directed. 
         [0074]    A pharmacy, as referred to herein, can be a traditional pharmaceutical location, such as a pharmacy that is a standalone structure or a pharmacy that is part of a larger retail location. Additionally, the pharmacy can be an on-line pharmacy, mail-order pharmacy, or a wholesale pharmacy. The pharmacy is preferably a retail location at which consumers, namely patients, fill prescriptions as prescribed by a medical professional. This type of pharmacy typically has a database with customer specific information including general information, such as name, address, age, previous prescriptions, and the like, as well as more detailed information, including buying habits, specific products and services purchased, purchasing frequency, and other related consumer information. This database with its customer specific information can be used by the pharmacy to better control and facilitate the use of the disclosed method and system of marketing materials to the pharmacy consumers. 
         [0075]    Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present disclosure of a new and useful Method and System of Internet Based Control of Promotional Content from Pharmacies and Associated with Pharmaceutical Storage Systems, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except as set forth in the following claims.