Abstract:
A spontaneous delivery marketing system and method is disclosed. Customised offers for consumers are generated by an application server ( 106 ) which extracts targeted offers for particular consumers from database ( 104 ) by application software contained in processor (P 2 ) associated with the server ( 104 ) and server ( 106 ). Particular offers for particular consumers are transmitted to a first database ( 107 ). Consumers are identified without interaction by the consumers carrying a RFID tag ( 111 ) which is detected by an RFID reader ( 110 ) at a retail outlet. Any offers for the particular consumers detected are forwarded to the user&#39;s mobile telephone ( 112 ) as a SMS message so the user is alerted to the offers applicable to that consumer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a spontaneous delivery marketing system and method for providing offers to consumers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is common to advertise products to potential customers by making offers to customers for either trial of a particular product on a free sample basis, or providing products at a discount, or providing particular advantages such as additional products or the like to customers.  
         [0003]     Typically, the manner in which customers are targeted is somewhat ad hoc and may simply comprise handouts or coupons which are obtained from checkouts. To improve customer targeting, systems have been provided where kiosks are installed at various points in a retail environment, such as a shopping mall, supermarket or hypermarket. These kiosks are fixed in position and require a consumer to interact with the kiosk in order to obtain a coupon or list which details offers available to the consumer which the consumer can redeem at the retail outlet.  
         [0004]     Because the kiosks are fixed in position, consumers often bypass them, or if there is a queue, consumers will simply find the interaction process slow and inconvenient. This therefore results in relatively low usage rates.  
         [0005]     Attempts have been made to manage traffic flow (foot traffic) so people pass by the kiosks to increase the likelihood that they will be used. However, such kiosks are still often bypasses, particularly if consumers are in a hurry.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, kiosks are expensive and because the coverage is limited to physical interaction at the kiosk, the ability to reach out to consumers is low. Therefore to increase consumer availability, they often occupy the most expensive real estate in high traffic areas of a retail outlet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The object of the invention is to provide a method and system which improves the ability to provide offers to consumers.  
         [0008]     The invention provides a spontaneous delivery marketing system for providing offers to consumers, comprising: 
        A detection device for detecting consumers, in proximity to a location where merchandise is available to the consumers, without requiring interaction by the consumers;     an output device for supplying a message to a detected consumer, providing offers available at the location to the consumer; and     wherein the detected consumers it therefore able to receive offers without physical interaction on his or her part, and to avail himself or herself of the offers contained in the message at the location.        
 
         [0012]     Thus, rather than providing physical infrastructure, such as a kiosk which requires a consumer to physically react to obtain a message containing offers, the consumers is automatically detected without any interaction needed by the consumer and the message is therefore supplied to the consumer. Thus, consumers are much more likely to receive messages containing offers and to avail themselves of those offers, because they do not physically need to interact with a kiosk or other device to make their presence known and obtain the message. Because consumers are automatically identified, more consumers can be provided with messages, thereby increasing the effectiveness of providing offers, and therefore advertising products by specific messages to consumers.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment the said location is a retail outlet, a mall, food court or event area.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment the detection device comprises an RFID (radio frequency identification device) reader for reading an RFID tag carried by the consumer to identify a particular consumer.  
         [0015]     Thus, the RFID tag can provide a unique code which provides a unique identification of a consumer so that individual consumers can be identified and distinguished from one another.  
         [0016]     Preferably the RFID tag is contained in a card carried by the consumer.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment the output device comprises a transmitter for wireless transmission of the message to the individual consumer&#39;s mobile telephone or PDA.  
         [0018]     Preferably the message is an SMS, EMS or MMS message.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment the output device is a printer for printing a document containing the offer. The document may comprise a shopping list, coupon or the like.  
         [0020]     Preferably the system comprises a processor for receiving a target file of offers for individual consumers from a central station, the target offers being based on data held at the central station relating to personal information associated with individual consumers. Preferably the first processor comprises a first server for receiving the file, a second server associated with the location being connected to the first server, and an EPOS terminal connected with the second server so that offers contained in the list for a particular consumer are transmitted from the first server to the second server and then to the EPOS terminal so that when a consumer identifies himself or herself at the EPOS terminal, purchases made by the consumer are provided in accordance with the offers contained in the message to the consumer.  
         [0021]     The consumer may identify himself or herself by displaying the message to a person at the checkout terminal, or by swiping a card which contains the user&#39;s identifying data at the EPOS terminal.  
         [0022]     Preferably the second server is also coupled to a retail server for obtaining data relating to the purchases made by particular customers.  
         [0023]     Preferably a second processor is located at the central location, the second processor comprising a head office database connected to the retail server for receiving data from the retail server relating to purchases made by particular customers, the head office database holding information relating to the consumers so that offers applicable to individual consumers can be made based on the data held in the database and particular products which marketers wish to promote by way of offers to consumers so that the offers to consumers are matched with characteristics of the consumers, so that consumers are provided with messages containing offers applicable to that consumer and tailored specifically for that consumer.  
         [0024]     The retailer server may also include an inventory system for maintaining inventory data relating to products available at the location and for providing that data to the said database.  
         [0025]     Preferably the retail server communicates with the second server for providing inventory data from the inventory system relating to products available for sale for use by the EPOS checkout during the purchase of products at the location.  
         [0026]     Preferably the second processor further comprises an application server for producing the target file and transmitting the target file to the first server, the first server including a first server database for maintaining a database of specific offers targeted to specific consumers.  
         [0027]     The invention provides a method of spontaneous delivery of marketing offers to consumers, comprising: 
        detecting consumers in proximity to a location where merchandise is available to the consumers, without requiring interaction by the consumers;     outputting a message to a detected consumer, providing offers available at the location to the consumer; and     wherein the detected consumers it therefore able to receive offers without physical interaction on his or her part, and to avail himself or herself of the offers contained in the message at the location.        
 
         [0031]     In one embodiment the said location is a retail outlet, a mall, food court or event area.  
         [0032]     In one embodiment detecting consumers comprises detecting an RFID tag carried by the consumer with an RFID reader to identify a particular consumer.  
         [0033]     Thus, the RFID tag can provide a unique code which provides a unique identification of a consumer so that individual consumers can be identified and distinguished from one another.  
         [0034]     In one embodiment outputting the message comprises wireless transmission of the message to the individual consumer&#39;s mobile telephone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or like communication device.  
         [0035]     Preferably the message is an SMS, EMS or MMS message.  
         [0036]     In another embodiment outputting the message comprises printing a document containing the offer. The document may comprise a shopping list, coupon or the like.  
         [0037]     Preferably the method further comprises receiving a target file of offers for individual consumers from a central station, the target offers being based on data held at the central station relating to personal information associated with individual consumers.  
         [0038]     Preferably the method comprises receiving the file at a first server, transferring the file to a second server associated with the location, and to an EPOS terminal so that offers contained in the file for a particular consumer are transmitted from the first server to the second server and then to the EPOS terminal so that offers contained in the list for a particular consumer are transmitted from the office server to the store server and then to the EPOS terminal so that when a consumer identifies himself or herself at the EPOS terminal, purchases made by the consumer are provided in accordance with the offers contained in the message to the consumer.  
         [0039]     The consumer may identify himself or herself by displaying the message to a person at the checkout terminal, or by swiping a card which contains the user&#39;s identifying data at the EPOS terminal.  
         [0040]     Preferably the method further comprises compiling a database of information relating to the consumers sO that offers applicable to individual consumers can be made based on the data held in the database and particular products which marketers wish to promote by way of offers to consumers so that the offers to consumers are matched with characteristics of the consumers, so that consumers are provided with messages containing offers applicable to that consumer and tailored specifically for that consumer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0041]     A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0042]     The system embodying the invention comprises a processor P 1  which is located at a retail outlet. The retail outlet may be a mall, supermarket, hypermarket, or any other location where goods or services are available for sale.  
         [0043]     Typically a processor P 1  is located at each retail outlet R operating the system.  
         [0044]     Typically a number of different retail locations R will offer the system and each of the retail locations R will communicate with a central station which has a second processor P 2 . Thus, a single second processor P 2  will communicate with separate processors P 1  at each retail outlet R operating the system. For ease of illustration, only one retail outlet R is shown in the accompanying drawing, and therefore only one processor P 1  is shown. Each retail outlet R or all retail outlets R in a particular chain of retail outlets is provided with a retailer server  100 . Thus, if for instance, ten retail outlets of a particular chain are operating the system, those ten retail outlets will have a single retail server  100 . Another chain or another single retail outlet operating the system will have its own retail server  100 .  
         [0045]     The retail server  100  has a consumer database  101  and also holds the inventory system  102  of the chain of retail outlets R or the single retail outlet R. The consumer database is built up by purchase histories of participating consumers who use the system, and/or by consumers filling out application forms and providing data relating to the likes and dislikes of the consumer, shopping habits, demographics, personal characteristics, etc. Each consumer using the system is provided with an identifying device such as a smart card  111 . The smart card  111  may contain a magnetic stripe which includes a unique identifying code which identifies the consumer. The smart card  111  also includes an RFID tag which outputs a radio frequency signal over a relatively short range also containing data which identifies the consumer.  
         [0046]     The RFID tag contained in the smart card  111  may be a passive tag  111   a  which simply outputs a radio frequency signal, or a semi-passive or active RFID tag  111   b  that allows data to be stored in the tag, such as updating purchase history of a consumer or shopping information, loyalty points associated with loyalty programs and the like.  
         [0047]     Each retail server  100  communicates with processor P 2  by a communication network  125  such as a local area network, wide area network, internet connection or any other suitable communication link. The data contained in the consumer database  101  and the inventory contained in the system  102  of each server  100  is provided to a central authority marketing database  104  which is operated and managed by the organisation providing the entire system. The database  104  therefore collects all of the information from the specific customer databases  101  associated with each of the retail outlets R, and also the inventory data relating to all of the outlets R. Thus, the database  104  is a database of consumers in which the particular characteristics of the consumers and a code identifying the consumers is stored. Thus, each consumer has information relating to the purchase history of the consumer, the type of products of interest to the consumer, demographic information relating to the consumer and other relevant information which will provide an indication of the likelihood of the consumer being interested in particular types of products.  
         [0048]     The processor P 2  also has a business server  105  and is programmed with application software which receives information relating to particular offers marketers may wish to make to consumers to induce consumers to try their products or purchase their products in preference to other competing products. For example, marketers may offer a discount for purchase of products, two for the price of one offers for products, or other inducements to consumers to buy their products. The application software and server  105  therefore interacts with the data in the database  104  so that, for a particular offer, consumers who are likely to be attracted to the offer are extracted and an offer or list of offers is associated with each of the consumers who may be interested in the offers. That information is supplied to application server  106  which generates a target file of all of the consumers and offers which are to be made, and transmits the target file to a first retailer server  107 . The first server  107  is typically provided by the authority which is operating the system and includes a database for storing the particular offers tailored for specific customers which are provided in the list from the application server  106 . The first server  107  preferably comprises part of the processor P 1 , and therefore a server  107  is associated with each of the retail outlets R. However, in some embodiments, a single outlet server  107  may manage a number of retail outlets R or all outlets R operating the system. The target file is transmitted from the server  106  to the server  107  via a communication link  131  which may be the same type of link as the link  125  previously described.  
         [0049]     The server  107  therefore compiles various offers associated with particular consumers and holds that information in its database.  
         [0050]     Each retail outlet R will be provided with one or more RFID reader stations  110   a  or  110   b . The readers  110   a  and  110   b  can be set up at obscure locations throughout the retail outlet R so that they do not occupy prime space and generally are unobserved by consumers going about their shopping experience.  
         [0051]     When a smart card  111   a  or  111   b  carried by a consumer passes through the electromagnetic zone of the reader  110   a  or  110   b , it detects the reader&#39;s activation signal and the reader  110   a  or  110   b  is able to decode the RFID tag data. Thus, the presence of the consumer in the retail outlet R is detected without the consumer having to physically interact with any device or the like in the shopping system. Thus, the consumer is simply detected when the consumer passes one of the reader stations  110   a  or  110   b.    
         [0052]     When the unique code associated with a particular user is identified, the reader  110   a  and  110   b  outputs a signal to RFID application software  109  in the processor P 1  so the application software causes the list of offers associated with that particular consumer, if there is one for that articular consumer, to be extracted from the database within the server  107 . The processor P 1  via the application software  109  therefore outputs data relating to the offers which are to be made on line  120  and  121  to GSM base station broadcaster  117  so that the station  117  is caused to transmit an SMS message to the mobile telephone associated with the consumer so the message is received by the user&#39;s mobile telephone  112 . Alternatively, the message may be transmitted to the user&#39;s PDA.  
         [0053]     In the case of the reader  110   a  simply reading a passive RFID tag in smart card  111   a , the link between the processor P 1  which runs the software  109  and the reader  110   a  may simply be an inductive coupling illustrated by line  137 . Thus, the reader  110   a  need only provide some signal to the processor software  109  to identify the particular customer. In the case of an active RFID tag in smart card  111   b  for example, the reader station  110   b  has a propagation coupling so that information can be transmitted back and forth from the application software via line  139  for updating information in the smart card  111   b , such as shopping history, reward points, etc.  
         [0054]     The data relating to the user retained in the database  104  includes the telephone number of the user&#39;s mobile telephone so that all the information is provided through to the processor P 1  and then to the station  117  for generating the SMS message with the particular offers for that consumer and then transmitting the messages by way of an SMS message or the like to the user&#39;s mobile telephone  112 .  
         [0055]     Thus, the user receives the SMS message and is able to simply look at the offers which are being made available to that particular customer and the customer may choose to purchase, in accordance with those offers or simply to ignore the offers.  
         [0056]     If the consumer does not have a mobile telephone or PDA, the user can visit a specific location in the retail outlet R such as a touch point location  119  which includes a card reader for reading the magnetic stripe on the user&#39;s smart card  111  and the offers will be printed out as a list  113  to the user. Whilst this does involve some interaction by the user, the interaction is not needed in order to detect the customer. Interaction may be needed to generate the list so the list is available for the user to collect, should the user simply choose to visit the touch point location  119 . The interaction at the touch point location  119  may be by swiping the smart card. However, the touch point location  119  may be provided with a reader which simply reads the RFID tag in the touch card and prints the list for collection as the user approaches the touch point location  119 .  
         [0057]     The outlet server  107  is also connected to a second retailer back office server  114  associated with the retail outlet R. Once again, in the preferred embodiment, the server  114  is part of the processor P 1  and each retail outlet R has a server  114 . However, in other embodiments, a single server  114  may manage a number of retail outlets R. The server  114  connects to the EPOS terminal  115  of the store so that the data relating to the particular offers made available to consumers is also transmitted via the server  114  to the EPOS terminal  115 .  
         [0058]     When the consumer presents at the retail server  115  to pay for goods which the consumer has chosen to buy, the consumer identifies himself or herself so that any offers which have been taken up by the consumer are provided in accordance with those offers. This can be done by the consumer showing the message on the user&#39;s mobile telephone or by the user simply swiping his or her smart card  111  through a card reader at the terminal  115 .  
         [0059]     Data relating to the price of products is also fed to the EPOS terminal  115  from the inventory system  102  via the server  114  for normal pricing of products, offers, discounts, product descriptions/product specifications, etc. purchased by the consumer. The retail server  100  which contains the inventory system  102  and the consumer database  101  is connected to the second server  114  by a communication link  133  which, again, may be the same type of link as the links  125  and  131 . The server  100  is also able to obtain data back from the EPOS terminal  115  via the database  114  and communication link  133  which relates to purchases made by various customers. This allows the information in the database  101 , and therefore in the database  104 , to be updated. Thus, this information can be continually updated over time when consumers shop at the retail outlet R and pay for goods at the checkout terminal  115  so that the characteristics of the consumer are confirmed or are modified if the consumer changes his or her buying habits.  
         [0060]     The server  100  may also communicate with the second server  114  and therefore the EPOS terminal  115  to provide offers and other inducements to customers which are generated only by the retail outlet R or chain of retail outlets R, rather than by the central station at which the processor P 2  is located. Thus, this enables individual retailers to make their own discount offers, as well as those which are made by various advertisers or marketers via the central station.  
         [0061]     The EPOS terminal  115  will also provide a checkout receipt  116  which may not only include details of the purchases which have been made, but may also contain additional offers which are available to the consumer next time the consumer visits the retail outlet R.  
         [0062]     In other embodiments the message containing particular offers may also be provided in other ways. For example, when a consumer is identified by the reader  110   a  or  110   b , the reader  110   a  and  110   b  may activate with RFID readers a TV screen which runs an advertisement or several advertisements relating to products of interest to that particular consumer.  
         [0063]     The offers provided in the message may be direct offers for purchase of products or offers relating to where products may be obtained or demonstrations or the like associated with particular products, all designed to induce or entice people to particular products which are expected to be of interest to that consumer.  
         [0064]     In still further embodiments, the smart card  111  may be linked to financial cards or financial institutions so that payments can be electronically made by use of the card  111 .  
         [0065]     Although the preferred embodiment shows processor P 1  forming or controlling the first server  107 , the readers  110 , the second server  114  and the checkout  115 , the processor P 1  may in fact be a number of individual processors, each managing or controlling those servers and terminal.  
         [0066]     Similarly, the processor P 2  may be formed by a number of individual processors for controlling and managing the database  104 , the server and application software  105 , and the application server  106 .  
         [0067]     In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, is used in an inclusive sense, ie. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.