Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5887271?dq=3657699
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 05:21:47
Document Index: 581867476

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2']

Patent US5887271 - System and method for locating products in a retail system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA system for displaying, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a "smart card", a display kiosk, and a checkout station in the checkout area. The customer comes to the store with the card loaded with electronic coupons. At any time, the customer may insert the card...http://www.google.com/patents/US5887271?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5887271 - System and method for locating products in a retail systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5887271 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/603,481Publication dateMar 23, 1999Filing dateFeb 20, 1996Priority dateFeb 20, 1996Fee statusPaidPublication number08603481, 603481, US 5887271 A, US 5887271A, US-A-5887271, US5887271 A, US5887271AInventorsKen R. PowellOriginal AssigneePowell; Ken R.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (19), Non-Patent Citations (10), Referenced by (91), Classifications (13), Legal Events (9) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for locating products in a retail systemUS 5887271 AAbstract A system for displaying, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a "smart card", a display kiosk, and a checkout station in the checkout area. The customer comes to the store with the card loaded with electronic coupons. At any time, the customer may insert the card into the display kiosk to view the location of products corresponding to the coupons stored on the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC data matches a coupon stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon.
What is claimed is: 1. In a system including a communication device and a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of:reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product, the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and displaying the second signal. 2. The method of claim 1 further includingreceiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to third signal. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a memory area containing product information, and the generating step include the steps ofaccessing the memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the memory area. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes the step ofdisplaying the second signal on the CRT. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the method includesdisplaying, using the printer, the second signal on the substrate. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a first memory area containing a first type of product information, and a second memory area containing a second type of product information, and the generating step include the steps ofaccessing the first memory area using the first signal; and accessing the second memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the first and second memory areas. 7. A retail system comprising:a plurality of portable cards each having a respective memory for storing a first signal corresponding to a product the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; a communication device; first memory area; a reader for reading the first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device; a generator for accessing the first memory area, using the first signal, to generate a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and a display for displaying the second signal. 8. The retail system of claim 7 further including a store having a roof structure, wherein the product is under the roof structure and the display is under the roof structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient and stimulating shopping environment that allows the customer to acquire discount coupons and to locate the products corresponding to the acquired coupons.
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