Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6354495?dq=6978253
Timestamp: 2014-09-18 04:52:12
Document Index: 537583502

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

Patent US6354495 - Retail store configured for bidirectional communication between a plurality ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a �smart card�, product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into...http://www.google.com/patents/US6354495?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6354495 - Retail store configured for bidirectional communication between a plurality of product shelf areas and a plurality of portable cardsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6354495 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/655,709Publication dateMar 12, 2002Filing dateSep 5, 2000Priority dateJun 6, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS5727153, US6112988, US6173891Publication number09655709, 655709, US 6354495 B1, US 6354495B1, US-B1-6354495, US6354495 B1, US6354495B1InventorsKen R. PowellOriginal AssigneeSoftcard Systems, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (27), Non-Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (9), Classifications (26), Legal Events (10) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRetail store configured for bidirectional communication between a plurality of product shelf areas and a plurality of portable cardsUS 6354495 B1Abstract A system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a �smart card�, product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacent to an product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product station then writes an electronic coupon onto the card. The customer thus shops throughout the store collecting electronic coupons for products of interest. 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 data stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon. Periodically, the electronic coupon data is transferred to a remote clearing house.
What is claimed is: 1. A method for a system including a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store including
a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, the system further including
plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, the method comprising the steps, performed for each interface, of:
detecting, in the interface, a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in a respective one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units; and sending a respective first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface. 2. The method of claim 1 further including storing the respective first signal in the interface, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending is performed at a time when the card is touching the interface.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact, and sending includes sending a current from the interface electrical contact to the card electrical contact.
5. The method of claim 1 further including the step, performed for each interface, of receiving, in the interface, a multi-digit signal from the card, the receiving step being performed after the detecting step.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface, and the step of sending the respective first signal is performed while powering the interface from the battery.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device, and the step of sending the respective first signal is performed while powering the interface from the battery.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface, and the step of sending the respective first signal is performed while powering the interface from the battery.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device, and the step of sending the respective first signal is performed while powering the interface from the battery.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein each interface includes an electronic memory and the method further includes writing the first signal into the electronic memory.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein each interface includes a random access memory and the method further includes writing the first signal into the random access memory.
12. A system for operating with a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, the system comprising:
a plurality of interfaces, each interface including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storage device for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf of one of the areas in the store and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; and a programmer that programs the storage device of an interface with the respective first signal. 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the programmer is in the store.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein each interface has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the sender.
17. The system of claim 14 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
18. The system of claim 12 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
19. The system of claim 12 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
20. The system of claim 12 wherein each the storage device, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
21. The system of claim 12 wherein each the storage device, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the interface junction is for touching the card.
24. The system of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact to the card electrical contact.
25. A system for operating with a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, and a checkout area, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the system comprising:
a plurality of interfaces, each interface including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storage device for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf of one of the first areas in the store and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; a programmer that programs the storage device of an interface with the respective first signal; and the following elements, located in the checkout area:
a receiver for receiving signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards; an electromagnetic detector for generating a second signal corresponding to a product; a receiver for receiving the second signal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information. 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the programmer is in the store.
27. The system of claim 25 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein each interface has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
29. The system of claim 27 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
30. The system of claim 27 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
31. The system of claim 25 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
32. The system of claim 25 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
33. The system of claim 25 wherein each the storage device, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
34. The system of claim 25 wherein each the storage device, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
36. The system of claim 25 wherein the interface junction is for touching the card.
37. The system of claim 25 wherein each of the plurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact to the card electrical contact.
38. The system of claim 25 further including:
a reader for reading a third signal identifying a person; and a generator for generating a fourth signal by processing the first, second, and third signals. 39. A system for operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, the system comprising:
a plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the stored first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means for programming the holding means of an interface with the respective first signal. 40. The system of claim 39 wherein the programming means is in the store.
41. The system of claim 39 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holding means, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
42. The system of claim 41 wherein each interface has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
43. The system of claim 41 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
44. The system of claim 41 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
45. The system of claim 39 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
46. The system of claim 39 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
47. The system of claim 39 wherein each the holding means, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
48. The system of claim 39 wherein each the holding means, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
49. The system of claim 48 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holding means, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
50. The system of claim 39 wherein the interface junction is for touching the card.
51. The system of claim 39 wherein each of the plurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact to the card electrical contact.
52. A system of operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a checkout area including an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the system comprising:
a plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the stored first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface, means for programming the holding means of an interface with the respective first signal, means for receiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to the checkout area; means for generating, in the electromagnetic detector, a second signal corresponding to a product; means for receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information. 53. The system of claim 52 wherein the programming means is in the store.
54. The system of claim 52 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holding means, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
55. The system of claim 54 wherein each interface has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
56. The system of claim 54 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
57. The system of claim 54 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
58. The system of claim 52 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface.
59. The system of claim 52 wherein each interface includes a battery for powering the interface and has no external wires connecting the interface to another device.
60. The system of claim 52 wherein each the holding means, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes an electronic memory.
61. The system of claim 52 wherein each the holding means, in each of the plurality of interfaces, includes a random access memory.
62. The system of claim 61 wherein each interface further includes a receiver that receives, at a time when the respective first signal is in the holding means, a multi-digit signal from the card in the plurality of cards.
63. The system of claim 52 wherein the interface junction is for touching the card.
64. The system of claim 52 wherein each of the plurality of cards further includes a card electrical contact and the interface junction of each of the plurality of interfaces includes an interface electrical contact for sending a current from the interface electrical contact to the card electrical contact.
This Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/518,095 of KEN R. POWELL filed Mar. 3, 2000 for RETAIL STORE CONFIGURED FOR BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT SHELF AREAS AND A PLURALITY OF PORTABLE CARDS now U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,891, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/032,001 of KEN R. POWELL filed Feb. 27, 1998 for RETAIL STORE CONFIGURED FOR BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PRODUCT SHELF AREAS AND A PLURALITY OF PORTABLE CARDS, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,988, which is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 08/468,820 of KEN R. POWELL filed Jun. 6, 1995 for DEVICE FOR PROGRAMMING RETAIL SYSTEM, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,153.
To achieve this object of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store including a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. The system further includes a plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface. The method comprises the steps, performed for each interface, of detecting, in the interface, a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in a respective one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units; and sending a respective first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each interface including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storage device for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf of one of the areas in the store and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; and a programmer that programs the storage device of an interface with the respective first signal.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store having a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, and a checkout area, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas. The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each interface including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, a storage device for storing a respective first signal, a detector that detects a card in the plurality of cards, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf of one of the first areas in the store and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and a sender that sends a signal through the interface junction to a card detected by the detector, at a time when the interface is supported by a shelf and the first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; a programmer that programs the storage device of an interface with the respective first signal; and the following elements, located in the checkout area: a receiver for receiving signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards; an electromagnetic detector for generating a second signal corresponding to a product; a receiver for receiving the second signal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products. The store includes a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the stored first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means for programming the holding means of an interface with the respective first signal.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system of operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products. The store includes a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a checkout
To achieve this object of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, and a store including a plurality of areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product. The system further includes area including an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas. The system comprises a plurality of interfaces, each including an interface junction from which signals exit the interface, means for holding a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, at time when the interface is supported by a shelf in one of the plurality of areas and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, and means for sending the stored first signal through the interface junction to the card detected in the previous step, at a time when the interface is supported the shelf and the respective first signal corresponds to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means for programming the holding means of an interface with the respective first signal, means for receiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to the checkout area; means for generating, in the electromagnetic detector, a second signal corresponding to a product; means for receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and a price determiner for determining a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information.
Alternatively, a customer may have obtained a customer card from a store, such as store 1000, by completing a check cashing application having questions to collect demographic data
FIG. 3A shows a plan view of customer card 215 carried by customers 210, and FIG. 3B shows a side view of card 215. Card 215 is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm, the length and width of a typical financial credit card. Card 215 is slightly thicker than a typical financial credit card. Card 215 includes a magnetic stripe 2410, interface contacts 2420 for communication with the product stations and the checkout station, and embossed area 2430 for displaying the card owner's name. Magnetic stripe 2410 allows a conventional credit card stripe reader to read basic data from the card Magnetic stripe 2410 is not necessary to the operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, described in more detail below.
FIG. 3C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail. Interface contacts 2420 are configured in accordance with ISO7816-2: 1988(E), Identification cards�Integrated circuit (s) cards with contact�Part 2: Dimensions and locations of the contacts, promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and available from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assigned to VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal), contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reserved for future use, contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426 is assigned to VPP (program and voltage), contact 2427 is assigned to I/O (data input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use. Card 215 communicates with the product stations and the checkout stations through contact 2427 using a half duplex scheme, meaning that contact 2427 is for communicating data signals either to or from the card.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of customer card 215, including central processing unit 2450, memory 2460, and battery 2470 for supplying power to interface 2425, processor 2450, and memory 2460. Memory 2460 is a random access, addressable device. Station interface 2425 includes a serial to parallel converter for transferring data signals between contact 2427 and CPU 2450 over parallel bus 2452. Memory 2460 stores a program 2465 executed by processor 2450, customer identification data 2467, and authorization data 2468. Customer identification data 2467 includes a sequence of digits that uniquely identifies the holder of the card. Customer identification data 2467 includes the card holders social security number. For example, identification data 2467 in customer card 235 uniquely identifies customer 230. Authorization data 2468 includes a sequence of digits that includes a code identifying the store or stores in which the card may be used to obtain a paperless coupon. Authorization data 2468 also includes date data indicating an expiration date for the card. Depending on the card holder's contractual relationship with the card issuer, the card issuer may periodically update this date data to renew the card when the current date data indicates the card is expired. Store authorization data 2468 also contains a field identifying that the card is a customer card (rather than a programing card, which is described below).
Programming card 55 has the same hardware structure as customer card 215. FIG. 20A shows a plan view of programming card 55, and FIG. 20B shows a side view of card 55. Card 55 is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm, the length and width of a typical financial credit card. Card 55 is slightly thicker than a typical financial credit card Card 55 includes interface contacts 2420 for communication with the product stations and the checkout station, and embossed area 2430 for displaying information about the card.
FIG. 20C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail. Interface contacts 2420 are configured in accordance with IS07816-2: 1988(E), Identification cards�Integrated circuit.(s) cards with contact�Part 2: Dimensions and locations of the contacts, promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and available from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assigned to VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal), contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reserved for future use, contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426 is assigned to VPP (program and voltage), contact 2427 is assigned to I/O (data input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use. Card 55 communicates with the product stations through contact 2427 using a half duplex scheme, meaning that contact 2427 is for communicating data signals either to or from the card.
FIG. 9A shows some the contents list 2435 in starting at location 30 memory 2460 of customer card 215, before CPU 5160 of the product station executes step 8040. An electronic coupon is represented by three rows in list 2435: a 12 digit UPC product code in the first row, discount format data in the second row (�1� signifying cents. �2� signifying percentage), and discount quantity data in the third row. In FIG. 9A, the customer card is storing two electronic coupons in a list starting at location 30 in memory 2460, reflecting the fact that customer 210 has received electronic coupons from two product stations during her current visit to store 1000. After CPU 5160 executes step 8040 (thereby sending an electronic coupon to the customer card), CPU 2450 in customer card 215 receives the data and adds the data to list 2435, resulting in three electronic coupons in list 2435 as shown in FIG. 9B.
FIG. 10A shows product data 5135 before the execution of step 8085, and FIG. 10B shows product data 5135 after step 8085. The data starting at location 250 stores identification for a product In this example product code �345678901200� corresponds to the UPC code on ammonia bottles 112. Location 274 stores the format of the discount quantity data, with �1� signifying cents and �2� signifying percentage in tenths of a percent. Location 275 stores the discount quality data. In FIG. 10A, because location 275 is storing a 50, the discount being offered for ammonia bottles 112 is 50 cents. In FIG. 9B, the discount being offered for another product is 100 cents.
In summary, after UPC barcode reader 710 scans a product, processor 750 determines eligibility for a discount If a product qualifies, processor 750 displays the discounted price on display 717. Periodically, electronic coupon data is processed and reported to a clearing house.
Clearinghouse memory 925 stores demographic data records. Each record is indexed by customer ID. As shown in Table 2, below, each row represents a demographic record for a customer. The first entity in each row is the record key, or index The second entity is date of birth, and the third entity is yearly income.
60,456 (30%)
102,345 (51%) 40-60
14,345 (7%) over 60
23,456 (12%)
200,602 (100%)
In other words, the system shown in FIG. 13, and the corresponding product stations, perform a method of determining retail buying patterns. The method writes demographic data, obtained from a customer application questionnaires described above, into memory 925. The method writes personal identification data 2467 onto customer cards. Subsequently, one or more product stations writes a product identification data, corresponding to a selected product, onto certain ones of the cards. Subsequently, a checkout station reads the personal identification data 2467 from certain ones of the cards to generate a first read signals, and reads the product identification data from certain ones of the cards to generate second read signals. These first and second signals are sent to clearinghouse 900, which generates a report using the first and second signals. Clearinghouse 900 generates the report by accessing he demographic data, using the first signal, to generate a demographic signal; and by correlating the demographic signal (indicating age) with the second signal (purchases of ammonia).
An advantage of the alternative embodiment of the invention is that the software in the checkout station need only send UPC codes to the customer card and receive discount data from the customer card allowing the invention to be practiced using relatively simple modifications to conventional checkout station software. Further, the integrity of the conventional checkout station is assured since no complicated foreign software need be intermingled with the conventional checkout station software.
A variation of the alternative embodiment is to have the customer card receive UPC codes from the checkout station as described above, but defer sending discount data to the checkout station until the last product is scanned. After the last product is scanned, the customer card would then send a list of UPC codes, with respective discount data for each UPC code, to the checkout station
In FIG. 1B, service worker 50 carries a programming card 55 for reprogramming the product stations. The hardware architecture of service card 55 is the same as the architecture of customer card 115, discussed above. The software in the memory of service card 55, however, is different than the software in the customer cards. Service card 55 has software to allow the product station to recognize that service card 55 is authorized to alter the memory contents of the product stations, as discussed in more detail below. Programming card 55 has a memory containing discount data for a product
In other words, product station includes an electrical contact 4177. The writing step, described above, communicates between a customer card and a product station through electrical contact 4177. The preferred method also includes a step of changing the selected product by sending a programing signal from the programming card 55 to the product station through electrical contact 4177.
In other words, service worker 55 creates a signal path to one of the product stations by inserting programing card 55 into the interface slot of the product station The programming card then changes the selected product by sending a programming signal to the product station through contact 4177. Service worker 55 then breaks the signal path by removing programming card 55.
Demographic data and redemption data, compiled by the checkout station, provide manufactures with timely feedback about the effectiveness of product promotion programs. The potential for coupon fraud and misredemption is reduced, as each coupon is ultimately traceable to an individual customer.
Although the preferred system employs a programming card, having an interface compatible with the customer card interface on each product station, the invention may be practiced with other types of programming interfaces, disengaged from the product station except when program is performed. For example, instead of a programming card, a service worker may carry a portable computer that temporarily connects to the product station with a cable. With this cable scheme, the service worker creates a signal path to the product station by plugging the cable into the product station. The portable computer then changes the selected product by sending a programming signal through the cable to the product station. Subsequently, the service worker breaks the signal path by disconnecting the cable from the product station.
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