Abstract:
A system and method for execution of customer-specific marketing, discounts, and promotions which alerts the customer that the customer is to receive the promotion. In one form, the system includes a point-of-sale computer at a checkout counter for processing purchase of items, a customer interface device at the checkout counter which alerts a customer to the existence of a promotion and for transferring details of the promotion to the point-of-sale computer, wherein the details of the promotion appear as bar code data to the point-of-sale computer, and a local promotional server wirelessly connected to the customer interface device for sending the details of the promotion to the customer interface display.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to promotion delivery systems, and more specifically to a system and method for execution of customer-specific marketing, discounts, and promotions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention comprises a system and a method for execution of customer-specific marketing, discounts, and promotions at the point-of-sale (“POS”) and/or the point-of-purchase (“POP”).  
           [0003]    In one form, the system includes a point-of-sale computer at a checkout counter for processing purchase of items, a customer interface device at the checkout counter which alerts a customer to the existence of a promotion and for transferring details of the promotion to the point-of-sale computer, wherein the details of the promotion appear as bar code data to the point-of-sale computer, and a local promotional server wirelessly connected to the customer interface device for sending the details of the promotion to the customer interface display. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a promotion system;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transaction system including the promotion system;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 illustrates Universal Product Code (UPC) detail;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIGS. 4A and 4B form a flow diagram illustrating a promotion method based upon scanned product bar codes;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a reward accumulation process flow;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a loyalty card scanned process flow;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a screen touched process flow;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 8A and 8B form a flow diagram illustrating a voided bar code process flow; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an end of sale process flow. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 2 , the system of the present invention comprises a POS device  12 ; a customer interface device  14 ; one or more local promotional servers  16 ; and a central promotional server  18 . The POS device  12  is of a type known in the art comprising a cash register  20  having a keyboard  22 , a scanner  24  for electronic input to the cash register  20 , one or more displays  26 , and a printer  28 . In one implementation, the POS device  12  is a model from the IBM® 46xx series of POS devices  12 , however other models of POS devices  12  may be used such as, for example, other IBM models as well as the models sold by NCR® and other manufacturers.  
         [0015]    The operation of the POS device  12  will be familiar to those of skill in the art. One or more products having packaging or labeling comprising a bar code, such as the well known Universal Product Code (“UPC”), are exposed to the scanner  24  in a manner causing the scanner  24  to read the bar code from the product&#39;s packaging or labeling. The POS device  12  transmits the product&#39;s UPC to a computer server, and in return receives the price and other information about the product from the computer server. If the product does not have a scannable UPC, the keyboard  22  may be used to input the requisite information.  
         [0016]    The POS device  12  builds a transaction record containing the price and other product information for each product identified by the scanner or entered using the keyboard  22  during the purchase transaction. The price and other product information for each product also may be concurrently printed on a register tape by the printer  28  and displayed on the display  26 . After the last item is scanned, the POS device  12  adds up the price of all products purchased, and executes other transaction closeout functions.  
         [0017]    The local promotional server  16  and the central promotional server  18  of the system of the present invention are computer servers of a type known in the art. The functions of the local promotional server  16  and central promotional server  18  are discussed in more detail hereinafter. Ordinarily, the local promotional server  16  resides on the same premises as the customer interface device  14 , while the central promotional server  18  is installed remotely, but this arrangement is not required. In alternate arrangements, both servers may reside on the same premises as the customer interface device  14 , or both servers may be located remotely at the same or separate sites. In one implementation, the local promotional server  16  and the central promotional server  18  comprise a single server programmed and configured to carry out the functions of both servers described herein. In another embodiment, the central promotional server  18  is eliminated, and replaced with a network of local promotional servers  16  operating in a peer-to-peer arrangement. The network of local promotional servers  16  in this embodiment are programmed and configured to carry out the functions of the central promotional server  18  as described herein.  
         [0018]    The customer interface device  14  of the present invention comprises a microprocessor, computer memory, and data input/output means. Preferably, the customer interface device  14  comprises a touchscreen display terminal, but this is not required. When used, it is preferred that the touchscreen computer display terminal be electronically configurable into one or mare windows of defined pixel dimensions, wherein each window is operable to concurrently display a different graphical or textual image. Optionally, the customer interface device  14  can be adapted to comprise a scanner and/or a dedicated printer, but this is not required.  
         [0019]    The system of the present invention also comprises software (including one or mare databases) running on the POS device  12 , the customer interface device  14 , the local promotional server  16 , and the central promotional server  18 . The software causes the system to operate in accordance with the methods described herein.  
         [0020]    The POS device  12  and the customer interface device  14  are electronically interconnected. The electronic interconnection between the POS device  12  and the customer interface device  14  enables the customer interface device  14  to automatically acquire data about transactions occurring on the POS device  12 , and enables the customer interface device  14  to provide input into the POS device  12 . In one implementation of this embodiment, the interface between the customer interface device  14  and the POS device  12  is configured to make the customer interface device  14  appear to the POS device  12  to be a second scanner  24 . Accordingly, in this implementation, communication from the customer interface device  14  to the POS device  12  is in the form of barcode-like data items.  
         [0021]    The customer interface device  14  is electronically interconnected with the local promotional server  16 . In one embodiment, this electronic interconnection is through a wireless radio frequency (RF) link operating in accordance with IEEE specification 802.11b, although the interconnection between the customer interface device  14  and the local promotional server  16  may occur over any means known in the art for electronic interconnection. The local promotional server  16  is electronically interconnected with the central promotional server  18  by means known in the art for electronic interconnection, such as, for example, electronic interconnection via the global network (Internet)  50 . Optionally, the communication between the customer interface device  14  and the local promotional server  16  and/or the communication between the local promotional server  16  and the central promotional server  18  may be encrypted.  
         [0022]    The system of the present invention is adapted for use in a multiple store retail chain. In this embodiment, each store  1  through n in the retail chain has a local promotional server  16 . The local promotional server  16  is connected to a home server  30  at the home office of the multiple store retail chain. This interconnection may comprise a dedicated electronic interconnection. The electronic interconnection between the local promotional server  16  and the home server  30  may comprise one or more intermediate servers  40  and routers of a type known in the art. The home server  30 , in turn, is electronically interconnected with the central promotional server  18  via the global network  50  in this embodiment. Thus, communication from the central promotional server  18  to the local promotional server  16  in this embodiment passes through the home server  30 .  
         [0023]    In a multiple store retail chain setting, it is common for substantially all items offered far sale in by the retail chain have a unique product identifier. The present invention may be configured to automatically provide discounts based solely on the product identifier of the product being purchased and the promotions developed that include such products.  
         [0024]    In another embodiment of the present invention used in a multiple store retail chain, the present invention is adapted to operate in conjunction with the retail chain&#39;s customer loyalty program. The retail chain&#39;s customer loyalty program is such that each customer participating in the customer loyalty program is assigned on loyalty program identifier. The loyalty program identifier may be, for example, an alphanumeric string, a bar code, a code stored on a magnetic stripe, a biometric identifier, a radio frequency identifier (“RFID”), or another type of identifier known in the art. Substantially all items offered for sale by the retail chain also have a unique product identifier. The customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier and the product&#39;s unique identifier are essential data items in the operation of this embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    The discussion which follows describes an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention in a multiple store grocery chain. Accordingly, the well-known UPC serves as the product&#39;s bar code identifier in this implementation, it being understood that in other retail settings, other product identification protocols may be used; it being further understood that the use of other product identification protocols and the implementation of the present invention other retail settings are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]    Each store in the retail grocery chain of this implementation has a local promotional server  16 . Information about at least a portion of the members of the chain&#39;s customer loyalty program is saved on the store&#39;s local promotional server  16 , as is information about the items for sale in the particular store including, without limitation, the UPC far each item.  
         [0027]    One or more POS devices  12  in a retail store in the chain are adapted to communicate with each customer interface device  14 . Normally, the ratio is one POS device  12  per customer interface device  14 . In operation in a retail grocery store embodiment, as the customer checks out, the customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier is obtained by the customer interface device  14 . In an implementation, the customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier exists in the form of a bar code which is scanned by the scanner  24  and then automatically obtained by the customer interface device  14  from the POS device  12 . Alternately, the loyalty program identifier could be entered via keystrokes on the keyboard  22 , and then obtained by the customer interface device  14  from the POS device  12 . The loyalty program identifier also could be obtained directly by the customer interface device  14  through the use of a scanner integrated with the customer interface device  14 , thus bypassing the POS device  12 . Preferably, the customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier is obtained by the customer interface device  14  prior to the scanning of the UPC of the first item to be purchased by the customer, but this is not required. The customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier may be obtained by the customer interface device  14  any time during the customer&#39;s purchase transaction.  
         [0028]    The customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier is transmitted from the customer interface device  14  to the local promotional server  16 . Software running on the local promotional server  16  is operable to recognize the customer based on the customer&#39;s loyalty program identifier. If information about the customer is stored on the local promotional server  16 , the software running on the local promotional server  16  recognizes the customer based on this information. However, if the software running on the local promotional server  16  fails to recognize the customer based on the information stored locally, the software running on the local promotion server is operable to promptly query the central promotional server  18  in an attempt to recognize the customer. If information about the customer is stored on the central promotional server  18 , the software running on the local promotional server  16  recognizes the customer based on this information. After the customer is recognized, the software running on the local promotional server  16  identifies any promotions for which the customer is eligible. Such promotions have been prepared in advance and stored on the local promotional server  16 . Further discussion of exemplary promotions and the means by which such promotions are prepared is included hereinafter. After the software running on the local promotional server  16  identifies promotions for which the customer is eligible, the local promotional server  16  waits until an event triggering a promotion is delivered to it by the customer interface device  14 .  
         [0029]    As the customer checks out of the grocery store, the UPC for each product purchased by the customer is scanned by the POS device  12  in the customary manner. After each UPC is scanned, the POS device  12  retrieves the product&#39;s price and other information about the product from the store&#39;s server (which ordinarily is not the same as the store&#39;s local promotional server  16 ) based on the product&#39;s UPC. The price and information for each product scanned during the transaction are stored in the memory of the POS device  12 . The customer interface device  14  then automatically acquires the product&#39;s UPC and the price from the POS device  12 . The product&#39;s UPC and price are transmitted to the local promotional server  16  by the customer interface device  14 . Software running on the local promotional server  16  is operable, upon receipt of the UPC and price, to determine whether the particular product (as identified by the UPC) purchased by the customer (recognized by his or her loyalty program identifier) triggers a discount during the then-current transaction, based on a promotion for which the customer is eligible. If so, the local promotional server  16  transmits discount parameters to the customer interface device  14 . Software running on the customer interface device  14  is operable, upon receipt of the discount parameters, to transmit a discount transaction to the POS device  12 .  
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the discount parameters communicated from the local promotional server  16  to the customer interface device  14  comprise bar code data items into which the discount parameters are encoded. The discount transaction comprises bar code data items transmitted from the customer interface device  14  to the POS device  12 .  
         [0031]    The present invention comprises special software running on the POS device  12  that is operable to interpret the bar code data items comprising the discount transaction. This software is not normally present on an off-the-shelf POS device  12 . In response to its interpretation of the bar code data items, the software running on the POS device  12  simulates keystrokes that cause the discount parameters to be entered into the data of the ongoing transaction then residing in the memory of the POS device  12 . Thus, promotional discounts are delivered to the customer at the time of the check out transaction. The amount owed by the customer is adjusted accordingly during the purchase transaction.  
         [0032]    It is known in the POS device  12  art to provide a key called a “store coupon key”, or a key by another name having a similar function. It is common for discount coupons to bear a scannable bar code into which the amount of the discount and other information is encoded. However, if a cashier is presented with a valid coupon that does not bear a bar code, the cashier must be able to grant the discount. By depressing the store coupon key and then manually entering a sequence of keystrokes corresponding to the coupon and its discount, the cashier is able to cause the discount to be entered into the data of the ongoing transaction residing in the memory of the POS device  12 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the software running on the POS device  12  uses the store coupon key in a novel way.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the bar code data items used by the present invention to encode discount parameters and transmit a discount transaction. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises bar code data items compatible with the well-known UPC.  
         [0034]    Where the bar code data items comprise UPC compatible data items, two bar code data items are used to encode discount parameters and transmit a discount transaction. Pursuant to the UPC protocol, the first six digits of each bar code data item are the manufacturer code for Copient Technologies, LLC. The next five digits of each bar code data item comprise the discount parameters. The twelfth and final digit (not shown in FIG. 3) of each bar code data item comprises a check digit computed in accordance with the UPC protocol.  
         [0035]    According to this embodiment, the first bar code data item always has a number nine in the first position after the manufacturer&#39;s code (i.e., the 7th position of the bar code). In the 8th through 11th positions, the first bar code data item contains information identifying the department of the grocery store against which the discount will accrue for accounting purposes, the food stamp and tax flags required by the retailer, and a flag indicating whether the transaction is a discount or is voiding a previously issued discount. Far example, if the discount applies to the purchase of meat, a code identifying the meat department would appear in the 8th and 9th positions. If the discount applies to the purchase of paper goods, a different code identifying the appropriate department would appear in the 8th or 9th positions. The food stamp and tax flag code appearing in the 10th position of the bar code data item identifies, for example, whether the item is taxable or not, and if taxable, whether it is subject to one or two different taxes. It also identifies whether the item is eligible for being purchased using food stamps. The transaction flag appearing in the 11th position of the bar code data item is necessary to instruct the POS device  12  as to whether the amount of the discount appearing in the second bar code data item should be added to or subtracted from the amount owed by the customer.  
         [0036]    According to this embodiment, the second bar code data item always has a number other than nine in the 7th position of the bar code. The second UPC code contains the amount of the discount (or voided discount), encoded into the 7th through 11th positions, wherein the dollar component of the discount appears in the 7th through 9th positions, and the cents component of the discount appears in the 10th and 11th positions. Thus, the maximum dollar amount that can be discounted is $899.99.  
         [0037]    In operation of this embodiment, when the local promotional server  16  determines that the customer is owed a discount, the local promotional server  16  prepares two bar code data items formatted according to the formula shown in FIG. 3 and described herein. The two bar code data items are transmitted from the local promotional server  16  to the customer interface device  14 , and then transmitted to the POS device  12  from the customer interface device  14 . The software running on the POS device  12  parses each item of bar code data, including the UPCs of the products being scanned during the purchase. When the software running on the POS device  12  recognizes the specific manufacturer code for Copient Technologies from the first six digits of the bar code data item, the software running on the POS device  12  is operable to recognize that a discount transaction is to be performed. If the software running on the POS device  12  identifies the number nine in the 7th position of the bar code data item, the software running on the POS device  12  causes the POS device  12  to execute key strokes implementing the discount parameters encoded into the 7th through 11th positions of the bar code data item. If the software running on the POS device  12  identifies a number other than nine in the 7th position of the bar code data item, the software running on the POS device  12  is operable to implement the discount encoded in the 7th through 11th positions of the bar code data item. Note that if the value in the  11   th  position of the first bar code data item is a zero, the amount encoded in the 7th through 11th positions of the bar code data item will be subtracted from the amount owed by the customer. If the value in the 11th position of the first bar code data item is a one, the amount of the discount encoded in the 7th through 11th positions of the second bar code data item will be added to the amount owed by the customer. The discount (or voided discount) also is printed on the register tape by the printer  28 .  
         [0038]    The present invention is operable to execute promotions wherein a customer receives a discount or loyalty reward immediately upon the identification of a product by its UPC, or based upon the combination of a product identified by its UPC and other products identified by their UPCs. The Operation of a product for which a discount is immediately available is straightforward, i.e., the local promotional server  16  observes the purchase of the product, and calculates the discount in absolute or percentage terms. The discount and other discount parameters then are encoded into the bar code data item(s), and transmitted to the customer interface device  14  which, in turn, transmits the discount transaction to the POS device  12 .  
         [0039]    If the software running on the local promotional server  16  determines that the product is not eligible far an immediate discount, the software running on the local promotional server  16  checks to see if the product can be combined with other previously purchased products to determine if the customer is due far another discount or a loyalty reward. For example, if the retail store is running a promotion in which a member of the customer loyalty program purchasing five store-branded items in a single transaction is to receive a certain percentage discount on each item, this UPC is examined to determine whether it identifies a store-branded item and, if so, a record of the product is accumulated with other items on the local promotional server  16  for this particular discount promotion. When a reward has been earned, such as, for example, when the fifth store-branded item is purchased in the transaction, the local promotional server  16  causes the customer interface device  14  to transmit an appropriate discount transaction to the POS device  12 .  
         [0040]    Other exemplary promotions which the system of the present invention may be adapted to handle include promotions wherein a certain discount (dollar amount or percentage) accrues upon the customer&#39;s retail purchases during the transaction exceeding a predetermined dollar value (such as $5.00 off a retail purchase of $50.00 or more). Also, the system of the present invention can be adapted to create a promotional discount if the customer exercises certain desirable habits. For example, the promotion may specify that the customer is to receive $50.00 off his next bill if he purchases $ 100.00 or more of products in three of the four preceding weeks. When the customer achieves his third purchase exceeding $ 100.00 in the four week measurement period, the local promotional server  16  causes the customer interface device  14  to transmit an appropriate discount transaction to the POS device  12 .  
         [0041]    The system also may be adapted to classify members of the customer loyalty program into groups far purposes of targeted promotions. For example, after the customer&#39;s unique identifier is acquired by the customer interface device  14 , if the information stored on the local promotional server  16  indicates that the customer is a regular purchaser of, for example, baby formula and diapers, the customer may be invited to join the retail chain&#39;s new baby group. The invitation is displayed on the display terminal of the customer interface device  14 . The customer may accept the invitation to join the group by touching the appropriate area on the display terminal. Upon acceptance of the invitation, the customer&#39;s membership in the group is recorded by the local promotional server  16 . Thereafter, upon acquisition of the customer&#39;s unique identifier, the customer may be eligible to receive promotional discounts directed toward his group, such as discounts on baby-related products.  
         [0042]    The customer interface device  14  also is operable to display advertisements to customers while they purchase items. In one embodiment, advertisements are in the farm of JPEG files uploaded to the customer interface device  14  from the local promotional server  16 . Preferably, the advertisements rotate based on a time-duration or other criteria. Preferably, the display terminal is divided into windows enabling the simultaneous display of mare than one advertisement. If the customer interface device  14  has a touch screen, the customer may be able to immediately obtain certain discounts based on the displayed advertisement by touching the touch screen. In an alternate implementation in which the customer interface device  14  is adapted to comprise a printer  28 , coupons and advertisements may be printed by the system of the present invention.  
         [0043]    The customer interface device  14  also is operable to display targeted advertisements to the customer. For example, if the customer is identified by the system to be a member of a group, such as the aforementioned baby group, after the customer&#39;s unique identifier is obtained by die customer interface device  14 , advertisements targeted toward the group (such as baby-related products) may be displayed.  
         [0044]    The system of the present invention also may be adapted to comprise a sweepstakes registration process. The customer interface device  14  can comprise a window containing an invitation to participate in the sweepstakes. After the customer&#39;s unique identifier has been obtained by the customer interface device  14 , if the customer selects die sweepstakes invitation, such as by touching the touchscreen, the customer entry will be transmitted to the local promotional server  16 .  
         [0045]    The system of the present invention also comprises an Internet based means for  15  developing a promotion. According to this Internet based means for developing a promotion, an authorized individual may access the central promotional server  18  and define the promotion. The promotion is defined according to a set of parameters. For example, a promotion may last for only a specified duration; a promotion may apply only to a certain group of products or a certain quantity of products connected by a desirable trait (such as a store-branded product); or a promotion may be directed toward only a group of customers (such as customers in the baby-related group). In a retail store chain implementation of the present invention, a promotion may apply only to certain stores in the chain. The promotion parameters may include limits on the promotion, such as one discount per customer or one discount per transaction. The parameters of a particular promotion are left to the discretion of the practitioner of the present invention and may be adapted far each particular implementation of the present invention.  
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been discussed herein in terms of a grocery Store implementation, the present invention is adaptable for use in any retail setting, such as a department store, a shoe store, a sporting goods store, and the like.  
         [0047]    Likewise, although the present invention has been discussed herein in terms of placement of a customer interface device  14  at a retail store checkout, the present invention is adaptable for use in multiple settings within a single retail store location. For example, in a grocery store implementation, a customer interface device  14  may be located in the bakery department, the meat department, the floral department, the pharmacy, and so forth. Each customer interface device  14  may be programmed to display different marketing messages depending on the setting in which it is placed. Thus, a customer interface device  14  installed in the meat department will display messages appropriate to meat department customers, a customer interface device  14  installed in the floral department will display messages appropriate to floral department customers, and so forth.  
         [0048]    FIGS.  4 - 9  provide further information on the operation of the present invention.  
         [0049]    With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, steps  100 - 142  illustrate a promotion method based upon scanning of a product bar code.  
         [0050]    With reference to FIG. 5, steps  200 - 214  illustrate a reward accumulation process flow;  
         [0051]    With reference to FIG. 6, steps  300 - 320  illustrate illustrating a loyalty card scanned process flow;  
         [0052]    With reference to FIG. 7, steps  400 - 404  illustrate a screen touched process flow.  
         [0053]    With reference to FIG. 8, steps  500 - 534  illustrate a voided product bar code process flow.  
         [0054]    With reference to FIG. 9, steps  600 - 620  illustrate an end of sale process flow.  
         [0055]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. For example, the methods disclosed herein and in the appended claims represent one possible sequence of performing the steps thereof. A practitioner of the present invention may determine in a particular implementation of the present invention that multiple steps of one or more of the disclosed methods may be combinable, or that a different sequence of steps may be employed to accomplish the same results. Each such implementation falls within the scope of the present invention as disclosed herein and in the appended claims. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.