EP0512509A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for selective distribution of discount coupons
Assignee: Catalina Marketing International Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for automatically distributing discount coupons or certificates in a retail store, conditioned on a preselected combination of present and past shopping behavior of a customer whose order is being processed at a checkout stand. Generation of a printable discount coupon can be based on any desired combination of customer-supplied data, obtained from a customer identification data base, past shopping activity, derived from data gathered during previous customer visits to the store, and present shopping activity, as evidenced by items identified in the current customer order. If all of the preselected conditions for generation of a coupon are satisfied, the coupon is generated and printed at the checkout stand.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. O'brien
- 👤 George W. Off
- 👤 Timothy L. Cherney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07G; G07G5/00; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0224; G06Q30/0235; G06Q30/0236; G06Q30/0238; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F9/02; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/12; G07G1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for generating a printable discount coupon in a retail store, the system comprising: a plurality of terminals at customer checkout locations, each having means for reading product codes on purchased items in a customer order; a store controller with which the terminals can communicate, the store controller. having access to an item record file containing price and other information for each product item; means for storing the terms and conditions of discount deals for which a customer may qualify; means for uniquely identifying each customer; and means for automatically generating a printable discount coupon, but only if preselected conditions relating to customers have been met by the specific customer whose order is being processed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: means for printing the discount certificate for immediate customer distribution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: means for processing redemption of a printed discount coupon in a subsequent customer order, and applying a discount to the subsequent customer order if the discounted item is purchased.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: means for maintaining a log of discount coupons printed and cumulative discount coupons redeemed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: means for identifying triggering products in the customer order, wherein each triggering product pertains to a condition of a coupon deal presently in effect or to be put into effect in the future; and customer purchase file means for storing data pertaining to the customer's purchase of triggering products, for use in determining whether future coupon deals should be effective.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A system as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for automatically generating a printable discount coupon includes: means for determining from the customer purchase file whether the customer has met all of the coupon deal conditions pertaining to past customer activity; and means for determining from the customer purchase file whether the customer has met all of the coupon deal conditions pertaining to present customer activity; whereby a printable coupon will be generated if the customer has met all of the required past and present customer activity requirements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: means for determining whether the customer whose order is being processed is in a preselected target group of customers; whereby a printable coupon will be generated only if the customer is the target group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
For use in a retail store point-of-sale system having a plurality of terminals at customer checkout locations, each with means for reading product codes on purchased items in a customer order, a method for generating a printable discount coupon, the method comprising the steps of: storing the terms and conditions of at least one discount coupon deal; uniquely identifying the customer whose order is being processed; determining whether the identified customer has satisfied all of the conditions of a discount coupon deal; and automatically generating a printable discount coupon if the conditions are satisfied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the identified customer has satisfied all of the conditions of the discount coupon deal includes: determining whether the customer falls within a preselected target group of customers, based on information previously provided by the customer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the identified customer has satisfied all of the conditions of the discount coupon deal includes: determining whether the customer's past and present shopping activity satisfies preselected conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as defined in claim 10, wherein: the method further comprises the steps of preselecting triggering products, each of which pertains to a condition of a discount deal presently in effect or to be put into effect later, detecting the purchase of triggering products in the customer order, and saving customer purchase data concerning the purchase of triggering products; the step of determining whether the customer's past and present shopping activity satisfies preselected conditions includes reviewing the customer purchase data saved in previous visits to the store.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the step of detecting the purchase of triggering products in the customer order includes: creating a list in which each entry corresponds to a different triggering product identified in the customer order; adding to the list when a triggering product is identified that does not already have an entry in the list; and incrementing an item count in the list when a triggering product is identified that already has an entry in the list.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 8, and further comprising the steps of: printing the generated discount coupon; and maintaining a log of printed discount certificates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 13, and further comprising the step of: processing the redemption of a discount coupon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the step of processing the redemption includes: maintaining a log of redeemed coupons; and applying the amount of the discount in the coupon to a customer order.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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