US5642279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Technique for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers
Assignee: TWEETER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
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Filing: 1994-08-09
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Granted: 1997-06-24
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Expires: 2014-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A technique for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers of a dealer for its least selected goods. Information on each retail transaction for the goods and information on selected goods advertised for sale by others within a selected geographic area are entered into the computer system. The computer system then determines at selected time intervals whether automatic rebates are due to any customers, rebates being due when the computer determines that a product of the selected goods purchased by the customer has been advertised at a lower price by another dealer within the selected time period after the purchase transaction. The computer also prints a check to the customer for the determined difference when it determines that a rebate is due with the check being sent to the customer.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel J. Bloomberg
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/201; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0234; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0264; G06Q30/0273
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers of a dealer for at least selected goods, the method comprising the steps of: a) storing in the computer system information on each retail transaction for the goods including customer information, product identification, date and price paid for each product; b) storing in the computer information on the selected goods advertised for sale by others within a selected geographic area, such information including product identification, advertisement date and advertised price; c) utilizing the computer to determine at selected time intervals whether automatic rebates are due to any customer, rebates being due when the computer determines that a product of the selected goods purchased by the customer has been advertised at a lower price by another within a selected time period after the purchase transaction, step (c) including the steps of comparing advertised products stored during step (b) with the transaction products stored during step (a) to find matches, and verifying that dates for the advertised product and transaction product are within the selected time period; and d) for each rebate which is determined due, printing a check to the customer for the difference between the price paid by the customer and the lower advertised sale price, which check is sent to the customer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers of a dealer for at least selected goods, the method comprising the steps of: a) storing in the computer system information on each retail transaction for the goods including customer information, product identification, date and price paid for each product; b) storing in the computer information on the selected goods advertised for sale by others within a selected geographic area, such information including product identification, advertisement date and advertised price; c) utilizing the computer to determine at selected time intervals whether automatic rebates are due to any customer, rebates being due when the computer determines that a product of the selected goods purchased by the customer has been advertised at a lower price by another within a selected time period after the purchase transaction, step (c) including the steps of comparing advertised products stored during step (b) with the transaction products stored during step (a) to find matches, and verifying that dates for the advertised product and transaction product are within the selected time period; and d) for each rebate which is determined due, printing a check to the customer for the difference between the price paid by the customer and the lower advertised sale price, which check is sent to the customer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) further includes the step of comparing the transaction price to the advertised price for the matching product to determine if the advertised price is less, and if so by how much.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed for a plurality of different geographic areas; and where step (c) includes the step of assuring that the retail transaction and the advertised sale are for the same geographic area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein step (c) is performed separately for each of said geographic areas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein a geographic indication is stored with each entry made during steps (a) and (b), and wherein step (c) includes the step of comparing geographic indications for products on which a rebate may be due.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the step of determining the lowest advertised price for a selected time period for each product entered during step (b).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the steps of determining the difference between the transaction price and the advertised price for each product eligible for a rebate, computing the sales tax on such difference, and adding the computed sales tax to the determined difference to obtain the amount to be rebated to the customer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the step of updating information in the computer system on a transaction to reflect any rebate sent to the customer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (d) is performed by printing a check each time it is determined during step (c) that a rebate is due.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the step of storing information on each rebate when it is determined that a rebate is due, and wherein step (d) includes the step of utilizing the stored information on each rebate to print the checks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (d) includes the step of printing a mailing label for each of said checks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (b) is performed only for products advertised for sale at a lower price than a standard price charged for such product by the dealer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers of a dealer for at least selected goods comprising: means for storing in the computer system information on each retail transaction for the goods including customer information, product identification, date and price paid for each product; means for storing in the computer information on the selected goods advertised for sale by others within a selected geographic area, such information including product identification, advertisement date and advertised price; means for utilizing the computer to determine at selected time intervals whether automatic rebates are due to any customer, rebates being due when the computer determines that a product of the selected goods purchased by the customer has been advertised at a lower price by another within a selected time period after the purchase transaction; and means for printing a check to the customer for the difference between the price paid by the customer and the lower advertised sale price, which check is sent to the customer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for utilizing a computer system to provide price protection to retail customers of a dealer for at least selected goods comprising: means for storing in the computer system information on each retail transaction for the goods including customer information, product identification, date and price paid for each product; means for storing in the computer information on the selected goods advertised for sale by others within a selected geographic area, such information including product identification, advertisement date and advertised price; means for utilizing the computer to determine at selected time intervals whether automatic rebates are due to any customer, rebates being due when the computer determines that a product of the selected goods purchased by the customer has been advertised at a lower price by another within a selected time period after the purchase transaction; and means for printing a check to the customer for the difference between the price paid by the customer and the lower advertised sale price, which check is sent to the customer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the means for utilizing includes means for comparing advertised products to transaction products to find matches, and means for verifying that dates for the advertised product and transaction product are within the selected time period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means for utilizing further includes means for comparing the transaction price to the advertised price for the matching product to determine if the advertised price is less, and if so by how much.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for utilizing includes means for determining the difference between the transaction price and the advertised price for each product eligible for a rebate, means for computing the sales tax on such difference, and means for adding the computed sales tax to the determined difference to obtain the amount to be rebated to the customer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for utilizing includes means for updating information in the computer system on a transaction to reflect any rebate sent to the customer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for utilizing includes means for storing information on each rebate when it is determined that a rebate is due, and wherein said means for printing includes means for utilizing the stored information on each rebate to print the checks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparauts as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for printing includes means for printing a mailing label for each of said checks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5117355A
Cited
US5056019A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-23 | 2000-12-23 | 2001-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | 2005-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-23 | 2008-12-23 | 2009-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |