Patent US5857175A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5857175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for offering targeted discounts to customers
Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corp
•
Filing: 1995-08-11
•
Granted: 1999-01-05
•
Expires: 2015-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising a computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; the at computer also including a database containing special offers including a targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card having machine readable card information indicating at least identification of the card with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with the computer to transfer data therebetween; the customer interface having a card reader for reading machine readable card information from the customer card; the computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes the special offer; an offer communicator for communicating the customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; a check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; the check-out including a card reader for reading the customer card; the computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the check-out; the computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; the computer still further including means for editing the customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry J. Day
- 👤 Merle S. Weinkauf
- 👤 Theodore Knutson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/202; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0211; G06Q30/0212; G06Q30/0224; G06Q30/0226; G06Q30/0236; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 133
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising: at least one computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; said at least one computer also including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card having machine readable card information indicating at least identification of the card with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with said at least one computer to transfer data therebetween, said customer interface having at least one card reader for reading machine readable card information from said customer card; said at least one computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes at least one said special offer; at least one offer communicator for communicating said customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; at least one check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; said check-out including a card reader for reading said customer card; said at least one computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the at least one check-out; said at least one computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; said at least one computer still further including means for editing said customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer; means for defining categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
322 words
A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising: at least one computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; said at least one computer also including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card having machine readable card information indicating at least identification of the card with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with said at least one computer to transfer data therebetween, said customer interface having at least one card reader for reading machine readable card information from said customer card; said at least one computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes at least one said special offer; at least one offer communicator for communicating said customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; at least one check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; said check-out including a card reader for reading said customer card; said at least one computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the at least one check-out; said at least one computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; said at least one computer still further including means for editing said customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer; means for defining categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after the offer communicator communicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means for communicating the increased value special offer to the customer when the customer subsequently presents the customer's card to the customer interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the card reader of said check-out comprises a bar code reader in communication with the computer, the bar code reader reading the cards in addition to products, the system including means for associating a purchased item with a customer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the check-out comprises means for totaling the costs of purchases, wherein the system includes means for associating a purchased item with a customer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for suspending the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to the check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed the customer interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the check-out includes a bar code reader, the system further comprising means for downloading, from the computer to the check-out, a list of all products for which special offers exist for at least one customer, means for associating a purchased item with a customer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of a product, means for accessing the computer in response to the bar code reader reading a product included in the list of all products for which special offers may be available and for determining the special offer available to that customer whose card was scanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for maintaining for each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card, wherein the check-out communicates to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account database meet the criteria.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the customer interface is spaced apart from the check-out.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for causing the offer communicator to communicate a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer presenting the customer's card to the customer interface, the predetermined number being the same for all customers who use the customer interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, and wherein the system further comprises means for causing the printer to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer absent any selection by the customer accessing the customer interface, the predetermined number being the same for all customers that use the customer interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to the printer a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of the customer interface to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to the printer a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of the customer interface to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer, calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and comprising a plurality of computers associated with a plurality of stores, wherein each customer is associated with one of the stores, wherein their card has machine readable information indicating their home store, and wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the computers of their home stores.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer capable of printing at least 500 lines per minute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for generating a report of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for limiting the total dollar value of special offers for a particular product so that no more special offers are given for that product after a predetermined dollar value has been exceeded.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
283 words
A system for presenting special offers to customers of a chain of stores, the special offers including customized targeted offers for specific customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the computers respectively including a database containing customer account information, and a database of special offers including customized targeted offers to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a supervisory computer networked to the store level computers, the supervisory computer periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of cards, each card having thereon machine readable information for associating the card with particular customer account information and with a particular store in the chain; and a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, the interfaces having respective card readers including means for receiving the cards, for reading the machine readable information on the card, for sending information from the card to the store level computer associated with that store; the store level computers respectively including means for accessing information about the special offers available to the customer associated with the card in response to the card reader sending decoded information to the computer, for generating a customized list of special offers available to that particular customer; offer communicator means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interface; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
283 words
A system for presenting special offers to customers of a chain of stores, the special offers including customized targeted offers for specific customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the computers respectively including a database containing customer account information, and a database of special offers including customized targeted offers to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a supervisory computer networked to the store level computers, the supervisory computer periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of cards, each card having thereon machine readable information for associating the card with particular customer account information and with a particular store in the chain; and a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, the interfaces having respective card readers including means for receiving the cards, for reading the machine readable information on the card, for sending information from the card to the store level computer associated with that store; the store level computers respectively including means for accessing information about the special offers available to the customer associated with the card in response to the card reader sending decoded information to the computer, for generating a customized list of special offers available to that particular customer; offer communicator means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interface; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to claim 25 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after one of the offer communicators communicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means for communicating the increased value special offer to the customer when the customer subsequently presents the customer's card to one of the customer interfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the offer communicator means comprise printers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising check-outs in respective stores, wherein the check-outs respectively including bar code readers, wherein the check-outs are in communication with respective store level computers, wherein the bar code readers read the cards in addition to products, wherein the system includes means for associating a purchased product with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising check-outs in respective stores, the check-outs respectively including bar code readers, the check-outs being in communication with respective store level computers, wherein the check-out comprises means for totaling the costs of purchases, wherein the system includes means for associating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for deleting the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 29 and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to the check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed the customer interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
122 words
A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the system further comprising means for downloading, from the store level computers to the respective check-outs, a list of all products for which special offers exist for at least one customer, means for associating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned by one of the bar code readers in sequence with scanning of a product, means for accessing the store level computer in response to the bar code reader reading a product included in the list of all products for which special offers may be available and for determining the special offer available to that customer whose card was scanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for maintaining for each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card, wherein the check-out communicates to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account databases meet the criteria.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the customer interfaces are respectively spaced apart from the check-outs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for causing one of the offer communicator means to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer presenting the customer's card to one of the customer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same for all customers who use the customer interfaces.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, and wherein the system further comprises means for causing one of the printers to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer absent any selection by the customer accessing one of the customer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same for all customers who use that customer interface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to one of the printers a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one of the customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to one of the printers a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one of the customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer, calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the store level computers define home stores for customer accounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein the cards further include machine readable information indicating their home store, and wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the store level computers of their home stores.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the store level computers define home stores for customer accounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein the cards further include machine readable information indicating their home store, wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the store level computers of their home stores, and wherein if a customer uses their card at a customer interface in a store other than their home store, the store level computer communicates with the customers home store and the customer's account is accessed even though the customer is not in their home store.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers capable of printing at least 500 lines per minute.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator means if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the supervisor computer further comprises means for generating a report of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
484 words
A system for a chain of stores for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the store computers respectively including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to individual customers including information regarding customer purchases, the store level computers respectively including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of cards, each card having thereon machine readable information associating the card with a particular customer account and with a particular store in the chain; regional computers networked to groups of store level computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of store level computers defining respective chains of stores; a supervisory computer networked to the regional computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, the customer interfaces having respective card readers including means for receiving the cards, for reading the machine readable information on the cards, for sending the read information to the store level computer associated with that store; a plurality of offer communicator means, respective offer communicator means being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, respective offer communicator means being housed with respective customer interfaces; means for accessing customer account information for a particular customer in response to the card reader sending read information to a store level computer, for generating an individualized list of special offers available to that particular customer, and for sending the list of special offers to the offer communicator housed with the card reader that sent the read information; the customer interfaces respectively including means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interfaces; check-outs, including respective bar code readers, connected to respective store level computers, the bar code readers reading the cards in addition to products, the system including means for associating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products, for storing customer purchase information in the database in the store level computer; and means for uploading from the store level computers to the regional computers data identifying purchases made by individual customers; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity within a chain, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category in that chain.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
484 words
A system for a chain of stores for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the store computers respectively including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to individual customers including information regarding customer purchases, the store level computers respectively including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of cards, each card having thereon machine readable information associating the card with a particular customer account and with a particular store in the chain; regional computers networked to groups of store level computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of store level computers defining respective chains of stores; a supervisory computer networked to the regional computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, the customer interfaces having respective card readers including means for receiving the cards, for reading the machine readable information on the cards, for sending the read information to the store level computer associated with that store; a plurality of offer communicator means, respective offer communicator means being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, respective offer communicator means being housed with respective customer interfaces; means for accessing customer account information for a particular customer in response to the card reader sending read information to a store level computer, for generating an individualized list of special offers available to that particular customer, and for sending the list of special offers to the offer communicator housed with the card reader that sent the read information; the customer interfaces respectively including means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interfaces; check-outs, including respective bar code readers, connected to respective store level computers, the bar code readers reading the cards in addition to products, the system including means for associating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products, for storing customer purchase information in the database in the store level computer; and means for uploading from the store level computers to the regional computers data identifying purchases made by individual customers; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity within a chain, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category in that chain.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to claim 50 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after one of the offer communicators communicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means for communicating the increased value special offer to the customer when the customer subsequently presents the customer's card to one of the customer interfaces.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the offer communicator means comprise printers.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the check-outs respectively comprise means for totaling the costs of purchases, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for deleting the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to a check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed a customer interface.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers of a chain.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the system further comprising means for downloading, from the store level computers to the respective check-outs, a list of all products for which special offers exist for at least one customer, means for accessing the store level computer in response to the bar code reader reading a product included in the list of all products for which special offers may be available and for determining the special offer available to that customer whose card was scanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for maintaining for each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer since the customer started using the card, wherein the check-outs communicate to the customers a running total of savings realized by each customer since the customer started using the card.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account databases meet the criteria.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the customer interfaces are respectively spaced apart from the check-outs in each store.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for causing one of the offer communicator means to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer presenting the customer's card to one of the customer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same for all customers of a chain who use the customer interfaces.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, and wherein the system further comprises means for causing one of the printers to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer absent any selection by the customer accessing one of the customer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same for all customers who use that customer interface.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to one of the printers a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one of the customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to one of the printers a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one of the customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer, calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the store level computers define home stores for customer accounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein the cards further include machine readable information indicating their home store, and wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the store level computers of their home stores.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the store level computers define home stores for customer accounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein the cards further include machine readable information indicating their home store, wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the store level computers of their home stores, and wherein if a customer uses their card at a customer interface in a store other than their home store, the store level computer communicates with the customers home store and the customer's account is accessed even though the customer is not using the customer interface of their home store.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers capable of printing at least 500 lines per minute.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the store level computers respectively include means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator means if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 50 wherein the regional computer further comprises means for generating a report for a chain of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
298 words
A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising: at least one computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; said at least one computer also including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to said at least one computer to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with said at least one computer to transfer data therebetween; said at least one computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes at least one said special offer; at least one offer communicator for communicating said customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; at least one check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; said at least one computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the at least one check-out; said at least one computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; said at least one computer still further including means for editing said customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer; means for defining categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
298 words
A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising: at least one computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; said at least one computer also including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to said at least one computer to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with said at least one computer to transfer data therebetween; said at least one computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes at least one said special offer; at least one offer communicator for communicating said customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; at least one check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; said at least one computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the at least one check-out; said at least one computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; said at least one computer still further including means for editing said customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer; means for defining categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system according to claim 73 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after the offer communicator communicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means for communicating the increased value special offer to the customer when the customer subsequently returns to the customer interface.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the check-out comprises means for totaling the costs of purchases, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for suspending the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 73, and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to the check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed the customer interface.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
95 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the check-out includes a bar code reader, the system further comprising means for downloading, from the computer to the check-out, a list of all products for which special offers exist for at least one customer, means for associating a purchased item with a customer, means for accessing the computer in response to the bar code reader reading a product included in the list of all products for which special offers may be available and for determining the special offer available to that customer, for that particular product.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for maintaining for each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer, wherein the check-out communicates to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account database meet the criteria.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the customer interface is spaced apart from the check-out.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for causing the offer communicator to communicate a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer, the predetermined number being the same for all customers who use the customer interface.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, and wherein the system further comprises means for causing the printer to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer absent any selection by the customer accessing the customer interface, the predetermined number being the same for all customers that use the customer interface.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to the printer a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to the printer a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value special offers available to the particular customer, calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and comprising a plurality of computers associated with a plurality of stores, wherein each customer is associated with one of the stores, and wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the computers of their home stores.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer capable of printing at least 500 lines per minute.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for generating a report of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system in accordance with claim 73 and further comprising means for limiting the total dollar value of special offers for a particular product so that no more special offers are given for that product after a predetermined dollar value has been exceeded.
Claim 100
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for presenting special offers to customers of a chain of stores, the special offers including customized targeted offers for specific customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the computers respectively including a database containing customer account information, and a database of special offers including customized targeted offers to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a supervisory computer networked to the store level computers, the supervisory computer periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to at least one of said store level computers to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, and for sending information to the store level computer associated with that store; the store level computers respectively including means for accessing information about the special offers available to the customer, and for generating a customized list of special offers available to that particular customer; offer communicator means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interface; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 101
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for presenting special offers to customers of a chain of stores, the special offers including customized targeted offers for specific customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the computers respectively including a database containing customer account information, and a database of special offers including customized targeted offers to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a supervisory computer networked to the store level computers, the supervisory computer periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to at least one of said store level computers to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, and for sending information to the store level computer associated with that store; the store level computers respectively including means for accessing information about the special offers available to the customer, and for generating a customized list of special offers available to that particular customer; offer communicator means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interface; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 96 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after one of the offer communicators communicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means for communicating the increased value special offer to the customer when the customer subsequently returns to the customer interface.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 wherein the offer communicator means comprise printers.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising check-outs in respective stores, wherein the check-outs respectively including bar code readers, wherein the check-outs are in communication with respective store level computers, wherein the system includes means for associating a purchased product with a customer account.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising check-outs in respective stores, the check-outs respectively including bar code readers, the check-outs being in communication with respective store level computers, wherein the check-out comprises means for totaling the costs of purchases, wherein the system includes means for associating a purchased item with a customer account, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for deleting the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to the check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed the customer interface.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account databases meet the criteria.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 wherein the customer interfaces are respectively spaced apart from the check-outs.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator means if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 96 wherein the supervisor computer further comprises means for generating a report of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
Claim 116
Independent Claim
399 words
A system for a chain of stores for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the store computers respectively including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to individual customers including information regarding customer purchases, the store level computers respectively including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; regional computers networked to groups of store level computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of store level computers defining respective chains of stores; a supervisory computer networked to the regional computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to at least one of said store level computers to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a plurality of offer communicator means, respective offer communicator means being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, respective offer communicator means being housed with respective customer interfaces; means for accessing customer account information for a particular customer, for generating an individualized list of special offers available to that particular customer, and for sending the list of special offers to the offer communicator means; the customer interfaces respectively including means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interfaces; check-outs, connected to respective store level computers, the system including means for associating a purchased item with a customer account, and for storing customer purchase information in the database in the store level computer; and means for uploading from the store level computers to the regional computers data identifying purchases made by individual customers; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity within a chain, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category in that chain.
Claim 117
Independent Claim
399 words
A system for a chain of stores for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, the system comprising: a plurality of store level computers, respective store level computers being associated with respective stores, the store computers respectively including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to individual customers including information regarding customer purchases, the store level computers respectively including a database containing special offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; regional computers networked to groups of store level computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of store level computers defining respective chains of stores; a supervisory computer networked to the regional computers, the regional computers periodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store; means for identifying a customer, said means for identifying a customer being connected to communicate information to at least one of said store level computers to associate a customer with a particular customer account; a plurality of offer communicator means, respective offer communicator means being located in respective stores and being in communication with the store level computer associated with that store, respective offer communicator means being housed with respective customer interfaces; means for accessing customer account information for a particular customer, for generating an individualized list of special offers available to that particular customer, and for sending the list of special offers to the offer communicator means; the customer interfaces respectively including means for communicating respective individualized lists of special offers to customers who access the customer interfaces; check-outs, connected to respective store level computers, the system including means for associating a purchased item with a customer account, and for storing customer purchase information in the database in the store level computer; and means for uploading from the store level computers to the regional computers data identifying purchases made by individual customers; means for defining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providing category exclusivity within a chain, wherein the system only permits special offers for one brand of product per category in that chain.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 111 and further comprising means for automatically increasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase that product after one of the offer communicators communicated a discount for that product to the customer.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the offer communicator means comprise printers.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the check-outs respectively comprise means for totaling the costs of purchases, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, and for deleting the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means for recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product for which a special offer was available to a check-out within a predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed a customer interface.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the special offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to all customers of a chain.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the system further comprising means for downloading, from the store level computers to the respective check-outs, a list of all products for which special offers exist for at least one customer, means for accessing the store level computer to provide a list of all products for which special offers may be available and for determining the special offer available to a particular customer for a particular product.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to each customer a running total of savings realized by that customer.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and for determining which customers in the customer account databases meet the criteria.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the customer interfaces are respectively spaced apart from the check-outs in each store.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means for causing one of the offer communicator means to print a predetermined number of special offers available to a particular customer, the predetermined number being the same for all customers of a chain who use the customer interfaces.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the store level computers define home stores for customer accounts such that each customer account has one home store, and wherein the customer account information for the customers are respectively stored in the store level computers of their home stores.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the store level computers respectively include means for preventing a special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator means if the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper program including means for providing points to customers based on usage of the customer interface.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 and further comprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 111 wherein the regional computer further comprises means for generating a report for a chain of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customers to purchase products.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3959624A
Cited
US4124109A
Cited
US4412631A
Cited
WO1985001373A1
Cited
US4674041A
Cited
US4554446A
Cited
US4723212A
Cited
US4882675A
Cited
US4896791A
Cited
US5388165A
Cited
US5649114A
Cited
US5515270A
Cited
US5380991A
Cited
US5459306A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-04 | 2002-07-06 | 2003-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | 2007-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-04 | 2010-07-06 | 2011-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |