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System and method for locating products in a retail system
Assignee: STERLING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS D/B/A SPARKFLY LLC
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Filing: 1996-02-20
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Granted: 1999-03-23
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Expires: 2016-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for displaying, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a "smart card", a display kiosk, and a checkout station in the checkout area. The customer comes to the store with the card loaded with electronic coupons. At any time, the customer may insert the card into the display kiosk to view the location of products corresponding to the coupons stored on the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC data matches a coupon stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon.
Inventors
- 👤 Ken R. Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In a system including a communication device and a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of: reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product, the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a system including a communication device and a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of: reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product, the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further including receiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to third signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a memory area containing product information, and the generating step include the steps of accessing the memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the memory area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes the step of displaying the second signal on the CRT.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the method includes displaying, using the printer, the second signal on the substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a first memory area containing a first type of product information, and a second memory area containing a second type of product information, and the generating step include the steps of accessing the first memory area using the first signal; and accessing the second memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the first and second memory areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a respective memory for storing a first signal corresponding to a product the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; a communication device; first memory area; a reader for reading the first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device; a generator for accessing the first memory area, using the first signal, to generate a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a respective memory for storing a first signal corresponding to a product the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; a communication device; first memory area; a reader for reading the first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device; a generator for accessing the first memory area, using the first signal, to generate a second signal corresponding to a location of the product; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The retail system of claim 7 further including a store having a roof structure, wherein the product is under the roof structure and the display is under the roof structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The retail system of claim 7 further including a second memory area for storing a signal containing a verbal description of the product, wherein the generator acts to access both the first and second memory areas, using the first signal, to produce the second signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The retail system of claim 7 further including a receiver for receiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and a determiner for determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to the third signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of operating a retail system including a plurality of product areas, a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of: a first reading step of reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas, the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; displaying a location of the product in accordance with the first signal; removing the product from the product area; and a second reading step of reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of operating a retail system including a plurality of product areas, a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of: a first reading step of reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas, the first signal having a respective field for designating a coupon redemption value; displaying a location of the product in accordance with the first signal; removing the product from the product area; and a second reading step of reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 11 further including the step of receiving a second signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal, read in the second reading step, corresponds to the second signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the electronic display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the location of the product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying the location of the product on a map.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the display includes an electronic display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the display includes a cathode ray tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the display includes a printer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the generator includes circuitry for generating the location of the product on a map.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying on the electronic display.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube, and the displaying step includes displaying on the cathode ray tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the location of the product.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying step includes displaying the location of the product on a map.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a system including a communication device and a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of: reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal corresponding to a location of the product on a map; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a system including a communication device and a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of: reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal corresponding to a location of the product on a map; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the reading step includes reading a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the electronic display.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the location of the product.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24 further including receiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to third signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the system further includes a memory area containing product information, and the generating step include the steps of accessing the memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the memory area.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the CRT.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the system further includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the method includes displaying, using the printer, the second signal on the substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the system further includes a first memory area containing a first type of product information, and a second memory area containing a second type of product information, and the generating step include the steps of accessing the first memory area using the first signal; and accessing the second memory area using the first signal; and generating the second signal by reading from the first and second memory areas.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
94 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a respective memory for storing a first signal corresponding to a product; a communication device; first memory area; a reader for reading the first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device; a generator for accessing the first memory area, using the first signal, to generate a second signal corresponding to a location of the product on a map; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
94 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a respective memory for storing a first signal corresponding to a product; a communication device; first memory area; a reader for reading the first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the communication device; a generator for accessing the first memory area, using the first signal, to generate a second signal corresponding to a location of the product on a map; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the display includes an electronic display.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the display includes a cathode ray tube.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the display includes a printer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The retail system of claim 33 further including a store having a roof structure, wherein the product is under the roof structure and the display is under the roof structure.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
45 words
The retail system of claim 33 further including a second memory area for storing a signal containing a verbal description of the product, wherein the generator acts to access both the first and second memory areas, using the first signal, to produce the second signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
The retail system of claim 33 further including a receiver for receiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and a determiner for determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to the third signal.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of operating a retail system including a plurality of product areas, a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, the comprising the steps of: a first reading step of reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas; displaying, responsive to the first signal, a location of the product on a map; removing the product from the product area; and a second reading step of reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of operating a retail system including a plurality of product areas, a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, the comprising the steps of: a first reading step of reading a first signal from the memory of a card in the plurality of cards, in response to a person presenting the card at the first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas; displaying, responsive to the first signal, a location of the product on a map; removing the product from the product area; and a second reading step of reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 40 further including the step of receiving a second signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal, read in the second reading step, corresponds to the second signal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the second reading step includes reading a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying on the electronic display.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube, and the displaying step includes displaying on the cathode ray tube.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the location of the product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-22 | 2002-09-21 | 2003-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-22 | 2006-09-21 | 2007-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-22 | 2010-09-21 | 2011-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |