Patent US5890135A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5890135A
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US
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System and method for displaying product information 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: 1999-03-30
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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", product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, a display kiosk, and a checkout station in the checkout area. The customer may comes to the store with the card loaded with electronic coupons. At any time, the customer may insert the card in a display kiosk to view the coupons stored on the card. The display kiosk both displays a video image for each coupon on the card or prints a shopping list for items in the store corresponding to coupons 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 coupons 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
2026-11-06 10:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/387; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 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 containing an image of the product; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 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 containing an image of the product; and displaying the second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 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 the third signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the CRT.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the system includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the displaying step includes printing, using the printer, the second signal on the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reading step includes reading a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 7
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 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying other information about the product with the image of the product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a location of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes displaying pricing information for the product with the image of the product.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a card memory; a communication device; first memory for storing a signal containing an image of a product; a reader that reads a first signal from the card 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; a generator for accessing the first memory, using the first signal, to generate a second signal; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A retail system comprising: a plurality of portable cards each having a card memory; a communication device; first memory for storing a signal containing an image of a product; a reader that reads a first signal from the card 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; a generator for accessing the first memory, using the first signal, to generate a second signal; and a display for displaying the second signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11 wherein each portable card includes a card memory for storing a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 11 further including a receiver means for receiving a third signal corresponding to a product; and a determiner means for determining a price for the product depending on whether the first signal corresponds to the third signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the display includes an electronic display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the display includes a cathode ray tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the display includes a printer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the generator includes circuitry that generates a second signal containing the image of the product and other information about the product.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the generator includes circuitry that generates a second signal containing the image of the product and a verbal description of the product.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the generator includes circuitry that generates a second signal containing the image of the product and a location of the product.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the generator includes circuitry that generates a second signal containing the image of the product and pricing information for the product.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a system including a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, a method of operating the system 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 communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal containing an image of the product; displaying the second signal; 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; receiving a third 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 third signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a system including a plurality of portable cards each having a memory, a first communication device, and a checkout area having a second communication device, a method of operating the system 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 communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product; generating, responsive to the first signal, a second signal containing an image of the product; displaying the second signal; 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; receiving a third 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 third signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the system includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the CRT.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the system includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the method includes printing, using the printer, the second signal on the substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the second reading step includes reading a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying the second signal on the electronic display.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the displaying step includes displaying other information about the product with the image of the product.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a location of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the displaying step includes displaying pricing information for the product with the image of the product.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a 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, 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 first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas; displaying, responsive to the first signal, an image of the product; removing the product from one of the product areas; and reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a 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, 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 first communication device, the first signal corresponding to a product in one of the product areas; displaying, responsive to the first signal, an image of the product; removing the product from one of the product areas; and reading the first signal from the memory of the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the second communication device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the reading step includes reading a first signal corresponding to pricing information for a product.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the system further includes an electronic display, and the displaying step includes displaying on the electronic display.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the system further includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), and displaying step includes displaying on the CRT.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the system further includes a printer for printing on a substrate, and wherein the displaying step includes using the printer to display on the substrate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the displaying step includes displaying other information about the product with thc image of the product.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a verbal description of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a location of the product with the image of the product.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the displaying step includes displaying pricing information for the product with the image 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) | 2002-03-29 | 2002-09-28 | 2003-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-09-28 | 2007-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-29 | 2010-09-28 | 2011-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |