US6334108B1 — Method and system for selective incentive point-o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

A method of performing customer promotion with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of: entering into the memory the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code; storing in the memory data representative of a customer's previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code; determining with the processor from said stored data information regarding a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased in at least one previous visit to the store; and in response to said information, generating at the point-of-sale an incentive signal for said customer based upon said information regarding said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 140 words

A method of performing customer promotion with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of: entering into the memory the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code; storing in the memory data representative of a customer's previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code; determining with the processor from said stored data information regarding a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased in at least one previous visit to the store; and in response to said information, generating at the point-of-sale an incentive signal for said customer based upon said information regarding said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to buy said product frequently previously purchased by said customer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to return to the store within a time period.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to increase future purchase values over an amount previously paid by said customer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising: detecting financial data regarding a customer's shopping history; and storing in the memory said financial data in association with said customer's identification code.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 5 and further comprising: issuing in response to said incentive signal a coupon to those customers whose prior shopping history meets in frequent shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said customer's identification code comprises the customer's checking account number.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said customer's identification code comprises the customer's credit card number.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said customer's shopping history comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a selected time period.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising: issuing in response to said incentive signal a coupon in an effort to incent said customer; monitoring whether or not said coupon has been effective; and subsequently issuing additional coupons depending upon the results of said monitoring step.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon is deemed to be effective if it is redeemed within a selected time period.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon are monitored by scanning identification numbers on said coupon when it is redeemed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon is deemed to be effective if a customer's future purchases increase.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupons issued in dependence upon the results of said monitoring are increased in value over said prior coupons.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 207 words

A method for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of: entering into the memory at a store's point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers' payment instruments at the point-of-sale; entering into the memory data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer's shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer; creating a database of the store's customers' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased; generating with the processor a first signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said first signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said first signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 207 words

A method for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of: entering into the memory at a store's point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers' payment instruments at the point-of-sale; entering into the memory data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer's shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer; creating a database of the store's customers' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased; generating with the processor a first signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said first signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said first signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 91 words

The method of claim 15 and further comprising: effecting a first sales promotion to said customer in response to said first signal; monitoring said customer's shopping transactions subsequent to said first sales promotion; generating with the processor a second signal in dependence upon the results of said monitoring of a customer whose shopping activity fails to meet a response criteria; and effecting a subsequent second sales promotion to said customers whose shopping activity fails to meet said predetermined response criteria, said second sales promotion being differentiated from said first sales promotion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said shopping history criteria comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a preselected time range.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said future shopping criteria comprises a purchase transaction at the store by said customer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined response criteria comprises purchases from the store.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 15 and further comprising dispensing a sales promotion to the customer at the point-of-sale in response to said first signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15 and further comprising the step of printing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said first signal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said step of entering comprises automatically reading the account code of the payment instrument presented by the customer at the point-of-sale.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said shopping history criteria comprises the dollar value of shopping transactions at the store during a preselected time range.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined response criteria comprises purchases from the store.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said entering comprises automatically reading the account code of the payment instrument presented by the customer at the point-of-sale.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for customer promotion comprising: apparatus for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code; a memory for storing data representative of a customer's previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code; and circuitry responsive to said data stored in said memory for generating indications of a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for customer promotion comprising: apparatus for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code; a memory for storing data representative of a customer's previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code; and circuitry responsive to said data stored in said memory for generating indications of a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 26 and further comprising: circuitry for detecting numerical data regarding a customer's shopping history; and said memory storing said financial data in association with said customer's identification code.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 27 and further comprising apparatus for issuing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said indications to those customers whose prior shopping history meets shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers, said coupon providing incentives based upon said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 28 wherein said customer's identification code comprises the customer's checking account number.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 28 wherein said customer's identification code comprises the customer's credit card number.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 28 wherein said customer's shopping history comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a selected time period.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 87 words

The system of claim 26 and further comprising: apparatus for issuing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said indications to those customers whose prior shopping history meets shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers, said coupon providing incentives based upon said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased; circuitry for monitoring whether or not said coupon has been effective; and said apparatus subsequently issuing an additional coupon depending upon the results of said monitoring.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is deemed to be effective if it is redeemed within a selected time period.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is monitored by scanning an identification number on said coupon when it is redeemed.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is deemed to be effective if a customer's future purchases increase.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 32 wherein said apparatus issues incentive coupons in dependence upon the results of said monitoring which are increased in value over said prior coupons.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 202 words

A system for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers comprising: a terminal for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers' payment instruments at the point-of-sale in a retail store; circuitry associated with said terminal for entering data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer's shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer; a memory for creating a database of the store's customers' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased; circuitry for generating an incentive signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said incentive signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said incentive signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being previously frequently purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 202 words

A system for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers comprising: a terminal for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers' payment instruments at the point-of-sale in a retail store; circuitry associated with said terminal for entering data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer's shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer; a memory for creating a database of the store's customers' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased; circuitry for generating an incentive signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said incentive signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said incentive signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being previously frequently purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-12-24	2005-06-25	2005-12-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-12-24	2009-06-25	2009-12-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-12-24	2013-06-25	2013-12-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for selective incentive point-of-sale marketing in response to customer shopping histories

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