Real-time promotion engine system and method
First Claim
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1. A method for facilitating the evaluation of purchases to determine if the purchases qualify for a promotion from a first merchant, wherein said method includes:
- receiving, from a first merchant, first criteria for awarding a promotion associated with said first merchant;
storing said first criteria in a central database as a first promotion rule;
receiving, from a second merchant, second criteria for awarding a promotion associated with said second merchant;
storing said second criteria in a central database as a second promotion rule;
receiving consumer ID and associated purchase information from a point of sale terminal at any of said first merchant store locations;
determining if said purchase information satisfies at least a portion of said first promotion rule;
selecting promotion information based on the portion of said first promotion rule which is satisfied; and
, transmitting said promotion information to said point of sale terminal at said first merchant, thereby notifying a consumer in real-time of said promotion.
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Abstract
When a merchant desires to offer a promotion, the merchant suitably constructs and activates the bonus point promotion rule in real-time by utilizing the centralized promotions engine. When a consumer purchases the applicable products at the merchant, the promotion engine evaluates the consumer ID and consumer purchase data from a point of sale (POS) terminal, awards applicable promotions in real-time, and notifies the consumer of the promotion in real-time while the consumer is waiting at the POS terminal during check-out.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating the evaluation of purchases to determine if the purchases qualify for a promotion from a first merchant, wherein said method includes:
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receiving, from a first merchant, first criteria for awarding a promotion associated with said first merchant;
storing said first criteria in a central database as a first promotion rule;
receiving, from a second merchant, second criteria for awarding a promotion associated with said second merchant;
storing said second criteria in a central database as a second promotion rule;
receiving consumer ID and associated purchase information from a point of sale terminal at any of said first merchant store locations;
determining if said purchase information satisfies at least a portion of said first promotion rule;
selecting promotion information based on the portion of said first promotion rule which is satisfied; and
,transmitting said promotion information to said point of sale terminal at said first merchant, thereby notifying a consumer in real-time of said promotion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for facilitating the evaluation of purchases to determine if the purchases qualify for a promotion from a first merchant, wherein said method includes:
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receiving, from a first merchant, first criteria for awarding a promotion associated with said first merchant;
storing said first criteria in a central database as a first promotion rule;
receiving consumer ID and associated purchase information from a point of sale terminal at any of said first merchant store locations;
determining if said purchase information satisfies at least a portion of said first promotion rule;
selecting promotion information based on the portion of said first promotion rule which is satisfied; and
,transmitting said promotion information to said point of sale terminal at said first merchant; and
,displaying said promotion information. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A system for facilitating the evaluation of purchases to determine if the purchases qualify for a promotion from a merchant system, wherein said system includes:
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a real-time promotion engine configured to store promotion rules, receive consumer ID and associated purchase information from a merchant system, determine if said purchase information satisfies at least a portion of said promotion rules, select promotion information based on the portion of said promotion rule which is satisfied, and transmit said promotion information to a merchant system, thereby notifying a consumer in real-time of said promotion;
a first merchant system configured to communicate with said promotion engine, transmit first criteria for promotion rules associated with said first merchant to said promotion engine, and transmit consumer ID and associated purchase information to said promotion engine; and
,a second merchant system configured to communicate with said promotion engine, transmit second criteria for promotion rules associated with said second merchant to said promotion engine, and transmit consumer ID and associated purchase information to said promotion engine. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification