APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR NEGOTIATING DISCOUNT OFFERS

• US 20100280960A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ziotopoulos, Agisilaos-Georgios, Kaleas, Dimosthenis, Bilange, Eric
• Application Number:
  US12/435,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methodologies are provided that facilitate negotiating discount offers. Mobile devices are equipped to detect product identification data from a barcode or RFID tag. The product identification data can be wirelessly transmitted to a discount negotiator which calculates a discount offer for the product and sends a discount offer back to the mobile device while the customer is considering whether to purchase the product. The discount negotiator calculates the discount offers based on a set of rules which may account for one or more factors, including the expiration date of a product, the quantity being purchased, product bundling, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A method for negotiating discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

detecting product identification data for a product using a mobile device;

transmitting, over the wireless network, the product identification data to a discount negotiator application; and

receiving, at the mobile device, a discount offer for the product from the discount negotiator application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one proposed parameter for the discount offer to the discount negotiator application.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an indication of acceptance of the discount offer to the discount negotiator application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one discount offer to a point of sale terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

paying a price reflecting the discount offer when the product is purchased.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

paying a labeled price for the product at a point of sale terminal; and

receiving a credit for a value of the discount offer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on purchasing more than one unit of the product.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on the expiration date of the product.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on simultaneously purchasing at least one additional different product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on reduced overhead costs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identification data is a barcode.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identification data is an RFID tag.

13. At least one processor configured to negotiate discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a first module for detecting product identification data for a product using a mobile device;

a second module for transmitting, over the wireless network, the product identification data to a discount negotiator application; and

a third module for receiving, at the mobile device, a discount offer for the product from the discount negotiator application.

14. A computer program product configured for negotiating discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to detect product identification data for a product using a mobile device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit the product identification data to a discount negotiator application; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, at the mobile device, a discount offer for the product from the discount negotiator application.

15. An apparatus configured for negotiating discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

means for detecting product identification data for a product using a mobile device;

means for transmitting the product identification data to a discount negotiator application; and

means for receiving, at the mobile device, a discount offer for the product from the discount negotiator application.

16. An apparatus configured for negotiating discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a product identification data detector that detects product identification data for a product using a mobile device;

a transmitter that transmits the product identification data to a discount negotiator application; and

a receiver that receives, at the mobile device, a discount offer for the product from the discount negotiator application.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmitter transmits at least one proposed parameter for the discount offer.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmitter transmits an indication of acceptance to the discount payment offer.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on purchasing more than one unit of the product.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on the expiration date of the product.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on simultaneously purchasing at least one additional different product.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the discount offer is based at least in part on reduced overhead costs.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the product identification data is a barcode.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the product identification data is an RFID tag.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transmitter transmits at least one discount offer to a point of sale terminal.

26. A method for automatically negotiating discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

receiving product identification data for a product from a mobile device;

retrieving characteristic information about the product from a retailer inventory database;

calculating a discount offer based on predetermined rules and information contained in the retailer inventory database; and

transmitting, over the wireless network, the discount offer to the mobile device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving at least one proposed parameter for the discount offer to the discount negotiator application from the mobile device.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving an indication of acceptance of the discount offer from the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting at least one discount offer to a point of sale terminal.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving confirmation from a point of sale terminal that the product was purchased in a quantity indicated in the discount offer.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting a payment credit message to a credit card company.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

calculating the discount offer based at least in part on purchasing more than one unit of the product.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

calculating the discount offer based at least in part on the expiration date of the product.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

calculating the discount offer based at least in part on simultaneously purchasing at least one additional different product.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

calculating the discount offer based at least in part reduced overhead costs.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the product identification data is a barcode.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the product identification data is an RFID tag.

38. At least one processor configured to automatically negotiate discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a first module for receiving, over the wireless network, product identification data for a product from a mobile device;

a second module for querying a retailer inventory database;

a third module for calculating a discount offer; and

a fourth module for transmitting, over the wireless network, the discount offer to the mobile device.

39. A computer program product configured to automatically negotiate discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive product identification data for a product from a mobile device;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to retrieve characteristic information about the product from a retailer inventory database

at least one instruction for causing a computer to calculate a discount offer based on predetermined rules; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit the discount offer to the mobile device.

40. An apparatus configured to automatically negotiate discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

means for receiving product identification data for a product from a mobile device;

means for querying a retailer inventory database;

means for calculating a discount offer; and

means for transmitting the discount offer to the mobile device.

41. An apparatus configured to automatically negotiate discounts over a wireless network, comprising:

a receiver that receives product identification data for a product from a mobile device;

a retailer inventory database query application that retrieves characteristic information about the product from retailer inventory database;

a discount offer negotiation application that automatically calculating a discount offer for the product; and

a transmitter that sends the discount offer to the mobile device.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the receiver receives at least one proposed parameter for the discount offer from the mobile device.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the receiver receives an indication of acceptance of the discount payment offer from the mobile device.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the discount offer negotiation application calculates the discount offer based at least in part on purchasing more than one unit of the product.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the discount offer negotiation application calculates the discount offer based at least in part on the expiration date of the product.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the discount offer negotiation application calculates the discount offer based at least in part on simultaneously purchasing at least one additional different product.

47. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the discount offer negotiation application calculates the discount offer based at least in part on reduced overhead costs.

48. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the product identification data is a barcode.

49. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the product identification data is an RFID tag.

50. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the transmitter transmits at least one discount offer to a point of sale terminal.