System and method for POS based fuzzy theory utilizing data extraction

• US 5,467,270 A
• Filed: 01/29/1992
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/827,038
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/403, 364/419.2, 395/900, 395/925, 395/61
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In order to facilitate a customer'"'"'s non-specific enquiry relating to sales records accumulated by a POS system, the sales records are utilized to form a plurality of data tables in response to the customer'"'"'s non-specific enquiry. The data tables thus obtained are multiplied to produce at least one fuzzy membership function. The function is used to isolate data in an inventory data base pertinent to the non-specific enquiry.

Claims

1. A data extraction system comprising:

data reader means;

data base means for sorting and storing data from said data reader means, said data base means storing an inventory data base correlating item numbers with characteristics of said item and responsive to an inquiry to generate a plurality of first data tables, said plurality of first data tables being divided into groups;

receiving means for receiving the plurality of said first data tables and for generating a plurality of fuzzy membership functions by multiplying together the first data tables in each said group;

multiplying means for multiplying the plurality of fuzzy membership functions to generate a second data table, said multiplying means screening data pertaining to said inquiry by comparing said second data table with a threshold level to determine identity information pertinent to said inquiry; and

identifying means for identifying specific items, using said pertinent identity information in said inventory data base of items.

2. A data extraction system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data reader includes at least one of a bar code reader and a customer card reader.

3. A data extraction system comprising:

a bar code reader;

a customer card reader;

sales data base means which includes a memory for storing data inputs from said bar code reader and said customer card reader, said sales data base means storing an inventory data base correlating item numbers with characteristics of said item numbers and being responsive to an inquiry to generate a plurality of data tables;

multiplying means for dividing said data tables into groups and multiplying together the data tables in each of selected groups to produce a plurality of fuzzy membership functions;

deriving means for generating a multiplicand of the plurality of fuzzy membership functions and comparing said multiplicand with a threshold level to determine item identification data;

identifying means for identifying one or more of said item numbers in said inventory data base using said item identification data.

4. A data extraction method, comprising the steps of:

receiving data from a data reader means;

sorting and storing the data from said data reader means;

responding to an inquiry concerning said stored data to obtain a plurality of first data tables;

dividing the plurality of said first data tables into groups, and generating a plurality of fuzzy membership functions by multiplying together the first data tables in each said group;

multiplying together the plurality of said fuzzy membership functions to generate a second data table;

screening data pertaining to said inquiry using said second data table to determine information pertaining to said inquiry; and

identifying specific items pertinent to the inquiry using said information in an inventory data base by correlating each item number with the characteristics of said item number.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data reader means includes at least one of a bar code reader and a customer card reader.

6. A data extraction method comprising the steps of:

receiving data from a bar code reader means;

receiving data from a customer'"'"'s card reader means;

receiving and storing in a memory the data from said bar code reader means and said customer'"'"'s card reader means to generate a plurality of data tables;

dividing said data tables into groups;

multiplying together the data in each group to produce a plurality of fuzzy membership functions;

deriving a multiplicand of the plurality of said fuzzy membership functions;

comparing said multiplicand with a threshold level to determine item identification data; and

identifying one or more items in an inventory data base by correlating each item number with the characteristics of said item and using said item identification data and generating information relating to the point of sale and customers.