Self-contained personal data collector for redeeming coupons

• US 5,665,953 A
• Filed: 02/14/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lobar Code Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lobar Code Incorporated
• Inventors: Mazzamuto, Anthony, Lozano, Ricardo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/601,265
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0043 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management

Abstract

A self-contained personal data collector for redeeming product coupons having product code information in machine-readable form thereon, the data collector comprising: (a) a first memory device containing a product coupon list having a plurality of entries, each entry including product code information for a product; (b) a scanner for scanning machine-readable product code information from a coupon; (c) a comparator for comparing the scanned product code information with the entries of the product coupon list in the first memory device to find a match; (d) a display for displaying the matched product code information; (e) means for assigning a unique identifier to the matched product code information; and (f) a second memory device for storing a list of matched product code information and corresponding unique identifiers as individual item entries, wherein the item entries can be retrieved and tallied by a register at a product purchase location.

Claims

1. A self-contained personal data collector for redeeming product coupons having product code information in machine readable form thereon, the data collector comprising:

(a) a first memory device containing a product coupon list having a plurality of entries, each entry including product code information for a product;

(b) a scanner for scanning machine readable product code information from a coupon;

(c) a comparator for comparing the scanned product code information with the entries of the product coupon list in the first memory device to find a match;

(d) a display for displaying the matched product code information;

(e) means for assigning a unique identifier to the matched product code information; and

(f) a second memory device for storing a list of matched product code information and corresponding unique identifiers as individual item entries, wherein the item entries can be retrieved and tallied by a register at a product purchase location.

2. The data collector of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the product code information on the coupon is in bar code form and the product code information for each entry of the coupon list includes a UPC bar code numeric code and product information in ASCII form;

(b) the data-collector further comprises a converter for converting the scanned coupon information from bar code form to UPC form; and

(c) the comparator compares the coupon information with the UPC code of each entry of the coupon list.

3. The data collector of claim 2 further comprising a third memory device for storing the scanned and unmatched bar code information for retrieval and accounting by said register.

4. The data collector of claim 2 wherein the product information includes coupon value, expiration date, and product identification.

5. The data collector of claim 4 wherein each entry in the coupon list further includes a product description, and the display displays the product information and the product description.

6. The collector of claim 1 further comprising user input means for allowing a user to elect storing the matched product code information in the second memory device.

7. The collector of claim 6 wherein the user input means further allows a user to delete an item entry from the list in the second memory device.

8. The collector of claim 7 wherein the user input means further allows a user to display a catalog of the item entries in the list stored in the second memory device on the display.

9. The collector of claim 1 further comprising means for downloading the item entries from the second memory device to the register.

10. A self-contained personal data collector for redeeming product coupons having product code information in machine readable form thereon, the data collector comprising:

(a) a first memory device containing a product coupon list having a plurality of entries, each entry including a UPC bar code numeric code and product information in ASCII form, wherein the product information includes coupon value, expiration date, product identification, and product description;

(b) a scanner for scanning machine readable product code information from a coupon;

(c) a converter for converting the scanned coupon information from bar code form to UPC code;

(d) a comparator for comparing the converted UPC code information with the UPC code of each entry of the product coupon list in the first memory device to find a match;

(e) a display for displaying the matched product code information;

(f) means for assigning a unique identifier to the matched product code information;

(g) a second memory device for storing a list of matched product code information and corresponding unique identifiers as individual item entries, wherein the item entries can be retrieved and tallied by a register at a product purchase location;

(h) a third memory device for storing the scanned and unmatched bar code information for retrieval and accounting by said register; and

(i) user input means for allowing a user to;

(1) elect storing the matched product code information in the second memory device;

(2) delete an item entry from the list in the second memory device; and

(3) display a catalog of the item entries in the list stored in the second memory device on the display.

11. The collector of claim 10 further comprising means for downloading the item entries from the second memory device and from the third memory device 28 to the register.

12. A method of redeeming product coupons having product code information in machine readable form thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning machine readable product code information from a coupon;

(b) comparing the scanned product code information with a product coupon list stored in a first memory device to find a match, the list having a plurality of entries, each entry including product code information for a product;

(c) displaying the matched product code information on a display;

(d) assigning a unique identifier to the matched product code information; and

(e) storing a list of matched product code information and corresponding unique identifiers as individual item entries in a second memory device, wherein the item entries can be retrieved and tallied by a register at a product purchase location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the product code information on the coupon is in bar code form and the product code information in each entry of the coupon list includes a UPC code and production information in ASCII form, and wherein the method further comprises the step of converting the scanned coupon information from bar code form to UPC code, and the step of comparing comprises comparing the converted UPC code with the UPC code of each entry of the coupon list.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of storing the scanned and unmatched bar code information in a third memory device for retrieval and accounting by said register.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the product information includes coupon value, expiration date, and product identification.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each entry in the coupon list further includes a product description, and the step of displaying comprises displaying the product information and the product description.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of accepting user input for allowing a user to elect storing the matched product code information in the second memory device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of accepting user input includes accepting user input to allow a user to delete an item entry from the list in the second memory device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of accepting user input includes accepting user input to display a catalog of the item entries in the list stored in the second memory device on a display.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of downloading the item entries from the second memory device to a register at a product purchase location for tallying.

21. A system for redeeming product coupons, comprising:

(a) a self-contained personal data collector for reading product coupons having product code information in machine readable form thereon, the data collector comprising;

(i) a first memory device containing a coupon list having a plurality of entries, wherein each entry includes product code information for a product;

(ii) a scanner for scanning machine readable product code information from a coupon;

(iii) a comparator for comparing the scanned product code information with the entries of the coupon list in the first memory device to find a match;

(iv) a display for displaying the matched product code information;

(v) means for assigning a unique identifier to the matched product code information;

(vi) a second memory device for storing at least one item entry, wherein each item entry includes a matched product code information and a corresponding unique identifier; and

(vii) means for downloading the item entries from the second memory device; and

(b) a register system located at a product purchase location to communicate with the downloading means of the data collector for retrieving and tallying the item entries in the second memory device of the data collector and for redemption of the tallied entries against corresponding products selected for purchase.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein:

(a) the product code information on the coupon is in bar code form and the product code information for each entry of the coupon list in the data-collector includes a UPC bar code numeric code and product information in ASCII form;

(b) the data-collector further comprises a converter for converting the scanned coupon information from bar code form to UPC form; and

(c) the comparator of the data-collector compares the coupon information with the UPC code of each entry of the coupon list.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the data collector further comprises a third memory device for storing the scanned and unmatched bar code information for retrieval and accounting by said register system.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the product information includes coupon value, expiration date, and product identification.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein each entry in the coupon list of the data collector further includes a product description, and the display displays the product information and the product description.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the data collector further comprises user input means for allowing a user to elect storing the matched product code information in the second memory device.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the user input means further allows a user to delete an item entry from the list in the second memory device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the user input means further allows a user to display a catalog of the item entries in the list stored in the second memory device on the display.