System and method for distributing and processing discount coupons

• US 5,956,694 A
• Filed: 02/11/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Softcard Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Softcard Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Powell, Ken R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US08/799,691
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 235/383, 235/375
• US Class Current: 705/14.38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A system for dispensing and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. A card-dispensing collects information from a customer and subsequently issues a "smart card" for storing electronic coupons. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC product data corresponds to coupons stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

plurality of products;

a kiosk including

a card holder for concurrently holding a plurality of portable cards each having a random access memory (RAM),

a receiver that receives a first signal characterizing a customer,

a mechanism for ejecting a first card from the kiosk, the first card storing a respective second signal, and

a memory that stores an association between the first signal and the second signal; and

a checkout area including

a card reader that receives a plurality of third signals from the RAM of the first card, each third signal corresponding to a product,

a product detector that receives a fourth signal corresponding to a product, and

a price determiner that determines a price depending on whether the fourth signal corresponds to one of the received third signals,

wherein the kiosk further includes

a writer that writes one of the third signals into the RAM of the first card, and the system further includes

a second writer that writes one of the third signals into the RAM of a card ejected from the kiosk, the second writer being removed from the kiosk.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a keyboard.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver includes an interface for receiving the first signal from another card.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the kiosk further includes a sender that sends the respective second signal to the first card.

5. In a system including a plurality of products, a kiosk, and a checkout area, a method of operating the system comprising the steps, performed in the kiosk, of

concurrently holding a plurality of cards each having a random access memory (RAM),

receiving a first signal characterizing a customer;

ejecting a card in the plurality of cards from the kiosk, the ejected card storing a respective second signal; and

storing an association between the first signal and the second signal, and the steps, performed in the checkout area, of;

receiving a plurality of third signals from the RAM of the ejected card, each third signal corresponding to a product;

receiving a fourth signal corresponding to a product; and

determining a price depending on whether the fourth signal corresponds to one of the received third signals,

wherein the method further includes

the step, performed in the kiosk, of writing one of the third signals into the RAM of the card, and

the step, performed outside of the kiosk, of writing one of the third signals into the RAM of a card ejected from the kiosk.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of receiving a first signal includes receiving the first signal from a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of receiving a first signal includes receiving the first signal from another card.

8. The method of claim 5 further including the step, performed in the kiosk, of sending the respective second signal to the card.