Method and apparatus for dispensing samples and premiums
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing sample products and premiums, said system comprising:
- at least one data entry terminal operable for identifying items being purchased by a given consumer and predetermined qualifiers, said data entry terminal generating an output signal identifying each of said products or qualifiers,memory means for storing at least one sample/premium file, said sample/premium file identifying each product and qualifier for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed,a data processor coupled to said data entry terminal and said memory means, said data processor operable for receiving said output signal from said data entry terminal and for comparing said products and qualifiers identified therein to said sample/premium file, said data processor generating a dispense signal if any of said purchased products or qualifiers are listed in said sample/premium file, anddispensing means coupled to said microprocessor and operative for receiving said dispense signal and dispensing a sample or premium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dispensing sample products and premiums which includes at least one data entry terminal operable for identifying particular circumstances including items being purchased by a given consumer and for generating an output signal identifying each of the products or other qualifiers, memory means for storing at least one sample/premium file which identifies each product or qualifier for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed, a data processor coupled to the data entry terminal and the memory and operable for receiving the output signal from the data entry terminal, for comparing the products or other qualifiers identified therein to the sample/premium file and for generating a sample/premium dispense signal if any of the purchased products or other qualifiers are listed in the sample file, and sample/premium dispensing device coupled to the microprocessor and operative for receiving the sample/premium dispense signal and dispensing a sample or premium. A system for the creation and continuous real-time updating of consumer purchase behavior databases through the capture, maintenance, organization and analysis of the purchase activity of consumers which database is generated through the use of the system for the dispensing of sample products and premiums as aforesaid.
289 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing sample products and premiums, said system comprising:
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at least one data entry terminal operable for identifying items being purchased by a given consumer and predetermined qualifiers, said data entry terminal generating an output signal identifying each of said products or qualifiers, memory means for storing at least one sample/premium file, said sample/premium file identifying each product and qualifier for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed, a data processor coupled to said data entry terminal and said memory means, said data processor operable for receiving said output signal from said data entry terminal and for comparing said products and qualifiers identified therein to said sample/premium file, said data processor generating a dispense signal if any of said purchased products or qualifiers are listed in said sample/premium file, and dispensing means coupled to said microprocessor and operative for receiving said dispense signal and dispensing a sample or premium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 29, 30, 31)
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9. A system for dispensing sample products and premiums, said system comprising:
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at least one data entry terminal operable for identifying items being purchased by a given consumer and predetermined qualifiers, said data entry terminal generating an output signal identifying each of said products or qualifiers, memory means for storing at least one sample/premium file, said sample/premium file identifying each product and qualifier for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed, a data processor coupled to said data entry terminal and said memory means, said data processor operable for receiving said output signal from said data entry terminal and for comparing said products or qualifiers identified therein to said sample/premium file, said data processor generating a unique code if any of said purchased products or qualifiers are listed in said sample/premium file, a printer coupled to said data processor and operative for printing said unique code, and dispensing means coupled to said microprocessor and operative for dispensing a sample or premium upon entry of said unique code. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for dispensing sample products or premiums, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying each qualifier entitling the consumer to receive a product sample or premium, such as identifying each item being purchased by a given consumer or identifying another predetermined qualifier, and generating an output signal identifying each of said qualifiers, storing at least one sample/premium file, said sample/premium file identifying each qualifier for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed, comparing the qualifiers identified in said output signal to said sample/premium file, and generating a dispense signal if any of said purchased products or other qualifiers are listed in said sample/premium file, and transmitting said dispense signal to a sample/premium dispenser, and dispensing a sample or premium. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for dispensing sample products or premiums, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying each qualifier entitling the consumer to receive a product sample or premium, such as identifying each item being purchased by a given consumer or identifying a predetermined qualifier, and generating an output signal identifying each of said qualifiers, storing at least one sample/premium file, said sample/premium file identifying each product for which a given sample or premium should be dispensed, comparing the products identified in said output signal to said sample/premium file, and generating a unique code if any of said purchased products are listed in said sample file, said unique code identifying the sample or premium to be dispensed, printing said unique code, and inputting said unique code into a dispenser, and dispensing a sample. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification