System and method for transferring identification information between portable cards in a computerized retail store having communication among a plurality of computers

• US 6,055,509 A
• Filed: 02/11/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sterling Global Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Ken R. Powell
• Inventors: Powell, Ken R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US08/799,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/1, 705/16, 705/30, 705/400, 235/383
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A system for auditing coupon distribution in a retail store. The system includes a plurality of retail stores, each having a coupon-dispensing unit for writing electronic coupons onto portable IC cards carried by each customer. To audit the system, store personnel insert an auditing card into the coupon-dispensing units, to collect the dates and recipients of coupon-dispensing transactions.

Claims

1. A method for a system including a plurality of first cards each having a first memory and respective first signal, a second card, a first computer that receives from the second card, and a store including a plurality of products, a central computer, and a checkout station having an electromagnetic detector and a checkout computer, the method comprising the step of:

sending a second signal to the first memory of a card in the plurality of first cards, the second signal corresponding to one of the plurality of products, and the following steps, performed in the store, of;

communicating product data between the central computer and the checkout computer;

receiving the first signal from the card in the plurality of first cards;

sending the first signal to the second card;

receiving, in the checkout computer, second signals from the card in the plurality of first cards;

receiving a third signal from the electromagnetic detector, the third signal corresponding to a product in the store; and

determining a price depending on whether the third signal corresponds to one of the received second signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the first signal, from the second card to the first computer, includes sending a time signal to the first computer.

3. The method of claim 2 further including generating the time signal;

and

reducing a length of the time signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the store includes a plurality of interfaces, and the step of sending a second signal is performed in one of the interfaces.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the store includes a plurality of interfaces, and the step of sending a second signal includes the step, performed in one of the interfaces, of receiving the second signal from the second card.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the store includes a plurality of interfaces, and the step of sending a second signal includes the step, performed in one of the interfaces, of receiving the second signal from the second card after the interface detects the card in the plurality of first cards.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the store includes a plurality of interfaces, and the step of the sending a second signal includes sending the second signal from one of the interfaces, at a time when the second card is touching one of the interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the store includes a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of sending the first signal to the second card includes sending a signal identifying one of the interfaces.

9. The method of claim 1 further including sending the first signal from the second card to the first computer, by sending the second card out of the store.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a third card, and the method further includes sending the first signal from the second card to the computer by sending the first signal to the third card, and sending the first signal from the third card to the computer.

11. A store for a system including a plurality of first cards each having a first memory and respective first signal, a second card, and a first computer that receives from the second card, the store comprising:

a plurality of products;

a central computer;

a checkout station including

an electromagnetic detector for generating a third signal corresponding to a product,

a checkout computer that communicates product data between the checkout computer and the central computer, and receives second signals from a card in the plurality of first cards;

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

a receiver that receives a first signal from the card in the plurality of first cards; and

a sender that sends the first signal to the second card.

12. The store of claim 11 wherein the receiver and sender are part of an interface having an electrical contact for touching the first card, and for touching the second card.

13. The store of claim 11 further including an interface that receives the second signal from the second portable card.

14. The store of claim 11 further including a clock to generate a time signal for sending to the second card.

15. The store of claim 14 further including logic to reduce a length of the time signal.

16. The store of claim 11 wherein the sender is configured to send a signal, identifying the interface, to the second card.

17. A card processing system in a system including a plurality of first cards each having a first memory and respective first signal, a second card, a first computer that receives from the second card, and a store including a plurality of products, a central computer, and a checkout station having an electromagnetic detector and a checkout computer that communicates product data between the central computer and the checkout computer, the card processing system comprising:

means for receiving the first signal from a card in the plurality of first cards;

means for sending the first signal to the second card;

means for receiving second signals from the card in the plurality of first cards;

means for receiving a third signal from the electromagnetic detector, the third signal corresponding to a product in the store; and

means for determining a price depending on whether the third signal corresponds to one of the received second signals.

18. The card processing system of claim 17 wherein the means for sending the first signal includes means for sending a time signal.

19. The card processing of claim 18 further including means for generating the time signal;

and means for reducing a length of the time signal.

20. The card processing system of claim 17 further including an interface with a sender for sending a second signal to the card in the plurality of first cards, the interface acting to receive, the second signal from the second card.

21. The card processing system of claim 17 further including an interface with a sender for sending a second signal to the card in the plurality of first cards, the interface acting to receive the second signal from the second card after the interface detects the card in the plurality of first cards.

22. The card processing system of claim 17 further including an interface with a sender for sending a second signal to the card in the plurality of first cards, the sender acting to send the second signal at a time when the second card is touching the interface.

23. The card processing system of claim 17 wherein the means for sending the first signal to the second card includes means for generating a signal identifying the interface.

24. A store for a system including a plurality of first cards each having a first memory and respective first signal, a second card, and a first computer that receives from the second card, the store comprising:

a plurality of products;

a central computer;

a checkout station including

means for generating a third signal corresponding to a product,

means for communicating product data with the central computer, and

means for receiving second signals from a card in the plurality of first cards,

means for determining a price depending on whether the third signal corresponds to one of the received second signals;

means for receiving a first signal from the card in the plurality of first cards; and

means for sending the first signal to the second card.

25. The store of claim 24 wherein the means for receiving and means for sending are part of an interface having an electrical contact for touching the first card, and for touching the second card.

26. The store of claim 24 wherein the interface includes means for receiving the second signal from the second portable card.

27. The store of claim 24 further including means for generating a time signal for sending to the second card.

28. The store of claim 27 further means for reducing a length of the time signal.

29. The store of claim 24 wherein the means for sending includes means for identifying an interface.