Retail store efficiently configured to distribute electronic coupons at multiple product locations
First Claim
1. A method of operating a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store includinga plurality of first areas each includinga shelf,a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product,a respective interface supported by the shelf, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, the interface including a sender for transferring signals to the plurality of cards, anda checkout area including an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the method comprising the steps, performed for each interface, of:
- recording a respective first signal in the interface;
causing the respective first signal to correspond to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface;
detecting, in the interface, a card in the plurality of cards, the detecting step being performed after completion of the recording step; and
causing the sender to transfer the recorded first signal whenever the detecting step detects a qualified card in the plurality of cards, and further comprising the steps, performed after the card, in the plurality of cards, is carried to the checkout area, ofreceiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to the checkout area;
generating, in the electromagnetic detector, a second signal corresponding to a product;
receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and
determining, in the computer, a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a "smart card", product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacent to an product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product station then writes an electronic coupon onto the card. The customer thus shops throughout the store collecting electronic coupons for products of interest. 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 data matches data stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon. Periodically, the electronic coupon data is transferred to a remote clearing house.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of operating a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a respective interface supported by the shelf, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, the interface including a sender for transferring signals to the plurality of cards, and a checkout area including an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the method comprising the steps, performed for each interface, of: -
recording a respective first signal in the interface; causing the respective first signal to correspond to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; detecting, in the interface, a card in the plurality of cards, the detecting step being performed after completion of the recording step; and causing the sender to transfer the recorded first signal whenever the detecting step detects a qualified card in the plurality of cards, and further comprising the steps, performed after the card, in the plurality of cards, is carried to the checkout area, of receiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to the checkout area; generating, in the electromagnetic detector, a second signal corresponding to a product; receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and determining, in the computer, a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A store configured to process a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store comprising:
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a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a respective interface supported by the shelf, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, the interface including a storage device that stores a respective first signal, the first signal corresponding to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface, a detector that detects, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a qualified card in the plurality of cards, a sender that sends the stored first signal to the card whenever the detector detects the card; a checkout area, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the checkout area including a receiver for receiving signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, an electromagnetic detector for generating a second signal corresponding to a product, a receiver for receiving the second signal, and a price determiner for determining a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a respective interface supported by the shelf, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, the interface including a sender for transferring signals to the plurality of cards, the method comprising the steps, performed for each interface, of: -
recording a respective first signal in the interface; causing the respective first signal to correspond to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; detecting, in the interface, a card in the plurality of cards, the detecting step being performed after completion of the recording step; and causing the sender to transfer the recorded first signal whenever the detecting step detects a qualified card in the plurality of cards. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A store configured to process a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store comprising:
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a respective interface supported by the shelf, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, the interface including a storage device that stores a respective first signal, the first signal corresponding to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface, a detector that detects, at a time when the respective first signal is in the storage device, a qualified card in the plurality of cards, a sender that sends the stored first signal to the card whenever the detector detects the card. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a checkout area spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the system comprising: -
a plurality of interfaces each supported by the shelf in a respective one of the first areas, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product in the respective one of the first areas, such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, each interface including a sender for sending signals to the plurality of cards, and means for recording a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, after the means for recording has recorded the respective first signal, and means for causing the sender to send the first signal from the recording means, whenever the detecting means detects a qualified card in the plurality of cards, the first signal corresponding to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface; means for receiving, in a computer, signals corresponding to pricing information from the memory of the card, in the plurality of cards, carried to the checkout area; an electromagnetic detector for generating a second signal corresponding to a product; means for receiving, in the computer, the second signal; and means for determining, in the computer, a price depending on whether the second signal corresponds to one of the received signals corresponding to pricing information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for operating with a store and a plurality of portable cards transported by consumers, each card including a flat substrate, and a memory for storing a plurality of signals corresponding to pricing information for a plurality of products, the store including
a plurality of first areas each including a shelf, a plurality of units of a respective product, the plurality of units being on the shelf, the plurality of units having a common symbol different than a symbol of units of another product, a checkout area including an electromagnetic detector, spatially removed from the plurality of first areas, the system comprising: a plurality of interfaces each supported by the shelf in a respective one of the first areas, and located adjacent to the plurality of units of the respective product in the respective one of the first areas, such that no units of another product are between the interface and the plurality of units, each interface including a sender for sending signals to the plurality of cards, and means for recording a respective first signal, means for detecting a card in the plurality of cards, after the means for recording has recorded the respective first signal, and means for causing the sender to send the first signal from the recording means, whenever the detecting means detects a qualified card in the plurality of cards, the first signal corresponding to pricing information for the product represented by the units adjacent to the interface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
Specification