System, method and apparatus for coupon processing and booklet

• US 6,328,339 B2
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald O. Parsons
• Original Assignee: James B. Mccreary, Merritt W. Dixon III
• Inventors: Dixon, Merritt W. III, McCreary, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENDERSON, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US09/314,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 283/51, 283/52, 283/56, 235/385, 235/462, 235/467, 235/383, 235/432, 235/382
• US Class Current: 283/52
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 1/005 having plural perforation lines, e.g. for detaching parts of the sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 1/009 characterised by printed matter not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• 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 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A coupon manager is provided including a front end, back end and a central processor for facilitating the processing and settlement of coupons. The coupons are received from customers at the front end which may include a cashier register. The cashier scans a bar code on the coupons and the scanned information may be supplied to the back end. The received coupons are delivered to the back end for imaging and processing. The back end determines whether the coupons are valid. Valid coupons are destroyed and sent to a destruction bin, and invalid coupons may be sent to one of a number of other bins. The processed information is forwarded to the central processor which collates the information from a number of stores and reports the information to manufacturers for settlement. The present invention also provides a booklet having a listing of discounted items identifiable by a single bar code. The items may be arranged by types of goods or manufacturers and/or in alphabetical order so as to facilitate the use thereof by a customer. The booklet may be useable by itself or with coupon manager.

Claims

1. A coupon booklet usable at a number of stores, said booklet comprising:

a front cover and a back cover having a common edge;

a number of pages each coupled to said common edge;

a listing of two or more items entitled to discounts; and

a single bar code identifying said two or more items and the respective discounts;

wherein said front and back covers and said number of pages are coupled to said common edge such that said front and back covers and said number of pages are openable and closeable in a book-like manner, and

wherein said bar code is provided on one of said number of pages and said front and back covers and said listing of the plurality of items is provided on at least one of said number of pages and said front and back covers, and whereby information pertaining to the respective discount or discounts of a respective item or items purchased by a customer which are provided in said listing are obtained upon scanning of said bar code by a scanning device.

2. The booklet according to claim 1, further comprising a table of contents which identifies types of items set forth in said listing.

3. The booklet according to claim 1, wherein said listing is arranged in index form.

4. The booklet according to claim 1, wherein said booklet is rectangular in shape.

5. The booklet according to claim 1, further comprising areas for advertisements.

6. The booklet according to claim 1, wherein said single bar code is a single universal product code and wherein said single universal product code is formed on said back cover.

7. The booklet according to claim 1, wherein a date indicating a time period in which said booklet is effective is on said front cover.

8. The booklet according to claim 1, further comprising tab means formed along an edge of said booklet for extending said booklet in a particular direction.

9. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form includes having said plurality of items arranged alphabetically.

10. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form includes having said plurality of items arranged according to food or product groups.

11. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form includes having said plurality of items arranged according to price.

12. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form includes having said plurality of items arranged according to manufacturers.

13. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said listing arranged in said index form indicates a credit for each item which is receivable upon purchase thereof and wherein said credit is applicable to a future transaction unrelated to a present transaction.

14. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form is color-coded.

15. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form is color-coded in accordance with a type of said plurality of items.

16. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein the index form is color-coded according to a food or product group of said plurality of items.

17. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form includes at least one miniature picture of a respective item entitled to a discount which is positioned proximate the listing of said respective item.

18. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein sub-headings of said index form are segregated by lateral dividing lines.

19. The booklet according to claim 3, wherein said index form is arranged by type at a top edge of each page.

20. The booklet according to claim 3, further comprising a number of advertisements in coupon form emphasizing a particular item or items entitled to the discount or discounts indicated in said listing arranged in said index form.

21. The booklet according to claim 9, wherein an indicator of a respective group is provided adjacent to the respective group.

22. The booklet according to claim 10, wherein each group includes sub-headings arranged according to a brand of a respective item or items.

23. The booklet according to claim 22, wherein said sub-headings of each brand is further sub-divided by item.

24. The booklet according to claim 13, wherein said credit is applied to any of a number of accounts of said customer.

25. The booklet according to claim 24, wherein one of said accounts is a holiday savings account.

26. The booklet according to claim 24, wherein one of said credit accounts is a vacation savings account.

27. The booklet according to claim 24, wherein one of said accounts is a tuition savings account.

28. The booklet according to claim 24, wherein one of said accounts is an interest-bearing account.

29. The booklet according to claim 18, wherein said lateral dividing lines are variably spaced forming variable-sized portions therebetween in accordance with a number of items indexed between adjacent lateral dividing lines.

30. The booklet according to claim 19, wherein said type includes one or more types including groceries, appliances, cameras, film and cookware.

31. The booklet according to claim 19, wherein said types are color-coded.

32. The booklet according to claim 4, wherein said common edge comprises a spine for binding said front and back covers with said pages.

33. The booklet according to claim 4, wherein said booklet has dimensions of approximately 3.5 inches by 6 inches.

34. The booklet according to claim 8, wherein said tab means is detachably coupled to one of said front and back covers along said edge.

35. The booklet according to claim 8, wherein said tab means includes advertising means for distinguishing said booklet from junk mail.

36. A coupon booklet usable at a number of stores, said booklet comprising:

a front cover, a back cover and a number of pages in between said front cover and said back cover which are arranged in a book-like manner such that said front and back covers and said number of pages are openable and closeable in a book-like manner;

a listing of two or more items and entitlements associated therewith; and

a single code identifying said two or more items and entitlements;

wherein said code is provided on one of said number of pages and said front and back covers and said listing of the two or more items is provided on at least one of said number of pages and said front and back covers, and

whereby information pertaining to the respective entitlement or entitlements of a respective item or items purchased by a customer which are provided in said listing are obtained upon scanning of said code by a scanning device.