Method and system for selective incentive point-of-sale marketing in response to customer shopping histories

• US 6,334,108 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing International Incorporated (Catalina Marketing Corporation)
• Inventors: Deaton, David W., Gabriel, Rodney G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US08/734,675
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• 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 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for customer promotion. A terminal enters a customer'"'"'s identification code, along with customer transaction data, at the point-of-sale. A memory stores a database of previously entered customer identification codes and transactions data. Circuitry is provided for generating a signal representative of a customer'"'"'s shopping history, wherein incentive coupons may be issued to customers in dependence upon the signal.

Claims

1. A method of performing customer promotion with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of:

entering into the memory the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code;

storing in the memory data representative of a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code;

determining with the processor from said stored data information regarding a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased in at least one previous visit to the store; and

in response to said information, generating at the point-of-sale an incentive signal for said customer based upon said information regarding said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to buy said product frequently previously purchased by said customer.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to return to the store within a time period.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of issuing a coupon to said customer in an effort to incent said customer to increase future purchase values over an amount previously paid by said customer.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

detecting financial data regarding a customer'"'"'s shopping history; and

storing in the memory said financial data in association with said customer'"'"'s identification code.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising:

issuing in response to said incentive signal a coupon to those customers whose prior shopping history meets in frequent shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said customer'"'"'s identification code comprises the customer'"'"'s checking account number.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said customer'"'"'s identification code comprises the customer'"'"'s credit card number.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said customer'"'"'s shopping history comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a selected time period.

10. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

issuing in response to said incentive signal a coupon in an effort to incent said customer;

monitoring whether or not said coupon has been effective; and

subsequently issuing additional coupons depending upon the results of said monitoring step.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon is deemed to be effective if it is redeemed within a selected time period.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon are monitored by scanning identification numbers on said coupon when it is redeemed.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupon is deemed to be effective if a customer'"'"'s future purchases increase.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said incentive coupons issued in dependence upon the results of said monitoring are increased in value over said prior coupons.

15. A method for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers with a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of:

entering into the memory at a store'"'"'s point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers'"'"' payment instruments at the point-of-sale;

entering into the memory data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer'"'"'s shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer;

creating a database of the store'"'"'s customers'"'"' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased;

generating with the processor a first signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said first signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said first signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

effecting a first sales promotion to said customer in response to said first signal;

monitoring said customer'"'"'s shopping transactions subsequent to said first sales promotion;

generating with the processor a second signal in dependence upon the results of said monitoring of a customer whose shopping activity fails to meet a response criteria; and

effecting a subsequent second sales promotion to said customers whose shopping activity fails to meet said predetermined response criteria, said second sales promotion being differentiated from said first sales promotion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said shopping history criteria comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a preselected time range.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said future shopping criteria comprises a purchase transaction at the store by said customer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined response criteria comprises purchases from the store.

20. The method of claim 15 and further comprising dispensing a sales promotion to the customer at the point-of-sale in response to said first signal.

21. The method of claim 15 and further comprising the step of printing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said first signal.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of entering comprises automatically reading the account code of the payment instrument presented by the customer at the point-of-sale.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein said shopping history criteria comprises the dollar value of shopping transactions at the store during a preselected time range.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined response criteria comprises purchases from the store.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein said entering comprises automatically reading the account code of the payment instrument presented by the customer at the point-of-sale.

26. A system for customer promotion comprising:

apparatus for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a payment instrument for use as a unique customer identification code;

a memory for storing data representative of a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of a plurality of different products at a store in association with said customer identification code; and

circuitry responsive to said data stored in said memory for generating indications of a product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

27. The system of claim 26 and further comprising:

circuitry for detecting numerical data regarding a customer'"'"'s shopping history; and

said memory storing said financial data in association with said customer'"'"'s identification code.

28. The system of claim 27 and further comprising apparatus for issuing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said indications to those customers whose prior shopping history meets shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers, said coupon providing incentives based upon said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said customer'"'"'s identification code comprises the customer'"'"'s checking account number.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said customer'"'"'s identification code comprises the customer'"'"'s credit card number.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein said customer'"'"'s shopping history comprises the number of shopping transactions at the store during a selected time period.

32. The system of claim 26 and further comprising:

apparatus for issuing a coupon at the point-of-sale in response to said indications to those customers whose prior shopping history meets shopping requirements in an effort to incent said customers, said coupon providing incentives based upon said product frequently previously purchased by said customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased;

circuitry for monitoring whether or not said coupon has been effective; and

said apparatus subsequently issuing an additional coupon depending upon the results of said monitoring.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is deemed to be effective if it is redeemed within a selected time period.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is monitored by scanning an identification number on said coupon when it is redeemed.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein said coupon is deemed to be effective if a customer'"'"'s future purchases increase.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein said apparatus issues incentive coupons in dependence upon the results of said monitoring which are increased in value over said prior coupons.

37. A system for performing targeted marketing on shopping customers comprising:

a terminal for entering at the point-of-sale the account code of a plurality of payment instruments from a plurality of different financial institutions for use as a unique customer identification code in response to the presentation of customers'"'"' payment instruments at the point-of-sale in a retail store;

circuitry associated with said terminal for entering data at the point-of-sale relating to the customer'"'"'s shopping transactions, including data relating to a plurality of different products purchased by the customer;

a memory for creating a database of the store'"'"'s customers'"'"' shopping transactions and account codes in response to said account codes and said data, including information regarding products frequently previously purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased;

circuitry for generating an incentive signal in response to entry of account codes of customers whose prior transactions at the store meet shopping history criteria, said incentive signal being contingent upon the customer meeting a future shopping criteria and said incentive signal being related to at least one of said products stored in said database as being previously frequently purchased by the customer relative to said plurality of different products previously purchased.