Wireless system for broadcasting, receiving, storing & selectively printing coupons and the like in a retail environment
First Claim
1. A printer appliance for use in a system for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, each of said packets being intended for a particular printer appliance or group of appliances, said appliance including:
- means for receiving said packets of information from a remote source transmitted over a pager network;
means for identifying said particular packet of information intended for said printer appliance;
means for storing said particular packet of information received from said remote source;
means for converting said transmitted information into a printed format for repeated automatic distribution to said individuals for immediate use at said retail location for the duration of a fixed time period without any intervention by said individuals; and
means for continually restocking said printer appliance immediately after a packet of information has been dispensed by automatically printing the identical packet of information to thereby ensure that a single printed packet of information is always available for immediate extraction from said printer appliance by said individuals.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for distributing in a retail environment one or more packets of information selected from the group consisting of redeemable coupons, forms, messages, tickets, warnings and written packets to potential recipients of said packets from a receiver-printer-dispenser at a remote location. The steps included in such a system are: (1) developing a receiver directory containing unique identification information for each of said potential receiver-printer-dispenser within a store or retail environment, (2) creating a packet to be dispatched to at least one of said RPD; (3) identifying the potential RPD'"'"'s for a particular packet; (4) transmitting said packet through a pager network to all of said potential RPD'"'"'s; (5) receiving, storing and selectively processing and printing only those packets intended to be processed and printed by said appliance; and (6) detecting whether said printed packet has been removed, and printing another copy of said packet in the event the printed packet has been removed. A variety of audio and visual display components and motion sensors are also provided to enhance the appeal of the RPD'"'"'s and encourage consumers to accept the printed packet.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A printer appliance for use in a system for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, each of said packets being intended for a particular printer appliance or group of appliances, said appliance including:
-
means for receiving said packets of information from a remote source transmitted over a pager network;
means for identifying said particular packet of information intended for said printer appliance;
means for storing said particular packet of information received from said remote source;
means for converting said transmitted information into a printed format for repeated automatic distribution to said individuals for immediate use at said retail location for the duration of a fixed time period without any intervention by said individuals; and
means for continually restocking said printer appliance immediately after a packet of information has been dispensed by automatically printing the identical packet of information to thereby ensure that a single printed packet of information is always available for immediate extraction from said printer appliance by said individuals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
-
-
6. The printer appliance of claim 14, wherein said means to attract comprises annunciator means.
-
7. The printer appliance of claim 14, wherein said appliance further includes a motion detector to detect the presence of an individual in the immediate proximity of said appliance and activate said means to attract.
Specification