Systems and methods for the identification and displaying of information

• US 6,869,013 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outsite Networks, Inc. (Professional Datasolutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Outsite Networks, Inc. (Professional Datasolutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakker, Anton, Allen, Marc L.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/137,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/238, 700/231, 700/241, 700/236, 340/3.1, 340/5.9, 725/34, 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.14, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/454, 235/375, 235/381, 235/380, 235/384, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/413, 902/22, 902/37, 902/39, 902/40, 902/41
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A user identifies themselves to an information display device using, for example, an identification-carrying device that contains a unique identification code. The identification code is associated with a particular profile that identifies, for example, customer loyalty, preference and history data that may be associated with a particular user. An identification sensor senses the identification code on the identification-carrying device. The identification code is then forwarded to an information server. The information server uses the identification code, and possibly additional information such as an identification of the information display device, to access loyalty and preference data associated with the identification code. This information can include, for example, coupons that have been issued to the user associated with the identification code, a user'"'"'s preferences, a user'"'"'s purchase history, or the like. This information is then analyzed to determine what information, if any, should be forwarded to the user.

Claims

1. An information display system for use within a gas station, the system comprising:

an identification sensor at a gasoline dispenser of the gas station that senses an identification code on one or more identification-carrying devices;

an information server that receives at least the identification code and information display system identification information and determines one or more portions and type of information to be displayed at an information display system at the gasoline dispenser of the gas station based on the identification code and the information display system identification information;

a printer at the gas station that receives and prints the one or more portions of information displayed at the information display system; and

a template storage device that stores one or more templates that are combinable with the one or more portions of information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information server is capable of determining the one or more portions of information independent of any sale transaction information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information display system comprises a display device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a profile storage device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a history storage device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a profile management device that cooperates with an access device to allow a user to manage a profile.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined based on at least one of a loyalty program, a user history, a current transaction, a past transaction, and a user profile.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user profile comprises preferences governing the one or more portions of information to be printed at the printer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined upon receipt of the identification code at the information server.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification sensor and the identification-carrying devices are one or more of a radio frequency identification tag and a radio frequency identification reader, an optical code and optical code reader, magnetic strip and magnetic strip reader and an inductive, capacitive or electrical identification-carrying device and associated inductive, capacitive or electrical sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of a user profile and a user history are associated with the one or more identification-carrying devices.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the information server is capable of servicing a plurality of information display systems for gas stations at geographically different locations.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the information server uses the information display system identification information to aid in selecting the type of information to be displayed.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the information server reconciles the information display system identification information with a user profile associated with the identification code for selecting the type of information to be displayed.

15. A method of displaying information for use within a gas station, the method comprising:

sensing at a gasoline dispenser of the gas station at least an identification code on one or more identification-carrying devices;

receiving at least the identification code and information display system identification information at an information server;

determining one or more portions and type of information to be displayed on an information display system at the gasoline dispenser of the gas station based on the identification code and the information display system identification information;

receiving and printing at the gas station the one or more portions of information displayed at the information display system; and

storing on a template storage device one or more templates that are combinable with the one or more portions of information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information server is capable of determining the one or more portions of information independent of any sale transaction information.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the one or more portions of information.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a user profile in a profile storage device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a user history in a history storage device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing a user to manage a user profile.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined based on at least one of a loyalty program, a user history, a current transaction, a past transaction, and a user profile.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the user profile comprises preferences governing the one or more portions of information to be printed at the printer.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined upon receipt of the identification code at the information server.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the identification sensor and the identification-carrying devices are one or more of a radio frequency identification tag and a radio frequency identification reader, an optical code and optical code reader, magnetic strip and magnetic strip reader and an inductive, capacitive or electrical identification-carrying device and associated inductive, capacitive or electrical sensor.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of a user profile and a user history are associated with the one or more identification-carrying devices.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the information server is capable of servicing a plurality of information display systems for gas stations at geographically different locations.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the information server uses the information display system identification information to aid in selecting the type of information to be displayed.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the information server reconciles the information display system identification information with a user profile associated with the identification code for selecting the type of information to be displayed.

29. An information storage media comprising information that displays information for use within a gas station, the information storage media comprising:

information that senses at a gasoline dispenser of the gas station at least an identification code on one or more identification-carrying devices;

information that receives at least the identification code and information display system identification information at an information server;

information that determines one or more portions and type of information to be displayed on an information display system at the gasoline dispenser of the gas station based on the identification code and the information display system identification information;

information that receives and prints at the gas station the one or more portions of information displayed at the information display system; and

information that stores on a template storage device one or more templates that are combinable with the one or more portions of information.

30. The media of claim 29, wherein the information server is capable of determining the one or more portions of information independent of any sale transaction information.

31. The media of claim 29, further comprising information that displays the one or more portions of information.

32. The media of claim 29, further comprising information that stores a user profile in a profile storage device.

33. The media of claim 29, further comprising information that stores a user history in a history storage device.

34. The media of claim 29, further comprising information that allows a user to manage a user profile.

35. The media of claim 29, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined based on at least one of a loyalty program, a user history, a current transaction, a past transaction, and a user profile.

36. The media of claim 35, wherein the user profile comprises preferences governing the one or more portions of information to be printed at the printer.

37. The media of claim 29, wherein the one or more portions of information are dynamically determined upon receipt of the identification code at the information server.

38. The media of claim 29, wherein the identification sensor and the identification-carrying devices are one or more of a radio frequency identification tag and a radio frequency identification reader, an optical code and optical code reader, magnetic strip and magnetic strip reader and an inductive, capacitive or electrical identification-carrying device and associated inductive, capacitive or electrical sensor.

39. The media of claim 29, wherein one or more of a user profile and a user history are associated with the one or more identification-carrying devices.

40. The media of claim 29, wherein the information server is capable of servicing a plurality of information display systems of gas stations at geographically different locations.

41. The media of claim 29, wherein the information server uses the information display system identification information to aid in selecting the type of information to be displayed.

42. The media of claim 29, wherein the information server reconciles the information display system identification information with a user profile associated with the identification code for selecting the type of information to be displayed.