Method and apparatus for generating a coupon

• US 6,876,978 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Van Luchene, Andrew S., Alderucci, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/643,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• 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 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• 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 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A POS terminal generates a purchase price of a purchase, and generates a rounded price. The rounded price may be, for example, the lowest whole number greater than the purchase price. The POS terminal then calculates a round-up amount (change due the customer) as the difference between the purchase price and the rounded price. The coupon value is set based on the round-up amount. For example, the coupon may be redeemable for triple the amount of change due. The POS terminal prints on the coupon an identifier, such as a bar code, that is based on the coupon value. The bar code allows the coupon to be read by a POS terminal when the coupon is redeemed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;

determining, using the processor, a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and

causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a purchase price of a purchase;

determine a rounded price;

determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and

cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.

3. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

receiving a purchase price of a purchase;

determining a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and

causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;

determining, using the processor, a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and

causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount comprises:

setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a purchase price of a purchase;

determine a rounded price;

determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

set a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and

cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the processor further operative with the program to:

set a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.

8. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

receiving a purchase price of a purchase;

determining a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and

causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the step of setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount comprises:

setting a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;

determining, using the processor, a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

determining, using the processor, whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and

if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,

setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and

causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive a purchase price of a purchase;

determine a rounded price;

determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

determine whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and

if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,

set a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and

cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.

12. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

receiving a purchase price of a purchase;

determining a rounded price;

determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;

determining whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and

if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,

setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and

causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.