Point-of-sale server and method

• US 6,993,498 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kioba Processing, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Midnight Blue Remote Access LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Deaton, David W., Gabriel, Rodney G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Jagdish
• Application Number:
  US09/360,820
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/20, 705/26, 705/14, 705/21, 705/22
• US Class Current: 705/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• 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 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A method for use in marketing includes detecting, at the point-of-sale, a plurality of Uniform Product Codes associated with respective items purchased by a customer. The method also includes transmitting, on a substantially real-time basis, the plurality of Uniform Product Code over the Internet to a remote computer connected to the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for automatically adjusting the price of a product to respond to market conditions, the system comprising:

an electronic cash register located in a store;

a bar code scanner connected to the electronic cash register for detecting Uniform Product Codes of items purchased in a retail store;

a printer connected to the electronic cash register for printing a description of the purchased items and associated prices;

a first wedge disposed between the bar code scanner and the electronic cash register for providing the Uniform Product Codes of the purchased items to the Internet;

a second wedge disposed between the electronic cash register and the printer for providing the associated prices of the purchased items to the Internet;

a remote computer connected to the Internet, the computer comprising a processor, a storage medium connected to the processor, and a computer program stored on the storage medium, the remote computer located remote from the store in which the electronic cash register is located;

an electronic price tag for displaying the price of a product, the electronic price tag located in the retail store proximate the first item;

a communication link connecting the electronic price tag to the Internet; and

wherein the computer program is operable when executed on the processor to initiate transmission of a signal indicative of a new price for the product over the Internet for receipt by the communication link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program is further operable when executed on the processor to generate a new price for the product based on the detected Uniform Product codes of purchased items and the associated prices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program is operable to receive an input indicative of a new price for the product.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a controller associated with the electronic price tag and a conductive medium connecting the controller to the electronic price tag.

5. The system of claim 2, and further comprising a telephone line connecting the controller to an Internet service provider.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a signal for receipt by the electronic price tag.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer program is further operable when executed on the processor to generate a price variation for the product based on the market share of the product in the retail store.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer program is further operable when executed on the processor to generate a price variation for the product based on a predetermined change in the market share of the product in the retail store within a predetermined time period.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer program is further operable when executed on the processor to generate a price variation for the product based on the price of a competing product, the competing product price received by the computer from the second wedge.

10. A method for adjusting a displayed price of an item in a retail store in response to a price of a competing item, comprising:

receiving, at a remote computer located remote from the retail store, the price of the competing item and a code identifying the competing item that is purchased at a point-of-sale;

determining, by the remote computer, a price of the item in response to receiving the price of the competing item; and

transmitting, from the remote computer, the determined price of the item to an electronic price tag positioned near the item in the retail store.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the code is a Uniform Product Code (UPC).

12. The method of claim 10, and further comprising coupling the remote computer to the Internet for receiving the price and the code of the competing item, and for transmitting the determined price to the electronic price tag.

13. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:

providing a tag controller; and

transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag through the tag controller.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising providing a conductive medium between the tag controller and the electronic price tag for transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag comprises transmitting over a conductive medium connecting the Internet to the tag controller.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a radio frequency transceiver for transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag.

17. The method claim 16, wherein transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag further comprises transmitting a radio frequency signal indicative of the determined price.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag further comprises transmitting the determined price to the radio frequency transceiver located in the retail store.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the determined price of the item to the electronic price tag further comprises transmitting the determined price to an electronic price tag controller and transmitting the determined price from the electronic price tag controller to the radio frequency transceiver.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the price of the item in response to receiving the price of the competing item further comprises comparing the competing item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store to the item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the price of the item in response to receiving the price of the competing item further comprises automatically generating a price reduction if market share of the item at the retail store falls below a predetermined level.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the price of the item in response to receiving the price of the competing item further comprises automatically generating a price reduction if a change in market share at the retail store over a predetermined time period falls below a predetermined level.

23. A method for price adjustment in marketing, comprising:

receiving point-of-sale information on a substantially real-time basis at a remote computer connected to the Internet, the point-of-sale information including the price of a competing item offered for sale at a retail store, the remote computer located remote from the retail store;

generating, in response to the point-of-sale information, a new price for a marketed item;

communicating the new price over the Internet, from the remote computer to an electronic price tag; and

wherein the competing item is competitive with the marketed item.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising displaying the new price on the electronic price tag.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the point-of-sale information further comprises an associated Uniform Product Code.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein generating the new price for the marketed item in response to the point-of-sale information further comprises comparing the price of the competing item to the marketed item.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein generating the new price for the marketed item in response to the point-of-sale information further comprises comparing the competing item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store to the marketed item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein generating the new price for the marketed item in response to the point-of-sale information further comprises automatically generating, by the remote computer, a price reduction if market share of the marketed item at the retail store falls below a predetermined level.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein generating the new price for the marketed item in response to the point-of-sale information further comprises automatically generating, by the remote computer, a price reduction if change in market share at the retail store over a predetermined time period falls below a predetermined level.

30. The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving the point-of-sale information on a substantially real-time basis at the remote computer from a plurality of retail stores.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein generating the new price for the marketed item in response to the point-of-sale information further comprises generating, in response to the point-of-sale information from the plurality of retail stores, a price variation for the item.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating, over a communication link between the Internet and the electronic price tag located in the retail store proximate to the item, further comprises transmitting a radio frequency signal indicative of the new price.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein communicating, over a communication link between the Internet and the electronic price tag further comprises communicating the new price to a radio frequency transceiver located in the retail store.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein communicating, over a communication link between the Internet and the electronic price tag further comprises communicating the new price to an electronic price tag controller and communicating the new price from the electronic price tag controller to the radio frequency transceiver.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein communicating, over a communication link between the Internet and the electronic price tag comprises communicating over a conductive medium connecting the Internet to the electronic price tag controller associated with the electronic price tag.

36. A method for making price adjustment in a retail store in response to a price of an item, comprising:

receiving, at a remote computer located remote from the retail store, the price of the item and a code identifying the item that is purchased at a point-of-sale;

determining, by the remote computer, a price of an associated item in response to receiving the price of the item, the associated item associated with the item; and

transmitting, from the remote computer, the determined price of the associated item to an electronic price tag located in the retail store.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the associated item is competitive with the item.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the associated item is a companion of the item.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the associated item is a product that changes the item'"'"'s effectiveness.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the associated item is a product that alters the item'"'"'s use.

41. A computerized system for marketing an item in a retail store in response to purchase information of a competing item, comprising:

a terminal located in the retail store;

a remote computer located remote from the retail store and coupled to the terminal, the remote computer comprising

a storage medium,

a processor coupled to the storage medium, and

a computer program stored in the storage medium; and

an electronic shelf tag located in the retail store proximate to the item and coupled to the remote computer, wherein the computer program is operable to receive the purchase information of the competing item that is purchased at a point-of-sale, determine a price of the item in response to receiving the purchase information of the competing item, and transmit the determined price of the item to the electronic shelf tag.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the purchase information comprises a Uniform Product Code (UPC) of the competing item.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the remote computer is coupled to the terminal by the Internet.

44. The system of claim 41, and further comprising a tag controller coupled to the electronic shelf tag.

45. The system of claim 44, and further comprising a conductive medium coupling the tag controller and the electronic shelf tag.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein a conductive medium couples the tag controller to the Internet.

47. The system of claim 44, and further comprising a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the tag controller, whereby the radio frequency transceiver transmits the determined price of the item to the electronic shelf tag.

48. The system of claim 47, and further comprising a radio frequency signal emanating from the radio frequency transceiver, the radio frequency signal indicating the determined price.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote computer is operable to initiate transmission of the determined price to the radio frequency transceiver located in the retail store.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the remote computer is operable to initiate transmission of the determined price to the tag controller.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the computer program is further operable to determine the price of the item by comparing the competing item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store to the item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein the computer program is further operable to automatically generate a price reduction for the item if market share of the item at the retail store falls below a predetermined level.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein the computer program is further operable to automatically generate a price reduction for the item if a change in market share at the retail store over a predetermined time period falls below a predetermined level.

54. A computerized system for promoting a marketed item in a retail store in response to a purchase information of a competing item, comprising:

a terminal located in the retail store;

a remote computer located remote from the retail store and coupled to the terminal, the remote computer comprising

a storage medium,

a processor coupled to the storage medium, and

a computer program stored in the storage medium; and

an electronic shelf tag located in the retail store proximate to the marketed item and coupled to the remote computer, wherein the computer program is operable to receive the purchase information on a substantially real-time basis, generate, in response to the purchase information, a new price for the marketed item, and communicate the new price over the Internet to the electronic shelf tag.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the electronic shelf tag displays the new price.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the purchase information comprises a Uniform Product Code and a price associated with the competing item.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the computer program is further operable to compare the price of the competing item to the marketed item to generate the new price for the marketed item.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the computer program is further operable to compare the competing item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store to the marketed item'"'"'s volume of purchases at the retail store to generate the new price for the marketed item.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the computer program is further operable to automatically generate, in response to the purchase information, a price reduction if market share of the marketed item at the retail store falls below a predetermined level.

60. The system of claim 54, wherein the computer program is further operable to automatically generate, in response to the purchase information, a price reduction if change in market share at the retail store over a predetermined time period falls below a predetermined level.

61. The system of claim 54, wherein the computer program is further operable to receive the purchase information from a plurality of retail stores.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the computer program is further operable to generate a price variation for the marketed item in response to the purchase information from the plurality of retail stores.

63. The system of claim 54, wherein the remote computer is operable to initiate transmission of a radio frequency indicative of the new price of the marketed item to the electronic shelf tag.

64. The system of claim 63, and further comprising a radio frequency transceiver located in the retail store, the radio frequency transceiver coupled to the electronic shelf tag.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the remote computer is coupled to an electronic shelf tag controller, the electronic shelf tag controller coupled to the radio frequency transceiver.

66. The system of claim 65, and further comprising a conductive medium that couples the electronic shelf tag controller to the Internet.

67. A computerized system for marketing an associated item in a retail store in response to a purchase information of an item, comprising:

a terminal located in the retail store;

a remote computer located remote from the retail store and coupled to the terminal, the computer comprising

a storage medium,

a processor coupled to the storage medium, and

a computer program stored in the storage medium; and

an electronic shelf tag located in the retail store proximate to the associated item and coupled to the remote computer, wherein the computer program is operable to receive the purchase information of the item that is purchased at a point-of-sale, determine a price of an associated item in response to receiving the purchase information of the item, the associated item associated with the item, and transmit the determined price of the associated item to the electronic shelf tag.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the associated item is competitive with the item.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the associated item is a companion of the item.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the associated item is a product that changes the item'"'"'s effectiveness.

71. The system of claim 67, wherein the associated item is a product that alters the item'"'"'s use.