Promotion method and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for promoting the sale of merchandise and services through an automatic vending machine, comprising the sequential steps of:
- 1) presenting, by a point issuing device in the automatic vending machine, point information determined by the automatic vending machine, the point information related to points issued for promotion of sale merchandise to a user at a time of merchandise sales to the user by the automatic vending machine;
2) transmitting to a center device, by operation by the user of a portable communication device carried by the user, the point information determined and presented by the point issuing device in the point information presenting step, together with identification information for the user;
3) receiving at the center device the point information transmitted from the portable communication device of the user in the point information transmitting step and the identification information for the user;
4) totaling and managing at the center device points corresponding to the point information received in the receiving step for the user; and
,offering the merchandise and services to the user through the automatic vending machine by referring to the points totaled and managed in the totaling and managing step and relating the points to the merchandise and services, wherein;
the point information includes a module code for identifying the automatic vending machine and a secret code related to the points, andthe point information presenting step includes the step of encrypting by the point issuing device at least the secret code among the module code and the secret code before presentation of the point information to the user.
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Abstract
Upon the sale of merchandise by a vending machine, encrypted point information expressing prescribed points is presented to a user. The user transmits the presented point information, together with identification information for the user, to a center device by means of the user'"'"'s portable telephone set. The center device decrypts the transmitted and encrypted point information, stores and manages points corresponding to the point information for the user, and offers prescribed service to the user based on the points stored and managed for the user.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for promoting the sale of merchandise and services through an automatic vending machine, comprising the sequential steps of:
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1) presenting, by a point issuing device in the automatic vending machine, point information determined by the automatic vending machine, the point information related to points issued for promotion of sale merchandise to a user at a time of merchandise sales to the user by the automatic vending machine; 2) transmitting to a center device, by operation by the user of a portable communication device carried by the user, the point information determined and presented by the point issuing device in the point information presenting step, together with identification information for the user; 3) receiving at the center device the point information transmitted from the portable communication device of the user in the point information transmitting step and the identification information for the user; 4) totaling and managing at the center device points corresponding to the point information received in the receiving step for the user; and
,offering the merchandise and services to the user through the automatic vending machine by referring to the points totaled and managed in the totaling and managing step and relating the points to the merchandise and services, wherein; the point information includes a module code for identifying the automatic vending machine and a secret code related to the points, and the point information presenting step includes the step of encrypting by the point issuing device at least the secret code among the module code and the secret code before presentation of the point information to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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11. A system for promoting the sale of products and services through an automatic vending machine, comprising:
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a point issuing device, in the automatic vending machine configured to present to a user of the automatic vending machine coded point information related to points issued for promotion of sale of products and services upon sale of merchandise by the automatic vending machine; a center device configured to store and manage points corresponding to the coded point information presented by the point issuing device, by the user; a personal communications device carried by the user configured to transmit, by the operation of the personal communications device by the user, to the center device the coded point information presented by the point issuing device, together with identification of the user; update means, provided in the center device, for decoding the coded point information transmitted by the portable terminal, and for updating points which have been stored and managed for the user based on the points corresponding to the decoded point information; and premium providing means for offering a premium to the user by the automatic vending machine based on the points which have been stored and managed for the user, wherein; the point information includes a module code configured to identify the automatic vending machine, and a secret code related to the points; and whereby, the point issuing device encrypts at least the secret code before presenting the point information and products and services to the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification