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• US 8,104,671 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Inventors: Besecker, Bret Joseph, Parsons, Jay, Ramachandran, Anantha Narayanan
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, THIEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/056,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/487, 705/14, 705/14.25, 340/5.91
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• 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 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods that time correlate input at a point of entry of consumer data of least two identifications for products, prescriptions, vouchers, or codes, uses positive correlation determinations for triggering output of predetermined information. The time correlation of identifications may be used to build a time correlation database, and thereafter use that database for targeted communications. Related inventions include an intelligent Y cable or the like to filter data transmitted from a scanner at a point of entry of consumer data, and a novel POS CS configured to receive bar codes that would otherwise cause the POS CS to enter an error condition.

Claims

1. A system for outputting product information data, comprising:

a LM CS, said LM CS including;

a LM CS central processing unit for processing instructions and data;

a LM CS memory for storing data;

at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes; and

at least one LM CS output for outputting identification codes;

wherein said LM CS memory stores data specifying a correlation time;

wherein said LM CS is configured to output product information data including a first product information ID code to said at least one LM CS output in response to receipt via said at least one LM CS input of a first voucher ID code and a first product ID code, only if, said LM CS receives said first voucher identification code via said at least one LM CS input and said first product identification code via said at least one LM CS input within said correlation time of one another;

wherein said product information data is coupon data;

wherein said LM CS is configured to output coupon data including a first coupon identification code to said at least one LM CS output in response to receipt via said at least one LM CS input of a first voucher identification code and a first product identification code, only if, said LM CS receives said first voucher identification code via said at least one LM CS input and said first product identification code via said at least one LM CS input within said correlation time of one another;

wherein said at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes comprises a scanner for reading bar codes;

an intelligent data router containing circuitry configured to transmit all scanned bar code data scanned by said scanner corresponding to identification codes along a first data communication path coupled to said at least one LM CS input and selectively transmitting scanned bar code data along a second data communication path; and

wherein said circuitry blocks transmission of voucher identification codes along said second data communication path.

3. The system of claim 1:

wherein said product information data is coupon data; and

wherein said LM CS is configured to output coupon data including a first coupon identification code to said at least one LM CS output in response to receipt via said at least one LM CS input of a first voucher identification code and a first product identification code, only if,

said LM CS receives said first voucher identification code via said at least one LM CS input and said first product identification code via said at least one LM CS input within said correlation time of one another.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes comprises a scanner for reading bar codes.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an intelligent data router containing circuitry configured to transmit all scanned bar code data scanned by said scanner corresponding to identification codes along a first data communication path coupled to said at least one LM CS input and selectively transmitting scanned bar code data along a second data communication path.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said circuitry blocks transmission of voucher identification codes along said second data communication path.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said intelligent router forms part of an intelligent Y cable connecting said scanner to said LM CS.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes comprises a key pad having numerals 0 through 9 for entering voucher identification codes in decimal format.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes comprises a scanner.

10. The system of claim 1:

wherein said at least one LM CS output comprises a printer;

wherein said printer is configured to print a coupon containing a bar code specifying said first coupon identification code in response to receipt by said printer of coupon data including said first coupon identification code.

11. The system of claim 1:

wherein said at least one LM CS output comprises at least one of a printer, a monitor, and a wireless transmitter; and

wherein said at least one of said printer, said monitor; and

said wireless transmitter are configured to output at least one of machine and human readable versions of said first coupon identification code.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said coupon data including said first coupon identification code output to said at least one LM CS output includes identification of at least one product for which a coupon having said first coupon identification code can be redeemed.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said correlation time is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

2. A system for outputting coupon data, comprising:

a LM CS, said LM CS including a LM CS central processing unit for processing instructions and data;

a LM CS memory for storing data;

at least one LM CS input for receiving identification codes;

at least one LM CS output for outputting identification codes;

a POS CS;

a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes comprising product identification data;

wherein said product identification data is coupon data;

wherein said LM CS is configured to output coupon data including a first coupon identification code to said at least one LM CS output in response to receipt via said at least one LM CS input of a first voucher identification code and a first product identification code, only if, said LM CS receives said first voucher identification code via said at least one LM CS input and said first product identification code via said at least one LM CS input within said correlation time of one another; and

an intelligent data router containing circuitry configured to transmit all scanned bar code data scanned by said bar code scanner corresponding to identification codes along a first data communication path coupled to said at least one LM CS input and selectively transmitting scanned bar code data along a second data communication path coupled to said POS CS, wherein said circuitry blocks transmission of voucher identification codes along said second data communication path.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein said circuitry blocks transmission of voucher identification codes along said second data communication path.