Pre-sale data broadcast system and method

• US 8,112,359 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Fincham, Magdalena M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/974,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/64, 705/67, 705/75, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for promoting the sale of a substitute product at the point of sale (POS). Upon the presentation of an original product for purchase by a consumer at a POS terminal, various manufacturers may decide to offer a substitute product to the consumer, prior to completing the purchase of the original product. If the customer accepts the offer, the point of sale terminal completes the sale of the substitute product.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering one or more manufacturers in a manufacturer database;

upon receiving transaction data regarding an original product presented for purchase by a consumer at a point of sale terminal, determining, by a server in communication with a plurality of point of sale terminals, based on information about the one or more manufacturers within the manufacturer database, if the manufacturer has an associated offer relating to a substitute product; and

presenting, by the server via the point of sale terminal, the associated offer relating to the substitute product to the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the transaction data includes at least one of:

product price, product identifier and product UPC code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the point of sale terminal, an identifier identifying the substitute product.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said original and substitute products have different manufacturers.

5. The method of claim 1 in which one manufacturer manufactures both the original product and the substitute product.

6. The method of claim 1 in which presenting comprises transmitting the associated offer to the consumer via at least one of:

a printer, a display terminal and a speaker of the point of sale terminal

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving inventory information of at least one potential substitute of the original product.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional information for determination of the substitute product, the additional information comprising at least one of;

product profit margin information,

product inventory information,

product expiration date information,

retail product price information,

product floor price information,

product sales information,

sale and promotional pricing information,

product demand information,

product forecast information,

product class information,

product pricing information, and

information regarding product features.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising charging a fee to the one or more manufacturers for registering.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising charging a subscription fee to the one or more manufacturers after registering.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting the one or more manufacturers.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising establishing rules relating to the contacting.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein contacting the one or more manufacturers comprises wirelessly contacting the one or more manufacturers.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the associated offer from the manufacturer.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing the manufacturer database.