Pre-sale data broadcast system and method

• US 8,892,470 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• 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:
  US14/034,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/16, 705/64, 705/67, 705/75
• 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:

receiving, at a server device via a point of sale terminal, transaction data regarding at least one original product;

determining, by the server device, at least one second product, associated with a product supplier, each at least one second product being a supplement product or a substitute product for the original product,

wherein said determining is based on information about one or more product suppliers registered on a database and based on at least one of;

respective price information on a database for the at least one second product,

respective profit information on a database for the at least one second product,

respective demand information on a database for the at least one second product, and

respective inventory information on a database for the at least one second product; and

offering, by the server device via the point of sale terminal, the at least one second product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction data includes at least one of:

a product price, a product identifier and a product UPC code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the point of sale terminal, an identifier identifying at least one of the at least one second product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the at least one second product comprises:

transmitting an indication of the at least one second product to the consumer via at least one of;

a printer, a display terminal and a speaker.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inventory information comprises inventory information about at least one supplemental product for said original product.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inventory information comprises inventory information about at least one substitute product for said original product.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

product expiration date information,

retail product price information,

product floor price information,

product sales information,

sale and promotional pricing information,

product forecast information,

product class information, and

information regarding product features.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the product supplier associated with the at least one second product is a manufacturer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the product supplier associated with the at least one second product does not manufacture the at least one second product.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a communications port in communication with the processor;

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor, when executing the instructions, to;

receive, via a point of sale terminal in communication with the processor, transaction data regarding at least one original product;

determine at least one second product, associated with a product supplier, each at least one second product being a supplement product or a substitute product for the original product,

wherein said determining is based on information about one or more product suppliers registered on a database accessible by the processor and based on at least one of;

respective price information on a database for the at least one second product,

respective profit information on a database for the at least one second product,

respective demand information on a database for the at least one second product, and

respective inventory information on a database for the at least one second product; and

offer, via the point of sale terminal, the at least one second product.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transaction data includes at least one of:

a product price, a product identifier and a product UPC code.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

receive, via the point of sale terminal, an identifier identifying at least one of the at least one second product.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein offering the at least one second product comprises:

transmitting an indication of the at least one second product to the consumer via at least one of;

a printer, a display terminal and a speaker.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the inventory information comprises inventory information about at least one supplemental product for said original product.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the inventory information comprises inventory information about at least one substitute product for said original product.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

receive additional information for determination of the at least one second product, the additional information comprising at least one of;

product expiration date information,

retail product price information,

product floor price information,

product sales information,

sale and promotional pricing information,

product forecast information,

product class information, and

information regarding product features.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the product supplier associated with the at least one second product is a manufacturer.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the product supplier associated with the at least one substitute product does not manufacture the at least one second product.