Wireless system for broadcasting, receiving, storing & selectively printing coupons and the like in a retail environment

• US 20020046107A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCH Marketing Services Incorporated (MX Holdings One LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nuworld Marketing Ltd.
• Inventors: Marshall, Robert, Rogers, George, Halfman, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 6,650,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32069 simultaneously to a plurality of destinations, e.g. multi-casting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging

Abstract

A system is provided for distributing in a retail environment one or more packets of information selected from the group consisting of redeemable coupons, forms, messages, tickets, warnings and written packets to potential recipients of said packets from a receiver-printer-dispenser at a remote location. The steps included in such a system are: (1) developing a receiver directory containing unique identification information for each of said potential receiver-printer-dispenser within a store or retail environment, (2) creating a packet to be dispatched to at least one of said RPD; (3) identifying the potential RPD'"'"'s for a particular packet; (4) transmitting said packet through a pager network to all of said potential RPD'"'"'s; (5) receiving, storing and selectively processing and printing only those packets intended to be processed and printed by said appliance; and (6) detecting whether said printed packet has been removed, and printing another copy of said packet in the event the printed packet has been removed. A variety of audio and visual display components and motion sensors are also provided to enhance the appeal of the RPD'"'"'s and encourage consumers to accept the printed packet.

Claims

1. A system for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, said system including:

means for creating said packets of information in a digital format;

a wireless network for transmitting said packets of information to said retail locations; and

a network of printer appliances at said locations, each of said appliances being adapted to;

selectively receive, process and store said transmitted packets of information; and

convert said packets of information into a printed format for distribution to said individuals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said packets of information are redeemable retail coupons.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said printer appliances further includes a sensor adapted to detect whether said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said printer appliance further includes means for printing an additional copy of said packet upon detection by said sensor that said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said printer appliance further includes a motion detector to detect the presence of an individual in the immediate proximity of said appliance and means to display a stimulus upon the detection of the presence of said individual.

5. A system for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, said system including:

means for creating said packets of information in digital format;

means for identifying intended recipients of said packets of information;

means for establishing a sequence of distribution of said packets of information;

a wireless network for transmitting said packets of information to said retail locations; and

a network of printer appliances at said locations, each of said appliances being adapted to;

selectively receive, process and store said transmitted packets of information; and

convert said packets of information into a printed format for distribution to said individuals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said packets of information are redeemable retail coupons.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for creating includes means for importing textual and graphic information relating to said packets.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for identifying includes a database manager having a directory of all printer appliances and means for identifying those printer appliances to which each of said packets are intended to be distributed.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for sequencing comprises a transmission sequence compiler.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said wireless network comprises at least one wireless pager.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said printer appliances further includes a sensor adapted to detect whether said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said printer appliance further includes means for printing an additional copy of said packet upon detection by said sensor that said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

15. The appliance of claim 14, further including a sensor adapted to detect whether said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

16. The printer appliance of claim 15, further including means for printing an additional copy of said packet upon detection of said sensor that said printed packet has been removed from said appliance.

17. The printer appliance of claim 14, further including means to attract the attention of said individuals.

18. The printer appliance of claim 17, wherein said means to attract comprises visual display means.

19. The printer appliance of claim 17, wherein said means to attract comprises annunciator means.

20. The printer appliance of claim 17, wherein said appliance further includes a motion detector to detect the presence of an individual in the immediate proximity of said appliance and activate said means to attract.

14. A printer appliance for use in a system for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, said appliance including:

means for receiving information from a remote source transmitted over a pager network;

means for storing the information received from said remote source; and

means for converting said transmitted information into a printed format for distribution to said individuals.

21. A method for distributing packets of information to individuals at selected retail locations, said method including:

creating said packets of information in a digital format;

transmitting said packets of information to a network of printer appliances at said locations over a wireless network;

selectively receiving, processing and storing said transmitted packets of information at selected appliances; and

converting said packets of information into a printed format for distribution to said individuals.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said packets are redeemable retail coupons.

23. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of detecting the removal of said printed packet from said appliance and thereafter printing an additional copy of said packet.

25. The method of claim 24, further including providing audio and visual stimulus means to enhance the appeal of the printer appliance and to encourage consumers to accept said coupon and motion sensor to activate audio and visual stimulus.

24. A method for distributing redeemable retail coupons to individuals at selected retail locations, said method including:

creating said coupons in a digital format;

transmitting said coupons to a network of printer appliances at said locations over a wireless network;

selectively receiving, processing and storing said transmitted coupons at selected appliances;

converting said coupons into a printed format for distribution to said individuals; and

detecting the removal of a printed coupon from said appliance and thereafter printing an additional coupon for distribution.