PERIODICAL RECYCLING AND REWARD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110225025A1
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tarbert Florida Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Remag LLC
• Inventors: Romeis, Tamila Lane, Patterson, Blake Ed, Tarbert, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• 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 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

Methods and systems for recycling a periodical are described. The methods may include the step of providing periodical information about the periodical to a recycling device, where the periodical is deposited with the recycling device. The methods may further include calculating one or more of discount offers based on the periodical information, and displaying the one or more of discount offers at the recycling device. One or more of the discount offers may be selected at the recycling device, and the selected offers may be printed into a ticket, coupon, or some other printed material at the recycling device.

Claims

1. A method of recycling a periodical, the method comprising:

providing periodical information about the periodical to a recycling device, wherein the periodical is deposited with the recycling device;

calculating one or more of discount offers based on the periodical information;

displaying the one or more of discount offers at the recycling device;

selecting one or more of the discount offers at the recycling device; and

printing at the recycling device the one or more selected discount offers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodical comprises a newspaper or a magazine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing periodical information to the recycling device comprises scanning a barcode printed on the periodical.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing periodical information to the recycling device comprises manually inputting the periodical information using a keypad or touch screen display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodical information comprises subscription information about a person or entity receiving the periodical.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodical information comprises a title of the periodical.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the one or more discount offers based on the periodical information comprises:

determining a title of the periodical from the periodical information; and

correlating the title of the periodical with the plurality of discount offers;

wherein if the title of the periodical is not recognized, then the one or more discount offers is a generic discount offer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a plurality of discount offers based on the periodical information comprises:

transmitting the periodical information from the recycling device to a processor that is removed from the recycling device, wherein the processor calculates the plurality of discount offers; and

receiving at the recycling device the plurality of discount offers calculated by the processor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the printing of the one or selected discount offers comprises printing a coupon for a discount on a new periodical, good, or service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises verifying that the periodical is deposited with the recycling device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises redeeming the printed discount offer by purchasing a new periodical, good, or service from a merchant or service provider that hosts the recycling device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the printed discount offer is compatible with a coupon redemption system of the merchant or service provider.

13. A system to recycle a periodical, the system comprising:

a scanning device to collect periodical information from the periodical;

a processor to calculate one or more discount offers based on the periodical information;

a display device to display the one or more discount offers;

an input device to select one or more of the displayed discount offers;

a printing device to print the one or more selected discount offers; and

a receptacle to hold the recycled periodical.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises an opening in a surface of the receptacle through which the periodical is inserted.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a verification device to verify that the periodical has been deposited in the receptacle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the scanning device is also a verification device to verify that the recycled periodical has been provided to the system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is located at a site that is remote from the receptacle to hold the recycled periodical.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a wired or wireless data transceiver for transmitting periodical information to a computer network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data transceiver receives data about the one or more discount offers from a site that is remote from the receptacle to hold the recycled periodical.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the scanning device comprises a barcode scanner that can read a bar code on the periodical.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the step of providing periodical information to the recycling device comprises manually inputting the periodical information using a keypad or touch screen display.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the display device and the input device are combined in a touch-screen display.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the periodical comprises a newspaper or a magazine.