Method and system for delivering on demand, individually targeted promotions

• US 5,459,306 A
• Filed: 06/15/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blockbuster LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Blockbuster Entertainment Limited (Gordon Brothers Group LLC)
• Inventors: Minter, David D., Stein, Buddy, Wilson, Michael M., Twyford, Lee V.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/261,909
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system for delivering product picks to a prospective individual user. Personal user information is gathered. Information on a user'"'"'s use of a product during product use is gathered, correlated and stored. A user code provided to the user is correlated with the user information and the use information. The user information and the use information is classified based on use of the product. Classes of information potentially relevant to future purchases are identified. Product picks (promotions and recommendations) are delivered based on the classified information and the user information, responsive to an inquiry on behalf of the user.

Claims

1. A method for delivering product picks to a prospective individual user for a product line available for use by the prospective user, comprising the steps of:

(a) gathering personal user information, and gathering use information on a user'"'"'s use of at least one product during routine product use, and storing the user information and the use information in data processing retrievable form;

(b) providing a user code to the prospective user;

(c) entering the user code into a data processing means;

(d) correlating the user code with the user information and the use information;

(e) classifying the user information and the use information based on use of the at least one product, into classified information;

(f) identifying at least one class of information potentially relevant to future purchases; and

(g) identifying and delivering product picks based on the classified information and the user information, responsive to an inquiry on behalf of the user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user information is stored on a central host system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the use information is gathered by a point-of-sale computer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of periodically communicating between the point-of-sale computer and the host computer, to transmit use information since a last transmission.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of periodically communicating between the point-of-sale computer and the host computer, to provide any new updates, changes, promotions, graphics, text, rules and customer information.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, the user code and use information being entered via a customer check-out terminal communicating with a point-of-sale computer, the point-of-sale computer communicating with a coupon controller to initiate step (g), and the product picks being delivered from the coupon controller to an associated output device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising a plurality of customer check-out terminals and associated output devices.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, the user code and use information being entered via a kiosk communicating with a coupon controller, and the product picks being delivered from the coupon controller to the kiosk, and the product picks being printed from an associated output device communicating with the kiosk.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprising a plurality of kiosks and associated output devices.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupon controller transmits the user code and use information to the data processing means.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user information comprises the user code and a part number associated with the product used by the user.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, the classifying step including classifying based on product lines.

13. A system for delivering product picks to a prospective individual user for a product line available for use by the prospective user, comprising:

(a) a first data processor operable to gather personal user information, and to gather use information on a user'"'"'s use of at least one product during routine product use, the data processor including storage for storing the user information and the use information in data processing retrievable form;

(b) a user code associated with the prospective user;

(c) means for entering the user code, responsive to an inquiry on behalf of the user;

(d) a first data processing means for receiving the user code and correlating the user code with the user information and the use information;

(e) stored classified information derived from the user information and the use information based on use of the at least one product;

(f) a second data processing means for identifying product picks based on the classified information and the user information, responsive to the inquiry on behalf of the user; and

(g) at least one output device for outputting identified product picks.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, the first data processor being a central host system.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, the first data processing means being a point-of-sale computer.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, the point-of-sale computer transmitting use information since a last transmission to the host computer.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15, the host computer communicating new updates, changes, promotions, graphics, text, rules and customer information to the point-of-sale computer.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, the first data processing means being a point-of-sale computer, the means for entering a user code being a customer check-out terminal communicating with the point-of-sale computer, the second data processing means being a coupon controller communicating with the customer check-out terminal, and the output device communicating with the coupon controller to deliver product picks.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, comprising a plurality of customer check-out terminals and associated output devices.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13, the first data processing means being a point-of-sale computer, the means for entering a user code being a kiosk communicating with the point-of-sale computer, the second data processing means being a coupon controller communicating with the kiosk, and the output device communicating with the kiosk to deliver product picks.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20, comprising a plurality of kiosks and associated output devices.

22. The system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the coupon controller transmits the user code and use information to the point-of-sale computer.

23. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the user information comprises the user code and a part number associated with the product used by the user.

24. The system as claimed in claim 13, the classified information being further derived from product lines.