Promotion processor and management system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A data processing system for tracking and processing a plurality of in-store discounts to potential purchasers of plural products during the checkout process wherein said discounts are each associated with a specific one of said plural products, said system comprising:
- a distributed discount vehicle, characterized by two or more of said discounts, including descriptive material to provide information at least identifying the products and their associated discounts, wherein said vehicle is associated with exactly one select code that permits machine reading and tracking of said vehicle during checkout, said code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with the vehicle, said code reflecting at least one of varying discounts unique to a potential purchaser, and identical discounts common to all potential purchasers;
a checkout processing terminal including computer based tracking of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof, where some of said products are subject to discounted pricing, wherein said processing includes a code data reader for receiving the code associated with the vehicle during checkout; and
a data processor attached to said checkout terminal for receiving information regarding transactions associated with checkout, selected products and the discounts associated with the code associated with said vehicle forming a part of the transactions, and processing said discounts in accord with said code;
wherein said data processor selectively deactivates the code for only particular discounts, of the plurality of discounts, associated with the purchased products by redemption of the code associated with the vehicle such that the code remains active for future use with yet unused ones of the plurality of discounts associated with said plural products, said data processor being further connected to memory for storing data associated with said transaction.
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Abstract
A data processing system employs a unique coded promotional vehicle to attract customers into retail establishments for the purchase of discounted goods. The promotional vehicle includes coupon styled graphics integrated with a code to allow data tracking by the store pursuant to purchases by that customer. The promotional vehicle is easier and less costly to distribute compared to the prior art, avoids cutting of coupons, and post purchase redemptions. The system further allows more targeted discounting at a lower cost, and substantially reducing fraud by eliminating post purchase coupon processing and redemption. Additionally, the system provides for selective deactivation of the code for each discount used by redemption of the vehicle without deactivating the code for the discounts not used so that the code may remain selectively active for future use.
43 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A data processing system for tracking and processing a plurality of in-store discounts to potential purchasers of plural products during the checkout process wherein said discounts are each associated with a specific one of said plural products, said system comprising:
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a distributed discount vehicle, characterized by two or more of said discounts, including descriptive material to provide information at least identifying the products and their associated discounts, wherein said vehicle is associated with exactly one select code that permits machine reading and tracking of said vehicle during checkout, said code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with the vehicle, said code reflecting at least one of varying discounts unique to a potential purchaser, and identical discounts common to all potential purchasers; a checkout processing terminal including computer based tracking of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof, where some of said products are subject to discounted pricing, wherein said processing includes a code data reader for receiving the code associated with the vehicle during checkout; and a data processor attached to said checkout terminal for receiving information regarding transactions associated with checkout, selected products and the discounts associated with the code associated with said vehicle forming a part of the transactions, and processing said discounts in accord with said code; wherein said data processor selectively deactivates the code for only particular discounts, of the plurality of discounts, associated with the purchased products by redemption of the code associated with the vehicle such that the code remains active for future use with yet unused ones of the plurality of discounts associated with said plural products, said data processor being further connected to memory for storing data associated with said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A distributed discount vehicle for use with a data processing system for tracking and processing a plurality of in-store discounts to potential purchasers of plural products during the checkout process, wherein said discounts are each associated with a specific one of said plural products, said discount vehicle comprising:
two or more of said discounts including descriptive material to provide information at least identifying the products and their associated discounts, wherein said vehicle is associated with exactly one select code that permits machine reading and tracking of said vehicle and of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof during checkout, said select code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with said vehicle and reflecting at least one of varying discounts unique to a potential purchaser and identical discounts common to all potential purchasers, and said select code uniquely identifying said vehicle such that said select code can be selectively deactivated for only particular discounts, of the plurality of discounts, associated with the purchased products by redemption of the code associated with the vehicle such that the code remains active for future use with yet unused ones of the plurality of discounts associated with said plural products. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
Specification