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 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 a select code that permits tracking of said vehicle during checkout, said code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with the vehicle;
a checkout processing terminal including computer based tracking of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof, wherein said processing terminal includes a device 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.
40 Citations
30 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 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 a select code that permits tracking of said vehicle during checkout, said code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with the vehicle; a checkout processing terminal including computer based tracking of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof, wherein said processing terminal includes a device 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, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A 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 a select code that permits 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 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 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. 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 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; a customer account associated with a customer identification code, the customer account comprising two or more of said discounts of the discount vehicle selected by a customer to be associated with the customer account, the customer account being associated with a select code that permits tracking of said customer account during checkout, said code uniquely identifying all the discounts for all of the plural products associated with the customer account; a checkout processing terminal including computer based tracking of individual purchasers'"'"' purchased products and the prices thereof, wherein said processing terminal includes a device for receiving the customer identification code and the select code associated with the customer account 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 the customer account 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 customer account 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 (29, 30)
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Specification