FR2923931A1 - Electromagnetic or optic code i.e. promotional coupon code, processing method for use in e.g. store, involves emulating information by emulation unit connected to coin receptacle system, where unit can be laser scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves reading and interpreting a new code by a coin receptacle system (43). Information e.g. article information, contained in the new code is displayed on a LCD display (41) e.g. LCD bistable display, under the form of a code e.g. bar code, readable by the system. The display presents black pixel reflectance two times lower than white pixel reflectance. The information is emulated by an emulation unit connected to the system, where the unit can be a laser scanner (42) or an inlet peripheral connected to the system. A client-card information is read by a reader (6). The display is composed of polarizers, a reflector i.e. retro-reflector, and liquid crystal cells. An independent claim is also included for a device comprising a reader and a LCD display.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING A COUPON CODE

The present invention relates to the field of optical or electromagnetic code reader for cash register system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of reading an optical or electromagnetic code, processing, construction of a new code from the information contained in the optical or electromagnetic code and sending this new code optically or electrically to a cash system. The consumer goods sector (distributors and manufacturers) is developing many promotional mechanisms. These promotions can take many forms including the form of promotional coupons. These promotional coupons are usually in the form of a paper coupon. A first problem related to the use of a promotional coupon paper is the automatic verification of the coupon. Billions of promotional coupons are issued in France every year and several hundred billion worldwide. These promotional coupons are most often used at the cash register, in a store or supermarket. In most cases, cashiers are not aware of current coupon promotions. Therefore, when a customer presents a cash voucher, the cashier must verify that the promotional coupon itself is not a fake. There are several modes of distribution. Some modes pose quite a few problems. These include promotional coupons "on-pack", that is to say, glued on the product. The coupon being attached to the product, it seems unlikely that it was falsified. On the other hand, many promotional coupons are sent by mail, or inserted in catalogs or newspapers. The customer cuts out the promotional coupon and presents it at the cashier. The cashier must check the promotional coupon (its size, the paper on which it is printed, if the coupon looks professional, etc.) and ensure that the customer has not made it himself to benefit from a promotion that does not exist. 2 2923931 But if the cashier applies a discount on a promotional coupon that has been falsified, this is considered a "cash error". This phenomenon has been accentuated with the development of coupons on the Internet. A customer subscribes to a site where he can edit and print on paper promotional discount coupons valid in supermarkets. Many distributors are very reserved vis-à-vis these coupons for which it is not possible to verify if they are true or false. These coupons printed from a website are, in some cases, refused in the mass-market stores. That's why, especially for promotional coupons that the customer has cut into a newspaper, a catalog or printed on the Internet, the cashier spends time to ensure that the promotional coupon is a real before accepting it. This slows the crating considerably, which is a critical point for any major retailer. Nevertheless, a promotional discount coupon includes in some cases a barcode format EAN13 which theoretically allows to identify it and then to verify it. However, to automatically check a coupon, it is necessary to have all the information of the coupon (for example the value of the discount, the product code on which the promotion applies, the validity dates of the promotion, etc. .). Either this information is included in the code itself, or the code can retrieve information that is stored in a database. A barcode in EAN13 format has only a thirteen-digit code. This thirteen-digit code can not contain all the information needed for a validation (product code on which the promotion is already 13 digits, the discount value and the start and end dates of the promotion). Therefore, a way to validate the code is to check in a database of the distributor that the coupon code 30 corresponds to a promotion in progress and recover in this same database all the information (associated product code, date validity, etc.) of the coupon. 3 2923931 But this type of process is complex for the distributor because it generates significant and risky developments for its computer system. In particular, a cash register server is not made for the validation of this kind of data. Therefore, although software solutions for processing the information contained in these promotional coupons exist on the market, very few brands have adopted them because of the impacts they have on the cash system in place. Indeed, the software is complicated to develop because the cash system is a collection system 10 and therefore sensitive. Touching the cash register system creates a problem of reliability. Also, the promotional coupon information should be entered into the cash register database of each store and for each distributor; this is not easy for promotional operations for which an update is frequent. Another problem with using paper coupons is the cost of editing and distributing them. In addition, the significant use of paper is brought into question by the development of environmental rules. Another problem with the use of paper promotional coupons is the personalization of promotional offers. It is relatively complex to edit custom coupons. One could imagine a different coupon per customer with, for example, a different coupon code. The advantage of customization is twofold: the possibility of segmenting the offers and measuring return rates (number of coupons used at the checkout) per customer segment. However, this is quite complex to achieve in conventional printing and therefore more expensive than a campaign of non-personalized promotional coupons. In fact, it can be seen that personalized coupon promotion operations are very rare. A direct consequence of the non-personalization of the coupons is that it is impossible for a distributor to ensure that the customer who presents a coupon in cash is the one to whom the promotional coupon was 4 292 3931 intended. For example, a distributor (or manufacturer) conducts a coupon promotion campaign for a certain customer segment. A customer in this segment receives the promotional coupon but does not wish to take advantage of it. He is likely to give it (and even possibly sell it) to another customer who is not concerned with the distributor's promotion. The latter has no way in cash to ensure that there has been no coupon transfer. But this phenomenon is increasingly widespread thanks to the Internet that allows simple and fast exchanges between two people. 10 Moreover, the promotional coupon used by a distributor, must allow him to retain his customers, by making the right offer at the right time. But if the paper coupon can present the right offer, it does not guarantee that it is made at the right time. The right moment is defined by each distributor according to his knowledge of his customers. For example, for a segment of customers who go shopping on Saturday afternoons, the right time can be Saturday morning. However whatever the channel of distribution employed, the paper coupon does not guarantee in any case to the distributor. the delivery of the offer to the consumer at a specific and precise time. In addition, the paper coupon is often forgotten by the customer who does not necessarily think of taking it with him. Another support that can be used for a coupon promotion campaign is the mobile phone. Indeed, mobile phones are ubiquitous today in the 25 industrialized countries, it would be interesting to use this support for the display and / or storage of promotional information. Using mobile phones allows users to receive promotional codes without the hassle of paper promotional coupons that they may forget or lose. It also allows advertisers to issue a promotional coupon at the right time. A first solution is to send a coupon in simple text form, SMS for example. The coupon may contain an alphanumeric code. The customer presents his SMS in cash and the cashier validates the reduction. This process poses three problems. First of all, the cashier must know beforehand the promotion operation by coupon, because otherwise she has no way of verifying that the customer has not invented himself a promotion operation that does not exist. But if the mobile coupon transaction volumes reach levels comparable to the paper coupon, the cashier will not be able to know (and memorize) all these transactions. In addition, if the cashier applies the discount, there is no evidence that this reduction was granted on presentation of an SMS.

Indeed, once the SMS presented, there remains no trace of the coupon, that good faith of the cashier. Finally, a coupon can be reused many times, including in the same store with different cashiers. A second solution is to send a coupon in the form of an EAN13 barcode to a mobile phone. A barcode containing information contained in the promotional coupon is displayed on a screen of the mobile phone that is presented in cash. In mass market today, the boxes are equipped with LASER barcode scanners type EAN13. Even if a conventional barcode is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone, barcode LASER scanners type EAN13 can not read an EAN13 barcode on the screen of a mobile phone. Indeed, most cell phones sold today have a backlight. The principle of backlighting is to emit a light source behind the LCD screen of the mobile phone, to improve its contrast. A backlight system is composed of a light source and a mechanism for diffusing this light source over the entire surface of the LCD screen. By definition, a backlight system is not designed to reflect a light that touches the LCD.

The backlight system does not reflect the LASER ray. Consequently, whether the ray encountered by the LASER ray is black or white, no ray returns to the receiver; the LASER scanner is blind. There are now several solutions to overcome this problem.

A first solution is to use a CCD or CMOS scanner for reading an EAN13 barcode displayed on an LCD screen of a mobile phone. But this would involve the replacement of LASER scanners at the distributor. However LASER scanners are of a very tested technology and answer perfectly to the problems of robustness and speed of the large distribution. In addition, they are integrated into the collection systems. It is therefore not conceivable in the medium term to replace them with CCD or CMOS readers that do not offer the same characteristics of scanning and reading in cash. Moreover, even if a CCD or CMOS reader is installed on the cash register system (in addition to or instead of the LASER scanner) there are several problems. First, it is no longer possible, as with the promotional coupon paper, to perform a manual verification of the validity of the promotional coupon. Indeed, the promotional coupon on mobile phone is totally virtual. A cashier can not check with the naked eye that the coupon was not manufactured by the customer. Even if the promotional coupon has a code that verifies that it matches a promotion, the cashier can not know the codes of all coupons in circulation and is unable to verify that this code is good. Therefore, as with a paper promotional coupon, a cash check is required, but unlike the paper promotional coupon, the cashier alone can not do it. It is therefore necessary to go through an automatic coupon validation based on an EAN13 code. We then find the technical problem mentioned above in the case of promotional coupon paper. Then, in the case of a promotional paper coupon, the uniqueness is assured by the paper itself. A virtual coupon is by definition reusable since it is transferable. One solution would be to use a database containing coupon information as to whether a coupon has already been used. However, this database can be very large and require significant capacity to guarantee real-time processing.

In addition, these coupons are often issued by product manufacturers. However, information on promotional coupons is stored in a sealed distributor database with the other distributor databases. It is therefore difficult to ensure that a promotional coupon used in a sign is not reused in another sign, and this would require the establishment of a system not controlled by each distributor individually. In addition, there is no longer paper support and therefore physical evidence that the reduction has been applied. The only proof lies in the distributor's information system. Thus, to be reimbursed by the manufacturer of the promoted product, the value of the reduction that he has granted to the customer, the distributor can produce no evidence other than an extraction of his own information system, whereas today There is a physical proof: the promotional coupon paper. This poses the legitimate question of the confidence that the manufacturer may have in this proof of application of reduction raised by the distributor but that he can not verify. With a conventional checkout system, it is therefore not possible to use a code capable of embedding more information, such as a 2D barcode for example. In the case of a coupon issued by the distributor itself, it is also not possible to encode in addition to the coupon code, for example a customer information (and in particular its loyalty card code, which is often him - even already coded on 13 digits). The advantage of encapsulating additional information, such as customer code for example, is to control the distribution of coupons. If the customer information is encapsulated in the coupon code and the customer also presents his loyalty card, then it is possible to guarantee that the promotional coupon is used by the customer to whom it was actually distributed. This is not possible, including using a database, by the use of a simple EAN13 code.

It is also possible to print the barcode displayed on the screen of the mobile phone on a paper support, as proposed in EP 1 809 013, but this would cause two problems for the distributor: 8 2923931 the installation at the cash desk (large hardware with printer) and paper handling. There is also a decoy for LASER scanner such as that described in document US 2004 232 241. In this solution, the LCD screen of the portable telephone absorbs the LASER ray emitted by the scanner, but it also emulates a luminous signal back to the good frequency. The scanner therefore does not receive the reflected LASER ray but a signal emitted by the LCD screen of the mobile phone. The transmitted signal is a sequence of black and red displayed on the LCD screen, reproducing the reflected signal that would have been received by the receiver if the bar code was, for example, on paper. However, this solution involves downloading an application to manage the video information in the mobile phone and handling in cash which is not easy, in particular, the sequence must be launched simultaneously to the passage of the screen in front of the scanner. Also, many stores are equipped with fixed LASER scanners, not accessible by the customer. It is therefore necessary to use this system that the customer entrusts his mobile phone to the cashier (which is likely to cause him a problem) and it is the cashier who starts the sequence by pressing a key on the mobile. This is a risky and complex manipulation. A solution developed in document GB 2 432 702 consists in sending a promotional code, in SMS form, on a mobile phone. This code is a 16-digit code. Beforehand, a distributor ID card has been sent to a distributor participating in the promotion campaign. This card has a code. When the customer goes to the cash register, he presents his mobile phone. The cashier must enter the 16-digit code by hand. A validation module verifies that the code is valid. If the answer is positive, the issuer of the promotion authorizes a payment corresponding to the face value of the coupon. Otherwise, the transmitter returns a standard refusal message. If payment is authorized, a receipt is printed. The distributor will then be reimbursed according to the same mechanism as for credit card payments.

This process is however complicated, complex handling and time consuming. In fact, the cashier must first proceed to the entry of the identifier-distributor, then enter by hand the 6-digit code appearing on the virtual promotional coupon.

All the existing techniques to validate a virtual voucher at the cash desk (typically a promotional coupon displayed on the LCD screen of a mobile phone) are based on the same principle: - all coupons issued are recorded in a database a central server; a coupon reading system (whether the cash register itself or another system) interrogates a central database; - The central database either returns the information that the coupon is valid (or not), or returns all the information related to the promotional coupon so that the validation of the promotional coupon is done at checkout (validation can be manual and done by the cashier, either automatic and performed by the cashier, or automatically by the same system that read the input code). However, this approach poses the following problems: - the system is necessarily connected, which is not always easy in a store. As a result, these systems are not able to offer a disconnected solution. This disconnected solution does not ensure the uniqueness of use of the code by the same person, but allows to validate locally all other elements of the coupon (that is to say, the date is between the dates of At the beginning and end of the validity, the condition related to the promotion is respected - for example, in the case of a reduction on a specific product, verification that the product has actually been purchased, the customer presenting the coupon is the one which it was sent, etc.) and apply the reduction without using a central server; - In the case where a promotional coupon is valid in several stores, the database of the central coupon server (on which the reading system connects) is necessarily outside the stores. Unless going through reliable (and expensive) links, a lo connection of the system with a cashier server is subject to the vagaries of an Internet network that does not guarantee real-time responses. However the passage of promotional coupon cash, must be realized in real time not to disturb the cash; - The database with all promotional coupons can be relatively consistent as seen above and thus generate, again, response times perceived as slow. Since the promotional coupon on the mobile phone has been validated by a given method, it is necessary to effectively apply the reduction on the receipt. The process of entering the coupon code in EAN13 format for validation by the traditional cashier system has the limitations mentioned above. These limits prevent this system from being rolled out to date for promotional paper coupons. When the system uses a prior validation before entering the system, there is the question of how to record the reduction. Once again, a constraint is posed: do not modify the existing cash register system. The present invention therefore proposes a coupon promotion solution which, possibly, is not a paper consumer and which makes it possible to automatically guarantee the non-falsification of a promotional coupon, to edit personalized coupons, to verify that the customer who uses a promotional coupon is the one to which it was sent, which is likely to allow a pilot by the distributor the right time and ensure that the customer has it with him at the time of checkout. This solution also makes it possible to guarantee the uniqueness of the checkout of each coupon and with a technical solution without risk for the checkout system already in place. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a barcode reading method displayed on an LCD screen of a mobile phone that can operate without requiring the replacement of LASER scanners and crate systems at the distributor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a method for validation in cash of a promotional coupon and / or to ensure that the coupon is used only once. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a method 5 to ensure that the customer using the coupon is the customer to whom the promotion was addressed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for implementing this method. For this, the present invention proposes a method for processing an optical or electromagnetic code (coupon code), corresponding to a promotional coupon containing information, comprising the following steps: a reading of the coupon code by a first adapted reader and transmission of information in the form of a binary code; Possibly, a division of the binary code by a predefined promotional algorithm; characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: - creating a new code from at least one information contained in the coupon code by a new predefined code generation algorithm; - sending to the cash register system of the new code by optical or electrical means; and - a reading and an interpretation by the cash system of the new code; 25 and in that the reading and the interpretation by the cash register system involves one of the following steps: a display of at least one piece of information contained in the new code in the form of a code readable by the cash register system on an LCD display composed of a first polarizer, a set of liquid crystal cells, a second polarizer and a reflector, the display having a reflectance on a black pixel at least two times smaller than a reflectance on a white pixel, and a reading of the code by a LASER scanner of the cash register system; or an emulation by an emulation unit, connected to the cash register system, of at least one piece of information contained in the new code in the form of a code readable by a cash register system, the emulating emulation unit being the LASER scanner, either a keyboard or an input device connected to the cash register system. Also, the present invention also provides a device for implementing the method and comprising: - the first reader; and - the LCD display; the LCD display comprising the following successive layers: the first polarizer; the set of liquid crystal cells; the second polarizer; - the reflector; characterized in that the LCD display has a reflectance on a black pixel at least two times smaller than a reflectance on a white pixel. Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of example, which are not restrictive and in which: FIG. 1 shows schematically the process according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the connections between the cash register systems, the warehouse servers and a central server; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the light beam paths in a mirror LCD display; - Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the light beam paths in an LCD display reflector. A device used in the method according to the invention comprises a first reader 2, a data processing module 3, an LCD display 41, and a second reader 6. The components of the device are divided into at least two parts. A first part, called the client side, comprises the first and second readers 2, 6. A second part, called the cash side portion, includes the LCD display 41, and a LASER scanner 42 and possibly an alphanumeric keyboard to enter a code by hand. The data processing module may be included in the client side or the cash side. It can also be the subject of a third part, called box part, which can be concealed under the box. Referring to Figure 1, hereinafter will be described the method according to the present invention. The method consists in reading a code, corresponding to a promotional coupon, by a first reader 2 adapted. This coupon code is then transmitted to a data processing module 3 for the verification of the non-forgery, the extraction of the information contained in the code and their processing. A promotional coupon is issued by an industrialist, a manufacturer of products for sale at a distributor. The promotional coupon can still be issued by the distributor. The issue can be carried out, as conventionally, by sending a paper coupon to a beneficiary of the promotion, or a virtual promotional coupon to a mobile phone 1. The issue can still be carried out by sending a virtual promotional coupon by one of the technologies SMS, MMS, WAP, NFC, or any other information interpretable by an application of a mobile phone 1, to a mobile phone 1 of the recipient. In all cases, a coupon code, containing the information necessary to process the promotional coupon is encrypted, by an encryption algorithm known to the issuer, to make the promotional coupon tamper-proof. In the case of the use of a mobile phone, information carried by the promotional coupon can be displayed on an LCD screen 12 of the mobile phone 1 as a promotional code. This promotional code, for example, and without limitation, may be an alphanumeric code, a conventional bar code, or one-dimensional bar code, consisting of black and white bands of different widths. The code may also be a 2D barcode, or two-dimensional barcode, consisting of the juxtaposition of black or white squares on a delimited surface whose shape may be square or rectangular. The resolution of the squares depends on the amount of information desired. An advantage of using a 2D barcode is that this type of barcode can contain a larger amount of information.

In particular, it makes it possible to contain additional information such as a loyalty card number to which a promotional code has been sent, a period of validity of this code, etc. For the same level of information, a 2D barcode requires a lower resolution than the conventional barcode. Since the resolution of mobile phone screens is limited, the 2D barcode is therefore more robust to reading. The first reader 2 used for reading the alphanumeric code or the barcode displayed on the LCD screen 12 of the mobile phone 1 is preferably an imaging reader (eg CMOS or CDD reader) with image processing. The technology of an imaging reader is recalled here. A two-dimensional photoelectric sensor receives via a lens the different light rays emitted by an object. The sensor is connected to an image processing system, capable of decrypting the code 20 and transforming it into a binary code that can be interpreted by the data processing module 3. The sensor is able to read and decrypt a code. one or two-dimensional bars or an alphanumeric code by the use of optical character recognition (OCR) software In the case where the luminance of the object is not sufficient, a light source may be added to the reader 2 to illuminate the source (especially in the case of a mobile phone 1 with an LCD 12 without backlight). The first reader 2 must be able to read the barcode in a time less than the flickering period of the LCD screen 12 of the mobile phone 1. In the case of the use of a mobile phone 1, the information carried promotional coupon can be conveyed by a transmission technology such as radio technology (NFC, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.).

The recipient then presents his promotional paper, card or virtual coupon in cash for the application of the promotion on his basket. A first reader 2 adapted to the technology used to store promotional coupon information reads the promotional code. The first reader 2 can be an imaging reader with image processing with or without OCR (Optical Character Recognition), a LASER scanner, an infrared reader / receiver, a radio player such as an NFC reader, a Bluetooth or Wifi terminal . And in general, the first reader 2 may be a commercial reader whose technology is adapted to the code used. Thus, this reduces the cost for the distributor. This first reader 2 outputs a binary code, comprising the information contained in the promotional coupon, and retaining the encryption, to the data processing module 3. The data processing module 3 comprises a coupon code connector 31, a code decoder 32, a validation unit 33, a client code connector 34, a control unit 35, an information removal and feedback unit 36, a clock 37 and a sound element 39. A local coupon server 51 , different from the cashier server of the store, comprises a database 511. The coupon code connector 31 serves as socket, which is connected to the first reader 2. The connector 31 receives from the first reader 2 the code under Binary form and returns this code without modification to the code decoder 32. The code decoder 32 receives the binary code and decodes it. It performs two steps: - decryption of the code; and possibly - the division of the information contained in the code. The decryption and the cutting of the code are carried out respectively with the aid of a decryption algorithm and a promotional algorithm, the decryption algorithm corresponding to the encryption algorithm used for issuing the coupon and able to to be predefined.

Decryption allows a first check consisting of checking that the promotional coupon is a real one. If the decryption of the binary code fails, then the promotional coupon is considered a forgery. In this case, the code decoder 32 returns an error message to the validation unit 33 which transmits to the control unit 35. If the decryption of the binary code succeeds, then the promotional coupon is considered to be a true and the code decoder 32 performs the clipping, individualizing the information contained in the binary code.

In the code decoder 32, are recorded one or more promotional algorithms each corresponding to a given promotional mechanism that the distributor or the manufacturer wishes to apply. The promotional algorithm used is identified thanks to a promotional identifier contained in the coupon code. The algorithm depends on the promotional offer and identifies the information and conditions to be applied to apply the promotion. A parameter setting unit 32 'of the decoder makes it possible to add a promotional algorithm that allows the processing of a new promotional mechanism. The parameterization unit 32 'makes it possible to carry out a parameterization of the code decoder 32. The parameterization is carried out by sending a promotional algorithm, which will make it possible to recover each of the information contained in the binary code before transmitting them to the validation unit 33. The parameterization can be performed either at the factory or at the time of deployment of the data processing module 3, or online, depending on the needs of the distributor, which allows a regular update The information, other than the promotional identifier and contained firstly in the promotional coupon and then in the code read by the first reader 2 and then in the binary code, may be: a price information indicating the amount of the promotion; and / or - article information specifying the article or articles and / or the minimum amount to be paid on which the promotion can be made; and / or - customer-coupon information identifying the beneficiary of the promotion; and / or - a timestamp information specifying the period of validity of the coupon; and / or - coupon information identifying the coupon; and / or any other information necessary to define the parameters of a given promotional mechanism. The price, article, customer-coupon and timestamp information may not be contained in the promotional coupon, but in the 511 database. They will be retrieved by the validation unit 33 using coupon information. . The validation unit 33 makes it possible to carry out a certain number of automatic checks on the promotional coupon before the application of the promotion according to the promotional algorithm used and identified by the promotion identifier. As for the code decoder 32, one or more algorithms can be registered in the validation unit 33. Four other verifications can be made each defining a rule, the first verification, which consists in verifying that the promotional coupon is not a forgery, being performed by the code decoder 32 during decryption. A second check is the verification of the timestamp. This consists in verifying that the date, and possibly the time for express promotions, to which the promotional coupon is used is well understood between the date, and possibly the time, of the beginning and the end of validity of the promotional coupon and / or before a convenience date (the date promotional coupons are accepted), different from the validation end date. This is done by the validation unit 33 which receives the timestamp information and information delivered by the clock 37, and compares these two pieces of information. The second rule is checked if the date (possibly the time) of checkout is between the start date and the expiry date of the coupon. A third check involves a reading of a customer-card information.

The reading of the customer-card information is performed by the second reader 6 adapted for the code used. The second reader can be integrated with the first reader 2. For example, the customer has a personal code to be able to use his promotional coupons; he enters this personal code on a keyboard present on the second reader 6. Or, the second reader 6 reads a signature of the mobile phone or its SIM card (for example an NFC signature, Bluetooth or GSM or UMTS). Indeed, all of these communication technologies require an identification of the device or the user to establish a dialogue with another device. For example, in GSM, IMSI and IMEI numbers are used. These numbers constitute a signature. An advertiser may know for a given customer a signature of his mobile phone. The information can then be this signature. It is verified during the checkout with the second reader 6. This signature is known to the advertiser who knows how to attach to a particular client. Finally, the reading can also concern the reading of a customer's loyalty card. A number of the loyalty card is retrieved either directly by the second reader 6 or by retrieving information on the conventional checkout system 43 (which has a loyalty card reader). In this case, the second reader is able to read cards identified by a barcode, a magnetic strip, a chip or an NFC card.

At the third check the customer-coupon and customer-card information is compared. The validation unit 33 therefore verifies that the customer who identifies with the cashier by the second reader 6 is the customer to whom the promotional coupon has been sent. The third rule is verified if the customer-coupon information and the customer-card information are identical.

In some cases, the distributor may not wish to apply the third verification, but still record the customer-card information. In this case, if the customer-code information received by the second reader 6 does not correspond to the customer-coupon information, the promotional coupon is nevertheless accepted, but the customer-card information received by the second reader 6 will be recorded in the 511 database. This will allow the distributor to know how promotional coupons he sends to certain customers can be transferred to others.

A fourth check is whether the promotion applies by analyzing the content of the customer's shopping cart. For example, for a promotional discount coupon on at least one product, the validation unit 33 verifies that at least one of the products (identified by the article information, possibly in the form of an EAN13 code) has been scanned by the cashier. Another example, for a discount coupon on a minimum amount to be paid, the validation unit verifies that the sum of scanned products reaches the required amount (content in the article information) to apply the promotion. The validation unit 33 therefore compares the item information to the customer's basket registered by the cashier by questioning the checkout system 43. The fourth rule is checked if the customer's basket corresponds to the article information. In the case where the fourth check is performed, the validation unit 33 connects to the checkout system 43 to know the entire registered shopping basket of the customer and validate that the promotion can be applied.

A fifth check is to check if the promotional coupon has already been used. For this, a connection (wired or wireless) between the validation unit 33 and the local database 511 coupons is established. Two modalities are possible. In the first modality, the coupon information is retrieved and makes it possible to identify the promotional coupon in the database 511. The database 511 contains a list referencing all the promotional coupons issued and also contains information concerning the coupon. use of these promotional coupons. She is asked to check if this coupon has not been used already. It then returns a response to the validation unit 33. The fifth rule is verified if the coupon information corresponds to a promotional coupon not yet used. In the second modality, the coupon information is retrieved and compared to the database 511. The database 511 contains only the coupon information of promotional coupons already used. If the coupon information retrieved is already present in the database 511, this then means that the promotional coupon has already been used. Otherwise, the database 511 records the coupon information. The fifth rule is then checked if the coupon information does not yet exist in the database 511. The method incorporating a fifth check according to the second modality allows a lighter management of coupon information. Indeed, the database does not have to be pre-loaded, loaded with a large amount of information. This significantly reduces network data flows. Other checks are possible, for example, in the context of a promotion of the type offered for N purchased products (with N at least two), a check would be to verify that the product on which the promotion has been purchased in sufficient numbers and to apply a reduction corresponding to the price of a copy of the product. All checks, except the fifth check, can be performed by the data processing module 3 without connection with a server. These checks can therefore be carried out autonomously by the data processing module 3. A parameterization unit 33 'of the validation unit 33 makes it possible to add a promotional algorithm that allows the processing of a new promotional mechanism. The algorithm makes it possible to indicate to the validation unit 33 the structure of the data transmitted by the code decoder 32; what checks should be made (and therefore which rules should be checked); and the structure of the information to be traced back to the information removal and reporting unit 36 and then to the database 511 after validation. This setting can be done either in the factory, or at the time of deployment of the data processing module 3, or by online connection, which allows a regular update of the validation unit 33.

If one of the rules to be verified is not, the promotional coupon is not accepted and an error message is returned to the control unit 35.

If the set of rules to be verified is, the validation unit 33 sends a signal to the sound element 39 which emits a sound, for example a beep, to indicate that the promotional coupon is valid; and sends information (including coupon information, and coupon-coupon, the date and time that the promotion was applied, a machine ID to know which reader the promotional coupon is on), some of which are contained in the promotional coupon, at the 511 database; creates and sends a new code containing at least one information to the control unit 35. The new code is a code readable by the cash register system 43, for example a code in EAN13 form. It may or may not be identical to the coupon code.

If the first reader 2 is a reader imager, the validation unit 33 also goes back to the database 511 a photograph of the code displayed on the LCD screen 12 of the mobile phone 1 taken by the first reader 2. The photograph taken by the reader 2 constitutes an additional lock which makes it possible to prevent the manipulation of files in the exchanges distributor / industrial or distributors / manufacturers. The manufacturer or the manufacturer may, if he wishes, check the diversity of images taken proving that the information generated in the file that is returned to him has been generated by a coupon passed to the reader 2.

The information elimination and feedback unit 36 then eliminates the coupon code corresponding to the promotional coupon used in the database 511 (in the case of the first modality of the fifth verification) or adds coupon information to the base. 511 (in the case of the second category of the fifth verification), meaning that the promotional coupon has already been used to ensure that the promotional coupon is used only once.

Depending on the type of promotional offer and the needs of the manufacturer, manufacturer or distributor, validation can take many forms.

In a first form, the validation concerns only the first verification (decryption of the binary code), that is to say that one only seeks to know if the promotional coupon presented in cash is a true. There is therefore no need to interrogate the database 511, 5 or even the cash register system 43. In a second form, the validation concerns the step of decrypting the binary code and another verification only. for example the fifth check. Thus, the validation unit 33 queries the database 511 to find out whether the promotional coupon has already been used, but there is no other check, such as that concerning the time stamp, the customer basket or the Article. Other forms of validation can be achieved by combining the possible verifications. As for example, a validation with use of the fourth and fifth checks. After receiving the new code created and sent by the validation unit 33, the control unit 35 returns, according to a parameterization given to it, a command on the LCD display 41 or on a cash register system 43. the promotional coupon is refused, an error message is sent to the control unit 35 which transmits the information either to the LCD display 41 or to the cash register system 43 for displaying the error message. If the promotional coupon is accepted, the validation unit 33 builds a new code. This new code is built from an algorithm for constructing new codes and information contained in the coupon code. This new code is in a format interpretable by the cash system. This new code can be, in most cases, an alphanumeric code of 13 digits (but not only). For example, in the case where the promotion is a discount on a product, this new code may be a code that follows the GS1 standardization coupon codes: 30 XXXAAAAAAEEEC, where. - XXX = 981 if the reduction has a value greater than or equal to 10 {and 982 in other cases; - AAAAAA: is a 6-digit code that identifies the promotion and is given by the distributor or manufacturer of the product; - EEE: is a value of the reduction; - C: is a control key; In this case the algorithm for the creation of this code is the following: - if the value of the reduction given in the coupon code is greater than or equal to 10 {, XXX is equal to 981 and EEE is written in such a way that EEE / 10 is the value of the reduction; - if the value of the reduction given in the coupon code is less than 10 {, XXX is 982 and EEE is written in such a way that EEE / 100 is the value of the reduction; - AAAAAA is a data stored in the validation unit 33; - C is calculated according to a classical rule of the control key for an EAN13 code.

The algorithm for creating new codes to build the new code will depend on the promotion ID and the information included in the coupon code. It will be registered in the validation unit 33 and may be updated by the parameterization unit of the validation unit 33 '. The new code is sent to the control unit 35.

The control unit 35 sends this new code to the LCD display 41 or to the cash register system 43 in EAN13 format (or another code format readable by the cash register, for example a one or two-dimensional barcode) in the case of sending to the LCD display 41) as well as contextual information (article information, price information, etc.).

A setting unit 35 'of the control unit makes it possible to indicate to the control unit 35 to which output (LCD display 41 or cash system 43) the information received from the validation unit 33 is sent. parameterization is performed either at the factory or at the time of deployment of the data processing module 3 or by online connection, which allows a regular update of the control unit 35. The settings of the data processing module 3 allow the addition of promotional algorithms not prerecorded in the data processing module 3; they therefore allow the data processing module 3 to deal with new promotional mechanisms. They are done by sending algorithms that depend on the form of the promotional and commercial offer. Each algorithm will be identified by a unique promotion ID. This algorithm information is contained in the coupon code and the information required for validation according to this algorithm. For example, for a particular promotion, the coupon code may include the following information: - promotion ID; - timestamp information (here, a promotion start and end date); - price information; - article information (corresponding here to the article linked to the promotion) - coupon information - and the selected algorithm allows the following rules to be verified: - first rule according to the second modality of the fifth verification (l coupon information is not present in the database 511); - second rule (the information provided by the clock is between the promotion start and end date given by the time stamp information). In this promotion, it is not valid for example that the article related to the promotion is present in the basket of the customer.This verification is left to the charge of the cashier.

The cash register system 43 comprises a personal computer on which various peripherals are connected (keyboard, screen, scanner, printer, blue card reader, loyalty card reader); software included in the personal computer that adds the prices of the different products, applies discounts and controls devices.

At each product registration, the data processing module 3 sends the scanned code to a local coupon server 51, different from the cash register server of the store, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to which all the data processing modules are connected. 3 of a given store, which returns in real time the price and the name of the product associated with that code. The local coupon server 51 contains the database 511 gathering various information including promotional coupon information. This database 511 is updated by a central server 53 to which are connected the local coupon servers 51 of one or more distributors (s), possibly grouped by region. The central server 53 comprises a central database.

The local coupon servers 51 go back in real time, the information they collect, for example concerning the promotional coupons, to the central server 53 via a network connection 52. The central server 53 then drops this information back to all the network store servers. .

The network connections 52 may be wired or radio.

There is therefore a double level of communication. This dual level allows fast communication between a data processing module 3 and a local coupon server 51 since a network connection 52 can be avoided. Also, this dual level of communication allows validation even in case of network problems 52. If the network connection 52 temporarily encounters problems, the promotional coupons presented to a data processing module 3 can still be validated or invalidated.

If the network connection 52 between a local coupon server 51 and the central server 53 is interrupted for a few minutes, the validation can be performed with minimal risk of fraud. Indeed, for there to be fraud, it would be necessary for the same promotional coupon to be used in two different stores during the period of unavailability of the connection. If in addition, the third check is made, then the risk is further reduced, since it would be necessary for one and the same customer to arrive at crates of two different stores during the period of unavailability of the connection.

If the connection problems persist beyond a threshold duration defined by the distributor, the local coupon server 51 may refuse the validation of promotional coupons until the connection is restored.

The validity check of a promotional coupon is therefore much more responsive in response time.

The update of all servers 51, 53 is made in real time. From the information of the database of the central server 53, statistical studies can be performed.

If the control unit 35 is set to return the information received from the validation unit 33 to the cash register system 43, then the cash register system 43 receives the new code, the price information, and applies the promotion to the cash register 43. total purchase. This can be done, for example, by an emulation unit that can emulate the LASER scanner or an optical drive (eg CMOS or CCD) or a keyboard or input device plugging into the cash system and sending an EAN13 code (or any other code readable by the cash register system, such as for example a barcode with one or two dimensions, a code in ASCII format or in the form of an electrical signal, etc.). The emulation unit is connected to the body system 43 by a USB type interface, keyboard / Wedge RS232 single and double, RS4XX, IBM 46xx, scanner emulation, pencil emulation, OCIA, Wand, Bluetooth, Wifi. The code readable by the cash register system 43, can be a code interpretable directly by the cash register system 43, without the addition of a dedicated software. For the cash register system, the impact is practically zero since it sees the emulation unit as a device that it knows.

Finally, if the control unit 35 is set to send the information received from the validation unit 33 to the LCD display 41, the display shows the code EAN13 in the form of a barcode, or any other readable form. by an optical reader, in particular a LASER scanner. The contextual information (article information, price information ...) is displayed in text format. The barcode is then read by the conventional LASER scanner.

The proposed method therefore eliminates a printer used to print EAN13 barcode coupons from promotional coupon. As a result, the spatial congestion of the device implementing the method is reduced.

The LCD display 41 must be able to allow a reading of the barcode by the scanner LASER 42 cash.

The LCD display 41 is composed of the following successive layers: a first polarizer; a set of liquid crystal cells;

a second polarizer; and - a reflector.

The LCD display 41 can be a reflective LCD display with a white background, which guarantees the reading of a barcode by a LASER scanner 42. The LCD display 41, preferably, follows the ANSI standard which defines the rules to be respected. for a good code reading.

In particular, the LCD display 41 provides, in the wavelength of the laser (typically between about 600 nm and about 700 nm), a reflectance (ratio of the energy of the light reflected on the incident light) on a black pixel at least two times less than a reflectance on a white pixel and a difference in reflectance between a white pixel and a black pixel of at least about 20%, and preferably greater than about 70%.

The barcode displayed on the LCD display 41 preferably has a size of at least about 3 cm wide and at least about 2 cm high.

In order to be able to encode an EAN13 code, the at least about 3 cm wide contain at least 90 columns of pixels.

In the case where the laser light of the LASER scanner 42 is polarized, the LCD display 41 is positioned so that it minimizes the amount of energy absorbed by a first polarizer of the LCD display. For example, if the LASER light is polarized rectilinearly, the LCD display 41 is then aligned so that the polarization of its first polarizer is in the same plane as the polarization axis of the incident LASER beam. Another example, if the LASER light has an elliptical polarization, the first polarizer of the LCD display 41 is then preferably aligned on the major axis of the ellipse.

The state of each pixel must remain stable during the playback time. A good reading of a barcode requires ten successive scans of this barcode by the LASER beam of the LASER scanner 42. Thus, for example, for a LASER scanner 42 which carries out 1000 scans per second, the reading time is about 10 msec. The state of the pixels of the LCD display 41 must remain stable for a duration at least greater than the duration set by the LASER scanner 42 to read the barcode, ie about 10 msec.

In order to improve the device according to the invention, the LCD display 41 may have the characteristics described below.

The incident LASER beam 106 on the LCD display 41 meets a glass surface, or window 1032, at the input of the LCD display 41. This surface itself generates a reflection, which is independent of the state of the pixel ( indeed this reflection takes place before the LASER beam 106 enters the LCD display). If the LCD display 41 is perpendicular to the plane of incidence of the beam

LASER 106, the glassy reflection 107 rises to the level of a receiver 102 of the LASER scanner 42 which is in the axis of the incident beam and is

likely to reduce reading performance.

Indeed, as indicated above, in order to guarantee a good reading of the code, the reflectances on a black pixel Rn and on a white pixel Rb must verify at least the following rules:

Rn <0.5xRb; Rb-Rn> A, with A at least 20% and preferably greater than 70%. But if we introduce the vitreous reflection, we have:

Rn = Rn '+ A;

Rb = Rb '+ A;

or

Rn 'is the reflectance of the liquid crystal 1033 plus that of the reflector, which here is a mirror 1031a, when the pixel is black;

Rb 'is the reflectance of the liquid crystal 1033 plus that of the mirror 1031a when the pixel is white;

L is the reflectance increment induced by the glass 1032.

Thus Rn / Rb = (Rn '+ A) / (Rb' + A) = 1- (Rb'-Rn ') / (Rb' + A) is an increasing function of A. The glassy reflection 107 can in certain cases induce Rn> 0.5xRb and decrease the reading quality of the scanner 42.

One way of improving the reading is to tilt the LCD display 41 with respect to the plane of incidence of the LASER. Thus the light reflected on the glass 1032 does not restart in the direction of the receiver and does not disturb the reading.

The mirror 1031a at the bottom of the LCD display 41 acts in reflection and in diffusion: a part 104 of the incident beam is reflected according to the Descartes law (symmetry of the beam with respect to the normal AA of the mirror 1031a) and a second part 108 is diffused in all directions, including the direction of the incident beam 106. By inclining the LCD display 41, as shown in Figure 3, the reflected beam 104 on the mirror does not go back to the receiver 102 either. the light from the diffusion 108 on the mirror 1031a in the direction of the incident beam 106 which goes back to the receiver and can therefore be used for decoding.

In order to improve the contrast when the LCD display is inclined, it is possible to replace the mirror 1031a at the bottom of the LCD display by a retro-reflector, or a retro-reflector 1031b, as shown in FIG. 4. A property of the 1031b reflector is to reflect an incident beam 106 into a beam 107 parallel to the incident beam.

A 1031b reflector is composed of a mosaic of reflective trirectangular trihedrons. The trihedrons are identical. Each trihedron is composed of 3 identical triangles which are isosceles rectangles, with two small sides and a large side. These rectangles have as common edges the edges of their short sides. The stop of their big side corresponds to that which is in the foreground of the reflex reflector. It has a length L (the same for all trihedrons). The set of edges of large sides of all the trihedrons are in the same plane (which defines the plane that will cross in one direction and in the other any ray which strikes the reflex reflector) A beam which enters the trihedron in spring parallel to the incident beam with an offset d (distance between the incident beam and the reflected beam). This offset d is less than the length L. In order not to distort the reading of the barcode, the induced offset on the LASER beam of the cash register scanner must be less than the width of the smallest bar-bar bar. that is, at most about 0.2 mm (for optimal reading). Therefore, the trihedrons must be such that the width L, which defines the trihedrons, is less than 0.2mm. To ensure that the color stability (black or white) of the pixels during the playback time, it is possible to use an LCD display 41 of the bistable type. Indeed, with this type of technology, the pixels are not refreshed because their state is stable in time: they are either white or black. It is an electrical impulse that can pass from a stable state (black or white) to the other stable state (white or black).

If the LASER beam 106 is linearly polarized, a quarter-wave plate may be added in front of the LCD display 41. The quarter-wave plate is oriented such that one of its neutral axes forms an angle of 45 degrees. ° with respect to the polarization axis of the first polarizer of the LCD display 41: - either the polarization of the LASER forms an angle of + 45 ° or -45 ° with respect to the polarization axis of the first polarizer of the LCD display 41: in this case, crossing the quarter-wave plate, its polarization is unchanged (because along a neutral axis of the blade). The LASER beam 106 reaches the LCD display 41 with a polarization at 45 ° with respect to the first polarizer: part of its energy is absorbed but part of its energy can enter the LCD display; in all other cases, the quarter-wave plate transforms the rectilinear polarization into elliptical polarization, which guarantees that part of the LASER beam 106 can enter the LCD display 41.

The advantage of sending the new code on an LCD display 41 readable by a scanner LASER 42, is that if the distributor does not wish to automatically perform the fourth check, the system requires absolutely no connection to the existing cash system. This allows the distributor to be assured that the proposed system will have no impact on the security and reliability of its current POS system.

If, however, the distributor wishes to totally automate the reading, verification, translation and receipt of the coupon, the control unit 35 may be parceled to send the coupon code information in the form of an electrical signal directly to the cash register system 43. In particular, the information may be transmitted in serial ASCII format by one of the ports of the cash register system. The connection between the control unit 35 and the cash register system 43 may be among others of the USB type, keyboard / Wedge, RS232 single and double, RS4XX, IBM 46xx, emulation scanner, pencil emulation, OCIA, Wand, Bluetooth, Wifi .

In some cases, the connection of the control unit 35 to the cash register system 43 will be transparent to the system and will not require any new software deployment on the cash register system. This is particularly the case, for example, of the keyboard / Wedge connection where the system will be connected between the cash register and the cash register system 43. In this case, the control unit 35 sends key codes and it is confused by the body system 43 with the existing keyboard.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but extends to any embodiment within its spirit. The present invention is also not limited to large distribution but is also intended for all businesses using a cash system.

Claims (56)

1. A method for processing an optical or electromagnetic code (coupon code), corresponding to a promotional coupon containing information, comprising the following steps: - a reading of the coupon code by a first reader (2) adapted and the transmission of information in the form of a binary code; possibly, a splitting of the binary code by a predefined promotional algorithm; characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: - creating a new code from at least one information contained in the coupon code by a predefined new code creation algorithm; A sending to the cash register system (43) of the new code by optical or electrical means; and - reading and interpretation by the cash register system (43) of the new code; and in that the reading and the interpretation by the cash register system (43) involves one of the following steps: a display of at least one information contained in the new code in the form of a code readable by the cash register system (43) on an LCD display (41) composed of a first polarizer, a set of liquid crystal cells, a second polarizer and a reflector, the display having a reflectance on a a black pixel at least two times less than a reflectance on a white pixel, and a reading of the code by a LASER scanner (42) of the cash register system (43); or an emulation by an emulation unit, connected to the cash register system, of at least one piece of information contained in the new code in the form of a code readable by a cash register system (43), the unit of emulating emulation either the LASER scanner (42), a keyboard, or an input device connected to the cash register system (43). 2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the code readable by the cash register system (43) is a one or two dimensional barcode (s). 3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LCD display (41) has a difference in reflectance between that of a black pixel and that of a white pixel of at least 20%. about. 4. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the LCD display (41) has a difference in reflectance between that of a black pixel and that of a white pixel greater than 70%. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the state of the pixels of the LCD display (41) remains stable for a period of at least about 10 msec. 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LCD display (41) is aligned so that its first polarizer has a polarization in the same plane as a polarization axis of the incident LASER beam emitted by the LASER scanner (42), if the LASER beam has a linear polarization; and in that, if the LASER beam has an elliptical polarization according to an ellipse, the LCD display (41) is aligned so that its first polarizer has a polarization in the same plane as a major axis of the ellipse. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflector of the LCD display (41) is a retro-reflector. 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LCD display (41) is a bistable LCD display. 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LCD display (41) further comprises a quarter-wave plate. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the emulation unit emulates an ASCII format code in the form of an electrical signal; and in that the emulation unit is connected to the cash register system (43) by an interface of the cash register system (43) selected from: USB, keyboard / Wedge, RS232 single or dual, RS4XX, IBM 46xx, scanner emulation , pencil emulation, OCIA, Wand, Bluetooth, Wifi. 11. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the code emulated by the emulation unit is directly interpretable by the body system (43). 12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the code readable by the cash register system (43) is a 13-digit code. 20 13. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the 13-digit code is a barcode format EAN13. 14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupon code is encrypted by an encryption algorithm. 15. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the promotional coupon is contained in a mobile phone. 16. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the promotional coupon is contained on a paper support. 30 17. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the promotional coupon contains coupon information identifying the coupon. 18. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the promotional coupon also contains: a promotional identifier identifying the promotional algorithm; and / or price information indicating an amount corresponding to the amount of a promotion to be applied; and / or - article information specifying an article and / or an amount on which the promotion can be carried out; and / or - customer-coupon information identifying a beneficiary of the promotion; and / or a timestamp information specifying a period of validity of the coupon. 19. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that a database (511) of a local coupon server (51) contains: a promotion identifier identifying the promotional algorithm; and or 20 - price information indicating an amount corresponding to the amount of a promotion to be applied; and / or - article information specifying an article and / or an amount on which the promotion can be carried out; and / or - customer-coupon information identifying a beneficiary of the promotion; and / or - a timestamp information specifying a period of validity of the coupon. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a step of processing data of the binary code by a data processing module (3). 21. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the data processing step comprises the following substeps: - a decryption of the binary code, constituting a first automatic verification defining a first rule, and optionally a division of information contained in the binary code by a decoder (32), the decryption being performed by a decryption algorithm; possibly a realization of at least one automatic verification, defining a rule, on the promotional coupon by a validation unit (33) before an application of the promotion; - sending information by the validation unit (33) to a control unit (35); and - sending a command to the cash register system (43) or the LCD display (41) by the control unit (35). 15 22. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that if the decryption of the binary code fails, the code decoder (32) returns an error message to the validation unit (33) which transmits to the control unit. (35); and in that if the decryption of the binary code succeeds, the first rule is checked and the code decoder (32) performs the clipping, individualizing the information contained in the binary code. 23. A method according to any of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that an addition of a promotional algorithm in the code decoder (32) is realized by a parameterization of the code decoder (32) by means of a sending a promotional algorithm to the code decoder (32) by a parameterization unit (32 '), the algorithm depending on the promotion and identifying the information and the conditions to be respected in order to apply the promotion; and in that the setting of the code decoder (32) is performed either at the factory, or at the time of deployment of the data processing module (3), or in line. 24. Method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that a second verification, defining a second rule, consists in comparing the time stamping information with information delivered by a clock (37), making it possible to checking whether the date, and possibly the time, of a checkout is between a start date and a valid end date of the coupon; and in that the second rule is checked if the date, and possibly the time, of checkout is between the date of commencement and the date of expiry of the coupon contained in the timestamp information. 25. Method according to any one of claims 18 to 24, characterized in that a third verification, defining a third rule, consists in reading a client-card information by a second reader (6) adapted to compare the information customer-card to customer-coupon information; and in that the third rule is verified if the customer-card information and the customer-coupon information are identical. 26. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the customer-card information is a personal code allowing the use of the promotional coupon; and in that this personal code is entered on a keyboard present on the second reader (6). 27. Method according to claim 24 in combination with claim 15, characterized in that the customer-card information is a signature of the mobile phone (1) or its SIM card, this signature being read by an NFC reader, Bluetooth , GSM or UMTS. 28. The method of claim 24, characterized in that the customer-card information is a number of a loyalty card; and in that this information is read by the second reader (6) or on the cash register system having a loyalty card reader. 29. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 28, characterized in that a fourth verification, defining a fourth rule, is that if the article information defines at least one article on which the promotion is carried out, the validation unit verifies that at least one item has been scanned by the checkout system; in that if the article information defines a minimum amount to be paid, the validation unit verifies that the sum of the prices of the scanned articles is at least equal to the minimum amount to be paid; and characterized in that the fourth rule is verified if the customer has a basket corresponding to the item information, the basket being the set of scanned items. 30. Method according to any one of claims 18 to 29, characterized in that a fifth check, defining a fifth rule, consists in recovering the coupon information, identifying the coupon in the database (511) of the server. local coupons (51), the database (511) containing a list that references all promotional coupons issued and contains information regarding the use of these promotional coupons; and in that the fifth rule is verified if the coupon information corresponds to a promotional coupon not yet used. 31. A method according to any one of claims 18 and 20 to 29 in combination with claim 18, characterized in that a fifth verification, defining a fifth rule, consists in recovering the coupon information identifying the promotional coupon and to verify if the coupon information is already present in a database (511) of a local coupon server (51), the database (511) containing only information on the coupons already used; and in that the fifth rule is checked if coupon information does not yet exist in the database (511). 32. A method according to any one of claims 30 or 31, characterized in that the local coupon server (51) is connected to a central server (53); and in that the database (511) is updated by the central server (53). 33. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the local coupon server (511) is connected to the central server (53) by a wired or wireless connection. 34. Method according to any one of claims 18 to 33, characterized in that an addition of a promotional algorithm in the validation unit (33) is achieved by a parameterization of the validation unit (33) by sending the promotional algorithm to the validation unit (33) by a parameterization unit (33 '), the algorithm depending on the promotion and identifying the checks to be made, that is to say the rules to be verified by the validation unit (33); and in that the parameterization of the validation unit (33) is performed either at the factory, or at the time of deployment of the data processing module (3), or in line. 35. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 34, characterized in that if one of the rules to be verified is not, the promotional coupon is not accepted; and in that if all the rules to be verified are, the promotional coupon is validated. 36. Method according to the preceding claim in combination with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that if the promotional coupon is not accepted, a control unit (35) controls a display of a message d error on the LCD display (41); and in that if the promotional coupon is validated, the control unit (35) controls the display of at least one information on the LCD display (41). 30 37. The method of claim 35 in combination with any one of claims 1, 2, 10 and 11, characterized in that if the promotional coupon is not accepted, a control unit (35) sends a message of error to the emulation unit; and in that if the promotional coupon is validated, the control unit (35) controls the emulation of a code including at least one piece of information to the emulation unit. 38. Method according to one of claims 36 or 37, characterized in that if the promotional coupon is validated, the validation unit (33) sends at least one signal to: a sound element that emits a sound; and / or - an information removal and feedback unit (36) which then eliminates the coupon information in the database (511) or adds in the database (511) information indicating that the coupon promotional, corresponding to coupon information, has already been used; and / or - the database which stores the coupon and customer-card information, a date and / or a time at which the promotional coupon has been used, a machine identifier making it possible to know by which first reader (2) the promotional coupon has been read. 39. A method according to any one of claims 35 to 38 in combination with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that if the coupon is validated, at least one of the information item information, customer -coupon, timestamp and coupon, is displayed on the LCD (41) in textual form. 40. Method according to one of claims 35 to 39, characterized in that 25 if the coupon is validated, at least one of the information item information, customer-coupon, customer-card, time stamp and coupon, is raised to the database (511). 41. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first reader is chosen from an imaging reader with image processing, a LASER scanner, an NFC reader, a Bluetooth terminal, and a Wifi terminal, a infrared terminal. 42. Method according to any one of claims 24 to 41, characterized in that the second reader (6) is integrated in the first reader (2). 43. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 15, characterized in that the coupon code is a code displayed on an LCD screen (12) of a mobile phone (1). 44. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the code is chosen from a one or two dimensional bar code and in that the first reader (2) is an imaging reader with image processing. 45. The method of claim 43, characterized in that the code is an alphanumeric code; and in that the first reader (2) is an imaging reader with image processing and optical character recognition. 46. A method according to any one of claims 44 or 45, characterized in that the validation unit (33) back a picture of the code 20 displayed on the LCD screen (12) of the mobile phone (1) taken by the first imager (2) with image processing at the database (511). 47. Apparatus implementing a method according to any combination with any one of the first polarizer; The whole of liquid crystal cells; the second polarizer; the reflector; Preceding claims of claims 1 to 9 comprising - the first reader (2); and - the LCD display (41); the LCD display (41) comprising the following successive layers: characterized in that the LCD display (41) has a reflectance on a black pixel at least two times smaller than a reflectance on a white pixel. 48. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the LCD display (41) has a difference in reflectance between that of a black pixel and that of a white pixel of at least about 20%. 49. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the LCD display (41) has a difference in reflectance between that of an IO black pixel and that of a white pixel greater than 70%. 50. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 49, characterized in that the state of the pixels of the LCD display (41) remains stable for a period of at least about 10 msec. 15 51. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 50, characterized in that the LCD display (41) is aligned so that its first polarizer has a polarization in the same plane as a polarization axis of the LASER beam incident emitted by the LASER scanner (42), if the LASER beam has a linear polarization; and in that, if the LASER beam has an elliptical polarization according to an ellipse, the LCD 541) is aligned so that its first polarizer has a polarization in the same plane as a major axis of the ellipse. 25 52. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 51, characterized in that the reflector of the LCD display (41) is a retro-reflector. 53. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 52, characterized in that the LCD display (41) is a bistable LCD display. 54. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 53, characterized in that the LCD display (41) further comprises a quarter-wave plate. 30 55. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 54, characterized in that it further comprises the data processing module (3); the data processing module (3) comprising - the decoder (32); the validation unit (33); - the control unit (35); the information removal and reporting unit (36); the clock (37); - the sound element (39). 56. Device according to any one of claims 47 to 55, characterized in that it further comprises the local coupon server (51) including the database (511).