WO2001046894A2

WO2001046894A2 - Systems and methods of configuring stores for product promotion

Info

Publication number: WO2001046894A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/042635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brantley W. Coile; Kevin W. Hartley; Eleanor B. Maxwell
Original assignee: SoftCard Systems Inc
Current assignee: SoftCard Systems Inc
Priority date: 1999-12-22
Filing date: 2000-12-08
Publication date: 2001-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2002-06-22
Also published as: WO2001046894A8; AU4712401A

Abstract

Systems and methods for configuring stores with product promotions.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF CONFIGURING STORES FOR PRODUCT PROMOTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a commercial system and, more particularly, to a system and method for configuring stores for product promotions.

Description of Related Art

Product promotions employing price discounts are a popular means to stimulate sales of products such as grocery store items. One type of product promotion is a discount coupon. It has been estimated that in-store couponing coupled with advertising increases sales by 544%.

Product promotion discounts may change over time as certain promotions come into effect or expire. It is important to deploy product promotion discounts accurately, to avoid customer confusion and to limit the liability of the manufacturer or retailer sponsoring the promotion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for deploying product promotion discounts.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, there is a method for a store and a plurality of units. The method comprises the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with an offer, and the step, performed by a customer, of subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit, and the step of determining an amount due, depending on whether the customer is entitled to the offer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for a store and a plurality of units. The system comprises a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with an offer; a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit; and a price determiner that determines an amount due. depending on whether a customer is entitled to the offer.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for a store and a plurality of units. The system comprises a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with an offer; a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit; and a price determiner that determines an amount due from a customer, by processing the first received signal and second received signal.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for a store and a plurality of units. The method comprises the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with an offer; subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit; and determining that an amount due from a customer, by processing the first received signal and second received signal.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for a store and a plurality of units. The method comprises the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with a product in the store; and subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit to determine an amount due depending on whether products selected by a customer include the product associated with the first signal. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for a store and a plurality of units. The system comprises a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with a product in the store; and a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit to determine an amount due depending on whether products selected by a customer include the product associated with the first signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram of a system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a store in the system shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the retail store in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Figs. 4A and 4B are another type of view of a part of the preferred retail store. Figs. 5 A and 5B are the other type of view of another part of the preferred retail store. Figs. 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams of a shelf dispenser shown in Fig. 4A.

Figs. 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrams of another shelf dispenser shown in Fig. 4A. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a person and machine, shown in Fig. 4A, in more detail.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a page in promotion flight booklet, shown in Figs. 4A and 7, in more detail.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing another page in the promotion flight booklet. Fig. 1 1 is a block diagram of a card transported by a customer. Fig. 12 is a diagram of records on a card that can be used by store personal to record configuration information for the store. Fig. 13 is a block diagram of a shelf dispenser shown in Fig. 4A.

Fig. 14 is a diagram of a table for controlling promotion processing during store checkout transactions.

Fig. 15 is a flow chart of a process performed in the preferred system. Fig. 16 is a flow chart of a process performed by the shelf dispensers shown in Fig. 4A.

Fig. 17 is a diagram of a card interface in a checkout station shown in Fig. 5 A. Figs. 18 A, 18B, and 18C are enlarged views of some products shown in Figs. 4A and 4B.

Fig. 19 is a diagram of a message sent over a computer network in the preferred system.

Fig. 20 is a diagram of another message sent over a computer network in the preferred system. Fig. 21 is a block diagram of a preferred computer system. Fig. 22 is a block diagram of a check-out station shown in Fig. 5 A. Fig. 23 A is a plan view of a customer card. Fig. 23B is a side view of the card shown in Fig. 23 A. Fig. 23C is an enlarged, partial view of the card shown in Fig. 23 A. Fig. 24 is a diagram of some memory contents of a customer card. Fig. 25 is a diagram showing a person and alternative machine. Fig. 26 is a diagram of a table for translating between promotions and shelf dispensers.

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention, and additional advantages thereof. Certain drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be shown larger than relative actual size to facilitate a more clear description of those features. Throughout the drawings, corresponding elements are labeled with corresponding reference numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Promotion Distribution in a preferred Embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a system of product promotion in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Manufacturer 45 is the Delta Company. The product line of the Delta Company includes Delta Brand Detergent. To stimulate sales, manufacturer 45 instructs promotion manager 50 to effect discount programs, from time to time.

Promotion manager 50 is located in Athens, Georgia. Manager 50 receives instructions from multiple manufacturers, including manufacturers 45 and manufacturer 47.

In response to instructions from manufacturers, manager 50 distributes promotions to various stores throughout a wide geographic area. Printer 51 , controlled by manager 50, compiles some information for a "flight" of promotion plans into booklet 80. Manager 50 then sends booklet 80 to store 62. In this Patent Application, a "flight" is a set of promotions, wherein each promotion in the set will be in effect for at least some time during the flight duration.

Manager 50 sends booklet 80 via a courier, such as the U.S. mail or a private package delivery service to store 62. Similarly manager 50 sends some information for a flight of promotions to store 64 via booklet 82 and a courier, and manager 50 sends some information for a flight of product promotions to store 66 via booklet 84 and a courier.

Retailer 60, depicted by a dotted contour in Fig. 1 , is the ABC grocery store chain. Retailer 60 includes grocery stores 62, 64. and 66. Although stores 62, 64. and 66 are part of a common business unit (retailer 60), stores 62, 64, and 66 are widely separated geographically. Store 62 is in Tucson, Arizona; store 64 is in Los Angeles. California; and store 66 is in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Stores 70, 71, and 72 are part of retailer 68, which is a common business unit. Manager 50 sends some information for a flight of promotions to retailer 68 via booklet 86 and a courier.

Stores 76 and 78 are part of retailer 74, which is a common business unit. Manager 50 sends some information for a flight of coupon promotions to store 78 via booklet 88 and a courier. Manager 50 sends some information for a flight of promotions to store 76 via booklet 89.

Fig. 2 shows a store 64 including roof structure 6, bar code reader 14 under roof structure 6, and a plurality of promotion dispensers 16 under roof structure 6.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of store 64. Shelves 1 1 , 12. 21, 22, 31. and 32 include product areas 1 1 1 , 121 , 1 10, 120, 130, 141 , 151, 161. 140. 150. 160 . 171. 181, 170, 180. and 190. Each product area includes a plurality of a respective product. Customers shop in store 64 by removing products from the shelves and bringing the products to one of the checkout stations 300. 301 , or 302. Some computers in checkout stations 300, 301 , 302 communicate with financial computer 40 via computer network cable 8. Other computers in checkout stations 300, 301 , 302 communicate with computer 42 via computer network cable 10. Figs. 4A. 4B, 5A and 5B are each a partial view of store 64. Customers 210. 230,

240, 250, 280. 290, 390, 470, 480, and 490 shop in store 64. Store 64 has a plurality of product areas, each corresponding to a respective product. Product Area 1 10 has Delta brand detergent. Product Area 120 has Old World brand pasta. Product Area 130 has Lighthouse brand light bulbs. Promotion dispensers 16 include a plurality of shelf dispensers. Some of the product areas have a respective shelf dispenser for writing an electronic coupon onto a customer card, to indicate that the customer may be eligible for the promotion associated with the coupon. Product Area 1 10 has Shelf dispenser 1 15. Product Area 120 has Shelf dispenser 125. Product Area 130 has Shelf dispenser 135. Each of checkout stations 300, 301 , and 302 includes a UPC bar code reader that detects an optical (electromagnetic) signal reflected from a UPC symbol. Checkout station

300 includes card interface system 320 having a card interface slot 314, checkout station

301 includes card interface system 321 having a card interface slot 314, and checkout station 302 includes card interface system 322 having a card interface slot 314. In card interface system 320, redemption control table 347 (Fig. 14) is essentially a list of promotions. Content for redemption control table 347 may be sent to store 64 on a computer readable media, together with booklet 82. Content for redemption control table 347 may also be sent to store 64 via a Wide Area telecommunications link.

Map 335 (Fig. 26) is a table that associates shelf dispenser identifiers (IDs) with promotions in table 347.

Store 64 will now be described in more detail.

Product Area 1 10 has bottles of detergent 1 12 grouped together on multiple shelves. Bottles of detergent 1 12 are contiguously grouped, meaning that no other product is between any two bottles of detergent 1 12. No other product is between shelf dispenser 1 15 and bottles of detergent 1 12. Shelf dispenser 1 15 is on a shelf under some of the bottles 112 and over some of the bottles 1 12. In other words, Shelf dispenser 1 15 is adjacent to bottles 1 12 and supported by a shelf that is in vertical alignment with some of the bottles 1 12.

Fig. 6A shows shelf dispenser 1 15, including interface slot 25 and light display 26, which can emit both a green light and a red light. Shelf dispenser 1 15 has no external wires connecting shelf dispenser 1 15 to another device. Interface slot 25 has a width sufficient to accommodate the width of a customer card. When a customer card is in interface slot 25. conductive contact 2427 inside interface slot 25 touches a contact on the card. Interface slot 25 has other contacts (not shown) for touching the other card contacts on the card.

Fig. 6B shows a side view of shelf dispenser 1 15 after a clerk has removed display plaque 36 from booklet 82 and inserted the display plaque into slot 30. Removable display plaque 36 presents the promotion to customers walking down the aisle.

Fig. 6C shows a bottom view of shelf dispenser 1 15. Bar code 29 is on bottom surface 28 of shelf dispenser 1 15. Bar code 29 is a group of parallel lines encoding a decimal number in the range 0 to 16,777.215. More specifically, bar code 29 on shelf dispenser 1 15 encodes the number 00015327. Fig. 7A shows shelf dispenser 130. Fig. 7B shows a side view of shelf dispenser

130 after a clerk has removed display plaque 57 from booklet 82 and inserted the display plaque into slot 30. Removable display plaque 57 presents the promotion to customers walking down the aisle.

Fig. 7C shows a bottom view of shelf dispenser 130. Bar code 29 is on bottom surface 28 of shelf dispenser 130. Bar code 29 is a group of parallel lines encoding a decimal number in the range 0 to 16,777.215. More specifically, bar code 29 on shelf dispenser 130 encodes the number 00015331.

Fig. 8 shows store clerk 19 carrying bar code reader 14 on a belt (not shown). Bar code reader 14 is a portable device having light detecting wand 17 and card interface slot 15. Clerk 19 also carries product promotion booklet 82, received from promotion manager

50. Card 20 is in card interface slot 15. Bar code reader 14 reads bar codes via light detecting wand 17. Clerk 19 scans a bar code encoding a shelf dispenser ID on a shelf dispenser, and scans a bar code on a page in a booklet 82 encoding a promotion ID, to store a shelf dispenser ID together with a product promotion ID onto card 20. Subsequently, clerk 19 uses card 20 to reprogram checkout stations 300, 301 , and 302.

Fig. 9 shows product promotion booklet 82. Booklet 82 has a plurality of pages, including page 35. Page 35 contains promotion plaque 36, which can be removed from booklet 82 and displayed with a shelf dispenser. Plaque 36 includes a text portion 37 describing the product and the discount amount of the product in relatively large characters. Plaque 36 also includes a bar code 38. Bar code 38 is a group of parallel lines that encodes a promotion identifier (ID).

Fig. 10 shows another page, page 56, in product promotion booklet 82. Page 56 contains promotion plaque 57, which can be removed from booklet 82 and placed on a shelf dispenser. Plaque 57 includes a text portion 58 describing the product and the discount amount of the product in relatively large characters. Plaque 57 also includes a bar code 59. Bar code 59 is a group of parallel lines that encodes a promotion ID.

To reconfigure store 64 for a new flight of electronic promotions, clerk 19 scans bar code 29 on shelf dispenser 1 15, using wand 17. Clerk 19 also scans bar code 38 on plaque

36 of page 35 of booklet 82. Clerk 19 removes plaque 36 from booklet 82 and places plaque 36 in display slot 30 of shelf dispenser 1 15.

Clerk 19 scans bar code 29 on shelf dispenser 130, using wand 17. Clerk 19 also scans bar code 59 on plaque 57 of page 56 of booklet 82. Clerk 19 removes plaque 57 from booklet 82 and places plaque 57 in display slot 30 of shelf dispenser 130.

Thus, clerk 19 repeats this process to pair pages in booklet 82 with shelf dispensers in store 64. Subsequently, clerk 19 inserts card 20 into an interface slot in computer 42, allowing computer 42 to transmit the promotion ID-shelf dispenser ID pairs to checkout stations 300, 301, and 302. More specifically, computer 42 receives records on configuration card 20 and, responsive to the received records, generates map 335.

To receive an electronic promotion in store 64, a customer inserts her respective card into the shelf dispenser adjacent to a product the customer wishes to purchase, and the shelf dispenser then writes its respective shelf dispenser ID onto the card. In other words, the shelf dispenser writes its respective shelf dispenser ID into a memory on the card, in response to a person presenting the card at the shelf dispenser.

The customer also removes the product from the shelf and places the removed product into her cart.

Fig. 1 1 is a block diagram of customer card 215, i cluding central processing unit (CPU) 216. and random access memory 217. Memory 217 includes three addressable segments: nonvolatile read only memory (ROJM) 218; nonvolatile, electrically erasable memory (EEPROM) 219; and memory 221 for temporary storage. Station interface 224 transfers data signals between contact 2427 (Fig. 23C) and CPU 216 over bus 223. ROM 218 stores a program 213 executed by CPU 216.

Configuration card 20 has the same hardware structure as card 215. In card 20. instead of storing coupon table 21 1 , EEPROM 219 stores card records 90 (Fig. 1 1 ) written by bar code reader 14. After clerk 19 uses bar code reader 14 to associate respective shelf dispensers with respective pages of booklet 82, as described above, records 90 include a plurality of shelf dispenser ID-promotion ID pairs, as shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 shows a simplified, abstract, view of card records 90 stored on configuration card 20. Records 90 include header record 91 with a field identifying card 20 as a configuration card. Record 93 includes a dispenser ID field 71 and a promotion ID field 73. As represented in octal in Fig. 12, record 93 stores a 24 bit shelf dispenser ID of 00015327, which is the ID of shelf dispenser 1 15 encoded in bar code 29 on bottom surface

28 of shelf dispenser 1 15. Record 93 also stores the promotion ID 3656 in field 73, because clerk 19 used bar code reader 14 to process plaque 36 with shelf dispenser 1 15.

Record 94 stores a 24 bit shelf dispenser ID of 00015331 , which is the ID of shelf dispenser 130 encoded in bar code 29 on bottom surface 28 of shelf dispenser 130. Record 94 also stores the promotion ID 3654 in field 73, because clerk 19 used bar code reader 14 to process plaque 57 with shelf dispenser 130.

The remaining records - including records 95, 96, and 97 - act to associate promotion IDs with shelf dispensers. For example, as a result of the process performed by clerk 19 with booklet 82 and the shelf dispensers, record 96 stores ID 00203451. which is the ID of shelf dispenser 125, in field 71 of record 96. Record 96 also includes promotion

ID 3655 in field 73, which is the promotion ID for a promotion for Old World Pasta. This promotion ID for Old World Pasta was encoded on a bar code on a plaque in one of the pages of booklet 82.

Fig. 13 shows a block diagram of shelf dispenser 1 15, including battery 106, central processing unit 102. nonvolatile memory 103. Memory 103 may include sections of ROM and EEPROM. Memory 103 stores program 104, executed by CPU 102, and shelf dispenser ID 105. Each shelf dispenser has a respective shelf dispenser ID 105 that is written at a factory that produces these shelf dispensers. The shelf dispenser IDs are essentially serial numbers serialized at the factory, so that shelf dispensers in a particular store are unlikely to have the same shelf dispenser ID.

Fig. 14 is a simplified diagram of redemption control table 347 stored in card interface system 320. Each row in Fig. 14 represents an entry in table 347, and each of the

4 columns shown represents an entry field. A redemption control table may include additional entries for additional promotions, and additional fields for recording other types of information.

The first field in Fig 14 is a promotion ID stored as 4 hexadecimal digits. The second field is a UPC product code corresponding to the promotion ID. The UPC product code includes a company ID and a product number. The second field is stored as binary coded decimal. The third field is a reward type. A reward type of 2 represents a percent off promotion, and a reward type of 0 represents a cents off promotion.

The fourth field in Fig. 14 is the reward quantity. The first entry is for Old World Pasta, which has a UPC company ID of 017031 and a UPC product number of 49873. The first entry shows a reward of 40 cents off because the reward type is 0. The promotion code of the first entry is 3655.

The second entry is for Light House Light Bulbs, which has a UPC company ID of 017054 and a UPC product having a product number of 24943. The second entry shows a reward quantity of 10% off because the reward type is 2. The promotion code of the second entry is 3654.

The third entry is for Delta Detergent, which has a UPC company ID of 017075 and a UPC product number of 42312. The company ID 017075 identifies the Delta Company. The fourth entry shows a reward quantity of 50 cents off because the reward type field is 0. The promotion code of the fourth entry is 3656.

Fig. 15 show a processing performed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Promotion manager 50 compiles a plurality of promotions into a booklet, such as booklet 82. (step 5).

The booklet is sent to a store, such as store 64. Clerk 19 uses bar code reader 14 to read a bar code corresponding to a first promotion from booklet 82, and associate the first promotion with a dispenser, such as shelf dispenser 1 15. In the example above, the first promotion is promotion 3656 for bottles of detergent 1 12. (step 10). Clerk 19 uses bar code reader 14 to read a bar code corresponding to a second promotion from booklet 82, and associate the second promotion with a dispenser, such as shelf dispenser 125. In the example above, the second promotion is promotion 3654 for Lighthouse light bulbs, (step 15). Store clerk 19 subsequently presents card 20 to computer 42, and computer 42 then sends the ID-promotion ID associations to checkout stations 300, 301 , and 302.

When a customer presents a customer card to a shelf dispenser, such as shelf dispenser 1 15, the shelf dispenser sends its ID to the customer card, (step 20). Because of the processing of the previous steps, step 20 essentially transmits a promotion to the customer.

Subsequently, when the customer checks out of the store with a product corresponding to the promotion, a checkout station determines an amount due, by redeeming the promotion, (step 25).

Fig. 16 shows an example of a processing for step 20 of Fig. 15 Fig. 16 could represent a processing performed by processor 102 and program 104 in shelf dispenser 1 15, for example. When a person inserts a card into interface slot 25 a switch (not shown) in interface slot 25 alerts CPU 102 (Fig. 13) that a card has been inserted into the slot. Subsequently, CPU 102 causes contact interface electronics 356 to reset the card. CPU 102 then receives a header record from the card (step 10). CPU 102 analyzes the received header record to determine whether the card is a customer card that is eligible to receive paperless coupons (step 20). If the card is an eligible customer card, CPU 102 sends to the customer card a record containing the contents of shelf dispenser ID field 105 (step 40).

CPU 102 then signals light display 26 to display green to indicate to the customer that an electronic coupon has successfully been transferred to her customer card (step 60), thereby allowing the customer to conveniently verify whether she has successfully acquired a coupon before selecting the product.

Checkout Processing in a preferred Embodiment While shopping in store 64, each of customers 210, 230, 240, 250, 280, and 290 carries his or her respective customer card. Customer 210 carries card 215, customer 230 carries card 235. customer 240 carries card 245, customer 250 carries card 255, customer 280 carries card 285, and customer 290 carries card 295. Each customer tows a shopping cart to hold selected products. Customer 210 tows cart 212, customer 230 tow cart 232, customer 240 tows cart 242, customer 250 tows cart 252, customer 280 tows cart 282, and customer 290 tows cart 292. Each customer removes one or more desired products from a shelf and places the removed product into her cart. Upon completion of shopping, each customer brings selected products from the shelves to checkout stations 300, 301 , or 302.

Fig. 17 shows card interface system 320 in more detail, including card reader/writer 315 with interface slot 314 having a width sufficient to accommodate the width of one of the customer cards. When a customer card is in interface slot 314, conductive contact 312 inside interface slot 314 touches contact 2427 (Fig. 23C) on a customer card. Interface slot

314 has other contacts (not shown) for touching the other card contacts 2420, thereby applying power and a clock from the interface to the card.

Each customer redeems the electronic coupons by presenting her customer card, allowing the store clerk to insert the presented card into smart card reader/writer 315. For example, referring to Figs. 4A, 4B, 5 A, and 5B, a customer such as customer 290 completes the purchase of her selected products 293 by transferring products 293 from her cart 292 to station 300, and by presenting card 295 for insertion into card interface slot 314; customer 280 completes the purchase of her selected products 283 by transferring products 283 from her cart 282 to station 300, and by presenting card 285;customer 390 completes the purchase of her selected products 393 by transferring products 393 from her cart 392 to station 301 , and by presenting card 395; customer 490 completes the purchase of his selected products 493 by transferring products 493 from his cart 492 to station 302, and by presenting card 495;customer 480 completes the purchase of his selected products 483 by transferring products 483 from his cart 482 to station 302, and by presenting card 485;customer 470 completes the purchase of his selected products 473 by transferring products 473 from his cart 472 to station 302, and by presenting card 475. Customer 210 (Fig. 4A) completes the purchase of her selected products 214 by transferring products 214 from her cart 212 to station 300, and by presenting card 215 for insertion into card interface slot 314. It is presently preferred that card presentation occur at the beginning of the checkout transaction, although card presentation could happen later. Card interface systems 320, 321, and 322 then read the promotions from the card.

A checkout clerk (not shown) scans each selected product past bar code reader 310, or enters the product selection information manually via keyboard 318.

A CPU and program in s /stem 320 detect products selected by the customer.

The CPU and program in system 320 perform electronic coupon redemption, by processing the selected products in the context of the coupon information from the customer^'s card to determine discount eligibility.

At the conclusion of the transaction the shelf dispenser coupons on the card are voided and the clerk is notified to remove the customer^'s card from slot 314 and return it to the customer. Checkout station 300 determines a total amount due and prints the total amount due on display 317 and on the customer's paper receipt. Thus, bar code reader 14 acts to receive a dispenser ID from a shelf dispenser, such as shelf dispenser 125. Bar code reader 14 acts to associate the received shelf dispenser ID with a promotion ID in booklet 82. A customer subsequently receives an electrical shelf dispenser ID signal onto his customer card. Subsequently, a checkout station determines an amount due depending on wether the customer is eligible for the promotion identified by the promotion ID in booklet 82.

More Detailed Description of a preferred Embodiment

A preferred system and method will now be described in more detail.

Fig. 18A shows an enlarged view of some of the bottles of detergent 1 12. Each bottle of detergent has a common Universal Product Code (UPC) symbol 1 14. Symbol

1 14 encodes a number that is part of a product identification system documented by the Uniform Code Council. Inc., Dayton, OH. In this example of the UPC Product Code format, the first digit is a 0, designating a product. The next five digits are a company ID. The next 5 digits are an item number. The last digit is a check digit. Each UPC symbol 1 14 is a group of parallel lines that encodes a number (0 17075

42312 3) that uniquely identifies Delta Detergent. In other words, symbol 1 14 is different from UPC symbols of units of other products. Each bottle of detergent 1 12 also has a common character label 1 13 that verbally describes the product. Character label 1 13 is "DELTA DETERGENT." Label 1 13 is different from labels of units of other products. Product Area 120 has boxes of Old World brand pasta 122 contiguously grouped together on multiple shelves. Fig. 18B shows an enlarged view of some of the boxes of pasta 122. Each box of pasta 122 has a common UPC symbol 124, which is a group of parallel lines that encodes a number (0 17031 49873 3) that uniquely identifies Old World pasta. In other words, symbol 124 is different from UPC symbols of units of other products. Each box of pasta 122 also has a common character label 123 that verbally describes the product. Character label 123 is "OLD WORLD PASTA." Label 123 is different from labels of units of other products.

Product Area 130 has boxes of Lighthouse brand light bulbs 132 grouped together on multiple shelves. Fig. 18C shows an enlarged view of some of the boxes of light bulbs 132. Each box of light bulbs 132 has a common UPC symbol 134. which is a group of parallel lines that encode a number (0 17054 24943 6) that uniquely identifies Lighthouse light bulbs. In other words, symbol 134 is different from UPC symbols of other products.

Each box 132 also has a common character label 133 that verbally describes the product. Character label 133 is "LIGHTHOUSE LIGHT BULBS." Label 133 is different from labels of other products.

Similarly, other product areas have a set of respective products contiguously grouped together. Respective units of a certain product have a common UPC symbol, different from UPC symbols on units of other products, that uniquely identifies the certain product. Respective units of a certain product have a common label, different from labels on units of other products, that uniquely identifies the certain product. Referring to Figs. 3. 4A, and 4B product area 140 has bottles of ABC brand ketchup 142 contiguously grouped together, and shelf dispenser 145. Product area 150 has boxes of Fido brand dog food 152 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf dispenser. Product area 160 has loaves of Boxer brand bread 162 contiguously grouped together, and shelf dispenser 165. Product area 170 has cartons of Clover brand milk 172 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf dispenser. Product area 180 has packages of Chicago brand bacon 182, and no shelf dispenser. Product area 190 has packages of Clover brand butter 192 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf dispenser.

Fig. 19 shows a message 3002 sent by system 330 to financial computer 40, via network cable 8. in response to receiving a product signal from bar code reader 310. Message 3002 is a request for product information for the most recently scanned product 293.

Fig. 20 shows a message 3004 sent from financial computer 40 to system 330, via network cable 8. Financial computer 40 sends a message 3004 in response to receiving a message 3002.

After system 330 determines a basic price for the product by processing a message 3004, system 330 displays the description of the product and product price on display 317. Thus, system 330 acts to detect a product scanned by bar code reader 310 and determine a basic price for the product by sending a message 3002 to financial computer 40 and receiving a message 3004 from financial computer 40. System 330 scans and processes each product 293 in a similar manner.

System 330 processes discount signals sent by card interface system 320, to deduct discounts from the basic price and determine a total amount due. Detecting selected products and processing discount signals in a checkout system are subjects of copending

Application Serial No. 09/301 ,749, of Ken R. Powell, Kevin W. Hartley, Eleanor B. Maxwell, and Corey C. Snook, filed April 29, 1999 for COMPUTER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHOD FOR A STORE, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference: Application Serial No. 09/317,440 of Ken R. Powell, Eleanor B. Maxwell, and Corey C. Snook, filed May 24, 1999 for REGISTER SYSTEM

CONFIGURATIONS AND METHODS FOR A STORE, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference; and Application Serial No. 09/320,664, of Ken R. Powell, Eleanor B. Maxwell, and Corey C. Snook, filed May 27, 1999 for COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH PROGRAM CONFIGURATIONS AND METHODS FOR A STORE, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

System 330 displays the total amount due on display 317.

Bar code reader 14 acts to receive a dispenser ID from one of the shelf dispensers, and associate the received shelf dispenser ID with a product, by associating the shelf dispenser ID with a promotion. Table 347 (Fig. 14) associates the promotion with a product. Subsequently, a cash register station receives the dispenser ID from the shelf dispenser, via a customer card, to determine an amount due depending on whether products selected by the customer include the product that bar code reader 14 associated with the shelf dispenser ID.

Fig. 21 shows another aspect of a preferred system. Local Area Network (LAN) 7 includes ethernet cable 8 and 4 computers: financial computer 40, cash register system 330, cash register computer 331, and cash register computer 332. Cash register system 330 is in checkout station 300, cash register computer 331 is in checkout station 301 , and cash register computer 332 is in checkout station 302. Each of computers 40, 330. 331 , and 332 has a respective network address uniquely identifying the computer in network 7. Each of computers 40, 330, 331, and 332 has a respective network interface card for recognizing when a packet containing the computer's address is sent over cable 8. temporarily storing such a packet, and alerting the computer's CPU when such a packet is recognized.

Computers 40, 330, 331 , and 332 communicate by sending data packets in a format conforming to the communication protocol of network 7 Each packet is essentially a type of signal.

Local Area Network (LAN) 9 includes ethernet cable 10 and 4 computers: computer 42, card interface system 320, card interface system 321 , and card interface system 322. Card interface system 320 is in checkout station 300, card interface 321 is in checkout station 301 , and card interface system 322 is in checkout station 302. Each of computers 42, 320, 321. and 322 has a respective network address uniquely identifying the computer in network 9. Each of computers 42, 320, 321 , and 322 has a respective network interface card for recognizing when a packet containing the computer's address is sent over cable 10, temporarily storing such a packet, and alerting the computer's CPU when such a packet is recognized.

Computers 42, 320, 321, and 322 communicate with each other by sending data packets in a format conforming to the communication protocol of network 9. Each packet is essentially a type of signal.

Computer 42 sends card coupon redemption data and market research data to headquarters site 43 via wide area network (WAN) communication link 44.

Fig. 22 is a block diagram of checkout station 300 including cash register system 330 and card interface system 320. Cash register system 330 includes an IBM 4680-4690 Point of Sale (POS) System. Cash register keyboard 318 allows manual entry of alphanumeric data. Disk 325 provides long term storage. Bar code reader 310 generates a bar code signal, and sends the bar code signal to CPU 350 via bus 351. Poll display 317 displays product data in response to signals from CPU 350. CPU 350 executes program 343 in random access, addressable memory 323. If bar code reader 310 sends a bar code for a product to CPU 350, CPU 350 sends a message 3002 to financial computer 40 via network interface 337, and CPU 350 sends the product UPC code to CPU 352 in system 320 via signal line 328, using a serial protocol such as RS-232 or RS-485.

In card interface system ;*20, CPU 352 executes program 342 in memory 333. CPU 352 and program 342 act to rece ve electronic coupons from a customer card, via reader/writer 315. Memory 333 stores redemption control table 347. which enables CPU 352 to determine if a product has a corresponding electronic promotion. Memory 333 also stores map 335. which associates shelf dispenser IDs with promotion ID's. System 320 received map 335 from computer 42, which built map 335 using the records on configuration card 20.

Checkout stations 301 and 302 each have the same capabilities and hardware as checkout station 300, cash register systems 331 and 332 each have the same capabilities and hardware as cash register system 330. and card interface systems 321 and 322 each have the same capabilities and hardware as card interface system 320.

Fig. 23A shows a plan view of customer card 215, and Fig. 23B shows a side view of card 215. Card 215 is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm, the length and width of a typical financial credit card. Card 215 is slightly thicker than a typical financial credit card. Card 215 includes a magnetic stripe 2410, interface contacts 2420 for communication with the checkout station, and embossed area 2430 for displaying the card owner's name. Magnetic stripe 2410 allows a conventional credit card stripe reader to read basic data from the card. Magnetic stripe 2410 is not necessary to the operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 23C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail. Interface contacts 2420 are configured in accordance with ISO 7816-2: 1988(E), Identification cards - Integrated circuit (s) cards with contact - Part 2: Dimensions and locations of the contacts, promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and available from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 1 1 West 42nd Street. New York,

New York 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assigned to VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal), contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reserved for future use. contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426 is assigned to VPP (programming voltage), contact 2427 is assigned to I/O (data input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use. Card 215 communicates with the shelf dispensers through contact 2427 using a half duplex scheme, meaning that contact 2427 is for communicating data signals either to or from the card. Each of customer cards 235, 255. 245, 285. 295. 395, 475, 485, and 495 have the same hardware structure as card 215.

When a customer inserts a customer card into a coupon dispensing device, the customer card receives a shelf dispenser ID, which is essentially a coupon code, for the product from the device and adds the code to a table.

Fig. 24 shows a simplified view of coupon table 21 1 , which is in a data structure within other data structures in EEPROM 219 in customer card 215. Each row in Fig.22 represents a coupon cell, an entry in table 21 1. Table 21 1 has three entries, reflecting the fact that customer 210 has received three electronic coupons from shelf dispensers in store 64. In store 64. the entry having shelf dispenser ID 00203451 now corresponds to a coupon for purchase of a box of Old World Pasta 122. The entry having the ID 00015331 now corresponds to a coupon for purchase of a box of Lighthouse Light Bulbs 134. The entry having ID 00015327 now corresponds to a coupon for purchase of detergent bottles 1 12. Additional options for card data structures are disclosed in copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/301.748 of KEN R. POWELL. KEVIN W. HARTLEY,

THOMAS M. HINTZ, ELEANOR B. MAXWELL, and COREY C. SNOOK for SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING PORTABLE CARDS TO MONITOR A COMMERCIAL SYSTEM, filed April 29, 1999, the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. CPU 352 communicates with a card in interface slot 314 through smart card reader/writer 315. A switch (not shown) in interface slot 314 alerts reader/writer 315, which alerts CPU 352, that a card has been inserted into the slot. Subsequently, CPU 352 causes smart card reader/ writer 315 to reset the card. CPU 352 reads table 21 1 in EEPROM 219 of the customer card, and temporarily stores table 21 1 contents in memory 333. When CPU 352 receives a product UPC from CPU 350, CPU 352 adds the product to a basket list for the current customer. CPU 352 searches for the received product code in the UPC product code fields of redemption control table 347, which enables CPU 352 to determine if the product has a corresponding electronic promotion.

If the product does have an electronic promotion, CPU 352 translates the promotion number to a shelf dispenser ID using map 335, shown in more detail in Fig. 26. CPU 352 then searches coupon table 21 1 to confirm that the customer has the corresponding shelf dispenser ID on her card. If the customer has the ID on her card and the qualifier conditions are satisfied, CPU 352 sends discount information to CPU 350 via RS232 line 328, causing CPU 350 to adjust the total amount due.

Conclusion

Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above. For example, although each checkout station is shown as having a respective map 335, translation between shelf dispenser IDs and promotion IDs may occur in a central computer. Further, although table 335 is shown separate from redemption data table 347, a store can be configured with a common table that more directly associates a shelf dispenser ID with data for a particular product promotion. Embodiments of the invention may be practiced with a single CPU having coupon, or other discount, processing integrated with conventional UPC product scanning and price lookup. Further, embodiments of the invention may be practiced without using a card to record a shelf dispenser configuration, or to program the checkout system.

Further, although the exemplary embodiments associated shelf dispenser with promotion by using a bar code reader wand to read a symbol on the shelf dispenser, the invention is not so limited. For example, store personnel may employ other types of detectors, such as a CCD scanner; or may manually read the shelf dispenser ID. and associate the shelf dispenser with a promotion by using a keypad. A promotion ID need not be attached to a plaque or other display corresponding to the promotion. Further, as shown in Fig. 25. to identify a shelf dispenser during the association process, the store may receive a signal from the card interface slot of the shelf dispenser via a portable card, or an interface card 18 connected to a processor 23 via a cable 24. In this case, the processor that associates shelf dispenser IDs with promotions receives the shelf dispenser ID via card contact 2427 which is a type of signal path. Customers also receive shelf dispenser IDs on their respective customer cards via card contact 2427.

Although in the illustrated embodiments the shelf dispenser ID encoded on the outside of the shelf dispenser housing and the ID written to customer cards is the same number, these two signals need not be the same number. For example, one of the signals could be derived from the other by an algorithm or table lookup. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicants' general inventive concept. The invention is defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for a store and a plurality of units, the method comprising the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with an offer, and the step, performed by a customer, of subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit, and the step of determining an amount due, depending on whether the customer is entitled to the offer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with an electromagnetic detector.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with a bar code reader.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes manually reading the first signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a portable card transported by the customer, and receiving the first signal includes receiving the first signal from the signal path.

6. The method of claim 1 further including encoding a common number in the first and second signals.

7. A system for a store and a plurality of units, the system comprising: a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with an offer; a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit; and a price determiner that determines an amount due, depending on whether a customer is entitled to the offer.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and the first receiver includes an electromagnetic detector.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a portable card transported by the customer, and for sending the first signal to the first receiver.

1 1. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second signals include a common number.

12. A system for a store and a plurality of units, the system comprising: a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with an offer; a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit; and a price determiner that determines an amount due from a customer, by processing the first received signal and second received signal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and the first receiver includes an electromagnetic detector.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the second receiver includes a card transported by the customer.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a card transported by the customer, and the first receiver includes a member that receives the first signal from the signal path.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second signals encode a common number.

18. A method for a store and a plurality of units, the method comprising the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with an offer; subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit; and determining that an amount due from a customer, by processing the first received signal and second received signal.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with an electromagnetic detector.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with a bar code reader.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes manually reading the first signal.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a portable card, transported by the customer and receiving the first signal includes receiving the first signal from the signal path.

23. The method of claim 18 further including encoding a common number in the first and second signals.

24. A method for a store and a plurality of units, the method comprising the steps, performed in the store, of receiving a first signal from a unit; associating the received first signal with a product in the store; and subsequently receiving a second signal from the unit to determine an amount due depending on whether products selected by a customer include the product associated with the first signal.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with an electromagnetic detector.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes reading the symbol with a bar code reader.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and receiving the first signal includes manually reading the first signal.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a portable card transported by the customer, and receiving the first signal includes receiving the first signal from the signal path.

29. The method of claim 24 further including encoding a common number in the first and second signals.

30. A system for a store and a plurality of units, the system comprising: a first receiver that receives a first signal from a unit; a processor that associates the received first signal with a product in the store; and a second receiver that receives a second signal from the unit to determine an amount due depending on whether products selected by a customer include the product associated with the first signal.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and the first receiver includes an electromagnetic letector.

32. The system of claim 50 wherein the unit includes a symbol encoding the first signal, and the first receiver inch des a bar code reader.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the second receiver includes a card transported by the customer.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the unit includes a signal path for sending the second signal to a card transported by the customer, and the first receiver includes a member that receives the first signal from the signal path.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the first and second signals encode a common number.