EP0299061A4 - Coupon dispensing system - Google Patents

Coupon dispensing system

Info

Publication number
EP0299061A4
EP0299061A4 EP19880902988 EP88902988A EP0299061A4 EP 0299061 A4 EP0299061 A4 EP 0299061A4 EP 19880902988 EP19880902988 EP 19880902988 EP 88902988 A EP88902988 A EP 88902988A EP 0299061 A4 EP0299061 A4 EP 0299061A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
product
coupon
consumer
dispensing system
selection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19880902988
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
EP0299061A1 (fr
Inventor
William C. Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TSS Ltd
Original Assignee
Savings Spot Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Savings Spot Ltd filed Critical Savings Spot Ltd
Publication of EP0299061A1 publication Critical patent/EP0299061A1/fr
Publication of EP0299061A4 publication Critical patent/EP0299061A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/387—Payment using discounts or coupons
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B1/00—Machines for printing and issuing tickets
    • G07B1/02—Machines for printing and issuing tickets employing selectable printing plates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/30—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass
    • G07C9/32—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check
    • G07C9/33—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check by means of a password
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
    • G07G1/14—Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
    • G07G1/145—PLU-management

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a system for dispensing coupons and more particularly to a system which displays a number of high-resolution images which a consumer touches to select one or more products for which to receive a coupon, and before issuing that coupon determines whether the consumer's allotment has already been taken.
  • Coupon distribution poses a number of problems. Employees of a store can collect and redeem identical coupons from a number of promotional inserts carried within newspapers sold at the store. Further, there is little control over retailers who might send in a number of coupons for redemption whether or not goods have actually been purchased for those coupons.
  • One system presents text on a touch CRT screen. Thirty or forty different coupons are listed on the screen and the consumer touches the appropriate portion of the screen to select a coupon. Touch CRT screens are very expensive, however, and the display is not inviting to the consumer.
  • Another coupon dispensing system reads cards having a magnetic strip, such as a credit card or bank teller card. This system compares the identification on the card with the identifications on the last several hundred cards presented, and allows use of the machine if the current identification does not match that of the previous several hundred transactions.
  • Yet another coupon dispensing system attempts to limit issuance of coupons by issuing an identification code to each consumer and permitting consumer access to the machine only once each distribution period.
  • the consumer's identification code is printed on each coupon.
  • Upon access a predetermined number of coupons are issued to the consumer whether or not the consumer plans to use the coupons within the expiration period. If the consumer returns to the store during that distribution period he is denied access to all coupons, even those that he had not used before but might be encouraged to use this time.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a coupon dispensing system which can select different expiration dates to be printed on the coupon.
  • This invention results from the realization that a truly effective coupon dispensing machine can be achieved by a system which displays a high resolution, photographic quality printed image of each of a number of products and enables selection of a coupon by the touching of a portion of the image, and which limits the issuance of a coupon for the product based on previous product selections made by that consumer.
  • This invention features a coupon dispensing system.
  • the system further includes means for issuing a coupon for the product selected by the consumer, and means, responsive to the input means and the means for recording, for comparing the product selected by the consumer with a preselected quota and for preventing issuance of a coupon for that product if the consumer has exceeded the quota.
  • the images of the products are high-resolution, pictorial representations of the products such as photographic prints.
  • the means for displaying may include a sheet of material carrying the images and the product selection areas.
  • the switch means includes one or more touch-sensitive membrane switches having active switch areas at the selection areas.
  • the access code is a numeric or alphanumeric code and the input means includes key pad means for entering the access code.
  • the means for limiting includes clock means for establishing successive time periods during which coupons are issued.
  • the means for limiting further includes means for restricting coupon issuance of the product for each consumer during each time period such as by limiting coupon issuance to one coupon per product per time period or to one coupon per category per time period.
  • the means for issuing may include means for printing indicia on each coupon such as a logo for that product, and may further include means for selecting an expiration date to be printed on the coupon.
  • the means for selecting may include timing means for determining the date of issuance of the coupon, and the dispensing system may further include message display means for presenting messages to the consumer.
  • This invention also features a coupon dispensing system including means for displaying a plurality of images each of which represents a product to be promoted and includes a product selection area to be actuated by a consumer to select that product.
  • the system further includes switch means, associated with each selected area, for registering the selection by responding to consumer actuation, and means for determining previous product selections made by that consumer.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric view of a coupon dispensing system according to this invention
  • Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram of the membrane switches within the touchboard shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of one of the membrane switches shown in Fig. 2A;
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the coupon dispensing system of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the central processing unit shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a customized coupon issued by the system of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the operation involved in printing the coupon of Fig. 5.
  • This invention may be accomplished by a coupon dispensing system which displays a number of high-resolution images, each image representing a product to be promoted and including a product selection area to be touched by a consumer to select that product.
  • a touch-sensitive switch is associated with each selection area to register the selection when that area is depressed by the consumer.
  • the system issues a coupon for the product selected by the consumer based on previous product selections made by that consumer.
  • Coupon dispensing system 10 includes dispensing machine 12 having touchboard 14, message display 16, and key pad 18.
  • Touchboard 14 includes print 20 which is a single sheet of material carrying images of products to be promoted such as images 22, 24. Each image includes a product selection area such as areas 26, 28 for product images 22, 24, respectively.
  • a consumer attracted by the high-resolution photographic quality of print 20, is prompted by message display 16 or by instruction card 30 to enter his unique access code through key pad 18.
  • Once coupon dispensing system 10 accepts the access code the consumer is prompted to select the coupons of his choice. The consumer accomplishes the selection in this construction by actually touching one or more of the product selection areas such as areas 26, 28.
  • a touch-sensitive switch such as switch 32, Fig.
  • Switch segments 34, 36 each having a number of active switch areas 38 such as switch areas 40, 42.
  • Membrane switches 34, 36 are conventional • switches such as those available from Oak Switch Systems, Inc., Crystal Lake, Illinois.
  • a portion of membrane switch 34 is shown in cross-section in Fig. 2B to reveal upper membrane 44 and lower membrane 46 separated by spacer 48.
  • a conductive grid is disposed on the inner surfaces of membrane 44, 46 so that when membrane 44 is depressed in an active area such as area 40, the upper and lower membranes make contact to register the selection.
  • Active area 40 is approximately 0.625 by 0.625 inches and spacer 48 is approximately 0.005-0.010 inches in thickness.
  • Conductive leads 50, 52 carry signals from touchboard 14 to central processing unit 60, Fig.
  • transaction memory 64 for recording consumer transactions, and key pad 18 which receives the access code unique to the consumer.
  • Memory 64 includes a removable diskette so that transaction records can readily be removed for analysis. If the consumer has not exceeded his quota, central processing unit 60 activates printer 66 to print a customized coupon for the selected product.
  • central processing unit 60 The operation of central processing unit 60 is shown i Fig. 4.
  • the user of coupon dispensing system 10 enters an identification code which is received, step 70, and identified in steps 72, 74. If the user is not a shopper, other routines 76 are conducted, such as a demonstration routine in which a demonstration coupon is printed, or a manager's routine in which clock 62 is reset or a status report is printed of coupon selections.
  • Routine 76 can also include a new shopper routine, accessable by authorized personnel only, during which an access code is selected for the shopper. The authorized personnel enters the shopper's phone number, and the system calculates a numeric or alphanumeric access code unique to that shopper that is developed from the phone number. The system then displays the access code to the shopper.
  • step 82 If the user is a shopper having an authorized access code, the shopper record is recalled, step 78, and loop 80 is entered. It is determined in step 82 whether all allotted coupons have already been taken by the shopper. In one construction, a quota is allowed of one coupon per product per period of time such as a one-week interval measured by clock 62, Fig. 3. In another construction, one coupon is permitted for each of a number of categories such as soups or beverages. If it is determined from the shopper record that the consumer has already received all possible coupons, the system displays that all the coupons are taken, step 84, and the logic returns to step 70 to await the next user.
  • the system requests the shopper to select a coupon, step 86, and awaits a selection to be made by that consumer, step 88.
  • the selection is compared to previous selections made by that shopper, step 90, and if that particular coupon was previously selected the message "already selected" is displayed, step 92, and the logic proceeds to step 82. If that coupon has not been selected, a coupon is issued, step 94, and the shopper record is updated, step 96.
  • Coupon dispensing system 10 can issue a preprinted coupon or can customize a standard blank to produce a coupon such as manufacturer coupon 100, Fig. 5.
  • Coupon 100 is printed by printer 66 such as a dot matrix printer available from GTECH Corporation, Buffalo, Rhode Island, and includes product description 102, expiration information 104, manufacturer logo 106, coupon value 108, and consumer identification number 110.
  • printer 66 such as a dot matrix printer available from GTECH Corporation, Buffalo, Rhode Island, and includes product description 102, expiration information 104, manufacturer logo 106, coupon value 108, and consumer identification number 110.
  • the printing of logo 106 further promotes the product to the shopper, and shopper identification code 110 identifies the shopper to permit market research.
  • the procedure for printing coupon 100 is shown in Fig. 6 as routine 94a.
  • a format for that selection is recalled, step 112, which includes the product description, manufacturer logo, and coupon value.
  • the present date is determined, step 114, and the expiration date to be printed on the coupon is then selected, step 116.
  • the coupon is valid for the date of issuance only in which case the present date is printed as the expiration date.
  • the format, expiration date and identification code for that shopper are then printed onto a blank coupon, step 118.
  • coupon dispensing system has been described as a dispenser of manufacturers' coupons, this is not a limitation of the invention.
  • Promotional programs such as refund offers, sweepstakes and surveys may also be conducted by placing the appropriate images on the touchboard.
  • the ter coupon is intended to encompass any promotional program deliverable through a machine. Restricted distribution of the coupon is ensured by qualifying the consumer before the coupon is issued for a product.
  • product includes services such as airlines and hotels.
  • the product selection areas can be activated by the consumer through toggle switches or light pens.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

Système de distribution de coupons (10) présentant un certain nombre d'images, chaque image (22, 24) représentant un produit faisant l'objet d'une vente promotionnelle et comprenant une zone de sélection de produit (26, 28) pouvant être utilisée par le consommateur pour sélectionner un produit. Un interrupteur est associé à chaque zone de sélection pour enregistrer la sélection. Le système reçoit un code d'accès unique pour chaque consommateur, enregistre les sélections de produits effectuées par le consommateur avec un quota prédéterminé et émet un coupon (100) pour le produit sélectionné par le consommateur si le quota relatif au consommateur en question n'a pas été dépassé.
EP19880902988 1987-01-20 1988-01-19 Coupon dispensing system Withdrawn EP0299061A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US520287A 1987-01-20 1987-01-20
US5202 1987-01-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0299061A1 EP0299061A1 (fr) 1989-01-18
EP0299061A4 true EP0299061A4 (en) 1991-01-09

Family

ID=21714681

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880902988 Withdrawn EP0299061A4 (en) 1987-01-20 1988-01-19 Coupon dispensing system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0299061A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPH01501350A (fr)
AU (1) AU1496088A (fr)
CA (1) CA1286404C (fr)
WO (1) WO1988005578A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2007928A1 (fr) * 1989-03-07 1990-09-07 David F. O'connor Methode de traitement et de lecture de coupons
AU649934B2 (en) * 1991-03-05 1994-06-02 Gift Certificate Center, Inc., The Method and apparatus for generating gift certificates
IT1263985B (it) * 1993-09-16 1996-09-05 Paolo Ali Macchina per il recupero delle lattine in alluminio attrezzata per promuovere detta raccolta a mezzo di premi costituiti da prodotti che la stessa pubblicizza tramite i visualizzatori che incorpora
FR2741987B1 (fr) * 1995-11-30 1998-01-02 Gempsy France Sa Borne interactive de distribution automatique de coupons de reduction ou autres supports d'information
ES2133040B1 (es) * 1996-03-01 2000-04-01 Adquiring For Service S L Maquina para recogida selectiva de botes vacios.
GB2317478A (en) * 1996-09-20 1998-03-25 Myers Robert Stanley Apparatus for product promotion
FR2765988B1 (fr) 1997-07-09 1999-08-27 Infomil Dispositif, procede et systeme informatique d'encaissement pour delivrer automatiquement des billets d'avantages commerciaux
GB9903907D0 (en) * 1999-02-19 1999-04-14 Southwell Terry H Card-operated prize-determining apparatus
JP2004302952A (ja) * 2003-03-31 2004-10-28 Seiko Epson Corp クーポン券の発券装置および方法
GB2496667B (en) * 2011-11-18 2013-10-30 Visteon Global Tech Inc Dual graphic display

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3890599A (en) * 1973-09-13 1975-06-17 Command Automation Inc Arrangement for protecting and authenticating a document
US4071697A (en) * 1976-10-18 1978-01-31 Atari, Inc. Interactive video/telephone transmission system
US4231014A (en) * 1979-04-17 1980-10-28 Vittorio Ponzio Process and apparatus for automatically identifying discount coupons and the like by means of electronic comparison
GB2109305A (en) * 1981-04-29 1983-06-02 Philip John Wells Coupon dispensing machine
US4449186A (en) * 1981-10-15 1984-05-15 Cubic Western Data Touch panel passenger self-ticketing system
EP0114723A2 (fr) * 1983-01-14 1984-08-01 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Dispositif pour l'émission de documents
WO1985001373A1 (fr) * 1983-09-15 1985-03-28 Electronic Advertising Network, Inc. Procede et appareil de regulation de la distribution de bons
EP0173835A2 (fr) * 1984-07-18 1986-03-12 Catalina Marketing Corporation Méthode et dispositif pour la distribution de bons de réduction
WO1986003310A1 (fr) * 1984-11-26 1986-06-05 Steven Nichtberger Systeme sans papier de distribution, remboursement et annulation de bons de reduction sur des marchandises

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3059112A (en) * 1959-02-18 1962-10-16 Universal Controls Inc Tag reading product and apparatus
US3401830A (en) * 1967-01-19 1968-09-17 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid T Vending machine for credit card purchasing
US3632995A (en) * 1968-05-09 1972-01-04 Howard W Wilson Coded article
US4124109A (en) * 1977-02-11 1978-11-07 Robin Bissell Dispensing apparatus and method
US4377049A (en) * 1980-05-22 1983-03-22 Pepsico Inc. Capacitive switching panel
US4454670A (en) * 1981-03-17 1984-06-19 The Coca-Cola Company Vending machine display panel with utility module therein

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3890599A (en) * 1973-09-13 1975-06-17 Command Automation Inc Arrangement for protecting and authenticating a document
US4071697A (en) * 1976-10-18 1978-01-31 Atari, Inc. Interactive video/telephone transmission system
US4231014A (en) * 1979-04-17 1980-10-28 Vittorio Ponzio Process and apparatus for automatically identifying discount coupons and the like by means of electronic comparison
GB2109305A (en) * 1981-04-29 1983-06-02 Philip John Wells Coupon dispensing machine
US4449186A (en) * 1981-10-15 1984-05-15 Cubic Western Data Touch panel passenger self-ticketing system
EP0114723A2 (fr) * 1983-01-14 1984-08-01 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Dispositif pour l'émission de documents
WO1985001373A1 (fr) * 1983-09-15 1985-03-28 Electronic Advertising Network, Inc. Procede et appareil de regulation de la distribution de bons
EP0173835A2 (fr) * 1984-07-18 1986-03-12 Catalina Marketing Corporation Méthode et dispositif pour la distribution de bons de réduction
WO1986003310A1 (fr) * 1984-11-26 1986-06-05 Steven Nichtberger Systeme sans papier de distribution, remboursement et annulation de bons de reduction sur des marchandises

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO8805578A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1286404C (fr) 1991-07-16
EP0299061A1 (fr) 1989-01-18
JPH01501350A (ja) 1989-05-11
AU1496088A (en) 1988-08-10
WO1988005578A1 (fr) 1988-07-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4896791A (en) Coupon dispensing system
US5128752A (en) System and method for generating and redeeming tokens
CA1276724C (fr) Systeme sans papier pour l'attribution, l'encaissement et le remboursement decoupons-rabais
US5380991A (en) Paperless coupon redemption system and method thereof
US5924078A (en) Consumer-provided promotional code actuatable point-of-sale discounting system
US5717866A (en) Method for comparative analysis of consumer response to product promotions
US5250789A (en) Shopping cart
EP1139316A2 (fr) Système et méthode pour imprimer et délivrer des reçus et un moyen de stockage de données
EP1035527A2 (fr) Système de terminaux de vente avec capacité d'entrée et d'impression d'annonces publicitaires, et sa méthode de contrôle
JP2003077063A (ja) 抽選処理機能付きｐｏｓシステム
EP2037402A1 (fr) Procédé et système destinés à offrir des incitations pour augmenter la vitesse de distribution de marchandises
US20030036950A1 (en) Discount purchase business method
CA1286404C (fr) Systeme debiteur de coupons
JPH1166035A (ja) アンケート装置、アンケートシステムおよびレジ装置
JP2001357457A (ja) 商品販売管理端末装置及び商品販売管理システム
TW511015B (en) Point-of-sale advertisement system
JPH0765242A (ja) クーポン機能付端末
JP3455558B2 (ja) 商品販売データ処理装置
US20100217610A1 (en) Queue Management System
JP3977873B2 (ja) 販売地点端末での補助的製品販売を処理するための方法およびシステム
JPH1152858A (ja) 広告印刷装置および記録媒体
JP2001101486A (ja) カード処理装置
JP2004318259A (ja) ポイント管理装置、ｐｏｓ装置、ｐｏｓシステム及びプログラム。
JPH09106481A (ja) 自動発券機
KR200172132Y1 (ko) 회원카드 겸용 공중전화카드

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19881008

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: TSS LIMITED

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 19901122

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920525

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19950801