WO2001075812A2

WO2001075812A2 - Electronic sales system

Info

Publication number: WO2001075812A2
Application number: PCT/CA2001/000408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Penner; Doug Meier; Doug Garratt
Original assignee: Exacta Controls Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-30
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Also published as: AU2001242188A1; CA2303455A1; WO2001075812A3

Abstract

An electronic sales system for remote sales and distribution is disclosed. A remote point of sale station issues tickets representative of purchased products with unique, randomly generated codes contained on the tickets. Local point of sale stations accept the ticket and validate the unique code contained thereon. Upon validation the local point of sale station provides access to the purchase product or service represented by the ticket.

Description

ELECTRONIC SALES SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an electronic sales system for remotely selling and distributing products and/or services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The presence of unattended automatic points of sale are becoming increasingly more common. Through these automatic points of sale a wide variety of products can be purchased, such as movies tickets and concession items, gas, etc. The use of an automatic point of sale allows the user to pay for a product and/or service at a different location, and possibly time, than that ■at which the product and/or service is redeemed or used. This provides the customer with the advantage of one-stop shopping in that a variety of products to be purchased may be paid for at a single location. Further, these products can be picked up at a separate physical location such that either the purchase or pick up location may be more convenient for the customer.

For unattended distribution sites the physical separation of the sales site from the distribution site can enhance security. If there is not a sales site at the distribution site then there is also no cash, debit or credit card information stored at that site since this information is used only at the sales site where a ticket redeemable for a product can be purchased. This enhances the security of the unattended distribution site by removing incentive for robbery. However, the physical separation of the sales and distribution sites creates the need for a secure, anonymous method of retrieving the purchased products or services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic sales system wherein the purchase point and the pick-up point of a product or service can be in separate physical locations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic sales system that provides an anonymous means for product or service retrieval.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an automated electronic sales system for selling purchase identifiers representative of a purchased product or service and remotely distributing the purchased product or service using a purchase identifier to co-ordinate sales and distribution, said electronic sales system comprising: a database for storing existing purchase identifiers associated with each product and service sold though the electronic sales system and for creating new purchase identifiers; a plurality of purchase points in communication with the database for purchasing products and services, each of said plurality of purchase points comprising: a purchase data storage containing valid purchase identifiers received from the database that can be sold as representatives of products and services; ticket issuing means for issuing a ticket containing a valid purchase identifier from the purchase data storage; and payment acceptance means for accepting payment for the purchase identifier; and a plurality of distribution points in communication with the database for distributing purchased products and services, each of said plurality of distribution points comprising: a distribution data storage containing valid purchase identifier information received from the database that can be redeemed for products and services; ticket validation' means for determining if a purchase identifier on a ticket being redeemed is valid by searching the distribution data storage base to determine if the purchase identifier exists and if the purchase identifier has been previously redeemed; and product distribution activation means for providing the purchased product or service when the ticket being redeemed is determined to be valid; and wherein at least one of the plurality of purchase points and at least one of the plurality of sales points are at separate remote locations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of conducting a purchase transaction in a remote unattended automated electronic sales system having separately located purchase points and distribution points, wherein a purchase identifier representative of a purchased product or service is used to co-ordinate sales and distribution: storing a list of valid sellable purchase identifiers in each purchase point in the electronic sales system; storing a list of all valid purchase identifiers at all distribution points in the electronic sales system; receiving product selection and payment information; issuing a ticket containing a purchase identifier, wherein the ticket can be redeemed at a distribution point; validating the ticket to be redeemed; and activating a distribution mechanism in response to the valid ticket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagram of an electronic sales system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary transaction from the customer perspective according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of the creation of codes for tickets according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram of a general transaction according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a ticket redemption transaction according tα an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an electronic sales system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Three separate physical locations 12, 14 and 16 are depicted for the purposes of illustration. Operation of the electronic sales system 10 requires one database, one remote station and one local station although any multiple number of these nodes in various combinations are possible.

Remote point of sale stations (RPOSS) 18, 24 are exclusively sales stations. RPOSS 24 is at a location 14 that does not have the product or service being sold. This allows a product to be sold at a location where it might not be possible to store the products or services being sold. Locating the RPOSS 24 away from the product distribution location 12 also allows businesses with different focuses to sell each other's products. This enables a business to offer their customers a more "full service" shopping experience without requiring the business to directly become involved in a new branch of products or services. Alternatively, the RPOSS 18 can be in the same vicinity 12 as a local point of sale station (LPOSS) 22.

With the sales station, RPOSS 18, 24 and the distribution station, LPOSS 22, 26, in separate physical locations it is necessary to provide the customer with some means of collecting the purchased product or service when it is convenient to do so. The RPOSS 18, 24 sells and dispenses tickets representative of products and/or services that can be redeemed at separate physical locations 12, 16 that store the purchased product or service.

Each ticket sold at the RPOSS 18, 24 has a unique, randomly generated code on the ticket. This random code makes it difficult to produce counterfeit tickets as the codes on the tickets are specific to each transaction and are randomly generated. Further, as the code on the ticket is random there is no way to determine the product or service that the ticket represents without redeeming the ticket at a proper LPOSS 22, 26.

Each RPOSS 18, 24 has a data storage 28, 30, a payment acceptor 36, 38, and a ticket issuer 32, 34. The data storage 28, 30 stores a list of valid codes that can be used to sell products. Associated with each valid code is a sale date, expiry date and redemption date. These dates are changed once the code is sold. The payment acceptor 36, 38 accepts payment for the purchase of a product or service which will be represented on a ticket by a valid code. The payment can be via credit card, debit card, IC card, etc.

The ticket issuer 32, 34 in the RPOSS 18, 24 has a searcher 40, 44 and a printer 42, 46. The searcher 40, 44 searches in the data storage 28, 30 for an unsold valid code that can be sold for the current transaction. The printer 42, 46 prints the unsold valid code on a ticket which is sold to a customer in place of a product for later redemption for the desired purchased product.

A database 20 contains a complete list of all tickets that have been created, both sold and unsold. A single RPOSS 18, 24 may be connected to one or more databases. Each database 20 is associated with a selection of products and services available from one merchant. If an RPOSS 18, 24 has access to more than one database of products then the RPOSS 18, 24 can sell products for multiple merchants. For example, an RPOSS 18, 24 could sell movie rentals in addition to selling gas.

The database 20 could be a distributed database, in which case each database is only associated with a subset of all RPOSS 18, 24 and LPOSS 22. 26. Thus, in a large network of RPOSS 18, 24 and LPOSS 22, 26, the network can be subdivided into smaller networks. Since the RPOSS 18, 24 and LPOSS 22, 26 cannot communicate directly, the databases 20 would all be connected to ensure that information is distributed to all other databases in the system.

The RPOSS 18, 24 can only connect with their specified associated databases 20 and cannot directly communicate with other RPOSS 18, 24 or directly with an LPOSS 22, 26.

Local point of sale stations (LPOSS) 22, 26.are exclusively product and/or service distribution stations. The LPOSS 22, 26 accepts and validates issued tickets. When the ticket has been determined to be valid, the LPOSS 22, 26 will then distribute or provide access to the purchased product or service that the ticket represents.

Each LPOSS 22, 26 has a data storage 48, 50, a ticket validator 52, 54 and a product activator 56, 58. The data storage 48, 50 stores a list of all valid codes and associated sale, expiry and redemption dates. A ticket validator 52, 54 accepts a ticket to be redeemed and checks the code contained thereon to determine if the code is valid. A code is deemed valid when it exists in the data storage 48, 50 of the LPOSS 22, 26 and does not have a redeemed date (i.e. the code has not been previously redeemed). The product activator 56, 58 provides access to the purchased product or service once the code on the ticket has been determined to be valid.

The RPOSS 18, 24, LPOSS 22, 26 and database 20 can communicate with each other by a variety of means and methods. The bi-directional link between the RPOSS 18, 24 and the database 20 and between the LPOSS 22, 26 and the database 20 allows both ends to update the ticket status of the other based on recently sold, redeemed and created tickets. These bidirectional communication links can use a combination of telephone connection (cellular or conventional), satellite, Internet, radio and direct connections (such as RS232 protocol, etc.). This flexibility allows the RPOSS 18, 24 and LPOSS 22, 26 to be located anywhere as there are no communication restrictions.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary transaction from the perspective of the customer 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An RPOSS offers a plurality of products and services for purchase from which a customer can choose. For the purpose of illustration, in this example the customer selects a "car wash" 72 as the desired product or service for purchase. The customer then pays for the "car wash" at the RPOSS 74 using a credit card, debit card, IC card, or other similar payment means.

The RPOSS issues ticket 76 that contains a unique, random code that is associated with the purchased product, in this case "car wash".

The purchased ticket may be redeemed at an LPOSS within a given time period (i.e. expiry period) for the purchased product or service. The customer proceeds to the LPOSS where the ticket can be redeemed for a "car wash". The customer has the ticket validated at the LPOSS 78. The validation activates the "car wash" and the customer can retrieve the purchased service 80.

Each ticket sold at the RPOSS 18, 24 contains a unique, randomly generated code that becomes associated with the purchased product. Using a ticket to retrieve a product or service at an LPOSS preserves the customer's anonymity from the LPOSS. In this way the user's identity is not known at the distribution point, only at the sales point, RPOSS. The use of tickets also protects against employee theft as the tickets are tracked at the RPOSS, LPOSS and centrally in a database.

Figure 3 shows the creation of codes for tickets 90 according to an embodiment of the present invention. When an RPOSS does not have any unique, random codes associated with certain products that are available for selling, a request is submitted to a database for a new set of codes that can be used to issue tickets representative of a product 92. The database creates a new set of unique, random codes and associates these codes with a certain product or service 94. Using a ticket to retrieve product or service at an LPOSS preserves the customer's anonymity. In this way the user's identity is not known at the distribution point.

The database sends these created codes and the product associations to the requesting RPOSS and all LPOSS 96. The new set of valid codes sent to the RPOSS do not have sale or expiry dates, thus indicating that these are valid, sellable codes. Since a set of codes, not just a single code, is generated and sent to the requesting RPOSS, when a safe needs to be made at the RPOSS it is not necessary to connect to the database. This reduces the necessary communication time between the RPOSS and the database.

All LPOSS also receive a copy of the new set of valid, sellable codes. This ensures that he existence of a valid code is enough to allow that code to be redeemed and constant communication with the database to check code validity is not necessary. Thus, it is not necessary that the code be registered as sold having a sales date, only that the code not be expired or previously redeemed. This reduces the communication time necessary between the database and LPOSS as periodic updates will be sufficient since the two need not be in constant communication to determine code validity.

Since the LPOSS and RPOSS do not need to be in constant communication with the database the communication costs are reduced. The periodic communication also allows the electronic sales system to function when the communication links are unavailable as the LPOSS and RPOSS are able to act as stand-alone terminals for a short time.

Storing the valid sellable code on both the RPOSS and LPOSS also reduces the time dependency of all stations. Since the codes are on both the RPOSS and LPOSS neither must wait for an update on changed code dates to filter through the database. This means that products and services can be purchased and picked up at any time after the code is created. When the new codes have been received the RPOSS and LPOSS update their respective data storages with the new set of valid codes and their product associations 98.

Figure 4 shows a general transaction 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A request for product purchase is received by the RPOSS 102. Payment for the product is accepted by the RPOSS and the payment is validated 104. In response to the purchase request and payment validation, the RPOSS issues a ticket containing a unique code representative of the purchased product 106. When the ticket is issued the RPOSS updates its data storage with the changed sold date and expiry date for the code contained on the ticket 108. At predetermined intervals the RPOSS sends any information that has been changed between the present time and the previous update to the database 110. The database receives information for the codes that have been sold including changed sales dates and expiry dates for the sold codes. The database sends the updated information it receives to all LPOSS 112.

The LPOSS update their data storages with the changed sales and expiry dates for sold codes 114. This allows the LPOSS to know when a code has been sold, thus allowing a check to be made before ticket redemption to ensure that the code being redeemed has been sold. However, since the codes are randomly generated so are not easily reproduced, this acts as a second validation. Figure 5 shows a ticket redemption transaction 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An LPOSS receives ticket containing a unique, random code for redemption for a product or service 122. The LPOSS checks its data storage to see if the code contained on the ticket is valid 124. A valid code is one that was registered with the LPOSS when it was created by the database, has not expired and has not yet been redeemed. The LPOSS provides the service or product and updates it data storage with a redemption date for the code 126.

Similar to the RPOSS, the LPOSS updates the database ith changes at predetermined intervals 128. The LPOSS gives the database the redemption date of the recently redeemed codes to the database. The database sends the changed information for these codes to all RPOSS and LPOSS 130. The RPOSS and LPOSS are then able to update their data storages to include the changed redemption dates 132. This reduces the risks of a valid ticket being copied and reused for redemption at different LPOSS.

Since the status of the tickets are monitored at the RPOSS, LPOSS and database, an audit trail is created. This would help prevent employee theft as a trail for each product and ticket can be tracked.

Although the invention has been described in an embodiment having unattended LPOSS and RPOSS, these stations may also be attended or can be a combination of attended and unattended without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. An automated electronic sales system for selling purchase identifiers representative of a purchased product or service and remotely distributing the purchased product or service using a purchase identifier to co-ordinate sales and distribution, said electronic sales system comprising: a database for storing existing purchase identifiers associated with each product and service sold though the electronic sales system and for creating new purchase identifiers; a plurality of purchase points in communication with the database for purchasing products and services, each of said plurality of purchase points comprising: a purchase data storage containing valid purchase identifiers received from the database that can be sold as representatives of products and services; ticket issuing means for issuing a ticket containing a valid purchase identifier from the purchase data storage; and payment acceptance means for accepting payment for the purchase identifier; a plurality of distribution points in communication with the database for distributing purchased products and services, each of said plurality of distribution points comprising: a distribution data storage containing valid purchase identifiers received from the database that can be redeemed for products and services and redemption dates for the valid purchase identifiers; ticket validation means for determining if a purchase identifier on a ticket being redeemed is valid by searching the distribution data storage base to determine if the purchase identifier and if it has been previously redeemed; and product distribution activation means for providing the purchased product or service when the ticket being redeemed is determined to be valid; and wherein at least one of the plurality of purchase points and at least one of the plurality of sales points are at separate remote locations.

2. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein the purchase identifier includes a randomly generated code; a sales date; an expiry date; a redemption date; and information about the product or service represented by the randomly generated code.

3. The electronic sales system of claim 1 further including at least one additional database for storing existing purchase identifiers associated with each product and service sold though the electronic sales system and for creating new purchase identifiers; wherein all databases in the electronic sales system are in communication with each other and the purchase and distribution points

4. The electronic sales system of claim 3 wherein each database contains product identifiers for a different merchant.

5. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein the ticket issuing means of each sales point comprises: searching means for finding unsold valid codes in the purchase data storage; and printing means for printing a ticket containing a purchase identifier.

6. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein at predetermined periodic intervals each purchase point will send the database a list of recently sold purchase identifiers; wherein at predetermined periodic intervals each distribution point will send the database a list recently redeemed purchase identifiers; and wherein at periodic intervals the database will send the recently sold and redeemed purchase identifiers to all purchase points and all distribution points.

7. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein the communication between the purchase points and the database and between the distribution points and the database are on an on demand basis.

8. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein means for communication between the plurality of purchase points and the database is chosen from the group consisting of cellular telephone, radio communications, Internet, direct connections, satellite connections and conventional telephone.

9. The electronic sales system of claim 1 wherein means for communication between the plurality of distribution points and the database is chosen from the group consisting of cellular telephone, radio communications, Internet, direct connections, satellite connections and conventional telephone.

10. A method of conducting a purchase transaction in a remote unattended automated electronic sales system having separately located purchase points and distribution points, wherein a purchase identifier representative of a purchased product or service is used to co-ordinate sales and distribution: storing a list of valid sellable purchase identifiers in each purchase point in the electronic sales system; storing a list of all valid purchase identifiers at all distribution points in the electronic sales system; receiving product selection and payment information; issuing a ticket containing a purchase identifier, wherein the ticket can be redeemed at a distribution point; validating the ticket to be redeemed; and activating a distribution mechanism in response to the valid ticket.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of issuing a ticket comprises: finding an unused code in the list of valid sellable codes stored at the purchase point printing the unused code on the ticket; and changing a sale date and expiry date associated with the purchase identifier.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of validating a ticket comprises: checking in the list of valid purchase identifiers in the distribution point to determine if the purchase identifier exists; checking the list of valid purchase identifiers in the distribution point to determine if the purchase identifier has been redeemed; and changing the redemption date associated with the purchase identifier if the purchase identifier has exists and has not been redeemed.