WO2009059424A1

WO2009059424A1 - Interactive retail discounting system

Info

Publication number: WO2009059424A1
Application number: PCT/CA2008/001970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Murray Macdonald
Original assignee: Storefront.Com Online Inc.
Priority date: 2007-11-09
Filing date: 2008-11-07
Publication date: 2009-05-14

Abstract

The disclosed procedure entails presenting to a customer, prospective customer, or other user in a sales environment utilizing an electronic ordering interface, an opportunity to receive, with a random or skill-based probability, an award in the form of a product, a service, or a money-saving discount. One preferred embodiment includes a computerized photo kiosk as a user electronic interface within the sales environment. Another preferred embodiment includes a computer accessing the Internet as a user interface within an online sales environment. The selection process used to determine the award may be described to the user through an entertaining electronic game of chance or game of skill.

Description

INTERACTIVE RETAIL DISCOUNTING SYSTEM

Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/986,982, filed November 9, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/013,973, filed December 14, 2007, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Technical Field

[0002] The current disclosure relates to marketing technology used to offer incentive awards and discounts to customers in an electronic retail environment.

Background

[0003] An increasing share of retail transactions are computer-mediated. Whether online, at a self-service checkout, or through kiosk transactions, computer- mediated sales have helped streamline business workflow and helped reduce costs by minimizing staffing requirements, such as sales assistants. However, removing or minimizing interaction with a sales assistant may reduce or limit the opportunity for the retailer to up-sell. For example, in a traditional face-to-face retail transactions, sales assistants attempt to encourage customers to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or add-ons in attempt to make a more profitable sale or expose customers to other options that the customers may not have previously considered. [0004] Retailers in computer-assisted sales environments have sought to recover missed sales opportunity by incorporating up-sell offers into the workflow of a computer application. Traditionally, however, up-sell offers have been limited to presenting customers with a binary choice of whether to accept or reject whatever the retailer offers. Thus, the present inventor has recognized a need for improved systems and methods for offering customers up-sell offers and increasing customer acceptance of the up-sell offers.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] This disclosure presents systems and methods for offering customers up- sell offers and increasing customer acceptance of the up-sell offers by presenting the customer with an entertaining opportunity to receive an up-sell offer as an award or prize for a customer interactive activity, such as a game of chance or a game of skill. [0006] Games of chance may provide entertainment to customers that enjoy taking risks or enjoy the perception of taking risks. The uncertainty inherent in games of chance creates anticipation in the customer. Thus, presenting an up-sell offer as the outcome of a game of chance gives the up-sell offer the character of a prize that the customer is more likely to accept and use.

[0007] Games of skill may provide entertainment to customers that enjoy problem solving or demonstrating physical skills. Overcoming a challenge provides a sense of accomplishment. Thus, presenting an up-sell offer as an award or prize for successfully solving a problem, such as a puzzle, or demonstrating a physical skill, such as eye-hand coordination, associates the up-sell offer with a sense of accomplishment and increases the likelihood that the customer will accept and use the up-sell offer.

[0008] Additional aspects and advantages of various embodiments will be apparent upon reading the following.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Figure 1 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method of offering an award to a user in a retail environment, according to one embodiment. [0010] Figures 2-4 are diagrams illustrating various examples of an award selection process.

[0011] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing operational components of a kiosk, according to one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a system for offering an award to a user in response to receiving an order from the user, according to one embodiment. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0013] With reference to the above-listed drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only. In light of the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that there may be equivalents to what is expressly or inherently taught herein. For example, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein and other embodiments are possible. It is not always practical to exhaustively catalog all possible embodiments and all possible variations of the described embodiments.

[0014] For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.

[0015] Figure 1 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method 100 of offering an award to a customer, prospective customer, or other user in a retail environment, according to one embodiment. At step 105, method 100 receives an order from a user. For example, the user may place an order for a photographic product, such as a photographic print, photographic mug, or a photographic compact disc (CD), using a photo kiosk. The user may customize the order by specifying a number of parameters, such as a print size (e.g., an 8 x 10 photo), print quantity, and print style. While the user may place the order via a photo kiosk, the order may be placed in other ways, such as via a electronic ordering interface (e.g., a personal computer or mobile device) over a communications network, such as the Internet. Additionally, the order may be for any good or service.

[0016] After receiving the order from the user, method 100 may notify the user at step 110 that the user has an opportunity to receive an award, such as a product, service, or money-saving discount, based upon the order the user placed. For example, the user may be informed by the photo kiosk that the user has earned an opportunity to receive a 20% (or other percentage) discount applicable to the present order or a future order. Additionally, the user may be instructed as to how to obtain the award at step 110. For example, the user may be instructed that to obtain an award, the user must first play one or more games. By presenting up-sell offers as awards the user can win by playing one or more entertaining games, the user may be enticed to participate and accept and use the offer once awarded. In other words, users who perceive an up-sell offer as a prize or award that is unique to the user (rather than a generally applicable offer available to all users) are more likely to accept and use the up-sell offer.

[0017] The user may be eligible to receive an award regardless of the particular order the user placed, or the award eligibility may be based on the particular order. For example, a particular retailing establishment may be promoting the use of a new kiosk and offer users a chance to receive an award for each order placed. By way of another example, a particular retailing establishment may be promoting new products or services available through a kiosk and offer users a chance to receive an award for ordering particular products or services. According to one embodiment, the user is provided with more than one opportunity to receive an award. For example, the user could receive one spin of the wheel for each $20 the user spends. [0018] At step 115, method 100 invites the user to play one or more games. For example, method 100 may prompt the user to select a game from a multiplicity of games. The user may respond to the prompt using any number of user input devices, such as an axially displaceable rotational input device that detects a user applied rotational hand movement and a user applied actuation force. If the user declines the invitation to play the game (e.g., navigating to the decline option by rotating the input device and selecting the decline option by applying an actuating force to the input device), method 100 processes the original order at step 120. If the user accepts the invitation to play the game, method 100 determines a set of N potential awards (where N > 1 ) at step 125. While step 125 may be performed before steps 130 and 135, step 125 may be performed at the same time as or after steps 130 and 135.

[0019] The potential-award set may be determined in any number of ways. For example, method 100 may randomly or pseudorandomly choose the potential-award set from a multiplicity of possible awards. Additionally, the potential-award set may be based on the particular order of the user. For example, the user may be offered a chance to receive a free 5 x 7 photograph for placing an order under a certain dollar amount and a free 8 x 10 photograph for placing an order over a certain dollar amount. Further, the potential-award set may be dynamically determined based on statistical data. For example, the potential-award set my include awards that offer the greatest increase in expected profit to the retailer. The statistical data may be derived from an analysis of outcomes of the various gaming embodiments described below and may be based on various factors, such as the content of the original order, the location of the user, the location of where the order is to be fulfilled, the day, date, and time, and the method of payment. Additionally, the potential-award set may comprise all possible awards.

[0020] The potential awards may comprise various discounts, products, or services. For example, the awards may include a flat discount on a present order, a percentage discount on a present order, free products (e.g., a free 8 x 10 print), free services (e.g., a free image edit), a non-transferable credit against future orders (e.g., $1 off a future order or orders), a transferable credit against future orders (e.g., $1 off a future order or orders of a certain product), a conditional award based on specific details of a corresponding order (e.g., $1 off any order of N (where N > 1 ) or more units of a certain product), an opportunity to purchase or receive additional or different goods or services, various other up-sell offers, or a null award (e.g., no award). While the awards may be applicable to a particular retail establishment operating the award system (e.g., the retail establishment in which the kiosk is located), the awards may be used to market or promote goods or services of other vendors. The other vendors may compensate the operator of the award system for the advertising received.

[0021] Special terms and conditions may be applied to awards. For example, awards may be time limited so that a retailer may cause certain offers to expire over time (e.g., "good for 30 days"). Additionally, awards may be designated as transferable or non-transferable to another party. Further, awards may also be contingent upon immediate usage or the placement of a subsequent order, to which the award applies, within a specific time interval (e.g., for use immediately, within 15 minutes, within an hour, within a day, or within a month).

[0022] At step 130, the user plays one or more games. According to one embodiment, the user plays a game of chance, the outcome of which determines the award. The game of chance may include presenting one or more on-screen indicators, such as virtual scratch-and-win lottery tickets, tumblers of a virtual slot machine, or virtual spinning wheels (e.g., roulette wheels), to the user via a display device of the photo kiosk. For example, the on-screen indicators may be shown spinning, slowing down, and stopping at a position indicating the potential award available to the user. The final position of the indicator may specify no award. The presentation of the on-screen indicators may be accompanied by visual attractors, such as flashing lights and alternating patterns of color. The presentation of offers which are not ultimately offered to the user (e.g., won by the user) may heighten anticipation, add to the fun of the game, and provide an opportunity to advertise a range of available products and services.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the user plays a game of skill (or is requested to demonstrate a particular skill or a skill selected at random from a set of multiple prescribed skills), in which the level of skill demonstrated by the user determines the award. The game of skill may include any game having an outcome that is determined mainly by a mental skill, physical skill, or both, of the user. Thus, the skill may involve reading, logic, critical reasoning, a motor skill (e.g., eye-hand coordination), or any combination thereof. For example, the game may comprise answering a trivia question or completing a puzzle, such as a crossword puzzle, Sudoku puzzle, word-search puzzle, connect-the-dots puzzle, jigsaw puzzle, or spot- the-difference puzzle. Additionally, the game may comprise any number of other games, such as board games, card games, dice games, tile games, or video games, and may involve a degree of chance introduced by a randomizing device, such as dice, playing cards, random number generators, or user guessing. By providing an entertaining challenge and a sense of achievement associated with overcoming the challenge, the game may motivate the user to accept and use the award. [0024] For further entertainment, the user may be required to perform an action, such as pressing an on-screen button or navigate various menus to activate the game and subsequent award process.

[0025] If the user loses the game, method 100 processes the original order at step 120. For example, the game of chance may present a null award or the user may not demonstrate a predetermined level of skill (e.g., the user does not solve the puzzle or answer the trivia question correctly). However, if the user wins the game (e.g., solves the puzzle or solves a sufficient portion of the puzzle to demonstrate a predetermined level of skill), method 100 determines the award to offer the user at step 135. The type of award may be determined with a random probability, pseudorandom probability, or skill-based probability. For example, the stopping position of a spinning on-screen indicator may determine the type of award to offer the user. By way of another example, if the user demonstrates a predetermined level of skill, method 100 may randomly choose one award from the potential-award set (or method 100 may choose an award commensurate with the level of skill demonstrated). The determination of the award may or may not be randomized. [0026] At step 140, method 100 notifies the user of the type of award the user has been offered and asks the user whether the user would like to accept or decline the award. For example, based on a random (or skill-based) determination, the kiosk may present to the user a notification that the user has been offered $2 off of an order of five or more 5 x 7 photographs. By way of another example, one of the possible award types may have included a null award, so the user may be notified that the user has not received an award. If the user declines the award (e.g., by using any number of input devices), method 100 processes the original order at step 120.

[0027] However, if the user accepts the award, method 100 may present the user with additional options at step 145. For example, the user may be allowed to use the award immediately, print the award for future use, or store the award in an electronic form for future use. If the user elects to use the award immediately, method 100 applies the award to the current order and processes the order at step 150 (e.g., includes a discount or adds a free product or service to the current order). If the user elects to print the award, method 100 prints the award for future use (e.g., printed on a receipt or dispensed as a coupon) and processes the original order at step 155. If the user elects to store the award, method 100 stores the award for future use (e.g., stores the award locally on the kiosk, the user's computer or mobile device, or in a central database) and processes the original order at step 160. [0028] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example game of chance comprising a set of symbols 200 arranged in a spaced-apart relation along a defined path 205, which may be presented to the user via a display device of the kiosk. The symbols in set 200 may be evenly spaced apart or the symbols may have a variable spacing between one another. Each symbol in set 200 represents a type of award that might be offered to the user. For example, set of symbols 200 includes six symbols 210 through 215 representing awards of $1 off, 20% off, a free 8 x 10 photograph, $2 off three or more 8 x 10 photographs, $1 off the user's next order, and a null award (which may also be represented by a blank symbol), respectively. Of course, additional or fewer awards may be included in set 200.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the symbol that terminates in an uppermost vertically disposed position (e.g., $1 off symbol 210 in Figure 2) is highlighted with a rectangle 220. The highlighted or selected symbol indicates which one of the awards will be offered to the user. Of course, the symbol representing the award that will be offered to the user may be emphasized in other ways, such as being italicized, underlined, pointed to, or enlarge relative to the other symbols. [0030] During the determination of the type of award to offer the user (e.g., the random selection process), the highlighted symbol may sequentially move from one symbol to the next symbol in the sequence until the symbol representing the award that will be offered to the user is highlighted. For example, if symbol 211 representing a 20% off award will be offered to the user, the set of symbols 200 may rotate in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction until symbol 211 is located in the upper-most vertically disposed position. The set of symbols 200 may rotate at a fixed or variable rate and may rotate less than a full revolution or may rotate one or more revolutions. Of course, other configurations are possible. For example, highlighting rectangle 220 may rotate or a centrally disposed arrow may rotate and point to the selected symbol. Additionally, while the award to offer the user may be determined as the set of symbols 200 rotate (e.g., rotating a random number of revolutions or for a random period of time), the award may be predetermined and the set of symbols rotate to create the impression that the award is being determined as the user watches.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, instead of being arranged in a circular configuration, the symbols may be arranged in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal linear configuration. For example, Figure 3 illustrates the set of symbols 200 arranged in a spaced-apart relation along a horizontally defined path 300. Of course other configurations are possible. For example, Figure 4 illustrates a frontal view of yet another example of a set of symbols 400 arranged in a spaced-apart relation around a surface of one or more barrels or reels 410 (e.g., virtual slot machine barrels or reels). Thus, certain symbols in the set 400 may be hidden from view until barrel 410 rotates. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the symbols are arranged on the display with no defined relationship among one another. [0032] The user may place the order and be notified of a possible award via any electronic device, such as a computer, mobile device, or a kiosk (e.g., a photo kiosk). Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a photo kiosk 500, according to one embodiment. While a bus-based architecture, based on a bus 510, is illustrated in

Figure 5, other types of architectures are also suitable. Photo kiosk 500 includes a processing unit 520. Processing unit 520 may be any of various commercially available processors or other logic machine capable of executing instructions. [0033] An axially displaceable rotational input device, such as a rotary push knob 530 is coupled to processing unit 520 via an input controller 540 and bus 510. By rotating rotary push knob 530, the user adjusts certain parameters (e.g., color, brightness, and contrast) or navigates various menus (e.g., user prompts). By depressing rotary push knob 40, the user switches from one parameter to another or selects a desired menu or prompt. Rotary push knob 540 may be integrated into an enclosure of photo kiosk 500 or rotary push knob 540 may connect to photo kiosk 500 via other interfaces, such as one or more connector(s) (not shown). Likewise, photo kiosk 500 may include other input devices coupled to input controller 540, such as a keypad or keyboard (not shown), a pointing device (not shown), a trackball (not shown), or other wired or wireless input devices. Accordingly, input controller 540 may include hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, to implement one or more protocols, such as stacked protocols along with corresponding layers. Thus, input controller 540 may function as a RS232 port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an ethernet port, a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, and an IR interface. Input controller 540 may also support various wired, wireless, optical, and other communication standards. In addition, a printer controller 550 may be provided to interface with a printer 552 (e.g., via a bi-direction port, such as a IEEE 1284 parallel port, or a wired or wireless network connection). [0034] Photo kiosk 500 presents data, photographs, menus, prompts, indications, and otherwise communicates with the user via one or more display devices 560, such as an integrated cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), or other display device. A display controller 562 drives display device 560 and is coupled to bus 510.

^■[0035] Photo kiosk 500 may also include a network interface (not shown) to communicate with an external network (not shown). The network interface may facilitate wired or wireless communication with other devices over a short distance (e.g., Bluetooth™) or nearly unlimited distances (e.g., the Internet). In the case of a wired connection, a data bus may be provided using any protocol, such as IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), advanced technology attachment (ATA), personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA), or USB, for example. A wireless connection may use low or high powered electromagnetic waves to transmit data using any wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11 b (or other WiFi standards), infrared data association (IrDa), or radio frequency identification (RFID), for example.

[0036] Photo kiosk 500 further includes a memory 570, which may be implemented using one or more standard memory devices. The memory devices may include, for instance, RAM 572, ROM 574, or EEPROM devices, and may also include magnetic and/or optical storage devices, such as hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and DVD-ROM drives. Photo kiosk 500 also includes an interface 580 coupled to an internal hard disk drive 582. Interface 580 may also be coupled to a magnetic floppy disk drive (not shown), an optical disk drive (not shown), or another drive. Further, interface 580 (and/or input controller 540) may be configured for external drive implementations, such as, for example, over a USB, IEEE 1194, or PCMCIA connection.

[0037] In one embodiment, any number of program modules are stored in the drives (e.g., drive 582) and ROM 574, including an operating system (OS) 590, one or more application programs 592, other program modules 594, and data 596. All or portions of the program modules may also be cached in RAM 572. Any suitable operating system 590 may be employed, such as Windows® 2000, 2003, XP, or other commercially available or proprietary operating systems. One of the program modules 594 may comprise a set of instructions for implementing any of the methods disclosed herein (e.g., receiving an order from the user and presenting to the user an opportunity to receive an award for placing the order), which may be stored in memory 570, drive 582, or both.

[0038] Of course, other configurations are possible. For example, the user may place the order with a photo-ordering system 600 and be notified of a possible award from photo-ordering system 600 over a communications network 610, such as the Internet, using an electronic interface (e.g., one or more kiosks 620 or personal computers or mobile devices 630) as shown in system 640 of Figure 6. [0039] According to one embodiment, photo-ordering system 600 is configured to receive an order from the user. In response to the order from the user, photo- ordering system 600 is configured to notify the user of a potential award, invite the user to play one or more games, determine a potential-award set, determine the award based upon outcome of the game the user played, and offer the award to the user in a manner similar to that previously described. Thus, conceptually, photo- ordering system 600 may comprise an application program that accepts connections in order to service requests by sending back responses and may also comprise devices to run such applications. Accordingly, photo-ordering system 600 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), a graphical user interface, input/output devices, internal/external storage, and either one or both of a wired and wireless communication network interface or adapter. Additionally, photo-ordering system 600 may comprise another virtual retail system, such as a mail retail environment, a telephone retail environment, or an online retail environment. Further, system 640 may include more than one photo-ordering system 600. [0040] One or more databases 650 may be communicatively coupled to photo- ordering system 600 for storing data associated with one or more orders placed by the user and one or more possible awards that may be offered to the user based on the order placed by the user. Multiple users may interface with photo-ordering system 600 using one or more kiosks 620 (e.g., a photo kiosk similar or identical to that described with reference to Figure 5 or a point-of-sale terminal). Additionally, users may interface with photo-ordering system 600 using one or more computers 630 or electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices. [0041] One or more remote monitors 660 may be provided for gathering statistical data for use in determining the potential-award set, the award to offer the user, or both. For example, a remote monitor 660 may connect to one or more kiosks 620, photo-ordering system 600, or both, using communications network 610 to gather usage data, such as sales information (e.g., the top ten products sold), outcomes from the various games previously described, the location where the order is to be fulfilled, the timing of the orders (e.g., when most orders are placed), and the method of payment. Thus, by gathering the statistical usage data the potential-award set, the award to offer the user, or both, may be dynamically determined and may change (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly). Further, the statistical usage data may include data from multiple vendors. Remote monitors 660 may comprise computers, servers, or other electronic devices that allow retail establishments or other operators of the award system to gather the statistical usage data. [0042] According to one embodiment, communications network 610 comprises a network that facilitates either one or both of wired and wireless communication between electrical devices over either one or both of short distances, such as a local area network (LAN), and nearly unlimited distances, such as the Internet. For example, communications network 610 may comprise a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a short-range network (e.g., Ethernet and IEEE 802.11 ), a long- range network (e.g., WiMAXj, and wide-area cellular telephone networks (e.g., 2G, 3G, and beyond 3G cellular telecommunication networks). Thus, communications network 610 may comprise a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, along with the associated modems, internet service providers (ISPs), servers, gateways, switches, and other associated components. Additionally, communications network 610 may comprise a cellular network of base stations along with the associated network and switching subsystems, public switched telephone networks (PSTN), internet protocol (IP) packet transmitting networks (e.g., GPRS core networks), servers, gateways, switches, and other associated components. Thus, using system 640, the user is able to place orders with a virtual, or "online" retail environment. [0043] Although various embodiments described herein have discussed placing a retail order for photographic product, it should be recognized that the systems and methods disclosed herein are equally applicable to other retail orders, such as the sale of any good or merchandise from a fixed location (e.g., a market or store) or virtually (e.g., a mail order, a telephone order, or online order) in relatively small lots for direct consumption by the purchaser (e.g., an individual or business). Additionally, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be applicable to other orders, such as wholesale orders. Thus, the disclosed systems and methods present to a customer, prospective customer, or other user in a retail environment (or other environment) utilizing an electronic ordering interface an opportunity to receive, with a random or skill-based probability, an award in the form of a product, a service, or a money-saving discount.

[0044] The methods and systems for offering an award to a user in a retail environment may be implemented in or by any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. Accordingly, as used herein, a component or module may comprise hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof (e.g., self-contained hardware or software components that interact with a larger system). Embodiments may include various steps, which may be embodied in machine-executable instructions to be executed by processing unit 520 or another processor. Thus, embodiments may be provided as a computer program product including a machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions (in compressed or uncompressed form) that may be used to program a computer (or other electronic device) to perform processes or methods described herein. In addition, the steps may be performed by hardware components that include specific logic for performing the steps or by a combination of hardware, software, and firmware. A result or output from any step, such as a confirmation that the step has or has not been completed or an output value from the step, may be stored (in a memory), displayed (on a display), printed (on a printing device), and/or transmitted over a wired or wireless network (via a network interface). For example, an award notification may be stored, displayed, or transmitted over a network. [0045] Embodiments may also be provided as a computer program product embodied on a machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions (in compressed or uncompressed form) that may be used to program a computer (or other electronic device) to perform processes or methods described herein. The machine-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, hard drives, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, solid-state memory devices, or other types of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Further, embodiments may also be provided as a computer program product embodied on a machine-readable signal (in compressed or uncompressed form). Examples of machine-readable signals, whether modulated using a carrier or not, include, but are not limited to, signals that a computer system or machine hosting or running a computer program can be configured to access, including signals downloaded through the Internet or other networks. For example, distribution of software may be via CD-ROM or via Internet download.

[0046] The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations can be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined only by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are to be understood in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

1. A method of offering an award to a user in a sales environment, the method comprising: detecting placement of an initial order by the user; informing the user of a possible award entitlement based upon the initial order; determining the type of award to offer the user based upon an outcome of a user interactive game; and presenting notification of the award to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sales environment utilizes an electronic ordering interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sales environment is a virtual environment that utilizes an online photo site as a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sales environment utilizes a photo kiosk system as a user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: providing an axially displaceable rotational input device for detecting a user applied rotational hand movement and a user applied actuation force; after informing the user of the award entitlement, presenting a prompt to the user requesting whether the user would like to have the type of award determined; in response to user applied rotational hand movement, navigating to a user selection of whether to have the type of award determined; and if the user selection comprises having the type of award determined, determining the type of award to be offered in response to a user applied actuating force.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interactive game comprises a game of skill in which the user's demonstrated performance of a skill determines the award.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interactive game comprises a game of chance in which a random outcome of the game determines the award.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award comprises a discount award that must be used immediately by placing an order incorporating a reduced price.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award comprises a discount award that may be used within a prescribed time interval following the initial order.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award comprises a transferable discount that may be transferred to another party.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award comprises a product, a service, or a money-saving discount.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the award is dynamically determined from statistical data derived from a set of previous orders in the sales environment.

13. A computer system for offering an award to a user based upon a retail order from the user, the computer system comprising: a retail order component configured to receive a retail order from the user; an award determination component communicatively coupled to the retail order component and configured to, in response to the retail order received from the user, determine an award to offer the user based upon an outcome of a user interactive game; and a display component communicatively coupled to the award determination component and configured to present to the user an indication of the type of award the user has been offered.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the retail order component and the display component comprise a photo kiosk including an axially displaceable rotational input device for detecting a user applied rotational hand movement and a user applied actuating force, and wherein the award determination component is further configured to: present a prompt to the user requesting whether the user would like to have the type of award determined; in response to user applied rotational hand movement, navigate to a user selection of whether to have the type of award determined; and if the user section comprises having the type of award determined, determine the type of award to be offered in response to a user applied actuating force.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a transmission component communicatively coupled to the retail order component, the award determination component, and the display component, the transmission component configured to transmit the retail order from the user over a communication network to the award determination component and receive the indication of the type of award the user has been offered, if any, from the award determination component via the communication network.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the display component is further configured to: present to the user a set of symbols arranged in a spaced-apart relation along a defined path, the set of symbols representing types of awards that might be offered to the user; present to the user an indication of which one of the symbols is a selected symbol; and change which one of the symbols in the set is presented as the selected symbol until the symbol representing the determined type of award to offer the user is presented as the selected symbol.

17. A computer system for placing an order and offering an award to a user based upon the order, the system comprising: an input device; a display; and a processor communicatively coupled to the input device and the display, the processor configured to: accept via the input device a set of order parameters defining an order, in response to the order, invite the user to play an interactive game to determine an award opportunity, and in response to an outcome of the interactive game, notify the user via the display of the award opportunity the user has received, the award opportunity selected from a set of award types based upon the outcome of the interactive game.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer system comprises a photo kiosk.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising: a network interface communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit via the network interface the order to a photo-ordering system, the photo-ordering system configured to select the award opportunity from the set of award types in response to the order; and receive via the network interface the selected award opportunity.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to: present via the display a set of symbols arranged in a spaced-apart relation along a defined path, the set of symbols representing the award types; present via the display an indication of which one of the symbols is a selected symbol; and change which one of the symbols in the set is presented as the selected symbol until the symbol representing the selected award opportunity is presented as the selected symbol.

21. A method in a computer system for offering an award to a user based upon an order placed by the user, the method comprising: presenting a prompt to the user requesting a set of order parameters defining an order; presenting an indication to the user that the user has received an award opportunity in response to the order; presenting a prompt to the user inviting the user to play an interactive game to determine the award opportunity; in response to receiving an indication from the user that the user has accepted the invitation to play the game, presenting the interactive game to the user; and presenting an indication to the user of the award opportunity the user has received, the award opportunity selected from a set of award types based upon an outcome of the interactive game.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising: presenting a set of symbols to the user, the set of symbols representing the award types to offer the user and arranged in a spaced-apart relation along a defined path; presenting an indication of which one of the symbols is a selected symbol representing the award to offer the user; and changing which one of the symbols in the set is presented as the selected symbol until the symbol representing the selected award opportunity is presented as the selected symbol.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the computer system comprises a photo kiosk.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the prompts are presented to the user over a communications network.

25. A machine-readable medium on which are stored computer program instructions for offering an award to a user based upon an order placed by the user according to claim 21.

26. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 21 or the system as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 17, wherein the award is selected from the group comprising a null award, a flat discount, a percentage-based discount, a free product, a free service, another product, another service, a non-transferable credit against a future order, a transferable credit against a future order, and a conditional award.