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Method and apparatus for generating a coupon

a coupon and coupon technology, applied in the field of methods and apparatus for generating coupons, can solve the problem of reducing the profit of the business

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-08-04
WALKER JAY S +2
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating coupons that help businesses promote their objectives more effectively. The POS terminal calculates a rounded price based on the purchase price and the customer's change, and sets the coupon value accordingly. The coupon has a unique identifier, such as a bar code, that allows it to be read by the POS terminal when redeemed. This technology helps businesses offer coupons that are more targeted and useful to customers."

Problems solved by technology

However, the redemption of higher-value coupons typically reduces the profit gained by the business.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for generating a coupon
  • Method and apparatus for generating a coupon
  • Method and apparatus for generating a coupon

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0029] As described in the above-cited parent application of the present application, patent application Ser. No. 08 / 920,116, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING SUPPLEMENTARY PRODUCT SALES AT A POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL, filed on Aug. 26, 1997, a customer at a POS terminal may be offered an “upsell” in exchange for an amount of change he is due. The POS terminal determines an upsell in dependence on a purchase of the customer, and can also determine an upsell price to be the amount of change due that customer. Accordingly, the upsell price is based on the purchase. For example, a customer purchasing a first item for $1.74 and tendering $2.00 may be offered a second item in exchange for the $0.26 change due. The upsell price, $0.26, thus depends on the purchase price $1.74.

[0030] As also described in the above-cited parent application, one type of upsell that may be offered for change due is a voucher which is redeemable for a product or a discount thereon (hereinafter a “coupon...

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PUM

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Abstract

A POS terminal generates a purchase price of a purchase, and generates a rounded price. The rounded price may be, for example, the lowest whole number greater than the purchase price. The POS terminal then calculates a round-up amount (change due the customer) as the difference between the purchase price and the rounded price. The coupon value is set based on the round-up amount. For example, the coupon may be redeemable for triple the amount of change due. The POS terminal prints on the coupon an identifier, such as a bar code, that is based on the coupon value. The bar code allows the coupon to be read by a POS terminal when the coupon is redeemed.

Description

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08 / 920,116, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING SUPPLEMENTARY PRODUCT SALES AT A POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL, filed on Aug. 26, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08 / 822,709, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING LOTTERY TICKET TRANSACTIONS UTILIZING POINT-OF-SALE TERMINALS, filed on Mar. 21, 1997.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for generating coupons. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Point-of-sale (“POS”) terminals, such as cash registers, are used in a wide variety of businesses for performing such processes as calculating the total price of a purchase (goods or services) and calculating the amount of change due to a customer. In addition, POS terminals may also be used to read and process coupons used by a customer. Some POS terminals are further able to print coupons...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06Q20/00G07C15/00G07F5/24G07F9/02G07F17/32G07G1/00G07G1/12G07G5/00
CPCG06Q10/087G07G5/00G06Q20/12G06Q20/387G06Q30/02G06Q30/0207G06Q30/0236G06Q30/0238G06Q30/06G06Q30/0601G07C15/005G07F5/24G07F9/02G07F17/32G07F17/3248G07F17/3255G07G1/0036G07G1/12G06Q20/00
Inventor WALKER, JAY S.VAN LUCHENE, ANDREW S.ALDERUCCI, DEAN
Owner WALKER JAY S
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