Abstract: A system and method for processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise may determine that a customer has entered one of a plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of the customer's mobile communication device, in response thereto, determine whether the entering customer has a completed order for pickup of at least one ordered item at the brick-and-mortar store associated with the geographic boundary, and in response thereto, control a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the store to display a message indicating that the customer has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the completed order to be picked up by the customer is complete.

Abstract: A shopper reward server includes a communication module to receive purchase transaction data from a plurality of purchase interfaces of a retail enterprise, a database having stored therein a plurality of shopper purchase histories each including purchase transaction data for item purchases made over time by a different one of a corresponding plurality of shoppers, a transaction module to store purchase transaction data for each shopper in a corresponding shopper purchase history, and a shopper reward module to selectively generate for any of the shoppers at least one earn requirement, based on that shopper's purchase history, that must be satisfied by the shopper via at least one purchase made via any of the purchase interfaces in order to earn a corresponding discount reward redeemable against at least one specified item via any of the purchase interfaces.

Abstract: A computer system (100) for use by a retailer with a restricted use consumer coupons (100) includes a point of sale (POS) computer (201) for providing information regarding redemption of restricted use coupons at the POS. A central promotion server (203) is used for communicating with the POS computer (201) for storing restricted use coupon data. A validation computer (205) is used for rendering restricted use coupon data from the retailer or customer and providing the data to the central promotion server (203). The retailer can then provide restricted use coupons containing traceable data to a server (211) for distribution to consumers through one or more of channels of trade.

Abstract: In a system and method for obtaining out of stock inventory at a retail enterprise, stored product codes are associated with one or more store codes and each associated store code is associated with an inventory number. The product codes identify products for sale, the store codes identify stores that normally stock the identified products and each inventory number identifies the number of the products in inventory at each store. In response to a wirelessly received product code, store code and customer code, a processor determines the stored product code that matches the wirelessly received product code, the associated store code that matches the wirelessly received store code and its associated inventory number, and controls a communication circuit to wirelessly transmit a notification message to the mobile communication device that transmitted the codes. The notification message illustratively relates to the availability within the retail enterprise of the identified product.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity includes a stored identification code identifying a location in or near a customer entry area to multiple point-of-sale systems grouped together in a brick-and-mortar outlet of the retail enterprise, and customer codes associated in a database with various customers of the retail enterprise, monitoring purchase transaction activity at each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. An operating state of each of the point-of-sale systems is determined based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof. In response to a wirelessly received customer code and identification code, a notification message is wirelessly transmitted to a mobile communication device identified by a matching one of the customer codes in the database if the wirelessly received identification code matches the stored identification code.

Abstract: A system and method that links point-of-sale purchases to shopper membership accounts includes a database in which each of one or more electronic payment systems specified by a customer is associated with one of a plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes stored in the database that uniquely identifies the customer as one of a plurality of shopper members of an enterprise membership service program associated with a retail enterprise. In response to tender of an electronic payment system to the point-of-sale system as part of a transaction for the purchase of items, information about the items is stored in one of a plurality of purchase histories that is associated with the one of the plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes that is associated with one of at least two specified electronic payment systems that matches the tendered electronic payment system.

Abstract: A system and method for processing items ordered for customer pickup from a brick-and-mortar store of a retail enterprise may determine that a customer has entered one of a plurality of geographic boundaries based on GPS tracking of the customer's mobile communication device, in response thereto, determine whether the entering customer has a completed order for pickup of at least one ordered item at the brick-and-mortar store associated with the geographic boundary, and in response thereto, control a display monitor located at an order pickup department of the store to display a message indicating that the customer has entered the one of the plurality of geographic boundaries and that the completed order to be picked up by the customer is complete.

Abstract: A system and method effecting payment for POS purchases includes a database in which a unique code is associated with one of one or more electronic payment systems specified by a customer having one of a plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes stored in the database that uniquely identifies the customer as one of a plurality of shopper members of an enterprise membership service program associated with a retail enterprise. In response to receipt by an input device of a point-of-sale system of the retail enterprise of a manually-supplied code as part of a transaction for the purchase of one or more items, a processor processes payment for the one or more items using the one of the one or more electronic payment systems if the manually-supplied code matches the unique code associated with the one of the one or more electronic payment systems in the database.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying customers with ordered items at a retail enterprise may associate in a database each of a plurality of departments within a brick-and-mortar outlet with a different identification code, and also one of a plurality of customer codes identifying a customer with an order code identifying an order placed by the customer for an item to be delivered thereto by one of the departments. In response to a wirelessly received identification code and customer code, a display monitor at one of the plurality of departments is controlled to display a notification message if the received identification code matches the identification code associated with the one of the departments and the received customer code matches the customer code associated in the database with the order code. The notification message may include information relating to at least one of the customer and the order.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity includes a stored identification code identifying a location in or near a customer entry area to multiple point-of-sale systems grouped together in a brick-and-mortar outlet of the retail enterprise, and customer codes associated in a database with various customers of the retail enterprise, monitoring purchase transaction activity at each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. An operating state of each of the point-of-sale systems is determined based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof. In response to a wirelessly received customer code and identification code, a notification message is wirelessly transmitted to a mobile communication device identified by a matching one of the customer codes in the database if the wirelessly received identification code matches the stored identification code.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying customers with ordered items at a retail enterprise may associate in a database each of a plurality of departments within a brick-and-mortar outlet with a different identification code, and also one of a plurality of customer codes identifying a customer with an order code identifying an order placed by the customer for an item to be delivered thereto by one of the departments. In response to a wirelessly received identification code and customer code, a display monitor at one of the plurality of departments is controlled to display a notification message if the received identification code matches the identification code associated with the one of the departments and the received customer code matches the customer code associated in the database with the order code. The notification message may include information relating to at least one of the customer and the order.

Abstract: A system and method effecting payment for POS purchases includes a database in which a unique code is associated with one of one or more electronic payment systems specified by a customer having one of a plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes stored in the database that uniquely identifies the customer as one of a plurality of shopper members of an enterprise membership service program associated with a retail enterprise. In response to receipt by an input device of a point-of-sale system of the retail enterprise of a manually-supplied code as part of a transaction for the purchase of one or more items, a processor processes payment for the one or more items using the one of the one or more electronic payment systems if the manually-supplied code matches the unique code associated with the one of the one or more electronic payment systems in the database.

Abstract: A system and method that links point-of-sale purchases to shopper membership accounts includes a database in which each of one or more electronic payment systems specified by a customer is associated with one of a plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes stored in the database that uniquely identifies the customer as one of a plurality of shopper members of an enterprise membership service program associated with a retail enterprise. In response to tender of an electronic payment system to the point-of-sale system as part of a transaction for the purchase of items, information about the items is stored in one of a plurality of purchase histories that is associated with the one of the plurality of enterprise membership service identification codes that is associated with one of at least two specified electronic payment systems that matches the tendered electronic payment system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for effecting payment for purchases at point-of-sale systems of a retail enterprise. Each point-of-sale system is associated with a different stored identification code, and a stored first code is associated with a stored electronic payment system preauthorized by a customer member of the retail enterprise for automatic payment processing during purchase transactions carried out by the customer member at any of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. In response to a wirelessly received identification code, the point-of-sale system associated with the stored identification code that matches the wirelessly received identification code is identified, and in response to a wirelessly received second code, payment for one or more items in a current purchase transaction at the identified point-of-sale system is automatically processed using the stored, preauthorized electronic payment system if the wirelessly received second code matches the stored first code.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for customizing produce scale menus. Produce scales located in a brick-and-mortar store are associated in a database with different device codes, and customer purchase histories are associated in a database with different customer codes each identifying a different customer. Each purchase history contains items previously purchased by a corresponding customer. In response to receipt of a device code and a customer code, the device code in the database that matches the received device code is identified, the customer code in the database that matches the received customer code is identified, and if the purchase history associated in the database with the identified customer code contains one or more produce items, a produce menu displayed by the produce scale associated in the database with the identified device code is modified to display the at least one of the produce items in the purchase history.

Abstract: In a system and method for obtaining out of stock inventory at a retail enterprise, stored product codes are associated with one or more store codes and each associated store code is associated with an inventory number. The product codes identify products for sale, the store codes identify stores that normally stock the identified products and each inventory number identifies the number of the products in inventory at each store. In response to a wirelessly received product code, store code and customer code, a processor determines the stored product code that matches the wirelessly received product code, the associated store code that matches the wirelessly received store code and its associated inventory number, and controls a communication circuit to wirelessly transmit a notification message to the mobile communication device that transmitted the codes. The notification message illustratively relates to the availability within the retail enterprise of the identified product.

Abstract: In a system and method for tracking employee time and attendance, device codes stored in a database are each associated with a corresponding identity of one of a plurality of enterprise facilities, employee codes stored in a database are each associated with a different employee of the business enterprise, and in response to wirelessly received information including a device code and an employee code, one of the plurality of device codes in the database is identified that matches the wirelessly received device code, the enterprise facility associated in the database with the matching device code is identified, the employee code that matches the wirelessly received employee code is determined, and in an employee attendance record identified with the matching employee code, the identified of facility, a calendar date and time of day at which the wirelessly received information was wirelessly received are logged.

Abstract: A system and method of providing in-person retailer assistance to customers of a retail enterprise includes associating locations within a brick-and-mortar outlet of the retail enterprise with different identification codes, associating customer codes with various customers of the retail enterprise, and associating employee codes with various employees of the brick-and-mortar outlet, and in response to a wirelessly received help request, customer code and one or more identification codes, one of the customer codes is identified that matches the wirelessly received customer code, each of the locations is identified that matches one of the one or more wirelessly received identification codes, a customer location within the brick-and-mortar outlet is determined based on the identified locations, and the help request, the identity of the customer and the customer location within the brick-and-mortar outlet are wirelessly transmitted to one or more employee mobile communication devices.

Abstract: A computer system (100) for use by a retailer with a restricted use consumer coupons (100) includes a point of sale (POS) computer (201) for providing information regarding redemption of restricted use coupons at the POS. A central promotion server (203) is used for communicating with the POS computer (201) for storing restricted use coupon data. A validation computer (205) is used for rendering restricted use coupon data from the retailer or customer and providing the data to the central promotion server (203). The retailer can then provide restricted use coupons containing traceable data to a server (211) for distribution to consumers through one or more of channels of trade.

Abstract: A system for processing a received virtual coupon to determine whether it is fraudulent includes a database having stored therein fraudulent coupon data for one or more fraudulent coupons, and a database containing a virtual repository for storing virtual coupons of a specified customer of a retail enterprise. A processor is operable to receive a virtual coupon from the specified customer and then decline to store it in the virtual repository or delete or disable it after storing if the received virtual coupon is determined to be fraudulent by comparing it to the fraudulent coupon data.