Abstract: A system for determining customer identifiers (CIDs) associated with purchase of product items which are recalled includes a computer database management system (10, 20) and network (30). Consumers associated with the determined CIDs are notified of the recall of the products.

Abstract: The invention provides a network computer system and novel pharmacy printers and their methods of use wherein the local CS includes a pharmacy printer for printing pharmacy orders including prescriptions, and the pharmacy printer includes a pharmacy printer database storing drug information and association of a drug identifier with information about a corresponding drug, and additional information, and obtains and uses instructions for printing the additional information in association with printing of a prescription label from characters contained in a prescription label print file for the prescription label.

Abstract: A technique for customizing purchase incentives, such as discount coupons and the like, based on whether a consumer buys a promoted item or a competitive item, and on the price of the promoted item relative to the competitive item. The invention identifies promoted or competitive products in a consumer's order, and selects an incentive that is appropriate for the price differential between the promoted and competitive items, and for the purchase choice already made between the promoted and competitive items. a different incentive is provided for the different pricing and choice combinations, in an effort to maximize sales for the promoted item, and the different incentives are stored in an incentive matrix accessed by product purchased and by consumer profile as determined from whether the consumer bought the more expensive item, the less expensive item, or one of two equally priced items.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering purchasing incentives and a variety of other retail shopping aids through a computer network, such as by E-mail over the Internet or the World Wide Web. Customers (10) of retail stores can establish a bi-directional communication link with the system, log in (16) to the system, and then elect to browse among available purchasing incentive offers (18, 22), or elect to explore other shopping aids, such as a shopping list generator (26), a recipe center (30), or simply elect to claim a product rebate or to receive product information. If the customer elects to have product information or rebate information delivered, only minimal customer identification is required. For purchase incentives redeemable at retail stores, the customer must provide identification information and must also designate a retailer (12) at which the purchasing incentive can be exercised.

Abstract: A system for automatically distributing discount coupons or certificates in a retail store, conditioned on a preselected combination of present and past shopping behavior of a customer whose order is being processed at a checkout stand. Generation of a printable discount coupon can be based on any desired combination of customer-supplied data, obtained from a customer identification data base, past shopping activity, derived from data gathered during previous customer visits to the store, and present shopping activity, as evidenced by items identified in the current customer order. Collection of data pertaining to past behavior of customers is facilitated by filtering all sales transaction data at the point of sale. If all of the preselected conditions for generation of a coupon are satisfied, the coupon is generated and printed at the checkout stand.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for customer promotion. A terminal enters a customer's identification code, along with customer transaction data, at the point-of-sale. A memory stores a database of previously entered customer identification codes and transactions data. Circuitry is provided for generating a signal representative of a customer's shopping history, wherein incentive coupons may be issued to customers in dependence upon the signal.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a marketing application using a store card as a Reward Card, Rebate Card, Pre-paid Script Program Card, Incentive Card, and/or Gift Card, as well as a Frequent Shopper Card. A card provided in association with an initial credit is also associated with an identification and account stored in a computer database memory, and the identification in the card enables the retailer to subsequently allow the consumer to use the card for additional computer based marketing, debit, and credit activity.

Abstract: An electronic coupon having an associated redemption function for use over a communications channel includes a computer-readable medium associated with a computer processor, the computer-readable medium being encoded with a data structure. The data structure includes data representative of a version number of the electronic coupon, data representative of a party capable of redeeming the electronic coupon, and data representative of a serial number identifying the electronic coupon. The data structure is adapted for providing a benefit in the course of an online transaction based on the redemption function.

Abstract: A novel price paid database, method, system, and computer program product in which checkout items are scanned at a plurality of stores, and a checkout computer identifies the purchased items. The checkout computer determines a price paid for each purchased item. A central computer records in a price-paid database an item identification and price-paid for each purchased items. The central computer publishes the price-paid database. The checkout computer recurrently updates the price-paid database in the central computer with the price paid for each purchased item, the customer identification (if available), the store identification, and a list price for each purchased item.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a product sampling program includes a system for performing the steps of determining offers for retailers to participate in a sampling program, transmitting the offers to the retailers, receiving from various retailer computer systems consumer profile data comprising CIDs of customers of the retailers, which data may be in various formats, determining CIDs associated with data meeting consumer profile criteria, and communicating instructions for delivering sample products to consumers associated with selected CIDs.

Abstract: A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising a computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; the at computer also including a database containing special offers including a targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card having machine readable card information indicating at least identification of the card with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with the computer to transfer data therebetween; the customer interface having a card reader for reading machine readable card information from the customer card; the computer including means for generating a custom

Abstract: A system, computer program product and method including delivering an initial promotion to a customer, determining a status of the initial promotion delivered, selecting a related promotion based on the status of the initial promotion determined, and delivering the related promotion to the customer. The related promotion is selected based on the status of the initial promotion determined by selecting a predetermined related promotion associated with the status of the initial promotion determined. Moreover, the initial and related promotions may be delivered through an electronic or hard delivery medium, and the status of the initial promotion delivered may be determined by determining a status of the initial promotion based on electronic feedback from the customer or based on predetermined status criteria assigned to the initial promotion.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for timing the provision of promotions based upon previously received promotions. Through the examination of the parameters of previously provided promotions, new promotions that are likely to be redeemed in high numbers and/or rates can be provided to the consumer. Example parameters of previously provided promotions include the timing, the industry, the valid dates, the valid locations, the packaging, and other factors that relate to the previously provided promotions.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium that determine a promotion for a consumer based at least in part upon promotions exercised by the consumer. By examining exercised promotions, promotions likely to be exercised by certain consumers and consumers likely to exercise certain promotions can be identified. This invention can also be performed across the boundaries of product industry, class, and/or type.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for customer promotion. A terminal enters a customer's identification code, along with customer transaction data, at the point-of-sale. A memory stores a database of previously entered customer identification codes and transactions data. Circuitry is provided for generating a signal representative of a customer's shopping history, wherein incentive coupons may be issued to customers in dependence upon the signal.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for requesting promotions in which a customer is connected, using an interactive voice response system and a telephone, to a host computer including a promotion database of promotions available to consumers on an unrestricted basis. The host computer determines, in response to receiving promotional request information from the consumer, requested promotions from the available promotions and issues requested promotions to the consumer. When the consumer is a frequent user, the host computer determines a promotion offer list based on the consumer's shopping preference and presents the offer list to the consumer for consumer selection of promotions. Alternatively, the host computer in the system, method, and computer program product contacts the customer to advertise at least one promotion available to the customer, determines from the customer the requested promotions, and issues the requested promotions to the consumer.

Abstract: A novel method, system, and computer-readable medium that use a historical record of consumer behavior and/or demographic information relating to identify a more relevant promotion that is to be paired with a second low relevance product and/or product class. By pairing a more relevant promotion with a low relevance promotion, the consumer's attention can be captured and the likelihood that the low relevance promotion will be exercised increased.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for online shopping. The system on which the method and computer program product are based determines a shopping district for a customer based on customer-derived information, generates a present order list of at least one item to price, selects from a global database of retailers those selected retailers within the shopping district selling the items, and forms a selection list of the selected retailers. The list indicates the price and availability of the items on the selection list. A shopping basket including selected items and prices of the selected items is determined from the list of selected retailers. A to-be-purchased list is formed for at least a part of the shopping basket list which the customer confirms. The to-be-purchased list is used to generate purchase coupons for redemption at a confirmed retailer. Alternatively, the to-be-purchased list is direct ordered from each confirmed retailer.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for customer promotion. A terminal enters a customer's identification code, along with customer transaction data, at the point-of-sale. A memory stores a database of previously entered customer identification codes and transactions data. Circuitry is provided for generating a signal representative of a customer's shopping history, wherein incentive coupons may be issued to customers in dependence upon the signal.

Abstract: The present invention includes automatic check reading techniques which enables the detection of a customer's checking account number on a check, regardless of the bank, bank branch or type of account. The customer identification code is automatically used to provide check verification as well as to provide various targeted marketing techniques based upon the customer's prior transactional history with the store.