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 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. 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 retail store marketing. A memory stores a database of existing customers of the retail store. The database includes a unique customer identification code for each customer. A memory stores a list of unique identification codes for prospective customers of the store who reside in a predetermined geographical area relative to the store. Circuitry compares the unique identification codes in the stored database of existing customers with the stored list of unique identification codes of prospective customers. Circuitry eliminates data from the list of prospective customers relating to the store's existing customers, such that a non-customer database is produced for use in marketing.

Abstract: A system and method for printing a customized combination newsletter and product label for used in dispensing prescribed pharmaceutical products. An individual's medical status is determined based upon information provided to the dispensing pharmacist and a customized newsletter, which may contain standard information not customized for the individual, is printed onto a combination form that also contains a self-adhesive label which can be placed upon the dispensed pharmaceutical product container. The combination form containing both the newsletter and container label facilitate giving the newsletter to the proper individual.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing promotional offers and other incentives to consumers over a communication network and for the consumers subsequently to redeem at least some of the offers is disclosed. The invention includes storing manufacturers offers and/or retail incentives in a database C associated with a co-operative communication network site 2 and providing information from the database to a consumer in a response to a request from a consumer to the database. The consumer may be connected directly to the database or may be given access to the database while logged into a retailer's or manufacturer's network site in such a way that the consumer is not aware that information is coming from the co-operative communication site. In addition, a transactional second database D is provided for recording transactions on the first database C so that when a consumer selects offers, step 27, from the database, an order is generated, step 28, on the transactional database.

Abstract: A system, process and computer readable medium for distributing purchasing incentives throughout departments of a retail store including an incentive processor including a network controller and a database for storing shopping histories of consumers associated with respective unique consumer identifiers; a plurality of incentive distributors located throughout the departments of the retail store, each incentive distributor of the plurality of incentive distributors having a unique address, and including, a processor, a printing device, a network interface device, and one of a card reader device and a scanner device; and a network, coupling the network controller to network interface devices of the plurality of incentive distributors, for effecting two-way communications between the incentive processor and the plurality of incentive distributors.

Abstract: Apparatus and a corresponding method for creating a coupon or other like incentive in response to a transaction. A record pertaining to the details of the transaction is examined to determine whether the transaction is intended to trigger the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. The non-existence of a certain detail of the transaction examined will result in creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. Also, the existence of a certain detail of the transaction examined will result in the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. Transactions that do not trigger the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border may result in creation of coupons or other like incentives not having borders or in creation of a transaction receipt not having a border.

Abstract: A system for generating targeted advisory messages for pharmacy patients based on selected monitored data components of each transaction. When a pharmacy computer prints transaction data, the system monitors the data using printer data capture hardware interposed between the pharmacy computer and its printer. An additional processor compares selected components of the monitored transaction data with preselected combinations of the these components in a database. The database associates the preselected combinations of transaction data components with advisory message components retrieved from the database and used to build an advisory message for output to a printer, which may be the pharmacy computer or an additional printer.

Abstract: A method and system for generating advisory messages to pharmacy patients includes appending patient-specific information to a data record containing normally transmitted information. The data record is transmitted between a third party computer and a pharmacy computer during a pharmacy transaction. The data record transmitted to the pharmacy computer is captured by an advisory computer as the data record is received by the pharmacy computer or after the data record is transmitted to the pharmacy computer, and the patient-specific information is extracted from the captured data record. The advisory computer generates an advisory message based on the extracted patient-specific information, and it transmits the generated advisory message to a pharmacy printer. The advisory computer includes a memory containing a data structure for storing the patient-specific information, the normally transmitted information, and the generated advisory message.

Abstract: A technique for customizing mailed purchase incentives for selected consumer households, based on a detailed purchasing history of the consumers. Purchase transactions of many consumers, generally in different stores, are accumulated in a purchase history database over a long period of time and then used to generate customized incentive offers for selected consumers. For a selected product category, usually related to a promotional theme, the purchase history database is scanned to select consumers who have made purchases in the same product area as the selected product category. Then each selected consumer's purchase transactions are analyzed to determine a profile for the consumer, such as loyal to the promoted brand, loyal to a competitive brand, or new to the selected product category, although a purchaser of related products. The consumer profile is then used to customize a purchase incentive package generated for each consumer household.

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 system 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: Apparatus and a corresponding method for creating a coupon or other like incentive in response to a transaction. A record pertaining to the details of the transaction is examined to determine whether the transaction is intended to trigger the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. The non-existence of a certain detail of the transaction examined will result in creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. Also, the existence of a certain detail of the transaction examined will result in the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border. Transactions that do not trigger the creation of a coupon or other like incentive having a border may result in creation of coupons or other like incentives not having borders or in creation of a transaction receipt not having a border.

Abstract: A method and system for using a frequent shopper card as a phone calling card including (a) issuing a transfer certificate with a predetermined phone time and having a first personal identification number, at a terminal; and (b) adding the predetermined phone time to an account, associated with the frequent shopper card having a second personal identification number, based on the first personal identification number, at a server. The server includes a memory containing a data structure for storing information relating to using the frequent shopper card as a phone calling card. The memory includes fields which store the account information associated with the frequent shopper card, and fields which store the first and second personal identification numbers. A computer program product includes a computer storage medium having a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to allow the frequent shopper card to be used as a phone calling card.

Abstract: A system for generating authorization codes, such as personal identification numbers, at the point of distribution of certificates of value on which the authorization codes are to be printed or otherwise encoded. Because the authorization codes are generated in real time, there is no need to store and safeguard an inventory of preprinted certificates, or even an inventory of activated authorization codes. The principles of the invention apply both to systems for generating incentive award certificates and to systems for generating purchased certificates of value. The incentive awards or certificates of value are tokens of prepayment for a service, such as long-distance telephone service or other service. The authorization codes generated for inclusion with the value certificates are unique and seemingly random. They are generated by taking a non-random unique code, such as a sequence code, and encrypting it to obtain seemingly random, but unique, authorization codes.

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 for generating, in a retail store, a printable discount coupon image solely in response to a customer's action concerning the purchase of an item. The system includes at least one customer checkout terminal, a store controller, a file for storing the terms of at least one coupon deal in which a discount coupon image is generated upon the purchase of a triggering product. The system identifies the triggering product in the customer order, associates it with the coupon deal, and automatically generates data defining at least one discount coupon for a product, typically other than the triggering product, based on the details of the coupon deal, which are not communicated to the customer prior to processing the customer order.

Abstract: A system for creating discount coupons in response to the purchases of products. Improvements disclosed include the printing of a "negative" coupon in response to the failure to purchase a particular product, and the printing of a coupon in response to the purchase of multiple triggering items, either without limitation as to the identification of the items, or with the requirement that the items fall into a predefined trade group. Other features of the invention permit the use of instantly redeemable "coupons," such that an instant discount is applied to a customer bill rather than having a coupon printed, and the logging, without printing, of possible coupon printings for statistical purposes.