Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for promoting the selection and use of a credit card. Add a feature to a credit card which is intended to attract a consumer's attention and motivate him to consider selecting the credit card. The device includes a sensor which is adapted and configured to sense a predefined physical change. The sensor is in communication with a driver circuit, which is in turn in communication with a transducer. When the sensor detects a predefined physical change, the driver circuit produces at least one driver signal for a predetermined amount of time. The transducer is adapted and configured to emit at least one perceptible output signal in response to receiving the at least one driver signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling credit card use. As described in one aspect of the disclosure, a method is disclosed for facilitating communication between a first person (e.g., an account holder) and a second person (e.g., a user) so that the first person may authorize a transaction between the second person and a third party (e.g., a merchant). The method comprises the steps of linking the first and second persons to a financial account that is used for the transaction, receiving data identifying the financial account and the third party from the third party, inquiring whether the first person desires to communicate with the second person based on the data identifying the financial account, and enabling communication between the first and second persons based on a response to the inquiry from the first person and the data identifying the third party.

Abstract: A method enabling a frequent shopper reward system capable of tracking performance data of a plurality of members or account holders linked to a single frequent shopper account.

Abstract: A dispensing device, such as a vending machine, is equipped to monitor product demand and consumer traffic that passes by the machine. The dispensing device collects and analyzes product demand data to determine optimal product stocking, to offer products to undecided consumers and to offer substitute products when a selected product is out of stock. The substitute product may be determined according to which alternate product historically has the highest demand when a particular selected product is unavailable. Alternatively, the substitute product may be determined according to which stocked item has an imminent expiration date. Also, the substitute product may be predetermined by an operator of a vending machine or may be determined by other factors. The substitute product may further be offered to the customer at a discounted price.

Abstract: An electronic amusement device and method is disclosed for rewarding a player of a game based on the activity of other players. The method includes the step of determining the initiation of a player gaming session in which at least one play has been concluded. Such a play might include the conclusion of the spin of the reels of a slot machine, or the completion of a hand of video poker. The method also includes the step of determining a set of subsequent gaming sessions in which each of these sessions is initiated after the initiation of the player gaming session. Payouts are determined for each of these subsequent gaming sessions and a bonus is determined based on at least one of these payouts, the bonus being applied to the player gaming session. The disclosed slot machine implements the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. In another embodiment, price parameters further incorporate operator selected price parameters. Should the player decide to pay the flat rate price, the player simply deposits the necessary funds into the gaming device or makes a credit account available for the gaming device to debit. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed.

Abstract: A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a POS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases containing data relating to subscriptions sold to customers. The retail subscription system verifies the subscriptions by reference to its own databases and transmits the subscriptions to a fulfillment house for distribution.

Abstract: An electronic gaming device, such as a slot machine, is provided which initiates a game without input from a player. After initiating the game, the device may present one or more active game elements, such as rotating slot reels, to the player. The device determines an outcome of the game corresponding to a final position of the active game elements. The device further provides an interval to the player to make payment before the final outcome of the game is displayed. Payouts to the player are based on the final outcome and whether the player has made payment. Payouts may be increased based on a measurement of the player's participation rate in a series of games and the frequency of the games played, as measured by the device.

Abstract: A vending machine method and apparatus are disclosed for encouraging vending machine customers to review a marketing promotion or to participate in a survey while making a purchase. Customers are immediately rewarded for providing responses about the marketing promotion that was previously presented or their preferences or opinions. The reward may be, for example, a supplementary product, a discount on the customer's current purchase or a subsequent purchase, or a rebate. The vending machine ensures that it contains sufficient currency and products to meet the requirements of all active reward offers. The vending machine ensures that buyers are committed to making a purchase, before offering a reward to a customer. Unscrupulous customers are discouraged from using repeatedly participating in a marketing promotion, merely to collect rewards or influence the results of a survey.

Abstract: A method of operating slot machines permits a machine to be identified as available for team play. Upon being identified for team play, the machine is grouped with other slot machines and subject to bonus conditions dependent on the team play. Bonus conditions typically including selected bonus outcomes and a bonus time period, during which bonus time period all outcomes of the grouped machines are monitored to determine the total bonus outcomes. If the total bonus outcomes of the team meet the bonus conditions within the bonus time period, then a bonus payout is awarded to all of the players. Players are thus encouraged to participate in a social, team environment with others of the team to win the group bonus. The invention is applicable to all slot machines, including video poker machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected video poker hand ranks, and reeled slot machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected reel outcomes.

Abstract: The call handling system incorporating the invention is directed at: queuing a call when no agent is available to service the call; giving the caller an option to monitor (but not participate in) other caller conversations with similar queries, or to listen to recorded calls involving similar queries; querying a database using collected initial information as a search key(s) to retrieve a similar call currently being serviced or a recorded call; and connecting the caller to a communication channel to allow the monitoring of a call while not losing place in the queue for a next available agent. In a further embodiment of the invention, the caller is given a further option to enter a “chat room” where callers having like problems can converse until an agent becomes available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing data from remote monitoring equipment, such as patient telemetry devices, and determining (i) whether an anomalous event has occurred, (ii) if an anomalous event has occurred, whether a physician should be contacted, and (iii) if a physician should be contacted, selecting the physician to contact. Further, the system operates in parallel, in that a plurality of experts (e.g., physicians) may be contacted in response to a single or multiple anomalous events, thus ensuring an efficient response to an anomalous event.

Abstract: A system for entertaining a caller placed in a queue of a call center is disclosed that allows the caller to access a plurality of entertainment options while on hold. The entertainment options permit the caller to (i) place a call to a third party while on hold; or (ii) access one or more premium entertainment services while on hold. A PBX/ACD receives the calls destined for the call center, and queues the calls when an appropriate attendant is not available. An IVRU prompts a caller for specific information and forwards the collected information to the PBX/ACD. The IVRU provides the caller with a menu of available entertainment options which can be accessed by the caller while the caller is on hold. The PBX/ACD establishes a connection between the caller and the selected entertainment service. The call is then transferred to an available attendant with any data that may be required to process the call.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for registering a subscription to purchase a plurality of items dispensed by a vending machine. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing an item by a vending machine in response to a request to redeem at least a portion of a registered subscription. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing an item by a vending machine based on an estimated availability determined through an analysis of stored subscription data.

Abstract: An automated kitchen apparatus determines a time until expiration of a food product. In one embodiment, the kitchen apparatus determines the time until expiration by receiving a start signal indicating that a food product is available to sell. Such a start signal may be generated by a timer on a warming bin that is initiated when a food product is placed in the warming bin. By measuring the elapsed time since the start signal was received, the time until expiration is determined. Based on the time until expiration, the automated kitchen apparatus sets the minimum price of that food product. Customers at a POS terminal may then purchase the aged food product for the minimum price. In one embodiment, an offer describing the food product and its minimum price is displayed on the POS terminal. In another embodiment, the customer is offered the food product for his change due, if that change due is not less than the minimum price.

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.

Abstract: A slot machine networked to a central server receives preference data corresponding to a player from the central server and configures the game to match the received preference data. The player inserts his player tracking card into the slot machine, which transmits player identification data to the central server. The central server transmits player preference data and casino preference data for that player to the slot machine for configuration. While the player plays the slot machine, the slot machine transmits data about the player's performance to the central server. The central server determines appropriate casino preference values based upon the player's performance and transmits those values to the slot machine for configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for acquiring a physical measurement, and for creating a cryptographic certification of that measurement, such that its value and time can be verified by a party that was not necessarily present at the measurement. The certified measurement may also include corroborative information for associating the actual physical measurement process with the certified measurement. Such corroborative information may reflect the internal or external state of the measurement certification device, as well as witness identifiers of any persons that may have been present at the measurement acquisition and certification. The certification may include a signal receiver to receive timing signals from a satellite or other external source. The external timing signals may be used to generate the time included in the certified measurement, or could be used to determine the location of the measurement certification device for inclusion in the certified measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for acquiring a physical measurement, and for creating a cryptographic certification of that measurement, such that its value and time can be verified by a party that was not necessarily present at the measurement. The certified measurement may also include corroborative information for associating the actual physical measurement process with the certified measurement. Such corroborative information may reflect the internal or external state of the measurement certification device, as well as witness identifiers of any persons that may have been present at the measurement acquisition and certification. The certification may include a signal receiver to receive timing signals from a satellite or other external source. The external timing signals may be used to generate the time included in the certified measurement, or could be used to determine the location of the measurement certification device for inclusion in the certified measurement.

Abstract: A bank device communicates with an account holder device, such as a telephone or computer operated by the account holder. The bank device receives therefrom check data that includes an account identifier, a check identifier, and an amount of funds. The account identifier indicates a financial account and the check identifier indicates a check drawn on the financial account. The amount of funds represents an amount to reserve for payment with the check. The bank device in turn makes the amount of funds unavailable for use in the financial account so the account holder may not withdraw or otherwise remove the amount of funds. The bank device generates a code that indicates the check, and transmits the code to the account holder device. Subsequently, a payee, such as a merchant presented with the specified check, may verify that the check does indeed have an amount of funds reserved for payment therewith.