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 point-of-sale terminal initiates a transaction and provides a prompt to be spoken to an operator (e.g. a cashier) of the POS terminal. The prompt indicates a verbal message that is to be spoken by the operator. The POS terminal then receives an audio signal via a microphone or similar device to record what the operator has spoken. Using speech recognition, the POS terminal determines whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt, and thus whether the operator spoke the prompt properly. In one embodiment, the transaction is paused until the operator properly speaks the prompt. In another embodiment, the POS terminal stores an indication of whether the operator has properly spoken the prompt, thereby allowing the performance of the operator to be measured.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for generating an image of a license plate and determining license plate characters from the image. Then, a database is searched to determine if there is a customer record that corresponds to the license plate characters. If so, the customer record is retrieved and information about the customer is available. Otherwise, a customer record is created. The created customer record corresponds to the license plate characters and stores transaction data that represents a transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing online a buyer price for a first plurality of products. The buyer price being lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products, the first plurality of products to be picked up during a subsequent transaction at a retailer. Thereafter, a second plurality of products which the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. A penalty may be assessed if the first and second plurality of products do not correspond.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment of the present invention provides for controlling output of an offer at a menu board of a drive-through. An offer is determined and output to a customer at the menu board. If it is determined that the customer has moved away from the menu board, output of the offer is discontinued. In some embodiments, the same or a different offer may be output to the customer at a different station of the drive-through (e.g., a payment or pick-up window).

Abstract: A system is described for facilitating an Internet-based game of chance, particularly a computer-based version of a punchboard game having a grid with prizes associated with the various grid locations. The user can pay a central controller for each selection by providing a credit card number, or through other Internet transaction means. The central controller sends the user a fresh virtual punchboard (i.e. a game in which no selections have yet been made). The user selects a grid location, encrypts it, and then transmits it to the central controller. The central controller then generates prize values for the grid that it sent to the player. The user's computer stores the locations of each prize and determines whether the player's selection was a winner. If he has won, the player sends the decryption key to the central controller to decrypt his grid selection and authenticate his selection. The central controller then initiates a payment to the user.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, it is determined that a particular performance has been achieved by a player of a video game. The video game is being run on a computer. In response to the particular performance, the player is allowed to obtain a product which is not obtainable without achieving certain performance of the video game.

Abstract: A price associated with a menu item is determined automatically based at least in part on revenue management information. A menu display is updated on an electronic display device such as a digital menu board to include the automatically-determined price.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed in which information is received for a transaction. Optionally an amount of change due in the transaction may be calculated. A pool which includes one or more possible supplemental products is determined. An offer for a coupon redeemable for at least one supplemental product from the pool in exchange for the amount of change due in the transaction.

Abstract: Purchasing systems and methods are provided wherein a buyer takes possession of a product at a retailer. A purchasing system may communicate with a buyer through a communication network to establish a first price for a product between the buyer and a seller. The purchasing system may also arrange for the buyer to take possession of the product at a retailer, different from the seller, that offers the product for sale at a second price. Verification information, which enables the retailer to authorize the buyer to take possession of the product, is transmitted to the retailer. The buyer provides a payment, based on the first price, to the purchasing system in exchange for the right to take possession of the product at the retailer. In one embodiment, the purchasing system receives a buyer offer, including an offer price, related to the product. In another embodiment, the purchasing system transmits redemption information, including a redemption code, to the buyer.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining and applying a discount to a customer's transaction. The discount is of a progressive nature, wherein the value of a customer's discount increases if the customer meets the conditions associated with the discount. The system rewards more frequent or profitable customers with benefits such as larger increases in the discount or higher maximum discount than those awarded to less frequent or profitable customers. The discount is decreased or eliminated if the customer fails to meet the conditions associated with the discount.

Abstract: A store controller determines a monetary value, such as an amount of spare change due to a customer, and allocates a portion of a lottery ticket for the customer. The portion is based on the monetary value, and may be, for example, equal to the monetary value, or may be the monetary value rounded to the nearest nickel. The store controller outputs a ticket identifier that identifies the lottery ticket (e.g. a serial number) and a portion identifier that identifies the allocated portion of the lottery ticket (e.g. $0.34 of a $2.00 lottery ticket). Typically, the store controller outputs the identifiers to a POS terminal, which prints a fractional lottery ticket redeemable for a portion of the lottery ticket's prize. The store controller also stores the ticket identifier and the portion identifier, to assure that fraudulent tickets will be detected. After a drawing date of the lottery ticket, the customer redeems the fractional lottery ticket, typically at a POS terminal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method is provided for redeeming a game entry. The method includes steps of determining a wager amount that is associated with a winning game entry, determining a proportional share based on the wager amount, and determining a prize share amount based on the proportional share. The method may further include providing the prize share amount to a holder of the winning game entry. In some alternative embodiments, a prize for a winning game entry may be a non-monetary benefit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises associating a first person with an account, associating a second person with the account, receiving a request to authorize a transaction between the second person and a third party, and enabling communication between the first person and the second person.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining and applying a discount to a customer's transaction. The discount is of a progressive nature, wherein the value of a customer's discount increases if the customer meets the conditions associated with the discount. The system rewards more frequent or profitable customers with benefits such as larger increases in the discount or higher maximum discount than those awarded to less frequent or profitable customers. The discount is decreased or eliminated if the customer fails to meet the conditions associated with the discount.

Abstract: A central controller such as one operating for a credit card account issuer receives one or more billing items which are to be printed on an account holder's billing statement. The central controller determines if the billing items, which typically specify purchases, satisfy any merchant-specified upsell offer conditions. Some upsell offer conditions include the purchase of a predetermined product, or a purchase which exceeds a predefined price. Such upsell offer conditions, when satisfied, direct the central controller to offer an upsell on the billing statement. If any of the upsell offer conditions are satisfied, the central controller determines one or more upsells that correspond to the upsell offer condition. The upsells may be, for example, products complementary to previously-purchased products. The upsells are offered to the account holder by printing onto the billing statement indicia that specifies the upsells.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing and providing offers includes a mechanism that identifies one or more a transaction slots and determines whether to provide one or more offers during those transaction slots. The apparatus further includes a component operable to create such offers and a component for providing such offers to customers. The apparatus further includes a method to optimize the results of such offers over time to maximize system performance.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention a retailer may receive a request from a group of customers for a reward the group desires to earn by making purchases at the retailer. In response to such a request the retailer determines purchasing conditions the group must satisfy in order to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined based on, for example, a value of the reward (e.g., a cost of the reward to the retailer), a number of customers in the group, and/or a time by which the group desires to earn the reward. The purchasing conditions may be determined such that the retailer realizes at least a predetermined profit after the cost of providing the reward is considered. The methods of the present invention may be implemented at an online and/or brick-and-mortar retailer.

Abstract: A point-of-sale terminal initiates a transaction and provides a prompt to be spoken to an operator (e.g. a cashier) of the POS terminal. The prompt indicates a verbal message that is to be spoken by the operator. The POS terminal then receives an audio signal via a microphone or similar device to record what the operator has spoken. Using speech recognition, the POS terminal determines whether the audio signal corresponds to the prompt, and thus whether the operator spoke the prompt properly. In one embodiment, the transaction is paused until the operator properly speaks the prompt. In another embodiment, the POS terminal stores an indication of whether the operator has properly spoken the prompt, thereby allowing the performance of the operator to be measured.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided whereby goods can be purchased from a remote seller such as a catalog marketer, and paid for at a local register, such as that of a local retailer. A point-of-sale system operable by a local seller processes, in a user-friendly manner, purchase codes identifying remote sellers to enable transactions including payments for both local and remotely purchased goods. A processor operable by a remote seller generates data for use by the local seller in receiving and processing a payment for goods purchased from the remote seller. A processor operable by a processing merchant permits the processing merchant to facilitate the remote sales and local payments, reconciling the related transactions occurring at the remote seller and the local seller. Further provided is a process for use by a customer enabling remote purchase of goods with subsequent local payment at a convenient location.