United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,825,045
`
`Humble
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Apr. 25, 1989
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHECKOUT
`COUNTER PRODUCI‘ PROMOTION
`
`Inventor:
`
`David R. Humble, Deerfield Beach,
`Fla.
`
`[73]
`
`Assignee:
`
`Advance Promotion Technologies,
`Inc., Deerfield Beach, Fla.
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Appl. No.: 889,801
`
`Jul. 24, 1986
`Filed:
`Int. Cl.4 ............................................. G06K 15/00
`US. Cl. .................................... 235/383; 235/487;
`235/432; 364/405
`Field of Search ............... 235/375, 383, 462, 432,
`235/385, 381, 382, 494, 487, 493; 364/400, 401,
`405, 478, 479
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,419,573 12/1983 von Geldern ................... 235/385 x
`...... 235/487
`4,554,446 11/1935 Murphy an.
`
`4/1987 Kachi et 31. ............. 235/493
`4,658,125
`
`6/1987 Lemon et a1. ....................... 235/381
`4,674,041
`
`Primary Examiner—Roy N. Envall, Jr.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Robin, Blecker & Daley
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An expanded display unit for communication with a
`customer in a supermarket checkout facility is furnished
`with information from a system responsive to UPC
`signals provided by a scanner. Such system discerns
`selected products selected for purchase from such UPC
`signals, such products being those in connection with
`which a promotional plan has been preestablished, ei-
`ther for such products Or other products. The system
`then provides information implementing the promo‘
`tional plan to the display unit, which may be customer-
`interactive for the dispensing of coupons or the like.
`
`3,959,624 5/1976 Kaslow ............................... 235/487
`
`6 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`36
`32
`
`
`UPC
`UPC
`
`
`
`
`FURCHASE
`“33:33:“
`DATA
`
`PROMOTIONAL
` STORE
`
`
`BUFFER
`PLAN MONITOR
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CHECKOUT
`COUNTER
`
`
`
`Zynga Exhibit 1009
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 25, 1989
`
`Sheet 1 0f2
`
`4,825,045
`
`J<Zo:OEOmm
`
`mmOhw
`
`mo<mmm2
`
`0&3
`
`mw<Iomam
`
`4<ZOFO§O¢¢
`
`
`
`mobzozZ<Jm
`
`om:
`
`<P<o
`
`mmmmam
`
`
`
`\65K
`
`w
`
`hDOxOMIU
`
`KMPZDOU
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 25, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 0f 2
`
`4,825,045
`
`.a=>mozmz
`
`mmmmoo<
`
`mOh<m<¢§Oo
`
`Om
`
`
`
`:m:>mozm2
`
`mmumoo<
`
`m0h<m<m200
`
`Om
`
`mmumoo<
`
`
`
`=0:>mozmz
`
`:2:>202u2
`
`mmmmoo<
`
`m0h<m<m200
`
`Pllmmml.wwwmm__
`
` _r.i!.InLcow.
`
`N01114wv“=n._
`
`._
`
`N“3K
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`4,825,045
`
`1
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHECKOUT
`COUNTER PRODUCT PROMOTION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to product merchan-
`dizing and pertains more particularly to systems and
`methods for the promotion of products at a checkout
`counter.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Checkout systems in widespread use in supermarkets
`presently include a so.called “P.O.S” unit which in-
`cludes a display window for communicating to the
`customer the identification of an article being checked
`out by a checker and the price of the article. Typically,
`the checker passes the article over a universal product
`code (UPC) scanner. The UPC is thus read and a digital
`signal indicative of the code is furnished to a computer
`whose memory includes such identification and price
`data in storage in address correspondence with the code
`signal.
`In such known systems, various other use is made of
`the UPC derived computer information. One is price
`totalization and preparation of a complete record of the
`customer’s purchases. Another is inventory control,
`wherein the computer decrements existing inventory in
`accordance with each UPC reading.
`While such computer-assistance greatly enhances
`checkout, applicant is of the view that presently known
`systems and practices such as described fall far short of
`the needs of the marketplace. In particular, the commu-
`nication with the customer is minimal, being limited to
`the simple window P.O.S. display and the checkout
`record. Clearly, the prior efforts do not address desired
`promotional activity.
`
`‘ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention has as its primary object the
`provision of improved product checkout systems and
`methods.
`A more particular object of the invention is to pro-
`vide enhanced computer-assisted product checkout and
`promotion in supermarkets and like facilities.
`In attaining these and other objects, the invention
`provides an expanded display unit for communication
`with a customer in lieu of the ROS. unit. The display
`unit is furnished with information from a system respon-
`sive to UPC signals provided by a scanner. Such system
`discerns selected products selected for purchase from
`such UPC signals, such products being those in connec-
`tion with which a promotional plan has been preestab-
`lished, either for such products or other products. The
`system then provides information implementing the
`promotional plan to the display unit, which may be
`customer-interactive for the dispensing of coupons or
`the like.
`
`In preferred configuration, the system and method of
`the invention includes a plurality of first circuit means
`each for storage of the UPC information corresponding
`to a given different product. A plurality of comparators
`are provided, each receiving the output of a distinct one
`of the first circuit means and all commonly receiving
`the output of the product scanner indicative of the arti‘
`cle selected for purchase and then being UPC-scanned.
`Each comparator provides an output signal upon corre-
`spondence between the input signals thereto, such out-
`put being indicative of a customer purchasing event of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`3O
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`6O
`
`65
`
`2
`interest in connection with the preestablished promo-
`tional plan. The comparator output signals are em-
`ployed to derive a promotional message from suitable
`storage and convey same to the display unit.
`The foregoing and other features of the invention will
`be further understood from the following detailed de-
`scription of preferred embodiments and practices and
`from the drawings wherein like reference numerals
`identify like components and parts throughout.
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, checkout counter 10 includes the
`customary UPC scan unit 12, whose output signals are
`conveyed over line 14 to UPC data store 16. Store 16 is
`of known configuration in widespread use, being a com-
`puter‘implemented look-up table having product de-
`scription and price correlated with product UPC. In
`known checkout systems, this information is furnished
`by lines 18 and 20 to P.O.S. unit 22, line 20 and unit 22
`being shown in phantom, since they need not be em-
`ployed in practice under the invention herein.
`Line 18 furnishes the output of store 16 to UPC data
`buffer 24, which may apply description and price to
`promotional display unit 26 over line 28. The output of
`scan unit 12 is further furnished over line 30 to UPC
`
`purchase/promotional plan monitor 32, which is preset-
`table, in connection with the promotional plan to be
`implemented, to have certain UPC signals therein in
`memory.
`Comparison is effected in monitor 32 as between the
`UPC of the actual product purchased by the customer
`and then being scanned by the checker and the plurality
`of UPCs placed in the memory of monitor 32. Upon
`positive comparison determination, monitor 32 acti-
`vates the corresponding one of its output lines 34, which
`are connected as inputs to promotional message store
`36.
`Store 36, which may be configured as a video disk
`memory, contains product promotional messages se-
`lected to have merchandizing relationship with the
`products whose UPCs are contained in monitor 32.
`Upon activation of lines 34, store 36 furnishes promo-
`tional messages to output line 38 which conveys same to
`promotional display unit 26 for presentation to the cus-
`tomer.
`
`Display unit 26 may be a video (CRT) device and
`may include a customer-interactive screen. A coupon
`dispenser (not shown) may be associated with unit 26
`and operative responsively to customer screen interac-
`tion.
`By way of example of a promotional plan with which
`the system of FIG. 1 may be used, the invention con-
`templates various measures of promotion, such as the
`display of a graphic message relating to the product
`acutally selected for purchase, the display of offers of
`discount for future purchase of the product actually
`selected for purchase, the display of offers of discount
`for present or future purchase of products other than
`the product actually selected for purchase, the display
`of offers of general discount coupons for products,
`offers of a credit to the account of the customer, etc., all
`for the presentation through display unit 26 upon such
`discernment of the corresponding UPC code.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, monitor 32 includes com‘
`parators 40, 42, 44 and 46. Each comparator has a com-
`mon input from scan unit 12, delivered over line 30 and
`
`

`

`4,825,045
`
`3
`lines 300, 30b, 30c and 30n. Buffers 48, 50, 52 and 54 are
`associated individually with the comparators providing
`inputs thereto over lines 56, 58, 60 and 62, indicative of
`UFOs A, B, C and N.
`Comparators 40 through 46 are connected individu-
`ally to memory location addresses 64, 66, 68 and 70 in
`promotional message store 36 over lines 34a, 34b, 34c,
`and 34d. Output lines 380, 38b, 38c and 38d are con-
`nected in common to line 38 for conveyance of stored
`messages to the promotional display of FIG. 1.
`A plurality of comparators may be connected in com-
`mon to each of the input lines to store 36 of FIG. 2, each
`such comparator having input thereto of a different
`UPC of various different brands of a common type of
`product.
`In a more specific example of a promotional plan
`implemented by the invention, assume that the cus‘
`tomer has selected Brand X pea soup and that product
`is part of the promotional plan. The UPC for this prod-
`uct is pre-entered in the system UPC monitor and com-
`parison is made of it and the scanned UPC. The result
`will be positive and the memory may first provide on
`display 26 an advertisement in the form of a computer
`generated graphic message or a repeat of a network
`type advertising message generated from a video disk.
`The customer might be rewarded with a coupon upon
`touching such as the item price, also displayed, or by
`contact with any preselected portion of the display
`screen. Alternatively, the memory might display pro-
`motional information respecting another Brand X soup
`type, or other product. Depending upon the purchase
`volume of the Brand X pea soup,
`the promotional
`scheme might offer the consumer a free purchase
`thereof.
`
`As will be seen from the foregoing, the invention
`provides a system for the checkout of products bearing
`sensible codes indicative thereof and for the promotion
`of products. The system comprises a sensing unit in its
`scanner for generating output signals indicative of such
`codes. First circuitry is operative for receiving the sens-
`ing unit output signals and for generating output signals
`selectively upon correspondence of the code indication
`in such received signals and the code indications of
`preselected of such products. Second circuitry is opera-
`tive for receiving the first circuitry output signals, for
`storage of promotional messages relating to products,
`and for generation of output signals indicative of the
`promotional messages selectively in response to the first
`circuitry output signals. A display unit is provided for
`receipt of the second circuitry output signals and for
`presentation of the promotional messages therein.
`In its method for the checkout of products bearing
`sensible codes indicative and for the promotion of re-
`lated products, the invention provides the steps of stor-
`ing codes indicative of preselected of the products for
`use in such promotion, storing for display promotional
`messages concerning products, detecting sensible codes
`of purchased products, comparing such detected codes
`of purchased products with such stored codes, and
`displaying the stored promotional messages selectively
`in accordance with the results of such comparison.
`Various changes to the foregoing embodiments and
`modifications of the described practices may be intro‘
`duced without departing from the invention. Thus, the
`particularly depicted embodiments and discussed meth-
`
`4
`ods are intended in an illustrative and not in a limiting
`sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention is set
`forth in the following claims.
`.
`I claim:
`l. A system for the checkout of products bearing
`sensible codes indicative thereof and for the promotion
`of products responsively to customer decisions, said
`system comprising:
`(a) sensing means for generating output signals indic-
`ative of such codes;
`(b) first circuit means for receiving said sensing means
`output signals and for generating output signals
`selectively upon correspondence of the code indi-
`cation in such received signals and the code indica-
`tions of preselected of such products;
`(0) second circuit means for receiving said first circuit
`means output signals, for storage of promotional
`messages relating to said products, and for genera-
`tion of output signals indicative of said promotional
`messages selectively in response to said first circuit
`means output signals; and
`(d) display means for receipt of said second circuit
`means output and for presentation of the promo-
`tional messages therein, said display means having
`adaptiveness to customer input to permit system
`receipt of customer input responsively related to
`such presented promotional message.
`2. The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said first
`circuit means comprises a plurality of buffers, each
`containing signals indicative of the code indication for a
`distinct one of said preselected products.
`3. The invention claimed in claim 2 wherein said first
`
`circuit means further comprises a plurality of compara-
`tors, each receiving said sensing means output signals
`and connected individually to one of said buffers for
`receipt of the signal content thereof.
`4. The invention claimed in claim 3 wherein said
`second circuit means comprises a plurality of storage
`units, each containing a promotional message concern-
`ing a distinct one of said products.
`5. The invention claimed in claim 4 wherein each
`such second circuit means storage unit is connected to a
`distinct one of said comparators and is further con-
`nected to said display means to furnish its contents
`thereto.
`
`6. A method for the checkout of products bearing
`sensible codes indicative thereof and for the promotion
`of related products responsively to customer decisions,
`said method comprising the steps of:
`(a) storing codes indicative of preselected of said
`products for use in such promotion;
`(b) storing for display promotional messages concern-
`ing said products;
`(0) detecting sensible codes of purchased products;
`(d) comparing such detected codes of purchased
`products with such stored codes;
`(e) displaying such stored promotional messages se-
`lectively in accordance with the results of such
`comparison; and
`(f) selectively effecting promotion of products indi-
`cated in said promotional messages responsively to
`customer decision following such display of pro-
`motional messages.
`it
`t
`t
`*
`t
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`