United States Patent
`Scroggie et al.
`
`[19]
`
`US005970469A
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`[11]
`[45]
`
`5,970,469
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING
`SHOPPING AIDS AND INCENTIVES TO
`CUSTOMERS THROUGH A COMPUTER
`NETWORK
`
`[75] Inventors: Michael C. Scroggie, Laguna Niguel;
`Michael E. Kacaba, Santa Monica,
`both of Calif; David A. R0ch0n,
`Darien, Conn.; David M. Diamond,
`PaWling, NY.
`
`[73] Assignee: SuperMarkets Online, Inc.,
`Greenwich, Conn.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/622,685
`[22]
`Filed:
`Mar. 26, 1996
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/009,244, Dec. 26, 1995.
`
`[60]
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 .................................................... .. G06F 17/60
`[52] US. Cl. .................................................... .. 705/14; 1/10
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 705/14, 1, 10
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,426,326
`3,737,631
`
`2/1969 Goldstein .
`6/1973 Harris .................................... .. 235/383
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0 512 509 A2 11/1992 European Pat. Off .
`WO93/15466 8/1993 WIPO ........................... .. G06F 15/22
`WO95/16971 6/1995 WIPO ......................... .. G06F 157/00
`WO 97/23838 7/1997 WIPO .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`In this Computer Age, Who Needs Coupons‘), The NeW York
`Times, Jun. 15, 1989. Date is assumed based on date beloW
`the Space Shuttel picture.
`Cruising for Food Savings on Internet, San Diego Union—
`Tribune, p. C1, Apr. 20, 1996.
`
`Primary Examiner—Emanuel Todd VoeltZ
`Assistant Examiner—Raquel Alvarez
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier & Neustadt, PC.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for delivering purchasing incentives
`and a variety of other retail shopping aids through a com
`puter network, such as by E-mail over the Internet or the
`World Wide Web. Customers (10) of retail stores can estab
`lish 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 genera
`tor (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 infor
`mation delivered, only minimal customer identi?cation is
`required. For purchase incentives redeemable at retail stores,
`the customer must provide identi?cation information and
`must also designate a retailer (12) at Which the purchasing
`incentive can be exercised. For receipt of focused incentives
`based the customer’s past shopping behavior, the customer
`must also supply a unique customer id., such as a check
`cashing card number or credit card number, used for in-store
`purchases. For delivery of a product sample, the customer’s
`name and address must be supplied. The system merges this
`customer-supplied information (270) With other purchase
`incentive data (272) and creates a printable graphical image
`of the purchasing incentive (282) for transmission to the
`customer. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the
`purchase incentive is not transmitted directly to the cus
`tomer. Instead, the terms of the incentive are transmitted
`electronically to the retail store (310) designated by the
`customer, Who receives either a token (316) to present at the
`store or an advisory message. In yet another embodiment of
`the invention, incentives may be targeted to speci?c con
`sumers based on a consumer purchase history (502), and
`transmitted to consumers’ computers (510) using electronic
`mail addresses stored in a consumer database (506).
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`3 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`‘I46
`
`14s
`
`VIEW
`SUPERMARKET <4
`SPECIALS
`
`VIEW REcIPE
`CENTER
`
`A
`
`150
`\ VIEW
`SHOPPING LIST %
`MAKER
`
`152
`
`158
`SEND TO
`FULFILLMENT
`HOUSE
`
`144
`
`PROCEED To
`MAIN MENU *
`
`VIEW
`PRIOR/NEXT k
`OFFER
`
`CREATE 154
`RT
`REPO
`
`SELECT SAMPLE
`OR MAILED INFO
`
`‘I56
`
`7* SWEEPSTAKES
`
`ENTER OFFER J40
`BROWSER
`FROM MAIN
`MENu oFFER
`INDEX
`
`I42
`(
`
`INDIVIDUAL
`* OFFER PAGE
`
`I
`
`6‘
`I f4
`
`HELP
`
`17,,
`
`sELEcT
`AUD'O
`
`172
`
`LINK TO
`REBATE
`
`168
`
`LINKTO
`INFO
`DISPLAYED
`
`L160
`
`77> LINK To
`RECIPE
`
`182
`
`LINK To
`QUESTION»
`NAIRE
`
`150
`SEND AUDIO
`FILE To
`I
`CONSUMER
`
`174
`CREATE
`HTML WITH
`I CONSUMER
`INFO
`
`170
`K
`
`SEND HTML
`
`CONSUMER
`
`I152
`
`17s
`
`SEND HTML
`
`CONSUMER
`
`164
`/
`
`CREATE
`RECIPE PAGE a SENDSTML
`' W'Tggfgg,“
`CONSUMER
`I
`'
`
`166
`
`183
`
`LINK To
`ORDER
`OFFER
`
`QQSJIDIEDDINE
`TO SESSION
`RECORD
`
`ADD COUPON
`T0 SESSION
`RECORD
`
`14%
`M7 WIT/@I
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 1
`
`

`

`5,970,469
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,770,941 11/1973 Gechele et al. ....................... .. 235/383
`3,771,132 11/1973 BieWer ..... ..
`710/61
`lé?ilsdesh'l'
`4,554,446 11/1985 Murphy 6161.
`4,787,037 11/1988 ootsuka _______ __
`4,843,546
`6/1989 Yoshida er a1,
`4,882,675 11/1989 Nichtberger et al
`
`. 235/487
`705/21
`705/20
`705/14
`
`4,887,208 12/1989 Schneider et al. 4,949,256 8/1990 Hurnble ................................... .. 705/14
`
`
`4,972,504 11/1990 Daniel, Jr. et al. ..................... .. 705/10
`5,056,019 10/1991 Schultz et al.
`705/14
`5,060,185 10/1991 Naito et al.
`. 707/202
`571197294
`6/1992 Tanaka
`705/10
`571287861
`7/1992 Kagami et aL
`7O5/1O
`5,168,445 12/1992 Kawashima 6161
`.. 705/10
`5,237,496
`8/1993 Kagami et al. ......................... .. 705/10
`5,245,533
`9/1993 Marshall ................................. .. 705/10
`5,249,044
`9/1993 Von Kohorn ..
`348/12
`572567863 10/1993 Ferguson et a1~
`380/24
`3212:: "" "
`70508
`4/1994 Lobiondo et a1
`573057199
`5/1994 Stewart ................................. .. 235/381
`5,315,093
`7/1994 Lu et al. ................................. .. 705/10
`5,331,544
`8/1994 Berkovsky et a1_
`705/22
`5’337’253
`9/1994 Filepp et al. .... ..
`. 709/202
`5,347,632
`5,353,218 10/1994 De Lapa et al.
`705/14
`5,367,452 11/1994 Gallery et al- -
`705/28
`573777095 12/1994 Mae/d?“ al- ~~
`705/10
`5,380,991
`1/1995 Valencia et al. ...................... .. 235/383
`:Vue 21:31‘; ital: """"""""""""""""""
`4/1995 Kouchi et al. ............................ .. 705/8
`5,406,475
`5,459,306 10/1995 Stein et al. ............................ .. 235/383
`5,483,049
`1/1996 SchulZe, Jr.
`705/14
`5,687,322 11/1997 Demon er a1, _
`705/14
`5,761,648
`6/1998 Golden et al. .
`.. 705/14
`
`5,822,735 10/1998 De Lapa et al. ........................ .. 705/14
`5,848,396 12/1998 Gerace .................................... .. 705/10
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Click Here for Coupons, Laurie Peterson, Direct, p. 45, Jun.
`1> 1996-
`_
`_
`PNC Bank Announces Internet Site, Plans Cornprehensive
`Service Expansion, Business Wire, Jun. 13, 1996.
`2nd Net Bank Opens for Business, John Fontana, Commu
`
`.
`
`46, NOV_ 4, nicationsweek, Intell1Quest and coolsavings Offer Innovative Online Cus_
`
`
`tomer Relationship Management Program for Technology
`Vendors, Business Wire, Sep' 30, 1998'
`.
`.
`.
`Intell1Quest Looks for Interaction With Loyalty, Web Traffics
`Programs, Electronic Advertising & Marketplace Report,
`Oct 20, 1998
`Catalina Marketing Corporation News Letter: Catalina Mar
`keting Online Launch to Include More than 1.600 California
`Stores, Feb 11, 1996_
`Catalina Marketing Corporation NeWs Letter: San Jose
`Consurners Can NoW Plan Superrnarket Shopping in Cyber
`ipace—New Internet Service Saves Shoppers Time and
`°ney—APr- 19> 1,996
`_
`SuperMarkets Onhne? Internet Coupon Secumy Break
`through Rernoves Major Ostacle to On—line Packaged
`Goods Advertising Aug. 5, 1997.
`SuperMarkets Online: Internet and Food Industries Ernbrace
`Secure Online Coupon Format, Dec. 1, 1997.
`Interactive Cable Systern Receives Strong Response, Direct
`Marketing, pp 9_10, Dec‘ 1992
`Article. by Carlene A. Thissen. Clearing Up Questions in
`Coupon Cleanng' (Source and date unkown)
`Kelly Shermafh Electronic Coupon Program Offers data—base
`Potential, Marketing News, PP- 1—3, 59P- 1995
`USA: Sled Internet Directory Distributes Electronic Cou
`pons, Pr NeWsWire, May 1984.
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
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`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 3
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.19,1999
`
`Sheet 2 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`GO TO
`REQUEST FOR
`80A LOG-IN PAGE —_’ HELP
`
`84)
`
`Y
`
`SEND E-MAIL
`To SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR
`
`COMPLETE
`FORM AND
`PRESS SUBMIT
`KEY
`
`\ 86
`
`82
`
`90
`
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`
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`
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`THE MAIN
`MENU
`
`F I G . 2
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19,1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`REGISTRATION
`PASSES ZIP
`CODE OF \AQQ
`CONSUMER
`
`102
`
`YES
`
`ADDRESS?
`
`/104
`
`SEND "BAD ZIP
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`
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`
`RETURN TO A
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`110
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`
`H6. 3
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19,1999
`
`Sheet 4 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`ENTER MAIN
`MENU/OFFER INDEx V120
`FROM LOGIN
`(BEGIN SESSION)
`
`MAIN
`MENU/INDEX V122
`HTML PAGE
`
`K138
`
`PROCEED
`TO OFFER
`BROWSER
`
`/134
`
`//124
`
`SELECT
`SELECT OFFER
`FROM OFFER <___> RECIPE
`INDEX
`CENTER
`
`[132
`SELECT
`SHOPPING LIST
`MAKER
`
`[13a
`SELEEITSE'NAL
`
`/13o
`
`/12e
`
`SELECT
`SELECT E-MAIL
`TO SYSTEM <___—> SUPERMARKET
`ADMINISTRATOR
`SPECIALS
`
`FIG_ 4
`
`K128
`SELECT HELP
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.19,1999
`
`Sheet 5 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`mwPZmO
`
`m3.
`
`w:
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19,1999
`
`Sheet 6 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`ENTER
`SUPERMARKET
`SPECIAL
`DIRECTORY
`PAGE
`
`V184
`
`192
`/
`
`VIEW RECIPE
`CENTER
`(TOOLBAR)
`
`194
`VIEW J
`SHOPPING LIST
`MAKER
`(TOOLBAR)
`
`196
`
`PROCEED TO /
`MAIN MENU
`(TOOLBAR)
`
`198
`
`PROCEED TO /
`FINAL LIST
`(TOOLBAR)
`
`185
`/
`
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`SUPERMARKET
`PAGE
`
`186
`/
`
`sELECT ITEMS
`
`188
`/'
`
`ADD ITEM TO
`SESSION
`RECORD
`
`190
`K
`
`/199
`
`RETURN TO
`MAIN MENU
`
`PROCEED TO
`OFFER INDEX
`
`FIG. 6
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 8
`
`

`

`U°S° Patent
`
`Oct- 19, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`[200
`
`ENTER RECIPE
`———————> CENTER FROM
`MAIN MENU
`
`/'202
`
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`REClPE
`
`‘
`
`PAGE l
`
`K204
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`
`K206
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`INFO. TO
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`RECORD
`
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`
`208 /
`
`MAIN MENU
`
`FIG.
`
`210
`K
`VIEW
`SUPERMARKET
`SPECIALS
`(TOOLBAR)
`
`K212
`
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`FINAL LIST
`
`214
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`SHOPPING LIST
`MAKER
`TOOLB
`AR)
`(
`
`/-216
`PROCEED TO
`MAIN MENU
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`ENTER THE
`CREATE
`SHOPPING LIST
`MAIN MENU
`
`\,220
`
`I /
`
`222
`
`SELECT
`DEPARTMENT
`
`224
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`
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`ITEMS FROM
`DEPARTMENT
`
`I /'
`
`226
`
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`CHOICES TO
`SESSION
`RECORD
`
`I /
`
`228
`
`RETURN TO
`MAIN MENU
`
`FIG. 8
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`REQUEST FOR
`REGISTRATION
`PAGE
`
`GO TO
`HELP
`
`K84
`
`SEND E-MAIL
`TO SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR
`
`COMPLETE
`FORM AND
`PRESS SUBMIT
`KEY
`
`86
`
`82
`
`90
`
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`
`92
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`CONSUMER
`INFORMATION
`
`236
`
`PROCEED
`TO FINAL
`LIST
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19,1999
`
`Sheet 10 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`p250
`ENTER THE FINAL
`SHOPPING LIST
`FROM
`REGISTRATION
`
`/252
`
`4
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`
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`SESSION
`RECORD
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`-SHOPPING LIST
`-REC|PE INGREDIENTS
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`TIE-INS
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`
`K256
`
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`
`K260
`
`K262
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`(LINK TO
`OTHER
`SAVINGS)
`
`DISPLAY
`"THANK YOU"
`AND END
`SESSION
`
`FIG. 10
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`Sheet 11 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
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`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 13
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 13
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`Sheet 12 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`CONSUMER INPUT:
`
`—CONSUMER NAME
`—COUPON SELECTION
`—SUPERMARKET SELECTION
`
`270
`
`SYSTEM INPUT:
`
`—CONSUMER HOUSEHOLD ID.
`—COUPON EXPIRATION DATE
`—SYSTEM LOGO
`—PRODUCT IMAGE
`—SAVINGS AMOUNT IMAGE
`—TERMS OF OFFER
`-LEGAL TEXT
`—REDEMPTION TEXT
`—COUPON SEQUENCE NUMBER
`—BAR CODE NUMBERS
`—COUPON AND BORDER SIZES
`
`FIG. 12
`
`272 J
`
`;___
`
`CREAI E BACKGROUND:
`CREATE CANVAS; EVALUATE COMPONENTS;
`CHOOSE BACKGROUND;
`APPLY BACKGROUND TO CANVAS
`
`274
`
`CREATE BQRDER:
`USE THE BORDER PARAMETERS TO
`OUTLINE THE BACKGROUND WITH A
`BORDER. PARAMETERS SET WIDTH AND
`COLOR.
`
`\/276
`
`PLACE IMAGES QN BACKGROUND:
`TAKE EACH IMAGE AS INPUT AND PUT IT ON
`THE BACKGROUND USING THE LOCATION
`PARAMETERS PROVIDED IN THE HTML
`
`PLACE TEXT QN BACKGROUND:
`TAKE EACH TEXT FIELD AS INPUT AND LAY
`IT ON THE BACKGROUND USING THE
`LOCATION PARAMETERS PROVIDED IN THE
`HTML. USE INTERNAL FONTS TO INTERPRET
`INPUT.
`
`278
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`280
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`OUTPUT:
`FINAL COUPN IMAGE. ALL IMAGE AND TEXT
`FIELDS ARE ADDED TO BACKGROUND.
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`282
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.19,1999
`
`Sheet 13 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`304
`
`INTERNET
`
`[300
`suPERMARKETs
`oNI_INE
`|NCENT|VE
`DISTRIBUTION
`SERVER
`
`306
`
`ADS. AND
`PROMOTIONS
`
`302x
`
`316
`
`USER PC
`
`TOKEN
`
`* — T
`
`K310
`IN-STORE
`
`SERVER
`OR KIOSK
`
`K312
`P08
`
`308
`I
`'P J-g
`
`CHECKOUT ._ i _ * USER I
`SCANNER
`L _ _ _:
`
`I
`
`HS 1 3
`-
`
`l
`
`‘(314
`
`|_ _ _
`
`|PROMOTIONS |
`GIVEN OR
`l DISCOUNTS |
`GIVEN
`|
`|
`I____J
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.19,1999
`
`Sheet 14 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`CONSUMER
`400
`PURCHASES ITEMS
`DURING STORE V
`VISITS
`
`CONSUMER USES
`402
`CHECK CASHING OR
`OTHER ID IN PAYING V
`FOR PURCHASES
`
`[410
`
`CONSUMER LOGS IN
`To ONIINE SYSTEM
`
`/412
`
`CONSUMER SUPPLIES
`ID. WHILE ON-LINE
`
`K414
`ON-LINE SYSTEM
`GENERATES FOCUSED
`
`P P P P if T INCENTIVE BASED ON
`
`PURCHASING HISTORY
`
`K404
`
`IN-STORE COMPUTER
`GATHERS PURCHASE
`HISTORY FOR
`SELECTED ITEMS
`
`K406
`Y TEM
`ADM?N§TRATOR
`
`MAINTAINS DATABASE ____ A A.
`OF CUSTOMER
`PURCHASE HISTORIES
`
`F I G ' 14
`
`(416
`
`ON-LINE SYSTEM
`NOTIFIES CONSUMER
`AND STORE OF
`INCENTIVE OR
`TRANSMITS COUPON
`
`TO CONSUMER
`
`K408
`
`CONSUMER MAKES
`PURCHASE IN STORE
`AND RECEIVES VALUE
`FOR THE INCENTIVE
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 19,1999
`
`Sheet 15 0f 15
`
`5,970,469
`
`RETAIL
`STORES \_/5O0
`
`/l\ 502
`\_/J
`V 518
`V MANUFACTURERS LJ
`CONSUMER
`PURCHASE
`HISTORY
`\_/
`504
`/
`TARGETED
`PURCHASE
`INCENTIVES
`
`[520
`
`WEEKLY
`OFFERS
`
`f 512
`CONSUMER
`E-MAIL
`ADDRESS
`LISTS
`
`Fgmf
`MESSAGE To
`CONSUMER
`
`\ 514
`
`CONSUMER
`DATABASE
`
`K516
`
`CONSUMER
`
`OFFICE
`
`K508
`SYSTEM
`ADMINISTRATOR'S
`ONLINE WEB SITE
`
`CONSUMER
`REGISTRATION
`INFORMATION
`
`CONSUMER'S
`
`DELIVERY OF
`PURCHASE INCENTIVES
`BY EMAIL
`
`510
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 17
`
`

`

`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING
`SHOPPING AIDS AND INCENTIVES TO
`CUSTOMERS THROUGH A COMPUTER
`NETWORK
`
`This application claims bene?t of provisional application
`60/009,244, ?led Dec. 26, 1995.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates generally to systems for providing
`incentives to customers to shop in retail stores and, more
`particularly, to systems for delivering customer incentives
`and other shopping aids via a computer netWork. Various
`approaches have been Widely used to deliver purchasing
`incentives, usually in the form of printed discount coupons,
`to customers of retail stores. Coupons have been distributed
`to customers by mail, either in a random manner or in a more
`demographically focused manner. Coupons have also been
`delivered to customers in retail stores, either from kiosks or
`at the check-out stand in response to the customer’s pur
`chase of some preselected item or items. The latter technique
`is Well documented in prior patents assigned to the same
`assignee as the present application; e.g., US. Pat. No.
`4,723,212, “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Discount
`Coupons.”
`In recent years, an increasing number of retail store
`customers also oWn personal computers and, of these, many
`have access to computer netWork services that provide
`connections to the Internet and the World Wide Web.
`Although some computer sites connected to the World Wide
`Web have begun to offer “online” shopping services, and
`some services have proposed to deliver discount coupons
`through a computer network, the full potential of online
`delivery of incentives has not been realiZed prior to the
`present invention.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention resides in a system and method for
`the distribution, via a computer netWork, of incentives and
`other related shopping aids useful to retail customers.
`Importantly, the incentives are distributed in such a Way that
`they may be redeemed only at a speci?c retailer selected by
`each customer.
`Brie?y, and in general terms, the method of the invention
`comprises a sequence of steps performed at a central site in
`cooperation With a communication device at a customer site.
`The steps include logging in a remotely located customer
`using identity data and geographic region data transmitted
`by the customer over a communication netWork; transmit
`ting back to the registered customer a plurality of incentive
`offers, the incentive offers being exercisable in the custom
`er’s geographic region; and then receiving incentive offer
`selection data from the customer over the communication
`netWork, the offer selection data including the designation of
`a retailer at Which selected offer or offers may be exercised.
`In response to the customer selection data, the method
`performs the steps of generating a purchasing incentive
`containing (in encoded form) the identity of the retailer
`designated by the customer and the identity of the customer;
`and transmitting at least one incentive to the customer over
`the communication netWork, for subsequent printing by the
`customer. For security reasons, the transmitted incentive
`may be encoded With the identity of the retailer selected by
`the customer, and preferably also contains a customer iden
`ti?cation code.
`An important element of the invention is that it permits
`the customer to plan his or her shopping and shopping
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`2
`related activities more efficiently. To this end, the method
`also includes the step of communicating With the customer
`concerning the use of shopping aids other than incentives or
`coupons. In one aspect of the invention, this communicating
`step includes transmitting a list of products available for
`purchase, receiving customer selections from the list of
`products, and then transmitting a shopping list to the cus
`tomer. Thus the customer may broWse through a list or indeX
`of available products, preferably organiZed by store
`department, and then make selections by marking appropri
`ate entries on a computer screen, such as by positioning a
`mouse pointer on the desired items and clicking a mouse
`button.
`Another aspect of the invention includes the steps of
`transmitting meal planning information, including a list of
`recipes, to the customer, receiving a customer selection of
`one or more recipe, transmitting back to the customer a
`shopping list that includes ingredient products needed in
`each selected recipe, and possibly transmitting to the cus
`tomer at least one purchase incentive pertaining to an
`ingredient product used in a selected recipe. While shopping
`for products With purchasing incentive offers, or While
`preparing a shopping list, the customer may also use this
`feature to obtain the details of any recipe that is found to be
`of interest. The system of the invention transmits the recipe
`in tWo separate portions: (a) a complete copy of the recipe
`in traditional format, including a list of ingredients, and
`preparation and serving instructions, and (b) the list of
`ingredients in shopping list form, Which the customer may
`take to the store. The latter portion of the recipe is added to
`the customer’s shopping list automatically and the system
`transmits a purchase incentive or coupon if an incentive offer
`is associated With any of the recipe ingredients. The system
`also provides other meal planning information such as meal
`calorie and fat content, vegetarian meal ideas and recipes,
`recipes for meals that can be prepared in under thirty
`minutes, and so forth.
`The purchasing incentive offers in the presently preferred
`embodiment of the invention are derived from tWo sources:
`product manufacturers and retailers. The manufacturers’
`incentives are presented to the customer in the form of a
`convenient indeX that the customer can broWse through and
`select from. Similarly, retail supermarkets provide the
`source of another set of special offers, organiZed by store.
`Another important aspect of the invention is the manner
`in Which incentives or coupons are generated in the system
`of the invention. Speci?cally the step of generating a pur
`chase incentive includes converting numeric and teXtual
`information provided by the customer to graphical form;
`converting other numeric and teXtual information to graphi
`cal form; and merging the converted information With other
`graphical information de?ning the incentive, to form a
`composite graphical incentive image for transmission to the
`customer.
`In one embodiment of the invention the step of transmit
`ting at least one incentive includes transmitting only an
`advisory message to the customer, and transmitting the
`terms of the incentive directly to the retail store selected by
`the customer, for use by the customer on a subsequent visit
`to the store. In a related embodiment, the step of transmitting
`at least one incentive includes transmitting only an incentive
`token to the customer, and transmitting the terms of the
`incentive directly to the retail store selected by the customer,
`for use by the customer, Who brings the token to the store on
`a subsequent visit, and receives the discount or other bene?t
`de?ned by the incentive offer.
`The invention may also be de?ned in terms of a method
`for distributing purchasing incentives and other shopping
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 18
`
`

`

`3
`aids to customers over a communication network, the
`method comprising the steps of: (1) registering as a cus
`tomer by providing at least an individual identi?cation, a
`postal region code, and retail store selection; (2) transmitting
`from a central site and receiving at a remote customer site,
`a plurality of incentive offers, each of Which is exercisable
`based on the customer’s postal region; (3) selecting at the
`customer site one or more of the incentive offers and
`transmitting these selections back to the central site; (4)
`generating at least one purchasing incentive containing in
`encoded form the identity of the retail store selected by the
`customer and the identity of the customer; and (5) transmit
`ting at least one incentive to the customer.
`The invention may also be de?ned in terms of a system for
`distributing purchasing incentives to retail customers, the
`system comprising a communication netWork establishing
`bi-directional communication betWeen a central site and
`each of a plurality of customer devices; a ?le at the central
`site containing a plurality of incentive offers; and a computer
`located at the central site, for coordinating bi-directional
`communication With the customers over the communication
`netWork. The computer at the central site includes means for
`registering customer information at the central site, based on
`information transmitted from any of the customer devices to
`the central site computer, over the communication netWork,
`the customer information including geographical region data
`and identi?cation data; means for retrieving incentive offers
`from the ?le of incentive offers, based on the customer’s
`geographical region, and transmitting the retrieved offers to
`the customer over the communication netWork; means for
`receiving customer selections made from the incentive offers
`transmitted to the customer, and for receiving a customer
`designation of a retailer at Which the selected incentives are
`to be exercised; means for generating at least one purchasing
`incentive containing in encoded form the identity of the
`retailer designated by the customer and the identity of the
`customer; and means for transmitting the generated purchas
`ing incentive to the customer over the communication
`netWork.
`More speci?cally, the system further comprises another
`?le at the central site containing a list of products available
`for purchase; and the computer at the central site further
`includes means, responsive to a customer request, for trans
`mitting the list of products to the customer, receiving cus
`tomer selections from the list, and transmitting a shopping
`list back to the customer. The system may further comprise
`another ?le at the central site containing meal planning
`information available for customer use; and the computer at
`the central site further includes means, responsive to a
`customer request, for transmitting meal planning informa
`tion including a list of recipes to the customer, receiving
`customer selections from the list, and transmitting complete
`recipes back to the customer, together With an ingredients
`shopping list and any associated purchasing incentives.
`In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the means
`for retrieving incentive offers and transmitting them to the
`customer includes a manufacturer offer ?le containing pur
`chasing incentive offers currently proposed by manufactur
`ers of products for sale to customers, and also includes a
`retailer offer ?le containing purchasing incentive offers
`currently proposed by retailers of products for sale to
`customers.
`In one form of the invention, the generated purchasing
`incentive is transmitted to the customer in the form of an
`advisory message only, and the computer further includes
`means for transmitting the terms of a purchasing incentive
`directly to the retail store designated by the customer, Who
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`4
`may then exercise the incentive upon visiting the designated
`store. In a related form of the invention, the generated
`purchasing incentive is transmitted to the customer in the
`form of an encoded token, and the computer further includes
`means for transmitting the terms of the purchasing incentive
`directly to the retail store designated by the customer, Who
`may then exercise the incentive upon visiting the designated
`store and presenting the token.
`Implementation of the invention in the form of a netWork
`site, such as a World Wide Web site, represents a signi?cant
`departure from prior, conventional uses of Web sites for
`commercial purposes. Instead of being administered by or
`for a single commercial entity, the Web site through Which
`customers communicate in accordance With the present
`invention is a cooperative site involving both retailers and
`manufacturers, to provide customers With a variety of
`information, planning aids, and shopping incentives from
`multiple sources.
`A difficulty With conventional incentive distribution
`methods is that different retail marketing areas have different
`Weekly cycles on Which incentives and discounts are based.
`In one area, retailers may advertise Weekly specials begin
`ning on Thursdays in preparation for Weekend buying, While
`in another area they may advertise Weekly specials in a
`Sunday neWspaper supplement. Manufacturers may offer
`special deals that are completely unsynchroniZed With these
`local retailer cycles, based, for example, on a calendar Week
`starting on some other day. In the cooperative site on Which
`the present invention is implemented, all the advertised
`incentives, Whether coming from retailers or manufacturers,
`can be timed to comply With the advertising cycle of the
`local retail region.
`Another aspect of the invention alloWs the customer to
`receive more focused incentives if he or she elects to supply
`a customer identifying number (customer id.) normally used
`in the purchase of items at the retail store. The customer id.
`may be a check-cashing card number or other customer
`loyalty card number, or may be some other form of identi
`?cation used to pay for purchases. Because the store can
`track the purchasing history of each customer Who consis
`tently uses the same customer id. When paying for the
`purchases, a customer Who supplies this customer id. to the
`on-line system of the present invention may then receive
`more targeted incentives based on his or her prior purchasing
`history. For example, the customer may receive an incentive
`for his or her favorite brand of toothpaste, based on a prior
`purchase of the same toothpaste some Weeks earlier. If the
`customer elects not to provide the customer id. to the on-line
`system, these more targeted incentives Will not be available
`to that customer.
`It Will be appreciated from the foregoing summary that
`the present invention represents a signi?cant advance in the
`?eld of retail marketing using computer netWorks. In
`particular, the system of the invention provides a highly
`secure incentive distribution scheme because each incentive
`or coupon may identify the retailer at Which the coupon may
`be used, and also preferably identi?es the customer to Whom
`the coupon Was issued. The invention also provides a variety
`of other planning aids to customers using computers before
`visiting a supermarket. These aids include the generation of
`a shopping list for the customer, the distribution of selected
`recipes, together With ingredients lists and incentives, if any
`are available for the ingredients, and the distribution of
`product information or rebate forms. Other aspects and
`advantages of the invention Will become apparent from the
`folloWing more detailed description, taken in conjunction
`With the accompanying draWings.
`
`SWY&KRG 1006 - Page 19
`
`

`

`5,970,469
`
`5
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a an overall process How diagram of the system
`of the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a How diagram of the log-in process used by a
`customer in accordance With the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a How diagram of a restriction process used to
`restrict access to only authoriZed customers in a selected
`geographic region;
`FIG. 4 is a How diagram of the main menu process of the
`system of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a How diagram of an offer broWser process used
`in the system of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a How diagram of a supermarket specials process
`used in the system of the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a How diagram of a recipe center process used
`in the system of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a How diagram of a shopping list maker used in
`the system of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a How diagram of a registration process used in
`the system of the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a How diagram of a ?nal list process used in the
`system of the present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a pictorial vieW of a coupon for purposes of
`eXplaining hoW its components are merged dynamically for
`transmission to the customer;
`FIG. 12 is a How diagram of the process of dynamic
`coupon creation used in the system of the present