(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0235755A1
`Oct. 19, 2006
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mueller et al.
`
`US 20060235755A1
`
`DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT BOARD IN
`COMMUNICATION WITH POINT OF-SALE
`TERMINALS
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 60/444,520, filed on Jan.
`31, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/369,108,
`filed on Mar. 29, 2002.
`
`Inventors: Raymond J. Mueller, Weston, CT
`(US); Andrew S. Van Luchene, Santa
`Fe, NM (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`WALKER DIGITAL
`2 HIGHRIDGE PARK
`STAMFORD, CT 06905 (US)
`Appl. No.:
`11/456,306
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 10, 2006
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(57)
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. C.
`G06O 50/00
`G06Q 30/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`U.S. Cl. ................................................................ 705/15
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of application No. 10/770.385, filed on
`Feb. 2, 2004, and which is a continuation-in-part of
`application No. 10/403,184, filed on Mar. 28, 2003.
`
`A price associated with a menu item is determined auto
`matically 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.
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(63)
`
`
`
`1100
`
`UPDATEA PRICE FORAN TEM
`
`1105
`
`AUTOMATICALLY UPDATEA
`MENUDISPLAYBASED ON
`THE UPDATED PRICE
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 1 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`100
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`POS
`SERVER
`
`MENUI
`ADWERTISEMENT
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`11
`
`CUSTOMER
`DESPLAY
`DEVCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`11
`
`POS
`TERMINAL
`
`120
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 2 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`----
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HHAHES SOd
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 3 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`200
`
`
`
`POS
`TERMINAL
`270
`
`DGA
`MENU
`BOARD
`280
`
`CUSTOMER
`DISPLAY
`DEVICE
`285
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PORT
`215
`-
`
`205
`
`PROGRAM
`
`POS DATABASE
`
`O
`
`225
`
`ADWERTISEMENT | UPSELL
`SLOT DATABASE
`230
`ADWERSEMENT UPSELL
`TYPE DATABASE
`235
`
`CUSTOMEROATABASE
`
`customer Database ...)
`
`20
`
`TRANSACON
`DATABASE
`
`245
`
`COMBO POPULARITY
`DAABASE
`
`250
`
`MENU SOS
`DATABASE
`
`255
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 4 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`009
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 5 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`
`
`HENNIO] 'HÔNÔT
`
`HON?IT
`
`(HENNIG
`
`HON?IT
`
`?ae
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19
`
`9
`
`2006 Sheet 6 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 7 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 8 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publica
`ion Oct
`
`19,
`2006 Sheet 9 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`001__^
`
`Wd $0.9 || ||
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 10 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`| 8
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 11 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`
`
`| OTS NI SWE|| ||LOTS
`
`
`
`| 60T Tel
`
`
`
`
`
`$00ffid 'ZOOnid 'LOOTIT,
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.12
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 12 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`.
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.13
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 13 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`1100
`
`AUTOMATICALLY UPDATEA
`MENUDISPLAYBASED ON
`THE UPDATED PRICE
`
`FIG 11
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.14
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 14 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`1200
`
`AUTOMAICALLY DETERMNEA PRICE
`FOR AMENUTEMBASED ON REVENUE
`MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
`1205
`
`UPDATE AMENUDISPLAYBASED
`ON THE DETERMINED PRICE
`
`1210
`
`UPDATE PRICE ENFORMATION ACCESSIBLE
`BY A POSTERMINAL BASED ON THE
`DETERMINED PRCE AT SUBSTANTIALLY
`THE SAME TIME
`1215
`
`F.G. 12
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.15
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 15 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`SART
`
`DETERMINE CURRENT TIME
`
`1305
`
`
`
`
`
`PRICE UPDATE
`SCHEDULED?
`1310
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`UPDATE PRICE INFORMATION
`AT POINT OF SALE
`
`DETERMINE TIME LAG
`
`UPDATE DGETAMENU
`BOARD AFER TIME LAG
`
`END
`
`FIG. 13
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.16
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 16 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`1400
`
`.
`
`DEERMINE RETAL
`INFORMAON
`
`DETERMNEAN OPTIMAL
`DISPLAY CONFIGURATION
`FOR INFORMATION
`
`OUTPUT OPTIMALDISPLAY
`CONFEGURATION
`
`FIG. 14
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.17
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 19, 2006 Sheet 17 of 17
`
`US 2006/0235755A1
`
`
`
`DYNAMICALLY DETERMINEA
`LEAST ONE NEW COMBO TEM
`
`OUTPUT AN INDICATION OF
`NEW COMBO TEM FOR DISPLAY
`
`F.G. 15
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.18
`
`

`

`US 2006/0235755 A1
`
`Oct. 19, 2006
`
`DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT BOARD IN
`COMMUNICATION WITH POINT OF-SALE
`TERMINALS
`0001. The present Application:
`0002 (i) claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
`Application Ser. No. 60/444,520 filed Jan. 31, 2003,
`entitled IMPROVED DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT
`BOARDS WITH FULL CONNECTIVITY TO POINT
`OF-SALE TERMINALS; and
`0003 (ii) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 10/403,184, filed Mar. 28, 2003, entitled
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING
`AND PROVIDING OFFERS: which claims the ben
`efit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/369,
`108, filed Mar. 29, 2002, entitled “OFFERMANAGER
`SYSTEM.
`The entirety of each of the Applications above is incor
`porated by reference herein for all purposes.
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0004 The present Application is related to each of the
`following commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent appli
`cations:
`0005 (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/990,821,
`filed Nov. 21, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM AND
`METHOD PROVIDING A RESTAURANT MENU
`DYNAMICALLY GENERATED BASED ON REV
`ENUE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION:
`0006 (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/993,228,
`filed Nov. 14, 2001, entitled “METHOD AND APPA
`RATUS FOR DYNAMIC RULE AND/OR OFFER
`GENERATION; and
`0007 (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/603,677,
`filed Jun. 26, 2000, entitled “METHOD AND APPA
`RATUS FOR SELECTING A SUPPLEMENTAL
`PRODUCT TO OFFER FOR SALE DURING A
`TRANSACTION.
`The entirety of each of the related Applications above is
`incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0008. As is well known, many types of quick service
`restaurant operators (and other retail operators) use point
`of-sale terminals to enter transactions, reconcile inventory,
`and/or track revenue. Such terminals are typically connected
`to a back office server (e.g., a restaurant server) that may be
`configured to generate reports of transactions, labor Sched
`ules, and inventory, for example.
`0009. As is well known, some types of quick-serve
`restaurants use electronic or digital menu boards to display
`the menu offered by the restaurant. In addition to a menu,
`digital menu boards can also be used to display advertising
`for the owner/operator of the board and/or for third-party
`advertisers. Digital menu boards have been proven to
`increase sales for items displayed on them, but may be
`difficult to configure and update. For example, when an
`operator changes the price of a particular food item, or adds
`
`a new menu item to a menu, graphics for a digital menu
`board may have to be redone by a third-party service.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`0010 FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a system that is
`consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0011 FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of an alternative
`system that is consistent with at least one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0012 FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a server that is
`consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0013 FIGS. 3A and 3B are a table illustrating an exem
`plary data structure of a point-of-sale database consistent
`with at least one embodiment of the present invention.
`0014 FIG. 4 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of an advertisement/upsell slot database consistent
`with at least one embodiment of the present invention.
`0015 FIG. 5 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of an advertisement/upsell type database consistent
`with at least one embodiment of the present invention.
`0016 FIG. 6 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of a customer database consistent with at least one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0017 FIG. 7 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of a transaction database consistent with at least
`one embodiment of the present invention.
`0018 FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of a combo popularity database consistent with at
`least one embodiment of the present invention.
`0019 FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an exemplary data
`structure of a menu slots database consistent with at least
`one embodiment of the present invention.
`0020 FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary
`display that is consistent with at least one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0021
`FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that
`is consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0022 FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that
`is consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0023 FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that
`is consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0024 FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that
`is consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0025 FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that
`is consistent with at least one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`0026 Various embodiments of the present invention are
`described herein with reference to the accompanying draw
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.19
`
`

`

`US 2006/0235755 A1
`
`Oct. 19, 2006
`
`ings. The leftmost digit(s) of a reference numeral typically
`identifies the figure in which the reference numeral first
`appears.
`0027 Applicants have recognized that there are numer
`ous advantages to providing for managing the determina
`tion, dissemination, and display of various types of retail
`information (e.g., prices, inventory, menus, offers) among
`any number of point-of-sale, order entry, and/or display
`devices in a retail environment (e.g., a retail store, a quick
`service restaurant).
`0028 Applicants have also recognized that it would be
`advantageous to provide for a system that allowed for the
`synchronization of price and item information (i) used at a
`point-of-sale terminal and (ii) displayed on a digital menu
`board.
`0029 Applicants have recognized that some benefits of
`managing and providing display content in accordance with
`various embodiments of the present invention include
`improved or optimized revenues, gross margin, profits,
`speed of service, inventory levels, promotions, labor
`requirements, and/or customer satisfaction.
`1. System
`0030) Referring now to FIG. 1A, a system 100 according
`to one or more embodiments of the present invention
`includes a point-of-sale (POS) server 105 that is in commu
`nication with one or more devices, such as one or more
`menu/advertisement display devices 110, one or more cus
`tomer display devices 115, and one or more POS terminals
`120.
`0031. As described in further detail herein, the POS
`server 105 (which may be an existing server that fulfills
`various in-store POS or back office server duties) is operable
`to manage and/or optimize the distribution and display of
`offer, product, menu, and/or advertising information. For
`example, the POS sever 105 for a restaurant may manage the
`dissemination (e.g., to one or more POS terminals 120) and
`display (e.g., at one or more menu/advertisement display
`devices 110) of price information for various menu items.
`0032). In various embodiments, the POS server 105 (or, in
`an alternative embodiment, a peer-to-peer network) can
`control whether a price for an item will be made at a given
`time, determine what a new price for an item will be,
`determine where and how new price information will be
`displayed and/or collect transaction data for future use Such
`as optimization of item offerings and display (or sharing
`Such data among multiple locations).
`0033. The POS server 105 may communicate with the
`devices 110, 115 and 120 directly, via a network such as a
`Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet or via any other
`communication technology, as is well known in the art. Each
`of the devices 110, 115 and 120 may comprise computers,
`such as those based on the Intel(R) Pentium(R) processor, that
`are adapted to communicate with the POS server 105. Any
`number of Such devices may be in communication with the
`POS server 105. Further, those of skill in the art will
`understand that any of the devices 110, 115 and 120 may be
`omitted, in various embodiments of the present invention.
`0034 Communication between the devices 110, 115 and
`120 and the POS server 105 may be direct or indirect, such
`as over the Internet through a Web site maintained by POS
`
`server 105 on a remote server, or over an on-line data
`network including commercial on-line service providers,
`bulletin board systems and the like. In yet other embodi
`ments, the devices may communicate with POS server 105
`over radio frequency (RF) signals, cable television signals,
`satellite communication links and the like.
`0035) Those skilled in the art will understand that devices
`in communication with each other need not be continually
`transmitting to each other. On the contrary, Such devices
`need only transmit to each other as necessary, and may
`actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For
`example, a device in communication with another device via
`the Internet may not transmit data to the other device for
`weeks at a time.
`0036) The POS server 105 may function as a “Web
`server that generates Web pages (documents on the Web
`that typically include an HTML file and associated graphics
`and script files) that may be accessed via the Web and allows
`communication with the POS server 105 in a manner known
`in the art.
`0037. Any or all of the devices 110, 115 and 120 may be,
`e.g., conventional personal computers, portable types of
`computers, such as a laptop computer, a palm-top computer,
`a hand-held computer, or a Personal Digital Assistant
`(PDA), or they may be specialized devices built for specific
`purposes such as environmentally-hardened displays for use
`in a drive through, or POS terminals with separate or
`integrated customer LCDs or similar displays.
`0038. The customer display device 115 may be one or
`more screens, such as a flat panel monitor or cathode ray
`tube monitor, that are capable of displaying visual informa
`tion Such as images, text and video. The customer display
`device 115 may include an audio output means, such as a
`speaker, which generates sounds (e.g. synthetic speech,
`recorded voice or other sounds) as directed by the POS
`SeVe.
`0039 The customer display device 115 may include a
`printer, such as one which prints receipts or coupons, which
`prints as directed by the POS server. Accordingly, the
`customer display device 115 can provide offers in displayed,
`audio and/or printed form.
`0040. The customer display device 115 may include a
`touch screen overlaid on the monitor and capable of receiv
`ing manual input from a customer. The customer display
`device 115 may include other known input devices, such as
`a microphone for Voice input, a keyboard, a stylus, a pen
`reader, a radio frequency receiver (e.g., for detecting signals
`from cellular telephones or other transmitting devices) and/
`or a card reader.
`0041. In some embodiments, a customer display device is
`associated with (e.g., in communication with, driven by, a
`peripheral of) a point-of-sale terminal. For example, the
`customer display device may be located in front of a POS
`terminal and visible and/or accessible by a particular cus
`tomer (e.g., for using a touch screen) during a transaction at
`the POS terminal. In some embodiments, a customer display
`device is associated with (e.g., in communication with,
`driven by, a peripheral of) a customer self-ordering station
`or kiosk.
`0042. The menu/advertisement display device 110 may
`include a digital menu board or other type of electronic
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.20
`
`

`

`US 2006/0235755 A1
`
`Oct. 19, 2006
`
`display device which is operable to display to customers,
`among other things, product names and corresponding
`prices and/or advertisements or promotions for various types
`of goods and services. Exemplary menu/advertisement dis
`play devices include those manufactured by Epicure Digi
`talTM.
`0043. The menu/advertisement display device 110 may
`comprise one or more types of display devices such as,
`without limitation, plasma screens, televisions, projection
`systems (e.g., LCD projection screen), LCD screens, cath
`ode ray monitors, and various combinations thereof, that are
`capable of displaying visual information Such as images,
`text and video.
`0044) The menu/advertisement display device may also
`include an audio output means, such as a speaker, which
`generates sounds (e.g. synthetic speech, recorded voice or
`other sounds) as directed by the POS server.
`0045. In some embodiments, a customer display device is
`associated with (e.g., in communication with, driven by, a
`peripheral of) a customer self-ordering station or kiosk. In
`Some exemplary embodiments, a menu/advertisement dis
`play device 110 is located at a retailer's drive through and/or
`behind the service counter (e.g., for use by customers in
`making menu selections).
`0046) The POS terminal 120 may be, for example, the
`IBM 4683 or IBM 4693 manufactured by International
`Business Machines. As is known in the art, point-of-sale
`terminals typically include a display capable of displaying,
`e.g., text messages intended to be read by a cashier operating
`the terminal.
`0047. The system 100 depicted in FIG. 1A is presented
`by way of example only, and would be typical of an
`apparatus for use in a retail environment such as a quick
`service restaurant or grocery store. However, the present
`invention is not limited to such components and may be used
`in other environments.
`0048 For example, the POS server 105 may be a “Web
`server' of a merchant (e.g., a retail seller) which commu
`nicates with one or more computers (or PDAs, cell phones,
`or similar devices) via Web browser software or similar
`programs. The POS server 105 may be operable to generate
`and/or serve Web pages (documents on the World Wide Web
`that typically include a Hypertext Markup Language file and
`associated graphics and Script files) that may be accessed via
`the World WideWeb and allow purchases from the merchant
`to be made in a manner well known in the art. A Web site
`typically consists of several Such Web pages and associated
`databases served by one or more HTTP (Hypertext Transfer
`Protocol) servers (e.g. the POS server 105) on the World
`Wide Web.
`0049 Similarly, the POS server 105 may be in commu
`nication with customers via telephones and an Interactive
`Voice Response Unit. Thus, a customer may hear audio
`output from the POS server 105 via a telephone (e.g., while
`on hold with the merchant or a different merchant), and
`communicate with the POS server 105 via voice or by
`pressing buttons on the telephone.
`0050. The POS server 105 may be a computer involved
`in operating a physical store. Such a computer, for example,
`
`could perform such tasks as inventory management and
`transaction processing for the store.
`0051. The system 100 may alternatively be configured in
`a multi-tier architecture, as would be apparent to those of
`skill in the art. The system 100 may also be configured in a
`peer-to-peer architecture, as would be apparent to those of
`skill in the art.
`0052 The customer display device 115 may be a personal
`computer or other device which allows a customer to receive
`offers and provide responses to offers. The customer display
`device 115 could also be, e.g., a vending machine, a slot
`machine or any other device which interacts with customer.
`0053 Similarly, the menu/advertisement display device
`110 could also be a personal computer or other device which
`allows a customer to view price information and/or adver
`tisements. The menu/advertisement display device 110
`could also be, e.g., an electronic display of a vending
`machine, a slot machine, or any other device useful for
`providing production information and/or advertising to cus
`tOmerS.
`0054 Referring now to FIG. 1B, an exemplary system
`150 according to one or more embodiments of the present
`invention includes a POS server 155 that is in communica
`tion with one or more devices, such as one or more digital
`menu boards 160, one or more customer advertisement
`displays 165, one or more POS terminals 170, one or more
`customer self-ordering stations 175, and one or more cor
`porate headquarters servers 180.
`0.055 As described in further detail herein, the POS
`server 155 (which may be an existing server that fulfills
`various in-store POS or back office server duties) is operable
`to manage and/or optimize the distribution and display of
`offer, product, menu, and/or advertising information. For
`example, the POS sever 155 for a restaurant may manage the
`dissemination (e.g., to one or more self-ordering stations
`170) and display (e.g., at one or more digital menu boards
`160, customer advertisement displays 165, and self-ordering
`stations 175) of price information for various menu items.
`0056 POS server 155 is also operable to be controlled by
`and/or communicate information with corporate headquar
`ters server 180. For example, POS server 155 may report
`transaction history and other types of store information to
`the headquarter server. In some embodiments, display con
`tent, price information, and/or product information may be
`transmitted from the headquarters server 180. In some
`embodiments, various functions described herein as being
`performed by the POS server 155 may be performed by the
`corporate headquarter server 180.
`0057 The POS server 155 may communicate with the
`depicted devices directly, via a network Such as a Local Area
`Network (LAN), the Internet or via any other communica
`tion technology, as is well known in the art. Each of the
`devices 160, 165, 170, 175, and 180 may comprise com
`puters, such as those based on the Intel(R) Pentium(R) proces
`sor, that are adapted to communicate with the POS server
`155. Any number of such devices may be in communication
`with the POS server 155. Further, those of skill in the art will
`understand that any of the devices 160, 165, 170, 175, and
`180 may be omitted, in various embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.21
`
`

`

`US 2006/0235755 A1
`
`Oct. 19, 2006
`
`0.058 System 150 differs from that depicted in FIG. 1A
`in various aspects. Customer advertisement displays 165 are
`examples of the customer display devices 115 of FIG. 1A.
`As depicted in system 150, each customer advertisement
`display 165 is in communication with a respective POS
`terminal 170. A customer advertisement display 165 may be
`controlled by the POS terminal 170, in accordance with
`various embodiments of the present invention, for determin
`ing what types of offers and/or advertisements to display to
`a customer at that POS terminal. Alternatively, or in addition
`(as represented in FIG. 1B), a customer advertisement
`display 165 may be in communication with and/or con
`trolled by the POS server 155.
`0059 Customer self-ordering station 175 is another
`example of customer display devices 115 of FIG. 1A, and
`may also be an embodiment of a menu/advertisement dis
`play device 110. For example, the POS server 155 may
`update a displayed menu at a customer self-ordering station
`(as for a digital menu board 160), and/or may display an
`upsell offer that can be interactively accepted by a customer.
`0060 Digital menu boards 160 are examples of menu/
`advertisement display device 110 of FIG. 1A. As discussed
`above, digital menu board 160 is operable to display to
`customers, product names and corresponding prices and/or
`advertisements or promotions for various types of goods and
`services. In some exemplary embodiments, a digital menu
`board is located at a retailer's drive through and/or behind
`the service counter (e.g., for use by customers in making
`menu selections).
`0061 The system 150 depicted in FIG. 1B is presented
`by way of example only, and would be typical of an
`apparatus for use in a retail environment such as a quick
`service restaurant or grocery store. However, the present
`invention is not limited to such components and may be used
`in other environments.
`0062 FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment 200 of the POS
`server 105 of FIG. 1A. The POS server may be implemented
`as a system controller, a dedicated hardware circuit, an
`appropriately programmed general purpose computer Such
`as an Intel-based PC, a server computer such as a Sun Fire
`B100s Blade Server manufactured by Sun Microsystems
`Inc. or a “Precision Workstation” or “Poweredge 350
`manufactured by Dell Computer Corporation, or any other
`equivalent electronic, mechanical or electro-mechanical
`device suited for the volume of transactions and the perfor
`mance levels desired.
`0063) The POS server 200 comprises a processor 205,
`such as one or more Intel(R) Pentium(R) processors. The
`processor 205 is coupled to a communication port 215
`through which the processor 205 communicates with other
`devices.
`0064. The processor 205 is also in communication with a
`data storage device 210. The data storage device 210 com
`prises an appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/
`or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example,
`Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory
`(ROM), a compact disc and/or a hard disk. The processor
`205 and the storage device 210 may each be, for example:
`(i) located entirely within a single computer or other com
`puting device; or (ii) connected to each other by a remote
`communication medium, Such as a serial port cable, tele
`
`phone line or radio frequency transceiver. In one embodi
`ment, the POS server may comprise one or more computers
`that are connected to a remote server computer for main
`taining databases.
`0065. The data storage device 210 stores a program 225
`for controlling the processor 205. The processor 205 per
`forms instructions of the program 225, and thereby operates
`in accordance with the present invention, and particularly in
`accordance with the methods described in detail herein. The
`program 225 may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled
`and/or encrypted format. The program 225 furthermore
`includes program elements that may be necessary, such as an
`operating system, a database management system and
`“device drivers' for allowing the processor 205 to interface
`with computer peripheral devices. Appropriate program
`elements are known to those skilled in the art, and need not
`be described in detail herein.
`0066. According to an embodiment of the present inven
`tion, the instructions of the program 225 may be read into a
`main memory from another computer-readable medium,
`such as from a ROM to a RAM. Execution of sequences of
`the instructions in program 225 causes processor 205 to
`perform the process steps described herein. In alternative
`embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of
`or in combination with, Software instructions for implemen
`tation of the processes of the present invention. Thus,
`embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any
`specific combination of hardware and software.
`0067. The storage device 210 also stores (i) a POS
`database 230, (ii) an advertisement/upsell slot database 235,
`(iii) an advertisement/upsell type database 240, (iv) a cus
`tomer database 245, (v) a transaction database 250, (vi) a
`combo popularity database 255, and (vii) a menu slots
`database 260. The databases are described in detail below
`and depicted with exemplary entries in the accompanying
`figures.
`0068. As will be understood by those skilled in the art,
`the schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions
`of the databases presented herein are exemplary arrange
`ments for stored representations of information. A number of
`other arrangements may be employed besides those Sug
`gested by the tables shown. Similarly, the illustrated entries
`of the databases represent exemplary information only;
`those skilled in the art will understand that the number and
`content of the entries can be different from those illustrated
`herein. Further, despite the depiction of the databases as
`tables, an object-based model could be used to store and
`manipulate the data types of the present invention and
`likewise, object methods or behaviors can be used to imple
`ment the processes of the present invention.
`0069. Note that, although these databases are described
`as being stored in a POS server, in other embodiments of the
`present invention some or all of these databases may be
`partially or wholly stored in another device. Such as one or
`more of the POS terminals, menu/advertisement display
`devices, self-ordering stations, corporate headquarters serv
`ers, or customer display devices, or a combination thereof.
`0070 Various functionality of the POS server described
`herein may alternatively be performed by the menu/adver
`tising device 110, the customer display device 115, the POS
`terminal 120, and/or a remote server or system (e.g., cor
`
`Lightspeed Ex. 1008.22
`
`

`

`US 2006/0235755 A1
`
`Oct. 19, 2006
`
`porate headquarters server 180). For example, an appropri
`ately programmed point-of-sale terminal or digital menu
`board system may perform various functions described
`herein as being performed by the POS server.
`0071. In some embodiments, the POS server operates in
`accordance with one or more databases of rules. Various
`embodiments of the present invention may be implemented
`by merely defining and selecting appropriate rules to govern
`the functionality of the POS server, as will be apparent to
`those of skill in the art. Such rules can specify, e.g., how to
`identify when to make pricing updates, the amount by which
`to adjust a price, how to determine whether to provide an
`offer/advertisement and/or where to display the offer? adver
`tisement, and/or how to create or select items to make
`available for sale (and/or how to remove items).
`0072 A rule-based system appropriate for use in accor
`dance with the present invention is disclosed in pending U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/603,677, filed Jun. 26, 2000,
`entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING
`A SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCT TO OFFER FOR SALE
`DURING A TRANSACTION,” the entirety of which is
`incorporated herein by reference as part of the present
`disclosure.
`0073. A rule may specify how to select a presentation slot
`of a digital menu board to display a menu item, e.g., by
`identifying one or more presentation slots based on the type
`of item, type of display content, and/or time of day.
`0074. A rule may specify how to determine whether to
`provide an offer/advertisement during a transaction and/or
`during a transaction slot, e.g., by specifying which offers or
`types of offers may be provided during the transaction slot
`and/or a maximum number of offers or types of offers which
`may be provided. A system appropriate for use in accordance
`with the present invention for determining transaction slots,
`whether to provide an offer to a customer, and/or what type
`of offer to provide, is disclosed in U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 10/403,184, filed Mar. 28, 2003, entitled
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND
`PROVIDING OFFERS.
`0075 A rule may specify how to add, remove, or modify
`an item for sale, e.g., by specifying performance data Such
`as the expected revenue, profitability and/or transaction
`Volume for the item, expected increase in net profit per
`second, and/or specifying how performance data is to be
`weighed in evaluating updates to product information (e.g.,
`information about price and/or availability).
`0.076
`Similarly, a rule may specify features of a