MXPA98006781A - System and method for distributing coupons through a system of computer networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for dispensing and paying electronic discount coupons, the system includes a personal computer that has hardware and software to receive an electronic coupon from a computer network system, translate the coupon received in a binary format and sending the coupon in binary format to a card-writing device, the card-writing device writes the coupon data on a customer's portable card ("smart card") about the size of a credit card; Customer goes to the store with the card, at the end of the purchase, the customer pays the electronic coupons in the verification area, inserting the card in the verification station, during the verification, the customer is credited with the value of a coupon when the Data of the Universal Product Code of a barcode reader corresponds to a coupon stored in the card

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING COUPONS THROUGH UM COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a retail system and »more in particular» to a system and method for distributing discount coupons through a computer network system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Discount coupons are popular means to stimulate product sales such as grocery store items. In the United States, in 1992 approximately 310,000,000,000 coupons were distributed and 7,700,000,000,000 coupons were paid, with a savings of 4,000,000,000,000 dollars. It has been estimated that the issuance of coupons in the store "together with advertising" increases sales by 544JÍ. A typical marketing scheme involves putting coupons in a newspaper »printing the coupons in the newspaper or inserting the coupon inserts in the newspaper» and allowing customers to take the printed coupons to a store for payment. A problem with this scheme is that the payment (redemption) scheme is only a small percentage of the printed coupons; representing the paid coupons a constant cost associated with this scheme. In order to maintain this constant cost, another marketing scheme consists of distributing the coupons in the store, thus avoiding the cost of printing the coupons in a newspaper, and capitalizing on the fact that the decisions of the buyer are made at the time of product purchase. Both the "in store" scheme and the "in the newspaper" scheme "however" are susceptible to fraud by an unscrupulous retail seller "who requests the reimbursement of payments by presenting unpaid coupons" in the home issued Other schemes include supplying coupons to customers through the mail »distributing the coupons in or on the product packaging and distributing the coupons in the store box. All these schemes have a general cost of handling the coupons and sending the coupons paid to a house that issued them »to allow the product manufacturers to reimburse the sellers at retail the reduction in the procedure that is the result of the payments coupon BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient and stimulating shog environment that allows customers to purchase discount coupons through a computer network system "and to pay coupons electronically. To obtain these and other objects of the present invention "a system comprises a plurality of portable cards" a first network of computers including a first plurality of computers, each of which has a respective "first network address" including the plurality of first computers a first computer having means to send a first signal that includes a first network address; an address between networks, which corresponds to a computer from another network; and a signal corresponding to a product; a second computer network including a second plurality of computers »each of which has a respective second network address» means responsive to the inter-network address of the first signal »to send a second signal including a second address of network and the signal that corresponds to the product; and means "that respond to the signal corresponding to the product, coming from the second signal" to send a card signal to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and means »spatially removed from the previous means» to read the card signal from the portable card. According to another aspect of the present invention "a system comprises a plurality of portable cards" a store that includes a plurality of products and means for reading a card signal from one of the portable cards; a first computer network that includes a first plurality of computers; each having a first respective network address »including the plurality of first computers a first computer having means to send a first signal including a first network address» an address between networks corresponding to a computer in another network. and a signal corresponding to a product in the plurality of products; a second computer network that includes a second plurality of computers; each having a respective second network address; means responsive to the inter-network address of the first signal, to send a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product "and means responsive to the signal corresponding to the product" of the second signal » to send a card signal to a portable card in the plurality of cards. According to yet another aspect of the present invention "in a system including a plurality of portable cards" a first network of computers including a first plurality of computers "each of which has a respective first network address"; including the plurality of first computers a first computer; a second computer network that includes a second plurality of computers; each having "a second network address" respective »a method for operating the system comprising the step» effected by the first computer »to send a first signal including a first network address» an address between networks corresponding to a computer in another network "and a signal corresponding to a product, and wherein the method further comprises the step of sending" in response to the inter-network address of the first signal "a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product, and send a card signal »that responds to the signal corresponding to the product of the second signal» to a portable card in the plurality of cards, and read the card signal from the portable card.

BRIEF PESCt PGXQN PE LOS PIBU PS Figures IA and IB are a schematic diagram of a computer network system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagram emphasizing a part of the system shown in Figures IA and IB. Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are diagrams showing a discount coupon sent through a computer network system »from computer 230 to home 160. Figure 4 is a diagram of a personal computer within the home 160. Figure 5 is the display of the personal computer »showing an electronic coupon received through the computer network system» at home 160. Figure 6 is a side view of the card writing device »on the personal computer» to write coupons on portable cards at home 160. Figures 7A and 7B are a schematic diagram of a retail store »in the preferred system. The figures BA. TB and SC are enlarged views of some products shown in Figures 7A and 7B. Figure 9 is a flow chart of a processing performed in the preferred system. Figure 10A is a plan view of one of the "customer cards" in the preferred system. Figure 10B is a side view of the card shown in Figure 10A. Figure 10C is a partial »enlarged» view of the card shown in Figure 10A. Figure 11 is a block diagram of the customer card. Figure 12 is a block diagram of the personal computer shown in Figure 4. Figure 13 is a block diagram of the checking or verification station »shown in Figure 7B. Fig. 14 is a flow chart of a processing step shown in Fig. 9. Figs. 15A and 15B are diagrams of some memory contents of a customer card »at different points in time. Figure 16 is a flowchart of another processing step shown in Figure 9. Figure 17 is a flowchart of the processing steps B010 and step B035 of Figure 9. Figure IB is a block diagram of a system that includes a house issuer or libradora and multiple testing stations. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and forming part of that specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description. they explain the principles of the invention and their additional advantages. In all the drawings, the corresponding parts are identified with the corresponding reference numbers "entities.

DESCRIPTION PE THE FASHION? PAPE? PREFEPIPAS Figures IA and IB show a computer network system for distributing coupons according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The computer networks 105, 110, 115, 130, 135, 120, 125, 140, 142, 14B, 144, 156, 150 and 151 are interconnected. Each computer network includes a plurality of computers. Each of the households 152 »154» 156 »158» 160 »162» 164 »166» 16B. 170. 172. 174. 176, 17B, 181, 1B2, 310 and 320, is coupled to one of the computer networks through a respective telephone signal path 180. The system includes portable customer cards 215, 1225, 235, 245, 255, 275 »285» 190, 314, 325, 335, 345, 355 »365» 367. 369 »375 and 3B5. Each customer card is a portable customer card, approximately the size of a credit card. Each card contains a random access memory to store electronic coupons. A computer 230 »within the network 155. stores electronic coupons and distributes the stored coupons to households. As depicted schematically in Figures IA and IB, a customer carries his or her home card to a store. A computer, in each home, receives a coupon from the computer 230, through one or more of the computer networks, and stores the coupon received in one of the cards. For example, a home computer 160 receives a coupon signal from computer 230, through networks 115. 130 and 135, and stores the coupon received in card 190. Figure 2 shows a section of the preferred system »which makes emphasis on the path between computer 230 and home 160. Network 115 is a local area network (LAN), network 130 is a wide area network (WAN) for its "designation in English: Wide Area Network)" network 135 is a LAN and network 140 in a LAN Network 115 includes a plurality of first computers »computers 234, 238, 230, 236 and 232. Each of these First computers have a respective network address »which uniquely identifies the computer on the network 115. The first computers can communicate with each other by sending data packets in a certain format Each network packet 115 has a field containing the destination address of the package. The network packet 115 is in a format that adapts to the network communication protocol 115 »which means» for example »that the packet has a destination address field» diverted a certain number of bits from the start of the packet, and that the destination address field has a certain number of bits. The computer 230 includes circuits ("hardware" and "software") for sending a data packet through the transmission cable 117. The circuits include the software to build a packet, which has the network format 115 of the packet »containing a discount coupon that identifies a product. The network 130 includes a second plurality of computers »the computers 254» 250 »252» 258 »256, 262, 260 and 272. The computer 230 sends this product identification signal to the home 160, by means of the computer 238, as described in more detail below. Each of these second computers has a second respective network address, which identifies the computer in the network 130. The second computers communicate with each other by sending a packet in the format for network 130. The data packet from the computer 230 it includes a destination address field that allows computer 238 to recognize that the data packet is to be received by computer 238. Computer 238 has an address, both on LAN 115 and WAN 130, which means that the computer 238 has circuits for recognizing its own address in a packet formatted for the network 115 »sent by the network 115» and has circuits for recognizing its own address in a packet formatted for the network 130 »sent by the network 130. As such way »computer 238 acts to forward packets between networks 155 and 130. In other words» computer 238 includes circuits that respond to an address in the network 115 »To receive a packet in the network format 115» containing an electronic coupon identifying a certain product »and to send a second packet in the format of the network 130» containing the second packet a signal identifying the determined product. When the computer 238 receives a packet destined for the computer 276, the computer 238 constructs a packet addressed to a computer 272 using the protocol for the network 130. The computer 272 has an address "* both in the WAN 130 as in LAN 135 and "consequently" computer 272 receives the packet »computer 272 constructs a packet addressed to a computer 276» using network protocol 135. More specifically »computer 230 constructs a packet of" Pl "directed to the computer 276, using the internet protocol (Pl). Then the computer 230 embeds this packet of Pl into a packet formatted for the network 115, directed to the computer 238, using the protocol of the network 115. When the computer 238 receives the packet, the computer 238 reads the address of Pl, determines that the packet of Pl must be sent by the network 130, and embeds the packet of Pl into a packet formatted for the network 130, directed to the computer 272, using the protocol of the network 130. When the computer 272 receives the package, computer 272 reads the address of Pl; determines that the address of PI corresponds to the computer 276, and embeds the packet of Pl in a packet addressed to the computer 276, using the protocol of the network 135. Figure 3A shows the data packet 3002 in the network format 115, sent by the computer 230 via the cable 117. The header field 3010 includes a destination address field 3011 »of 20 bits» which identifies the computer 238 in the network 115. The destination address field 3011 is 16 bits remote from the start of the data packet 3002. The header 3010 contains other fields »which include a 20-bit field containing the sender address of the packet 3002» and a field containing data correction bits. Field 3020 includes an internet protocol address field (PLC) 3021 which identifies computer 276. Field 3030 includes electronic coupon information in the form of ASCII text (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). Computer 238 »residing on LAN 115 and WAN 130 includes circuits for translating packet 3002 received from computer 230» to pack 3004 shown in Figure 3B. The packet 3004 includes the header field 3012. The header 3012 includes a 16-bit destination address field 3013, which identifies the computer 272 on the WAN 130. The address field 3013 is 32 bits away from the start of the 3004 packet. header 3012 has other fields »that includes a field that identifies the issuer of package 3004. and a field that contains data correction bits. The computer 238 determines that the packet should be sent to the computer 272 in the network 130 »by reading a referral or routing table. The referral table has an entry for the network 135. The entry for the network 135 identifies the network 130 and the computer 272 as the path to be used when the computer 238 is sending a packet to a computer of the network 135. Thus »computer 238 builds pack 3004 in response to address field 3021 of Pl in pack 3002. As shown in figure 2, computer 238 sends a packet to computer 272, through computers 250 , 254 »258 and 260. In other words, each packet is essentially a type of signal that has a network address» of a certain length »and that has a certain number of digits. A signal in a network can include a first network address »0.1 digits away from the beginning of the signal. A signal from another network may include a second network address. that is 02 digits away from the beginning of the signal »where 01 is not equal to 02» and the first network address includes NI digits, and the second network includes N2 digits, where NI is not equal to N2. Computer 272 »which resides on WAN 130 and in the LAN 135 includes circuits for translating packet 3004 received from computer 238 »to pack 3006 shown in Figure 3C. The packet 3006 includes the header field 3014. The header 3014 includes an address field 3015 »which identifies the computer 276 on the LAN 135. The header 3014 includes a destination address field 3014» 16 bits »which identifies the computer 276 on LAN 136. Address field 3015 is 24 bits away from the beginning of packet 3006. Header 3014 has other fields »which include a field identifying the sender of packet 3006» and a field containing the data correction bits .

Thus, the preferred system can be conceptualized as computers that send packets containing electronic coupons. The preferred system can also be conceptualized as programs that run on computers, which send emails ("Email") to each other. Each "Email" message includes one or more of the packages described above. The programs include a coupon server (not shown) running on computer 230, to construct the "Email" message and send the "Email" message to a client; and mail transfer agents and a user agent (not shown), which route the email messages with each other »and finally store an email message in an email box for the recipient of the message. An electronic mailbox is a memory area that can be read by the owner of the mailbox. For example, FIG. 2 shows the mailbox 277. which can be read by the personal computer 400 in the home 160. FIG. 4 shows a personal computer 400 within the home 160. The computer 400 includes a modem 410. kinescope »a keyboard 425, a mouse 423 and a coupon writing device 415. To receive an electronic coupon, the user establishes a telephone connection between the computer 400 and the computer 276. through the modem 410. Subsequently. the user enters the computer 276 and invokes a program to read the "Email" stored in the mailbox 277.

Fig. 5 shows the kinescope display 420 after the mail reading program reads a coupon message from mailbox 277. As shown in Fig. 5, coupon data 3030 includes the ASCII text of an email message ( "E-mail"). The message field 5010 identifies the sender and the recipient of the message, "couponhouseC_usretail.com" being the email address of the client residing in the home 160. The message field 5015 is the text that the user can read, which identify the coupon. The message field 5020 is electronic coupon information »encoded in text format. The user sends coupon data 3030 to device 415 »by issuing a print command and specifying the" SCW "device" which is a name designating the device 415 that writes to the card. An actuator program for the device 415 receives the text data and translates it into data in a certain binary format "described below" and sends the binary data to the device 415. The device 415 is coupled to a customer card 190 and sends the data to the card 190. Figure 6 shows a side view of the device 415 that you write on the card »that includes an interface slot 4170. The interface slot 4170 has a width sufficient to accommodate the width of one of the customer cards 190. When a card 190 is in the interface slot 4170 »the conductive contact 4177 inside the interface slot 4170 touches the contact 2427 (described later) on the customer card. The interface slot 4170 has other contacts (not shown) to touch the other card contacts 2420 (described below). Figures 7A and 7B show the grocery store 1000. Each of the figures 7A and 7B is a partial view of the store 1000. The customers 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 270, 280 and 290 shop in the store . Before buying in the store »each of these customers obtained a customer card. For example, customer 230 obtained customer card 235 from a bank by filling out an application for the bank. The application contained questions to obtain demographic data »that include date of birth» income level »previous purchase patterns, geographical location, family size, level of education and work-related data. Subsequently, the bank wrote the customer identification data for the client 230 on the customer card 235 and issued the customer card 235 to the customer 230. and sent the customer's demographic data to a transmitting house which then stored the demographic data. on a disc. Each of the clients 210 »220» 240. 250. 270 »280 and 290 obtains a respective customer card, in a similar way. In other words »for each customer the preferred method writes the demographic data for the customer on a disk in the market research center» and writes the personal identification data for the customer on a respective card for the client.

After the payment data »including the customer identification data» of a plurality of cards are compiled »they are sent to a market research center» as described below; and the customer identification data is used to access the corresponding demographic data »thereby providing the manufacturer with valuable marketing data about the effectiveness of the coupon program and the customer's demographic data. Store 1000 includes shelves 10. 20 and 30, which define aisles between the shelves. The supermarket has a plurality of product areas, each of which corresponds to a respective product. Product area 110 has Acmé brand ammonia. Product area 120 has Oíd World brand pasta. Product area 130 has Lighthouse brand spotlights. More specifically, the product area 110 has ammonia bottles 112 grouped together in multiple shelves. The ammonia bottles 112 are grouped contiguous, which means that there is no other product between two bottles of ammonia 112. Figure 8A shows an enlarged view of some of the ammonia bottles 112. Each bottle of ammonia has a label 114 of universal product code (UPC): * which consists of a group of parallel lines that codes a number that identifies acmon ammonia individually. In other words »the label 114 is different from the labels of the units of other products. Each bottle of ammonia 112 also has a common character label 113. The character label 113 is "AMMONIAC ACME". The label 113 is different from the labels of units of other products. The product area 120 has pasta boxes 122 »grouped together in multiple shelves. The pasta boxes 120 are grouped adjoining »which means that there is no other product between any two pasta boxes 120. Figure 8B shows an enlarged view of some of the pasta boxes 122. Each pasta box 122 has a label 124 of universal product code (UPO) which consists of a group of parallel lines that encodes a number that identifies individual to the Old World pasta, in other words »the label 124 is different from the labels of other product units. Each pasta box 122 also has a common character label 123. The character label 123 eß "PASTA OLD WORLD." The label 123 is different from the labels of units of other products.The product area 130 has boxes of bulbs 132 grouped together in multiple shelves.The bulbs boxes 132 are grouped contiguous "which means that there is no other product between two bulbs of bulbs 132. Figure BC shows an enlarged view. of some of the light boxes 132. Each light box 132 has a universal product code label (UPC) 134 consisting of a group of parallel lines encoding a number that individually identifies the lighthouse spotlights. In other words »the label 134 is different from the labels of other products. Each box 132 has a common character tag 133. The character label 133 is "FOCOS LIGHTHOUSE". The label 133 is different from the labels of other products. Similarly, each of the other product areas in the store has a series of respective products, grouped together in a contiguous manner and a corresponding product station. adjacent to the products. The respective units of a given product have a common label "different from the labels that appear in units of other products" that identifies individually to that particular product. The product area 140 has bottles of tomato sauce 142 »grouped together contiguously. The product area 160 has loaves of bread 162. grouped together in a contiguous manner. Product area 170 has milk cartons 172 »grouped together contiguously. Product area 180 has packs of bacon 182. Product area 190 has packs of butter 192. grouped together contiguously. The product area 150 has cereal boxes 152 »grouped together contiguously.

Figure 9 shows a process carried out in the preferred system. The computer 230 sends an electronic coupon »in the form of an email message» through the computer networks 115 »130 and 135 (step 9003). A client »such as the client 290» receives the electronic coupon via the modem 410 »on his home computer (step 9005) and writes the coupon on the customer card 190» using the writing device 415 (step 9010). The customer brings their respective customer card to a store 1000 (step 9020). In the store 1000 »the customer withdraws products from the shelves 10» 20 and 30 »and takes the products to the collection box 900 (step 9025). In other words »while buying in the store 1000» each one of the clients 210. 220 »230. 240» 250 »270» 280 and 290 carries its respective customer card. The customer 290 carries the card 190 »the customer 220 carries the card 225» the customer 230 carries the card 235 »the customer 240 carries the card 245. the customer 250 carries the card 255» the customer 270 carries the card 275, the customer 2B0 carries the card 285 and the customer 290 carries the card 190. Each customer pushes a shopping cart to contain the selected products. The customer 210 carries the cart 212. the customer 220 carries the cart 222. the customer 230 carries the cart 232 »the customer 240 carries the cart 242» the customer 250 carries the cart 252 »the customer 270 carries the cart 272 and the customer 280 carries the cart 282 and the customer 290 carries the cart 292. The customer then removes a product from the shelf and places the selected product in his cart. In this way, the customer buys throughout the store. The checkpoint or collection box 900 then scans the products and determines a price for each product "depending on whether the customer's card contains coupons for the product scanned (step 9035). More specifically, "the customer makes the electronic coupons in the cash register effective" when inserting his customer card in the checking station 915. For example, "a customer" such as the customer 240 in figure 7B. complete the purchase of your selected products 293 »by transferring the products 243 from your cart 242 to the counter 900» and inserting the card 245 into the verification station 915. Subsequently a verification employee (not shown) scans each selected product by passing it through the UPC barcode reader 910. The barcode reader 910 is an optical detector. In other words, the bar code reader 910 detects an electromagnetic signal. A processor coupled to station 915 and reader 910 »determines whether the most recently scanned product is in a discount tag stored in card 295. If the most recently scanned product is identified in this discount list, the price is determined for the product using the discount data corresponding to the product and the resulting price is displayed on the display 917. The 900 check counter explores and processes each product 293 in a similar manner. Similarly, the client 280 in Figure 7B follows the procedure of Figure 9 by transferring the products 283 from his cart 282 to the counter 900. and inserting the card 285 in the verification station 915; and the verification employee (not shown) scans each selected product 283 by passing it through the UPC barcode reader 910. The client 270 follows the procedure of Fig. 9 when transferring the products 273 from his cart 272 to the counter 900 and inserting the card 275 in the verification station 915; and the verification employee (not shown), scans each selected product 273 »by passing it through the UPC barcode reader 910. Because a large number of electronic coupons may be available to a customer »a customer» such as the customer 310. he may wish to insert his card into the display station 710. to check what coupons are currently stored on the card. Station 710 may also present the visualiser with additional information about the products identified by the coupons on the card. Station 710 is described in detail in the pending application "of the same successor" of the inventor KEN R. POWELL "for System and method for displaying product information in a retail system" filed on February 20, 1996"whose contents are incorporated here by this reference. Step 9005 includes a step of reading an email message (Email). An email message from the computer 230. for the user of the PC 400 at home 160 »resides in an electronic mailbox 277. which is a memory area on the computer 276. The user of the PC 400 marks the computer 276 using a telephone line, provides the appropriate user identification »which includes the pass word, and then invokes a program that reads the email message from the memory of the computer 276, to the memory of the PC 400. The user then executes the actuation of the device 415, printing the email message on the "SCW" device. The actuator translates the text coupon shown in Figure 5 into a binary format, described below. In that way, the actuator program and the 415 device essentially respond to the coupon data stored in the 3004 package that was built by the routing or sending computer 238. To prevent an unscrupulous user from writing a single Email coupon several times. on a customer card, which would be contrary to the intent of the coupon issuer, the driver keeps a list of the already processed Email coupons, including the time and date of the email, as shown in field 5010 of figure 5 Before writing an electronic coupon to a customer card, the driver compares the corresponding email message with the list to verify that an identical coupon has not been processed. Additionally, to prevent a user from changing the date and time field of a previously printed e-mail message, and to reprint the modified message to circumvent this protection mechanism, each e-mail message from the coupon server, at node 230 , contains the date and time coded in field 5020. Thus, the actuator verifies that the email message with the date and time has not been previously processed, and verifies that the date and time not coded in the area 5010 match the coded date and time of field 5020. There are two preferred methods for obtaining the Email address for PC 400, on the coupon server or node 30. to allow the server to send a coupon to PC 400. The first preferred method is to program the coupon server, using the data collected from Internet sources. The second preferred method is to allow the user of the PC 400 to send his Email address through the computer networks, to the node 230. To implement this second method it is currently preferred that the email address for the user of the PC 400 be sent by a browser on the network »to the worldwide network CWorld Wide Web (WWW) 1. With a schema, a user sends a message from Ema l requesting a coupon for * a specific product. invoking the browser to select the hypertext in a document that promotes the product. The selection of the hypertext invokes a "form" in the document, which causes the browser to signal the user to give their email address, accept the email address as the user's keyboard input, and construct an email message addressed to the server at node 230. The message contains the email address given by the user and the data identifying the product corresponding to the selected hypertext. When the message is received, the coupon server sends an email message to the user's address. An alternative scheme is to have the PC 400 user enroll in a club, invoking the browser to select the hypertext in a document that announces the club. The club is essentially a mailing list for certain types of coupons. The selection of the hypertext invokes a form in the document, which causes the browser to request the user's e-mail address »accept the e-mail address as a user's keyboard entry, and construct an e-mail message addressed to the server in node 230 The message contains the email address given by the user and the data that identifies the club that corresponds to the selected hypertext. When the message is received, the coupon server adds the email address to the club list identified in the message. Subsequently »an event causes the coupon server to send a coupon to each address in the list. One such event would be the receipt, by the coupon server, of an Email message from a coupon issuer. The coupon issuer can be a distributor of the product that corresponds to the coupon. The coupon server, in this case, acts as an "email explorer" and essentially forms echoes of the individual email message received from the coupon issuer, for each member of the coupon. Figure 10A shows a plan view of the customer card 190 and figure 10B shows a side view of the card 190. The card 190 has 8.5 c by 5.4 cm, length and width corresponding to those of a typical financial credit card . The 190 card is slightly thicker than a typical financial credit card. The card 190 includes a magnetic strip 2410, interface contacts 2420 for communication with product stations and with the verification station, and an embossed area 2430 for displaying the name of the card owner. The magnetic strip 2410 allows a conventional reader of credit card strips to read the basic data of the card. The magnetic strip 2410 is not necessary for the operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, described in greater detail below. Figure 10C shows the interface contacts 2420 in more detail. The interface contacts 2420 are configured in accordance with IS07816-2: 1988 (E), identification cards - cards with integrated circuit (s), with contact - Part 2: Dimensions and locations of contacts, promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization Organization for Standardization (ISO) D, and obtainable from the American National Standards Institute (ANSÍ). 11 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036. According to ISO 7816-2, contact 2421 is assigned to VCC (supply voltage), contact 2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal), contact 2423 is assigned to CLK (clock signal) »contact 2424 is reserved for future use» contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426 is assigned to VPP (program and voltage), contact 2427 is assigned to 1 / 0 (data entry / exit) and contact 2428 is reserved for future use. The card 190 communicates with the product stations and with the verification stations through contact 2427. using a half-duplex scheme. which means that contact 2427 is for communicating data signals to or from the card. Figure 11 is a block diagram of the customer card 190 »including the central processing unit 2450» the memory 2460 and the battery 2470 for supplying power to the interface 2425 »to the processor 2450 and the memory 2460. The memory 2460 is an addressable »random access device. The station interface 2425 includes a serial to parallel convert to transfer data signals between the contact 2427 and the CPU 2450 »by the parallel collector 2452. The memory 2460 stores a program 2465 executed by the processor 2450» the identification data customer 2467 and authorization data 246B. The customer identification data 2467 includes a sequence of digits that identifies the ta tateholder individually. The customer identification data 2467 includes the cardholder's social security number. For example, the identification data 2467 on the customer card 235 individually identifies the customer 230. The authorization data 2468 also includes date data, which indicates an expiration date for the card. The authorization data 246B also contains a field that identifies that the card is a customer card. The 2460 memory also stores electronic coupons in the coupon list 2435. When a customer inserts a customer card into the device 415 »the 2450 processor receives from the 415 interface an identification code for the product and adds the code to the list 2435. Each of the customer cards 215. 225. 235 »245» 255 »275» 285, 315, 325, 335, 345, 355 »365, 367, 369, 375 and 385 has the same hardware structure as the customer card 190. Figure 12 shows a block diagram of the PC 400» that includes the unit central processor (CPU) 435 and memory 440. Memory 5165 is a random access device ». The memory 440 stores "the driver program 445 for sending coupons to the card writing device 415. The CPU 435 executes the actuator 445. Figure 13 is a block diagram of the check counter 900, shown in the figure. The disk 925 provides long term storage, the CPU 950 executes the instructions of the random access memory 920. The 900 verification meter 900 also includes the UPC reader 910 to read the bar codes in the codes. products »and the verification station 915 to communicate with the customer's card Since the station 915 is in the store 1000 and the card writing device 415 is in the home 160. which is a separate building from the store 1000» station 915 is spaced far from card writing device 415. CPU 950 and program 922 act to detect a product scanned by the UPC reader 910 »determine a price reference for the product »search for the identification of the product in the memory of a customer card and deduct a discount from the reference price if the product is identified in the memory of the customer's card. Then the 'CPU 950 displays the product price on the 917 display. In other words' the CPU 950 and the 922 program act to receive a purchase signal that identifies a product' to receive a card signal and to determine a price for the product »that depends on whether the product identified by the card signal corresponds to the product identi fi ed by the purchase signal.

The CPU 950 writes the data with which the coupon becomes effective, in the 925 disk. Periodically, the CPU 950 sends the coupon effectiveness data to an electronic savings company, through the 930 modem. Figure 14 shows with greater detail the process of step 9010 of figure 9. CPU 435 executes program 445 device driver in memory 440 »to perform the processing shown in figure 14. When a person prints the text on the device" SCW "» the actuator program 445 receives the text and verifies that an identical text has not been processed beforehand »comparing the received text with a list of previous e-mail messages» received. Program 445 also compares the time and date in field 5010 of the text "with the time and date coded in field 5020 of the text, to verify that the text is a genuine email message from the coupon server" in computer 230. If the email message is a genuine message "that has not been processed before", program 445 translates the text from field 5020 to binary coupon data (step 14005). Subsequently, the program 445 sends a reset command to the card interface 415 »which causes the interface 415 to reset the card» by applying a clock signal to the contact 2423 of the card. (The card then responds to the reset by sending a block ^ of reset response data "including identification data 2467 and authorization data 2468" via card contact 2427. Authorization data 2468 contains a card type code »Indicating a customer card). The program 445 then receives the response data block upon resetting the card interface 415 (step 14010). The communication protocol between the 415 interface and a customer card in ISOdEC 7816-3 is described in more detail: 1989 (E) »identification cards - Integrated circuit (s) cards with contacts - Part 3: Signals electronic and transmission protocols; and in ISO / IEC 7816-3: 1989 / Amd. i: 1992 (E) part 3: Electronic signals and transmission protocols »AMENDMENT l: Protocol type technique = 1» synchronous block transmission protocol »synchronous. These two standards were promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and distributed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The CPU 435 analyzes the authorization data in the received reset response block to determine whether the card is a customer card that is eligible to receive electronic coupons from the interface 415 (step 14020). CPU 435 determines that the card is a customer card if the authorization data received contains a code of the type of card indicating a customer card. If the card is a customer card »which means that the authorization data is the authorization data 2468» the CPU 435 determines whether the card is eligible to receive electronic coupons if the authorization data 2468 contains certain codes and the date and the time in field 5010 of the Email is not later than the date data that appears in authorization data 2468. If the card is an eligible customer card »the CPU 435 sends a block containing a block to the customer card. station type code »indicating a PC interface and the coupon binary data (step 14040). The coupon binary data includes an identification code for the product received from PC 400 (Pasta Oíd World 122) and the discount that is currently being offered for that product. Figure 15A shows some of the content list 2436. starting at site 30 of memory 2460. of the client card »before CPU 435 of PC 400 executes step 14040. An electronic coupon is represented by three rows in list 2435: a 10-digit UPC product code, in the first row; discount format data in the second f la ("1" which means cents »" 2"which means percentage") and the data of the discount amount in the third row In figure 15A the customer card is storing two electronic coupons After the CPU 435 executes step 14040 (thus sending another electronic coupon to the customer card), the CPU 2450 in the customer card 190 receives the data and adds the data to the list 2435. This results in three electronic coupons in the list 2435 »as shown in figure 15B, in the list 2435 of the Figures 15A and 15B »the memory field that has the product code 7170312350 corresponds to the UPC code in the Lighthouse 134. The following memory field stores the data format of the discount amount, meaning" 1"cents and "2" the percentage in tenths of a percentage. The next memory field stores the discount quality data »meaning 200 that the discount that is offered by the Lighthouse 134 spotlights is $ 2.00. The memory field that has the product code 71703127S0 corresponds to the UPC code for the ammonia bottles 112. The following memory field stores the format of the discount quantity data »meaning" 1"cents and" 2"the percentage in tenths of percent. The next memory field stores the discount quality data »meaning 50 that the discount that is being offered for the ammonia 112 bottles is 50 cents. In list 2435 of figure 15B »the memory field having the product code 7170312682 corresponds to the UPC code of the Old World 124. Pasta boxes. The following memory field stores the format of the discount quantity data» meaning "1" the cents and "2" the percentage in tenths of a percent. The next memory field stores the discount quality data. meaning 150 that the discount that is being offered for Old World 124 pasta is SI.50.

Figure 16 shows aspects of the processing of step 8035 of figure B. The processing of figure 16 is the processing performed by the CPU 950 and the program 922 on the check counter 900 »when a customer makes his payment to the store 1000 When a client, such as the client 290 »inserts the client card 295 into the interface slot 914, a switch (not shown) in the interface slot 914 alerts the CPU 950 that a card has been inserted in the groove. When a customer card is in the interface slot 914, the conductive contacts (not shown) within the interface slot 914 touch each of the contacts 2420 of the card. Subsequently »the CPU 950 causes the card interface 924 to reset the card» by applying a clock signal to contact 2423 of the card. (If the card is a customer card »the card then responds to the reset by sending a block of data, which includes 2467 identification data and authorization data 2468. via card contact 2427). The CPU 950 then receives a block of data containing a station type code, which indicates a verification station (step 16004). The CPU 950 then receives the contents of the table 2435 in the memory 2460 of the client card, and temporarily stores that content of the table in the memory 920 of the verification station (step 16005). During step 10005 »CPU 950 also causes client card 295 to delete all entries in list 2435» so that the electronic coupons in the list can not be made effective again. When the verification employee (not shown) moves a product through the UPC 910 reader. The UPC 910 reader detects the UPC code in the product and sends the UPC code to the CPU 750 (step 16010). The CPU 950 searches the received table contents to determine if the scanned product is identified in the table (step 16020). If the product is in the received table, the CPU 950 subtracts the discount, as determined by the discount data stored in the received table, from a product reference price, read from disk 925 (step 16030). and displays the resulting price of the product in the 917 display (page 16040). The product data 5135. the customer identification data 2467. the authorization data 2468 and the data of the list 2436. are each a type of signal. In other words »the preferred retail system 1000 includes product areas 110» 120 »130» 140 »160. 170. IBO and 190» a plurality of customer cards »each of which has a memory» and a check counter 900 »which has a 915 verification station» which acts as a communication device. A method for operating the system 1000 comprises the steps of writing a first signal in the memory 2460 of a card »in the plurality of cards» in response to a person inserting the card into the interface slot of a card interface. PC; identifying the first signal to a product; read the first memory signal 2460 »in response to a person inserting the card in the interface slot of the verification station» receive another signal »from a UPC 910 reader» identify a product and determine a price for the product »depending on whether the product identified by the first signal» read in the reading step »corresponds to the product identified by the other signal. In summary »after the UPC barcode reader 910 scans a product» the 950 processor determines whether it is entitled to a discount. If a product has it »the processor 950 displays the discounted price on the display 917. Figure 17 shows aspects of the processing of the steps 9010 and 9035 of Figure 9. The processing of Figure 17 is carried out by one of the customer cards »such as customer card 190» in the preferred retail system. After the card is reset via contacts 2420 »the customer card sends a block of" reset response "data., in accordance with ISO ISO / ICE 7816-3: 19B9 (E) »cited above. The client card sends identification data 2467 and authorization data 2468 in the reset response data block (step 17010). If the station then sends a data block to the customer card »the customer card receives the data block via contact 2427 (step 17015). If the block contains a station type code that indicates a PC card interface (step 17020). The customer card then adds the product coupon information, from a certain site in the block, to the list 2345 (step 17030). If the customer card is not eligible »the PC interface will not send a data block; therefore "step 17015 will not be executed and processing stops until the client card is reinserted into an interface slot" at which time the station will reset the card and the processing will be restarted in step 17010. Alternatively "if the block contains a station type code »indicating a verification station (page 17090). the customer card then sends the list 2345 to the display station (step 17010). In other words, the CPU 2460 reads the list 2435 of the memory 2460. in response to a client inserting the card 190 into the verification station 915. and sends a signal corresponding to the list 2345. to the verification station. (step 17100). Figure 18 shows a block diagram of a preferred retail system "including a broadcasting company 900 and a plurality of check station 900. Periodically the check counter 900 sends data if it has been made effective to an electronic issuing entity. The data of having been sent to the issuing entity include the identification of the store »the identification of the coupons made effective and the respective amounts of coupons made effective. Periodically »the check counter 900 sends data if it has been made effective to a market research center. The data to be made effective sent to the research center include: the identification of the store and the customers who presented electronic coupons to make them effective. The verification stations send the blocks of data having been made effective by telephone signal paths 714. The verification stations 903 are located within a single company. The verification stations 903 are similar to the verification stations 900 described above except that the verification stations 903 have circuits to communicate over the network 912. The checking stations 903 send transaction data blocks to the financial computer central 911 »located within the company. The central financial computer 911 periodically sends the compiled transaction data to the issuer 990 »by 914 signal phone paths. Thus» the preferred systems provide a convenient and stimulating shopping environment. The systems allow the user to receive electronic coupons in their home and then take the coupons received to a retail store. Other applications of the electronic coupon are subject to the application in process "of the same beneficiary" by Ken R. Powell "for retail sale" Serial No. 08 / 468,816. filed on June 6, 1995; whose contents are incorporated herein by this reference; of the pending application, from the same successor in title »by Ken R. Powell for Device and Method for Programming a Retail System» Serial No. 08 / 468,820, filed on June 6, 1995, the contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. Other advantages and additional modifications will easily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention, in its broader aspects, therefore, is not limited to specific details, apparatus represented or the illustrative examples shown and described. As a consequence, one can distance oneself from such details, without leaving the spirit or scope of the inventors' general inventive concept. The invention is defined in the claims that follow.

Claims (11)

NQVEPAP PE THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - a system »characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of portable cards; a first computer network »that includes a first plurality of computers; each of which has a respective first network address »; the plurality of first computers includes a first computer that has means for sending a first signal that includes a first network address; an address between networks »that corresponds to a computer in another network» and a signal corresponding to a product »a second network of computers that includes a second plurality of computers» each of which has a second network address »; means responsive to the address between networks, of the first signal, to send a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product; and means responsive to the signal corresponding to the product, of the second signal, for sending a card signal to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and means, spaced apart from the previous means, to read the card signal from the portable card.

2. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first network address is remote 01 digits from the start of the first signal; the second network address is 02 digits away from the start of the second signal; where 01 is not equal to 02. 3.- The system in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the first network address includes NI digits and the second network address includes N2 digits; where NI is not equal to N2. 4.- The system in accordance with the claim 1 »further characterized in that it further includes: means for receiving a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and means for determining a price for the product "that depends on whether the product identified by the card signal" read by the reading means "corresponds to the product identified by the purchase signal. 5. The system according to claim 4, further characterized in that it includes an electromagnetic detector to generate the purchase signal. 6.- The system in accordance with the re vindication 4, further characterized in that it includes: a bar code reader for generating the purchase signal. 7. A system characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of portable cards; a store that includes a plurality of products and means for reading a card signal from one of the portable cards; a first computer network that includes a first plurality of computers, each of which has "a first respective network address, including the plurality of first computers a first computer that has means to send a first signal including a first address network, an address between networks that corresponds to a computer of another network, and a signal that corresponds to a product in the plurality of products, a second computer network that includes a second plurality of computers, each of which has a second network address, respectively, means that respond to the address between networks »of the first signal» to send a second signal including a second network address »and the signal corresponding to the product, and means that respond to the signal that corresponds to the product »of the second signal» to send a card signal to a portable card in the plurality of cards. a system that includes a plurality of portable cards, a first computer network that includes a first plurality of computers, each of which has a first network address, respectively; including the plurality of first computers a first computer; a second computer network that includes a second plurality of computers, each of which has a second network address, respectively; a method for operating the system, characterized in that it comprises the step, performed by the first computer »of: sending a first signal including a first network address» an address between networks corresponding to a computer of another network »and a signal that corresponds to a product; and wherein the method further comprises the step of sending, in response to the address between networks »of the first signal; a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product; and sending a card signal, which responds to the signal corresponding to the product of the second signal, to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and read the card signal from the portable card. 9. The method according to claim 8 » 10 further characterized in that the sending of a first signal includes the step of: constructing a signal having the first network address removed 01 digits of the start of the first signal; and the step of sending a second signal includes the step of constructing a signal that has the second network address-15 2 digits away from the start of the second signal; where 01 is not equal to 02. 10. The method according to claim 8, further characterized in that the step of sending a first signal includes the step of constructing a signal with the first 20 network address including NI digits, and the step of sending a second signal includes the step of constructing a signal with the second network including N2 digits; where NI is not equal to N2. 11. The method according to the claim 25 8, further characterized in that it includes the step of receiving a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and determining a price for the product, depending on whether the product identified by the card signal »read by the reading means» corresponds to the product identified by the purchase signal.