Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons

US4723212A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Catalina Marketing Corporation · US

Inventors

• Thomas L. Mindrum · Fairfield, US
• George W. Off · Tecate Mission Road, US
• Michael C. Scroggie · Laguna Niguel, US
• Michael R. O'Brien · Littleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 27, 1987
• Grant date: Feb 2, 1988
• Expiry date: Feb 27, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07G5/00
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus, and a corresponding method, for creating a discount coupon in response to the purchase of a product other than the one to which the coupon applies. A record pertaining to each item purchased is examined to determine whether the item is intended to trigger the creation of a coupon. If it is, at least one associated coupon deal record is retrieved, and a coupon becomes a candidate for printing, subject to a maximum number of coupons per transaction. The apparatus also validates coupons presented for redemption, scanning a list of purchased products to determine whether any falls into the same product group specified on the coupon, and also determining whether the coupon date is valid.