초록 ▼

A system for dispensing and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. A card-dispensing collects information from a customer and subsequently issues a "smart card" for storing electronic coupons. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, b

A system for dispensing and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. A card-dispensing collects information from a customer and subsequently issues a "smart card" for storing electronic coupons. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC product data corresponds to coupons stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system comprising:plurality of products;a kiosk includinga card holder for concurrently holding a plurality of portable cards each having a random access memory (RAM),a receiver that receives a first signal characterizing a customer,a mechanism for ejecting a first card

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system comprising:plurality of products;a kiosk includinga card holder for concurrently holding a plurality of portable cards each having a random access memory (RAM),a receiver that receives a first signal characterizing a customer,a mechanism for ejecting a first card from the kiosk, the first card storing a respective second signal, anda memory that stores an association between the first signal and the second signal; anda checkout area includinga card reader that receives a plurality of third signals from the RAM of the first card, each third signal corresponding to a product,a product detector that receives a fourth signal corresponding to a product, anda price determiner that determines a price depending on whether the fourth signal corresponds to one of the received third signals, rein the kiosk further includesa writer that writes one of the third signals into the RAM of the first card, and the system further includesa second writer that writes one of the third signals into the RAM of a card ejected from the kiosk, the second writer being removed from the kiosk.