# US 2014/0207573 A1 · System and Method for Communicating with a User at a Point-of-Sale > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207573 A1 - Document ID: US20140207573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/163,394 - Filed: 2014-01-24 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-22 - Assignees: Empire Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Empire Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Gregory Charles WOODWARD; Harold Irving WOODWARD - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207573A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0234: Rebates after completed purchase - G06Q 20/10: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems - G06Q 20/204: {comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit} - G06Q 20/209: {Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output} - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06Q 30/0237: {at kiosk} - G06Q 30/0238: at point-of-sale [POS] - G06Q 30/0255: {based on user history} - G06Q 30/0268: {at point-of-sale [POS]} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system, method, and apparatus for providing promotions. The system receives a user-initiated request for a transaction and obtains, from a storage device of the system, information identifying one or more past purchases or present purchases of the user. The system determines, based on the information, a promotion to present to the user, and determines a promotional identifier associated with the promotion. The system outputs, with machine readable information, the promotional identifier to the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computerized method for providing promotions by an application of an automated promotion presentation system, comprising: receiving, at the automated promotion presentation system, a user-initiated request for a transaction; obtaining, from a storage device of the automated promotion presentation system, information identifying one or more past purchases or present purchases of the user determining, based on the obtained information, a promotion to present to the user; determining a promotional identifier associated with the promotion; and outputting, with machine readable information, the promotional identifier to the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is further equipped to credit, in response to a request for a rebate, a value corresponding to the rebate onto a card stored by the system, and to dispense the card to a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the automated promotion presentation system is further configured to dispense, based on an ATM functionality, an amount of cash corresponding to another rebate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the automated promotion presentation system is a kiosk. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method in claim 1 wherein the requested transaction is a rebate transaction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the requested transaction is a request for a look-up or for a comparison of a product that can be purchased. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is configured to: determine account information corresponding to an account of the user; and receive authentication information associated with the account of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional identifier is a promotional code. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the promotion corresponds to a user discount being offered by a retailer, or to an offering of the retailer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the automated promotion presentation system is performed online. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the promotion to present to the user is further based on a profile of the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated promotion presentation system comprises a computer of the user. ### Claim 13 A computerized method for providing promotions by an application of an automated promotion presentation system, comprising: receiving, at the automated promotion presentation system, a user-initiated request for information, wherein the request is received before a purchase transaction; determining, in response to the user-initiated request, a promotion to present to the user; receiving, during the purchase transaction, a promotion identifier of the promotion that was presented to the user; and applying the promotion to the purchase transaction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the promotion is associated with a purchase credit, and wherein the step of applying the promotion comprises applying the purchase credit to the purchase transaction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is configured to communicate with a processor that manages a database storing information identifying items having a promotion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the step of presenting the promotion to the user comprises presenting the promotion identifier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the purchase transaction occurs at a point of sale (POS) system that is integrated with the automated promotion presentation system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the automated promotion presentation system comprises a computer of the user.