Method and apparatus for determining a subscription to a product in a retail environment

A method for determining a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determining a current purchase of a first product by a customer;
• determining a subscription to a second product based on the current purchase by:
• setting a minimum number of the second product to be bought within a duration of the subscription;
• setting a minimum number of transactions within which the minimum number of the second product is to be bought;
• and
• setting a maximum time within which the minimum number of transactions are to occur;
• and
• outputting an offer for a subscription to a second product.

A method for applying a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• receiving a product identifier of a product being purchased by the customer;
• determining whether the customer has a subscription to the product;
• determining a required frequency for purchasing the product defined by the subscription, wherein the required frequency comprises a maximum time period between purchases of the product by the customer;
• determining a time of a previous purchase of the product by the customer;
• determining a current time;
• calculating whether a time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases;
• determining an end time for the subscription;
• calculating whether the current time is past the end time;
• and
• adjusting a purchase total based on whether the customer has a subscription to the product, if the time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases and the current time is not past the end time.

A method for controlling a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determining a successful completion, by the customer, of a first subscription to a first product, wherein the first subscription defines a first minimum number of the first product to be bought and a first minimum number of transactions within which the first minimum number of the first product is to be bought;
• outputting an offer for a second subscription to a second product, wherein the second subscription defines a second minimum number of the second product to be bought and a second minimum number of transactions within which the second minimum number of the second product is to be bought and wherein a condition of the second subscription is based on a condition of the first subscription;
• and
• receiving a response to the offer, the response indicating one of an acceptance and a rejection.

An apparatus for providing a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising:

• a processor, and
• a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;
• the processor being operative with the program to:
• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• evaluate data regarding at least one previous purchase of the customer;
• determine, based on the data regarding the at least one previous purchase, a frequency with which the customer purchased a first product;
• select a second product based on the determined frequency;
• define a subscription to the second product by:
• setting a minimum number of the second product to be bought within a duration of the subscription;
• setting a minimum number of transactions within which the minimum number of the second product is to be bought;
• and
• setting a maximum time within which the minimum number of transactions are to occur;
• and
• output an offer for a subscription to the second product.

An apparatus for providing a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising:

• a processor, and
• a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;
• the processor being operative with the program to:
• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determine a current purchase of a first product by a customer;
• determine a subscription to a second product based on the current purchase by:
• setting a minimum number of the second product to be bought within a duration of the subscription;
• setting a minimum number of transactions within which the minimum number of the second product is to be bought;
• and
• setting a maximum time within which the minimum number of transactions are to occur;
• and
• output an offer for a subscription to a second product, the offer being based on the current purchase.

An apparatus for providing a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising:

• a processor, and
• a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;
• the processor being operative with the program to:
• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• receive a product identifier of a product being purchased by the customer;
• determine whether the customer has a subscription to the product;
• determine a required frequency for purchasing the product defined by the subscription, wherein the required frequency comprises a maximum time period between purchases of the product by the customer;
• determine a time of a previous purchase of the product by the customer;
• determining a current time;
• calculate whether a time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases;
• determine an end time for the subscription;
• calculate whether the current time is past the end time;
• and
• adjust a purchase total based on whether the customer has a subscription to the product, if the time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases and the current time is not past the end time.

An apparatus for providing a subscription to a product wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer, comprising:

• a processor, and
• a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;
• the processor being operative with the program to:
• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determine a successful completion, by the customer, of a first subscription to a first product, wherein the first subscription defines a first minimum number of the first product to be bought and a first minimum number of transactions within which the first minimum number of the first product is to be bought;
• output an offer for a second subscription to a second product, wherein the second subscription defines a second minimum number of the second product to be bought and a second minimum number of transactions within which the second minimum number of the second product is to be bought and wherein a condition of the second subscription is based on a condition of the first subscription;
• and
• receive a response to the offer, the response indicating one of an acceptance and a rejection.

A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• evaluate data regarding at least one previous purchase of the customer;
• determine, based on the data regarding the at least one previous purchase, a frequency with which the customer purchased a first product;
• select a second product based on the determined frequency;
• define a subscription to the second product by:
• setting a minimum number of the second product to be bought within a duration of the subscription;
• setting a minimum number of transactions within which the minimum number of the second product is to be bought;
• and
• setting a maximum time within which the minimum number of transactions are to occur;
• and
• output an offer for a subscription to the second product, wherein the customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer.

A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determine a current purchase of a first product by a customer;
• determine a subscription to a second product based on the current purchase by:
• setting a minimum number of the second product to be bought within a duration of the subscription;
• setting a minimum number of transactions within which the minimum number of the second product is to be bought;
• and
• setting a maximum time within which the minimum number of transactions are to occur;
• and
• output an offer for a subscription to a second product, wherein the customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the first and second subscription at a retailer.

A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• receive a product identifier of a product being purchased by the customer;
• determine whether the customer has a subscription to the product, wherein the customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the subscription at a retailer;
• determine a required frequency for purchasing the product defined by the subscription, wherein the required frequency comprises a maximum time period between purchases of the product by the customer;
• determine a time of a previous purchase of the product by the customer;
• determining a current time;
• calculate whether a time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases;
• determine an end time for the subscription;
• calculate whether the current time is past the end time;
• and
• adjust a purchase total based on whether the customer has a subscription to the product, if the time period between the time of the previous purchase and the current time is not greater than the maximum time period between purchases and the current time is not past the end time.

A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

• receive a customer identifier that identifies a customer;
• determine a successful completion, by the customer, of a first subscription to a first product, wherein the first subscription defines a first minimum number of the first product to be bought and a first minimum number of transactions within which the first minimum number of the first product is to be bought;
• output an offer for a second subscription to a second product, wherein the second subscription defines a second minimum number of the second product to be bought and a second minimum number of transactions within which the second minimum number of the second product is to be bought and wherein a condition of the second subscription is based on a condition of the first subscription;
• receive a response to the offer, the response indicating one of an acceptance and a rejection;
• and
• wherein a customer purchases each unit of a product defined by the first and second subscription at a retailer.