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US 6,609,104 B1Granted
Method and system for accumulating marginal discounts and applying an associated incentive
AssigneeIncentech, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Deaton, Rodney G. Gabriel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for customer promotion includes sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order. A marginal discount associated with each item is determined. All unapplied marginal discounts are accumulated for application to the customer order. A discount is applied to the customer order in response to a signal that is generated that indicates the accumulated discounts exceeds a predetermined minimum.
Claims45
A method for customer promotion of a retail store comprising:
- sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order;
- accumulating the price of the each item;
- determining a marginal discount associated with the each item;
- after processing, and determination of a marginal discount for the each item, accumulating all unapplied marginal discounts;
- generating a first signal indicating that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- generating a second signal indicating that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the first signal and the second signal, applying a price reduction to the customer order.
5 more elements
A system for customer promotion over the Internet comprising:
- a computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on a computer, to
- sequentially receive signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a discount associated with each item;
- accumulate the price of the each item;
- accumulate all unapplied discounts after the determination of a discount for the each item;
- determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order.
7 more elements
A computerized system for customer promotion comprising:
- a storage medium;
- a processor coupled to the storage medium;
- and
- a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on the processor to
- sequentially receive signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a discount associated with each item;
- accumulate the price of the each item;
- accumulate all unapplied discounts after the determination of a discount for the each item;
- determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order.
8 more elements
A method for customer promotion of a retail store comprising:
- sequentially processing, at a remote computer at a location remote from the retail store on a substantially real-time basis, each of a plurality of items in a customer order;
- accumulating the price of the each item;
- determining a marginal discount associated with the each item;
- after processing, and determination of a marginal discount for the each item, accumulating, by the remote computer, all unapplied marginal discounts;
- generating a first signal indicating that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- generating, by the remote computer, a second signal indicating that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the first signal and the second signal, applying a price reduction to the customer order.
5 more elements
A system for customer promotion over the Internet comprising:
- a computer-readable medium;
- and
- a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on a computer, to
- sequentially receive, at a location remote from the retail store on a substantially real-time basis, signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a marginal discount associated with each item;
- accumulate the price of the each item;
- accumulate all unapplied marginal discounts after the determination of a marginal discount for the each item;
- determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order.
7 more elements
A system comprising a remote computer coupled to a retail store, the remote computer located remote from the retail store, the remote computer comprising:
- a storage medium;
- a processor coupled to the storage medium;
- and
- a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium, the computer program operable, when executed on the processor to
- detect, at the remote computer on a substantially real-time basis, sequential signals indicative of the respective prices of a plurality of items in a customer order received over the Internet and in response sequentially determine a marginal discount associated with each item;
- accumulate the price of the each item;
- accumulate all unapplied marginal discounts after the determination of a marginal discount for the each item;
- determine that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- determine that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the determination that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold and the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum, initiate application of a price reduction to the customer order.
8 more elements
A method for customer promotion of a retail store comprising:
- sequentially processing each of a plurality of items in a customer order;
- accumulating the price of the each item;
- determining a marginal discount associated with the each item, the value of the marginal discount being dependent on the price of the item and otherwise independent of the identity of the item;
- after processing, and determination of a marginal discount for the each item, accumulating all unapplied marginal discounts;
- generating a first signal indicating that a sum of the accumulated prices exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- generating a second signal indicating that the accumulated discount exceeds a predetermined minimum;
- and
- in response to the first signal and the second signal, applying a price reduction to the customer order.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.