U.S. patent application number 14/306109 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-11 for price paid database method and system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Catalina Marketing Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Catalina Marketing Corporation. Invention is credited to James Michael FITZPATRICK.
Application Number | 20140365274 14/306109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24935960 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140365274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FITZPATRICK; James Michael |
December 11, 2014 |
PRICE PAID DATABASE METHOD AND SYSTEM
Abstract
A novel price paid database, method, system, and computer
program product in which checkout items are scanned at a plurality
of stores, and a checkout computer identifies the purchased items.
The checkout computer determines a price paid for each purchased
item. A central computer records in a price-paid database an item
identification and price-paid for each purchased items. The central
computer publishes the price-paid database. The checkout computer
recurrently updates the price-paid database in the central computer
with the price paid for each purchased item, the customer
identification (if available), the store identification, and a list
price for each purchased item.
Inventors: |
FITZPATRICK; James Michael;
(Newport Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Catalina Marketing Corporation |
St. Petersburg |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Catalina Marketing
Corporation
St. Petersburg
FL
|
Family ID: |
24935960 |
Appl. No.: |
14/306109 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09730592 |
Dec 7, 2000 |
8756154 |
|
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14306109 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0226 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 30/0223 20130101; G06Q 30/0206
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/7.29 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1-50. (canceled)
51. A computer implemented method of facilitating provision of
prices paid, the method being implemented by a computer system
having one or more physical processors programmed by computer
program instructions that, when executed by the one or more
physical processors, cause the computer system to perform the
method, the method comprising: receiving, by the computer system, a
first set of prices paid from a first retailer, wherein the first
set of prices paid indicates a price paid for one or more items at
the first retailer; receiving, by the computer system, a second set
of prices paid from a second retailer, wherein the second set of
prices paid indicates a price paid for one or more items at the
second retailer; generating, by the computer system, a first
indexed volume of prices paid based on the first set of prices and
the second set of prices, wherein the first indexed volume
represents prices paid at the first retailer and the second
retailer during a first time period; identifying, by the computer
system, a subscriber that has subscribed to receive indexed volumes
of prices paid; and providing, by the computer system, the first
indexed volume to the identified subscriber.
52. The method of claim 51, the method further comprising:
receiving a third set of prices paid from the first retailer;
receiving a fourth set of prices paid from the second retailer;
generating a second indexed volume of prices paid based on the
third set of prices paid and the fourth set of prices aid, wherein
the second indexed volume represents prices paid at the first
retailer and the second retailer during a second time period after
the first time period; and providing the second indexed volume to
the identified subscriber.
53. The method of claim 51, the method further comprising:
obtaining an identification of a plurality of retailers from which
to request respective sets of prices paid, the plurality of
retailers comprising the first retailer and the second retailer;
communicating a first request to the first retailer to provide the
first set of prices paid, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received based on the first request; and communicating a second
request to the second retailer to provide the second set of prices
paid, wherein the second set of prices paid is received based on
the first request.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer via a transfer site to which the
first set of prices has been uploaded after a number of
transactions has occurred at the first retailer.
55. The method of claim 51, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer after a number of transactions has
occurred at the first retailer.
56. The method of claim 51, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer via a transfer site to which the
first set of prices has been uploaded.
57. A system of facilitating provision of prices paid, the system
comprising: a computer system comprising one or more physical
processors programmed by computer program instructions that, when
executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the computer
system to: receive a first set of prices paid from a first
retailer, wherein the first set of prices paid indicates a price
paid for one or more items at the first retailer; receive a second
set of prices paid from a second retailer, wherein the second set
of prices paid indicates a price paid for one or more items at the
second retailer; generate a first indexed volume of prices paid
based on the first set of prices and the second set of prices,
wherein the first indexed volume represents prices paid at the
first retailer and the second retailer during a first time period;
identify a subscriber that has subscribed to receive indexed
volumes of prices paid; and provide the first indexed volume to the
identified subscriber.
58. The system of claim 57, wherein the computer system is further
programmed to: receive a third set of prices paid from the first
retailer; receive a fourth set of prices paid from the second
retailer; generate a second indexed volume of prices paid based on
the third set of prices paid and the fourth set of prices aid,
wherein the second indexed volume represents prices paid at the
first retailer and the second retailer during a second time period
after the first time period; and provide the second indexed volume
to the identified subscriber.
59. The system of claim 57, wherein the computer system is further
programmed to: obtain an identification of a plurality of retailers
from which to request respective sets of prices paid, the plurality
of retailers comprising the first retailer and the second retailer;
communicate a first request to the first retailer to provide the
first set of prices paid, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received based on the first request; and communicate a second
request to the second retailer to provide the second set of prices
paid, wherein the second set of prices paid is received based on
the first request.
60. The system of claim 57, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer via a transfer site to which the
first set of prices has been uploaded after a number of
transactions has occurred at the first retailer.
61. The system of claim 57, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer after a number of transactions has
occurred at the first retailer.
62. The system of claim 57, wherein the first set of prices paid is
received from the first retailer via a transfer site to which the
first set of prices has been uploaded.
63. A computer implemented method of facilitating provision of
prices paid, the method being implemented by a retail computer
system associated with a first retailer, the retail computer system
having one or more physical processors programmed by computer
program instructions that, when executed by the one or more
physical processors, cause the retail computer system to perform
the method, the method comprising: obtaining, by the retail
computer system, a first price paid for a first item and first item
identification information that identifies the first item; storing,
by the retail computer system, the first price paid and the first
item identification information in a memory; obtaining, by the
retail computer system, a second price paid for a second item and
second item identification information that identifies the second
item; storing, by the retail computer system, the second price paid
and the second item identification information in the memory;
determining, by the retail computer system, whether to upload the
first price paid and the second price paid based on an interval;
responsive to a determination that the first price paid and the
second price paid should be provided, communicating the first price
paid, the first item identification information, the second price
paid, and the second item identification information to a computer
system remote from the retail computer system.
64. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising:
generating a local price paid database based on the first price
paid, the first item identification information, the second price
paid, and the second item identification information, wherein the
first price paid, the first item identification information, the
second price paid, and the second item identification information
is communicated to the computer system based on the local price
paid database.
65. The method of claim 64, wherein the local price paid database
is communicated to the computer system.
66. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising:
obtaining first customer identifying information during a
transaction associated with the first item; and providing the first
customer identifying information to the computer system.
67. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising:
determining a time during which a transaction associated with the
first item occurred or completed; and providing the time to the
computer system.
68. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising:
obtaining a first list price for the first item, wherein the first
list price is different than the first price paid; and providing
the first list price to the computer system.
69. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising:
obtaining a first discount amount for the first item, wherein the
first discount amount is associated with a loyalty program account
and reflected in the first price paid; and providing the first
discount amount to the computer system.
70. The method of claim 63, the method further comprising: counting
a number of transactions that have occurred since a previous
instance that prices paid were communicated to the computer system,
wherein determining whether to upload the first price paid and the
second price paid comprises determining whether the number of
transactions has met or exceeded the threshold.
71. The method of claim 63, wherein the first item is associated
with a first transaction and the second item is associated a second
transaction.
72. The method of claim 63, wherein the first item and the second
item are both associated with the same transaction.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein the interval comprises a single
transaction such that the retail computer system communicates
prices paid after each transaction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/730,592, filed Dec. 7, 2000, which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a database, method, and system
whereby accurate prices paid for products in stores are captured
even at a frequent shopper card level and archived for consumer
access and market analysis.
DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
[0003] Consumer purchases these days are becoming increasingly more
competitive. To entice consumers to buy a particular product, many
retailers and discounters are using a frequent shopper card which,
when presented at the time of purchase, substantially reduces the
price of the item from that available to members of the public who
have no frequent shopper card. These price discounts can vary as
merchants use discounts to entice sales in items which will soon
expire, be superceded by other items, or in which the distributors
or manufacturers have themselves added promotional incentives.
While such discount incentives are apparently mutually beneficial
to the seller and buyer, knowledge of the actual price paid is
critical in determining price margins and the price-acceptance by a
customer.
[0004] Thus, data reflecting not the inventory list price nor the
advertised sales price but rather the actual price paid is needed
from across many sources to enable reliable statistical
determinations to be valid.
[0005] Obtaining this data presents several problems. First, while
there are syndicated sources which list prices of individual items,
such as for example the manufacturer's suggested retail list price,
data indicating the actual price of a product is only readily
available at a local level such as the store or retail shop where
the item is purchased. Further, consider the problem of relying on
inventory price lists. Frequently, prices are negotiated between a
seller and a buyer. While this is frequently associated with the
purchase of expensive items, such as for example automobiles, price
negotiations occur frequently during the purchase of not so
expensive items. Price negotiations are also frequently made at a
retailer during clearance, inventory reduction, and close out
conditions. In these circumstances, the prices are quite elastic,
as merchants are driven by other considerations besides prices on
the individual items. For example, a merchant needing to clear old
inventory to make sales space for new product will reduce prices to
clear the old products. Merchants have discretion in setting
prices. The economic restraint for the merchant is to pay the
distributor or, in some cases, the manufacturer a contracted price.
Even with the responsibility to pay the constructed price, it may
be advantageous for the merchant to discount below wholesale and
loose money on some products, if the discounted price enables the
promotion of more profitable goods in the store.
[0006] Consider also situations where retailers do on-floor
promotions to attract customers into a store. Here, again data
showing price acceptance is potentially available, but only through
capture of the actual prices paid for the purchased items.
[0007] Yet, capturing of data in these situations of extraordinary
price elasticity in which marketing data is perhaps the most
decisive in determining price acceptance by the customer is not
provided for in syndicated sources. Further, the syndicated sources
do not capture discounts from frequent shopping card programs.
[0008] As a consequence, data bases formed from syndicated price
lists reflect average prices which have been set by historical
supply and demand factors. Such databases do not necessarily
reflect the reality of the sells market today, unless the market is
unchanged from when the price lists were created.
[0009] Thus, the prices paid for purchased items are nowhere
captured in an aggregated, pseudo-real-time database which monitors
the price paid and records price history and price paid
variations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a
pseudo-real-time database to capture actual prices paid for
individual items across an aggregate number of stores.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to update
recurrently a price-paid database with information on customer
purchases such as for example product identification, an actual
price-paid, a customer identification, a store identification, a
list sells price, and the price differential between the list sales
price and the price paid. In one embodiment, customer
identification is obtained from scanning a frequent shopper card, a
credit card, a club member card, a debit card, a fingerprint,
retinal scan, or a signature.
[0012] Still a further object of the present invention is to
publish the price-paid database in a format in which users can
access.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide the
user with a user-defined (i.e. user-specified) district in which to
obtain information on the prices paid. In one embodiment, the user
selects parts of the price paid database (within a specified
district) to display the prices paid by store selection, by
customer selection, by brand selection, or by sales category, such
as for example paint, tires, lumber, food, clothes, computers,
etc.
[0014] Accordingly, these and other objects are provided for in a
novel price paid database, method, system, and computer program
product in which checkout items are scanned at a plurality of
stores, and a checkout computer identifies the purchased items. The
checkout computer determines a price paid for each purchased item.
A central computer records in a price-paid database an item
identification and price-paid for each purchased items. The central
computer publishes the price-paid database. The checkout computer
recurrently updates the price-paid database in the central computer
with the price paid for each purchased item, the customer
identification (if available), the store identification, and a list
price for each purchased item.
[0015] The price paid method is included on a computer program
product which stores data to implement the price paid process on
the computer such as a general purpose computer or a network of
general purpose computers.
[0016] Thus, the present invention provides users such as market
analysts, manufacturers, and retailers with near real time
information on the price acceptance of individual items in a local,
district, state, regional, or national basis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A more complete description of the present invention and
many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained
as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing implementation of the
present invention on a computer system;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an illustrative table showing a price-paid data
base according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is another illustrative table showing a price-paid
data base according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the price paid method of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method according to the
present invention to update the price paid database;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method according to the
present invention to update the price paid database; and
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a computer system
programmed to perform one or more of the special purpose functions
of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, FIG. 1 is a
block diagram showing the price-paid database system.
[0026] A user interface 100 is provided. The user interface can be
a personal computer or other devices such as telephones for
accessing a user-side network 102. The user-side network 102 is any
suitable hardware and software for communicating to the user
interface 100 including, for example, the communications controller
724 and the network 728 shown in the computer system 702 of FIG. 7,
or any suitable Internet connection.
[0027] The user interface 100 has a display 104 and can be
connected to a printer 106 which enables items in the price-paid
database to be printed. The user side network 102 is connected to a
central computer 108. The central computer 108 is any suitable
personal computer, workstation, server, or other device, such as
the computer system 702 of FIG. 7. The central computer 108
communicates to the user interface 100 using any suitable protocol
and may be implemented using the computer system 702 of FIG. 7 for
example. The central computer 108 includes a web page 110 or other
electronic page for communicating with the user and a central
price-paid database 112.
[0028] The central computer 108 is further connected to a
retailer-side network 114 which networks the central computer 108
to retail stores participating in the price-paid database system of
the present invention. The retailer-side network 114 is any
suitable hardware and software for communicating to the checkout
computer 116 including, for example, the communications controller
724 and the network 728 shown in the computer system 702 of FIG. 7,
or any suitable Internet connection.
[0029] Each retail store in the retailer-side network has a
checkout computer 116. The checkout computer 116 is any suitable
personal computer, workstation, server, or other device, such as
the computer system 702 of FIG. 7.
[0030] At the retail stores, the prices paid for individual items
are captured, and the prices paid uploaded from the checkout
computer 116 to the central computer 108 and stored in the
price-paid database 112. The checkout computer 116 and a scanner
118 identify and capture the prices paid for purchased items. The
scanner 118 may be implemented as any conventional scanning device
for reading product information such as an item code (e.g., UDC,
EAN, or JAN) from bar codes or other indicia on the product.
Information read by the scanner 118 is transmitted to the checkout
computer 116. The checkout computer 116 includes a local price paid
database 120 which contains a similar structure to the central
price paid database 112, but the local price paid database 120 only
records price paid information associated with that particular
retailer. The broken connection in FIG. 1 between the retailer side
network 114 and the checkout computer 116 indicates that there are
multiple checkout computers and that the price paid database system
of the present invention is available to new retailers.
[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the checkout
computer 116 stores a list of purchased items and recurrently
uploads the list to the central computer 108 over the retailer-side
network 114. Software for implementing the present invention can
reside anywhere on the network, but preferably resides in the
central computer 108.
[0032] In general, it can be seen that a price-paid database system
of the present invention includes a user interface device 100 which
logs a user onto the web page 110, permitting the user to
interrogate the central price-paid data-base 112. The user
interface device 100 includes an input device (not shown) such as a
keyboard or a mouse which receives input from the user, a display
device 104 which displays information to the user and a printer 106
which prints selected items from the central price-paid database
112. The user-side network 102 and the retailer-side network 114
can be the same computer network simultaneously functioning as both
the user-side and the retailer-side network. The central computer
108 accesses storage devices (not explicitly shown in FIG. 1) to
store the web page database 110 and the central price-paid database
112. The checkout computer 116 is interfaced to the scanner 118.
The price-paid database system identifies purchased items and
captures the price paid for each item. Through the retailer-side
network, information about items purchased is returned to the
central computer 108 recurrently to update the price-paid
database.
[0033] The present invention stores information relating to a
customer's shopping history as well as availability and prices of
individual products. This information is stored in one or more
memories such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,
and/or RAM, for example. One or more databases, such as the central
price-paid database 112, may store the information used to
implement the present invention. The databases are organized using
data structures (e.g., records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs,
trees, and/or lists) contained in one or more memories, such as the
memories listed above or any of the storage devices listed below in
the discussion of FIG. 7, for example.
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts a price paid table 201 for implementing a
system for providing products, prices and availability in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The price
paid table 201 is a data structure depicted in a relational format,
whereby information stored in one column (i.e., field) of the table
201 is mapped or linked to information stored in the same row
(i.e., record) across the other column(s) of the table 201. These
data structures are used by the central computer 108 and/or other
network or local computers to provide competitive pricing and
availability between the various retailers. The price paid table
201 forms a portion of the central price-paid database 112, which
is stored in any suitable storage device(s) or medium(s), such as
the memory of the central computer 108 and/or any other suitable
storage device(s) or medium(s).
[0035] The price-paid table 201 includes a field 203 for storing
retailer identification, a field 205 for storing product
descriptions of the products in the field 203, a field 207 for
storing the prices paid for the products, and a field 209 for
storing list prices of the products. The central computer 108
selects from the central price paid database 112 only those
retailers within a specified shopping district and enters those
retailers along with the actual prices and availability status into
the price-paid table 201. The user can then determine from the
price-paid table 201 the actual prices paid for the purchased
products.
[0036] Other fields, as shown in FIG. 3, which are included in the
price paid database include customer identification, time of
purchase, shopping card member discount. The price-paid table 301
includes a field 303 for storing retailer identification, a field
305 for storing product descriptions of the products in the field
303, a field 307 for storing the prices paid for the products, a
field 309 for storing list prices of the products, a field 311 for
storing the customer identification, a field 313 for storing the
time of purchase, and a field 315 for storing the shopping card
discount. The central computer 108 selects from the central price
paid database 112 only those purchases within a specified shopping
district. The user can then determine from the price-paid table 301
the prices paid and customer information regarding purchases in the
specified shopping district.
[0037] Records in the price-paid database database contain fields
together with a set of operations for searching, sorting,
recombining, and other database functions. One or more of U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,832,457; 5,649,114; 5,430,644; and 5,592,560 describe
techniques for collecting consumer purchase history information and
for storing such information in databases such as the central
price-paid database 112, for example. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,832,457;
5,649,114; 5,430,644; and 5,592,560 are incorporated herein by
reference. Additionally, techniques for collecting consumer
purchase information and for storing such information in databases,
such as the central price-paid database 112, are described in other
patents owned by Catalina Marketing and/or Catalina Marketing
International. Each patent owned by Catalina Marketing and/or
Catalina Marketing International is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the price paid method of the
present invention. In step 400, the central computer 108 obtains
scanned information from a plurality of stores. Details of
obtaining the scanned information are described below. At step 402,
the central computer 108 records an actual price-paid and an item
identification of the purchased items. The central computer obtains
this information via the retailer-side network 114 and the checkout
computer 116. The checkout computer 116, by identifying the
purchased item via the scanner 118, assigns price discounts to the
item if the purchaser belongs to a shopping club. The checkout
computer 116 recognizes the purchaser, by way of a frequent shopper
card or other readable media such as for example a credit card, a
club member card, a debit card, a fingerprint image, a retinal
image, or a signature. The frequent shopper card information is
recorded in the checkout computer 116 along with the price-paid for
each purchased item. The checkout computer 116 records the actual
price paid as well as a flag indicating that these purchases were
discounted by a frequent shopper card discount program. In step
402, the central computer 108 in communication with the checkout
computer 116 records the actual price paid of the purchased item in
the central price-paid database 112. Retrieving data from the local
price paid databases 120 into the central price paid database 112
occurs recurrently subsequent to any purchases at the store and
occurs even during periods of sales inactivity. The recorded
information includes for example the price paid, list price, and
customer identification (if available). The central computer
aggregates in the central price-paid database 112 the prices-paid
for items from multiple stores. At step 404, the central computer
108 publishes the aggregated price-paid database.
[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the central
computer 116 publishes the central price-paid database 112 through
the web-page 110 which can be customer-selected to specify a
particular district, sales category, product (e.g., CREST.RTM.
toothpaste in an 8 ounce container) or customer category (e.g., all
customers within the state of Florida). Other publishing methods,
such as for example the publication of indexed volumes of the price
paid database, are generated according to the present invention by
the central computer 108. The indexed volumes are available through
a subscription which provides subscribers with current volumes of
the price-paid database. In general, the publishing methods of the
present invention disseminate information in the price-paid
database to users in an electronic, magnetic, or paper format.
[0040] One way in which data in the central price paid database 112
is updated is by command from the central computer 108 which
initiates updating on a recurrent basis to insure that data
communication along the retailer-side network from the checkout
computer 116 is not lost. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the steps
by which the central computer 108 obtains the price paid
information. At step 500, the central computer 108 initializes the
price paid data base update routine and sets, in step 502, the
STORE variable to "1". At step 504, the central computer requests
transfer of data files from a checkout computer at the first
retailer and retrieves the price paid data information. At step
506, the central computer increments the STORE variable by 1. At
step 508, the central computer compares the value of the STORE
variable to see if it is equal to the number n of retail stores
connected through the retailer-side network 114. If STORE is not
equal to n, the central computer proceeds back to step 504 and
retrieves data from a checkout computer at the next retail store.
If STORE is equal to n, the central computer exits, at step 510,
the price-paid database update routine.
[0041] Another way in which data in the central price paid database
is updated is by receiving updates from a network of checkout
computers 116. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps by which the
central computer 108 receives information from the local price paid
databases 120. At step 600, the checkout computer 116 sets a
TRANSACTION variable to "1". The checkout computer 116 increments,
in step 602, the value of the TRANSACTION variable by 1 every time
a customer purchases goods from the retailer. After a predetermined
number N of times, such as for example corresponding the average
number of transitions in 4 hrs of business, the checkout computer
116 in step 604 initializes a file transfer of the local price paid
data base 120 to the central computer 108. The file transfer can
occur using a number of standard communication protocols such file
transfer protocol (FTP). Once the file transfer is complete, the
TRANSACTION variable is reset to 1, and the process returns to step
602.
[0042] The aforesaid methods and devices for the price paid
database are contained in according to this invention on a computer
program product. The computer program product is a storage medium
including instructions which can be used to program a computer or a
plurality of network computers to perform a process of the
invention. Storage medium can include, but is not limited to, any
type of disc including floppy disc, optical disc, CD ROMs, and
magneto optical disc, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or
optical cards, or any type of medium suitable for storing
electronic instructions.
[0043] This invention can be conveniently implemented easily in a
general purpose digital computer or a network of general purpose
digital computers and/or microprocessors programmed to record the
teachings of the present invention, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the computer art from reading the above descriptions
regarding the figures. Appropriate software coding can readily be
programmed by skilled programmers based on the teaching of the
present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the
software art. The invention may also be implemented by preparation
of applications specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting
an appropriate network of conventional component of circuits, as
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0044] It is to be understood that the system in FIG. 1 is for
exemplary purposes only, as many variations of the specific
hardware and software used to implement the present invention will
be readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art. For
example, the functionality of the checkout computer 116 and the
scanner 118 may be combined in a single device. These
implementations and other implementations of computer systems are
described in greater detail in one or more of U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,723,212; 4,910,672; 5,173,851; 5,612,868; and 6,026,370, each of
which is incorporated herein by reference. To implement these
variations as well as other variations, a single computer (e.g.,
the control computer of FIG. 1) may be programmed to perform the
special purpose functions of two or more of any of the devices
shown in FIG. 1. On the other hand, two or more programmed
computers may be substituted for any one of the devices shown in
FIG. 1. Principles and advantages of distributed processing, such
as redundancy and replication, may also be implemented as desired
to increase the robustness and performance of the system, for
example.
[0045] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer 702 that
may be programmed to perform one or more of the special purpose
functions of the present invention. The computer 702 is a personal
computer, a portable computer, a computer workstation with
sufficient memory and processing capability, or any device
configured to work like a computer. In one embodiment, the computer
device 702 is a device diagrammatically shown in FIG. 7. In this
embodiment, the computer 702 includes a central processing unit 704
(CPU) that communicates with a number of other devices by way of a
system bus 706. The computer 702 includes a random access memory
(RAM) 708 that stores temporary values used in implementing the
print job.
[0046] The central processing unit 704 is configured for high
volume data transmission for performing a significant number of
mathematical calculations in processing the print jobs. A Pentium
III microprocessor such as the 1 GHz Pentium III manufactured by
Intel Inc. may be used for CPU 704. The processor employs a 32-bit
architecture. Other suitable processors include the Motorola 500
MHZ Power PC G4 processor and the Advanced Micro Devices 1 GHz AMD
Athlon processor. Multiple processors and workstations may be used
as well.
[0047] The ROM 710 is preferably included in a semiconductor form
although other read only memory forms including optical medium may
be used to host application software and temporary results. The ROM
710 connects to the system bus 706 for use by the CPU 704. The ROM
710 includes computer readable instructions that, when executed by
the CPU 704, perform different functions associated with printing
and managing print jobs. An input control 712 connects to the
system bus 706 and provides an interface with various peripheral
equipment including a keyboard 714 and a pointing device such as a
mouse 716 settles to permit user interaction with graphical user
interfaces. The input controller 712 may include different ports
such as a mouse port in the form of a PS2 port or, for example, a
universal serial bus (USB) port. The keyboard port for the input
controller 712 is in the form of a mini-DIN port although other
connectors may be used as well. The input controller 712 may also
include serial ports or parallel ports as well.
[0048] A disc controller 718 is in the form of an IDE controller
and connects via driving cables to a removal media drive 720 which
may be implemented as a floppy disc drive, as well as a hard disc
drive 722 and a CD-ROM drive (not shown). In addition, a PCI
expansion slide is provided on a disc controller 718, a motherboard
that hosts the CPU 704. An enhanced graphic port expansion slot is
provided and provides 3-D graphics with fast access to the main
memory. The hard disc 722 may also include a CD drive that may be
readable as well as writable. A communication controller 724
provides a connection to a network L1. The network L1 may be a
connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 726 for
providing Internet access, or to a network 728 such as a local area
network, wide area network, a virtual private network (VPN), or an
extranet. In one embodiment, the network L1 and the connection to
the communication controller 724 are made by way of a plurality of
connections including a cable-modem connection, digital subscriber
line (DSL) connection, fiber optic connection, dial-up modem
connection, and the like that connects to the communication
controller 724.
[0049] An input/output controller 730 also provides connections to
the external components such as an external hard disc drive 732, a
printer 734, for example, by way of an RS 232 port and a CSI
bus.
[0050] A display controller 736 interconnects the system bus 706 to
a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) 738. While a CRT
is shown, a variety of display devices may be used such as an LCD
(liquid crystal display) 740, or plasma display device. Display
device permits displaying of graphical user interfaces.
[0051] Numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
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