U.S. patent number 3,792,437 [Application Number 05/210,027] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for instore information dispensing system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tel-A-Dex Corporation. Invention is credited to Stanley P. Blumenthal, Gerald W. Gillespie, Solomon Krasnick.
United States Patent |
3,792,437 |
Blumenthal , et al. |
February 12, 1974 |
INSTORE INFORMATION DISPENSING SYSTEM
Abstract
A couponning system for instore dispensing of directory and
discount information. The couponning system is preprogrammed with
an exchangeable record medium having audio directory information
and information on items being discounted. The record medium also
contains data for printing coupons with discount information to be
presented with the purchase of special items. Actuation of a
keyboard addresses a particular point on the record medium which is
rapidly accessed to provide the information, and if called for by
further keyboard actuation, the printing of a discount coupon. An
automated production system provides for the rapid production of
recording mediums for periodic replacement in the coupon dispensing
system distributed throughout a plurality of user stores.
Inventors: |
Blumenthal; Stanley P. (Canton,
MA), Krasnick; Solomon (Acton, MA), Gillespie; Gerald
W. (Brocton, MA) |
Assignee: |
Tel-A-Dex Corporation (Dedham,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
22781311 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/210,027 |
Filed: |
December 20, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/5.91;
705/14.69; 705/14.26; 369/33.01; 369/30.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07G
1/10 (20130101); G06Q 30/0273 (20130101); G06Q
30/0225 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07G
1/10 (20060101); H04q 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/152R,153R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pitts; Harold I.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automated information dispensing system selec-tively
operative to provide users with selected information and further
operative in response to user selections to provide a ticket
indicating desired associated information, said system
comprising:
a record medium;
means for sensing indicia in said record medium;
said record medium having one or more positioning control indicia
indicating division of said medium into indicia containing message
blocks;
each of said message blocks having first and second portions with
first and second signals associated with the message block
indicia;
a terminal having a plurality of selectable actuators operative in
response to user actuation of one of said actuators to provide a
corresponding unique selection signal;
each of said message blocks having a corresponding unique selection
signal associated therewith;
means responsive to said selection signals for positioning said
record medium in accordance with sensed control indicia to provide
sensing of indicia in the selected message block corresponding to
that selection signal;
means for providing information in a transitory form to said user
of said ticket dispensing system in response to first electrical
signals;
first data means for applying the indicia sensed in a first portion
of the selected message block to said transitory information
providing means as said first electrical signals;
means for providing said tickets to said user with printing
representative of second electrical signals; and
second data means operative in response to user actuation of one of
said actuators for applying the indicia sensed in a second portion
of the selected message block to said ticket providing means as
said second electrical signals whereby said ticket is provided with
printing representative of the signals in said second portion.
2. The information dispensing system of claim 1 wherein:
said second data means is only operative in response to user
actuation of a further one of said actuators.
3. The information dispensing system of claim 1 wherein:
the indicia in the first portion of each said message block
indicate the nature of the indicia in the second portion of said
message block and the indicia is provided on said tickets in
response to the signals in the second portion of the same said
message block.
4. The information dispensing system of claim 1 wherein:
said terminal includes actuators of first and second types; and
means are provided for responding to selective actuation of
actuators of said first type to inhibit operation of said ticket
providing means whereby no ticket may be provided.
5. The information dispensing system of claim 1 further
including:
means for generating electrical signals representative of calendar
data;
means responsive to the calendar data signals for causing said
tickets to be provided with indicia indicating the calender data
from said calendar data generator.
6. The information dispensing system of claim 5 further
including:
an internal power source for said data generator operative to
maintain accurate calendar data in the absence of other normal
operating power supplied to said ticket dispensing system.
7. An in-store dispensing system operative to provide audio
information for generating shopper interest and further operative
to provide item discount coupons in response to a shopper coupon
request, said coupon dispensing system comprising:
a record medium having registered thereon indicia in a plurality of
message blocks positionally identified by control indicia, each
message block containing indicia representative of predetermined
audio information and indicia representative of predetermined
discount coupon data;
means for sensing the indicia in message blocks in said record
medium;
shopper actuateable means for selecting audio information and
discount coupon data and operative to provide a selection signal
indicating a corresponding message block containing that
information and data;
means responsive to said selection signal and operative in
association with said sensing means for positioning said record
medium in correspondence with said control indicia for sensing of
indicia in the selected message block;
an audio signaling system operative to provide sound reproduction
of audio signals;
a coupon printing system operative to print said discount coupons
with discount information in response to digital signals;
means for applying the sensed indicia representative of said audio
information to said audio signaling system as said audio signals;
and
means for applying the sensed indicia representative of coupon
discount data to said printing system as said digital signals.
8. The in-store dispensing system of claim 7 wherein:
said indicia sensing means is automatically operative to sense said
audio information representing indicia in response to shopper
actuation of said selecting means; and
print request means are provided for shopper actuation to cause
sensing of said discount indicia and printing of a corresponding
coupon in response to actuation thereof.
9. The in-store dispensing system of claim 8 further including:
a plurality of further shopper actuable means for selecting audio
information only; and
means responsive to actuation of one of said further shopper
actuable means for inhibiting printing of a discount coupon.
10. The in-store dispensing system of claim 7 further
including:
means for inhibiting said shopper actuateable means from further
selections during sensing of said audio information indicia.
11. The in-store dispensing system of claim 7 further
including:
means for generating calendar and store data to indicate time and
date and store of purchase;
said means for applying said coupon discount data being operative
to apply both said calendar and store data and said sensed discount
coupon indicia to said printing means to provide printing of
information in predetermined locations on said coupon indicating
coupon item purchased, time of purchase and store of purchase.
12. The in-store dispensing system of claim 7 wherein:
said printing means is operative to provide said printed
information indicating coupon item, time and store in a machine
readable print format.
13. The in-store dispensing system of claim 12 further
including:
means for machine reading of said machine readable print format to
provide item, time and store signals for a plurality of redeemed
coupons; and
means for machine analyzing said item, time and store signal to
provide an output indication of use of said dispensing system.
14. The in-store dispensing system of claim 7 wherein:
said record medium is interchangeably applied to said dispensing
system for sensing and positioning by said respective sensing and
positioning means.
15. The in-store dispensing system of claim 14 wherein:
said record medium is an endless loop of magnetic tape having
recorded thereon said message blocks in a plurality of parallel
information channels and said control indicia in one or more
parallel control channels.
16. The in-store dispensing system of claim 15 further
including:
means for recording audio information and discount coupon data
representing indicia on said magnetic tape in selected message
blocks associated with control indicia in response to audio and
digital inputs.
17. A system for distribution of information proximate to points of
use for said information and operative on demand to provide
requested predetermined information in a transitory form and to
provide associated data on a printed ticket, said system
com-prising:
a plurality of record mediums;
means for registering indicia in said record mediums to represent
predetermined information further including:
input means for receiving signals representative of said transitory
form information and said associated data;
means for recording control indicia in said record mediums to
define a plurality of message block portions in each of said record
mediums;
means for arranging said received signals in a predetermined
sequence of successive groups each containing different transitory
information and associated data;
means for recording indicia in said record mediums representative
of said groups of information and data and operative to record a
group in each message block portion with a predetermined
correspondence between the position of each of said message block
portions and the position in said predetermined sequence of the
groups recorded in said message blocks;
a plurality of information distribution consoles, each console
including:
means for interchangeably receiving and variably positioning one of
said plurality of record mediums;
means for sensing indicia in said received record medium;
selector means for presenting an indication of predetermined
information available from said console and operative in response
to an operator selection of a portion of said available information
to generate an address signal representative of the selected
portion of information;
means responsive to said address signal for causing said
positioning means to position said received record medium for
sensing of indicia by said sensing means in message block portions
corresponding to said address signal;
means for providing information in said transitory form in response
to indicia in a first part of the sensed message block portion;
means operative in response to sensed indicia in a second part of
said sensed message block portion for providing said printed ticket
with data thereon representing the sensed indicia in said second
part.
18. The system for distribution of information of claim 17
wherein:
said selector means is operative to provide a print signal in
response to predetermined operator activation thereof; and
said printed ticket providing means is further operative in
response to said print signal in providing said printed ticket.
19. The system for distribution of information of claim 17
wherein:
said printed ticket providing means is operative to provide a
portion of said data thereon in a machine readable form; and
means are provided for receiving a plurality of returned printed
tickets for sensing the indicia in said machine readable form to
provide signals representative thereof.
20. A method of distributing information proximate to points of use
for said information and responding to a use demand for pro-viding
requested predetermined information in a transitory form and for
providing associated data on a printed ticket, said method
comprising the steps of:
registering in a record medium indicia to represent infor-mation
and including the steps of:
recording control indicia in said record medium to define a
plurality of message block portions in each of said record
mediums;
recording in the message block portions of said record medium
indicia representative of said prede-termined information and
associated data;
providing at locations proximate to said points of use an
indication of information and associated data being distributed in
accordance with an associated, interchangeable record medium;
enabling selection by a user of desired information from the
information and associated data being distributed;
responding to a selection of desired information for sensing
predetermined information indicia in a corresponding message block
portion of said associated record medium;
providing transitory distribution of information represented by
said sensed indicia;
enabling a request by said user for said printed ticket containing
associated data;
responding to one of said requests to cause sensing of the
associated data in said corresponding message block portion;
and
providing said printed ticket containing data representa-tive of
said sensed associated data.
21. The method of distributing information of claim 20 further
including the step of printing on said printed ticket machine
readable data indicating the time and location of providing said
ticket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to automated dispensing systems and in
particular to user responsive automated systems for providing
in-store information and discount coupons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The popularity of couponning as a marketing tool in grocery
retailing is evidenced by the fact that the number of coupons
distributed is reaching into the tens of billions per year
according to a recent estimate. The success of couponning is all
the more surprising when one considers the relatively low
percentage of distributed coupons which are ultimately redeeemed by
a purchaser on the indicated goods. This low redemption rate is
attributable to a relatively inefficient system of distribution
through newspapers, direct mailing, magazines, or attachments to
the package. The relatively low redemption rate in addition to
costing the manufacturer advertising money on printed coupons that
are never used, often results in the distribution of a great deal
of paper which never serves any useful purpose and becomes
additional burdens on waste disposal systems and the Post
Office.
Other deficiencies inherent in the present system of coupon
dispensing make possible fraudulent redemption and misredemption of
coupons. Fraudulent redemption is particularly possible where
coupons are distributed through the mass media, allowing a store
manager to collect many dollars worth of coupons with the purchase
of newspapers or magazines at lower cost and to then redeem the
coupons without ever having a bona fide sale of the coupon items.
In cases of midredemption, a checkout girl at a supermarket
erroneously accepts and gives a discount on coupons for goods whieh
never pass through the checkout counter. What commonly happens is
that she collects a handful of coupons and simply deducts the total
"cents off" from all the coupons on the total bill without
correlating each coupon with an item in the shoppers'
selections.
Becasue coupons distributed through the media or the mails are
received by the shopper substantially in advance of her next
scheduled shopping trip, the coupons are easily forgotten or
ignored in the interval between their receipt and the time when
they can be used. This further contributes to the inefficiency of
the present coupon distribution systems.
Finally, under the present methods of distributing coupons, there
is no convenient way for using the coupons to analyze shopper
behavior by determining when and where coupons are used. Without
this data on shopping patterns retailers are unable to optimize
their couponning techniques and distribute couponning appeals at
the most effective and convenient times.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an in-store couponning system
is disclosed which substantially overcomes the deficiencies of the
prior systems of coupon distribution and redemption. According to a
preferred embodiment to the present invention an in-store coupon
dispensing system operates to couple the couponning stimulus
directly with the shopper's trip to the grocery store and to
provide a coupon only in response to a shopper decision that she
wishes to buy the discounted item. The automated in-store
couponning system is selectively programmed so as to provide
coupons for any of the many items which may be currently discounted
at any given grocery store. Each coupon which is distributed by the
automated in-store system is individually printed with item and
price data for the selected item as well as store and time of
purchase information to facilitate later data analysis.
As specifically implemented according to a preferred embodiment for
the invention, a record medium, such as an endless strip of
magnetic tape which has a plurality of channels across its width,
is prerecorded, using an automated and computerized recording
system, with directory information indicating the store location of
particular item categories and with specific information on
particular items which are being couponned at a discount. The tape
is inserted into a tape reader within the in-store coupon
dispensing system and control data precorded on the tape cooperate
with a keyboard on the in-store system so that particular portions
of the tape having predetermined information are rapidly accessed
in response to actuation of the corresponding key by a shopper.
Where the shopper only desires directory data, the system rapidly
locates the appropriate portion on the endless tape containing that
information and plays it to her over a loudspeaker. If the shopper
wishes to purchase a couponned item for the indicated discount, a
keyboard selection of the desired item is made. The system will
then quickly locate the corresponding portion on tape and provide
the shopper with an audio stimulus for purchasing of that couponned
item. If the shopper still wishes to purchase that item a coupon
button is pushed and the system will print and provide a coupon
indicating the item and its price or discount. The entire operation
from initial key actuation to actual receipt of the coupon takes
only a few seconds allowing the system to process several hundred
coupon requests per hour during peak shopping periods. It can be
seen that the above indicated couponning system substantially
eliminates the high percentage of waste in coupons in the present
systems of distribution by providing coupons only to those shoppers
who have expressed a desire to use them by first selecting a button
to receive promotional data on a specific item and second by
actuating a further button to actually initiate the generation of a
printed coupon. The redemption rate can be made close to one
hundred percent using such a system.
The automatic, in-store coupon dispensing system further includes
circuitry for printing on each coupon digital information on the
item selected and the date, time, and store at which each coupon is
printed. The calendar data is also used to turn the system on and
off at preselected times for each day. The calendar data generating
circuitry is provided with a stand-by, battery driven unit so that
it keeps accurate time throughout power failures or erroneous
disconnection of the system. The printed item, store and calendar
data is provided in a format which is machine readable at a
subsequen time to provide data processing for shopping behavior
patterns. The calendar and item data also provide a means for
discouraging fraudulent redemption by disclosing unusual patterns
of use of the system.
To reduce the number of cases of misredemption, the coupons may be
printed with the actual price for the item being discounted rather
than the discount or cents off. The amount saved can be indicated
in the audio information. In this manner a checkout girl is forced
to correlate each coupon with a particular item passing through her
counter in order to charge it up properly.
Finally, the couponning system of the present invention stimulates
both the purchaser and passers-by to take advantage of the coupon
specials. This is achieved first as the shopper sees the machine in
the store with other shoppers using it and secondly when she hears
an auditory promotion pushing for a particular item on special.
Since the items being couponned in a given grocery or supermarket
are changed periodically, typically on a week to week basis, an
automatic system is provided for prerecording the endless strips of
tape with the control data, audio information and print data so
that a plurality of tapes can be readily produced for exchanging in
the various couponning systems located in stores throughout a
region. To provide this automated production of tapes a computer is
operative with an audio input source and a digital input source to
receive the audio and digital information for each tape and to
assemble it in memory with appropriate addressing tags indicating
the positions on tape where the information is to be recorded. In a
record mode, the computer then operates with a tape recorder
similar to the tape reader of the in-store console to record
information and control indicia on a plurality of tapes in
accordance with the address data in computer memory. Field
operators, on their weekly visits to each store, are supplied with
a plurality of tapes for exchange with the old tapes used during
the previous week.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will be more fully
understood by reference to the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment presented for purposes of illustration, and
not by way of limitation, and to the accompanying drawings of
which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the console of the invention housing
an automated, in-store coupon dispensing system;
FIGS. 2 and 2A indicate the data format of coupons printed by the
console indicated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 indicates the general approach to data analysis made
feasible by the couponning system disclosed;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of general system components of the
console of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5 and 5A indicate the information and data format on the
endless loop of prerecorded magnetic tape used by each instore
console;
FIGS. 6 and 6A are partial block and schematic diagrams of detailed
circuitry employed to locate a particular set of information and
data on the endless loop of tape;
FIG. 7 is a partial block and schematic diagram of circuitry for
printing a coupon with item and price data as well as calendar and
store information;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the components of an automated system
for prerecording a plurality of tapes with new coupon information
to be used during a subsequent time period in the in-store
consoles;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart indicating the computer control sequencing
of the automated prerecording system in FIG. 8 in receiving voice
and digital information to be recorded on endless loop tapes;
and
FIG. 10 is a further flow chart indicating the computer controlled
sequencing for producing one or more endless loop tapes from the
information received according to the FIG. 9 algorithm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A detailed understanding of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention will commence by reference to FIG. 1 showing pictorial
views of an automatic, in-store coupon dispensing console 12 having
a front facing keyboard panel 14 composed of directory keys 16, and
coupons keys 18. The keys 16 access directory information regarding
departments described in portions 20, listing, for example, diet
beverages. By pushing one of the keys 16 the shopper is given a
brief (typically several seconds) verbal guide to the location of
that particular store section and optionally data on a special
within that section. The keys 18 of the keyboard have associated
therewith portions 22 which describe the specific items, such as
Brand X Soap, that are being couponned. By actuation of one of the
keys 18 the shopper is also given a short verbal account of the
couponned item and a stimulus to purchase it. A print button 24
located below the keyboard 14 may be actuated during or after the
audio information is presented in order to cause a printer 26 to
print a coupon with the price and other descriptive information
relative to the item described. The coupon, which is indicated in
FIG. 2, is ejected through a slot 28 in the front of the console 12
preferably through a chute which prevents children being hit by the
coupon or having their hands caught in the printer mechanism.
Signals which control the printing of the coupon and the audio
description are recorded on an endless band of tape which is
inserted into a tape reading unit 30 located within the console 12.
Actuation of the buttons 16 and 18 address a particular portion and
channel of the tape and the tape reader 30 rapidly positions the
tape to provide the audio and, where appropriate, digital
readouts.
Turning now to FIG. 2 coupon format is indicated by a sample coupon
32. Four rows of data, 34, 36, 38 and 40, are printed on each
coupon by the printer 26, normally one column at a time. The row 34
typically provides information on the size, such as 8 oz. while the
row 36 indicates the item, such as Brand X Soap. Row 38 for later
market analysis is printed with an indication of the minute of the
year, item number and the store at which the coupon is printed, and
row 40 indicates the price (or optionally the discount) and the
date at which the printing of the coupon occurred, or optionally,
when the coupon will expire.
The coupon can advantageously be provided as a fan-folded stack 42
as indicated in FIG. 2A. In this case a hole 44 can be cut in the
coupons at the fold to indicate coupon position for the printer 26
to print and ultimately cut them before ejection through the slot
28.
It can be appreciated that by appropriate selection of a format for
the printing of the rows 34 through 40 on the coupon 32 the
essential data can be encoded in one row such as 34 and later
automatically detected by an optical character reader 46 as
indicated in FIG. 3. The detected data can be applied to a computer
48 for collection in a data bank along with the data from hundreds
or thousands of other coupons. The computer 48 is programmed to
analyze the coupons for determining habits of shoppers on the
basis, for example, of day to day coupon purchases of given items
or for detecting off-hour and unusual patterns of printing of
coupons in order to reveal cases of fraudulent redemption. The
success of particular couponning efforts at individual stores can
also be detected and the redemption fee to be paid to each store
manager automatically tabulated by the computer 48.
Referring now to the generalized system block diagram of FIG. 4, a
keyboard 50 cooperates with a selection system 52 to cause a
magnetic tape head decoder 54 to select one head from a plurality
of message heads 56 corresponding to each of a plurality of
channels recorded on the endless loop of tape. The keyboard 50 also
cooperates with a tape drive system 58 to cause the endless loop of
magnetic tape to be driven to a particular point or address on the
tape loop where recordings of the selected information begin.
Control heads 60 detect indicia in two control channels on the tape
loop and provide signals to the selection system 52 and tape drive
system 58 to control tape positioning.
When the appropriate information is in position for playback
through the message heads 56, the head decoder 54 provides an
output from the appropriate head to first and second gate systems
62 and 64. The gate 62 responds to a signal from the control heads
60 to cause the signal on the selected head to be applied to a
loudspeaker 66 during the audio portions of the desired information
recorded on the tape while a gate 64 responds to a signal from the
tape drive 58 and in turn to actuation of the print button in the
keyboard 50 to direct digital information from the correct head to
a printer 68 for appropriate marking of a coupon when such is
desired.
The format of recorded indicia on the endless loop of tape may be
better understood by reference to FIGS. 5 and 5A. FIG. 5 shows a
portion of an endless loop of tape 70 having a plurality, typically
16, of parallel signal channels each running the full length of the
tape loop. The top two channels 72 and 74 contain control indicia.
The channel 72 contains a plurality of tab indicia 76 having
periodic impulses recorded therein and spaced along the loop. The
channel 74 contains one reset indicia 78 of similar impulses
located partially coextensive with one of the tab indicia 76. The
remaining portions of the tape 70 comprise information channels 80.
In a typical information channel 80 a series of audio and digital
information portions 82 and 84 respectively are associated with
each tab indicia 76. Portions 82 and 84 are separated by an
indexing portion 86 between the digital and audio and an indexing
portion 88 between the audio and digital so as to allow the tape to
reach speed. The index portion 86 starts just in advance of a
position of alignment with the trailing edge of the tab indicia 76
and the subsequent audio portion 82 terminates and portion 88
begins in alignment with the beginning of the subsequent tab
indicia 76. Following the audio portion 82 the index section 88
provides separation from the following digital data section 84. The
one reset tab 78 which occurs in the endless loop commences in
alignment with the termination of the index portion 88 and extends
to the termination of the index portion 86. Certain digital
portions such as those indicated at 90 are left free of recorded
data as will be explained below.
The digital data recorded in the portions 84 follow a format
indicated in FIG. 5A. Directly following the index portion 88 a
uniquely recognizable synchronizing code 92 is recorded and
followed by three digitally coded characters 94, 96, and 98.
Subsequently a further synchronizing word 92 is recorded and three
further characters 94, 96, and 98 are recorded. The characters 94,
96, and 98 represent the figures which are to be printed in a
single column on the coupon. The fourth character for the column to
represent the calendar, item or store information is provided
internally of the printer 68 in FIG. 4 as will be explained
below.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 6A, detailed circuitry in block and
schematic form is indicated to accomplish the functions of
addressing a particular channel 80 and the correct sequence of
audio and digital portions 82 and 84 on the tape 70. In FIG. 6 the
tape 70, fashioned in an endless loop, is indicated as passing over
support rollers 100, 102 and 104. Indicated diagrammatically,
message heads 106, tab head 108 and reset head 110 are positioned
above the tape 70 to sense indicia recorded respectively in the
message channels 80 and the control channels 72 and 74. The
arrangement is pictorially indicated in FIG. 6A showing the message
heads 106 arranged adjacent to the tab and rest heads 108 and 110
in a column on a head block 112. Fewer heads are indicated in the
FIG. 6 and 6A representations for economy of space.
The output of the tab head 108 is applied to a counter 114 through
a tape position indicator 116 causing counter 114 to advance one
binary state upon the detection of each tab portion 76 in the
channel 72. The signal from the reset tab 110 is also applied to
counter 114 through position indicator 116 to cause resetting of
the counter to a predetermined binary state upon the passage of
each reset portion 78. The tape position indicator 116 responds to
the impulses in tab portion 76 as detected by the tab head 108 to
provide a single pulse to counter 114 when the leading edge of
portion 76 is detected and similarly to provide a single pulse from
head 110 signals at the leading edge of the portion 78. Position
indicator 116 also provides a reset output on a line 118 coincident
with the trailing edge of the portion 76 passing beneath the tab
head 108, and a further output on a line 120 coincident with the
leading edge of the portion 76 passing beneath the tab head
108.
The outputs of the message heads 106 are applied to a head
multiplexer 122 from which the signal from a particular head is
selected as an output on a line 124. This selection is in response
to the binary state of a register 126 having parallel binary state
outputs supplied to the multiplexer 122. A portion of the logic
within the multiplexer 122 demonstrates the manner in which a
particular binary state in the register 126 causes the signal on
one and only one message head 106 to be applied to the output 124.
In the example of four binary states in the register 126 AND gates
128 and 130 provide an output signal only in the condition when the
first three binary states of register 126 are zero. Gate 128
provides an output if the fourth binary state is non-zero and gate
130 provides it if that state is zero. The outputs of the gates 128
and 130 are applied as control inputs of FET transistors 132 and
134. These transistors also receive respectively signals from
separate message heads on lines 136 and 138. The outputs of the
transistors 132 and 134 are provided as inputs to a summing
amplifier 142 from which the output 124 for the multiplexer 122 is
taken. The indicated structure will provide on the output 124 the
signal on the line 136 under the conditions in which the binary
register 126 holds the state 1000. The signal on line 138 and only
that signal will be applied to the output line 124 when the binary
register 126 contains the state 0000. Additional gates and
inverters are required to complete the decoding for all of the
message heads 106.
The description of the FIG. 6 circuitry now proceeds to structure
which responds to the actuation of one key in the keyboard 14 of
FIG. 1 to generate a binary state uniquely representative of the
key actuated. A 20 KHz clock oscillator 144, indicated in the top
right of FIG. 6, provides clock pulses at the 20KHz rate to a gate
circuit 146. The gate 146, under conditions determined by its
inputs, which are subsequently described, applies the 20 KHz pulses
to a four bit column counter 148 with the carry output thereof
applied to a four bit row counter 150. The binary state outputs of
the column counter 148 are applied in parallel to a multiplexer 152
while the binary state outputs of the row counter 150 are also
applied in parallel to a decoder circuit 154.
The decoder 154 responds to the binary state of the row counter 150
and actuates a corresponding output of a plurality of lines, each
corresponding to one binary state of the row counter 150. Each
output line from the decoder 154 is connected to corresponding row
terminals of a switch matrix 156. The matrix 156 has a plurality of
switches 158, actuation of one of which connects a single row and
column. Switches 158 respond to console buttons in keyboard 14. The
multiplexer 152 has its inputs connected to the column terminals of
the matrix 156. In this manner as the row counter 150 is cycled
through its binary states in response to the carry pulses from the
column counter 158, the decoder 154 will activate each of its
outputs in series. When an actuated output of the decoder 154 is
connected to an actuated switch 158 the multiplexer 152 will
receive an input on the line for the column in which the activated
switch lies. Since the multiplexer 152 receives the binary state
outputs of the column counter 148, and because the column counter
148 will cycle through all of its binary states for each binary
increment in the row counter 150, then when the column counter
reaches the binary state corresponding to the activated input of
multiplexer 152 a disable output 160 of multiplexer 152 is
activated. At this point the disable output, applied through an
inverter 162, causes the gate 146 to inhibit pulses from the clock
144, stopping the row and column counters 150 and 148 at binary
states corresponding to the particular switch in the matrix 156
which has been activated.
The disable output from the multiplexer 152 is also applied to a
set input of a flip-flop 172 within a tape drive controller 174.
The output of flip-flop 172 is applied to first and second AND
gates 176 and 178. The AND gate 176 receives a further input from
an inverting circuit 180 which in turn receives an identity output
from a comparator 182. The comparator 182 receives parallel inputs
representative of the state of the column counter 148 and parallel
inputs representative of the state of the counter 114. As will be
the normal case, the comparator 182 will indicate a nonidentity
condition between its two parallel inputs and correspondingly the
AND gate 176 will provide an output to a fast tape drive clutch 184
causing a driven roller 186 to be applied against the roller 102
for rapid driving of the tape 70. When the counter 114 has been
advanced to the point where the comparator 182 detects identity
between the binary states of its two parallel inputs the AND gate
176 is disabled and correspondingly the fast drive for the tape 70
is halted with the message heads 106 positioned such that the
particular head whose output is applied to the line 124 by the
multiplexer 122 is positioned at the index portion 86 preceeding
the audio information portion 82 for the information that
corresponds to the button actuated. At this point the identity
output from comparator 182 sets a flip-flop circuit 187. The output
of circuit 187 is applied to an input of an OR gate 188 and its
output in turn is applied as an input to the AND gate 178. The
output of the AND gate 178 is applied to a clutch mechanism 190 to
cause a slowly driven roller 192 to advance the tape 70 at a speed
such that audio information in the portion 82 appears at a coherent
frequency on the output 124.
When the output 120 of the tape position indicator 116 is pulsed at
the leading edge of portion 76, that pulse is applied to reset
circuit 187 stopping the driving of the tape 70. A further input to
the OR gate 188 is provided from a flip-flop 194 which is activated
in response to closure of a print switch 196 controlled by the
print button 24 on the panel 14 in FIG. 1. This additional input to
the OR gate 188 causes the tape 70 to be again driven at a slow
rate so that the print data may be detected by the appropriate
message head and applied to the output 124 of the multiplexer 122.
When the trailing edge of the portion 76 is detected, the reset
line 118 from the tape position indicator 116 is activated to reset
the flip-flops 172 and flip-flop 194 through logic 197 and in turn
the tape drive mechanism is stopped until another selection is made
in the switch matrix 156.
While the mechanism for driving the tape 70 at fast and slow rates
has been described in sufficient detail to enable the practicing of
the invention, a more complete description of the drive mechanism
may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,951.
At the end of the audio portion 82, the leading edge of tab portion
76 causes a pulse on line 120. This pulse is applied to register
126 causing it to hold the contents of row counter 150 rather than
merely to pass these binary states to multiplexer 122. A delayed
version of the pulse on line 120 is applied to enable gate 146
through a logic circuit 197. Logic circuit 197 also receives as
inputs, signals from switch 196 and line 118. The logic 197 will
respond to activation of the print button 196 anytime up to a
predetermined interval after the delayed line 120 signal to inhibit
the delayed line 120 pulse from enabling the gate 146 until logic
197 detects the signal on line 118 at the end of the digital
portion. The output of logic 197 is also applied to reset flip-flop
circuit 172 and 174.
As mentioned above, the keyboard 14 of the console 12 in FIG. 1 has
two sets of buttons 16 and 18, the set 16 providing only directory
information and not having recorded digital portions of coupons.
Accordingly, a decoder circuit 198 in FIG. 6 is provided to sample
the binary state outputs of the row and column counters 150 and 148
and on the sensing of predetermined states, corresponding to
activation of the buttons 16, provides a print inhibit output on a
line 200, the function of which will be explained below.
Referring to FIG. 7 and the print control portion of the system,
the output of the head multiplexer 122 on line 124 is applied as
one input to a gate 202. The output of gate 202 is applied to an
amplifier 204 which in turn drives an audio speaker 206 which is
preferrably mounted behind grill 208 in FIG. 1. The gate 202 is
controlled by a signal from a flip-flop 210 which is set by the
identity output from the comparator 182 so as to allow passage of
the audio signal from the multiplexer 122 to the speaker 206 when
the appropriate head is detecting audio information on the tape 70.
The flip-flop 210 is reset by the signal on line 120 from the tape
position indicator 116 when it indicates termination of the audio
portion 82 on the tape 70. In this manner the speaker 206 is
activated only during the time when the appropriate one of the
message heads 106 is reading audio on the tape 70. The output on
line 124 from the head multiplexer is applied to a further gate 212
which has its output applied to a printer amplifier 214 and in turn
to a printer 216. The gate 212 is controlled by a flip-flop 218
which is set into a condition to enable gate 212 to pass digital
signals to the amplifier 214 by closing of print switch 196.
Flip-flop 218 is reset by the signal on line 118 from the tape
position indicator 116 at the termination of the digital portion 84
on tape 70.
Turning now to a consideration of the detailed functioning of the
circuitry and mechanism, within the printer 216 a coupon 220 is
advanced by a stepping motor 222 between a revolving drum 224
having four bands of characters 226 and four corresponding hammer
mechanisms 228, 230, 232 and 234. Printing of the coupon 220 is
accomplished by selected actuation of the hammers 228 through 234
at appropriate positions of the drum 224. The hammer mechanisms 228
through 234 are activated by comparators 236, 238, 240 and 242. The
comparator 236 receives parallel binary state inputs from a
register 244 while the comparators 238 through 242 receive parallel
binary state inputs from three respective sections of a register
246. Each of the comparators 236 through 242 also receive parallel
binary state signals from a digital position indicator 248 which
responds to shaft position of a drum 224 driven by motor 250 to
provide as its digital output a unique binary state corresponding
to the positioning of each character on the drum 224. The
comparators 236 through 242 provide a signal to the hammer
actuators 228 through 234 respectively when the parallel digital
inputs to the comparators from the registers 244 and 246 indicate
identical binary states with the digital output of indicator
248.
The binary states of the register 246 are determined by the data
contents of shift register 247 which receives as a serial input the
output of the print amplifier 214 and provides a register full
output to a synchronizing code detector 252. The output of
amplifier 214 is also applied to synchronizing code detector
circuit 252 which senses the occurrence of each synchronizing code
92 as indicated in the data format of FIG. 5A. When the
synchronizing code detector 252 senses this code and the full
signal from the shift register 248 it is set to a stable condition
which provides a load signal to the register 246 causing it to
assume the binary states in the shift register 247 and hold that
digital information until a subsequent load signal. A print
interval controller 253 senses a predetermined angle in the
rotation of motor 250 and also senses the load signal from the
synchronizing code detector 252. After the load signal is sensed,
the next angle signal sets the controller 253 to enable indicator
248 to cycle once. The second occurrence of that shaft angle resets
controller 253 and its resulting output clears shift register 247
and synchronizing code detector 252. The reset output of the
controller 253 is also applied to the stepping motor 222 to cause
it to advance the coupon 220 one column of printing.
The register 244 receives parallel data from a multiplexer 254
which in turn receives parallel input data from a read-only-memory
256, having a store identifying code, and from decoders 258 and
259. The decoder 258 converts the parallel outputs of a divider 260
to calendar data. The driver 260 is fed through a switch-relay
system 262 from a 60 cycle source 264. A relay 266 in system 262 is
closed when 60 cycle excitation is applied to the switch relay
system 262 so as to pass the 60 cycle signal to divider 260; but in
the absence of 60 cycle excitation the relay switches to pass 60
cycle excitation from an oscillator converter 268 driven by a
standby battery 270. A charging circuit 272 maintains the battery
270 at appropriate charge during normal operation. The battery and
converter 268 are provided so that the calendar information
provided by divider 260 is maintained in the event of power failure
or accidental removal of the unit plug. The decoder 259 is fed the
binary states from the row and column counters 148 and 150 to
identify the item button number. Correlation with the date of
purchase then allows exact item identification.
A power controller 271 responds to signals from the divider 260 and
"on-off" selections from time selector switches 273 to apply system
operating power only during selected business hours for the store
in which the console 12 is located.
The multiplexer 254 is controlled by binary states in a counter 274
which is advanced one step with each signal on the load output of
the controller 253. The multiplexer 254 responds to the binary
states of counter 274 to apply to the register 244 appropriate
binary data from the read-only-memory 256 or the decoders 258 and
259.
A ticket position detector 276 is provided to cooperate with a
photo detector 278 to sense the position of the ticket 220 by
detection of the hole 44 indicated in FIG. 2A. The output of the
ticket detector 276 is applied to a sequencer 280 which operates to
control the motion of the stepping motor 222. The sequencer 280
also receives a reset signal from the line 118, a synchronizing
code detection indication from the synchronizing code detector 252,
and a signal indicating activation of the print button 196 through
a gate 282. The gate 282 receives the print inhibit signal from the
decoder 198 in FIG. 6 to prevent the signal from the print switch
196 from passing through the sequencer 280 when printing is to be
inhibited for directory information.
In operation, the sequencer 280 provides a logic function. It
responds to closure of the print switch 196 as applied through the
gate 282 to advance the ticket 220 a predetermined number of steps
with the motor 222 to position it at a point in registration to
receive the first column of printed data from the hammer actuators
228 through 234. As the step motor 222 is advanced one step
coincident with each indication synchronizing code from the
detector 252, the sequencer 280 responds to the same signals and
when all columns have been indicated as being printed, causes a
stepping motor 222 to drive the coupon 220 until the ticket
detector 276 and photo detector 278 indicate the presence of hole
44. The photo detector 278 is positioned such that this event
occurs at appropriate positioning of the coupon 220 relative to a
cutting mechanism, not shown, so that the coupon can be cut to
separate it from the pack 42 and allowing it to be ejected.
Having described above the specific operation of the instore
console for automatic coupon dispensing, the description now turns
to FIG. 8 and the system for producing prerecorded tapes for
replacement in consoles distributed in supermarkets. A computer 284
has a digital input from a keyboard 286 into buffer storage 288
within the computer 284 and further includes an audio input from an
audio control system 290. The audio control system 290 has a
microphone input 292, a level gauge 294, and an elapsed time meter
296 for indicating to the operator the amount of time used in each
audio recording. Various controls 298 normally associated with
audio reproduction equipment are provided as well as a keyboard 300
for indicating to the computer 284 the address, position and
channel, on tape where the audio information is to be recorded. The
keyboard 286 comprises standard character keys necessary for the
printing of item description and price information as well as a
keyboard for indicating the address for each portion of print data
to be recorded. The computer is associated with an intermediate
storage unit 302 such as a tape recorder capable of holding the
digital and audio information to be recorded on tape. The digital
information may of course be recorded in any of the well known
recording media including drum and disk files as well as core
memory.
The computer 284 provides audio information input on a line 304 to
an endless loop of tape in a recorder 306, similar to the tape
playback unit indicated above, through a tape positioner system
310, operating in a manner similar to the system indicated in FIG.
6 above. Digital information is provided over line 304 from a
buffer 303 in computer 284. A line 308 provides digital address
information to the tape positioner 310 as well as control signals
causing tape driving to the indicated address. The tape positioner
310 controls the tape recorder system 306 through control lines
312. The data from the computer 284 on the line 304 is applied
through the tape positioner system to the appropriate heads in the
tape recorder 306 according to the digital address information on
line 308.
Detailed operation of the FIG. 8 recording system can be best
understood by reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 9 and 10
indicating programming of the computer 284 to accomplish
prerecording of tapes.
Referring in particular to FIG. 9 the programming of the computer
284 is indicated for reception of audio and digital information as
entered by the operator through the keyboard 286 and audio system
290 in FIG. 8. The start and initialize steps 314 and 316 are
typical in the art of computer programming and are used to place
the computer in a ready to operate condition from a standby
condition and to establish pointers and interupt routines where
appropriate as is understood in the art. A subsequent decision 318
tests for whether an address for the data to be recorded has been
entered through appropriate keyboards. If negative decision 318
loops with itself until an address has been entered at which point
step 320 establishes an address tag to be associated with the
subsequently entered data and inserts it as a control word in the
intermediate storage 302. Subsequently routining branches to an
audio recording subroutine and enters a step 322 which activates
the intermediate storage to receive audio information. A subsequent
decision 324 tests whether the operator has begun the production of
an audio message by activating a talk button 323 in the system 290.
Decision 324 is looped with itself until the button is activated at
which point operation 326 commenses the process of recording in
intermediate storage the audio information. A subsequent decision
328 tests the lapsed time during the audio message and causes
branching to an alarm and reset operation 330 if too much time is
used up. The reset portion of operation 330 erases the audio data
from intermediate storage and returns sequencing to the operation
322 for another try at recording. Decision 328 loops through a
decision 332 testing for activation of the talk button 323 during
the allowed running time for audio recording. As long as the talk
button 323 is activated, decision 332 causes the operation to loop
back to decision 328. When the operator deactivates the talk button
323 sequencing proceeds to the digital recording steps and in
particular to decision 334 which tests whether the operator has
indicated through the audio system 290 that, for the established
address tag, the information recorded is directory information only
and will not require print data. If the decision is affirmative,
sequencing returns to operation 318. If negative, indicating print
data to follow, a subsequent step 336 again enables intermediate
storage at an associated digital address tag corresponding to the
print data to be entered. A subsequent operation 337 scans the
buffer 288 in the computer 284 for the presence of sufficient print
data entered from the keyboard 286, for example, a complete word,
and extracts that data in either serial or parallel form for
recording it in intermediate storage 302. A subsequent decision 338
tests for entry of an end of data indication by the operator
through the keyboard 286. If negative decision 338 loops back to
operation 337 but if positive returns sequencing to decision 318
whereby a new address can be indicated for recording of audio and
digital information associated with a different item.
Referring now to FIG. 10, the programming steps are indicated for
extracting audio and print information for intermediate storage 302
and for recording that information on an endless loop of tape
applied to tape recorder 306. The start and initialize operations
340 and 342 are provided for the purposes indicated above. The
initialize operation 342 establishes an X-pointer at an initial
address and also causes the tape recorder 306 to drive the tape
loop through one or more complete cycles during which time the
control channels 72 and 74 are recorded to generate the tab
portions 76 and reset portion 78 indicated in FIGS. 5. The channels
80 are also recorded with the associated index portions 86 and 88.
Subsequently an operation 344 causes the tape positioner system 310
to drive the tape to address X with the appropriate position and
head selection for that point on tape. A subsequent operation 346
accesses the audio that is recorded in intermediate storage at the
address tag X, and operation 238 commenses driving of the tape by
the recorder 306. A subsequent decision 350 detects, through
another head, the existence of an index portion 86. When detection
of the index has ceased, an operation 352 begins recording on tape
the audio recorded in intermediate storage 302. The timing decision
of 354 indicates when the alloted time for audio has passed then
causes operation 356 to stop the tape drive. Subsequently a
decision 358 tests for an indication associated with the address X
being processed that the information is directory data in which
case sequencing leads to an operation 360 which increments X by one
digit and proceeds to the recording of the information for the next
succeeding address. If there is no indication that the information
is directory, a subsequent operation 362 following decision 358
accesses the digital data recorded in intermediate storage 302 at
the position associated with the address tag X and leads to an
operation 364 which formats the data in core memory of the computer
284 according to the data format indicated in FIG. 5A. A word of
data is applied to the output buffer 303 in computer 284 and the
tape positioner system 310 is signaled over lines 308 to commence
driving of tape by the recorder 306 in operation 368. A subsequent
decision 370 tests the termination of the index portion 88 and when
detected, an operation 372 signals the tape positioner 310 to
commence extracting data from the buffer 303 in appropriate serial
form for application to the selected recording heads in the tape
recorder 306. Subsequent decision 374 tests for end of data
indication initially applied by the operator during the received
data operation. Decision 374 if negative loops back to operation
372 but if affirmative branches to the operation 360 incrementing
the address pointer X.
The production of a plurality of tapes can be accomplished by the
use of several recorders 306 to simultaneously produce several
tapes during each computer run as indicated in FIG. 10, or by
recording each tape separately. Alternatively the first recorded
tape can be used as a master from which the necessary copies are
run from a simpler reproducing system.
Having above described the system for automatically providing
information and dispensing coupons with appropriate product and
discount information as contained on a prerecorded medium and for
generating the prerecorded medium in accordance with desired
directory and couponning data, it will occur to those skilled in
the art that the indicated preferred embodiment for accomplishing
these functions can be modified and altered without departing from
the spirit of the invention. It is accordingly intended to limit
the scope of the invention only as indicated in the following
claims.
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