Catalina Marketing Corporation

Catalina Marketing International, Inc.

Thomas L Mindrum

Michael C Scroggie

George W Off

Michael R O'Brien

A system for generating, in a retail store, a printable discount coupon image solely in response to a customer's action concerning the purchase of an item. The system includes at least one customer checkout terminal, a store controller, a file for storing the terms of at least one coupon deal in which a discount coupon image is generated upon the purchase of a triggering product. The system identifies the triggering product in the customer order, associates it with the coupon deal, and automatically generates data defining at least one discount coupon for a product, typically other than the triggering product, based on the details of the coupon deal, which are not communicated to the customer prior to processing the customer order.

Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons

A system for creating discount coupons in response to the purchases of products. Improvements disclosed include the printing of a 'negative' coupon in response to the failure to purchase a particular product, and the printing of a coupon in response to the purchase of multiple triggering items, either without limitation as to the identification of the items, or with the requirement that the items fall into a predefined trade group. Other features of the invention permit the use of instantly redeemable 'coupons,' such that an instant discount is applied to a customer bill rather than having a coupon printed, and the logging, without printing, of possible coupon printings for statistical purposes.

Method and apparatus for dispensing discount coupons in response to the

Apparatus, and a corresponding method, for creating a discount coupon in response to the purchase of a product other than the one to which the coupon applies. A record pertaining to each item purchased is examined to determine whether the item is intended to trigger the creation of a coupon. If it is, at least one associated coupon deal record is retrieved, and a coupon becomes a candidate for printing, subject to a maximum number of coupons per transaction. The apparatus also validates coupons presented for redemption, scanning a list of purchased products to determine whether any falls into the same product group specified on the coupon, and also determining whether the coupon date is valid.

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Fairfield, CT, United States of America

Thomas L Mindrum