Method and apparatus for tracking customer purchasing habits

Abstract

A processor, bar code scanner, and a smart card interface at a checkout stand track customer purchase habits. The smart card includes memory storing accumulated values in each of several profit categories and a second processor for executing instructions. The first processor transfers data to and from the smart card. The smart card, while coupled to the first processor, transfers stored category values containing accumulated purchase values in each of different profit margin ranges stored to the first processor. The first processor responds to the bar code scanner to retrieve profit margin data for a purchased product carrying the bar code read by the bar code scanner. The first processor adds the retrieved profit margin data and the accumulated profit margin data transferred from the smart card to the first processor for the profit margin category that is the same as the profit margin category of the purchased product. The first processor compares the resultant sum with a predetermined value for the profit margin category of the purchased product to determine if the purchaser is to receive a reward. The first processor increments the category values by an amount in relation to the customer's purchase and profit margin information and transfers the incremented category values to the smart card.