POS Network Including Printing and Highlighting

Abstract

The invention provides for optional printing at a pont of sale (POS). The invention provides a system and computer implemented method for printing information at a POS relating to a purchase transaction at the POS, comprising printing a second alternative instead of a default print, or printing both a default and a second print, in both cases dependent upon the second print being timely delivered to the POS printer. Preferably, the second print depends upon processing business rules related to color in the print.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is also described with reference to the following figures.

FIGS. 1A-1D is a schematic of a novel computer network system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a conventional digital computer;

FIG. 3 is a mock up in black and white of a color register receipt resulting from implementation of the disclosed invention;

FIG. 4 are data structures for storing data relevant to implementing the disclosed invention;

FIGS. 5A-5D are flow charts showing steps implementing the disclosed methods.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for printing information, comprising: receiving in a POS terminal of a POS of a first retail store individual transaction data for an individual transaction;generating from said individual transaction data for said individual transaction either a default print file or default print data for printing a sales receipt for said individual transaction;printing from a POS printer, if said POS printer at said POS receives a second print file or second print data associated with said individual transaction data prior to expiration of a wait period of time associated with at time of said individual transaction, using said second print file or said second print data;printing from said POS printer, if said POS printer does not receive said second print file or said second print data prior to expiration of said wait period of time, using said default print file or said default print data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transmitting said individual transaction data from said POS terminal to a generating CS for generating a second print file or a second print data;wherein said generating occurs in said generating CS.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said generating CS is an incentive CS, and further comprising transmitting said individual transaction data to a POS controller CS.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said generating CS is a POS controller CS.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said generating CS is said POS printer.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting said second print file or said second print data, from said generating CS to said POS printer.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining in said generating CS whether a predetermined send time associated with said individual transaction data has past, and if so, not transmitting said second print file or said second print data, from said generating CS to said POS printer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said POS printer is a color printer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said second print file or second print data comprises additional print information relative to information contained in said default print file or said default print data.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein printing using said second print file or said second print data results in print that differs from printing using said default print file or said default print data.

11. The method of claim 10 where said additional print information comprises at least one of: color, size, and location, of printed text and image data, color highlighting of product identifications, change in dimension or font type of text associated with certain product descriptions, product logos, order of printing of descriptions of products, coupons, and product redemption forms.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said additional information includes printing of a watermark in the area of a product identification.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said additional print information comprises text including a statement about a product.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting from a central CS to said first retail store and a second retail store business rules for determining additional information to print in each store in response to transactions.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting from said first retail store to said central CS transaction data for plural individual transactions in said first retail store and transaction data for plural individual transactions in said second retail store.

16. A computer implemented system for printing information, comprising: a POS terminal of a POS of a first retail store structured to receive individual transaction data for an individual transaction occurring at said POS;a generating CS designed to generate from said individual transaction data for said individual transaction either a default print file or default print data for printing a sales receipt for said individual transaction;a POS printer designed to print, if said POS printer at said POS receives a second print file or second print data associated with said individual transaction data prior to expiration of a wait period of time associated with at time of said individual transaction, using said second print file or said second print data;said POS printer designed to print, if said POS printer does not receive said second print file or said second print data prior to expiration of said wait period of time, using said default print file or said default print data.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: structure for transmitting said individual transaction data from said POS terminal to said generating CS.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said generating CS is an incentive CS, and further comprising a POS controller CS and structure to transmit said individual transaction data to said POS controller CS.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said generating CS is a POS controller CS.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said generating CS is said POS printer.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising structure for transmitting said second print file or said second print data, from said generating CS to said POS printer.

22. The system of claim 17 further comprising structure for determining in said generating CS whether a predetermined send time associated with said individual transaction data has past, and if so, not transmitting said second print file or said second print data, from said generating CS to said POS printer.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein said POS printer is a color printer.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein said second print file or second print data comprises additional print information relative to information contained in said default print file or said default print data.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein printing using said second print file or said second print data results in print that differs from printing using said default print file or said default print data.

26. The system of claim 24 where said additional print information comprises at least one of: color, size, and location, of printed text and image data, color highlighting of product identifications, change in dimension or font type of text associated with certain product descriptions, product logos, order of printing of descriptions of products, coupons, and product redemption forms.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said additional information includes printing of a watermark in the area of a product identification.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said additional print information comprises text including a statement about a product.

29. The system of claim 16 further comprising structure for transmitting from a central CS to said first retail store and a second retail store business rules for determining additional information to print in each store in response to transactions.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising structure for transmitting from said first retail store to said central CS transaction data for plural individual transactions in said first retail store and transaction data for plural individual transactions in said second retail store.

31. A computer implemented method for printing information, comprising: receiving, in a POS terminal of a retail store CS at a POS in a retail store, individual transaction data for an individual transaction;generating from said individual transaction data for said individual transaction a default print file or default print data for printing a sales receipt for said individual transaction;printing, using said default print file or said default print data, said sales receipt at a POS printer;printing from said POS printer, using a second print file or second print data, at least one coupon, only if said POS printer receives said second print file prior to expiration of a specified wait period of time.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising determining if said wait period of time has expired.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising generating said second print file or second print data at least in part by applying criteria to said individual transaction data.

34. A computer system for printing information, comprising: a POS terminal of a retail store CS at a POS in a retail store, structured to receive individual transaction data for an individual transaction;code designed to generate from said individual transaction data for said individual transaction a default print file or default print data for printing a sales receipt for said individual transaction;code designed to control a POS printer, using said default print file or said default print data, to print said sales receipt;code designed to control said POS printer, using a second print file or second print data, to print at least one coupon, only if said POS printer receives said second print file prior to expiration of a specified wait period of time.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising code designed to determine if said wait period of time has expired.

36. The system of claim 32 further comprising code designed to generate said second print file or second print data at least in part by applying criteria to said individual transaction data.