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Apparatus for providing coupons in cooperation with operation of a fuel vending device

Apparatus for providing coupons in cooperation with operation of a fuel vending device description/claims

This application is a Continuation Application based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/297,218 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Providing Coupons in Cooperation With Operation of a Companion Device”, filed Dec. 8, 2005; which is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/644,594 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Providing Items of Value in Cooperation With Operation of a Companion Device”, filed Aug. 23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,392.

The present invention is directed to apparatuses and methods for conveying a marketing message, or indicia of value or items of value to an audience. The present invention is particularly directed to such apparatuses and methods that effect such conveyance in cooperation with operation of a companion device.

By way of example, a consumer, or user, operating a newspaper vending machine pays money, usually by inserting predetermined coinage into a slot. As a result of inserting proper coinage, the user may obtain a single copy of the newspaper. The only revenue generated by the transaction is the coinage inserted for the sale of the newspaper. There are typically a variety of advertisements included in a newspaper that may be incorporated into pages of the newspaper, or they may be in the form of individual inserts. An average Sunday newspaper may have on the order of fifty to seventy advertising inserts.

It would be of value to be able to present an offering for value in addition to the newspaper and its included advertising and inserts. Such an offering has an advantage of being particularly noticeable by users because it is presented individually, in conjunction with the newspaper purchase, but it is not integrated into the newspaper offering. Such individuality allows a particular advertiser or advertisers to “break from the clutter” of advertising by its peers to stand apart from the other advertisers lumped together in the newspaper offering.

Such an offering of advantage for advertisers also provides an opportunity for newspaper publishers to gain additional revenues from the advertisers availing themselves of the new individuality in advertising. It is even likely that such an individualistic advertising offering may increase revenues for newspaper vending machines when empty of newspapers. For example, it may worthwhile for a user to insert twenty-five cents or fifty cents in return for a coupon good for “2-for-1” on a hamburger in a neighborhood establishment, even though the newspaper vending machine is empty of newspapers.

Providing a communication capability for updating or changing the offering or offerings from the apparatus of the present invention increases flexibility of operation for the apparatus and decreases costs of maintenance for effecting such changes. Such a communication capability may range from a simple access port on the apparatus to a remote communication capability. An access port provides access to an operator on the scene without having to open the apparatus to reprogram or other wise amend the offering. Access port communication may include mechanical coupling, infrared or other optical coupling, magnetic coupling, capacitive coupling or other communication links.

A remote communication capability permits effecting changes from a locus remote from the apparatus. Remote communication capabilities may include telephone connections, satellite communications, cable connections (including coaxial cable and optical cable), radio communications and other communication techniques.

There is a need for an apparatus and method for providing items of value in cooperation with operation of a companion device. One advantage of such an apparatus is that it provides more individuality for advertisers. A remote communication capability with an associated memory and control capability is particularly desirable for creating a cost-effective flexible apparatus.

An apparatus for use in cooperation with operation of a fuel vending device; the fuel vending device delivering at least one fuel product; the delivering being effected by exercising an actuator element; includes: (a) a control unit for controlling the apparatus in dispensing at least one item having value after the exercising; (b) a providing unit for effecting the dispensing; the providing unit being coupled with the control unit and responsive to the control unit; and (c) a link coupling the apparatus and the actuator element for effecting the cooperation. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a control unit for controlling the dispensing; (b) providing a providing unit coupled with the control unit for effecting the providing; and (c) providing a link coupling the apparatus and the actuator element for effecting the cooperation.

The apparatus and method of the present invention provide increased flexibility, individuality and visibility for advertisers. The apparatus and method of the present invention may be used with any of various companion devices, including, by way of example, vending machines for newspapers, soda, water, candy, stamps, food, public telephones, toll booth ticket dispensers, parking meters, parking lot ticket dispensers, laundry machines (washers and dryers), novelties, condoms, sanitary napkins, medicines, and other vending machines. Other examples of useful companion devices for the apparatus and method of the present invention include gas pumps; pay air pumps; pen, pencil and stationery machines; automatic teller machines (ATMs); phone card machines; gambling devices; interactive kiosks; airline ticket machines; bus ticket machines and mass transit commuter access machines.

Cable television set-top devices are also appropriate companion devices for use with the present invention. In such a cable television environment, for example, an operator (such as a cable service provider) may employ the present invention for dispensing indicia of value (e.g., coupons redeemable for merchandise, discounts, or services) during airing of a commercial for a particular product at the viewer's locus. Alternatively, coupons or other indicia of value may be sent via an Internet connection or other connection (e.g., the cable supplying the video signal to the television) to a predetermined e-mail address. Preferably, the indicia of value may be related to the commercial airing on the television monitor at a particular time. Such a capability thus provided by the present invention allows broadcast media to receive quantifiable feedback from consumers relating to their dollars spent on television advertising. This is believed to be the first time such large volume, direct, relatively low cost feedback relating to advertising expenditures has been available in broadcast environments. By monitoring use levels of particular coupons, a broadcaster or an advertiser may receive direct feedback indicating viewership of a particular advertisement. Time, channel, geographic and other indications may be provided on individual coupons (printed, coded or uncoded), thereby providing very detailed information for advertisers and broadcasters when the coupons or other indicia of value are redeemed.

The sorts of things that may be dispensed by the present invention include coupons redeemable for discounts or merchandise or services, sample merchandise (e.g., coffee, shampoo, toothpaste or other products), messages (e.g., in a video display, a light emitting diode (LED) readout or an audio message), or any combination of coupons, samples and messages.

The apparatus of the present invention may be embodied in a discrete apparatus attached externally upon or internally within a companion device. Alternatively, the apparatus may be integrally incorporated with a companion device. Such an integral configuration may be manifested in software that is resident within a memory structure that is shared with the companion device for controlling and operating the apparatus of the present invention. Such integration of all or part of the apparatus of the present invention is considered to be within the intended scope of the present invention. Further, other aspects of the apparatus of the present invention may be shared with a companion device. For example, if the companion device prints receipts or other indicia (e.g., a gasoline pump), the apparatus may share the printer used for printing gasoline receipts for producing coupons or other indicia of value according to the present invention. Such integration of functions among an apparatus and an associated companion device (or devices) is considered within the intended scope of the present invention.

Any embodiment of the present invention, whether partially integrated with a companion device (or more than one companion device), resident within a memory structure that is shared with the companion device or employed as an individual discrete apparatus, is within the intended scope of the present invention. The providing of at least one item of value in cooperation with the companion device may be effected either individually, or in an integrated configuration with at least one companion device.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are labeled using like reference numerals in the various figures, illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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