Computerized management system for multi-chain promotions and related audit system

Abstract

A promotion management system identifies store-selected identifiers as necessary to implement a particular promotion across multiple store chains. An audit system compares number of promotion offers distributed to number of linking items sold.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A method for promotion monitoring in connection with the distribution of a particular promotion offer for a promoted product by one or more devices in a store in connection with one or more linking products, the method involving the steps of: 
 tracking a number of promotion offers distributed by the one or more devices in the store;    tracking a number of linking products that pass through a point-of-sale of the store;    comparing the tracked number of promotion offers with the tracked number of linking products.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  including the further steps of: 
 based upon the comparing step: 
 initiating an error indication if the tracked number of promotion offers is greater than the tracked number of linking products by at least a certain amount.  
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  including the further step of: 
 generating billing data if the tracked number of promotion offers is no more than a certain amount greater than the tracked number of linking products.    
     
     
         25 . A computerized system operating to carry out the method of  claim 22 .  
     
     
         26 . A method for providing an audit function in connection with billing for in-store promotions, where distribution of one or more promotion offers for one or more promoted products by one or more devices in a store is made in connection with one or more promotion tied products, and billing of an offer entity is made according to number of promotion offers distributed, the method involving the steps of: 
 receiving a tracked number of promotion offers distributed by the one or more devices in the store;    receiving a tracked number of promotion tied products that passed through a point-of-sale of the store;    comparing the tracked number of promotion offers with the tracked number of promotion tied products; and    if the tracked number of promotion offers is greater than the tracked number of promotion tied products by at least a certain amount, identifying a potential audit failure.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  comprising the further steps of: 
 if the tracked number of promotion offers is not greater than the tracked number of promotion tied products by at least the certain amount, providing an audit pass certification to the offer entity in connection with a bill.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the one or more promotion tied products are linking products.  
     
     
         29 . A computerized system operating to carry out the method of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         30 . An audit system for providing an audit function in connection with billing for an in-store promotion involving the distribution of promotion offers for one or more promoted products by one or more devices in a store in connection with one or more promotion tied products, and billing of an offer entity is made according to number of promotion offers distributed, the audit system comprising: 
 a computerized system operable to carry out the following steps: 
 compare a tracked number of promotion offers distributed by the one or more devices with a tracked number of promotion tied products that passed through a point-of-sale of the store; and  
 identify a potential audit failure if the tracked number of promotion offers is greater than the tracked number of promotion tied products by at least a certain amount.  
   
     
     
         31 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein the certain amount is defined by a percentage of the tracked number of promotion tied products.  
     
     
         32 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein the certain amount is defined according to historical data.  
     
     
         33 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein the computerized system is further operable to carry out the following step: 
 if the tracked number of promotion offers is not greater than the tracked number of promotion tied products by at least the certain amount, issuing an audit pass message.    
     
     
         34 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein, if a potential audit failure is identified, the computerized system stores an audit failure indicator in a database.  
     
     
         35 . The audit system of claim of  claim 30  wherein, if a potential audit failure is identified, the computerized system generates billing data so as to bill the offer entity for less than the tracked number of promotion offers.  
     
     
         36 . The audit system of  claim 35  wherein the billing data is generated so as to bill the offer entity for a number of promotion offers corresponding to the tracked number of promotion tied products.  
     
     
         37 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein the promotion offers are pre-printed on labels used in connection with an in-store scale device.  
     
     
         38 . The audit system of  claim 30  wherein the one or more promotion tied products are linking products.