Server-Based Product Substantiation with Local Filtering System and Method

Abstract

A system and method is presented for product substantiation and promotion redemption. A purchased product list is transmitted from a retail store system to a promotion analysis server along with a user identifier. The promotion analysis server identifies promotions available to the user, and then considers whether the benefits under the promotions are still available to the user. Discounts for available promotions related to the purchased product list are calculated and transmitted to the retail store system for deduction from the transactions. An approved product list can be provided that filters the purchased product list before transmittal. The approved product list can include promotions from a plurality of programs.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of discounting products during a purchase transaction comprising:
 a) at a server system, transmitting a first promoted products list to a first retail store system, the first promoted products list comprising a promoted department code and a plurality of promoted product identifiers, wherein the promoted department code is not associated with the promoted product identifiers within the first promoted products list;   b) at the server system, receiving a filtered list of purchased products from the first retail store system, wherein the filtered list of purchased products has been created by filtering all purchased products in the purchase transaction against the first promoted products list, wherein the filtered list of purchased products has an aggregated total for purchased products matching the promoted department code, and further wherein the filtered list of purchased products separately lists information concerning purchased products matching each of the plurality of promoted product identifiers;   c) at the server system, calculating a department discount for the purchased products matching the promoted department code, and calculating product discounts for the purchased products matching the plurality of promoted product identifiers;   d) at the server system, transmitting the calculated department discount and product discounts to the first retail store system for applying the discounts to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products does not identify any product identifier for purchased products matching the promoted department code. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  2 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products has a department quantity purchased value for purchased products matching the promoted department code and a separate product quantity purchased value for every product identifier for purchased products matching one of the plurality of promoted product identifiers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  4 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products has a department monetary purchase amount for purchased products matching the promoted department code and a separate product monetary purchase amount for every product identifier for purchased products matching one of the plurality of promoted product identifiers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  5 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products has a department discount-applied-at-retailer amount for purchased products matching the promoted department code and product discount-applied-at-retailer amounts for purchased products matching one of the plurality of promoted product identifiers;
 further wherein the server system adjusts the calculated department discount based on the department discount-applied-at-retailer amount; and   further wherein the server system adjusts the calculated product discounts based on the product discount-applied-at-retailer amounts.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  2 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products has a department discount-applied-at-retailer amount for purchased products matching the promoted department code; and further wherein the server system adjusts the calculated department discount based on the department discount-applied-at-retailer amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  7 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products has product discount-applied-at-retailer amounts for a first product identifier for purchased products matching a first promoted product identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the promoted department code includes fresh produce. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 e) at the first retail store system,
 i) generating the filtered list of purchased products by filtering all products purchased in the purchase transaction against the promoted product list, and 
 ii) transmitting the filtered list of purchased products to the server system. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first retail store system performs a product roll-up for purchased products matching one of the plurality of promoted product identifiers, wherein the product roll-up combines all purchases for the same product identifier into a single entry for that product identifier in the filtered list of purchased products. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , where the server system comprises a physical computing system, wherein the same computing system that transmits the first promoted products list also receives the filtered list of purchased products and then calculates and transmits the calculated department discount and product discounts. 
     
     
         13 . A method of discounting products during a purchase transaction comprising:
 a) at a server system, transmitting a first promoted products list to a first retail store system, the first promoted products list comprising a plurality of data records, with each data record having a plurality of fields, wherein each data record has a product code field, wherein a first data record in the first promoted products list has a first promoted product identifier in the product code field, and wherein a second data record in the first promoted products list has a second promoted product identifier in the product code field, and still further wherein a third data record in the first promoted products list has a promoted department code in the product code field and the third data record does not contain any promoted product identifiers, wherein the promoted department code is not associated with the promoted product identifiers within the promoted products list;   b) at the server system, receiving a filtered list of purchased products from the first retail store system, wherein the filtered list of purchased products has been created by filtering all purchased products in the purchase transaction against the first promoted products list, wherein the filtered list of purchased products has an aggregated total for purchased products matching the promoted department code, and further wherein the filtered list of purchased products separately lists information concerning purchased products matching the first promoted product identifier and the second promoted product identifier;   c) at the server system, calculating a department discount for the purchased products matching the promoted department code, and calculating product discounts for the purchased products matching the plurality of promoted product identifiers;   d) at the server system, transmitting the calculated department discount and product discounts to the first retail store system for applying the discounts to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the promoted department code is applicable to the first retail store system but not to a second retail store system, further wherein the server system transmits a second promoted products list to the second retail store system containing a different promoted department code in the product code field of the third data record, still further wherein the different promoted department code is applicable to the second retail store system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the promoted department code and the different promoted department code both cover fresh produce. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second data record includes a first indicator that indicates the product code field contains a product identifier, and wherein the third data record includes a second indicator that indicates that the product code field contains a department code. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second indicator are characters found in a specific position in the product code field. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of data records constitutes rows in a data table. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of data records further comprise a group field wherein a first plurality of data records are grouped into a first group by specifying an identical first group identifier in the group field for each of the first plurality of data records. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the filtered list of purchased products comprises a plurality of purchased product records, wherein a first purchased product record contains data concerning quantity of items purchased and dollar amount purchased for purchases matching the promoted department code, a second purchased product record contains data concerning quantity of items purchased and dollar amount purchased for purchases matching the first promoted product identifier, and a third purchased product record contains data concerning quantity of items purchased and dollar amount purchased for purchases matching the second promoted product identifier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the filtered list of purchase products comprises a data table, further wherein the plurality of purchased product records comprise rows in the data table.