Method and apparatus for selecting a supplemental product to offer for sale during a transaction
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus a user or other customer, controller, point-of-sale terminal, etc. to conduct a transaction for the purchase of one or more products and/or services, during which a supplemental product or service to offer a user during a transaction, either in addition to the products and/or services the user is purchasing or as a replacement to one or more of the products and/or services that the user is purchasing. The method may be implemented in retail embodiment where a user is purchasing products and/or services at a cash register or other point-of-sale terminal. The method may also be implemented in a online embodiment where a user is purchasing products and/or services using a computer, terminal, telephone or other client or user device and accessing a World Wide Web site, online catalog, interactive voice response unit or system, etc.
1. A method for conducting a transaction, comprising:
receiving information for a transaction;
determining, via a processor, a pool of at least one possible supplemental product;
scoring at least one supplemental product in said pool based at least on profit that the at least one possible supplemental product would produce when sold;
determining an offer amount for said supplemental product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of change due;
selecting at least one supplemental product from said pool for said transaction;
providing an indication of said at least one supplemental product selected from said pool; and
providing an indication of the offer amount.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting at least one supplemental product for said transaction includes
selecting a plurality of possible supplemental products.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
scoring each supplemental product in said plurality of supplemental products.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said scoring uses at least one of the following:
scoring based on preparation time of one or more products;
scoring based on inventory level of one or more products;
scoring based on popularity of one or more products for a specific user;
scoring based on popularity of one or more products for a group of one or more users;
scoring based on discount; and
composite scoring.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said selecting comprises choosing at least one supplemental product that has a score that at least equals a predetermined threshold.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said selecting comprises choosing at least one of the following:
an additional supplemental product;
a replacement supplemental product; and
an upgrade supplemental product.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
providing said at least one supplemental product; and
arranging for said at least one supplemental product to be provided.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the following:
establishing at least one predetermined scoring threshold.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
establishing at least one filter; and
applying at least one filter.
10. A method for conducting a transaction, comprising:
receiving information associated with a sale of a product;
identifying, via a processor, a supplemental product based at least in part on profitability of said product;
determining an offer amount for said supplemental product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on at least one of an amount of change due or a round-up amount;
providing an indication of an offer to sell said supplemental product at said offer amount; and
receiving an indication of an acceptance to purchase said supplemental product at said offer amount.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said identifying includes determining at least one product category involved in the transaction.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said identifying includes creating at least one product group involved in the transaction.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said identifying includes determining at least one complimentary product category.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said identifying includes determining a pool of at least one possible supplemental product.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
scoring at least one possible supplemental product.
16. A method for conducting a transaction, comprising:
receiving information associated with a sale of a product, said information including a tender amount and a transaction total;
determining an offer amount for said supplemental product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of change due;
identifying, via a processor, a supplemental product based at least in part on profitability of said product;
providing an indication of an offer to sell said supplemental product at the offer amount; and
receiving an indication of an acceptance to purchase said supplemental product at said offer amount.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said offer amount comprises a difference between said tender amount and said transaction total.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said identifying includes:
scoring at least one possible supplemental product.
19. A method for conducting a transaction, comprising:
processing a sale of a product;
receiving a tender amount for said product;
determining an offer amount for said supplement product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of change due;
selecting, via a processor, a supplemental product from a plurality of products based at least in part on profitability of said supplemental product and said tender amount; and
providing an indication of an offer to sell said supplemental product at the offer amount.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said offer amount is based on at least one of the following:
an amount of change due a user during the transaction;
a round-up amount;
a difference between said tender amount and a transaction total;
a cost for said at least one supplemental product; and
a fixed amount.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said selecting includes associating a score with said supplemental product.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
establishing a pool of at least one possible supplemental product.
23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
scoring at least one possible supplemental product.
24. A system for conducting a transaction, comprising:
a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to:
receive information for a transaction;
determine a pool of at least one possible supplemental product;
score at least one supplemental product in said pool based at least on profit the at least one possible supplemental product would produce when sold;
determine an offer amount for said supplemental product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of change due;
select at least one supplemental product from said pool for said transaction;
provide an indication of said at least one supplemental product selected from said pool; and
providing an indication of the offer amount.
25. A system for conducting a transaction, comprising:
a memory;
a communication port; and
a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to:
process a sale of a product;
receive a tender amount for said product;
determine an offer amount for said supplemental product,
wherein said offer amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of change due;
select a supplemental product from a plurality of products based at least in part on profitability of said supplemental product and said tender amount; and
provide an indication of an offer to sell said supplemental product at an offer amount.