Method and apparatus for generating a coupon
View Patent ↗A POS terminal generates a purchase price of a purchase, and generates a rounded price. The rounded price may be, for example, the lowest whole number greater than the purchase price. The POS terminal then calculates a round-up amount (change due the customer) as the difference between the purchase price and the rounded price. The coupon value is set based on the round-up amount. For example, the coupon may be redeemable for triple the amount of change due. The POS terminal prints on the coupon an identifier, such as a bar code, that is based on the coupon value. The bar code allows the coupon to be read by a POS terminal when the coupon is redeemed.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;
determining, using the processor, a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and
causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.
2. An apparatus, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor in communication with the storage device,
the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to:
receive a purchase price of a purchase;
determine a rounded price;
determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and
cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.
3. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:
receiving a purchase price of a purchase;
determining a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price; and
causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the round-up amount.
4. A method, comprising:
receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;
determining, using the processor, a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and
causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount comprises:
setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.
6. An apparatus, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor in communication with the storage device,
the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to:
receive a purchase price of a purchase;
determine a rounded price;
determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
set a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and
cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the processor further operative with the program to:
set a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.
8. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:
receiving a purchase price of a purchase;
determining a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount; and
causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.
9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the step of setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount comprises:
setting a coupon value based on a predetermined multiple of the round-up amount.
10. A method, comprising:
receiving, using a processor, a purchase price of a purchase;
determining, using the processor, a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being determined by the processor to be a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
determining, using the processor, whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and
if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,
setting, using the processor, a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and
causing a printer to print on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor in communication with the storage device,
the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to:
receive a purchase price of a purchase;
determine a rounded price;
determine a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
determine whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and
if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,
set a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and
cause to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.
12. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:
receiving a purchase price of a purchase;
determining a rounded price;
determining a round-up amount, the round-up amount being a difference between the purchase price and the rounded price;
determining whether the purchase includes redemption of a coupon; and
if the purchase includes redemption of a coupon,
setting a coupon value based on the round-up amount, and
causing to be printed on a coupon an identifier that is based on the coupon value.