Appeal No. 2006-3400
Application No. 10/268,040
Distribution and Redemption Unit (CDU). The CDU then presents the
customer with information about coupons which are available. The
customer uses the CDU to select coupon. Data concerning the selected
coupons is stored in the CDU and made available to the checkout system for
redemption when the customer pays for the goods. See column 5, lines 3-
26. The CDU performs several verifications based upon information on the
card, including verification that the card has not been used in a
predetermined time period, and whether the card is a temporary or
permanent “special card”. See column 11, lines 1-16. The temporary cards
are cards with magnetic stripes which activate the CDU but do not contain a
customer identifying UPC code. See column 5, lines 47-58 and column 11
lines 56 -58. A form is given to the customer. After the information from
the form is input to the system and verified, a new, permanent “special card”
is issued to the customer. The permanent card contains a magnetic strip and
customer identifying UPC code. See column 5, line 47 through column 6,
line 26.
The CDU performs the verification based upon information on the
card. See column 11 lines 1-9, 46-6 and column 21, lines 10-25.
Nichtberger teaches that the CDU and the terminal at check out may be
separate devices in communication or that the functions of the CDU may be
performed at the checkout terminal. See column 27, line 65 through column
28, line 8. Nichtberger also teaches that the CDU and the checkout terminal
communicate with a computer at the operations center. The operations
center computer provides coupon information to the CDU (information
presented to the customer regarding coupons available), and the CDU and
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Last modified: September 9, 2013