System and Method for Communicating with a User at a Point-of-Sale

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for providing promotions. The system receives a user-initiated request for a transaction and obtains, from a storage device of the system, information identifying one or more past purchases or present purchases of the user. The system determines, based on the information, a promotion to present to the user, and determines a promotional identifier associated with the promotion. The system outputs, with machine readable information, the promotional identifier to the user.

1 . A computerized method for providing promotions by an application of an automated promotion presentation system, comprising:
 receiving, at the automated promotion presentation system, a user-initiated request for a transaction;   obtaining, from a storage device of the automated promotion presentation system, information identifying one or more past purchases or present purchases of the user determining, based on the obtained information, a promotion to present to the user;   determining a promotional identifier associated with the promotion; and   outputting, with machine readable information, the promotional identifier to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is further equipped to credit, in response to a request for a rebate, a value corresponding to the rebate onto a card stored by the system, and to dispense the card to a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automated promotion presentation system is further configured to dispense, based on an ATM functionality, an amount of cash corresponding to another rebate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the automated promotion presentation system is a kiosk. 
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 1  wherein the requested transaction is a rebate transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requested transaction is a request for a look-up or for a comparison of a product that can be purchased. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is configured to:
 determine account information corresponding to an account of the user; and   receive authentication information associated with the account of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the promotional identifier is a promotional code. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the promotion corresponds to a user discount being offered by a retailer, or to an offering of the retailer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processing of the automated promotion presentation system is performed online. 
     
     
         11 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the promotion to present to the user is further based on a profile of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the automated promotion presentation system comprises a computer of the user. 
     
     
         13 . A computerized method for providing promotions by an application of an automated promotion presentation system, comprising:
 receiving, at the automated promotion presentation system, a user-initiated request for information, wherein the request is received before a purchase transaction;   determining, in response to the user-initiated request, a promotion to present to the user;   receiving, during the purchase transaction, a promotion identifier of the promotion that was presented to the user; and   applying the promotion to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the promotion is associated with a purchase credit, and 
       wherein the step of applying the promotion comprises applying the purchase credit to the purchase transaction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the application of an automated promotion presentation system is configured to communicate with a processor that manages a database storing information identifying items having a promotion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of presenting the promotion to the user comprises presenting the promotion identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the purchase transaction occurs at a point of sale (POS) system that is integrated with the automated promotion presentation system. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the automated promotion presentation system comprises a computer of the user.