WO2013102536A1

WO2013102536A1 - Device for outputting cost-free samples

Info

Publication number: WO2013102536A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/075139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Eric MEYER; Michael Schuster
Original assignee: Schusterjungen Und Hurenkinder Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-01-04
Filing date: 2012-12-12
Publication date: 2013-07-11
Also published as: DE202012000066U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) that can offer a customer a sample tailored to a target group, preferably using a customer profile, informs the customer about advantages of the sample during collection, and thus effects an inexpensive and effective sales promotion. The customer profile and thus the allocation of the customer to the appropriate target group is preferably produced in a machine-readable manner by means of a code-generating device using data about the customer and delivered to the customer or otherwise communicated to the device (1) in such a manner that said profile can be assigned to the customer, such that the customer can collect the sample by presenting the machine-readable data to the device (1).

Description

description

Device for issuing free samples

Introduction, Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for issuing free samples and / or promotional products of different products (hereinafter referred to as "samples"), as they are usually available in the original for a fee in a retail store, for example in a supermarket, department store or drugstore.

Brands or companies often promote their existing and new products by issuing samples of the product to be advertised. With these, the consumer has a real, sensible point of contact with the product; for example, he can smell, taste, feel it.

Patterns can be found glued into magazines, obtained in perfumery as an addition to shopping, distributed at events and fairs, or offered to one - in most cases free of charge - in the pedestrian zone or other places where people predominantly follow the patterns appropriate, known interests are expected.

And also directly at the point-of-sale (in the following referred to as "PoS"), ie in the retail store, the customers receive patterns, in particular free samples, which are also referred to as sampling campaigns or tastings when it comes to tasting a Product goes.

Known state of the art In the prior art, for example, there is an output machine for

Free pattern called "boobox", which was presented by the company fosfor designs in 2009. The device queries various customer data via touchscreens As a "reward" for inputting the data, it issues a sample, which can be used to test the market acceptance of the product from which a sample is output.

US2002 / 0 040 321 A1 protects a method (and describes an associated device) for generating discount coupons for cross-marketing. Who buys at butcher X receives discount vouchers z. For gasoline at gas station Y, which can be issued by barcode (can). Thus, each customer receives a pre-determined discount on a particular product for a particular product at another location,

US2008 0 230 596 A1 proposes to prevent theft in a shop small, expensive goods such. For example, to issue cigarettes from vending machines, for which a kind of ticket is released at the checkout. The identification and thus a communication of the machine with the customer can be done for example via RFID, mobile phone or magnetic stripe.

US2010 / 0268377 A1 describes a delivery of medicaments. Here an identification of the collector and the direct issue of the goods after identification is explained. Identification takes place, for example, by means of a driver's license or credit card, that is, by means of official or similarly trustworthy credentials.

The US 5,649,114 pursues the idea to store and analyze all purchases of a particular customer in a store or a chain, and then individually for each customer to offer coupons to visiting and thus purchase incentives in the special store or the chain create. The customer must hand over the coupons at the cashier in order to obtain the promised benefit.

Problems of the state of the art Trade promotions at the PoS generally only take place on a temporary basis and are supported by trained personnel directly between the shelves and counters in the retail store, for example in the supermarket, department store or drugstore. As a result of the staff costs, the costs of designing the point-of-promotion (hereinafter referred to as "PoP"), ie the sample levy and the production costs for the samples or the cost of the products required for tasting are promotions compared to others Advertising measures for the companies and brands are above average.

In addition, customers often have reservations about commercial promotions at PoP, as they feel compelled to buy the product in the original after tasting and positively evaluating a product.

In addition, many consumers try to avoid the trade promotions - for lack of time or due to unwanted, direct approach by the doctoral staff - by simply "bypassing" the PoP.

Object of the invention and solution of the problem

The above problems are based on the invention described here, a device for issuing free samples of different products, as they are available in the original usually for a fee in a retail store, for example in a supermarket, department store or drugstore.

The problems are solved with devices having the features listed in claims 1 and 5. Furthermore, the invention provides a system with the features of claim 35 for solving the problem. Advantageous developments are the subject matter of the subclaims and / or will become apparent to the person skilled in the art from the description of the embodiments. In general, the device according to the invention has a control unit which enables the output of free samples tailored to target groups automatically and without permanent personal support. In addition, the interested consumers will be medially, for example through accompanying films, slideshows, Computer animations or games addressed during the output of the device and informed of the output pattern and the advertised product. In addition, an interaction with the customer may take place during the pattern issue, for example, the customer may be requested to enter further data.

On the one hand, there are cost advantages due to the automated output option, and on the other hand, an extremely pleasant, surprising shopping experience is created, in particular for those who are technically or curious, which ideally connects them sustainably with the advertised product, thus increasing customer loyalty to the advertised product and the corresponding product Brand leads.

The automated, to target groups and their carts tailored output of patterns to interested customers after the checkout as "Check Out Sampling" allows the customer the opportunity, in peace - without time pressure and compulsory purchase - eg after packing the shopping bags his advertising and the Related Patterns Description of Embodiments

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings in order to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. In the drawings, the figure shows schematically an example of a device according to the invention with numbers as reference numerals, while the illustrated letters illustrate the method steps performed by the device. The device 1 has a housing in the preferred embodiment

17 with a special housing shell whose design, due to its shape, dimension, materiality, color, texture and surface structure already from a distance, especially within the checkout zone, the attention of their potential Attracts users. This envelope may preferably be adapted for each vending machine to the trading company on whose premises the device 1 is located, the immediate sales environment, a trademark to be advertised or the main target group.

Control and maintenance of the device 1 takes place, for example, via a communication unit 4 integrated into the control unit 3, which - optionally by cable or radio - establishes a connection between the control unit 3 of the device 1 and a monitoring unit 15, a remote, central unit for communication with the and for the transmission of instructions to the control unit 3, whereby the initiation for establishing the connection can be made by the control unit 3 or the external unit 15. The external unit 15 may be a mobile or permanently installed control unit that can be used for one or more devices 1, and may also connect to a POS system, for example. Alternatively, the POS system and the control unit can also connect directly. For example, the connection may use a known protocol, such as the Internet hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), Bluetooth, or a comparable standard protocol. In this way, a cost-effective connection of the monitoring unit 15 with one or more communication and control units can be established via the Internet. Of course, it is also conceivable to provide a plurality of monitoring units, since such monitoring units can be designed in principle as a computer program in combination with conventional computers, so that the control unit 3 and thus the device 1 can be monitored from any point with Internet access. Telemetry can thus be used to monitor the device; The device can also have, for example, internal webcams or other sensors (for detecting malfunctions, for example, no longer sufficient equipment, or even only for detecting the remaining number of patterns) or external webcams and / or sensors. With the data recorded by external webcams, for example, customer reactions can also be recorded so that later promotions can be further optimized. Of course, other sensors with telemetric connections are conceivable, for example, to monitor equipment, disturbances, etc. from a distance and to intervene if necessary. An example of a simple internal sensor that can transmit data to the control unit would be a counter light barrier or a count switch. As an external sensor could be used in addition to or in place of a webcam, a proximity sensor, for example, based on infrared, the output of which, for example, leads to a subroutine is called to address a passing potential customer. A more complex external sensor, such as a webcam, may also provide data to further categorize the customer, such as age, gender, or other characteristics important to the classification, such as body height, physique, and / or appearance. In this way, it can be achieved that when buying a product (for example, if a teenager purchases typical products for seniors or a woman for men's care products), the buyer is not addressed incorrectly by the product selection and is thus more likely to be bounced off. By centrally recognizing the current state of the device, the device can easily be centrally maintained by normally informing other people on the job, for example, to eliminate simple glitches or quickly re-stock frequently-issued articles); it may also be possible to run a replacement program that, for example, will issue a product similar to the one originally intended as soon as a product that is normally more frequent is no longer available or an associated output tray is blocked. It is possible that the access of the personnel is registered and approved by the same scanner unit or one of the scanner units that also use customers to legitimize the sample output. However, it may also be a separate device that requires a key comparable to a coding, such as a special file that is read from a USB stick. The file on the USB stick can also contain an update for the computer, which automatically downloads it from the stick. Both the information for easy troubleshooting and a modified program flow can be monitored telemetrically for several devices, for example, from a central office. Alternatively, of course, a structure as a single-user system is possible; In this case, it is advantageous to provide the intelligence for the assignment of the customers to a target group directly in the device 1. This can also help possible waiting times for the customer, due to data transmission, are avoided. In the case of sufficient intelligence existing in the system, even the target group assignment mainly described in the exemplary embodiment can be replaced by such artificial intelligence in connection with an analysis of purchased goods in conjunction with corresponding sensor technology as described above.

In addition, can be seen on external webcams recognizable, high interest on the device, the output speed and display the information so that it is visible to several customers simultaneously, but z. B. is displayed only every second or third customer to reduce any snake in front of the device 1.

For permanent operation of the device 1 whose power supply takes place for example via a connection unit 13 to an external power source. Alternatively, of course, a supply via an accumulator or other energy sources such as solar cells, water or wind turbines is conceivable; other versions, the z. B. can be used in toy or sports shops, could partially or completely by a customer to be rendered performance, such as the depression or rotation of a lever or pedal or train on a rope, which is necessary for the scanning of the code and the output of the pattern Gain energy at least partially. In this case too, the focus is on combining a positive experience of the customer with the pattern and thus the advertised product. Users of the device 1 can in the embodiment presented here a

Bon, for example, the cashier issued by a cash register or from a POS system, which was previously printed by a printer connected to the cash register with a special code, read from a scanner unit 2 and processed by the control unit 3, with which the scanner unit 2 of Device 1 is connected.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device 1, the users, after the code, which is located, for example, on their receipt, from the scanner unit 2 has been read, a selection of graphic icons is displayed on the monitor of the image and / or sound output device 10 of the device 1. They represent different target groups, such as babies, children, adolescents, women, men, senior citizens, parents, car drivers, pet owners or in some other way - depending on the retail store - demarcated target groups. For example, a sports retailer could group their customers according to the sport, the customers to buy products for their exercise, for motor vehicle products could be differentiated by the associated car brands. In a device that advertises, for example, automotive needs, the customer could "identify" for example by means of his remote control key for his vehicle, based on which the device can recognize, for example, the vehicle type.

At the same time, the icons are also representative of the matching patterns to the target groups, which are located in the compartments 6 of the device 1. With a tap of the screen of the image and / or sound output device 10, the customers select the desired icon. Alternatively, icons, buttons (preferably beside or below the monitor), microphones for voice input or cameras in conjunction with software for recognizing speech, gestures and / or facial expressions as well as for recognizing further features for customer typing as mentioned above may also be used for the selection of the icon become. By dialing or after a predetermined time, for example ten minutes after receipt of the receipt, the code on the receipt may expire. Of course, this predetermined time can also correlate with the advent of interested parties in order to avoid that an interested customer can not redeem his code in the event of a high volume of traffic or a temporary disruption / reassembly etc. of the device 1.

The target groups of the device 1 can also be defined in another form, for example on the basis of their household net income (estimated on the purchased goods or otherwise known) or of the turnover at the PoS, possibly also in affiliated companies, their (presumed) affiliation to a social or otherwise Grouping, their personal taste preferences or their general circumstances, interests and needs. It is also conceivable, for example, to integrate icons for areas of interest such as "pets" in order to be able to offer samples from manufacturers in the animal feed industry.This specialization can be further pursued depending on the retail business, so that it would be possible to choose between "off-road" (eg mountain bike or cross bike) and "on-road" (eg road bikes, city bikes, etc.) are different in the pet shop, for example, between bird, dog, cat, fish and reptile owners, while full-range for example Make distinctions such as "older or younger target group,""budgetspent,""male or female," and use goods likely to interest a correspondingly larger audience. Based on the findings of the sensors, in particular the data of the scanned receipt, and the inputs to the device 1 by the customer, the device 1 determines the target group and the pattern to be issued. A (not shown in detail here) further device, a so-called

Code generating device generates the code for the device 1 in a conventional manner. The code generating device generates a code on the basis of information about the customer, where the information may for example consist of at least the time of the purchase (date and time) and / or a "number" of the customer Further information can, as mentioned above, be a screening of the shopping For example, in the case of "typical" party goods such as snacks, drinks, etc., a specific pattern (eg garlands) may be provided, in the case of a main purchase of eg. B. cosmetics articles another cosmetics etc. The value of the purchase can be considered in the code generation.

The generated code is then handed over to the customer, for example with the receipt within the so-called "checkout couponing." Alternatively, for example, by a structural measure, which ensures that the customer is recognized in the device 1, the authorization of As a structural measure, it is conceivable that the customer, for example, during further waiting periods (eg between security checks and clearance in the airport for "duty-free" purchases) by means of barriers at the Device 1 is passed and there can choose whether and how he wants to take the offer prepared for him.

The information for the selection of a pattern can also be generated by the device 1 itself. It is conceivable, for example, that the device 1 automatically recognizes the goods contained in a shopping cart or shopping cart, for example, on the basis of RFID chips attached to the goods, which have been directly read out by the scanner unit 2 of the device 1. It is also possible for the device 1 to cooperate with the POS system via a so-called "promotion engine." In this case, a compilation of the purchased goods (or the associated scanned EAN codes) from the point-of-sale system to the device 1 is already generated during the payment process The device 1 then sends either an identification code to the cash register system which prints it on the receipt of the corresponding customer or separately or the identification is carried out in another way, for example by the continued isolation in the cash register after the cash register, as described above with reference to an example in the airport.

In these cases, all the intelligence for selecting a pattern or an advertising measure can be transferred to the device 1. As a result, the POS system, apart from the aforementioned interface to the Promotion Engine, which usually already exists, does not need to be supplemented. Thus, the device can work with commercial POS systems without being interfered with.

As a further possibility, a connection with bonus program cards (eg "payback") or credit cards is conceivable, in particular if in the future they have possibilities for wireless communication (eg by means of RFID or NFC) The cards are scanned at the cash register and can then be used on the pattern output device for a certain time, software or code could also be transferred to a smartphone or mobile phone. to combine several such ways, for example via a bonus program card to identify the customer and then send him, for example by means of an SMS or MMS code on his cell phone or smartphone, which he can swap the pattern issuing device for a pattern. For a clear identification about z. B. bonus program cards is also a roll-call by the goods issue conceivable to emphasize the personalization and thereby increase the attractiveness.

The code generating device, which is connected, for example, to the cash register, can also generate a profile of its purchasing behavior from the analysis of the purchased goods for each customer. The cashier may also be able to enter certain target group data (eg customer male or female, estimated age group, rather conservative or fashionably dressed in clothing retailers) in the case of manually filled cash registers, which feed into the customer profile and thus into the output patterns. This customer profile can be read by the scanner unit 2 of the device 1 in order subsequently to be able to preferentially present an icon on the monitor of the image and / or sound output device 10 on the basis of these criteria. If the user does not press an icon, but only gives the code for scanning, the device 1 may assume that the preferred choice is correct. On the basis of the determined customer profile or the input by the customer, the output of a corresponding pattern is then started.

The code generator may generate the code in any manner, such as one, two, or three-dimensional code, as programming an RFID chip, or otherwise. It is crucial that the generated code for the device 1 is evaluable.

The code generation can be controlled not only via the cash register, but also in other ways. For example, a company may print barcodes directly on its product packages, which may then be scanned on the pattern dispenser. There is no extra effort, since the barcodes already present on the products already serve for price determination at the cash register and for retrieving further information about the product. In response to the Sample dispenser can be advertised and dispensed related products (or competing products). Alternatively, strategically priced bar codes (or RFIDs, etc.) may be placed on the shelf to sample related or competing products. An example of the first case would be a coupon for razor blade sampling near a aftershave (possibly also from the same brand), an example for the second case being a coupon for a sample of a similar product, for example butter near margarine (maybe from two different brands). Of course, such codes for advertising special products could also be printed by mail or on fliers which are on the PoS and held by the customer with a corresponding interest in the dispenser.

It is also conceivable to combine the process of selecting the pattern matching the customer with a survey, in addition to information on the acceptance of the device 1 in certain target groups, for example, information on how to deal with the device 1, the trading company, in whose premises the device 1, to a particular brand or product or general information about the target groups of the device 1 are queried. In this way, the device can be used for market research. The required system intelligence may be provided either in the POS system, directly at the pattern issuing device, or externally at a separate location and connected to POS system and pattern issuance via communication devices. If such system intelligence is available on the pattern dispenser, it may also sample on the basis of criteria entered by the customer directly on the pattern dispenser. It is also possible to allow the customer himself the target group assignment, for example, to better adapt a pattern to the customers who are making order purchases for others. To the mentioned "general information", for example, the

Belonging to a social network like "Facebook", it is also conceivable that a website of the product (such as a "fan page" on Facebook) is advertised on the pattern input device. Also the selection of a pattern according to the defined target group can be based on a random principle, the number of patterns for a target group in general (4 products for women) and the number of patterns in particular (100 samples of product A for women, 200 samples of product B for women, ..) considered. In addition, the goal can be pursued that distributed over a day so many patterns of a product are issued that in the evening still of each product patterns are present - and in the same proportion as in the morning. Finally, it is also conceivable that instead of patterns (eg in the case of a temporary lack of availability of a suitable pattern), the device generates and dispenses new codes which at a later time or in other places, especially in large shopping centers and / or department stores , which also has a similar device 1, can be used. This can be used, for example, to guide customers to specific offers. After selection of the icon or directly after transmission or input of the

Codes by the customer drive in the device 1 a transport device 8 in the horizontal and / or vertical direction to a compartment 6, which is located on a level 7 within the device 1, in which the matching pattern is kept. The sequence is controlled in a manner known per se by the control unit 3.

For example, in the present embodiment, the control unit 3 sends a control command to an electric drive device 5 to rotate a spiral rod, thereby pushing the pattern selected by the user through the selection of the icon into a transport device 8.

Following the transfer of the pattern, the transport device 8 transports the same to an output device 9. Although it is also possible to drop the pattern into or out of the dispenser 9 only, the use of the transport device 8 offers the possibility of gentle transport, in particular also sensitive patterns, for example glass surfaces or yoghurt cups. In addition, the output can be further delayed to gain time to inform the customer while waiting for the output. Finally, due to a background noise caused by the Transport device 8 is generated or highlights the transport process acoustically, also the feeling of a special presentation are generated, which ideally also has a positive effect on the reception of the pattern by the customer. When arrived at the output device 9, the transport device 8 according to the embodiment transfers the pattern to the output device 9.

To present the pattern, in a further preferred embodiment of the device 1, the cylindrical opening of the dispensing device 9 opens towards the user by a rotational movement. As an alternative to a cylindrical opening, the performance can also take place behind a mechanical or electronically controlled sliding, pivoting or folding opening. The construction of such dispensers 9 is known in the art in principle (for example, here are called dispensers for different drinks and food) and will therefore not be further explained.

From the time of selecting the icon to the output of the pattern, the user sees in the device 1 according to the embodiment described here, a so-called "single player", so a short movie, picture or animation, which may be provided with audio signals is displayed on the monitor or the product from which the pattern originates and is output on the monitor and via the audio system of the image and sound output device 10. In the embodiment, the drive speed of the entire transport system can be adapted to the length of the player In the case of technically savvy customers, it is also conceivable to seek instead of the one-player or in addition to this also a contact with multimedia devices of the customers, thus for example to a smartphone of the customer just sampled, in which case the one-player could transfer to the smartphone Alternatively, simple participation or advice ele are used to anchor the information to be conveyed about the advertised product or sample at the customer.

According to a preferred embodiment, in particular in combination with the abovementioned possibilities for communication with devices of the customer like mobile phone, notebook, netbook or tablet for this purpose, a communication device 16 is provided which transmits by means of the Bluetooth standard or in a similar, in principle known manner corresponding data on a mobile phone, notebook or a similar multimedia device of the customer, if he so wishes. As a specific example, it is conceivable to provide an inductive transmitter for hearing aids in addition to the audio system in certain applications. If, in accordance with this preferred embodiment, files are transferred to an external multimedia device of the customer and stored there, the customer also has the data for the product at hand later on and can supplement it himself if desired, for example via an Internet portal of the advertising company or the advertiser Brand or fanpage as mentioned before. Finally, a corresponding connection also offers the opportunity to inform and get to know the customer in more detail, for example by means of competitions or similar procedures. In order to be able to dispense, for example, also perishable foodstuffs as a pattern, the device 1 in the present embodiment has a cooling device 11 comprising at least one refrigeration unit with which foodstuffs are prepared according to the "Guideline for Good Practices" of "Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on food hygiene "are permanently coolable (+ 7 ° C) or frozen (-18 ° C) respectively.

Although it is mainly described in the present embodiment that the customer identifies himself by means of a receipt, the invention is not limited thereto. The customer may also identify, as briefly discussed above, a code that has been applied to it prior to the sale of a product. In such a case, for example, targeted patterns of a related product (possibly also from the same brand) or competing product may be delivered to interested customers. A corresponding code may be affixed as a stamp, as a coupon in a distributor, as an RFID chip, or similarly either to particular products or otherwise provided to the customer. For example, customers could receive codes on fan pages on the Internet, as was already done in the mail order business and sometimes also in the retail sector for the purpose of discounting or obtaining free samples becomes. For this, the customer requires data such as mobile phone numbers. Such codes can be assigned to the customer as applets on the smartphone, as MMS on the mobile phone, as (at the customer) printable barcodes or by linking with known or via the Internet recordable customer data. The customer may, for example, the data as bonus program card data, as a readable on a USB stick on the device 1 file, which was generated by a downloadable or executable program from the Internet for this user, as printed code, as from the fan page to the smartphone the customer dubbed applet that communicates with the device via Bluetooth, for example, or biometric data, such as a scanned via fingerprint scanner fingerprint, are assigned to the customer. The customer provides the required data in advance, for example on the fan page on the Internet. Then the customer can be identified on the basis of this data on the device 1. In the case of vouchers distributed over large areas, for example by direct mail, individual identifiability is also useful, in order to avoid having to issue multiple samples with a single voucher, without obtaining the desired effect of informing as many interested customers as possible. However, this can be achieved relatively easily by "invalidating" a code by inserting a code reading guide into a reader that marks the code as "read" upon detection, for example, by attaching an additional code point, by punching out at least one Part of the code or in a similar way.

Next, the code as already mentioned by a device of the customer, such as its (wireless) car key, mobile phone, an NFC-enabled card, a netbook or tablet, etc. are queried. In such a procedure, coupling to the code generating device (and thus as described in the exemplary embodiment mainly to the cash register) is not necessary and interested customers who belong to the target group can already be sampled in front of the cash register. This has the advantage that the device 1 can be set up, for example, in the supermarket in the vicinity of the advertised product, so that spontaneous purchases of the patterned product become possible without problems. In addition, targeting can be based, for example, on data from a product which the customer already owns (eg based on the car brand for radio car keys, for the mobile phone model or provider for smartphones etc.).

In the embodiment of the device 1 described here, all components of the device 1 are controlled by a control unit 3. This control unit 3 can also connect to an external monitoring unit 15 to enable, for example, feedback on faults, necessary maintenance, such as the filling of the device 1, etc., or for the evaluation of the recorded cash register data. Conversely, it is also possible that the external unit 15 receives the contact to retrieve certain data, such as the images of a webcam.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the housing shell can also generate attention or support the presentation by means of special light and / or sound effects. Such light effects can also be controlled by the control unit 3 or permanently programmed.

In addition, the device 1 - which was not shown in the figure - include a proximity sensor to respond when approaching a person. For example, a change of light effects or an animation on the monitor can be triggered by approach.

The described device 1 can also be used to carry out a method with which, for the purpose of obtaining customers, the automatic presentation of patterns is carried out depending on information about the respective customer. Individual steps of the method, such as the division of the customers into customer segments either based on a previous analysis or by the customer's own information, reading the associated code, selecting and outputting the corresponding pattern, providing an associated one-player and collecting the information obtained for further evaluation, the skilled person recognize the use of the various features of the preferred embodiment of the device as well as from the self-explanatory figure described by way of example. More preferably, the pattern output device may also include means by which a customer acquires goods from machines in a conventional manner. At the same time, when issuing goods purchased specifically by the customer, the pattern issuing apparatus can also provide patterns either in accordance with queries or otherwise in addition to the goods purchased on the apparatus.

In summary, a device 1 is created, which can offer a customer, preferably based on a customer profile, a pattern that informs customers during pickup about benefits of the pattern and thus causes a cost effective and effective sales promotion. The customer profile and thus the classification of the customer in the appropriate target group is preferably machine-readable by a code generating device based on data about the customer and handed to the customer or otherwise assigned to the customer assignable to the device 1, so that his pattern by presenting the machine-readable Can pick up data on the device 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 scanner unit

3 control unit

4 communication unit

5 drive device

6 compartment

7 level

8 transport device

9 sample output unit

1 0 Picture and / or sound output device

1 1 cooling device

12 return device

13 connection unit

14 digital memory 15 External monitoring unit

16 communication device

17 housing

A reading the code

B Deploy the icons

C Select an icon

D sending various control commands

E Release of the sample and / or promotional item

F Transport of the sample and / or promotional item

G Issue of the sample and / or promotional item

H single player (film, picture or animation)

I notification of faults

J Remote Diagnosis, Control and Maintenance

Claims

claims

1, device for generating a code for a scanner unit (2), wherein the code is readable by the scanner unit (2), the code contains at least one information about a customer, and the code is adapted to identify the customer so far that a further device (1) on the basis of the code and any further inputs by the customer can output a suitable pattern for the customer.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is coupled to a cash register, the device creates a preliminary customer analysis based on the purchased at the cash register of a customer goods, the device divides the customer based on the customer analysis in a customer group and based on the group division a digital or analog, one-, two-, or three-dimensional printed code for handover to the customer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device is the code on a

Receipt receipt.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the customer groups according to different parameters, in particular based on their sex, their age, their net household income, their affiliation to a social or other grouping, their personal tastes, or their general living conditions , Interests and needs are divided.

5. Device (1) for outputting patterns and / or promotional articles of different products, wherein the device has at least one control unit (3), at least either a scanner unit (2), which for the device (1) digitally or analogously generated -, two- or three-dimensional codes reads, or an input unit at which customers can enter data, and processes the information contained in the read codes and / or input information and sends the information to the control unit (3), characterized in that the device (1) has at least one pattern output unit (9), which differs from the Control unit (3) is controlled to output depending on the processed information matching patterns and / or promotional items.

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, further comprising at least one compartment (6) in at least one level (7) to be issued pattern and / or promotional items.

7. Device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a communication unit (4), with which a connection between the control unit (3) of the device (1) and an external unit (15) can be produced, wherein the connection of both the control unit (3) and from the external unit (15) can be initiated.

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the device has internal and / or external sensors, the trouble and problem messages to the external unit (15) deliver.

The apparatus (1) of claim 8, wherein the sensors comprise webcams and the fault messages include images captured by the webcams.

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 9, further comprising at least one communication device (16) for communication with a multimedia device of the customer.

1 1. Device (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the communication unit (4) and the communication device (16) for communication with the multimedia device of the customer wireless communication via W-Lan, 3GS, UMTS, Bluetooth, NFC or other suitable transmission standard allowed.

12. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 1 1, further comprising at least one drive device (5), which transports the patterns and / or promotional items to their position for removal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drive device (5) comprises motors, electromagnets, compressed air generators, transport devices (8) and / or vibration conveyor for transporting the pattern.

14. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 13, further comprising at least one transport device (8), with which the patterns and / or promotional items at their respective positions in a compartment (6) and on a plane (7) can be picked up and are transportable to at least one output device (9).

The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the drive means (5) positions the patterns and / or the promotional items in the horizontal and vertical directions based on control commands of the control unit (3).

16. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 15, further comprising at least one output device (9), which presents the users of the device (1) the particular pattern and / or promotional items intended for them.

17. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 16, further comprising an image and / or sound output device (10).

18. Device (1) according to claim 17, which has at least one monitor and at least one audio system of the image and / or sound output device (10) for displaying icons for selection by the users, wherein the control unit (3) of the device (1) on the monitor of the image and / or sound output device (10) during the release, transport and output process of the pattern and / or promotional items a film, a picture or an animation einspielt.

19. Device (1) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the positioning of the image and / or sound output device (10) is variable horizontally, vertically and in the depth of the device (1).

20. Device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the size, the format and the resolution of the monitor of the image and / or sound output device (10) are variable, and / or wherein the surface of the monitor of the image and / or sound output device ( 10) is touch-sensitive.

21. Device (1) according to one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the monitor of the image and / or sound output device (10) also for visualization at repair and maintenance on the device (1), the control unit (3) and / or the communication unit (4) is usable.

22. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 21, which further comprises at least one cooling device (1 1), are permanently coolable with the food and / or frozen.

23. Device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 22, further comprising at least one return device (12), in which the non-desired by the user pattern and / or promotional items are returned.

24. The device (1) according to claim 23, wherein the positioning of the return device (12) is variable horizontally, vertically and in depth.

25. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 24, wherein via the scanner unit (2) also the image of a stamp, a special sticker, coupon and the codes are read on a product.

26. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 25, wherein via the scanner unit (2) also a non-custom code is read, which was previously designed to be compatible with the control unit (3) of the device (1).

27. The device according to claim 5, wherein the scanner unit also reads electronically readable codes, magnetic strips and RFID chips.

28. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 28, further comprising a digital memory (14) in which the system logic or programming of the device (1) as well as to the patterns and / or promotional items associated data such as films, images and animations are stored retrievable.

29. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 28, wherein the positioning of the dispenser (9) is variable horizontally, vertically and in the depth of the device (1).

30. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 29, wherein the power supply of the device (1) via a connection (13) to an external power source and / or an internal accumulator takes place.

31. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 30, wherein the housing of the device (1) for filling the compartments (6) or repair and

Maintenance work can be opened forwards and / or backwards.

32. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 31, wherein in the housing of the device (1) lighting technology can be integrated, which can be controlled by the control unit (3).

33. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 32, wherein the

Output device (9) is additionally controllable via a random element.

34. Device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 33, further comprising a code generation device according to one of claims 1 or 4.

35. System comprising a device for generating a code according to one of claims 2 to 4 and a device (1) for outputting patterns and / or

Promotional articles according to one of claims 7 to 34, characterized in that upon presentation of an identification card at the cash register this establishes a connection with the communication unit (4) of the device (1) for issuing patterns and / or promotional items to the customer analysis data and the identification data to transmit to the device (1) for outputting patterns and / or promotional items, the scanner unit (2) on request scans the data of the identification card and compares it with the data sent by the cash register and the device (1) for issuing patterns and / or or promotional items based on the customer analysis data obtained together with the identification data that outputs appropriate patterns and / or promotional items.