Method and apparatus for selective distribution of discount coupons

Process and system for selectively issuing discount coupons

CATALINA MARKETING INTERNATIONAL INC. ANAHEIM_v

International Application Date: 06/05/1992 International Application Number: PCT / US92 / 03898 Priority: 6/6/1991 (695,650) US

International Publication Number: WO 92/20030

The present invention relates to a method and system for selectively issuing discount coupons. The prerequisite for release is a pre-selected combination of the consumer's current and past purchasing behavior. The consumer basket is processed at the exit terminal with the light pencil (13). The production of a printable discount coupon can depend on any desired combination of data provided by the consumer. This data is obtained from the consumer purchase (22) files and the exit direct (24) database. This data includes past purchase activity based on previous purchases made by the consumer in the store and current purchase activity based on items identified by the consumer in this cart. If all the pre-selected conditions for producing the coupon are met, we will produce and print a discount coupon at the exit checkout.

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DISCLOSURE

COPIES

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A process and system for selectively issuing discount coupons

CATALINA MARKETING INTERNATIONAL INC. ANAHEIM₍ «Ej V | ^ UNITED STATES)

inventors:

O'BRIEN, Michael, R.

OFF, George, W.

CHERNEY, Timothy, L.

LAGUNA HILLS ₍ (j ru ru íct_

NEWPORT BEACH ₍ (prKUV UT FULLERTON ₍ fori ^ í ^ IK ^ UNITED STATES)

International filing date: 06.05.1992

International Application Number: PCT / US92 / 03898

Priority: 06/6/1991 (695,650) (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

International Publication Number: WO 92/20030

The present invention relates to a method and system for selectively issuing discount coupons. The present invention relates to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 465,478, entitled "Process and Equipment for the Production of Discount Coupons."

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The method and apparatus of the present invention are generally applicable to cash register computers used to record purchase transactions in commercial stores, and in particular to cash register systems for processing discount coupons. Most checkout systems have terminals that can read the code printed on the packaging of each product and thus determine its price from an internal file. This store has access to a store controller. The products are coded by a series of parallel lines, known as the Universal Product Code.

All retailers are aware that many manufacturing companies distribute discount coupons by mail or in newspapers, postcards, or packaged in similar or related products. When a buyer presents a discount coupon when purchasing a product in question, the terminal cashier will typically key in the value of the coupon and deduct the discount from the buyer's account.

A frequent disadvantage of this procedure is that the consumer may not actually buy the discounted product and, in this case, receive the coupon discount unduly. A further disadvantage for the consumer is that it is inconvenient to collect coupons and take them to the shop. Many consumers are not at all involved in a program to increase the consumption of distributed coupons. This represents a significant loss for manufacturers or retailers distributing the coupons.

U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 465,478, and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,910,672 and 4,723,212, which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,125 discloses systems that produce printable discount coupons as a result of purchasing one or more trigger-relevant product at a checkout counter. The consumer may be given a redeemable voucher at the next purchase. This method of distributing customized discount coupons for the purchase of selected products or groups of products has been very successful, but does not facilitate retailers' other important marketing goals.

Retailers and manufacturers of merchandise and other consumer goods have long been demanding marketing and boosting programs that are more targeted to consumers. In most consumer promotion programs that apply product discounts, coupons will need to be sent to many people, most of whom do not benefit from the discount. Increasing the percentage of rebates on discount coupons is an important objective of consumer promotion programs. However, this goal can only be achieved if alternative systems that are more selective than previously known are used to implement the programs to increase consumption. The key factor for such programs has been the fact that discount coupons are printed in the shop and one of the specific methods of targeting consumers is to print the coupons when purchasing relevant (relevant) products. However, there is still a need for a more general approach that encourages consumers to be more informed about the details of their consumption-enhancing programs, compared to a simple and unique trigger (relevant) purchase.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and system that provides consumers with a better foundation than the simple and unique trigger (relevant) purchase, and therefore provides printable discount coupons in the retail business for the consumer's specifics and past and present purchasing activities. depending on a certain pre-selected combination.

To solve this problem with respect to the system, the system includes a plurality of terminals located at the customer's exit point and each terminal has a device that reads the product codes of the items purchased in the consumer basket. These terminals communicate with an in-store controller that accesses a batch record file containing the price of each item and other information about each item. The system also includes a device that stores the terms and conditions of a discount transaction available to the consumer, as well as a device to uniquely identify each consumer, which only occurs when the particular consumer whose purchase has been processed complies with selected conditions.

Preferably, the system further comprises an apparatus that prints the discount coupon for direct delivery to the consumer.

Preferably, the system further comprises an apparatus.: '··: ♦ ··:.

• · · » .:. ·..· : ·

- 5, which processes the printed rebate on the next purchase and applies a rebate on the next purchase if a discounted item is purchased, and a device for logging the printed rebate and cumulative redemption rebates.

More particularly, the system of the present invention further comprises an apparatus for identifying trigger (relevant) products in a shopping cart. Each triggering product is accompanied by a condition of a current or future coupon transaction; contains a consumer purchase data file that stores data on the consumer's purchase of the relevant (relevant) products. This is used to determine whether future coupon transactions will be effective. The printout coupon generating device includes a device that determines from the consumer purchase record whether the consumer has fulfilled all coupon transaction conditions associated with his or her past activity; and a tool that determines from the Consumer Purchase Data File whether the consumer has met all of the conditions for coupon transactions associated with this activity. The production of a printable coupon will only occur if the consumer has met all the requirements for past and present consumer activity. These activity requirements can be selected according to the particular coupon transaction, for example: a coupon is only produced if the consumer has purchased a particular item within a specified period but has not purchased a specified item in the current basket.

In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the only condition to be met before the coupon is produced is that the consumer be a member of a pre-selected, targeted consumer group. Such a group may be determined by age, place of residence or income.

The task is accomplished with respect to the process by storing, during the process steps, the terms and conditions of at least one discount coupon transaction; uniquely identifying the consumer whose purchase is being processed; determining whether the identified consumer has fulfilled all the conditions of a discount coupon transaction and, if the conditions are met, automatically generating a printable discount coupon.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the step of determining whether an identified consumer has fulfilled all the conditions of a discounted transaction is based on the information provided by the consumer to determine that the consumer is a pre-selected target group of consumers. e? In another preferred embodiment of the method, in the step of determining, whether the identified consumer has fulfilled all the conditions of the discount coupon transaction to determine whether the consumer's past and present purchase activity meets certain pre-selected conditions?

More specifically, preferably, further steps in the process are to pre-select the trigger (relevant) products that are associated with a current or future implementation ♦ · · · · · · ·. · · ··· ·· «

- 7 conditions for one discount transaction; detecting the purchase of the relevant (relevant) products in the consumer basket and storing the consumer purchase data related to the purchase of the relevant (relevant) products. As part of the step of determining that a consumer's past and present purchasing activity meets pre-selected criteria, we review consumer purchase data stored during previous visits to the store.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention represents a significant advance in the field of in-store cash register computer systems, where discount coupons can be printed in retail stores. In particular, the invention provides a unique targeting of consumers in relation to discounted coupons based on a pre-selected combination of information provided by the consumer and the consumer's past and present purchasing activity.

The present invention, its other features and advantages are exemplified by the invention. Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail by means of the drawings, of which

First Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a cash register computer system incorporating the system of the present invention;

Second FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the functions of a general idle processing loop according to the present invention;

Third FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the functions performed in accordance with the present invention for processing input data and producing printable discount vouchers; FIG.

3a. and 3 b. FIG. 3B is a decision block 72 and 72 'according to FIG. 3. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·.

a more detailed flowchart, a

4th FIG. 4A is a flowchart of the functions performed when processing the output data according to the method of the present invention.

As exemplified by the figures, the present invention relates to in-store cash register systems for recording sales coupons or discount vouchers. Figure 1 shows a schematic of parts of such a system. Each store in which the invention is practiced has a store sales controller 10 and a plurality of exit terminals 12. Each terminal includes a 13 light pencil (optical scanner). The store controller 10 has multiple files associated with it. One such file is an item record file 14. The controller uses these data files to transmit information to the terminals 12. The 14 item record files contain a record of each item sold in the store. We use this file to obtain the price of the product and other information about the product.

In a typical in-store configuration, the terminals 12 and the store controller 10 are connected in a ring bus system in the terminal processing loop 16. The data transmission between the store controller 10 and the terminals 12 is via the terminal processing loop 16.

The ingredients described so far. - the store controller 10, the terminals 12, the item record file 14 and the terminal processing loop 10 together form a conventional retail cash register system. In accordance with the present invention, by observing the transactions performed on the terminals, we can observe the • · 4 ♦ ··· • · · ·. .:. · .. ·; ··; ·

- Produce 9 pre-selected trigger (relevant) products and produce printable promotional discount vouchers. The invention is implemented in software form on a personal computer 20, which is connected by the wire 21 to the terminal processing loop 10 so that it appears as an additional terminal equipment of the personal computer from the point of view of the store controller.

The item record file 14 is a standard price file used in cash register systems, except that it contains a trigger flag, which is an additional one-bit field. The record format of this file is described in more detail in the aforementioned Patent Application No. 07 / 465,478. In the process of producing the coupon, we determine from the item record file 14 whether the purchased product is a trigger (relevant) product? If so, the corresponding record is removed from the exit direct 24 database. This will provide additional information about the ongoing discount transaction for the product in question, and will primarily receive the amount of the discount. Discount coupons can be printed either as a result of purchasing a trigger (relevant) item (such as the systems described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,910,672 and 4,723,212), or printed without purchasing a trigger (relevant) product if the consumer has a special targeting as will be described later.

Two personal data files are connected to the 20 personal computers; the consumer purchase data set 22 and another 24 data base, called the exit direct database. During operation, the ·· ♦ * ·· «··_Λ • · · * · _Λ ® · · · · * * * · ···· • ·· ·

- 10 20 personal computers detect the purchase of trigger (s) at 12 terminals, search for the conditions of each rebate transaction from the exit direct 24 database, make a list of trigger (s), and update the consumer purchase list with items on the end of the transaction data file. It queries the consumer purchase data file to determine if direct exit coupons should be printed. The personal computer 20 also controls the printing of the bulk discount vouchers through the printer's outgoing bus 26, which is connected to the printers at each terminal. Figure 1 depicts such a printer 28.

The personal computer 20 is also connected to a retail host computer 30 by a wire. Line 32 may be a telephone line or other connection. The retail host computer 30 controls the data transfer with all of the store controllers in the retailer's various stores and generates different accounting reports 34. A database 36 is associated with retail host 30 and contains various data files relating to all retail store operations.

According to the invention, the personal computer 20 follows the selected characteristics of each consumer's purchasing history in the consumer purchase data files 22, and the printing of the coupons is subject to any desired combination of past and current consumer behavior.

The printing of the coupon may also depend on demographic factors.

For example, in a valid consumer list, you can perform demographic screening (selection) on either your PC or a non-• · · · · ·.

• ί. · .. ·: · .. * ··; ·

- 11 off-line illustrated devices that can serve as a filtered list of consumer identifiers for a personal computer. For example, a program to increase consumption may be limited to consumers of a certain age group, living in a particular geographic area or having a range of income.

Making a coupon or voucher dependent on your past purchasing behavior provides some interesting marketing opportunities for the retailer and the manufacturer. For example, a hair shampoo coupon may be printed at a preselected time after having previously purchased the same product or another product so that the consumer has the opportunity to purchase the discounted product when he has almost completely used what he has previously purchased. Another option is to target households based on the categories they purchased over a period of time.

In general, past consumer behavior data used in the present invention may be derived from existing databases or retrieved through the system of the present invention. Traders using on-site consumer ID cards can now analyze consumer behavior in terms of store sales records, purchase frequency, and purchase volume over a period of time. Based on these factors, the retailer can compile a list of consumers targeted for a particular consumption enhancement program. For example, if the store opens a new delicacy class, you can later identify consumers who have not used it and target them with a special discount offer. The second level at which consumer behavioral data can be applied involves both the collection and use of behavioral data12. Sales of a selected item group or multiple item groups are monitored over a period of time, possibly for several months, and the results are stored in the 22 consumer purchase files. A consumer enhancement program can then use the data in these files to identify and target consumers whose past purchase behavior in the selected group met any desired criteria. For example, in a consumer promotion program that provides discount coupons for a particular coffee brand, you may target consumers who have purchased some other brand of coffee in the past few months. Another such consumer promotion program may reward consumers who, through their purchasing behavior, appear to be loyal to a particular brand.

In each of the cases and examples described above, the issue of vouchers or vouchers may also be made dependent on the consumer's current behavior, which is determined by the size and nature of the consumer's on-site transaction. A condition for printing a coupon may be the purchase volume, the purchase of a particular item, or the purchase of a specific size or quantity of a particular item.

The gauge generation functions of the system of the invention are shown in Figures 2, 3, 3a, 3b. and Fig. 4. Figure 2 shows the general standby state of processing on 20 personal computers. In this state, the computer cyclically examines whether a specific processing task should be performed. If processing has started at a certain stage, it is followed by a return to the general wait state as soon as

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we will explain later. For the purpose of explanation, the processing steps of the present invention are illustrated as if only a terminal was transacted. However, it is obvious that the personal computer 20 performs the processing efficiently at the same time with all the terminals 12, but the flow diagrams would be unnecessarily complicated if multiple terminal-related processing were depicted.

The general wait state processing loop of FIG. 2 comprises four decision blocks in sequence, blocks 40-43. In block 40, the personal computer 20 determines whether there is input data to be processed. Input data may be received from an unencrypted light pencil or barcode scanner of a terminal device or from an untapped keyboard of a terminal device. If there is input data to be processed, the personal computer 20 begins an input data processing sequence (block 44), as shown in more detail in FIG. In block 41, the computer determines whether there is output data to be processed. If present, the output data processing in block 46 begins, as shown in more detail in FIG.

Block 42 determines in the general wait state processing loop whether a previous request to control 10 for accessing a file has been received. It is clear that the personal computer 20 issues a number of prompts to access the file, but since access to the file may take a relatively long time, processing continues in the general queue until a prompt is received. Then, in block 48, a response return follows. This simply means that the control returns to the point in the program at which it occurred. • ···· ························································································

- 14 requests for access to the file. so the program can continue in the correct order. Finally, the decision block 43 in the general wait state loop determines whether the time limit has expired. In a sales system, bulk discount vouchers are printed without a dedicated printer. You can have a separate print station to print your vouchers, but you can also use the print head for other printing features, such as printing a receipt to a customer. In this case, it may be necessary to avoid printing so many discount vouchers (and possibly other types of discount coupons) that may interfere with other printing features. Therefore, printing a voucher or a substantial portion of that voucher may be followed by requesting a time limit to allow other printing features to access the printer. Until the time limit expires, as determined in block 43, the processing remains in the general wait state loop. When the time limit has expired, the block 50 returns a time limit and processing resumes at the point where the time limit was requested.

According to the invention, a number of functions are performed in relation to the selective printing of discount coupons or discount vouchers. Not all of these require the active involvement of the consumer, except that in some way each consumer must be individually identifiable. Currently, the most common means of identifying consumers is the identification card issued by the retailer. Consumers are encouraged to use an ID card to facilitate payment by personal check. At the same time, the cards allow * * ··· »·· 4 ·· · · · 4 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

- 15 Sikhs, including the association of consumer behavior with an individual consumer or household. In the present description, the identification card (ID card) is described as such a mapping device. A consumer ID card typically has a unique identification number encoded with a barcode or a magnetic stripe. At the exit checkout, you can read either the bar code or the magnetic code. It will be understood, however, that other means of identifying the consumer may be used and that such devices are within the scope of the invention. Consumers can be identified, for example, by means of a machine-readable driving license or a credit card, or even by fingerprinting, provided that the technical equipment is reasonably priced.

Figure 3 shows in detail the input data processing sequence in block 44. First, block 52 examines the input data to determine if it is a refund. Each printed discount voucher will have a special bar code that can be read at the checkout counter and will be different from the Universal Product Codes used to identify the products and other codes on the consumer ID card. If the input is not a refund, will we verify in block 53 that the consumer ID card is valid? If the input data is not refund data and the consumer ID card is not valid, then check block 54 to see if it is a Universal Product Key (ETK) data? If so, the record corresponding to the ETK in the input data is retrieved from the item record file 14 (Figure 1). and check in block 56 to determine if it is an item that should trigger the production of a bulk discount voucher16

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nia? If it is an item that is not preselected to trigger the production of a document, this item does not require any further processing and returns to the general wait state in block 58.

If the item is a trigger (relevant) item, in block 60, look for the appropriate record from the direct exit database 24 (Figure 1). In the subsequent processing steps, we produce a selective ETK list for the shopping basket that is being unlocked. For the purposes of the present invention, any item which affects the circumstances of a discount transaction is defined as a relevant item. For example, buying a trigger (relevant) item may be the only criterion to start printing a discount coupon; or the purchase of one or more trigger (relevant) items is a condition that entitles the consumer to a discount voucher that he or she may require based on a past purchase activity. If the item being processed is found in block 62 not yet listed, then block 64 is added to the list. If the item is already on the list, in block 66 the number of purchases of the item in question is increased and in block 58 it returns to the general wait status loop. Reprocessing the data corresponding to purchased items in blocks 54-66 results in the generation of an ETK list of the triggering (relevant) items, which can result in the printing of a coupon or a certificate. This list is stored internally by the personal computer 20 until the transaction of the consumer is completed, which is indicated by the payment ability status of the exit cashier keyboard.

When the buyer wants to pay for the cart, the cashier operates a payment skill key to complete the transaction and open the cash register. The ability to operate the payment key is detected in block 68. Before key operation, processing from block 68 to block 58 enters the general wait state loop. When the ability to pay key is detected, do we check the bulk discount list to see if it contains an item? If the list contains one or more items, these items are added to the buyer's purchase data in block 71. This is the main data collection step in which purchases of trigger (relevant) items are recorded for possible later analysis. In the most advanced embodiment of the invention, each item purchased by a consumer may be a trigger (relevant) item, the details of which need to be recorded for later use when targeting consumers with specific consumption enhancing programs. Obtaining complete shopping cart purchase data obviously requires very large storage capacities for consumer purchase data files, but the principles used are the same as those described.

After updating consumer purchase records, in block 72, do we decide whether to print discount coupons or discount vouchers? This decision is based on current and past purchases stored in the consumer's purchase data. This is later shown in Fig. 3b. 4A to 4B. If the criteria are not met, then the block ETK for the transaction in block 74 is cleared and through block 58 it returns to the general wait status processing loop. If the desired criteria, as determined in decision block 72, are met, the corresponding exit direct coupons are generated in block 76, queued in block 78 for printing, and then listed in block 74. and block 58 returns to the general wait state loop.

A related feature of the present invention is the provision of printable coupons or vouchers upon detection of a valid consumer ID card in block 53. Some coupon transactions do not require the use of consumer current transaction data and can therefore be processed as soon as a consumer ID card is detected in block 53. In block 72 ', it is decided whether a coupon should be produced for this consumer. If so, the blocks in block 76 'are generated and aligned in block 78' to the print queue. Otherwise, block 58 returns directly to the idle state.

Coupons or vouchers are printed during the output data processing (block 46) steps. This is illustrated in more detail in Figure 4. The processing of outgoing data consists essentially of three steps: printing a document in block 80 from the print queue, removing an entry corresponding to the printed document in block 82, and logging the print of the document in block 83 in the log files 22. Then, through block 58, we return to the general idle processing loop. If there are still documents to print, retrieve them from the print queue the next time you return to the respective output data processing steps.

The only general feature of the invention which has not yet been discussed is the refund of the certificate. All printed discount vouchers can be refunded the next time you visit the store. When the voucher is presented, the exit treasurer reads a barcode on the voucher with a pencil. This activity generates input data for the PC 20 (Figure 1). The refund-related input data is recognized in decision block 52 (Figure 1). and the refund is logged in block 84 (Figure 3). Refund logging includes two basic functions: maintaining a cumulative record of refunded vouchers in 22 files (Figure 1) and enforcing a discount on the consumer basket.

As described in Figure 3, deciding whether or not to produce a printable discount coupon or discount voucher can occur at any or both stages of the processing of the input data. One of the stages corresponding to block 72 'is at the point where a valid consumer ID card is recognized, but the details of the current transaction are not considered in the decision. The second stage, corresponding to block 72, occurs when the exit treasurer has operated the ability to pay key at the end of the consumer's transaction. The decision process in blocks 72 and 72 'is described in more detail in FIG. 3q. and 3b respectively. is shown.

The first question in the coupon production decision process is whether any coupon transaction is currently in progress. (Block 85). If not, then in block 58 : · ........

f. Η * we return to the general standby state. If so, the details of the coupon transactions are retrieved from the exit direct 24 databases (blocks 86). Basically, these details determine the terms and conditions of each coupon transaction, including the item, items, or product group to which the discount applies, the actual discount details, and the eligibility terms. One eligibility condition may be that the consumer's ID card is in the target consumer group. Thus, the next question posed in the processing in block 88 is whether the consumer iD card in question is a target group for a given coupon transaction. The exit direct database 24 may include a list of consumer ID cards for the coupon transaction or, instead, include a reference to another database file containing the list. In any case, the decision process requires that the consumer ID card in question be in the target group. The group can be selected based on a single desired demographic feature or some combination of features. These include age, place of residence, income level, number of children, and so on. If the consumer ID card is not in the target group, we return to the general wait state and do not generate a coupon.

Even if the consumer ID card is one of the targets, it may be necessary to meet other conditions before producing a coupon. These conditions are checked in block 90. There may be coupon transactions for which there is no additional condition to be fulfilled.

·· ·♦·

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····

For example, there may be a one-time discount transaction where every customer over 60 years of age receives a voucher for a vitamin product. Other discount transactions may be subject to the condition that the consumer's total purchases in the past month have reached a certain minimum dollar value or that the consumer has not purchased a product in a designated department of the store in the past month. If the additional conditions are not met, we will return to the general standby state. If they are, processing will continue to produce a printable voucher or voucher.

In block 72 (Figure 3), the decision is processed similarly to that of Figure 3b. is shown. The first question is whether there is any coupon transaction (block 92). If so, the transaction details are retrieved from the exit 24 database. If not, we return to the general standby state. At this point in the processing, we no longer care about the consumer's ID card, although this may be a factor if desired. There are basically two general conditions that must be met in order to make a printable coupon. For the first condition, we determine in block 96 whether the designated conditions for past activity are met? For the second, we determine in block 98 whether the conditions for a current activity are met? If both checks are positive, we produce the appropriate print coupon. Otherwise, we will return to the general wait state.

A past activity condition can be anything that can be found in consumer purchase records. For example, a discount transaction may be subject to the condition that the consumer has previously purchased a particular product within a specified time period. For example, a toothpaste can be discounted if the consumer purchased a toothpaste one month earlier and is likely to be out of stock soon. Such a transaction may also be subject to the condition that the consumer does not purchase toothpaste in the current transaction or to any combination of items currently purchased. Control of past activity can basically cover all consumer behavior that involves time. Another example is any condition that relates to the frequency of purchase of particular items or groups of items. The current activity condition can be any desired combination of purchased or unpurchased items or a dollar value threshold.

Each coupon transaction can have any desired purpose, such as rewarding brand loyalty by giving a discount when the consumer purchases selected products. The purpose may be to encourage purchases at a designated department of the store or to make a periodic discount when the consumer is likely to need the product.

As mentioned earlier, a computer is a 20 personal computer using, for example, an Intel 80386 microprocessor chip. The software required to perform the functions described above may run on a standard operating system such as Microsoft Disk Operating System (MSDOS) on such computers. The described functions can be programmed in any desired way or language.

Some parts of the software depend on the store cash register hardware that the software must connect to receive data. ···· »··· ··· ···

- 23 from the terminal processing loop 16 (Figure 1). Completely different interface programs are required for the system of the invention to work with IBM, Datachecker, NCR or Sweda cash registers. However, the specification of these interfaces is a design detail which is not critical to the invention.

Our invention facilitates the production of printable discount coupons for a consumer in the shop. However, this is conditional on a selected combination of the consumer's current and past shopping activity. The conditions that must be met before a coupon can be produced vary from simply being a pre-selected target group based on age, address or other demographic factor to a more complex combination of purchasing activity that includes selected items or groups of items past purchases (or non-purchases), and current purchases.

By way of example only one embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, but it is to be understood that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. In this sense, the invention is limited only by the appended claims.