[Patents] EPO patent on printing buying hints based on cooking recipes in a supermarket

[PILCH Hartmut phm@a2e.de]

> A few discreet enquiries have revealed that EP-870264 is a pending 
> application and not a patent.

What about

        EP 756731

?

That was granted by the EPO in autumn 1998.

Almost the same business method is claimed, so we now at least have some
patented prior art to be cited against EP 870264.

----------------

EP 756731
Interactive Information Selection Apparatus
Receptomaat C.V. (NL)

Claims

1. Interactive information selection apparatus, comprising:
memory means in which all necessary information relating to at least one
dish consisting of a number of components is or can be stored spread over
a number of hierarchical levels;
first display means for displaying in each case a list of options
corresponding with one level, one of which options at a time can be
selected by a user;
selection means which can be operated by a user and which are adapted,
after a start instruction and on the basis of menu control, to address
that part of the memory containing partial information relating to the
selected option; and
second display means for displaying all relevant information present in
the memory corresponding with all selected options.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first display means
comprises a screen.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a touch screen
and also forms part of the selection means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second display means
comprise a printer for generating a copy on paper of the said relevant
information.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said relevant information
comprises information about the wares, products and/or articles to be
purchased and information concerning method(s) of preparation.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said relevant information
comprises information about prices.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said relevant information
comprises information concerning the composition of the products and/or
articles and/or the nutritional properties thereof.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said relevant information
comprises information concerning the location in the store or supermarket
in which the appartus is situated where the user can find the relevant
products and/or articles.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said relevant information
contains information concerning the for instance shortest route to be
followed by a user through the store or supermarket.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the printer can also print a
discount card for discounting when payment is made for the purchased
products and/or articles.

11.  Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus is coupled to
a central stock control and administration computer.

12.  Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second display means are
also the first display means, photos of prepared components of dishes are
included in the memory and after a selection the associated photo is ready
for display on the screen such that after the final selection has been
made the photos are displayed as composite photo on the screen.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the printer can print on the
discount card a bar code or the like readable by an automatically
operating cash-point.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is based on
software.  

-phm