Patent US 5,369,571

The invention is an apparatus and method for acquiring demographic data at the point of sale. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes use of a bar code scanner for two purposes: identification of the product by reading the bar code it carries and for scanning bar-coded demographic selections corresponding to assessments of demographic information made by the sales clerk about the purchaser. The selections are printed onto a chart in words and associated bar code and kept at the check out counter for scanning when the goods are purchased. The two components of data: product identification data and demographic data are associated with each other and stored by a computer until transmitted for evaluation. In an embodiment alternative to the dual use of a scanner, a key pad can be used to make the demographic selections and input them to the computer along with the product identification data.