Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/02—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by keys or other credit registering devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/02—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
  • G06F15/025—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators adapted to a specific application
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
  • G06Q20/387—Payment using discounts or coupons
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
  • G07G1/0045—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
  • G07G1/0081—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader the reader being a portable scanner or data reader

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to shopping information, and, more particularly, to a computer based system for assisting shoppers to locate products in a shopping venue, provide shoppers with useful product information and provide an enhanced system for automating the check-out procedure.
• a POS system generally has one or more automated check-out terminals which is capable of sensing and interpreting the bar code printed on each item of merchandise to be checked out. Contained in the bar code is the item's Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) code.
• SKU Stock Keeping Unit
• Each of the check-out terminals is connected to a computer which processes the SKU information.
• the computer's database includes a list of items of merchandise in the store, an SKU for each of these items, and various types of information, including pricing and inventory information, associated with each SKU.
• Savings in money are offered to shoppers by the stores through lower prices on particular items of merchandise.
• stores advertise through direct mail, radio, television, and/or newspapers, and often offer coupons for taking advantage of the promotional items.
• signs on shelves and on shopping carts, as well as bold pricing indicators on the products for sale aim to catch a shopper's attention and cause him or her to purchase the sales products.
• the existing systems and programs designed to enable a shopper to save time and money leave a lot to be desired. For instance, despite the advances brought about by POS systems to speed the checkout process, the checkout process still represents a bottleneck in the eyes of most shoppers.
• POS systems aid shoppers to speed the checkout process, they do not help reduce time during the shopping experience. Once in the store, a shopper continues to spend a considerable amount of time trying to locate the items that need to be purchased. Although in many supermarkets, signs throughout the store give shoppers a general indication as to the location of various categories of products, these signs fail to give shoppers precise location and direction information of specific products. Thus, many shoppers will roam the aisles trying to locate the items he or she wants to purchase. A further failing of the present system is that shoppers often fail to obtain the full benefit of the savings offered by a store. Despite the advertisements and signs within the store, it is not uncommon for a shopper to walk by a sales item without realizing that it is on sale. Even if a shopper does attempt to purchase an item advertised as being on sale, when the item is scanned during check-out, the price charged to the shopper will sometimes not reflect the sales price and will go by unnoticed by the shopper.
• the subject invention concerns an electronic shopping information system for use in a shopping venue, such as a supermarket, to assist shoppers to save time and money while shopping.
• the electronic shopping system is able to provide navigational directions to the shopper to various products in the shopping venue based on the shopper's current location and is also able to provide shoppers with store information such as notifying shoppers about sale items as the shoppers pass through the store aisles and provide shoppers with electronic discount coupons based on a shopper preference profile.
• the shopping information system includes a portable electronic handset carried by shoppers, referred to as an electronic shopping card (ESC).
• the ESC is a microprocessor controlled unit and includes an optical transceiver configured to request and receive pricing information directly from electronic price tags associated with store items upon a shopper's request.
• the optical transceiver provides a capability for receiving the afore-mentioned positioning and shopper information data from a central computer via a plurality of artificial light sources located throughout the shopping venue.
• the light sources being adapted to optically transmit position data and store information in addition to performing a conventional lighting function.
• the ESC device further comprises an item profile database comprising at least an item profile table configured to include identification indicia for each item of merchandise sold in the store, such as brand name, generic name, and the like and also includes location information for each item of store merchandise.
• the request is processed by the control unit of the ESC whereby the ESC, using the location information component from the item profile database and the positioning information transmitted via the light sources, computes a directional path to the item and displays the computed directional path and/or a navigational map to the shopper in response to the requested item.
• the ESC could provide the computed directional path to the shopper using a synthesized voice.
• an automated check-out device for use at a checkout register is configured to wirelessly receive a shopper's pricing information stored on the ECS for items in the shopper's cart thereby removing a need to perform a bar-code scan of the cart items.
• the shopping venue includes a shopper profile database comprising at least a shopper preference table configured to include identification indicia of shoppers and shopper preference data, such as, for example, snack, beverage, condiment and cereal preferences and the like.
• Shopper preference data is transmitted from the shopper profile database, via a check-in device, to the ESC device upon the shopper entering the store.
• the shopping information system provides numerous advantages to a shopper including: the elimination of price scanning at the checkout register by recording prices optically transmitted by the electronic price tags when items are selected by shoppers; guiding shoppers in locating items on the retail shelves and; providing electronic coupons and supplemental product information targeted to shoppers based on a shopper preference profile.
• the shopping information system provides numerous advantages to the retail chain including: (1) reduced labor costs by facilitating shopper self-service checkout; reduced coupon distribution costs by issuing electronic coupons on the spot when a shopper approaches an item in a supermarket; (2) increased shopper satisfaction resulting from reduction of checkout time by eliminating scanning at the checkout register; reduction of search time by shoppers trying to locate specific items on the shelves and savings on products of interest to the shoppers.
• a further advantage includes increased sales resulting from targeted electronic coupons based on shopper preferences.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a general layout of a communication arrangement that uses a data link provided by a modulated, fluorescent light system
• FIG. 2 is illustrates a functional block diagram of a typical ESC device, according to one embodiment, which is carried by a user of the shopping information system of the invention
• FIG. 3 is illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the shopping information system of the invention.
• the present invention will be described in terms of a shopping information system in a shopping venue. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be utilized in any data collection environment in which data is communicated from a central host to an end user employing a portable data collection terminal.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the present invention and its novel use in a shopping venue 130.
• the shopping venue 130 comprises a series of shelves 165 on which store items (i.e, products) are stored. Between the shelves 165 are access areas or aisles 167. The aisles 167 permit people to access the objects on the shelves 165. People/shoppers 162 move through the aisles 167 to select objects from the shelves 165. Stores like this are well known. For example, any retail or wholesale type of store will have objects stored on shelves 165 with aisle access as shown in the figure. Objects could include food, can goods, produce, package goods, hardware, lumber, house- wares and any other item that is sold and can be carried in a cart or container.
• the system 100 includes a control center (i.e., central host) 110 including a store computer 120 and a database 122 for storing at least shopper preference data.
• the store computer 120 will control a data link that can send optically encoded data (see arrows 52) to be communicated to mobile hand held units, ESCs 160 carried by shoppers 162 traveling through aisles 167 in the shopping venue.
• the data link is implemented by a fluorescent lighting system 140 comprised of a plurality of fluorescent lighting luminaires or luminaries 141.
• a fluorescent lighting system 140 comprised of a plurality of fluorescent lighting luminaires or luminaries 141.
• Patent 5,838,116 "Fluorescent Light Ballast with Information Transmission Circuitry", issued to Katyl et al. on November 17, 1998, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• the data to be transmitted is generated at the computer 120 and connected to input data ports located on the ballasts 143 of the fluorescent lighting luminaries 141.
• Emitted light (shown as arrows 52) is modulated providing a way to transmit data from lamps in the fluorescent lighting luminaries 141 to the ESC devices 160 which are preferably carried around the shopping venue 130 on the person of the shopper 162.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a typical ESC device 160, according to one embodiment, which is carried by a user of the shopping information system.
• the ESC device 160 includes an ESC control unit 201.
• the control unit 201 can comprise any standard processing system such as a CPU.
• the control unit 201 allows centralized control of the other components as discussed below, together with general operational conditions of the ESC device 160, data and power checks, compatibility checks and so forth as appropriate.
• the memory unit 211 allows long or short term data storage, for example, of data received, via the optical transponder 203, to be described. Memory control, management and transfer can be controlled by the control unit 201.
• the memory unit 211 may suitably comprise a small form factor hard disk drive, a PCMCIA programmable memory card, a high-capacity flexible media cartridge and floppy drive combination, an array of FROM (Flash ROM), SRAM or DRAM memory chips, or the like.
• the ESC device 160 further includes a voice storage unit 205 for storing predetermined voice data, a voice synthesizer 207 for converting the store information transmitted from the central computer, and a speaker 209 (or an earphone) for outputting the voice signal.
• a voice storage unit 205 for storing predetermined voice data
• a voice synthesizer 207 for converting the store information transmitted from the central computer
• a speaker 209 for outputting the voice signal.
• the ESC device 160 further includes an optical transponder 203 for performing receive and transmit functions to transmit/receive data associated with the shopping experience.
• Receive (Rx) functions performed by the ESC device 160 include capabilities for receiving optically encoded data from the plurality of fluorescent lighting luminaries 141 distributed throughout the shopping venue 130; capabilities for receiving pricing information from electronic price tags 170 located on the shelves near each store item and; capabilities for receiving shopper preference data from a check-in device 190 located at an entry portal to the shopping venue 130.
• Transmit (Tx) functions performed by the ESC device 160 include capabilities for transmitting pricing requests to any of the plurality of electronic price tags 170 located throughout the shopping venue 130 on each shelf 165 for each store item; transmitting pricing information on purchased store items as part of an automated check-out procedure to a check-out device 180 located near the store exit.
• a check-out procedure is described below.
• the ECS device 160 further includes a display 213 for displaying information to the shopper 162.
• the display 213 may represent navigational data (instructions) to locate store items, a navigational map for the same purpose, electronic coupon information, store specials, and other data in accordance with the invention as will be described further below.
• the display 213 may comprise any unit capable of displaying information, such as, for example, a VGA or SVGA liquid-crystal-display (LCD) screen, and LED display screen, or any other suitable display apparatus.
• Pressure sensitive (touch screen) technology may be incorporated into the display 213 so that a user may access the ECS device 160 by merely touching certain portions of the screen.
• the ESC device 160 is also provided with a limited number of activation buttons 215, 217, 219 and 221 for performing various user functions such as a "price-request" key 215 to request pricing information from electronic price tags associated with each item for purchase in the shopping venue 130, a "plus” key 217 to “add” an item selected by a shopper 162 to a list of purchased items, a "minus” key 219 to "delist” a previously selected item from the purchase list which is to be returned to the shelves of the store, and an "equals" key 221 to display the total cost of the items selected for purchase.
• a "price-request" key 215 to request pricing information from electronic price tags associated with each item for purchase in the shopping venue 130
• a "plus” key 217 to "add” an item selected by a shopper 162 to a list of purchased items
• a "minus” key 219 to "delist” a previously selected item from the purchase list which is to be returned to the shelves of the store
• the ECS 160 preferably incorporates power management/distributed power management (not shown) to ensure that, for the portable components at least the power supply is as efficiently used as possible ensuring that the full life of a power supply is obtained.
• the power usage for each component is .preferably distributed by individual adjustment in relation to each component to optimize power demand to meet the necessary power requirements.
• a numeric or alpha-numeric button or keypad arrangement may be provided in combination with the display 213 in order to define an input device.
• the interactive shopping information system 100 in accordance with the inventive arrangements is particularly useful in food markets, as such a supermarket can utilize all of the advantageous features of the system 100. Accordingly, the inventive arrangements will be described in this context. However, the example should not be construed as limiting.
• FIG. 3 A supermarket application of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 as being representative of the shopping venue 130 of FIG. 1.
• a shopper 162 entering the supermarket environment 300 first proceeds to a check-in counter 190 preferably located near an entrance 195 to the supermarket.
• the supermarket 300 automatically provides a plurality of portable ESC devices 160 stored at a convenient location near the check-in counter 190.
• the shopper 162 selects one of the ESC devices 160 from the check-in counter area 190 for use while shopping.
• the shopper will scan a personal identification card with stored identification data, such as, for example, a supermarket loyalty card at a check-in apparatus 191 located at or near the check-in counter 190.
• the check-in apparatus 191 reads the information stored on the supermarket loyalty card and checks with the central computer 120 to confirm that a corresponding shopper data file exists and that the shopper is authorized to use the system 100. Once system approval is obtained, the identification data stored on the shopper loyalty card is uploaded to a central host 120 to obtain shopper preference data from a shopper preference database 122 associated with the central computer (host) 110. The shopper preference data, once obtained, is transferred to the shopper's ESC device 160 via optical transmission from the check- in counter 191. In addition to the shopper preference data, electronic coupons may be transferred to the ESC device 160 for products included in the shopper preference database 122.
• the fluorescent luminaries 141 broadcast store information to the ESC devices 160 about products available in the locality of the ESC device 1 0, such as store specials, and the like.
• the fluorescent luminaries 141 also optically transmit position data to the ESC devices 160.
• the position data is used to provide suitable directions or location indicia to selected items, on the basis of a shopper's current location, to locate, upon shopper request, for example, the next item on a particular shopper's shopping list or to proposed replenishment items chosen on the basis of an analysis of a shopper's personal shopping history, as defined in the shopper preference database 122.
• the shopper 162 would make a request for the location of a particular store item via voice command using speaker 209.
• the request is processed by the ESC control unit 201 and using a locally stored map of the supermarket 130, the ESC 162 displays on the display device 213 either a text string of directions for locating the requested product and/or a map describing how to navigate the store aisles to locate the requested store item.
• pricing information is readily obtained by the ESC devices 160 for any store item by positioning the ESC device 160 in proximity to an electronic price tag 170 associated with each store item and pressing the "price check" button 215 on the ESC device 160 to initiate a data transfer request for pricing information from the electronic price tag 170 to the ESC device 160.
• the electronic price tag 170 will transfer the requested data to the ESC device 160.
• the "price check" request/response process is effected by short- distance bi-directional optical transmission enabled by the shopper's manual intervention.
• the ESC device 160 also permits a shopper 162 to add an item to his or her shopping cart through the selection of an "add" key 217 located on an ESC keypad, return an item previously selected by selecting a "minus" key 219 or provide the shopper 162 with a running total of the products selected.
• the shopper can be provided with a running cost total for all selected items, as well as a running indication of savings, as a default display or upon request. This running cost total display can be part of the screen display. Running cost totals can also be supplied audibly, for example after each item is selected, or upon request.
• a key feature of the invention is the method used to effect payment for the store items purchased at check-out time.
• the shopper 162 proceeds to the checkout station 180 which includes means for transferring the stored prices from the ESC device 160 to the check-out station 180.
• POS point-of-sale
• the time savings in this regard can be significant.
• the shopper 162 can be queried whether or not it is time to pay for the objects/items carried in the cart.
• the shopper 162 can pay for the purchased items in a conventional manner, i.e., by using a credit card or other bill paying device.

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
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• Development Economics (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Calculators And Similar Devices (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-12-03 AU AU2003283697A patent/AU2003283697A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-03 JP JP2004560032A patent/JP2006510106A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-12-03 EP EP03775678A patent/EP1576486A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-03 WO PCT/IB2003/005653 patent/WO2004055686A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2003-12-03 CN CNA2003801062202A patent/CN1726480A/zh active Pending

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