JP2006510106A - Electronic shopping information system - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic shopping information system (100) supports the shopper (162) at the shopping place (130). The electronic shopping system provides the shopper with directions to the desired product, teaches the shopper about the sale item as he goes through the store aisle (167), and provides an electronic coupon based on the preference profile. The shopping information system has a portable electronic handset (160) called an electronic shopping card (ESC). The ESC is a unit controlled by a microprocessor (201) having an optical transceiver (203). The transceiver requests and receives prices directly from the electronic price tag (170). In addition, the transceiver can receive data from the central computer via artificial light sources throughout the shopping area. The ESC further manages the current total amount of items in the shopper's shopping card and optically transmits the total amount to the checkout device (180), which eliminates the need for bar code scanning of the items. .

Description

  The present invention generally provides shopping information, and more specifically, useful product information to the shopper and provides an improved system for automating the checkout process, where the shopper finds a product at the shopping location. It relates to a computer-based system that supports this.

  Today, especially retail stores such as supermarkets are competing intensely to attract shoppers to the store. One mode for attracting customers is due to the savings offered to shoppers in two areas that many people value, such as time and money.

  Many modern retail stores today use point-of-sale (POS) systems to provide shoppers better and faster service. A POS system typically has one or more automatic checkout terminals that can sense and interpret bar codes printed on each item of merchandise to be checked out. The bar code includes an inventory management unit (SKU) code for the item. Each checkout terminal is connected to a computer that processes SKU information. The computer database has various types of information including a list of merchandise items in the store, SKUs for each of these items, and price and inventory information associated with each SKU. When the shopper is ready to purchase, the store clerk simply uses an automated terminal to sense the barcode on each of the shopper's selected items. The computer interprets the SKU contained in the barcode, checks the price of each item, and manages the current amount of purchases.

  Money savings are offered from the store to the shopper through a cheap price attached to a particular merchandise item. To communicate such sale items to shoppers, stores often advertise through direct mail, radio, television, and / or newspaper, and offer coupons for using the promotional items. Further, in the store, the price of the sale item is displayed on the shelves, the stickers on the shopping cards, and the sale items in bold. However, much remains to be done with current systems and programs that are designed to allow shoppers to save time and money. For example, despite the progress made by the POS system to speed up the checkout process, the checkout process remains unsatisfactory for many shoppers.

  In addition, the POS system helps shoppers expedite the checkout process, but does not help reduce the time between shopping experiences. Once the shopper enters the store, they still spend considerable time finding items that need to be purchased. In many supermarkets, signboards located throughout the store give shoppers general instructions regarding the location of various categories of products, but these signboards can be used to identify the exact location of a particular product. Directions information cannot be given. Thus, many shoppers walk around the aisle to find items they want to purchase.

  A further disadvantage of current systems is that shoppers often do not get enough of the savings offered by stores. Despite advertisements and in-store stickers, shoppers often walk too far beside a sale item without knowing it is on sale. Even if a shopper attempts to purchase an item advertised as a sale, the price charged to the shopper may sometimes not reflect the sale price when the item is scanned during checkout Yes, shoppers may remain unaware.

  Therefore, there is a need for a shopping information system that helps shoppers save time and money and provides convenience to shoppers during shopping.

  The present invention relates to an electronic shopping information system for use in a shopping location, such as a supermarket, that helps shoppers save time and money when shopping. The electronic shopping system can provide the shopper with navigation directions to various products at the shopping location based on the shopper's current location, and as the shopper moves through the store aisle. Store information that informs the shopper of the sale item can be given to the shopper, and further, an electronic discount coupon can be given to the shopper based on the shopper's preference profile.

  In one aspect of the invention, a shopping information system has a portable electronic handset that is carried by a shopper, referred to as an electronic shopping card (ESC). The ESC is a unit controlled by a microprocessor and has an optical transceiver configured to request and receive price information from an electronic price associated with a store item upon a shopper's request. In addition to requesting and receiving price data, the optical transceiver also provides the ability to receive the above location and shopper information data from a central computer via multiple artificial light sources located throughout the shopping location To do. In addition to performing conventional lighting functions, the light source is adapted to optically transmit location data and store information.

  The ESC device further includes, for example, an item profile database including at least an item profile table configured to include an identification mark of each item of a product sold in a store such as a brand name and a general name, and location information of each item of the product It has further. When a shopper requests to locate a particular item, the request is processed by the ESC control unit. The ESC uses the location information component from the item profile database and the location information transmitted via the light source to calculate a route to the item and to calculate the calculated route and / or navigation map, Display to the shopper for the requested item. Alternatively, the ESC may supply a calculated route to the shopper using synthesized speech.

  In one particular aspect of the present invention, an automated checkout device used in a checkout register wirelessly stores shopper price information stored on the ESC for items in the shopper's card. It is configured to receive, thereby eliminating the need for bar code scanning on items in the cart. In this regard, considerable time savings can be realized.

  In yet another aspect of the invention, the shopping location is a shopper preference table configured to have shopper identification data and shopper preference data such as, for example, snacks, beverages, seasonings, and cereal preferences. A shopper profile database. When the shopper enters the store, the shopper preference data is transmitted from the shopper profile database to the ESC device via the check-in device.

  The shopping information system provides shoppers with a number of advantages, including: By recording the price optically transmitted by the electronic price tag when the item is selected by the shopper, it is unnecessary to scan the price at the checkout register. Guide the shopper to find the location of the item on the retail store shelf. An electronic coupon and additional product information are provided to the intended shopper based on the shopper's preference profile.

  In addition, the shopping information system also allows retail chains to: (1) reduce labor costs by facilitating shopper's self-service check-out, when a shopper approaches an item in a supermarket, Reduce coupon distribution costs by giving coupons. (2) Reduces checkout time by eliminating scans in checkout registers, resulting in increased shopper satisfaction, shopper is on the shelf It offers a number of benefits, such as reducing the time it takes to find a particular item and savings on products that the shopper is interested in. A further advantage is that sales are increased by intended electronic coupons based on the shopper's preferences.

  The foregoing features of the invention will become more readily apparent and understood by referring to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

  The present invention will be described with reference to a shopping information system at a shopping location. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be used in any data collection environment where data is communicated from a central host to an end user using a portable data collection terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the present invention and its novel usage at a shopping place 130. The shopping location 130 has a series of shelves 165 on which items (ie products) are placed. Between the shelves 165 is an access area or passage 167. The passage 167 allows people to access the items on the shelf 165. People / shopper 162 moves through passage 167 and selects an item from shelf 165. Such stores are well known. For example, any retail or wholesale store places items on shelves 165 and has aisle access, as shown in FIG. Objects include food, can products, crops, packaging products, metal products, wood, household items, and any other items that can be sold and carried in carts or containers.

  In addition to the conventional aspect of FIG. The system 100 includes a store computer 120 and a control center (ie, central host) 110 having a database 122 that stores at least shopper preference data. The store computer 120 provides a data link capable of transmitting optically encoded data (see arrow 52) to be communicated to the mobile handheld unit ESC 160 carried by the shopper 162 traveling through the shopping hall aisle 167. Control. The data link is implemented by a fluorescent lighting system 140 having a plurality of fluorescent lighting fixtures or light emitters 141. One method of transmitting data via a fluorescent ballast is described in US Pat. No. 5,838,116, entitled “Fluorescent Light Ballast Information Transmission Circuit” issued November 17, 1998 to Katyl et al. It is described in. This patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Data to be transmitted is generated in the computer 120 and connected to an input data port installed in the ballast 143 of the fluorescent light emitter 141. The emitted light (shown as arrow 52) is modulated to provide a method for transmitting data from the lamps in the fluorescent light emitter 141 to the ESC device 160 that is preferably carried by the shopper 162 and moving around the shopping location 130. Is done.

A. Electronic Shopping Card FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a typical ESC device 160 according to one embodiment carried by a user of a shopping information system. In one embodiment, the ESC device 160 has an ESC control unit 201. The control unit 201 can have any standard processing system such as a CPU. The control unit 201 enables centralized control of other components as described below, as well as the general operating state, data and power check, compatibility check, etc. of the ESC device 160 as required.

  A memory unit 211 is shown separately from the control unit 201. However, the memory unit 211 may be incorporated in the same unit as the control unit 201. The memory unit 211 allows long-term or short-term data storage of data received via the optical transponder 203 described below. Memory control, management and transfer can be controlled by the control unit 201. The memory unit 211 is preferably a small form factor hard disk drive, a PCMCIA programmable memory card, a combination of a large capacity flexible media cartridge and a floppy (registered trademark) drive, an array of FROM (flash ROM), SRAM, or DRAM memory chip. Can have.

  The ESC device 160 further includes a voice storage unit 205 that stores predetermined voice data, a voice synthesis unit 207 that converts store information transmitted from the central computer, and a speaker 209 (or earphone) that outputs a voice signal.

  The ESC device 160 further includes an optical transponder 203 that performs reception and transmission functions for transmitting / receiving data associated with the shopping experience. The reception (Rx) function performed by the ESC device 160 includes a function of receiving optically encoded data from a plurality of fluorescent illumination light emitters 141 distributed throughout the shopping area 130, and a shelf near each store item. The price information is received from the electronic price tag 170 installed in the shopping center 130, and the customer preference data is received from the check-in device 190 installed at the entrance of the shopping place 130. The transmission (Tx) function performed by the ESC device 160 includes a function for transmitting a price request to one of a plurality of electronic price tags 170 on each shelf 165 and placed throughout the shopping location 130 for each store item; It includes the ability to transmit price information for shop items purchased as part of an automated checkout process to a checkout device 180 located near the store exit.

  The ECS device 160 further includes a display 213 that displays information to the shopper 162. For example, the display 213 displays navigation data (instructions) for finding store items, navigation maps for the same purpose, electronic coupon information, store specials, and other data of the present invention described further below. Can do. Display 213 may comprise any unit capable of displaying information, such as, for example, a VGA or SVGA liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, and an LED display screen, or any other suitable display device. Pressure responsive (touch screen) technology is incorporated into the display 213 so that the user can access the ECS device 160 by touching only certain portions of the screen.

  In one preferred embodiment, the ESC device 160 further includes a “price request” key 215 that requests price information from an electronic price tag associated with each item for purchase at the shopping location 130 and a purchase item list for shopping. A “plus” key 217 to “add” the item selected by the customer 162, a “remove” item previously selected from the purchase list to be returned to the store shelf, a “minus” key 219, and A limited number of activation buttons 215, 217, 219, 221 are provided to perform various user functions, such as a “total” key 221 that displays the full amount of items selected for.

  The ECS device 160 is a power management / distributed power management that ensures that at least the power supply is used as effectively as possible to ensure that the portable component has a full power supply lifetime. (Not shown) is preferably incorporated. In particular, if the terminal is capable of performing different tasks with different components, the power usage of each component is associated with each component to optimize the power demand to meet the required power requirements. It is preferable to distribute by adjusting each of them individually.

  Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will readily appreciate that various modifications can be made to the specific embodiments illustrated herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a numeric or alphanumeric button or keypad arrangement may be provided with the display 213 to form an input device.

B. System Operation The interactive shopping information system 100 according to the arrangement of the present invention is particularly useful in the food market. This is because such a supermarket can use all the advantageous features of the system 100. Accordingly, the arrangement of the present invention will be described in that context. However, this example should not be construed as limiting.

  The supermarket application of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, which represents the shopping location 130 of FIG. In order to use the system 100, a shopper 162 entering the supermarket environment 300 first proceeds to a check-in counter 190, which is preferably located near the entrance 195 of the supermarket. The supermarket 300 automatically provides a plurality of portable ESC devices 160 that are placed in convenient locations 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 during shopping. After selecting the ESC device 160, the shopper uses a check-in counter 190 or a check-in device 191 installed near the check-in counter 190 to receive a personal identification card storing identification data such as a supermarket point card. Scan. The check-in device 191 reads the information stored on the supermarket point card, verifies with the central computer 120, the corresponding shopper data file exists, and this shopper is authorized to use the system 100. Make sure. Upon approval of the system, the identification data stored on the shopper's point card is uploaded to the central host 120, thereby allowing the shopper's preference database 122 associated with the central computer (host) 110 to store the shopper's point card. Get preference data. Once the shopper's preference data is obtained, it is transferred to the shopper's ESC device 160 via optical transmission from the check-in counter 191. In addition to shopper preference data, electronic coupons for products included in the shopper preference database 122 may also be transferred to the ESC device 160.

  While the shopper 162 moves around the shopping area 130, the fluorescent light emitter 141 broadcasts store information about products available in the vicinity of the ESC device 160 such as, for example, store specials, to the ESC device 160. In addition to the store information, the fluorescent light emitter 141 further transmits position data to the ESC device 160. The location data may, for example, find the next item in a particular shopper's shopping list, as required by the shopper, or as defined in the shopper's preference database 122. It is used to provide a suitable route guide or place sign to the selected item based on the current location of the shopper to suggest replenishment items that are selected based on an analysis of the shopping history. In this case, the shopper 162 can make a request for the location of a particular store item via a voice command using the speaker 209. This request is processed by the ESC control unit 201 and the ESC device 160 uses a locally stored map of the supermarket 130 to provide a text string of directions to find the requested product and / or request. A map is displayed on the display device 213 that explains how to navigate the store aisle to find the item of the store that has been placed.

  As a further feature of the present invention, the price information includes the ESC device 160 in the vicinity of the electronic price tag 170 associated with each store item, and the “price confirmation” button 215 on the ESC device 160 is pressed to start the ESC device from the electronic price tag 170. Any store item can be easily obtained by the ESC device 160 by triggering the device 160 to transfer the price information data transfer request. In response to the “price confirmation” request, the electronic price tag 170 transfers the requested data to the ESC device 160. This “price confirmation” request / response processing is accomplished by short-distance bi-directional optical transmission, enabled by the shopper's manual intervention.

  In addition to having the ability to perform “price confirmation”, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ESC device 160 allows the shopper 162 to enter the shopping cart upon selection of the “add” key 217 on the ESC keypad. Allows the shopper 162 to return the previously selected item by selecting the “minus” key 219 or to give the shopper 162 the current amount of the selected product. The shopper can be given a current total for all selected items, as well as a current indication of savings, based on a default display or request. This current total display can be part of the screen display. The current total amount can also be supplied by voice, for example, after each item is selected or based on demand.

  An important feature of the present invention is the method used to pay for purchased store items at checkout. When the shopper 162 finishes shopping, the shopper 162 proceeds to the checkout station 180 having means for transferring the price stored in the checkout station 180 from the ESC device 160. In this way, there is no latency associated with conventional point-of-sale (POS) systems where each item needs to be scanned and recorded. The time savings in this respect are substantial. After the full display is presented to the shopper 162, the shopper 162 is asked if it is time to pay for the item / item carried in the cart. The shopper 162 can pay for the purchased item in a conventional manner, i.e., using a credit card or other billing device.

  The embodiments of the present invention described herein are intended to provide preferred embodiments of the present invention that are contemplated by the current application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments described based on the embodiments described herein without departing from the invention. Furthermore, although the preferred embodiment has been described in the context of a supermarket application, the system can be used in any type of retail application. For example, a metal goods store (e.g., home depot) uses an electronic shopping card to provide information about the location of various store items and price information for multiple items by simply querying an electronic price tag. It is possible. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary in nature and are not intended to represent every possible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a general layout of a communication arrangement using a data link provided by a modulated fluorescent lamp system. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a general ESC device according to one embodiment carried by a user of the shopping information system of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the illustrative Example of the shopping information system of this invention.

Claims (15)

A handheld electronic shopping device,
A processor configured to calculate the distance and direction to the store item relative to the current location of the shopper using location data and pre-stored item location information received from the remote store computer;
A storage device coupled to the processor and operable to store an item database having the pre-stored item location information;
A display controlled by the processor and operable to display information;
Inputs that can be actuated through touch,
A voice user interface operably coupled to the processor for receiving voice queries and commands and providing an audible response;
An optical transceiver coupled to the processor and in communication with the remote store computer and one of a plurality of store electronic price tags;
Handheld electronic shopping device with   The handheld electronic shopping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice user interface includes a microphone and a speaker built in the apparatus.   The storage device is further operable to store the location data, store information data received from the remote store computer, and product price data received from the plurality of store electronic price tags. The handheld electronic shopping device according to 1.   4. The handheld electronic shopping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shopper convenience data includes an electronic product coupon, product sale information, and product marketing information.   The display of information includes display of navigation information for guiding the shopper from a current location to a desired store item, and / or display of a map of the store on the display together with the displayed navigation information. The mobile electronic shopping apparatus according to claim 1.   The mobile electronic shopping device of claim 1, wherein the input operable through the tactile sense includes at least one of a touch display screen and a plurality of buttons. A system for supplying shopping information to a shopper at a shopping place,
(A) 1. 1. generate position data; 2. generate store information data; A central processor associated with the shopping location, configured to manage a shopper profile database;
(B) a plurality of data distribution lighting elements coupled to the processor and adapted to optically transmit the location data and shopper convenience data from the processor to the entire shopping location;
(C) a plurality of wireless devices each having an optical transceiver configured to receive the optically transmitted position data and the optically transmitted shopper convenience data from the plurality of data distribution lighting elements; Equipment,
(D) a plurality of electronic price tags configured to optically transmit price information to the plurality of wireless devices in response to activation of a product price request for the plurality of wireless devices;
Having a system.   The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are further configured to receive the price data in response to initiating the product price request of the plurality of wireless devices. The shopper profile database has at least a shopper preference table;
The shopper preference table is associated at least in part with a shopper identification mark for identifying the shopper when entering the shopping location, and a purchase history of the shopper, each of a plurality of product categories 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system is configured to have shopper preference data having at least one shopper product preference mark.   A shopper identification mark is transmitted to the central processor, shopper preference data is received from the central processor, and the received shopper preference data is received from the plurality of wireless devices when the shopper checks in. 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a check-in device that retransmits to one of the devices.   The system of claim 7, wherein the shopping location is associated with a merchant. A system for supplying shopping information to a shopper at a shopping place,
(A) providing the shopper with a wireless device when entering the shopping location;
(B) obtaining a shopper identification mark from the shopper when entering the shopping location;
(C) using the acquired shopper identification mark to retrieve shopper profile information from a database associated with the shopping location;
(D) optically transmitting store information and location data to the shopper's wireless device;
(E) initiating a query signal by the shopper to be issued by the wireless device to query an electronic price tag associated with the store item to obtain price data for the store item at the shopping location; ,
(F) obtaining the price data from the electronic price tag in response to the electronic inquiry;
Having a method.   The method of claim 12, wherein the store information optically transmitted to the shopper in step (d) is based on the shopper profile information.   The step (f) of acquiring the price data is initiated by the shopper by one of performing an appropriate keystroke on the wireless device and selecting an appropriate key from a touch screen display. 12. The method according to 12. Storing price data in the wireless device for items that may be purchased by the shopper while moving around the shopping location;
In the wireless device, processing the stored price data for each of the possible purchase items to determine a total amount;
Transferring the total amount from the wireless device to a checkout station;
The method of claim 12 further comprising:

Images