Information system for self service shops
The invention relates to an information system, as stated in the introductory part of claiml, for advising customers in self service shops with shopping carts.
More specifically, the invention relates to a transceiver system for shops, with multiple communications units, particularly wireless transmitters, which are adopted for installation at different locations in the shop, and with at least one, preferably several, receiver and alerting units being mounted on or integrated in transport means provided for the customers, for transmitting a signal in a restricted area of the shop, to communicate merchandise information.
Background
Various information systems for self service shops are known, wherein one or more transmitters are arranged or distributed in zones of the shop for transmitting information signals to be received by receivers on shopping carts located within the boundary of the individual zones. Thus individual messages can be distributed selectively to the zones. Such information systems provide ample opportunities to distribute complex information, but are expensive, both in regard of installation and operation.
From US patent specification 5,836,051 (Meyers 1998) it is known to install a video display with an integrated information system and a bar code reader on the handle of a shopping cart. This requires an extensive transmitter system if information is to be presented selectively in different shopping areas.
From US patent specification 6,434,530 (Sloane et. al. 2002) an interactive system is known, wherein each shopping cart has a transceiver which enables bidirectional communication and interaction between the customer and the information system of the shop. The equipment, as well as the adaptation, has been too expensive for most shops.
From German patent publication 4033054 (Schulenberg et al 1992) it is known to provide shopping carts with a unit for presenting information containing a selection of messages, which can be visual or audio, which are selectively released from transmitters arranged in the shop area, this release function being selectively operated within a predetermined area for each message.
This system requires a relatively comprehensive receiver- and storage unit on each shopping cart, requiring a large increase in sales.
Further, comprehensive proposals for information systems for shopping carts are described in US patent specification 5,287,266 (VideOcart) and 6,323,753 (Klever-Kart), but these are also too complicated in regard of manufacture and use to be suitable for smaller shops.
Objects
The main object of this invention is thus is to provide an information system for self service shops, which is inexpensive to acquire and simple and reasonable in costs to use. Particularly it is an object to provide an information system enabling the provision of messages to customers about particular bargains and opportunity merchandises in the store. Particularly it is an object to have the bargains distributed in the premises or arranged in addition to the normal concentrated bargain areas.
The equipment should be simple and the transmitter should be changeable without particular adaptation of the mounting elements, to be installed for a period on different locations, linked to a particular merchandise or to groups of merchandise.
Further, it is an object to provide such an information system which provides the best indication of the locality of the current offers or merchandise with the simplest equipment.
The Invention
The invention is stated in claim 1. The term "transmitter" should be understood to comprise both active and passive transmitters, i. e. any communication unit being able to emit a signal which can be received by a receiver, including signal which are the result of a reflection which the communication unit implements on received signals.
With such an information system, it is possible to draw the customers attention to certain number of bargains. It may be novelties, particular markdowns, rebates due to exceeded used-by dates, remainders, particular kinds of merchandise, e.g. ecological merchandise and food for diabetics, or merchandise which the shop for other reasons wants to particularly promote, and where normal sale posters would not be suitable or adequate.
With the information system according to the invention, the customers will receive an uncomplicated alert signal which will not demand particular attention or be disturbing. The equipment for this information system can be very simple both mechanically and electronically, to reduce the investment. The installation may be done without professional assistance and without particular tools and the operating cost are limited to power supply by batteries.
Due to the simple design, the receiver and alerting unit may be made very rugged, with a long service life, even in shops with high wear.
Claims 2-5 state particular advantageous features of the invention. Further details of the invention will appear from the following description of an example.
Example
The invention is described more in detail with reference to the drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shop interior with an information system according to the invention installed, with a transmitter on a shop gondola and a receiver and alerting unit on the handle of a shopping cart, Figure 2 shows an enlarged section of the receiver and alerting unit of Figure, 1,
Figures 3a-3c shows a front view of the housing of a transmitter, with an adjustable shutter for the emitted signal, while
Figure 4 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of a receiver and alerting unit.
Figure 1 shows a shop gondola 11 with shelves 12 and merchandise 13. At the top of a column 14 of the shop gondola 11, a transmitter 15 is attached. The attaching mechanism (not shown) may be adapted to the column 14, e.g. with claws, to allow mounting without using particular tools, possibly with an easy tightening of a lock screw, to avoid unintentional removal.
The shop gondolas may have mounting brackets, to provide for proper height of the transmitters 15 and easier mounting. This will make the job of relocation of the transmitters
easier. This can be combined with the use of particular screws which can not be unfastened with standard tools.
The transmitter unit 15 may contain a battery powered transmitting circuit, with transmitter diode, e.g an TR. emitter, with a wave length 930 - 950nm, which is capable of emitting a signal in a manner known per se. It may include a timer circuit disabling the operation outside the business hour of the shop, to reduce the power consumption and costs for batteries and battery exchange. The transmitter unit 15 may emit any signal which has sufficient range to be received by a receiver within a distance of 2 - 10 metres, e.g. 2,5 metres. No modulating or coding of the signal is needed.
The transmitter unit 15 is preferably provided with a shutter which permits the emitting of a signal within a confined cone angle. The emitter output may be restricted to provide a limited range to the emitted signal.
The emitted signal may be short pulses sent with intervals, to save the battery. The receiver should then have a self-hold function, to let the first pulse of a series release a light signal and possibly also a short audio signal, while the succeeding pulses maintain the light signal.
In most shops, several shop gondolas are arranged to form shopping aisles with gondolas and merchandise on each side. Thus it is of interest to arrange a transmitter unit 15 on a random side of the aisles.
Figure 1 shows the shopping gondola 12 a shopping cart 16 with a handle 17 and a receiver and signalling unit 18 attached thereto. The receiver- and signalling unit 18 has a receiver antenna 19 with two inputs capturing signals from a certain side of the shopping aisle respectively, and delivering signal to one of the alerting lamps 20, 21. The alerting lamps 20, 21 are arranged at the respective ends of an extended housing which is arranged crosswise to the shopping cart, along its handle 17. The lamps are designed as arrows pointing to the sides. The lamps are preferably provided with a flashing function and may be combined with a low audio signal.
Between the alerting lamps 20, 21 a recessed information field 22 for inserting an
advertisement label 23 or similar is provided. The advertisement label may communicate information on the type of signals to be received, e.g. NOVELTIES, BARGAINS, REMAINDERS. It may also contain a figure.
In an alternative embodiment, this information carrier may be associated with a light source or be integrated with the alerting lamps 21, 22.
In figures 3a-3c a housing 24 for a transmitter unit 15 is shown. The housing incorporates a diode 25 emitting downward. At the lower edge 26 a shutter 27 which can be moved sidewards as shown in the three parts of the Figure. Thus the range and the dispersion can be adjusted to particular interior circumstances of the shop.
Figure 4 shows a plan view from above of an embodiment of a receiver and alerting unit to be placed on the handle of a shopping cart. In a housing 28 two funnel-shaped recessions 29, 30, are provided, each of the recessions having an axis inclined from the corresponding side and with a photocell 31. 32 at the bottom to capture directional emission from trasnmitter units arranged to respective sides of the shopping cart. Connected to each photocell 31, 32 is a lamp 33, 34, respectively, which are submerged in the housing 28, e.g. light diode.
This embodiment provides reception only when a signal is received in the corresponding recession 29 or 30, and activates the corresponding lamp 33 or 34. Thus the user receives a directional signal informing about a particular offer on one or the other side of the shopping cart.
Operation
The information system according to the invention may thus be used for alerting the users to a particular merchandise. To this end staff will place transmitter units 15 on various locations at the merchandise concerned, e.g. in shopping gondolas or under the ceiling. The transmitter units 15 are arranged to enable the emitted signal to cover the traffic area between a pair of shopping gondolas 11 to let customers passing with a shopping cart with a receiver and alerting unit to enter the area covered by the transmitter unit.
On passing a field of emission, the receiver and alerting unit 18 of the shopping cart of the customer will receive the emitted signal and emit an alerting signal on one or the other of the alerting lamps 20, 21, depending on which side the transmitter unit 15 is located. Thus the customer is alerted to the current offer and can get more information.
The invention allows for a reduction of the extent of displays and signs regarding bargains, novelties and similar offers, to provide a more attractive interior in the shop, yet improving the customer communication.
Modifications
The receiver and alerting unit 18 may be integrated in the handle 17 or arranged on another part of the shopping cart 16.
The embodiment of the example may be simplified to comprise only one receiving channel. The advantage of directional alerting is lost renounced, but in some cases this will be satisfactory and provide a cheaper product. The transmitter unit may then be placed under the ceiling of the shop, over the traffic area, with the emitting cone downward.
Instead of placing more trasnmitter units distributed in the shopping area, an active transmitter can be incorporated in each receiver and alerting unit 18, to a combined communication unit, with transmitter and receiver. The transmitter unit 15 can then be a passive transmitter in the form of reflector units adapted to the signals emitted from the combined communication unit. This may provide a cheaper system, partly because the requirement for particular transmitter units with individual battery, transmitter circuit and housing is removed. This can be realized with two transmitters and two receivers and with one transmitter and two receivers. In both cases the direction of response can be determined. This embodiment can also be simplified to a system with one transmitter and one alerting means, without directional information.