System and method for notifying customers of checkout queue activity
First Claim
1. A method of notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity, the method comprising:
- with a processor, storing in a database a plurality of customer codes each identifying a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise,with the processor, associating in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers,monitoring, with the processor, purchase transaction activity at each of a plurality of point-of-sale systems of the retail enterprise, each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems grouped together in a single customer checkout area of a brick-and-mortar store of the retail enterprise,determining, with the processor, an operating state of each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof,with the processor, determining that one of the plurality of customers has entered a customer entry area to the customer checkout area of the brick-and-mortar store based on a detected presence in the customer entry area of a mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes, andin response to determining that the one of the plurality of customers has entered the customer entry area to the customer checkout area of the brick-and-mortar store, wirelessly transmitting, under control of the processor, a notification message to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, the notification message including information identifying the operating state of one or more of the plurality of point-of-sale systems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity includes a stored identification code identifying a location in or near a customer entry area to multiple point-of-sale systems grouped together in a brick-and-mortar outlet of the retail enterprise, and customer codes associated in a database with various customers of the retail enterprise, monitoring purchase transaction activity at each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. An operating state of each of the point-of-sale systems is determined based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof. In response to a wirelessly received customer code and identification code, a notification message is wirelessly transmitted to a mobile communication device identified by a matching one of the customer codes in the database if the wirelessly received identification code matches the stored identification code. The notification message includes information identifying the operating state of at least one point-of-sale system.
52 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of notifying customers of a retail enterprise of checkout queue activity, the method comprising:
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with a processor, storing in a database a plurality of customer codes each identifying a different one of a plurality of customers of the retail enterprise, with the processor, associating in the database each of the plurality of customer codes with communication information identifying a mobile communication device associated with a respective one of the plurality of customers, monitoring, with the processor, purchase transaction activity at each of a plurality of point-of-sale systems of the retail enterprise, each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems grouped together in a single customer checkout area of a brick-and-mortar store of the retail enterprise, determining, with the processor, an operating state of each of the plurality of point-of-sale systems based on the monitored purchase transaction activity thereof, with the processor, determining that one of the plurality of customers has entered a customer entry area to the customer checkout area of the brick-and-mortar store based on a detected presence in the customer entry area of a mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes, and in response to determining that the one of the plurality of customers has entered the customer entry area to the customer checkout area of the brick-and-mortar store, wirelessly transmitting, under control of the processor, a notification message to the mobile communication device identified by the communication information associated in the database with the one of the plurality of customer codes associated in the database with the entering one of the plurality of customers, the notification message including information identifying the operating state of one or more of the plurality of point-of-sale systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification