Mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet having a mobile POS and enterprise resource planning application for POS customer order fulfillment and in store inventory management for retail establishment

• US 10,453,047 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retail Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Retail Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Hicks, Bruce J., McWhirter, Brian K., McArthur, DeVan, Williams, Bromley
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Asfand M
• Application Number:
  US13/783,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile scanner gun system is designed for a retail store with integrated mobile tablet device carried by employees. The mobile tablet device is connected to the pistol gun base housing through a base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling, and communicates to a USB barcode scanner/reader and MSR through a specialized universal serial bus wiring harness. The Main PCB has an EEPROM controlling operations of a scanner and an MSR. The mobile tablet device has mobile applications which allow wireless communication in the form of Wi-Fi or wireless cellular with a POS store systems server and corporate ERP system, and also commands the EEPROM. Merchandise to be purchased is scanned and received by the mobile tablet device and then sent wirelessly to the POS store systems server and corporate ERP system to obtain product data concerning description, price, inventory, electronic and physical coupon, promotions, customer loyalty data and rewards.

Claims

1. A mobile scanner gun system with a mobile tablet device having an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) built into a Main Printed Circuit Board (Main PCB) and integrated into an upper receiver adapted to be connected to a mobile tablet device to process commands issued by mobile application software to command Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices comprising a barcode scanner/reader or Magnetic Strip Reader (MSR) to acquire data, said EEPROM of said Main PCB providing improved database storage and retrieval that organizes said data in proper format and delivers it to said mobile tablet device through a specialized serial bus wiring harness, comprising:

a) said mobile tablet device removably mounted on said mobile scanner gun and having said mobile application software providing wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and wireless cellular secure communicative capability with a point of sale (POS) store systems server in a retail store, which is connected to a corporate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) server and said POS store server for managing real-time store level inventory and transacting retail store purchases;

b) said mobile tablet device being attached to said barcode scanner and said Magnetic Strip Reader (MSR) devices,

c) mobile table device being removably connected through said specialized universal serial bus wiring harness connected through a base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling to a pistol grip base housing for rotatable connection between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing of said mobile scanner gun, wherein said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling is located between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing, said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling including a rotating member for conversion of said mobile tablet device from portrait mode to landscape mode without operational delay of said system, a USB barcode scanner input device incorporated within said pistol grip base housing rotationally coupled to said mobile tablet device through said base mount universal receiver;

d) said mobile tablet device having said previously programmed electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) controlling all actions of said Universal Serial Bus (USB) barcode scanner and a gun trigger input device for activating a scan operation of an item, wherein said mobile tablet device displays;

i) real-time chain-wide store inventory data and management applications associated with software that provides entry of daily chain-wide store level inventory management directly connected to said corporate ERP system; and

ii) POS sales data and transaction means associated with said POS store systems server that provides ability to carry out sales transactions within said mobile application throughout said operating store or beyond its walls regardless of physical location;

e) said EEPROM adapted to activate said scan operation causing said EEPROM of said Main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to communicate with said mobile tablet device, launching said application software to ready said mobile tablet device for receiving a scanned barcode, and controlling all actions of said USB and MSR devices;

e) said corporate ERP server adapted to provide detailed information for daily inventory management purposes for such tasks as physical inventory, cycle counting, inventory receiving, store to store transfers, return to vendor and product re-ticketing;

f) said POS store systems server providing detailed information of the product scanned, its inventory, selling price, electronic and physical coupons, available promotions and loyalty data and rewards and displaying product data on a display screen of said mobile tablet device;

g) said mobile scanner gun system comprising said base mount universal receiver adapted to interchangeably mount said mobile tablet device through said specialized universal serial bus wiring harness and communicate with said mobile tablet device, said universal receiver and specialized universal serial bus wiring harness with the mobile tablet device being removable from said mobile scanner gun system and adapted to be readily docked in different base housings including portable housings and fixed docked workstation housings thereby providing portability and interchangeability while functioning to communicate with both said corporate ERP system and said point of sale (POS) store systems server;

whereby said mobile scanner gun system receives full product details, price and promotions and charges a purchase without having the need to bring merchandise to a central checkout station and waiting in queue to check out; and

whereby said corporate ERP system enables store level real-time inventory management throughout a retailer'"'"'s chain, including other locations and warehouses of the retailer.

2. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 1, wherein said mobile tablet device is removably connected to a pistol grip base housing through said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling.

3. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 2, wherein said rotational coupling is adapted to set the mobile tablet device in portrait or landscape viewing format.

4. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 1, wherein wireless communication may be in the form of Wi-Fi through a plurality of links located within the retail establishment or wireless cellular through data plan provided by a standard cellular carrier.

5. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 1, wherein said application includes a StoreMobileRF application wherein input of real-time daily store level inventory management is inputted and stored for managing inventory from a mobile scanner gun system in any location.

6. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 1, wherein said application includes a StoreMS Mobile application for corporate-wide POS customer sales transactions of said inventory is inputted, processed, tendered and stored for all store POS sales transactions.

7. The mobile scanner gun system with mobile tablet device for processing a retail store purchase as recited by claim 6, wherein said StoreMS Mobile application provides access to customer loyalty data, promotions, physical and electronic coupons, gift cards, and end to end encrypted payment card processing.

8. A mobile scanner gun system, comprising:

a) a mobile tablet device having an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) built into a Main Printed Circuit Board (Main PCB) and integrated into an upper receiver adapted to process commands issued by a mobile application software to command Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices comprising a barcode scanner/reader or Magnetic Strip Reader (MSR) to acquire data;

b) said EEPROM of said Main PCB providing improved database storage and retrieval that organizes said data in proper format and delivers it to said mobile tablet device through a specialized serial bus wiring harness;

c) said mobile tablet device being removably connected through said specialized universal serial bus wiring harness connected through a base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling to a pistol grip base housing for rotatable connection between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing of said mobile scanner gun, wherein said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling is located between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing, said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling including a rotating member for conversion of said mobile tablet device from portrait mode to landscape mode without operational delay of said system, a USB barcode scanner input device incorporated within said pistol grip base housing rotationally coupled to said mobile tablet device through said base mount universal receiver;

said mobile table device providing a non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions executable by a portable multifunction device having a touch screen display and Internet capability to cause the device to;

display real-time chain-wide store level inventory data and management applications associated with software that provides entry of daily chain-wide store level inventory management applications directly connected to the corporate ERP system;

display POS data and transaction means associated with said POS store system'"'"'s server that provides ability to carry out customer sales transactions within said mobile application throughout a retailer'"'"'s store and beyond its walls, regardless of physical location;

the portable multifunction device enabled to be operative to establish a connection between the mobile tablet device and a mobile scanner gun system and to be mountable thereon;

wherein the system is adapted to provide relevant store inventory information and POS transaction capability through said base mount universal receiver and said tablet is capable of being interchanged between said pistol grip base housing, a handheld device, and a fixed docked POS workstation while functioning to communicate with both said corporate ERP system and said point of sale (POS) store systems server.

9. The system as recited by claim 8, wherein said portable multifunction device is removably connected to a pistol grip base housing through a base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling.

10. The system as recited by claim 9, wherein said rotational coupling is adapted to set the mobile tablet device in portrait or landscape viewing format.

11. The system as recited by claim 8, wherein said mobile application software provides wireless communication in the form of Wi-Fi through a plurality of links located within the retail establishment or wireless cellular through a data plan provided by a standard cellular carrier.

12. The system as recited by claim 8, wherein said programs include a StoreMobileRF application wherein input of store level inventory management is inputted and stored for managing inventory from a mobile scanner gun system in any chain-store location.

13. The system as recited by claim 8, wherein said programs include a StoreMS Mobile application for in-store POS customer check out of said merchandise, which is inputted, processed, tendered and stored for POS sales transactions.

14. The system as recited by claim 13, wherein said StoreMS POS application provides access to customer loyalty data and rewards, promotions, physical and electronic coupons, gift cards, and end to end encrypted payment card processing.

15. A mobile scanner gun system adapted to receive a mobile tablet device for processing a retail store point of sale (POS) transaction, comprising:

a) A mobile scanner gun comprising;

i) a main body portion extending toward a handle portion, said main body portion having a base, side walls, a top wall, a front wall and a back wall constructed to form an interior cavity, wherein said front wall includes an aperture with a lens recessed therein;

ii) said front wall having a trigger member located near said base of said main body;

iii) a Universal Serial Bus (USB) scanner input device mounted above and in front of said trigger, said scanner input device having two drivers, including

     1) a native device driver and

     2) a keyboard input driver, said scanner input device being in communication with said trigger for initiating a scan of a barcode;

iv) a USB Magnetic Strip Reader (MSR) input device for carrying out and processing sales transaction is located on an upper receiver alongside a short edge of a mobile tablet device and directly above a scanner, said MSR being end to end encrypted through to a bank card authorization processor for Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance requirements;

v) said top wall of said main body portion having a rotating attachment means comprising a base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling means adapted to interchangeably mount the mobile tablet device on said top wall through a specialized universal serial bus wiring harness and communicate with the mobile tablet device, the mobile tablet device having a system integrated therein that enables store level real-time inventory management and a fully functioning POS capability for selling merchandise in a retail sales environment, said universal receiver and specialized universal serial bus wiring harness with the mobile tablet device being removable from said top wall of said main body portion and adapted to be readily docked in different base housings including portable housings and fixed docked workstation housings thereby providing portability and interchangeability while functioning to communicate with both said corporate ERP system and said point of sale (POS) store systems server;

vi) said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling means comprises a rotating member for conversion of said mobile tablet device from portrait mode to landscape mode without operational delay of said system, a USB barcode scanner input device incorporated within said pistol grip base housing rotationally coupled to said mobile tablet device through said base mount universal receiver;

b) the mobile tablet device being removably connected through said specialized universal serial bus wiring harness to said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling to said main body of said mobile scanner gun for rotatable connection between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing, wherein said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling is located between said mobile tablet device and said pistol grip base housing, said base mount universal receiver with rotational coupling including a rotating member for conversion of said mobile tablet device from portrait mode to landscape mode without operational delay of said system, said mobile table device having mobile application software having an improved database storage and retrieval system and providing wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and wireless cellular secure communicative capability with a point of sale (POS) store systems server in a retail store, which is connected to a corporate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and said POS store systems server for managing real-time store level inventory and transacting retail store purchases;

c) said mobile tablet device being attached to said barcode scanner and Magnetic Strip Reader (MSR) devices through said specialized universal serial bus wiring harness;

d) said mobile tablet device having a previously programmed electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) controlling all actions of said Universal Serial Bus (USB) barcode scanner and a gun trigger input device for activating a scan operation of an item, wherein said mobile tablet device displays;

i) real-time chain-wide store inventory data and management applications associated with software that provides entry of daily chain-wide store level inventory management directly connected to said corporate ERP server; and

ii) POS sales data and transaction means associated with said POS store server that provides ability to carry out sales transactions within said mobile application throughout said operating store or beyond its walls regardless of physical location;

e) said EEPROM adapted to activate said scan operation causing said EEPROM of said Main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to communicate with said mobile tablet device, launching said application software to ready said mobile tablet device for receiving a scanned barcode;

, and controlling all actions of said USB and MSR devices, said Main PCB having said previously programmed electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) adapted to control all actions of said USB and MSR devices by swiping a payment card through a slot of said MSR for processing a payment through a proper secured bank card processing network;

f) said EEPROM adapted to communicate with said mobile tablet device upon activation of said MSR operation, launching said application software to ready said mobile tablet device for receiving payment card data;

g) said corporate ERP server adapted to provide detailed application communicating with said corporate ERP system to obtain detailed information for daily inventory management purposes for such tasks as physical inventory, cycle counting, inventory receiving, store to store transfers, return to vendor and product re-ticketing;

h) said POS store server adapted to obtain detailed information of the product scanned, its inventory, selling price, electronic and physical coupons, available promotions and loyalty data and rewards and displaying product data on a display screen of said mobile tablet device;

whereby merchandise can be purchased from any retail store having a mobile scanner gun system receiving full product details, price and promotions and charges the purchase in a friendly, efficient, informative atmosphere without having the need to bring merchandise to a central checkout station and waiting in queue to check out; and

whereby said corporate ERP system enables store level real-time inventory management throughout a retailer'"'"'s chain, including other locations and warehouses of the retailer.