System and method for advanced identification of a customer
First Claim
1. A system for identifying a customer at a store, the system comprising:
- (A) a computing device including an output device and located at a pick-up area within a store; and
(B) an initiator device located at the store, wherein the initiator device is configured to transmit a first signal conforming to a first protocol to cause a mobile electronic device that is located at a second area substantially near an entrance of the store to respond to receiving the first signal by wirelessly broadcasting a second signal that;
(i) carries identification information uniquely associated with a customer who has remotely placed an order for an item but who has not yet picked up the item; and
(ii) conforms to a second protocol that is different from the first protocol; and
(C) a customer identification device that is communicatively connected to the computing device and that;
(i) receives the identification information, wherein the identification information corresponds to stored identification information for the customer; and
(ii) transmits to the computing device at the pick-up area, in response to receiving the identification information, a message to cause the computing device to provide, via the output device, an audible or visual notification to obtain the item for pick-up by the customer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a method for advanced identification of a customer, a customer may remotely place an order, intending to later go to a store to pick up the ordered item. The store may have a pick-up area (e.g., at the back of the store) where the customer can go to pick up the ordered item. To save the customer time, the customer may be identified when she enters the store so that an employee can obtain her ordered item and have it ready to pick up by the time the customer walks through the store and arrives at the pick-up area. To identify the customer, an initiation device may transmit a first signal that causes the customer'"'"'s mobile electronic device to respond by transmitting a second signal, which may be utilized to generate a notification in the pick-up area notifying an employee to obtain the ordered item for pick-up.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for identifying a customer at a store, the system comprising:
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(A) a computing device including an output device and located at a pick-up area within a store; and (B) an initiator device located at the store, wherein the initiator device is configured to transmit a first signal conforming to a first protocol to cause a mobile electronic device that is located at a second area substantially near an entrance of the store to respond to receiving the first signal by wirelessly broadcasting a second signal that;
(i) carries identification information uniquely associated with a customer who has remotely placed an order for an item but who has not yet picked up the item; and
(ii) conforms to a second protocol that is different from the first protocol; and(C) a customer identification device that is communicatively connected to the computing device and that; (i) receives the identification information, wherein the identification information corresponds to stored identification information for the customer; and (ii) transmits to the computing device at the pick-up area, in response to receiving the identification information, a message to cause the computing device to provide, via the output device, an audible or visual notification to obtain the item for pick-up by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for identifying a customer at a store, the method comprising:
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(A) implementing an initiator device at a store, wherein the store includes at least;
(i) a first area for picking up ordered items within the store, and (ii) a second area distinct from the first area and including an entrance of the store;(B) wirelessly transmitting, via the initiator device, a first signal conforming to a first protocol to cause a mobile electronic device located substantially near the second area to respond to receiving the first signal by wirelessly broadcasting a second signal that; (i) carries identification information uniquely associated with a customer who has remotely placed an order for an item but who has not yet picked up the item; and (ii) conforms to a second protocol that is different from the first protocol; (C) receiving, at the customer identification device, the identification information that was carried by the second signal wirelessly broadcasted by the mobile electronic device, wherein the identification information corresponds to stored identification for the customer; (D) transmitting, via the customer identification device, a message in response to receiving the identification information; (E) receiving the message at a computing device located at the first area for picking up ordered items within the store; and (F) causing the computing device to respond to receiving the message by providing an audible or visual notification to obtain the item for pick-up by the customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification