Consumer interactive shopping system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interactive consumer marketing system comprising:
- a) a wireless data collecting device for use by a customer at home or within a shopping establishment, said wireless data collecting device including a scanner for reading identification codes on products of interest and a memory for storing a product list;
b) a comprehensive database for storing information relating to products available for purchase within the shopping establishment; and
c) an intermediate consumer presentation device, comprising i) a communications link for communicating with the wireless data collecting device and the comprehensive database;
ii) a data aggregator for correlating the products on the product list and the information stored in the comprehensive database;
iii) a display for presenting to the consumer an enhanced presentation of products on the product list and information stored in the comprehensive database.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a consumer interactive shopping and marketing system. The system includes a portable data terminal for communicating information over a communication network. The present system has aspects that may be used within a shopping establishment or at a user'"'"'s home.
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Citations
105 Claims
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1. An interactive consumer marketing system comprising:
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a) a wireless data collecting device for use by a customer at home or within a shopping establishment, said wireless data collecting device including a scanner for reading identification codes on products of interest and a memory for storing a product list;
b) a comprehensive database for storing information relating to products available for purchase within the shopping establishment; and
c) an intermediate consumer presentation device, comprising i) a communications link for communicating with the wireless data collecting device and the comprehensive database;
ii) a data aggregator for correlating the products on the product list and the information stored in the comprehensive database;
iii) a display for presenting to the consumer an enhanced presentation of products on the product list and information stored in the comprehensive database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a wireless network for the bi-directional communication of data;
b) a wireless shopping device, said wireless shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number;
ii) a display for displaying said message;
c) a customer database containing data relating to at least one shopping behavior characteristic of the customer, wherein said data relating to at least one shopping behavior characteristic of the customer is modified in real time as the customer registers product identification numbers with said wireless shopping device; and
d) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to said customer database, said host computer having i) a communication link for receiving the product identification numbers registered by the wireless shopping device;
ii) a message selector for selecting said message, said message being correlated to said shopping behavior characteristic; and
iii) a message sending agent for communicating said message via the communication link to said wireless shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a wireless network for the bi-directional communication of data;
b) a first shopping device and a second shopping device, said first shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number; and
ii) a transmitter for communicating said product identification number to said second shopping device;
said second shopping device havingi) a latching mechanism for securing said second shopping device to a shopping cart;
ii) a receiver for receiving said product identification number from said first shopping device;
iii) a radio for receiving a message over said wireless network and for communicating said product identification number over said wireless network; and
iv) a display for displaying said message;
c) a product profile database containing an identification number for a plurality of products, wherein each identification number includes correlation data linking said identification number with one or more correlated products; and
d) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to said product profile database, said host computer having;
i) a communication link for receiving the product identification number registered by the first shopping device;
ii) a message selector for selecting said message, said message relating to the one or more correlated products corresponding to the identification number registered by the first shopping device; and
iii) a message sending agent for communicating said message via the communication link to said first shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for enabling a customer to shop for products offered for sale by a merchant, the system being operable within a store associated with the merchant and at a location remote from the merchant'"'"'s store, the system comprising:
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a) a wireless network for the bi-directional communication of data;
b) a wireless shopping device capable of operating in an in store mode and an out of store mode, said wireless shopping device having i) a reader for registering product identification numbers;
ii) a radio for receiving a message over said wireless network and for communicating said product identification numbers over said wireless network; and
iii) a display for displaying said message;
c) a host computer associated with the merchant having i) a communication link for receiving the product identification numbers registered by the wireless shopping device;
ii) a message selector for selecting said message to send to the wireless shopping device;
iii) a message sending agent for communicating said message via the communication link to said wireless shopping device;
wherein when the wireless shopping device is operating in the out of store mode, the wireless shopping device requests that the customer select a delivery method for products associated with said product identification numbers transmitted from the wireless shopping device to the host computer and wherein when the wireless shopping device is operating in the in store mode, the wireless shopping device does not request that the customer select a delivery method. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number;
ii) a communications port;
iii) a memory for storing a customer identification code; and
iv) a display for displaying messages;
b) a kiosk for linking with the communications port of said shopping device;
c) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to a customer database, said customer database including information about the customer, said host computer having i) a communication link for receiving the customer identification code of the customer and for communicating with the shopping device via the kiosk; and
ii) a message selector for selecting messages to download to the shopping device, at least one of said messages being correlated to said information about the customer identified by the customer identification code; and
d) a triggering agent for triggering the display of one of said selected messages on the shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number;
ii) a communications port;
iii) a memory for storing a customer identification code; and
iv) a display for displaying messages;
b) a kiosk for linking with the communications port of said shopping device;
c) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to a product database, said product database including a product identification number for a plurality of products and product correlation data linking said product identification number with one or more correlated products, said host computer having i) a communication link for receiving the customer identification code of the customer and for communicating with the shopping device via the kiosk; and
ii) a message selector for selecting messages to download to the shopping device; and
d) a triggering agent for triggering the display of one of said selected messages on the shopping device, said selected message containing information about one of the products correlated to the product identification number registered by the shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a customer database containing data relating to at least one shopping behavior characteristic of the customer;
b) a shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number;
ii) a communications port;
iii) a memory for storing a customer identification code; and
iv) a display for displaying messages;
c) a cradle for linking with the communications port of said shopping device;
d) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to said customer database, said host computer having i) a communication link for receiving the customer identification code of the customer and for communicating with the shopping device via the cradle; and
ii) a message selector for selecting messages to download to the shopping device, at least one of said messages being correlated to said shopping behavior characteristic of the customer identified by the customer identification code; and
e) a triggering agent for triggering the display of one of said selected messages on the shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A system for marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment comprising:
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a) a product profile database containing a product identification number for a plurality of products, wherein each product identification number includes correlation data linking said product identification number with one or more correlated products;
b) a shopping device having i) a reader for registering a product identification number;
ii) a communications port;
iii) a memory for storing a customer identification code; and
iv) a display for displaying messages;
c) a cradle for linking with the communications port of said shopping device;
d) a host computer associated with the shopping establishment having access to said product profile database, said host computer having i) a communication link for receiving the customer identification code of the customer and for communicating with the shopping device via the cradle; and
ii) a message selector for selecting messages to download to the shopping device; and
e) a triggering agent for triggering the display of one of said selected messages on the shopping device, said selected message containing information about one of the products correlated to the product identification number registered by the shopping device. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A system for marketing products available for sale by a merchant to a customer, the system comprising:
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a) a wide area network for the bi-directional communication of data;
b) a remote terminal associated with the customer, said remote terminal having;
i) a communication link for communicating over said wide area network ii) a graphical user interface for displaying graphical representations of the products available for sale by the merchant, wherein said graphical representations are arranged according to virtual aisles and virtual shelves, and for displaying messages promoting the products on the virtual aisles;
iii) a product selector for allowing the customer to select which products the customer would like to purchase;
c) a host computer associated with the merchant, said host computer having access to a customer database containing information about the customer, and further having;
i) a communications link for communicating over said wide area network, wherein said host computer can receive a customer identification code sent from the remote terminal;
ii) a message selector for selecting the promotional messages to send to the remote terminal, at least one of said messages being correlated to said information about the customer identified by the customer identification code. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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65. A method for a manufacturer or distributor to manage inventory of a product through an indirect sales entity, wherein the manufacturer or distributor has access to a host computer and wherein a plurality of consumers utilizing the indirect sales entity each have a wireless shopping device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining an inventory surplus quantity of the product based at least partly on sales of the product;
b) calculating, as a function of said inventory surplus quantity, a discount to offer to the consumers; and
c) transmitting said discount to said wireless shopping device wherein said wireless shopping device notifies the consumer of said discount. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method for a store to manage inventory of a product, wherein the store has access to a host computer and wherein a plurality of consumers each have a wireless shopping device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining an inventory surplus quantity of the product based at least partly on sales of the product;
b) calculating, as a function of said inventory surplus quantity, a discount to offer to the consumers; and
c) transmitting said discount from said host computer to a first wireless shopping device wherein said first wireless shopping device notifies the consumer of said discount. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for marketing products to a plurality of customers in a shopping establishment wherein the customers each use a wireless shopping device for registering a product identification code on selected products, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) classifying the customers according to a behavior category, said behavior category being based upon products selected for purchase by the customers;
b) maintaining a database containing data relating to said behavior category;
c) associating a message with said behavior category;
d) transmitting said message to said wireless shopping device of the customers that are classified as being within said behavior category according to said data maintained in said database;
e) monitoring the customer selected products in real time;
f) modifying said database in response to said monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A method of marketing products to a customer in a shopping establishment wherein the customer uses a wireless shopping device for registering a product identification code on selected products, said wireless shopping device being capable of receiving promotional messages relating to products offered for sale, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) calculating a message control value, said message control value being used to determine whether to send a message to the customer;
b) comparing said message control value to a threshold level;
c) displaying said message on said wireless shopping device if said message control value is below said threshold level;
d) monitoring the customer'"'"'s response to said message displayed on said wireless shopping device; and
e) adjusting said message control value in response to said monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method of shopping in a shopping establishment wherein a customer uses a wireless shopping device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) storing an electronic shopping list on said wireless shopping device, said electronic shopping list comprising a list of products the customer would like to purchase;
b) providing a host computer associated with the shopping establishment, said host computer having access to an inventory list comprising a list of products available for purchase from the shopping establishment;
c) providing a communication link between said wireless shopping device and said host computer;
d) generating a product availability list comprised of products that are common to both said electronic shopping list and said inventory list; and
e) providing said product availability list to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. In a self-service shopping checkout system wherein a shopper uses a portable terminal for scanning of a bar code of an item selected for purchase and wherein items selected for purchase are deposited in a plurality of shopping bags, and wherein a list of items self-scanned by the shopper is compiled, the improvement comprising a method for performing a security check to determine if the shopper has failed to scan an item deposited into the shopping bags, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting from the shopping bags one or more items to be scanned by a clerk;
b) scanning a barcode located on each of said items selected for scanning;
c) determining a weight associated with each of the items on said list that were not scanned by the clerk;
d) determining a net weight of each shopping bag, said net weight of each shopping bag being associated with a weight of each shopping bag without the items selected for scanning;
e) comparing the net weight of each shopping bag with the weight of the items on said list that were not scanned by the clerk; and
f) disallowing the shopping transaction if said comparison step indicates that the net weight of any of the shopping bags could not be attained from the weight of the items on said list that were not scanned by the clerk. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)
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Specification