Customer activity data system and method

• US 20030177053A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Otto, Jerome A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A customer activity data system and method which generate reports for manufacturers, sellers, and other suppliers. The system includes a computer for analyzing transaction data obtained from a transaction terminal and information characterizing customer activity at an information terminal specific to an item bearing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label, and for generating a report.

Claims

1. A method of tracking customer activity comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing the transaction data obtained from a transaction terminal and information characterizing customer activity at an information terminal specific to an item bearing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label; and

(b) generating a report.

2. A method of tracking customer activity comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining radio frequency identification (RFID) identification information from an RFID label on an item carried by a customer;

(b) recognizing the customer activity related to the item;

(c) storing information characterizing the customer activity;

(d) recording transaction data;

(e) analyzing the transaction data and the information characterizing the customer activity; and

(f) generating a report.

3. The method of tracking customer activity as recited in claim 2, wherein step (e) comprises the substep of:

(e-1) determining whether another item was compared to the one item.

4. The method of tracking customer activity as recited in claim 3, wherein step (e) further comprises the substep of:

(e-2) determining whether the item was purchased.

5. The method of tracking customer activity as recited in claim 4, wherein step (e) further comprises the substep of:

(e-3) determining whether a related item was purchased.

6. A system for tracking customer activity comprising:

a computer for analyzing transaction data obtained from a transaction terminal and information characterizing customer activity at an information terminal specific to an item bearing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label, and for generating a report.

7. A system for tracking customer activity comprising:

an information terminal including

a radio frequency identification (RFID) label interrogator for reading information from an RFID label on an item carried by a customer; and

a first computer which recognizes the customer activity related to the item and stores information characterizing the customer activity;

a transaction terminal for recording transaction data; and

a second computer coupled to the transaction terminal and the information terminal for analyzing the transaction data and the information characterizing the customer activity, and for generating a report.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the second computer also determines whether another item was compared to the one item.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the second computer also determines whether the item was purchased.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second computer also determines whether a related item was purchased.