Real-time sales information architecture

• US 20040044580A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Haller, Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/02 for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D
• 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 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A sales information architecture detects user interaction with a tagged item and in response displays product information about the item to the user. The architecture can process a sales transaction involving the item and report the sale in real-time to other enterprises such as manufacturers using a publish subscribe messaging service.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more sales information terminals;

one or more external applications; and

a messaging service in communication with the sales information terminals and the external applications, wherein;

each sales information terminal is configured to;

detect an item in proximity to the terminal;

display information about the item;

process a sales transaction involving the item; and

in real time, send a message to the messaging service, the message including information that identifies the customer, the item sold, the terminal, and a timestamp;

each external application is configured to;

provide subscription information to the message service; and

receive from the message service messages that match the subscription information; and

the messaging service is configured to;

receive subscription information from each of the external applications;

receive messages from the sales information terminals; and

in real time, forward each message to the external applications whose subscription information matches the sales message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each message includes content;

the subscription information includes criteria for selecting messages based on the content of the message; and

the subscription information matches the message if the content of the message satisfies the criteria included in the subscription information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each message includes a message topic;

the subscription information includes criteria for selecting messages based on the topic of the message; and

the subscription information matches the message if the topic of the message satisfies the criteria included in the subscription information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each item has a unique identification number (UID) that can be read from a tag attached to the item.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the sales information terminal is further configured to use the UID to retrieve information about the item from a database.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the retrieved information includes a product markup language (PML) document retrieved from a PML server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sales information terminal is located within a first enterprise and the external applications are located at one or more second enterprises, the first enterprise being different from the second enterprises.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the first enterprise is a retail establishment; and

the second enterprises include a record label company that supplies the retail establishment with records.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the first enterprise is a retail establishment; and

the second enterprise includes a hit list provider that provides hitlists identifying top-selling items.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sales information terminal includes:

a sensor device configured to;

detect that an item has entered or left an area in proximity to the information terminal;

generate a customer interaction message that identifies the item detected and whether the item has entered or left the area; and

send the customer interaction message to the messaging service.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor device is an RFID interrogator.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sales information terminal further includes:

a browser application configured to;

receive a customer interaction message from the messaging service;

retrieve information about the item identified in the customer interaction message; and

display the retrieved information.