Method, apparatus, and program for detecting item mismatch at the point of sale

• US 20050033665A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Application Number:
  US10/636,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for detecting mismatched items purchased together. A data structure includes product information including mismatch information for each product. Mismatch information may be stored as a mismatch list. When-products are selected for purchase, the products are compared to determine whether any one product is identified as a mismatch for any other selected item. If a mismatch is detected, a notification is generated. The data structure may also include match information for each product. Match information may be stored as a match list. If a mismatch is detected, a corresponding item in the match list may be suggested to the purchaser. Location or direction information may also be presented to the purchaser to locate the matching item.

Claims

1. A method, in a data processing system, for detecting item mismatch, the method comprising:

identifying a first item and a second item to be purchased, wherein the first item and the second item have associated product information;

determining whether the first item is a mismatch of the second item based on the product information; and

responsive to the first item being a mismatch of the second item, presenting an item mismatch notification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a matching item corresponding to the first item appears in a match list of the second item; and

responsive to a matching item corresponding to the first item appearing in the match list of the second item, presenting a message suggesting the matching item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message includes location information for the matching item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location information includes one of a map, directions, an aisle number, a shelf number, and coordinates for the matching item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the second item is a mismatch of the first item based on the product information; and

responsive to the second item appearing being a mismatch of the first item, presenting an item mismatch notification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a first item and a second item includes scanning a bar code for the first item and scanning a bar code for the second item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a first item and a second item includes receiving the product information from electronic tags on the first item and the second item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the product information includes a mismatch data structure of the second item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the product information includes at least one of a product identifier, a product description, a product type, a mismatch list, and a match list.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is one of a point-of-sale terminal, a Web server, and a personal shopping device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the first item is a mismatch of the second item includes invoking a set of mismatch rules.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the first item is a mismatch of the second item includes:

determining whether the first item is within a sphere of influence of the second item; and

responsive to the first item being within a sphere of influence of the second item, comparing product information of the first item with product information of the second item.

13. An apparatus for detecting item mismatch, the apparatus comprising:

identification means for identifying a first item and a second item to be purchased, wherein the first item and the second item have associated product information;

determination means for determining whether the first item is a mismatch of the second item based on the product information; and

presentation means, responsive to the first item being a mismatch of the second item, for presenting an item mismatch notification.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining whether a matching item corresponding to the first item appears in a match list of the second item; and

means for responsive to a matching item corresponding to the first item appearing in the match list of the second item, presenting a message suggesting the matching item.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the message includes location information for the matching item.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the location information includes one of a map, directions, an aisle number, a shelf number, and coordinates for the matching item.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identification means includes means for scanning a bar code for the first item and scanning a bar code for the second item.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identification means includes means for receiving the product information from electronic tags on the first item and the second item.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the product information includes a mismatch data structure of the second item.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the product information includes at least one of a product identifier, a product description, a product type, a mismatch list, and a match list.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is one of a point-of-sale terminal, a Web server, and a personal shopping device.

22. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for detecting item mismatch, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for identifying a first item and a second item to be purchased, wherein the first item and the second item have associated product information;

instructions for determining whether the first item is a mismatch of the second item based on the product information; and

instructions, responsive to the first item being a mismatch of the second item, for presenting an item mismatch notification.