Method for offering location-based targeted discounts without requirement for location sensing

• US 20060097043A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In a method and system for providing location-based targeted information without requiring location sensing, items are scanned while the customer shops. The sequences in which items are scanned are collected and analyzed to determine the next probable item for a currently scanned item. The next probable item will generally be physically near the currently scanned item. Information for a next probable item correlating to a currently scanned item can then be displayed to the customer. In this manner, location-based targeted information can be provided without requiring location sensing. This significantly reduces the cost of the system.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based targeted information, comprising:

obtaining an identity of an item scanned as a customer shops;

sending the identity of the item to a central controller;

receiving from the central controller an identity of a next probable item, wherein the next probable item is determined based upon one or more sequences of previously scanned items; and

displaying information for the next probable item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises:

obtaining the identity of the item scanned as the customer shops; and

storing a sequence of scanned items by the device for subsequent transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises:

obtaining the identity of the item scanned as the customer shops; and

immediately transmitting the identity of the item to the central controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the identity of the scanned item by the central controller;

obtaining the next probable item for the scanned item from a database, wherein the next probable item is determined based upon one or more sequences of previously scanned items; and

sending the next probable item to the device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the obtaining comprises:

collecting the sequences of previously scanned items by the central controller;

analyzing the collected sequences to determine the next probable item; and

storing the next probable item in the database.

6. A method for providing location-based targeted information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of sequences of scanned items, wherein the items are scanned with a device as a customer shops;

analyzing the plurality of sequences to determine a next probable item for at least one item; and

storing the next probable item in a database, wherein when a scan of the at least one item is received, an identity of the next probable item is sent to the device, wherein the device displays information for the next probable item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each sequence is stored by the device for subsequent transmission.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein an identity of each item of a sequence is immediately transmitted to the central controller as it is scanned.

9. A system, comprising:

a device, wherein an item is scanned as a customer shops; and

a central controller, wherein an identity of the item is received from the device, wherein an identity of a next probable item is sent to the device, wherein the next probable item is determined based upon one or more sequences of previously scanned items,

wherein information for the next probable item is displayed on the device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a sequence of scanned items is stored by the device for subsequent transmission.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the identity of the item is immediately transmitted to the central controller.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller collects the sequences of previously scanned items, analyzes the collected sequences to determine the next probable item, and stores the next probable item in a database.

13. A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing location-based targeted information, comprising:

obtaining an identity of an item scanned as a customer shops;

sending the identity of the item to a central controller;

receiving from the central controller an identity of a next probable item, wherein the next probable item is determined based upon one or more sequences of previously scanned items; and

displaying information for the next probable item.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the obtaining comprises:

obtaining the identity of the item scanned as the customer shops; and

storing a sequence of scanned items by the device for subsequent transmission.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the obtaining comprises:

obtaining the identity of the item scanned as the customer shops; and

immediately transmitting the identity of the item to the central controller.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the identity of the scanned item by the central controller;

obtaining the next probable item for the scanned item from a database, wherein the next probable item is determined based upon one or more sequences of previously scanned items; and

sending the next probable item to the device.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the obtaining comprises:

collecting the sequences of previously scanned items by the central controller;

analyzing the collected sequences to determine the next probable item; and

storing the next probable item in the database.

18. A computer readable medium with program instructions for providing location-based targeted information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of sequences of scanned items, wherein the items are scanned with a device as a customer shops;

analyzing the plurality of sequences to determine a next probable item for at least one item; and

storing the next probable item in a database, wherein when a scan of the at least one item is received, an identity of the next probable item is sent to the device, wherein the device displays information for the next probable item.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein each sequence is stored by the device for subsequent transmission.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein an identity of each item of a sequence is immediately transmitted to the central controller as it is scanned.