SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT TRACKING AND MAPPING

• US 20070118429A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guido Subotovsky
• Original Assignee: Guido Subotovsky
• Inventors: Subotovsky, Guido
• Application Number:
  US11/164,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A system and method of providing a map for locating or finding a product in a store are provided. User information identifying the product is received at a kiosk or user terminal in the store, product location information is retrieved by a server or central node from an inventory table based on the information identifying the product, approximate coordinates for the product are determined based on the product location information with reference to a store layout design, and the approximate coordinates are plotted on the map. The store may be a retail store, a warehouse or a commercial dealership. The approximate coordinates for the product may be determined in batch at a time before receiving the information identifying the product.

Claims

1. A method of providing a map for locating a product in a store, the method comprising:

receiving from a user information identifying the product;

retrieving product location information from an inventory table based on the information identifying the product;

determining approximate coordinates for the product based on the product location information with reference to a store layout design, and plotting the approximate coordinates on the map; and

providing the map to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the store is retail store.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the store is at least one of a warehouse and a commercial dealership.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an entry of the inventory table is indexed on a product ID, and the product location information identifies a department and a reference within the department.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an entry of the inventory table includes the product location information, the product location information identifying a zone for the product, and wherein the approximate coordinates are determined based on the zone for the product.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein upon said receiving the information identifying the product, the information identifying the product is transmitted to a server that performs said retrieving the product location information and said determining the approximate coordinates for the product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximate coordinates for the product are determined in batch at a time before said receiving the information identifying the product.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein in said providing the map, a location of the user is provided on the map.

9. A product locator system for locating a product in a store, the system comprising:

a location request processor configured to receive from a user kiosk information identifying the product;

a data retriever configured to retrieve product location information from an inventory table based on the information identifying the product;

a coordinates generator configured to determine approximate coordinates for the product based on the product location information with reference to a store layout design, and to plot the approximate coordinates on the map; and

a controller configured to transmit the approximate coordinates to the user kiosk for providing the map based on the approximate coordinates.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is remote from the store.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is located in the store.