Shoe size scanner system

• US 6,343,276 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Duncan Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Barnett, Sharon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKETIC, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/484,213
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The shoe size scanner system is an automated system for use in retail stores, and particularly in shoe stores. The scanner system has a base unit which interfaces with the store'"'"'s computerized inventory system, and a plurality of remote units which interface with the base unit. The remote units include at least the input device of a bar code scanner, and may be either fixed mount or portable, handheld scanning units. The fixed mount units are positioned in fixed locations, such as display shelves or tables and may be used by either store clerks or customers. The handheld units are intended for use by sales clerks, and may be supported by a neck strap, arm band, or belt clip. According to the shoe size scanner system, each shoe on display in the store has a bar code affixed thereto which encodes an identifier number corresponding to the model of the shoe. Either a sales clerk or a customer may scan the bar code with the remote unit, which communicates with the base unit and returns identification of the shoe model. The sales clerk or customer may then select one of three function keys so that the remote unit will display, for that particular model, either (1) a list of all shoe sizes in stock; (2) a response indicating whether the shoe is in stock in a specified length and width; or (3) a list of all shoe widths in stock in a specified length. Price information for each shoe listed in the response is provided.

Claims

1. A shoe size scanner system for obtaining in stock shoe size information from a computerized inventory database maintained on a central data processing unit, the system comprising:

a) at least one portable remote bar code scanner unit having an input device capable of scanning a bar code symbol and having a radio frequency transceiver;

b) at least one fixed mount remote bar code scanner unit having an input device capable of scanning a bar code symbol;

c) a base unit having a bar code scanner decoder and having a radio frequency transceiver for sending and receiving communication to and from said portable remote bar code scanner unit, the base unit having data communication with the central data processing unit;

d) a data communication means for providing data communication between said fixed mount remote bar code scanner unit and said base unit; and

e) product query means for entering a request for in stock information for a scanned display shoe into said remote scanner units and displaying a response containing in stock information obtained from the central data processing unit on said remote scanner units, said product query means comprising;

(i) a keypad on each remote scanner unit, including;

A) a plurality of function keys; and

B) a plurality of alphanumeric keys for inputting a particular shoe length and width;

(ii) a display on each remote scanner unit for displaying in stock information received from the central data processing unit; and

(iii) means for translating a function requested by one of said function keys into a query to the inventory database for in stock information.

2. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said data communication means comprises a radio frequency transceiver connected to said fixed mount remote bar code scanner unit capable of communicating with the radio frequency transceiver of said base unit.

3. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said data communication means comprises a data communications cable connected between said fixed mount remote bar code scanner unit and said base unit.

4. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of function keys further comprises:

a) a first function key for requesting all sizes of a scanned display shoe currently in stock;

b) a second function key for requesting whether a scanned display shoe is in stock in a shoe length and width keyed into the keypad;

c) a third function key for requesting all widths of a scanned shoe currently in stock in a length keyed into said keypad.

5. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said portable remote scanner unit comprises a fixed beam bar code scanner.

6. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said portable remote scanner unit further comprises means for transporting said portable remote scanner unit about the person of a user.

7. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 6, wherein said means for transporting comprises a strap attached to said unit adapted for wearing about the user'"'"'s neck.

8. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 6, wherein said means for transporting comprises an arm band attached to said unit for wearing on an arm of the user.

9. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 6, wherein said means for transporting comprises a belt clip attached to said unit for attachment to a belt worn by a user.

10. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said fixed mount remote scanner unit comprises a moving beam bar code scanner.

11. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a personal computer and a printer connected to said fixed mount unit for printing a report summarizing in stock information requested for a scanned shoe.

12. The shoe size scanner system according to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises software mounted in said decoder for translating a product query from one of said remote scanner units into a structured query language request for information from the inventory database, the request including a product identification number scanned from a bar code label affixed to a shoe on display.

13. A shoe size scanner system method for obtaining in stock status information for a shoe on display, comprising the steps of:

(a) labelling a shoe on display with a bar code label having a symbol encoding a product identification number;

(b) providing at least one remote bar code scanner unit;

(c) scanning said bar code label on the remote scanner unit;

(d) decoding said bar code symbol to obtain a decoded product identification number;

(e) automatically obtaining a product description of said shoe from an inventory database maintained on a central data processing unit;

(f) displaying the product description on the remote scanner unit;

(g) selecting a function on the remote scanner unit which requests real time information about the in stock availability of the shoe identified by said scanned label, including;

(i) requesting whether a scanned display shoe is in stock in a particular shoe length and width; and

(ii) entering the particular shoe length and shoe width into the remote scanner unit;

(h) assembling a query using said decoded product identification number and said selected function;

(i) communicating said query to the central data processing unit;

(j) communicating a response to said query from the central data processing unit to the remote scanner unit; and

(k) displaying said response on said remote scanner unit.

14. The shoe size scanner system method according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing at least one remote bar code scanner unit further comprises the step of providing at least one battery powered portable bar code scanner unit for use by a sales clerk.

15. The shoe size scanner system method according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing at least one remote bar code scanner unit further comprises the step of providing at least one fixed mount bar code scanner unit and the step of locating said fixed mount scanner unit adjacent a shoe display for use by a customer.

16. The shoe size scanner system method according to claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a function on the remote scanner unit further comprises the step of selecting a function requesting all sizes of a scanned display shoe currently in stock.

17. The shoe size scanner system method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a printer adjacent said at least one remote bar code scanner unit;

(b) repeating steps (a) through (j) for a plurality of different shoe models on display; and

(c) printing a report summarizing each response from the central data processing unit for comparison by a customer.

18. A shoe size scanner system method for obtaining in stock status information for a shoe on display, comprising the steps of:

(a) labelling a shoe on display with a bar code label having a symbol encoding a product identification number;

(b) providing at least one remote bar code scanner unit;

(c) scanning said bar code label on the remote scanner unit;

(d) decoding said bar code symbol to obtain a decoded product identification number;

(e) automatically obtaining a product description of said shoe from an inventory database maintained on a central data processing unit;

(f) displaying the product description on the remote scanner unit;

(g) selecting a function on the remote scanner unit which requests real time information about the in stock availability of the shoe identified by said scanned label, including;

(i) requesting all widths of a scanned shoe currently in stock in a specified length; and

(ii) entering the particular shoe length into the remote scanner unit;

(h) assembling a query using said decoded product identification number and said selected function;

(i) communicating said query to the central data processing unit;

(j) communicating a response to said query from the central data processing unit to the remote scanner unit; and

(k) displaying said response on said remote scanner unit.