Product information system

• US 6,820,062 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1992
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digicomp Research Corp.
• Original Assignee: Digicomp Research Corp.
• Inventors: Bailey, Jack F., Shilepsky, Carol C., Ricketson, Robert C., Shilepsky, Arnold C., Gupta, Om P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US07/878,100
• Time in Patent Office: 4,579 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400, 364/401, 364/405, 235/431, 235/383, 235/385, 186/62, 186/61, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/18, 705/19, 705/20, 705/21, 705/22, 705/23, 705/24, 705/25, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1408 Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1416 mounted on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1428 Adaptations for calculators, memory aids or reading aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0096 Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0681 in which a card, pay-card or card-like object is used as the special token required to get permission or activate the lock to use the trolley or cart
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

The present invention features a Product Information System (PISYS) which presents advertising and product information to grocery shoppers. The system includes one or more shopping carts with a bar code scanner to read Universal Product Codes (UPCs) from merchandise. An artificial intelligence system presents advertising and general product information. The system determines the shopper'"'"'s tastes from choices which the shopper expresses explicitly and from characterizations which it infers by examining the shopper'"'"'s buying habits. When the shopping session is complete, the PISYS shopping cart transfers relevant information to a PISYS check-out counter, which transfers it directly to an in-house central computer. Because a PISYS shopping cart interacts with a shopper at the very moment he is making a purchase decision, it provides the most effective means for advertising. This data is analyzed by the in-house central computer, which provides accurate, timely measures of the effectiveness of any change in store strategy.

Claims

1. A system for promoting the sale of products to a customer at a location remote from any checkout counter, comprising

a) at least one portable unit which is operable remote from any checkout counter, said portable unit comprising:

i) a data entry device for inputting identification of a product desired by a customer; and

ii) a data output device for displaying information to the customer;

b) means for accessing stored data representative of said product identification;

c) means for accessing stored product specifications;

d) a processor in communication with said data entry device for inputting product identification, with said means for accessing stored data representative of said product identification, with said means for accessing stored product specifications, and with said data output device, wherein said processor is programmed to select said identified product, a competing product to said identified product or a complimentary product to said identified product for promotion based upon rules for selecting a product for promotion in response to said stored data representative of said product identification input on said data entry device wherein said processor accesses said stored product specifications and promotes a product by displaying on said data output device said stored product specifications of said product selected for promotion to said customer,

wherein said promoting the sale of products to a customer occurs prior to the customer reaching any checkout counter or point of sale.

2. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to said customer'"'"'s position.

3. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 2, wherein said rules comprise said customer'"'"'s position.

4. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for inputting product identification comprises a bar code scanner, under control of said customer, for scanning a universal price code.

5. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for inputting product identification comprises a keypad.

6. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for inputting product identification comprises a voice recognition subsystem.

7. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processing means for promoting a product comprises means for generating a visual promotional message.

8. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processing means for promoting a product comprises means for generating an audible promotional message.

9. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein data representative of said customer'"'"'s purchasing interests, items purchased, and promotional messages presented are stored in chronological order.

10. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

f) means for providing a retail establishment with;

customer buying habits, current product sales, a running inventory of product purchases, information for billing advertisers, and traffic patterns of customers traversing said retail establishment; and

g) means for supplying information to individual customers about products corresponding to their current or cumulative purchases.

11. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 10, wherein said elements (f) and (g) comprise a central computer having a data bank for keeping inventory records, a current file of product information, and a historical file of purchased items for each customer traversing said retail establishment.

12. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 11, wherein said central computer is adapted to execute programs for:

i) supplying current product information to said at least one remote unit in response to information provided by said customer in control of said at least one remote unit; and

ii) providing historical data relating to said customer'"'"'s buying habits in response to requests for such information from said customer in control of said at least one remote unit.

13. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 12, wherein said elements (e) and (f) are in communicative relationship by a infrared communication link.

14. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 12, further comprising means for analyzing said running inventory of product purchases and said information for billing advertisers in order to determine the effectiveness of advertising and in order to bill advertisers appropriately.

15. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 12, wherein said elements (e) and (f) are in communicative relationship by an radio frequency communication link.

16. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 11, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to the information in the historical file about products corresponding to the customer'"'"'s cumulative purchases.

17. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to price differences between said identified product and competing products.

18. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 17, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate to promote a lower priced competing product to said customer.

19. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 17, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate to promote a competing product to said customer that provides a higher profit for an establishment offering said identified product and said competing product for sale.

20. The system for promoting the sale of products in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to a list of products that advertisers have selected for promotion.

21. A method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer at a location remote from any checkout counter, comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a portable unit to provide to said customer, wherein said portable unit is operable remote from any checkout counter and said portable unit comprises a display, and a data entry device for inputting identification of a product desired by said customer,

b) providing means for accessing stored data representative of said product identification, means for accessing stored product specifications, and a processor for controlling the operation of said portable unit wherein said processor is in communication with said data entry device for inputting product identification, to said means for accessing stored data representative of said product identification and to said means for accessing stored product specifications;

c) programming said processor with operational instructions and rules for selecting said identified product, a competing product to said identified product, or a complimentary product to said identified product for promotion in response to said stored data representative of said product identification when said customer inputs said product identification on the data entry device such that said processor accesses said stored product specifications and promotes a product by displaying said stored product specifications of said product selected for promotion to said customer; and

d) providing said programmed portable unit to said customer for use by said customer at a location remote from any checkout counter as said customer selects products for purchase,

wherein said displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer occurs prior to the customer reaching any checkout counter or point of sale.

22. The method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer of claim 21, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to price differences between said identified product and competing products.

23. The method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer of claim 22, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate to promote a lower priced competing product to said customer.

24. The method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer of claim 22, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate to promote a competing product to said customer that provides a higher profit for an establishment offering said identified product and said competing product for sale.

25. The method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer of claim 21, wherein said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to a list of products that advertisers have selected for promotion.

26. The method of displaying promotions for the sale of products to a customer of claim 21, wherein remote units are provided with stored information about said customer'"'"'s product purchase history and said rules for selecting a product for promotion operate in response to said information about said customer'"'"'s product purchase history.