Personal product locator on store-owned shopping aid
First Claim
1. A method for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching a product locator unit to a shopping aid that is utilized within said retail environment, said product locator unit having an access point for entering a customer ID, a storage location for electronically storing a list of customer desired products, an infra red (IR) receiver that receives IR signals with localized product information at specific locations in which said IR signal is broadcasted, a program algorithm for comparing said localized product information with product identifiers (IDs) of said customer desired products, and, a signaling mechanism for alerting said customer to a location of a desired product, said location being identified by said received IR signal; and
enabling in-shopping signaling to said customer of the presence of a desired product when said customer is in the vicinity of said desired product, wherein said signaling is completed responsive to a (1) receipt of an IR signal at a particular location by the IR receiver of the product locator unit; and
(2) correct matching of the ID of said desired product with said localized product information within said IR signal received.
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Abstract
A method for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment. A product locator unit is attached to a shopping aid utilized within the retail environment. The product locator unit has an access point for entering a customer ID, a signalling mechanism for alerting the customer to a location of a desired product, and a program algorithm for correctly identifying the desired product. A user specifies a desired product which has been linked to the user'"'"'s customer ID. A signal is transmitted with the product information and location within the retail environment. The signal is received by the product locator unit and the products are compared to the desired products to determine a match and subsequent location of said desired products. The customer is then alerted to the location of the desired product via the signalling mechanism.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a product locator unit to a shopping aid that is utilized within said retail environment, said product locator unit having an access point for entering a customer ID, a storage location for electronically storing a list of customer desired products, an infra red (IR) receiver that receives IR signals with localized product information at specific locations in which said IR signal is broadcasted, a program algorithm for comparing said localized product information with product identifiers (IDs) of said customer desired products, and, a signaling mechanism for alerting said customer to a location of a desired product, said location being identified by said received IR signal; and enabling in-shopping signaling to said customer of the presence of a desired product when said customer is in the vicinity of said desired product, wherein said signaling is completed responsive to a (1) receipt of an IR signal at a particular location by the IR receiver of the product locator unit; and
(2) correct matching of the ID of said desired product with said localized product information within said IR signal received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20, 21)
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7. A system for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment, said system comprising:
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a product locator unit that is attachable to a shopping aid utilized within said retail environment, said product locator unit comprising; an access point for entering a customer ID; a storage location for storing a list of customer desired products; an infra red (IR) sensor that receives IR signals with digitized product identification information while said product locator unit is within a location in which said IR signal is being broadcasted; a program algorithm for deciphering said digitized product identification information and comparing said digitized product identification information with product IDs of said customer desired products for a match; and means for signaling to said customer that a desired product is within the vicinity of said customer when said program algorithm finds a match; and means for providing in-shopping product location and coupon redemption services to said customer utilizing said product locator unit, wherein said customer is alerted to the presence of a desired item when that desired item is in the vicinity of said customer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product for providing a location of products to a customer in a retail environment, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and program instructions on said computer readable medium for; enabling a product locator unit attached to a shopping aid utilized within said retail environment to identify customer desired products located within a vicinity of the shopping aid, signal that said desired product is located in the vicinity, and remotely redeem electronic coupons for said desired product during checkout by beaming coupon data to a checkout register. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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22. A product locator unit for use within a retail environment, said unit comprising:
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connection means for connecting said unit to a shopping aid utilized within said retail environment; an access point for entering a customer ID; means for receiving data associated with an electronic list of customer desired products; a storage location for storing said electronic list of customer desired products; an infra red (IR) sensor that receives IR signals with digitized product identification information while said product locator unit is within a location in which said IR signal is being broadcasted; a program algorithm for deciphering said digitized product identification information and comparing said digitized product identification information with product IDs of said customer desired products for a match; and means for signaling to said customer that a desired product is within the vicinity of said customer when said program algorithm finds a match; means for receiving and storing electronic coupon information associated with said desired products; means for providing remote electronic redemption of coupons/discounts associated with said desired products during checkout at a checkout register by beaming said coupon/discount information from said product locator unit to said checkout register when said desired product is scanned at said checkout register.
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Specification