System and method for real-time remote shopping

• US 7,364,070 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Government of The Republic of Korea)
• Original Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Government of The Republic of Korea)
• Inventors: Chang, Seok Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/109,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/381, 235/378, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1416 mounted on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A method for real-time remote shopping using a real-time remote shopping system includes the steps of (a) obtaining the commodity information from a hand-held terminal and registering the information on a customer, (b) sending the shopping request information including the commodity information to a host server or a mobile terminal through the wired/wireless communication device, (c) receiving, at the mobile terminal, the shopping request information from the hand-held terminal or the host server, and sending the shopping data processed in real-time to the host server or the hand-held terminal, (d) receiving, at the hand-held terminal, the shopping data from the server or the hand-held terminal, and (e) sending, at the hand-held terminal, a shopping-ended signal to the host server or the hand-held terminal, and paying the price. The hand-held terminal includes a hand-held electronic device of the customer. The system and method can be applied to an internet shopping.

Claims

1. A method for real-time remote shopping using a real-time remote shopping system, wherein the system comprises:

a first building space comprising a sample item display section;

a second building space comprising a commodity item display section;

a first terminal for communicating a shopping information in the first building space; and

a second terminal for communicating the shopping information in the second building space,

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

obtaining the shopping information with the first and second terminals;

processing the shopping information with the first and second terminals to produce a shopping data; and

communicating the shopping information and the shopping data among the first terminal and the second terminal,

wherein the system further comprises

1) a hand-held terminal for customer in a sample item display section comprising a device for registration and pay, a device for obtaining a commodity information, and a communication device to communicate a shopping request information with other corresponding terminals;

2) a mobile terminal for worker in a commodity item display section comprising a communication device to communicate the shopping request information with other corresponding terminals and a device to obtain a commodity information; and

3) a host server comprising a wired/wireless communication device relaying the shopping request information between the terminals and providing a derived information to the terminals,

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

a) obtaining the commodity item information from the hand-held terminal for customer and registering the information on the customer;

b) sending the shopping request information including the commodity item information to the host server or the mobile terminal for worker through the wired/wireless communication device;

c) receiving, at the mobile terminal for worker, the shopping request information from the hand-held terminal for customer or the host server, and sending the shopping data processed in real-time to the host server or the hand-held terminal for customer;

d) receiving, at the hand-held terminal for customer, the shopping data from the server or the hand-held terminal for customer; and

e) sending, at the hand-held terminal for customer, a shopping-ended signal to the host server or the hand-held terminal for customer, and paying the price.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the hand-held terminal and the mobile terminal for worker has a proper identification information including identification number or owner'"'"'s credit information, wherein the host server produces and assigns an additional identification number to the hand-held terminal and the mobile terminal for worker during the wired or wireless communication, wherein the host server recognizes the hand-held terminal and the mobile terminal for worker by the proper identification information or by the additionally produced/assigned identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the host server checks the version of the commodity information file stored in the built-in memories of the hand-held terminal and the mobile terminal for worker and upgrades with a latest version.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held terminal and the mobile terminal for worker are switched on automatically or manually, boot up, and display a predetermined initial screen when detached from the charging stations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the host server issues an alarm to request starting operation to the mobile terminal for worker on the POPT charging station, when the host server detects the detachment of the hand-held terminal for customer from the RSC charging station or receives the personal or credit information of the hand-held terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the host server recognizes the identification numbers of the hand-held terminal, the mobile terminal for worker, and cart, and establishes a shopping unit with the set of the identification numbers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the host server receives the personal or credit information from the hand-held terminal, categorizes the customer into new, present, or anonymous, produces a shopping information customized to the customer, and sends the shopping information to the hand-held terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the commodity information displayed on the hand-held terminal for customer to verify is retrieved from the built-in memory of the hand-held terminal, from the database of the host server, or from the bar code or RF tag on the sample item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal for worker having an alarm device receives a purchase orders of commodity items, including changing and canceling, issues an alarm, and displays the shopping item list on the mobile terminal for worker.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the commodity information into the mobile terminal for worker is allowed under the condition that the commodity information matches with the information on the commodity items, including changing and canceling, received from the hand-held terminal for customer, and the processed result of the information on the commodity items, including changing and canceling, is sent in real-time to the hand-held terminal for customer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the hand-held terminal for customer sends out the shopping-ended message the host server issues message-received alarm to the hand-held terminal for customer, the mobile terminal for worker sends a cart'"'"'s waiting-at-exit message to the hand-held terminal for customer, the host server sends a pay-requesting message to the hand-held terminal for customer, and the hand-held terminal for customer sends a pay-approved message to a host server through a wired or wireless communication network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein on receiving the pay-approved message the host server sends a receipt or an identification number of a cart for picking up of items to the hand-held terminal for customer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held terminal for customer is rented in the sample item display section, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

1) charging the hand-held terminal for customer and the mobile terminal for worker on respective charging stations, and upgrading the commodity information in the hand-held terminal for customer and the mobile terminal for worker on the same charging stations, wherein the charging station comprises a charging port and a server interface, wherein a battery in the hand-held terminal for customer or the mobile terminal for worker is charged by the charging port, wherein the commodity information on the terminal memory built in the hand-held terminal for customer or the mobile terminal for worker is checked and upgraded with the latest version of the commodity information by the host server;

2) starting the hand-held terminal for customer or the mobile terminal for worker before shopping and setting as a shopping unit with an identification number, on detaching from the RSC or POPT charging station, wherein the hand-held terminal for customer detached from the RSC charging station is started automatically or manually and initialized, wherein the host server recognizes the hand-held terminal for customer detached from the RSC charging station and issues an alarm to the POPT charging station in the commodity item display section, wherein the mobile terminal for worker detached from the POPT charging station is started automatically or manually and initialized, wherein the identification number of a cart is inputted into the mobile terminal for worker installed automatically or manually on the cart and sent to the host server;

3) selecting paying method and recognizing a customer, comprising categorizing the customer into new, present, or anonymous, by the host server, producing a shopping information customized to the customer, and sending the shopping information to the hand-held terminal for customer;

4) taking and verifying the commodity information including bar-code or RFID tag, comprising inputting the commodity information and the amount into the hand-held terminal for customer comprising a bar-code/RF reader;

5) requesting and transacting shopping, comprising sending the purchase orders on commodity list, including changing and canceling, that inputted into the hand-held terminal for customer, to the host server or the mobile terminal for worker, issuing an order-received alarm on receiving orders at the mobile terminal for worker in the commodity item display section, and collecting, including changing the amount or removing, the ordered items in the cart, inputting the information on the collected items, and sending the transaction results to the hand-held terminal for customer;

6) ending shopping and paying, comprising sending the shopping-ended message to the hand-held terminal for customer, the mobile terminal for worker'"'"'s issuing an message-received alarm, finishing the shopping in process, moving the cart to the commodity item display section exit, the host server'"'"'s sending the pay-requesting message according to the selected paying method to the hand-held terminal for customer, sending the paying-by-credit approval message to the host server in the case of paying by credit, the host server'"'"'s sending a counter-guide message to the hand-held terminal for customer in the case of paying by cash, recognizing the hand-held terminal for customer connected to the communication network at the counter, inputting the ‘

paid’

message at the counter terminal with paying by cash; and

7) picking up the shopping commodity and retrieving the shopping equipments by switching off and returning to the respective charging stations for the next usage, wherein the host server sends the identification number of the cart to the hand-held terminal for customer to pick up the shopping commodity, the mobile terminal for worker on the shopping cart that moved to the commodity item display section exit sends a waiting message to the hand-held terminal for customer, and the customer proceeds to the pick-up window, picks up the shopping commodity on showing the cart identification number.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held terminal for customer comprises a hand-held electronic device owned personally by the customer, wherein the shopping method comprises steps of:

1) storing and upgrading the personal or credit information in the hand-held terminal, wherein the hand-held electronic device takes and stores the personal and credit information through an input means including a keypad or a card reader or by wired or wireless accessing of a related database, and the hand-held electronic device downloads or upgrades the commodity information through the wired or wireless communication network;

2) charging and upgrading the commodity information of the mobile terminal for worker on the POPT charging station comprising a charging port and a server interface, wherein a battery in the hand-held electronic device is charged by the charging port, and the commodity information on the memory built in the hand-held electronic device is checked and upgraded with the latest version of the commodity information by the host server;

3) starting the hand-held electronic device before shopping and setting a shopping unit with an identification number, wherein when the hand-held electronic device is switched on and sending the personal and credit information to the host server, the host server recognizes the hand-held electronic device and issues an alarm to the POPT charging station in the commodity item display section, and a mobile terminal for worker recognized by the host server is switched on automatically or manually and initialized, and the identification number of a cart is inputted into the mobile terminal for worker installed on the cart automatically or manually and sent to the host server;

4) providing the customer with a pre-shopping guide, wherein the host server searches for the credit information and purchase history of the customer, producing the information on service and shopping customized for the customer, and sends the information to the screen of the hand-held electronic device through the wired or wireless communication network inside the store;

5) taking and verifying the commodity information, comprising inputting the commodity information and the amount of the item to shop with the hand-held electronic device having bar-code or RFID tag reader and verifying the detailed information including commodity information by retrieving from the built-in memory of the hand-held electronic device or from the database of the host server and displaying at the screen of the hand-held terminal for customer;

6) requesting and transacting shopping, comprising sending the purchase orders on commodity list, including changing and canceling, that inputted into the hand-held electronic device, to the host server or the mobile terminal for worker issuing an alarm on receiving orders at the mobile terminal for worker in the commodity item display section, and collecting, including changing the amount or removing, the ordered items in the cart, inputting the information on the collected items, and sending the transaction results to the hand-held electronic device;

7) ending shopping and paying, comprising sending the shopping-ended message to the hand-held electronic device, the mobile terminal for worker'"'"'s issuing an message-received alarm, finishing the shopping in process, moving the cart to the commodity item display section exit, the host server'"'"'s sending the pay-requesting message to the hand-held electronic device, and the hand-held electronic device'"'"'s sending pay approval message to the host server; and

8) picking up the shopping commodity and retrieving the mobile terminal for worker by switching off and returning to the POPT charging station for the next usage, wherein the host server sends the identification number of the cart to the hand-held electronic device to pick up the shopping commodity, the mobile terminal for worker on the shopping cart that moved to the commodity item display section exit sends a waiting message to the hand-held terminal for customer, and the customer proceeds to the pick-up window, picks up the shopping commodity on showing the cart identification number.

15. A system for real-time remote shopping comprising

a first building space comprising a sample item display section;

a second building space comprising a commodity item display section;

a first terminal for communicating a shopping information in the first building space comprising a hand-held terminal for customer; and

a second terminal for communicating the shopping information in the second building space comprising a mobile terminal for worker,

wherein the first and second terminals communicate the shopping information with each other to perform a remote shopping in real-time,

wherein the system further comprises a host server comprising a wired/wireless communication device relaying the shopping information between the first and second terminals and providing a derived information to the first and second terminals,

wherein the system further comprises;

a) a hand-held terminal for customer in a sample item display section comprising a device for registration and pay, a device for obtaining a commodity information, and a communication device to communicate a shopping request information with other corresponding terminals;

b) a mobile terminal for worker in a commodity item display section comprising a communication device to communicate the shopping request information with other corresponding terminals and a device to obtain a commodity information; and

c) a host server comprising a wired/wireless communication device relaying the shopping request information between the terminals and providing a derived information to the terminals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sample item display section comprises

a) a sample item with an electronically readable commodity information attached;

b) a sample item display rack;

c) a wired or wireless communication network for exchanging information between wired or wireless terminals in the store;

d) a charging station for charging a battery of the hand-held terminal and accessing the host server; and

e) a customer terminal and a counter terminal connected to the wired or wireless communication network for processing the shopping task of the customer and the worker.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the commodity item display section comprises

a) a commodity item with an electronically readable commodity information attached;

b) a commodity item display rack;

c) a wired or wireless communication network for exchanging information between wired or wireless terminals in the store;

d) a charging station for charging a battery of the mobile terminal for worker and accessing the host server;

e) a plurality of shopping carts; and

f) a store terminal connected to the wired or wireless communication network for processing the shopping task of the worker.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server comprises

a) a computer for relaying transmission and reception of the shopping information between the wired or wireless terminals in the store and analyzing and manipulating the accumulated commodity information and shopping information;

b) a data storing device for storing the shopping information and customer information and providing the commodity information and shopping information to the customer;

c) a wired or wireless communication network for exchanging the information among the wired or wireless terminals; and

d) an Internet for a data communication with an external device outside of the store.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein, in order to register and pay, obtain a commodity information, and to communicate a shopping request information with other corresponding terminals, the hand-held terminal for customer comprises

a) a bar-code or RF reader for inputting the commodity information of the sample item in the sample item display section;

b)a card reader in a type of magnetic-tape or RF recognition for inputting information on the customer'"'"'s credit card or membership card;

c) an RF or IR transceiver for a wireless data communication with the host server or the mobile terminal for worker;

d) an interface for a wired data communication with the host server;

e) a control device and output device comprising a keypad, a touch (pen) screen, and LCD panel;

f) a power supply or charging device comprising a battery and charging port;

g) a central processing unit for operating and controlling the system;

h) a memory device for storing software and data for operating the system; and

i) an alarming device for representing the status of operation with sound and light.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the hand-held terminal for customer comprises a hand-held terminal, wherein the hand-held terminal normally works with original functions and works as an hand-held terminal for customer when shopping in the sample item display section of the store, wherein the hand-held terminal comprises a central processing unit for original functions and a plurality of auxiliary devices including a data storing device, an output device, a control device, a power supply device, and an alarm sound/light device, wherein the hand-held terminal is combined with a built-in or external module comprising a central processing unit for original functions the hand-held terminal for customer and a plurality of auxiliary devices including a host server, a data communication device for communicating with the mobile terminal for worker, and a data scanning device for obtaining the commodity information and credit information, wherein the hand-held terminal shares the auxiliary devices including a data storing device, an output device, a control device, a power supply device, an alarm sound/light device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile terminal for worker performing a shopping operation including obtaining of a commodity information and communicating the shopping information with a corresponding terminal, comprises

a) a bar-code or RF reader for inputting the commodity information of the commodity item in the commodity item display section;

b) an RF or IR transceiver for a wireless data communication with the host server or the hand-held terminal;

c) an interface for a wired data communication with the host server;

d) a control device and output device comprising a keypad, a touch (pen) screen, and LCD panel;

e) a power supply or charging device comprising a battery and charging port;

f) a central processing unit for operating and controlling the system;

g) a memory device for storing software and data for operating the system;

h) a message-received alarm device comprising an alarm lamp or buzzer to acknowledge a reception of a message from the host server or the hand-held terminal; and

i) an alarming device for representing the status of operation with sound and light.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the charging station comprises a charging port for charging the battery of the terminals and a server interface for a wired communication with the host server, wherein the charging station further comprises an alarm device for informing the operation request of the mobile terminal for worker.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the wired communication network comprises auxiliary devices including a wireless LAN interface, an interface to the hand-held terminal for customer, a customer terminal, a counter terminal, a store terminal, a printer, a card reader, and an RF reader at an end, and performs a wired or wireless communication among the host server and the auxiliary devices.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the hand-held terminal for customer and mobile terminal for worker comprises an original identification information including an identification number and owner'"'"'s credit information, wherein the host server produces a new additional identification number from the original identification information and assigns the new additional identification number in a wired or wireless communication with the hand-held terminal for customer or the mobile terminal for worker, wherein the host server recognizes a specific hand-held terminal for customer or mobile terminal for worker by the new additional identification number.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server checks the version of the commodity information file stored in the built-in memories of the hand-held terminal for customer, and the mobile terminal for worker and upgrades with a latest version.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the hand-held terminal for customer, and the mobile terminal for worker are switched on automatically or manually, boot up, and display a predetermined initial screen when detached from the charging stations.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server issues an alarm to request starting operation to the mobile terminal for worker on the POPT charging station, when the host server detects the detachment of the hand-held terminal for customer from the RSC charging station or receives the personal or credit information of the hand-held terminal for customer.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server recognizes the identification numbers of the hand-held terminal for customer, the mobile terminal for worker, and cart, and establishes a shopping unit with the set of the identification numbers.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server receives the personal or credit information from the hand-held terminal, categorizes the customer into new, present, or anonymous, produces a shopping information customized to the customer, and sends the shopping information to the hand-held terminal for customer.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the commodity information displayed on the hand-held terminal for customer to verify is retrieved from the built-in memory of the hand-held terminal for customer, from the database of the host server, or from the bar-code or RF tag on the sample item.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile terminal for worker having an alarm device receives a purchase orders of commodity items, including changing and canceling, issues an alarm, and displays the shopping item list on the mobile terminal for worker.

32. The system of claim 15, wherein inputting the commodity information into the mobile terminal for worker is allowed under the condition that the commodity information matches with the information on the commodity items, including changing and canceling, received from the hand-held terminal for customer, and the processed result of the information on the commodity items, including changing and canceling, is sent in real-time to the hand-held terminal for customer.

33. The system of claim 15, wherein when the hand-held terminal for customer sends out the shopping-ended message the host server issues message-received alarm to the hand-held terminal for customer, the mobile terminal for worker sends a cart'"'"'s waiting-at-exit message to the hand-held terminal for customer, the host server sends a pay-requesting message to the hand-held terminal for customer, and the hand-held terminal for customer sends a pay-approved message to a host server through a wired or wireless communication network.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein on receiving the pay-approved message the host server sends a receipt or an identification number of a cart for picking up of items to the hand-held terminal for customer.

35. The system of claim 15, further comprising an Internet VR (virtual reality) shopping mall connected the host server through a wired or wireless Internet for an Internet shopping, wherein the Internet VR shopping mall displays VR commodities corresponding to the commodity in the sample item display section, wherein a customer accesses the Internet VR shopping mall with a computer or a wireless hand-held communication device and sends the shopping-request information to the host server, wherein the host server sends a collect-shopping-item message with a shopping order information from the customer to the mobile terminal for worker before a preferred shipping date, wherein the mobile terminal for worker takes the commodity information, collects the ordered shopping items, downloads a receipt and a shipping information, prints out in a printer, attaches the receipt and the shipping information on a shipping box, and sends out the shipping box.

36. The system of claim 15, further comprising a sample item display rack and a weighing machine with a function of printing a commodity information inside the sample item display section, and a conveyor system 996 connected to the commodity item display section, for providing a sales service combined with a customer'"'"'s self-packing, wherein an Internet shopping is provided by measuring the packed shopping item with the weighing machine, attaching the commodity information including name of item, weight, and shopping time printed by the weighing machine, inputting and sending the commodity information, moving the shopped items to the commodity item display section with the conveyor system 996, having the customer to collect the items corresponding to the commodity information the mobile terminal for worker received in the cart.

37. The system of claim 15, wherein the host server comprises a module to analyze the shopping pattern of the customer using the customer'"'"'s shopping history and a module to produce and send out to the customer a list of commodity the customer is expected to purchase or to provide the list of commodity to the hand-held terminal for customer through the internal communication network.

38. The system of claim 15, wherein the system comprises a customer terminal, a hand-held terminal interface, a card reader, a printer, and auxiliary devices in the sample item display section, wherein the system further comprises a store terminal and a printer in the commodity item display section, wherein the shopping is done by:

a) the customer'"'"'s determining shopping items by searching the commodity information that the host server provided, or by searching the accumulated commodity list obtained by connecting the hand-held terminal for customer to the hand-held terminal interface;

b) the customer'"'"'s approving the paying of the ordered items by inputting the credit card information through the card reader or by sending the credit information stored in the hand-held terminal for customer connected to the host server;

c) the host server'"'"'s recognizing the mobile terminal for worker that was detached from the charging station and installed on the cart, and sending the order number and the shopping list of the customer to the mobile terminal for worker;

d) the mobile terminal'"'"'s collecting the ordered items and inputting the commodity information, and sending the shopping-ended message to the host server;

e) the host server'"'"'s sending the shopping-ended message to hand-held terminal for customer, and attaching the order information printed by the printer on the package box; and

f) the customer'"'"'s displaying the order number and picking up the package box at the commodity pick-up window.

39. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the hand-held terminal for customer, and the mobile terminal for worker comprises a paging device to talk with a store clerk and the paging device is installed at a plurality of locations in the store.

40. The system of claim 15, wherein the hand-held terminal comprises an RFID tag storing an identification information of hand-held terminal, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of RF readers at predetermined locations and the entrance of the store, wherein the customer'"'"'s location is tracked down and a movement outside of the store is monitored by reading the identification information of the hand-held terminal with the RF reader.