Wireless identification based display

• US 7,624,918 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Forster, Ken, Islam, Quazi Towhidul, Amado, Joe, Sweeney, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/049,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/385, 235/383, 235/487, 235/375, 705/16, 705/64, 340/572.01, 340/10.3, 340/10.32
• US Class Current: 235/378
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing discreet messaging are provided. Based on an identification of a customer and/or a product to be purchased, a message is selectively produced and provided in a discreet manner to the customer. The message can be visible and/or audible. The customer can be identified using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. The product to be purchased can be identified using scanned bar code information and/or RFID tags.

Claims

1. A point of sale system, comprising:

a processor;

a display;

an input which receives scanned bar code information and provides the scanned bar code information to the processor;

a scanner output which receives the scanned bar code information from the processor and provides the scanned bar code information to an electronic cash register;

a first wireless information reader which receives first information and provides the first information to the processor; and

a second wireless information reader that receives second information,

wherein the first wireless information reader and the second wireless information reader have non-overlapping read fields that are activated to read the first and second information simultaneously, and

wherein the processor outputs information on the display based on the scanned bar code information and/or the first and second information received by the first and second wireless information readers, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless information reader reads radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first information received by the first wireless information reader identifies a customer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information received by the first wireless information reader identifies a product.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the product is a cigarette package or carton of cigarette packages.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein information is output on the display based on the scanned bar code information and the first information received by the first wireless information reader.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless information readers are antennas which receive wireless information and provide the wireless information to a wireless information processor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the display has a predetermined viewing angle, wherein the predetermined viewing angle limits the viewing of the information output on the display to a customer directly in front of the display.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display has first and second output fields, the first output field directed towards a customer and the second output field directed towards an operator of the electronic cash register.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second output fields are obtained using a holographic lens.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audio output for providing audio based on the scanned bar code information or the first information received by the first wireless information reader.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio is audible within an area in front of the electronic cash register.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the output provides additional information to the electronic cash register based on the received scanned bar code information or the first information received by the first wireless information reader.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the additional information is promotional information based on an identification of a particular customer or of a particular product.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the output for providing scanned bar code information also outputs bar code information representing a coupon to the electronic cash register.

25. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a comparator that compares a signal strength of the first wireless identification signal to a signal strength of the second wireless identification signal to determine whether a first wireless identification signal was received from a source closer to the electronic cash register than a source of the second wireless identification signal.

16. A method for displaying promotional information at an electronic cash register, comprising:

receiving a first wireless identification signal and a second wireless identification signal simultaneously through a wireless read field;

determining that the first wireless identification signal was received from a source closer to the electronic cash register than a source of the second wireless identification signal;

comparing the first wireless identification signal to customer and product information stored in a database to determine whether the first wireless identification signal identifies a customer or a product; and

displaying a message on a display based on the first wireless identification signal to the customer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the message is displayed with a predetermined viewing angle, wherein the predetermined viewing angle limits the viewing of the information output on the display to a customer directly in front of the display.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving bar code information through a scanner input, wherein the displayed message is also based on the received bar code information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

outputting audio based on the first or second wireless identification signal or the received bar code information.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

outputting bar code information representing a coupon based on the received bar code information.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining determines that at least one of the first and second wireless identification signals identifies a product, and wherein the product is a cigarette package or carton of cigarette packages.

22. A method for displaying promotional information at an electronic cash register, comprising:

generating a first wireless read field and a second wireless read field simultaneously, wherein the first and second wireless read fields are non-overlapping;

receiving a first wireless identification signal through the first read field and a second wireless identification signal through the second read field;

comparing the first wireless identification signal and the second wireless identification signal to customer and product information stored in a database to determine whether the first or second wireless identification signal identifies a customer or a product;

displaying a message on a display based on the first or second wireless identification signal to the customer;

generating a coupon based on the first or second wireless identification signal;

providing the coupon to the electronic cash register; and

reducing a price of a product based on the coupon.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the generating a coupon comprises generating a virtual coupon.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising:

providing the price reduction to a manufacturer or vendor of the product; and

providing payment for the price reduction from the manufacturer or vendor to the electronic cash register.

26. The method of claim 22, comprising:

comparing a signal strength of the first wireless identification signal to a signal strength of the second wireless identification signal; and

determining that the first wireless identification signal was received from a source closer to the electronic cash register than a source of the second wireless identification signal based on a comparison result.