Method and system for presenting item information using a portable data terminal

• US 7,725,326 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Roslak, Thomas K., Sandler, Robert, Riso, Francis, Murrah, Judith, Tracy, William X., Beach, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson; Freda Ann
• Application Number:
  US11/460,579
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 26- 27, 705/8, 705/35, 705 16- 17, 705/1.1, 235/462.46, 235/383, 235/472.02, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

An improved portable shopping system with improved data presentation system for presenting customer desired data on a portable terminal. The portable terminal includes audio as well as video presentation components that are used to provide customer specific marketing files to promote the sale of identified items.

Claims

1. A shopping system comprising:

a central host that exchanges data with a portable terminal, the central host comprising a processor that retrieves information associated with customer preferences including a preference list that identifies customer'"'"'s areas of interest from a database, correlates the customer preference list with shopping transaction data received from the portable terminal to generate correlated results, and presents the correlated results to a customer through the portable terminal, wherein the central host is operable to upload and display a customer shopping list from a predetermined secure email address on a display of the portable terminal.

2. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the customer preferences are selected from categories comprising at least one of:

nutrition;

alternative brands;

discounts;

promotions; and

special events.

3. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the customer preferences are saved on at least one of a customer loyalty card and a database at the central host.

4. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the correlated results are selected from text, audio, visual, and audio/visual results presented to the customer through the portable terminal interface.

5. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the correlated results are selected from a group comprising at least one of:

product information;

product discount; and

associated items from previous shopping transactions.

6. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the central host comprises a connection to a customer shopping list, and access to a complete inventory of a store, so as to generate and send to a customer a list indicating availability of items in the list to be purchased.

7. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the portable terminal comprises:

a machine code reader that scans encoded indicia from an item to be purchased in a shopping transaction;

a plurality of activation buttons that add, remove and total a scanned item from a list of items to be purchased in the shopping transaction;

a display device that presents visual images associated with the shopping transaction;

an audio communication system that exchanges audio messages associated with the shopping transaction; and

a communications interface that wirelessly exchanges data with a remote central host.

8. The shopping system of claim 7, wherein the display device comprises a graphical user interface and a touch screen, the activation buttons are presented and activated thereon.

9. The shopping system of claim 7, wherein the audio communication system comprises at least one of:

a voice activated control that issues voice commands on the portable terminal;

an audio broadcast receiver that receives messages from a remote location; and

a two-way voice communication system that exchanges voice messages with the remote location.

10. The shopping system of claim 7, wherein the machine code reader is detachable from the portable terminal.

11. The shopping system of claim 7, wherein the central host further comprises a customer transaction file that tracks each customer'"'"'s shopping history.

21. The shopping system of claim 1, wherein the central host retrieves information from an Internet server and retransmits the information to the portable terminal.

12. A method of shopping comprising:

uploading and displaying a customer shopping list from a predetermined secure email address on a portable terminal;

scanning an article to be purchased on the portable terminal;

comparing the scanned article to be purchased with a list of customer preferences;

correlating the scanned article and customer preferences with a database of related information, to compile correlated results of related information; and

presenting the correlated results to a customer on a display of the portable terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the customer preferences from categories comprising at least one of:

nutrition;

alternative brands;

discounts;

promotions; and

special events.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the correlated results from a group comprising at least one of:

product information;

product discount; and

associated items from previous shopping transactions.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the correlated results from text, audio, visual, and audio/visual results presented to the customer.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

maintaining a transaction history of prior customer purchase records;

comparing the scanned article with similar previously purchased articles;

correlating the scanned article with associated items; and

prompting a customer reminder in connection with the associated items.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

uploading a customer shopping list;

comparing the shopping list with a database of a complete available inventory; and

indicating availability of items on the customer shopping list.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

indicating prohibition of a scanned article to be purchased; and

notifying a checkout attendant to prohibit purchase of the scanned article.

19. A shopping system comprising:

means for sending and receiving shopping transaction data;

means for uploading and displaying a customer shopping list from a predetermined secure email address;

means for identifying areas of interest related to a customer'"'"'s preferences; and

means for generating correlated results, correlated to the customer'"'"'s preferences and received shopping transaction data and displaying the results.

20. The shopping system of claim 19, wherein the customer preferences are selected from categories comprising at least one of:

nutrition;

alternative brands;

discounts;

promotions; and

special events; and

the correlated results are selected from a group comprising at least one of;

product information;

product discount; and

associated items from previous shopping transactions.