Apparatus and method for providing product location information to customers in a store
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A system for providing product location information regarding locations of products within a store to customers within the store, the system comprising:
- a plurality of user interfaces situated respectively at respective positions within the store in a substantially stationary manner, the user interfaces configured to receive input signals from the customers in the store and provide output signals to the customers in the store, wherein each of the user interfaces includes a memory unit; and
a hub that is at least indirectly in communication with each of the user interfaces, and that is capable of accessing at least one database, the at least one database including both product location information and additional store-related information,wherein the hub is periodically in communication with each of the user interfaces and provides portions of the product location information thereto, andwherein, upon receiving a first of the input signals representative of a product location inquiry from a first of the customers at a first of the user interfaces, the first user interface obtains relevant product location information from the respective memory unit of the first user interface, and subsequently the first user interface provides a first of the output signals as a response to the first input signal based upon the relevant product location information.
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing product location information within a store. The system comprises a first user interface fixed within the store and an inventory information unit coupled to the first user interface. The first user interface is configured to receive an input signal from a user related to the identity of a product within the store, to process the input signal and to provide a product inquiry signal in response to the input signal. The first user interface is further configured to receive a location information signal, and to provide an output signal in response to the location information signal. The inventory information unit comprises a database containing product location information and is configured to provide the location information signal to the first user interface after receiving the product inquiry signal from the first user interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing product location information regarding locations of products within a store to customers within the store, the system comprising:
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a plurality of user interfaces situated respectively at respective positions within the store in a substantially stationary manner, the user interfaces configured to receive input signals from the customers in the store and provide output signals to the customers in the store, wherein each of the user interfaces includes a memory unit; and a hub that is at least indirectly in communication with each of the user interfaces, and that is capable of accessing at least one database, the at least one database including both product location information and additional store-related information, wherein the hub is periodically in communication with each of the user interfaces and provides portions of the product location information thereto, and wherein, upon receiving a first of the input signals representative of a product location inquiry from a first of the customers at a first of the user interfaces, the first user interface obtains relevant product location information from the respective memory unit of the first user interface, and subsequently the first user interface provides a first of the output signals as a response to the first input signal based upon the relevant product location information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for providing product location information regarding locations of products within a store to customers within the store, the system comprising:
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a plurality of user interfaces situated respectively at respective positions within the store in a substantially stationary manner, the user interfaces configured to receive input signals from the customers in the store and provide output signals to the customers in the store, wherein each of the user interfaces includes a memory unit; and a hub that is at least indirectly in communication with each of the user interfaces, and that is capable of accessing at least one database, the at least one database including both product location information and additional store-related information, wherein the hub is periodically in communication with each of the user interfaces and provides portions of the product location information thereto, wherein, upon receiving a first of the input signals representative of a product location inquiry from a first of the customers at a first of the user interfaces, the first user interface obtains relevant product location information from the respective memory unit of the first user interface, and subsequently the first user interface provides a first of the output signals as a response to the first input signal based upon the relevant product location information, and wherein the first user interface is also capable of providing at least one of price and promotional information concerning a product that was the subject of the product location inquiry. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system for providing product location information regarding locations of products within a store to customers within the store, the system comprising:
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a plurality of user interfaces situated respectively at respective positions within the store in a substantially stationary manner, the user interfaces configured to receive input signals from the customers in the store and provide output signals to the customers in the store, wherein each of the user interfaces includes a memory unit; and a hub that is at least indirectly in communication with each of the user interfaces, and that is capable of accessing at least one database, the at least one database including both product location information and additional store-related information, wherein the hub is periodically in communication with each of the user interfaces and provides portions of the product location information thereto, wherein, upon receiving a first of the input signals representative of a product location inquiry from a first of the customers at a first of the user interfaces, the first user interface obtains relevant product location information from the respective memory unit of the first user interface, and subsequently the first user interface provides a first of the output signals as a response to the first input signal based upon the relevant product location information, and wherein at least some of the product location information and additional product-related information stored within at least one of the respective memory units of the respective user interfaces and the at least one database is updated over time to reflect changes in inventory occurring within the store. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification