In-store wireless shopping network using hand-held devices

• US 8,412,590 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Elliott, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Zukanovich, Brandy A
• Application Number:
  US12/662,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.9
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

An example system includes a display, a communication circuit, a memory storing a shopping program, and a processor in communication with the display, the communication circuit and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the shopping program to access a product database including product information, to process inputs supplied to the system to generate a shopping list comprising one or more products from the product database and to provide guidance information on the display relating to product location in a store of the products on the shopping list.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first display screen;

a second display screen, separated from the first display screen;

a communication circuit;

a memory storing a shopping program; and

at least one processor in communication with the first and second display screens, the communication circuit and the memory and being configured to execute the shopping program to perform functionality comprising;

accessing a product database including product information,

processing inputs supplied to the system to generate a shopping list comprising one or more products from the product database,

determining a location associated with a most recently selected product, and

generating guidance information on at least one display screen relating to product location in a store of products on the shopping list based at least in part on the determined location of the most recently selected product,

wherein the guidance information is displayed on the first display screen and the generated shopping list is displayed on the second display screen, the shopping list comprising one or more objects that are displayed on the second display screen in association with the items on the shopping list, and the first display screen displaying the corresponding location of the items, using the guidance information, by displaying the object associated with the item at a position indicating the location where the item can be found.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information comprises a map.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the map comprises a map displaying one or more store aisles and indicia indicative of products on the shopping list present in the aisles.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is embodied in a hand-held device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is embodied as a mobile telephone.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inputs comprises touches on a touch screen.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inputs comprise gestures on a touch screen.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further executes the shopping program to suggest to add items to the shopping list when a product in a home inventory is about to expire or when the product is almost depleted from the home inventory.

9. A system comprising:

a first display screen;

a second display screen, separated from the first display screen;

a memory storing a shopping list program;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; and

at least one processor in communication with the first and second display screens, the memory and the RFID reader and being configured to execute the shopping list program to perform functionality comprising;

transmitting RFID interrogation signals using the RFID reader,

receiving responses to the RFID interrogation signals,

processing the responses to generate at least a partial shopping list for output on the first or second display screen; and

generating guidance information on at least one display screen relating to product location in a store of products on the shopping list,

wherein the guidance information is displayed on the first display screen and the generated shopping list is displayed on the second display screen, the shopping list comprising one or more objects that are displayed on the second display screen in association with the items on the shopping list, and the first display screen displaying the corresponding location of the items, using the guidance information, by displaying the object associated with the item at a position indicating the location where the item can be found.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one processor further executes the shopping program to suggest to add items to the shopping list when a product in a home inventory is about to expire or when the product is almost depleted from the home inventory.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing a shopping program executed in a shopping system having a first display screen and a second display screen, separated from the first display screen, the shopping program comprising:

accessing a product database including product information;

processing inputs supplied to the system to generate a shopping list comprising one or more products from the product database;

determining a location associated with a most recently selected product; and

generating guidance information on at least one display screen relating to product location in a store of products on the shopping list based at least in part on the determined location of the most recently selected product,

wherein the guidance information is displayed on the first display screen and the generated shopping list is displayed on the second display screen, the shopping list comprising one or more objects that are displayed on the second display screen in association with the items on the shopping list, and the first display screen displaying the corresponding location of the items, using the guidance information, by displaying the object associated with the item at a position indicating the location where the item can be found.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing a shopping program executed in a shopping system having a first display screen and a second display screen, the shopping program comprising:

transmitting RFID interrogation signals using an RFID reader;

receiving responses to the RFID interrogation signals; and

processing the responses to generate at least a partial shopping list for output on the first or second display screens; and

generating guidance information on at least one display screen relating to product location in a store of products on the shopping list,

wherein the guidance information is displayed on the first display screen and the generated shopping list is displayed on the second display screen, the shopping list comprising one or more objects that are displayed on the second display screen in association with the items on the shopping list, and the first display screen displaying the corresponding location of the items, using the guidance information, by displaying the object associated with the item at a position indicating the location where the item can be found.