Distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, apparatus and method

• US 8,630,908 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian James
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US13/287,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/17
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices

Abstract

A distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system. The system can include a central database and at least one integrated POS/EAS/information terminal adapted to communicate with NFC-enabled devices, RFID and EAS tags, and the database, wherein, when a customer places an NFC-enabled device and a product having an RFID and EAS tag and proximate the terminal, the terminal facilitates a transaction for purchasing the product. The terminal can include a processor, an NFC transceiver, a UHF RFID reader, and a Bluetooth transceiver. The transaction for purchasing the product can be performed via the NFC-enabled device.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating transactions using a distributed point of sale, electronic article surveillance, and product information system, comprising:

placing an NFC-enabled device and a product having an RFID and EAS tag in proximity to an integrated POS/EAS/information terminal;

initiating an NFC link between the NFC-enabled device and the terminal;

interrogating the RFID and EAS tag by the terminal;

receiving information pertaining to the product from a database;

presenting the customer with a list of options regarding the product;

executing a selected option from the list of options; and

terminating the NFC link.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating a signal between the RFID and EAS tag and the terminal with a signal between the terminal and the NFC-enabled device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is a purchase request and wherein executing the selected option comprises:

executing a secure transaction via the NFC-enabled device;

changing the status of the RFID and EAS tag; and

delivering a transaction receipt to the customer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the state of the EAS tag is changed to paid.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the receipt is delivered by the NFC-enabled device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is a purchase and delivery request and wherein executing the selected option comprises:

presenting the customer with product delivery options;

executing a secure transaction via the NFC-enabled device; and

delivering a transaction receipt to the customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is an information request and wherein executing the selected option comprises:

presenting the customer with product information options; and

delivering the selected information to the customer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating a Bluetooth link between the terminal and the NFC-enabled device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is a product video request and wherein executing the selected option comprises:

presenting the customer with product video options;

initiating a Bluetooth link between the terminal and the NFC-enabled device; and

delivering the selected video to the customer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is a product characteristics request and wherein executing the selected option comprises:

inquiring customer preferences for product characteristics;

determining whether a product matching the customer preferences is present in inventory;

presenting product availability details if the product is present in inventory; and

presenting a conciliation offer if the product is not present in inventory.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer preferences are pre-entered by the customer into the NFC-enabled device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a processor, an NFC transreceiver, a Bluetooth transreceiver, and an antenna.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processor and the reader are adapted to prioritize UHG signals.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal further comprises a power source.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a field area of a NFC transmissions is under 20 cm.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of options is communicated to a customer by the NFC link.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected option is a “

find my size”

option and wherein executing the selected option comprises;

querying a store database.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a customer pre-entered customer preferences into the NFC-enabled device.