Determination of customer proximity to a register through use of sound and methods thereof

• US 9,460,590 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Rutao
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWEILER, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US13/625,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20140089087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A method is disclosed for providing notifications and other communications to a customer based on the customer'"'"'s proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer'"'"'s progress through the checkout line. The mobile self checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer'"'"'s position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer'"'"'s distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal.

Claims

1. A method of providing notifications to a retail customer comprising:

operating mobile self checkout software on a customer mobile electronic device at a retail location, the mobile electronic device having a processor, memory operatively connected to the processor, a microphone, and a display;

the mobile self checkout software determining that the mobile electronic device is in a checkout line in response to identifying an audio signal produced by a point of sale terminal and received by the microphone of the mobile device, with the audio signal being inaudible to humans;

the mobile self checkout software receiving a series of beeps from the point of sale terminal and analyzing the rate of repetition of the beeps by comparing the rate of repetition of the beeps to a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a conventional point of sale terminal operated by a sales associate and a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a self checkout terminal to determine if the point of sale terminal is a self checkout terminal or a conventional point of sale terminal;

the mobile self checkout software providing notifications to the customer on the mobile electronic device display when the customer is in a checkout line;

the mobile self checkout software determining the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the point of sale terminal based on the inaudible audio signal; and

the mobile self checkout software changing the type of notifications which are provided to the customer according to the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the point of sale terminal whereby the mobile self checkout software provides a first notification having a first type of content to the customer via the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a first distance from the point of sale terminal and provides a second notification having a second type of content which is a different type of content than the first type of content to the customer via the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a second distance from the point of sale terminal which is less than the first distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of content is selected from the group consisting of advertising content, product informational content, and entertainment content, and wherein the second type of content is selected from the group consisting of advertising content, product informational content, checkout instructions, and entertainment content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first notification is advertising content provided to the customer on the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a first distance from the point of sale terminal and wherein the second notification is a checkout instruction presented to the customer on the mobile electronic device display when the mobile electronic device is a second distance from the point of sale terminal which is less than the first distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile self checkout software operates in a first mode wherein the software receives customer scanned barcodes and creates a list of items for purchase, a second mode wherein the software determines that the mobile electronic device is in a checkout line and provides a first type of content to the customer selected from the group consisting of advertising content, informational content, and entertainment content, a third mode wherein the software determines that the mobile electronic device is adjacent a point of sale terminal and provides instructions regarding completion of a purchase, and a fourth mode wherein the software determines that the mobile electronic device is at a point of sale terminal and operates to complete a purchase.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile self checkout software provides an advertisement to a customer based on the customer'"'"'s prior purchase history.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, in the first mode, the mobile self checkout software allows the customer to scan an item for purchase while shopping, and wherein the mobile self checkout software provides an advertisement for a product which is complementary to said item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile self checkout software provides said advertisement when the customer is adjacent said product in a checkout line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification more specifically comprises checkout instructions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method more specifically comprises:

the mobile self checkout software analyzing ambient sounds to identify whether a customer is in a self checkout line or a checkout line operated by a sales associate;

and the mobile self checkout software providing a second notification comprising first checkout instructions to the customer on the mobile electronic device display if the customer is in a self checkout line; and

the mobile self checkout software providing a third notification comprising second checkout instructions which are different than the first checkout instructions to the customer on the mobile electronic device display if the customer is in a checkout line operated by a sales associate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile self checkout software allows the customer to scan items while shopping and presents an advertisement to the customer based on the items.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile self checkout software presents an advertisement for a product to the customer when the customer is adjacent the product in a checkout line.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile self checkout software selects the product based on items selected for purchase by the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile self checkout changes the length of the notifications according to the customer'"'"'s proximity to the point of sale terminal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile self checkout software changes the type of notifications which are provided to the customer depending on whether the mobile self checkout software determines that the point of sale terminal is a self checkout terminal or a conventional point of sale terminal operated by a sales associate.

15. A system for providing notifications to a customer at a retail location comprising:

a point of sale terminal located at the retail location;

a server being configured to provide mobile self checkout software to a mobile electronic device of the customer and to communicate with the mobile self checkout software;

the point of sale terminal comprising a transducer for producing an audio signal that is detectable by the mobile electronic device;

the audio signal being inaudible to human beings and is configured to invoke the mobile self checkout software to;

determine that the mobile electronic device is in a checkout line;

determine the proximity of the mobile electronic device to the point of sale terminal;

receive a series of beeps from the point of sale terminal; and

analyze the rate of repetition of the beeps by comparing the rate of repetition of the beeps to a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a conventional point of sale terminal operated by a sales associate and a rate of repetition of beeps known to be associated with a self checkout terminal to determine if the point of sale a self checkout terminal or a conventional point of sale terminal;

the server being configured to provide notifications displayable on the mobile electronic device in response to determining from the mobile self checkout software that the customer is in the checkout line; and

wherein the server provides a first notification having a first type of content to the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is a first distance from the point of sale terminal and wherein the server provides a second notification having a second type of content which is a different type of content than the first type of content to the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is a second distance from the point of sale terminal which is less than the first distance.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the server is configured to determine the location of the mobile electronic device from the mobile self checkout software and compare the location of the mobile electronic device to known store locations.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the server is configured to change the type of notifications which are provided to the mobile electronic device depending on whether the server determines from the mobile self checkout software that the point of sale terminal is a self-checkout terminal or a conventional point of sale terminal operated by a sales associate.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the first type of content is selected from the group consisting of advertising content, product informational content, and entertainment content, and wherein the second type of content is selected from the group consisting of advertising content, product informational content, checkout instructions, and entertainment content.