Method and system for self-service shopping

• US 20050154646A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chermesino, John
• Application Number:
  US10/756,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods and systems for self-service shopping are described. A user profile is received at a mobile personal identifier. In addition, an item description is received at one of a plurality of second computing systems located throughout a shopping environment. The user profile is received at the second computing systems from the mobile personal identifier. A transaction is performed utilizing the user profile and the item description at one of the second computing systems, wherein the transaction is a self-service shopping transaction.

Claims

1. A method for self-service shopping, said method comprising:

receiving a user profile at a mobile personal identifier;

receiving an item description at one of a plurality of second computing systems located throughout a shopping environment;

receiving said user profile at said one of said second computing systems from said mobile personal identifier; and

performing a transaction utilizing said user profile and said item description at said one of said second computing systems, wherein said transaction is a self-service shopping transaction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a first computing system communicates said user profile to said mobile personal identifier, said first computing system comprising:

a computing device;

a visual display;

an input device for receiving said user profile; and

a communications device for transmitting said user profile to said mobile personal identifier and receiving information from said mobile personal identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second computing system communicates comprises:

a computing device;

a visual display;

an scanner for receiving said item description;

a communications device for receiving said user profile from said mobile personal identifier;

a printer for receipt; and

a cash-back device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said mobile personal identifier is issued by said first computing system, said first computing system comprising a plurality of said mobile personal identifiers.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the mobile personal identifier provides a wireless positioning signal comprising tracking information to said first computing system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first computing system collects the tracking information from the mobile personal identifier and the transaction information from the second computing system and stores it in a database.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said first computing system and said second computing system further comprise:

performing a search for a product; and

providing direction to find said product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said mobile personal identifier stores the directions to find said product and provides a signal for directional assistance in finding said product.

9. A self-assisted shopping system comprising:

a first computing system configured to receive a user profile;

a mobile personal identifier communicatively coupleable with said first computing system, said mobile personal identifier configured to receive said user profile from said first computing system; and

a plurality of second computing systems placed throughout a shopping environment, said second computing systems configured to receive said user profile from said mobile personal identifier, said second computing systems adapted to use said user profile to perform a transaction.

10. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 9 wherein the first computing system comprises:

a computing device;

a visual display; and

an input device for receiving said user profile.

11. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 10 wherein said visual display is interactive.

12. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 9 wherein the mobile personal identifier provides location information to said first computing system throughout a shopping environment.

13. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 9 wherein the first computing system further comprises:

performing a search for a product; and

providing direction to the location of the product.

14. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 9 wherein said mobile personal identifier is issued by said first computing system.

15. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of second computing systems further comprise interactive visual displays.

16. The self-assisted shopping system of claim 15 wherein each of the second computing systems provides information about a competing product when a product is scanned.

17. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a caching proxy to perform a method for self-service shopping, said method comprising:

receiving a user profile at a mobile personal identifier;

receiving an item description at one of a plurality of second computing systems arrayed throughout a shopping environment;

receiving said user profile at said one of said second computing systems from said mobile personal identifier; and

performing a transaction utilizing said user profile and said item description at said one of said second computing systems, wherein said transaction is a self-service shopping transaction.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said mobile personal identifier is issued by said first computing system, said first computing system comprising a plurality of said mobile personal identifiers.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein the mobile personal identifier broadcasts a positioning signal to said first computing system, said positioning signal providing a tracking capability of said mobile personal identifier by said first computing system.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said mobile personal identifier is issued by said first computing system, said first computing system comprising a plurality of said mobile personal identifiers

21. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said first computing system and said second computing system further comprise:

performing a search for a product; and

providing directions to find said product.