INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR CONSUMERS AT A STORE USING PERSONAL MOBILE WIRELESS DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20090307091A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lilley, Richard David
• Granted Patent: US 8,976,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.580
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location

Abstract

An information processing system is for determining information about consumers at a store where at least some of the consumers may carry personal mobile wireless devices, and each personal wireless mobile device may transmit signals for identifying the respective consumer. The system may include at least one RF receiver device arranged about the store for receiving communications from the personal mobile wireless devices, and a processor coupled to the at least one RF receiver device. The processor may be for generating consumer position data of the consumers during movement about the store based upon communications from the respective personal mobile wireless devices to the at least one RE receiver device, and associating the consumer position data with respective identities of the consumers.

Claims

1. An information processing system for consumers at a store, at least some of the consumers carrying personal mobile wireless devices and each personal wireless mobile device transmitting signals for identifying the respective consumer, the information processing system comprising:

at least one RF receiver device arranged about the store for receiving communications from the personal mobile wireless devices; and

a processor coupled to said at least one RF receiver device for

generating consumer position data of the consumers during movement about the store based upon communications from the respective personal mobile wireless devices to the at least one RF receiver device, and

associating the consumer position data with respective identities of the consumers.

2. The information processing system of claim 1 wherein said processor is also for initiating consumer-specific advertisements based upon the consumer position data and respective identities of the consumers.

3. The information processing system of claim 2 wherein said processor initiates the consumer-specific advertisements as at least one of an email message and an SMS message to the respective personal mobile wireless devices.

4. The information processing system of claim 2 further comprising a product database for storing product position data for different products throughout the store;

and wherein said processor further cooperates with said product database for associating the consumer identities with respective products potentially viewed by the consumers based upon the consumer position data and product position data.

5. The information processing system of claim 4 further comprising a consumer profile database for storing consumer profiles associated with respective consumers;

and wherein said processor initiates the consumer-specific advertisements based upon the respective products potentially viewed by the consumers and their respective consumer profiles.

6. The information processing system of claim 5 wherein the consumer profiles comprise at least one of consumer payment account profiles and consumer reward program profiles.

7. The information processing system of claim 1 wherein said at least one RF receiver comprises a plurality thereof spaced throughout the store;

and wherein said processor determines the positions of the RF identification devices based upon at least one of an angle of arrival calculation, a time of arrival calculation, and a time difference of arrival calculation.

8. The information processing system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless access terminal at the store cooperating with said processor for causing the personal mobile wireless devices when in range thereof to transmit signals for identifying the respective consumers.

9. The information processing system of claim 8 wherein said processor causes the personal mobile wireless devices to transmit at a faster rate when in range.

10. The information processing system of claim 8 wherein said wireless access terminal comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point.

11. The information processing system of claim 8 wherein said wireless access terminal comprises a cellular base station.

12. An information processing system for consumers at a store, at least some of the consumers carrying personal mobile wireless devices and each personal wireless mobile device transmitting signals for identifying the respective consumer, the information processing system comprising:

a plurality of RF receiver devices arranged about the store for receiving communications from the personal mobile wireless devices; and

a processor coupled to said plurality of RF receiver devices for

generating consumer position data of the consumers during movement about the store based upon communications from the respective personal mobile wireless devices to the at least one RF receiver device using at least one of an angle of arrival calculation, a time of arrival calculation, and a time difference of arrival calculation,

associating the consumer position data with respective identities of the consumers, and

initiating consumer-specific advertisements based upon the consumer position data and respective identities of the consumers.

13. The information processing system of claim 12 further comprising a product database for storing product position data for different products throughout the store;

and wherein said processor further cooperates with said product database for associating the consumer identities with respective products potentially viewed by the consumers based upon the consumer position data and product position data.

14. The information processing system of claim 13 further comprising a consumer profile database for storing consumer profiles associated with respective consumers;

and wherein said processor initiates the consumer-specific advertisements based upon the respective products potentially viewed by the consumers and their respective consumer profiles.

15. The information processing system of claim 14 wherein the consumer profiles comprise at least one of consumer payment account profiles and consumer reward program profiles.

16. The information processing system of claim 12 further comprising a wireless access terminal at the store cooperating with said processor for causing the personal mobile wireless devices when in range thereof to transmit signals for identifying the respective consumers.

17. An information processing method for consumers at a store, at least some of the consumers carrying personal mobile wireless devices and each personal wireless mobile device transmitting signals for identifying the respective consumer, the method comprising:

arranging at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver device about the store;

receive communications from the personal mobile wireless devices using the at least one RF receiver device;

generating consumer position data of the consumers during movement about the store based upon communications from the respective personal mobile wireless devices to the at least one RF receiver device; and

associating the consumer position data with respective identities of the consumers.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising initiating consumer-specific advertisements based upon the consumer position data and respective identities of the consumers.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein initiating comprises initiating the consumer-specific advertisements as at least one of an email message and an SMS message to the respective personal mobile wireless devices.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising associating the consumers identities with respective products potentially viewed by the consumers based upon the consumer position data and product position data for different products throughout the store.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising associating respective consumers with consumer profiles;

and wherein initiating comprises initiating the consumer-specific advertisements based upon the products potentially viewed by the consumers and their respective consumer profiles.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the consumer profiles comprise at least one of consumer payment account profiles and consumer reward program profiles.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one RF receiver comprises a plurality thereof spaced throughout the store;

and wherein generating consumer position data comprises determining the positions of the RF identification devices based upon at least one of an angle of arrival calculation, a time of arrival calculation, and a time difference of arrival calculation.