RFID Detection System and Methods for Enhanced Marketing

• US 20100277321A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Gatz, Jay, McElwaine, Tom, McDonald, Gary
• Application Number:
  US12/826,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for interactively marketing product information to an end user by monitoring the three-dimensional position of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an object within and around a merchandising display. The system includes a detector/reader incorporating circuitry for detecting changes in the three-dimensional position of an RFID tag from the detector/reader and for triggering the display of information relative to the product if a detected change in the three-dimensional “read zone” position is detected. The systems as described herein may be used to interactively display marketing material relative to a chosen object, or cross-sell related objects.

Claims

1. A system for interactive marketing of a product in a retail environment, the system comprising:

a merchandise display comprising a back, a side, and a top, and a substantially open front region;

an RFID tag associated with an object located within the merchandise display;

an RFID reader for receiving signals from the RFID tag with a read zone;

a display means for displaying information related to the object; and

a computer programmed to cause the display means to present information associated with the object when the associated RFID tag is read by the RFID reader.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a wire mesh for preventing the read zone from extending into the merchandize display, such that the RFID tag is read when it is removed from the merchandize display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes information concerning proper use of the object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes information concerning uses for the object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes information concerning one or more items related to the chosen object.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information includes information concerning where the items related to the chosen object may be found in a store.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the information includes information concerning availability of the items related to the chosen object.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the information includes information concerning cost of the items related to the chosen object.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes printable instructions.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is programmed to cause the display means to present the information when the RFID tag enters the read zone.

11. A system for interactive marketing of a product in a retail environment, the system comprising:

a merchandise display comprising a back, a side, and a top, and a substantially open front region;

an RFID tag associated with each of a plurality of objects located within the merchandise display;

an RFID reader for receiving signals from the RFID tags and determining each RFID tag'"'"'s position within a read zone;

a display means for displaying information related to each object; and

a computer programmed to cause the display means to present information associated with each object when the RFID tag associated with that object is moved.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer is further programmed to provide an updated count of a number of objects in the display, when any of the objects are removed from the display.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes information concerning proper use of the object.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes information concerning uses for the object.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes information concerning one or more items related to the chosen object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information includes information concerning where the items related to the chosen object may be found in a store.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the information includes information concerning availability of the items related to the chosen object.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the information includes information concerning cost of the items related to the chosen object.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes printable instructions.