Smart and easy shopping using portable RF transceiver-enabled devices and fixed in-store RF transceivers
First Claim
1. An in-store shopping system, comprising:
- a store computer system configured to maintain digital map data, store product information in a database and permit customers using portable RF transceiver-enabled devices operating within a store to access said digital map data and information regarding a location of a product in the store and an availability of the product; and
more than one fixed RF transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags installed throughout the store on a plurality of products, and installed within said portable RF transceiver-enabled devices, wherein the plurality of RFID tags communicate within the store with portable RF transceiver-enabled handheld devices utilized by customers and the more than one fixed RF transceiver can communicate within the store with portable RF transceiver-enabled handheld devices used by customers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices (e.g., PDA or cell phone) and an enterprise system that stores and maintains a digital map and database to enable customers using the portable devices within a store to access information about the location of products in the store and their availability. Several fixed transceivers are installed throughout a store and portable transceiver-enabled handheld devices used by customers within the store communicate within the store. Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices communicate with fixed transceivers and download the locations and available quantities of desired product. Customers can use portable devices to obtain the shortest walking route within a store to obtain a desired product based on fixed transceiver proximity to portable devices. Customer can also search the store database for the exact location of items within a store using the portable devices.
107 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An in-store shopping system, comprising:
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a store computer system configured to maintain digital map data, store product information in a database and permit customers using portable RF transceiver-enabled devices operating within a store to access said digital map data and information regarding a location of a product in the store and an availability of the product; and more than one fixed RF transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags installed throughout the store on a plurality of products, and installed within said portable RF transceiver-enabled devices, wherein the plurality of RFID tags communicate within the store with portable RF transceiver-enabled handheld devices utilized by customers and the more than one fixed RF transceiver can communicate within the store with portable RF transceiver-enabled handheld devices used by customers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of determining a product status by a store computer system including short range RF communications hardware, comprising the steps of:
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a store computer system wirelessly receiving from a handheld device, a request for product information including a location of products within the store; dynamically determining via the store computer system, the location of the products within the store based on an RFID tag; dynamically determining via the store computer system, the location of the handheld device within the store based on an RFID tag associated with the handheld device; and the store computer system wirelessly transmitting product information including the location of a product to the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining product status and in-store location, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting from a handheld device to a store computer system via short range RF communications, a request for product information associated with a product, wherein the product information includes an in-store location of the product; wirelessly receiving at the store computer system, the request for product information including the in-store location of the product with respect to the handheld device; determining, via the store computer system, the in-store location of the product based on an RFID tag associated with the product; determining, via the store computer system, a location of a user of the handheld device within the store based on an RFID tag associated with the handheld device; and wirelessly transmitting from the store computer system to the handheld device, the product information, wherein the product information includes the in-store location of the product. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification