Portable sales assistant terminal system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to a system and method for ordering, supplying and obtaining information relating to selected goods and services using a portable sales assistant terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Consumers often desire to obtain information about products and services that are being offered for sale. Such information may relate to price, product size, instructions for use, product applications, warranty, warnings, rating by independent testing organizations, product demonstrations or samples, service information, and background, biographical or historical information about the creator, service provider, manufacturer, or seller.

[0003] It is common practice to attach certain of such desired information to the relevant product or to supply it as part of the service. However, consumers may still have an unfilled need for accurate, up to date, relevant, and appropriate information for a variety of reasons. For example, space may be limited on the product package or display. In addition, the information may be change rapidly, and obsolete information may be useless or misleading. On the other hand, there may even be too much information, and consumers may require assistance in sorting through it to find the information that is most relevant to their needs. For example, although there is an enormous amount of information available on the Internet, it is often difficult for consumers to locate and even more difficult for consumers to relate the information to the precise product of interest.

[0004] Retailers, distributors, packagers, and service providers may be aware of these needs of consumers for information about products and services, and may wish to provide such information to consumers in order to increase sales and profits. Knowing which consumers show an interest in or purchase various products may help marketing resources be allocated most effectively. Also, obtaining information about which consumers choose not buy a product or service after considering a purchase may be even more important than obtaining information about those consumers who do choose to buy a particular product or service. In addition, different customers may need or desire different types of information. In order for a product or service provider to provide relevant information to the consumer, it is necessary to first obtain information from the consumer about the consumer's needs.

[0005] Various mechanisms have been proposed for enhancing the delivery of information about certain products and services indicated by consumers to be of interest based upon indications of consumer preference. For example, in certain systems machine readable coded labels are placed upon products and used to encode one or more remote file locations, such as uniform resource locators (“URLs”), used to reference sites on the world wide web (“WWW”). These labels are scanned by a hand-held terminal issued to a consumer, thereby enabling the retrieval of data files including items such as prices, promotions, marketing and general interest data from various local and remote addresses available over a wireless communication network. These URLs can be presented on the terminal display in the form of a hyperlink which submits a data retrieval request to a remote address upon selection. Although such systems enable more targeted distribution of marketing and other product-related information, such distribution is typically based only upon the identity of the product scanned by the hand-held terminal. That is, such systems are limited to obtaining information pertinent to the scanned product, and are not generally designed to provide such information based at least in part upon other indicia of consumer preference (e.g., prior purchasing or browsing history).

[0006] In addition to facilitating the targeted provision of product-related information, such hand-held terminals have also been utilized in other “portable” shopping systems. For example, in one such system an authorized customer is issued a terminal having an integrated bar code scanner to record merchandise purchases. After items are scanned with the bar code scanner, the terminal maintains a record of merchandise selected for purchase by the customer within an internal memory. Prior to exiting the store, the information stored in the memory of the scanner is down loaded through a communication port attached to a terminal dispenser, and a printed ticket of the customer's purchases is printed on a printer. The customer then proceeds to a check out register where the customer tenders payment for the purchased merchandise.

[0007] In another proposed portable shopping system, a consumer is provided with a hand-held bar code reader and can scan various items at home. The user can order from home over a modem, or can dock the bar code reader in a kiosk at a store, and can then receive a printed shopping list with directions. Yet further, a list of items can be transmitted from the store kiosk to a warehouse for remote picking.

[0008] Consistent with the above, commercially available prior art self-checkout systems have generally employed relatively simple portable computing technologies disposed to provide limited pricing and product itemization information. Moreover, lists of products selected for purchase and other product-related information is often stored within the portable units utilized within such systems, which tends to increase the processing and memory requirements of such units. In addition, although the pervasiveness of networked computing and the Internet has facilitated access to product-related information, it has not yet fundamentally changed the manner in which consumers select, purchase and receive most goods and other items.

[0009] Accordingly, there currently exists a need for a system for enabling more sophisticated and focused delivery of product-related information and for streamlining product ordering and fulfillment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In summary, the present invention relates to a portable shopping system including a plurality of portable terminals. Each portable terminal incorporates a scanning unit for acquiring product identification information associated with selected products. The system further includes a wireless communication network for communicating the acquired product identification information provided by the plurality of portable terminals to a central host facility. Included within the central host facility is an access point disposed to receive the product identification information from the wireless communication network and a central database including a plurality of personal shopping files respectively associated with the plurality of portable terminals. The central host facility also includes a central controller operative to update ones of the personal shopping files upon receipt of portions of the product identification information provided by associated ones of the portable terminals.

[0011] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a portable sales assistant terminal including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a scanning unit. The memory preferably stores persistent browser state information externally associated with the shopping terminal. During operation of the portable sales assistant terminal, the scanning unit scans products of interest and provides associated product identification information to the processor. A wireless transceiver circuit coupled to the processor operates to (i) transmit the product identification information via a wireless communication channel, and (ii) receive corresponding product information. The portable sales assistant terminal further includes a display/user input device for displaying the product information through a browser executed by the processor.

[0012] In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a system for self-checkout by a customer. The system includes a central host facility incorporating a central database in which is maintained a personal shopping file associated with the customer. A portable terminal having a scanning unit is provided for acquiring product identification information from items selected by the customer. A wireless communication network operates to enable communication between the central host facility and the portable terminal. To this end, the portable unit transmits the acquired product identification information to the central host facility via the wireless communication network. In response, a list of the items is stored within the personal shopping file in response to receipt at the central host facility of the product identification information. The system includes at least one self-checkout unit in communication with the central host facility for processing a self-checkout transaction involving the items selected by the customer. The self-checkout transaction includes downloading the list of items from the customer's personal shopping file in response to presentment of the portable terminal at said self-checkout unit.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a method for providing product marketing information to at least one customer by way of a portable terminal operative in a self-checkout system, the portable terminal having an integrated scanning unit. The method contemplates storing a customer data file associated with the customer at a central host facility, the customer data file being identified by a customer identification number and including customer preference information created on the basis of shopping activity of the customer during one or more prior shopping sessions. During a current shopping session, a customer identification number is entered into the portable terminal and is transmitted to the central host facility via a wireless communication network. The integrated scanning unit is utilized to acquire product identification information associated with a product, and the acquired identification information is transmitted to the central host facility. In response, the central host facility then transmits product marketing information to the portable terminal via the wireless communication network. The product market information may be selected based upon the customer data file and the product identification information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a better understanding of the nature of the features of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015]FIGS. 1A and 1B provide similar illustrative overviews of a portable sales assistant terminal system of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 illustratively represents a digital sales assistant (“DSA”) disposed to be used within the system of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 provides a block diagrammatic representation of an exemplary internal architecture of a DSA in accordance with the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a central host facility configured within a retail establishment in accordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 5A illustratively represents an exemplary data structure corresponding to a product database disposed within the central host facility of FIG. 4.

[0020]FIG. 5A illustratively represents an exemplary data structure corresponding to a customer database disposed within the central host facility of FIG. 4.

[0021]FIG. 6 provides a block diagram of an exemplary self-checkout station including a self-checkout terminal and an attached scanning unit.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a flowchart providing a general overview of exemplary operation of the portable terminal system.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a flowchart providing a more detailed representation of an exemplary self-checkout process occurring at a self-checkout station.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a flowchart providing a more detailed representation of one manner in which the system of the present invention may provide relevant product information to customers within a retail establishment.

[0025]FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting the processing associated with the dedicated keys of the DSA.

[0026]FIG. 11 provides a block diagrammatic representation of a corporate data center configured in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027]FIGS. 1A and 1B provide illustrative overviews of a portable sales assistant terminal system <b>10</b> of the present invention. In a particular embodiment, the system <b>10</b> is deployed throughout a plurality of retail establishments (e.g., individual stores of a retail chain), one of which is represented in FIGS. 1A and 1B by reference numeral <b>12</b>. Within retail establishment <b>12</b>, a plurality of portable digital sales assistant terminals (“DSAs”) <b>14</b> are communicatively linked to a central host facility <b>16</b> by a wireless communication network <b>18</b>. As shown, the wireless communication network <b>18</b> includes a plurality of access points <b>20</b> linked by a local area network (“LAN”) <b>24</b> (e.g., an Ethernet LAN). For purposes of clarity, only a portion of LAN <b>24</b> is depicted in FIG. 1. A transceiver within each DSA <b>14</b> communicates with a similar transceiver in one of the plurality of access points <b>20</b> distributed throughout the retail establishment <b>12</b>. As shown, each access point <b>20</b> interfaces with the central host facility <b>16</b> via the LAN <b>24</b>. The central host facility <b>16</b> also interfaces with a point-of-sale (“POS”) system <b>38</b> of the retail establishment, and with a plurality of self-checkout stations <b>40</b> via LAN <b>24</b>.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1A, the central host facility <b>16</b> is connected to the Internet and a corporate data center <b>34</b> through one or more high speed communication links <b>32</b> such as, for example, commercially available digital subscriber line (“DSL”) or high speed T1, T2 or T3 type telephone connections. Through these connections the central host facility <b>16</b> communicates with the CDC <b>34</b>, and may also communicate with other external remote servers <b>36</b> via links <b>32</b> using standard TCP/IP and other standardized communication protocols. As is discussed below, the CDC <b>34</b> stores sales and marketing content distributed to one or more retail centers such as the retail establishment <b>12</b>. The CDC <b>34</b> may also host various corporate legacy systems and databases, and comparative product information.

[0029] As is discussed below, customers entering the retail establishment <b>12</b> have the option of being issued a DSA <b>14</b>. Each DSA <b>14</b> contains a scanning unit <b>30</b> (i.e., a “scanner”) that is capable of scanning information encoded upon items available for purchase with in the retail establishment. Upon identifying an item of potential interest, the customer may use the DSA <b>14</b> to scan a machine code label or the like affixed to the item of interest and transmit the scanned product information to central host facility <b>16</b> via an access point <b>20</b> of LAN <b>24</b>. In response, host facility <b>16</b> provides information pertaining to the identified product and may also furnish information relating to similar or superior products in order to enhance “up-sell” and “cross-sell” opportunities. If a customer desires to purchase an item, the item may be similarly scanned and the corresponding product identification information provided to central host facility <b>16</b> in order to update the contents of a virtual shopping cart for the customer maintained therein. Upon finishing shopping within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, the customer proceeds to one of a number of self-checkout stations <b>40</b> distributed throughout the retail establishment <b>12</b> to checkout and otherwise render payment for the items the customer has previously selected for purchase. As part of this self-checkout process, a self-checkout station <b>40</b> accepts identification information from the customer's DSA <b>14</b> and uses this information to recall the contents of the customer's virtual shopping cart maintained by the central host facility <b>16</b>.

[0030]FIG. 2 illustratively represents a DSA <b>14</b> disposed to be used within the system <b>10</b> of the present invention. As shown, the DSA <b>14</b> includes the interactive touch display screen <b>28</b>, which is typically a conventional video display having a touch sensitive surface. The touch display screen <b>28</b> is designed to serve as both a video display and as a user input interface. A stylus <b>42</b> attached by a retractable cord <b>43</b> will also typically be provided for use in entering information into, and selecting among options presented by, the interactive touch display screen <b>28</b>.

[0031] In operation, the DSA <b>14</b> generally operates as a TCP/IP web browser which issues product selection and information requests to central host facility <b>16</b>. After receiving product-related data in response to such information requests as described above, the DSA displays hyper-text mark-up language (“HTML”) web pages to the requesting customer via an interactive touch display screen <b>28</b>. The DSA <b>14</b> may generate such requests based upon at least one of: (a) encoded product identification information read by a scanning unit <b>30</b> from labels disposed upon articles disposed within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, and (b) data input manually via interactive touch display screen <b>28</b>. Although the scanning unit <b>30</b> preferably comprises a bar code laser scanner integrated with the DSA <b>14</b>, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the scanning unit can be a radio frequency identification tag reader, a CCD bar code reader or any other type of scanning unit which can decode encoded indicia on an article.

[0032] The DSA <b>14</b> will also preferably be configured to include a number of special purpose keys <b>44</b>, <b>45</b>, <b>46</b> and <b>47</b> for directly activating various functions. For example, the DSA <b>14</b> includes a “Map” key <b>44</b> which, upon being selected, results in the touch display screen <b>28</b> presenting a map of the particular retail establishment in which the system <b>10</b> is disposed. As is discussed further below, a “Scan” key <b>45</b> is selected to initiate the scanning by the scanning unit <b>30</b> of encoded product identification labels affixed to products of interest. Selection of a “Menu” key <b>46</b> causes the display screen <b>28</b> to present a “main menu” page comprised of various menu options. Finally, a “Help” key <b>47</b> may be chosen when it desired to view a list of available help topics via display screen <b>20</b>.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 2, the DSA <b>14</b> is also typically equipped with a speaker <b>50</b> used to project information transmitted by the central host facility <b>16</b> in an audio format. For example, the speaker <b>50</b> could be used to convey information relating to store hours, sales, or general product information. An earpiece (not shown) could be offered as an option to hearing-impaired shoppers, and to all shoppers during periods of increased ambient noise.

[0034] As noted above, the DSA <b>14</b> includes a scanning unit <b>30</b> capable of scanning encoded product identification information associated with products of interest. In an exemplary embodiment the scanning unit <b>30</b> will be designed to scan one and two dimensional bar code labels such as, for example, Uniform Product Code (“UPC”) labels. The scanning unit <b>30</b> initiates scanning of such encoded product identification label within its line of sight upon selection of the Scan key <b>45</b>. In the preferred embodiment, scanning unit <b>30</b> is a laser scanning bar code reader containing a light source and an optical system. The optical system is operative to scan the light produced by the light source, to direct it to the bar code label of interest, and to direct the reflected light to a transducer. The reflected light is converted by the transducer into electrical signals with a suitable evaluating circuit and stored within a barcode input buffer <b>70</b> (FIG. 3). In alternate embodiments, the scanning unit <b>30</b> of the DSA <b>14</b> may be configured to obtain product identification information from products of interest using other techniques. For example, in one such alternate embodiment the products displayed in retail establishment <b>12</b> would each be tagged with a unique radio frequency (“RF”) emitting tag, which would be “read” by the scanning unit <b>30</b>. Moreover, in yet other embodiments the product identification information associated with a product of interest may be manually entered into DSA <b>14</b> via touch display screen <b>28</b>, thereby obviating the need for scanning unit <b>30</b>.

[0035]FIG. 3 provides a block diagrammatic representation of an exemplary internal architecture of a DSA <b>14</b>. As shown, each DSA <b>14</b> preferably includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) <b>60</b>, a memory subsystem <b>62</b>, and a wireless transceiver <b>64</b>. The memory subsystem <b>62</b> holds a copy of the operating system <b>66</b> and operations program <b>67</b> for the DSA <b>14</b>. In an exemplary embodiment, the operating system <b>66</b> comprises the Microsoft Windows CE operating system, although any appropriate operating system and permitting code reading could be used. Among other things, operations program <b>67</b> contains instructions that (when executed on CPU <b>60</b>) control (i) connection of DSA <b>14</b> to an access point <b>20</b> of LAN <b>24</b> via wireless transceiver <b>64</b>, and (ii) the sending and receiving of data to and from such access point <b>20</b>. Also included within the memory subsystem <b>62</b> are working random access memory (“RAM 68”), barcode input buffer <b>70</b>, a web browser <b>72</b> (e.g., Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer) disposed to execute on the CPU <b>60</b>, and an ActiveX interface module <b>74</b>. In addition, the DSA <b>14</b> contains an interactive display module <b>76</b> incorporating touch display screen <b>28</b>. Each of the DSAs <b>14</b> need not have this configuration, and this configuration is intended to be merely illustrative.

[0036] In operation, the web browser <b>72</b> communicates with the central host facility <b>16</b> through a wireless communication channel formed between wireless transceiver <b>64</b> and an access point <b>20</b>. In an exemplary embodiment the wireless transceiver <b>64</b> and the access point <b>20</b> communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth™ (“BT”) protocol, which is a computing and telecommunications industry specification for connectivity that is both wireless and automatic. The BT protocol is described in <i>The Specification of the Bluetooth System, </i>Version 1.1, Feb. 22, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, it will be readily appreciated that other medium to short distance data communication schemes may also be suitably employed. In the exemplary embodiment the wireless transceiver <b>64</b> may be realized using low-cost BT microchip transceiver operative at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The BT protocol contemplates that each participating device is assigned a unique 48-bit device address from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802 standard. During operation, BT devices may exchange data at a rate of up to approximately 1 megabit per second using current generation technology.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 3, the memory subsystem <b>62</b> of each DSA <b>14</b> further stores persistent client-side state information <b>84</b>, informally referred to as a “cookie”, set by the central host facility <b>16</b> upon deployment of the system <b>10</b>. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the central host facility <b>14</b> maintains a DSA database <b>116</b> (FIG. 4) in which a terminal identification number associated with each DSA <b>14</b> is stored as a function of the value of the cookie set by the central host facility within such DSA <b>14</b>. As the customer associated with a DSA <b>14</b> proceeds through the retail establishment <b>12</b> and uses its web browser <b>72</b> to make product selections and request product information in the manner described below, the central host facility <b>16</b> stores such product selections in the customer's virtual shopping cart and optionally in other associated behavioral files. During the customer's shopping session, the value of the cookie <b>84</b> within the DSA <b>14</b> transmitting such product selections and requests is made known to or requested by the central host facility <b>16</b> in connection with each such transmission. In the exemplary embodiment a customer is assigned a DSA <b>14</b> having a known terminal identification number and value of cookie <b>84</b> upon entering the retail establishment <b>12</b>, and the central host facility <b>16</b> stores the product selections and requests made by a given customer on the basis of the cookie value accompanying each such selection or request. As is discussed below, during a self-checkout process the terminal identification number of the DSA <b>14</b> assigned to a customer is read and used as an index into the above-described database table to retrieve the cookie value of such DSA. Using this cookie value, the central host facility then retrieves the contents of the virtual shopping cart associated with such customer in order to facilitate the self-checkout process.

[0038] Turning to FIG. 4, the central host facility <b>16</b> functions as a local server to the DSAs <b>14</b>, and includes a collection of standard server computer components necessary to effect this functionality. In particular, the central host facility <b>16</b> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <b>102</b> connected via bus <b>106</b> to wireless transceiver <b>108</b>, standard external network connection <b>110</b>, and memory <b>114</b> (primary and/or secondary). The central host facility <b>16</b> also may include a standard POS interface <b>112</b> (e.g., a CORBA or JCA interface) to the legacy point of sale (“POS”) system of the retail establishment <b>12</b>. In the exemplary embodiment, the central host facility <b>16</b> performs the bulk of the computation and memory storage effected within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, thereby reducing the computational, memory and power requirements of the DSA.

[0039] Memory <b>114</b> is sufficiently large to hold the necessary programming and data structures. As is described below, memory <b>114</b> contains operating system <b>115</b>, DSA database <b>116</b>, customer database <b>118</b> and product database <b>120</b>. Memory <b>114</b> also contains a network communications program <b>122</b> and a shopping program <b>126</b> which each provide instructions for execution on CPU <b>102</b>. The instructions provided by network communications program <b>122</b> facilitate connection of central host facility <b>16</b> to LAN <b>24</b> and to the Internet. Shopping program <b>126</b> provides instructions that, in response to product selections from a given DSA <b>14</b>, add selected products to the virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> associated with the DSA <b>14</b> in memory <b>114</b>. In response to requests for information concerning selected products from the DSAs <b>14</b>, the shopping program <b>126</b> causes the specified information to be retrieved from product database <b>120</b>. Similarly, the shopping program <b>126</b> directs the retrieval of product comparison information and the like from the CDC <b>34</b> via the Internet in response to other informational requests from the DSAs <b>14</b>. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the standard external network connection <b>110</b> provides a TCP/IP network connection to the Internet and the CDC <b>34</b> via conventional high-speed access lines (not shown). Memory <b>114</b> further includes a sales database <b>132</b> for recording sales transactions effected using the DSAs <b>14</b>, and a corporate database <b>134</b> for storing various comparative product information furnished from time to time by the CDC <b>34</b>.

[0040]FIG. 5A illustratively represents an exemplary data structure corresponding to product database <b>120</b>. In operation, product database <b>120</b> is queried upon receipt of an informational request from a DSA <b>14</b>, which is typically generated following scanning an item of interest and acquisition of the item's product identification information using scanning unit <b>30</b>. Product database <b>120</b> is indexed on the basis of product identification code <b>140</b>, and preferably contains information such as product name <b>142</b>, price <b>144</b>, product description <b>146</b>, availability <b>150</b> and associated special offers <b>154</b> (e.g., promotions, rebates, and tie-ins). In the exemplary embodiment the information within product database <b>120</b> may be updated using either information supplied by the CDC <b>34</b> or information entered locally at the retail establishment <b>12</b>.

[0041]FIG. 5B shows an exemplary data structure corresponding to a customer database <b>118</b>. As shown, customer database <b>118</b> is organized on the basis of customer identification number <b>162</b>, and contains information concerning customers such as name <b>164</b>, address <b>166</b>, phone number <b>168</b>, prior purchases <b>170</b>. In addition, product preference information <b>174</b> may be derived from prior purchases <b>170</b> and stated or otherwise observed preference information.

[0042]FIG. 6 provides a block diagram of an exemplary self-checkout station <b>40</b> including a self-checkout terminal <b>180</b> and attached scanning unit <b>184</b>. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the self-checkout terminal <b>180</b> is realized using standard personal computer components configured as described below and the scanning unit <b>184</b> comprises a conventional bar code scanner available from, for example, Symbol Technologies. As shown, the self-checkout terminal <b>180</b> includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) <b>186</b>, a memory subsystem <b>188</b>, standard LAN connection <b>190</b>, and user interface subsystem <b>192</b> including a touch sensitive display screen <b>194</b>. The memory subsystem <b>188</b> holds a copy of the operating system <b>196</b> and a self-checkout program <b>198</b> for the self-checkout station <b>40</b>. As is described further below, self-checkout program <b>198</b> contains instructions that, when executed on CPU <b>186</b>, effect the (1) acquisition of terminal identification information from a customer's DSA <b>14</b> via scanning unit <b>184</b>, (2) forwarding of such terminal identification information to central host facility <b>16</b>, (3) receipt from central host facility <b>16</b> of the contents of the virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> associated with the scanned terminal identification information, and (4) optional provision of such retrieved shopping cart contents to a conventional point of sale system.

[0043]FIG. 7 is a flowchart providing a general overview of exemplary operation of the portable terminal system <b>10</b>. In a step <b>220</b>, a customer enters the retail establishment <b>12</b>. Upon entry, the customer is provided with or retrieves a DSA <b>14</b> from one of a plurality of slots within a storage rack <b>22</b> (step <b>222</b>). If the customer has been assigned a unique customer ID code (described below), then when prompted by the operations program <b>67</b> the customer may enter this code or instead opt for an anonymous shopping session (step <b>226</b>). If the customer enters such an ID code, the interactive touch display screen <b>28</b> displays a welcome message tailored to the customer's preferences. In addition, the marketing information provided to the customer via the DSA <b>14</b> will be selected as described below based upon preferences of the customer discerned from both the current and previous shopping sessions (step <b>230</b>).

[0044] While shopping within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, the customer may encounter items of interest and desire to obtain additional information. In step <b>234</b>, the customer uses the DSA <b>14</b> to scan such an item and thereby acquire the item's product identification information. The identification information is then transmitted by the wireless transceiver <b>64</b> of DSA <b>14</b> to central host facility <b>16</b> via an access point <b>20</b> of LAN <b>24</b> (step <b>236</b>). In response, the shopping program <b>126</b> uses the received product identification information as a key into product database <b>20</b> and retrieves relevant product information. The shopping program <b>126</b> may also retrieve information within product database <b>120</b> corresponding to products similar to the product identified by the product identification information. All such product information is then transmitted to the requesting DSA via an access point <b>20</b> of LAN <b>24</b> and displayed by web browser <b>72</b> on touch display screen <b>28</b> (step <b>240</b>).

[0045] Upon deciding to purchase an item, the customer similarly scans the item using the DSA <b>14</b> (step <b>244</b>). The acquired product identification information is then similarly transmitted by the DSA <b>14</b> to central host facility <b>16</b> (step <b>246</b>). Upon receipt of this product identification information at the central host facility <b>16</b>, in step <b>250</b> the shopping program <b>126</b> adds the identified product to the appropriate virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> (i.e., to the virtual shopping cart identified by the cookie value associated with the web browser <b>72</b> of the transmitting DSA <b>14</b>).

[0046] At the conclusion of the customer's shopping session within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, the customer proceeds to a self-checkout station <b>40</b> and selects a “self-checkout” option presented by the display screen <b>194</b> of the self-checkout terminal <b>180</b> of the station <b>40</b>. The customer is then prompted via the display screen <b>194</b> to use the scanning unit <b>184</b> of station <b>40</b> to read the terminal identifier affixed to the customer's DSA <b>14</b> (step <b>254</b>). This terminal identifier is provided to the shopping program <b>126</b> within central host facility <b>16</b>, which retrieves the cookie value corresponding to the web browser <b>72</b> of the customer's DSA <b>14</b> from DSA database <b>116</b>. This enables identification of the file corresponding to the customer's virtual shopping cart <b>128</b>, which as described above is stored as a function of this retrieved cookie value (step <b>256</b>). In step <b>258</b>, the contents of the customer's virtual shopping cart associated with this cookie value are provided to the requesting self-checkout station <b>40</b> and listed on its screen <b>194</b>. The customer is then prompted via screen <b>194</b> for purchasing approval, and is given the option of rendering payment at the self-checkout station <b>40</b> or at a POS terminal <b>39</b> within the POS system <b>38</b>. In the former case, the customer swipes a credit or debit card through a card reader <b>202</b> of the self-checkout station <b>40</b> and receives a printed receipt (step <b>260</b>). If the customer elects to pay for all or part of the selected items at a POS terminal <b>39</b>, the customer would present any printed receipt obtained from the station <b>40</b> at the POS terminal <b>39</b>. Any items desired to be purchased by the customer which are not listed on the receipt could then be paid for at a POS terminal <b>39</b> using conventional means (step <b>264</b>).

[0047] In an alternate embodiment the customer could proceed directly to a POS terminal <b>39</b> upon concluding shopping, at which point the customer's DSA <b>14</b> would be scanned as described above and the contents of the associated virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> would be downloaded directly to the POS terminal <b>39</b> and paid for using conventional means. In any event, a record of the purchases actually made by the customer either via the self-checkout station <b>40</b> and/or the POS terminal <b>39</b> are provided to the central host facility <b>16</b> and used by the shopping program <b>126</b> to update the customer's file maintained within customer database <b>118</b> (step <b>268</b>).

[0048] Subsequent to rendering payment for purchased items at one or both of a self-checkout station <b>40</b> and a POS terminal <b>39</b>, the customer returns the assigned DSA <b>14</b> to a cradle within storage rack <b>22</b> (step <b>272</b>). As is described in further detail below, a cradle interface <b>52</b> (FIG. 2) of the DSA <b>14</b> detects this placement within storage rack <b>22</b>, which results in termination of the customer shopping session. In particular, the DSA <b>14</b> transmits a message to the central host facility <b>16</b> via an access point <b>20</b> notifying it of termination of the customer's shopping session (step <b>274</b>). In response, the shopping program <b>126</b> clears the applicable virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> and forwards a “welcome” page of the retail establishment <b>12</b> for display by the DSA <b>14</b> (step <b>276</b>). In the event the customer abandons a shopping session prior to purchasing products, steps <b>274</b> and <b>276</b> would nonetheless be performed upon return of the DSA <b>14</b> to the storage rack <b>22</b>.

[0049]FIG. 8 is a flowchart providing a more detailed representation of an exemplary self-checkout process occurring at a self-checkout station <b>40</b>. When not being utilized by a customer, the touch display screen <b>194</b> of the self-checkout terminal <b>180</b> at each self-checkout station <b>40</b> displays a welcome menu presenting a variety of options (step <b>302</b>). In the exemplary embodiment these options include self-checkout <b>306</b>, product information <b>308</b> and a link to the main web page <b>310</b> for the retail establishment <b>12</b> or a related entity. Upon selecting the product information option <b>308</b> presented by the interactive touch display screen <b>194</b>, the customer is prompted via display screen <b>194</b> to use the scanning unit <b>184</b> of station <b>40</b> to read the product identification code affixed to the item of interest (step <b>312</b>). Information concerning the scanned item of interest is then retrieved from product database <b>120</b> within the central host facility <b>16</b> and presented to the customer via display screen <b>194</b> (step <b>314</b>) and optionally printed (step <b>316</b>). Upon selecting the link <b>310</b>, the customer is connected to the web site for the retail establishment <b>12</b> or related corporate entity and may then interact with such site in a conventional manner (step <b>320</b>).

[0050] As was generally described above with reference to FIG. 7, upon selecting the self-checkout option <b>306</b> presented by the touch display screen <b>194</b>, the customer is prompted via screen <b>194</b> to use the scanning unit <b>184</b> of station <b>40</b> to read the terminal identifier affixed to the customer's DSA <b>14</b> (step <b>344</b> of FIG. 8). As was also mentioned above, this permits the contents of the customer's virtual shopping cart to be provided to the requesting self-checkout station <b>40</b> and listed on the customer's purchase list displayed on screen <b>194</b> (step <b>348</b>). To the extent the customer desires to purchase additional items not previously scanned via the customer's DSA <b>14</b> and recorded in the customer's virtual shopping cart, the customer may utilize the scanning unit <b>184</b> of the self-checkout station <b>40</b> to acquire the product identification codes of any such additional items (step <b>350</b>). These additional items are then added to the customer's purchase list displayed upon screen <b>194</b> (step <b>352</b>).

[0051] As indicated by FIG. 8, in step <b>356</b> the customer is prompted to select any of various optional services (e.g., delivery, warranty) desired to be applicable to the items identified in the completed purchase list. Upon approving the completed purchase list and optional services (step <b>358</b>), the customer slides a credit or debit card through card reader <b>202</b> (step <b>362</b>) in connection with rendering payment for the items identified in the purchase list. Alternatively, the customer may select from among other financing options presented via display screen <b>194</b>. In step <b>364</b>, a receipt is printed at the self-checkout station <b>40</b> or at a POS terminal <b>39</b> as described above. Once the receipt is printed, a “thank you” message is displayed by screen <b>194</b> (step <b>368</b>) and the customer may proceed to exit the retail establishment <b>12</b> through a dedicated lane (step <b>376</b>). If the customer has not previously purchased items from retail establishment <b>12</b>, the receipt printed for customer (step <b>364</b>) will preferably include a unique ID assigned to the customer. During the customer's next visit to the retail establishment <b>12</b> and as was described above with reference to FIG. 7, the customer may opt to shop anonymously or to enter this unique customer ID into the DSA <b>14</b> assigned to the customer at that time. Upon completion of the customer's interaction with the self-checkout station <b>40</b>, a list of the items actually purchased by the customer is (unless the customer has opted for an anonymous shopping session) transmitted to the central host facility <b>16</b> and stored within the file in customer database <b>118</b> associated with the customer.

[0052] As was mentioned above, upon exiting the retail establishment <b>12</b> (step <b>376</b>), the customer will return the DSA <b>14</b> assigned to customer to a cradle or the like within storage rack <b>22</b> for recharging. This placement within storage rack <b>22</b> is detected by the cradle interface <b>52</b> of the DSA <b>14</b>, which provides a detection signal to the ActiveX interface module <b>74</b>. In response, the ActiveX interface module <b>74</b> assembles an HTTP POST message for transmission to the central host facility <b>16</b>. This message notifies the central host facility <b>16</b> of the termination of the customer's shopping session, and specifies a main HTML frame provided by the web browser <b>72</b> of the DSA <b>14</b> as the HTTP response target. In response, the shopping program <b>126</b> within the central host facility <b>16</b> clears the associated virtual shopping cart <b>128</b>, and responds to the HTTP POST with the “welcome page” of the retail establishment <b>12</b> at the specified main HTML frame. This process ensures that the web browser <b>72</b> of the returned DSA <b>14</b> will display such “welcome page” to a new customer subsequently assigned to the DSA <b>14</b>, and the associated virtual shopping cart <b>128</b> will be empty upon initiation of a new shopping session.

[0053]FIG. 9 is a flowchart providing a more detailed representation of one manner in which the system <b>10</b> may provide relevant product information to customers within retail establishment <b>12</b>. In step <b>402</b>, the customer instructs DSA <b>14</b> to scan the product identification code affixed to an item of interest. In the exemplary embodiment the customer provides this instruction by depressing scan key <b>45</b>, although the instruction could also be provided through other conventional techniques (e.g., by choosing an option on a menu generated by web browser <b>72</b> and displayed by interactive touch screen <b>28</b>). In response to the instruction, operations program <b>67</b> causes scanning unit <b>30</b> to scan the item of interest and store the scanned code within input buffer <b>70</b>. The operations program <b>67</b> may then prompt the customer via interactive display <b>28</b> as to the type of information that is desired to be obtained (step <b>406</b>). For example, if the customer requests information of a type stored within product database <b>120</b>, then operations program <b>67</b> issues a request for such information from the central host facility <b>16</b> using the scanned code as an index into product database <b>120</b> (step <b>408</b>). The central host facility <b>16</b> then provides this information to the interactive touch display screen <b>28</b> (step <b>410</b>) for display to the customer. This information may include, for example, price, product description, links or references to compatible products, and product availability information. The content of the information provided to the customer during the preceding operation may also be influenced by the nature of the product selections currently maintained with the customer's virtual shopping cart <b>128</b>, as well as by the selections made by the customer during prior shopping sessions (to the extent the customer has elected to be identified by the customer ID assigned during an initial one of such prior sessions).

[0054] If, on the other hand, the customer requests product comparison or the like, then the operations program <b>67</b> causes a request for such information to be transmitted to the central host facility <b>16</b> along with the scanned code (step <b>412</b>). Within the central host facility <b>16</b>, shopping program <b>126</b> may retrieve the retrieve the requested comparative information from within corporate database <b>134</b>. In other embodiments the shopping program <b>126</b> may instead retrieve a corresponding URL from corporate database <b>134</b> and a product name or the like from within product database <b>120</b>. The central host facility <b>16</b> may then transmit a request for information to the external server <b>36</b> corresponding to the retrieved URL, with the retrieved product name serving as an argument to the URL (step <b>414</b>). In yet another embodiment, the central host facility could issue an XML-based request to the CDC <b>34</b>, which would then transmit a similar request to the external server <b>36</b> or retrieve the requested information from a previously aggregated product information database <b>622</b>. In the case where the request is issued to an external server <b>36</b> by either the central host facility <b>16</b> or CDC <b>34</b>, the external server <b>36</b> provides the requested comparative information to the requesting entity for forwarding to the applicable DSA <b>14</b>. As an example, if the retrieved URL identifies a web site hosted by the external server <b>36</b> that is devoted to providing product comparison information, then the site would provide comparative information on products related to the retrieved product name (i.e., the argument to the retrieved URL) to the central host facility <b>16</b> or CDC <b>34</b>. Upon receipt at the DSA <b>14</b> of such comparative information from the central host facility <b>16</b>, the operations program <b>67</b> causes the comparative information to be displayed by the web browser <b>72</b> via interactive touch display screen <b>28</b> (step <b>418</b>).

[0055] In order to facilitate the concurrent display of multiple types of information via the interactive touch display screen <b>28</b>, the ActiveX interface module <b>74</b> may be disposed within memory subsystem <b>62</b> of the DSA <b>14</b>. In general, the interface module <b>74</b> monitors the activity of at least two of the elements of the DSA <b>14</b> responsive to the external environment, i.e., the scanning unit <b>30</b> and the cradle interface <b>52</b>. One exemplary function of the ActiveX interface module <b>74</b> is to ensure that the customer is provided some indication of the activity of the scanning module, irrespective of the nature of any other information being provided to the customer via web browser <b>72</b>. For example, it may be desired that the customer be informed that the scanning unit <b>30</b> is actively scanning a product or item of interest even while the customer is viewing other information via web browser <b>72</b>. This ActiveX interface module <b>74</b> effects this functionality by managing a process thread operative to detect read operations of the scanning unit <b>30</b>. Upon detecting such a read operation, the ActiveX interface module <b>74</b> assembles an HTTP POST request for transmission to the central host facility <b>16</b>. This request passes the product identification code acquired by the scanning unit <b>30</b> and identifies a main HTML frame provided by the web browser <b>72</b> of the DSA <b>14</b> as the HTTP response target. The central host facility responds by retrieving product information from product database <b>120</b> as described above with reference to FIG. 9, and returning the retrieved product information to the specified target HTML frame. The retrieved product information may be formatted as static content, or instead may comprise dynamic streaming media. In addition, the web browser <b>72</b> may generate additional display windows in order to present related promotional opportunities.

[0056]FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting the processing associated with the dedicated keys of the DSA <b>14</b>. As mentioned above, a customer may select from among the Map key <b>44</b>, the Scan key <b>45</b>, the Menu key <b>46</b> and the Help key <b>47</b> upon being assigned a DSA <b>14</b> (step <b>500</b>). Upon selecting the Map key (step <b>502</b>), a map of the retail establishment <b>12</b> is presented on the display screen <b>28</b> (step <b>504</b>). In an exemplary embodiment each store department within the establishment <b>12</b> is labeled, and the display <b>28</b> may be adjusted to focus upon particular areas (step <b>506</b>). When the Scan key <b>45</b> is selected with an item of interest proximate scanning unit <b>30</b> (step <b>508</b>), the web browser <b>72</b> (via display <b>28</b>) presents information specific to the item and a list of menu options which may be selected in order to obtain additional information (step <b>510</b>). An exemplary list (<b>512</b>) of such item-specific information and menu options is depicted in FIG. 10.

[0057] As is shown by FIG. 10, selection of the Menu key <b>46</b> (step <b>516</b>) causes web browser <b>72</b> to display a “main menu” page comprised of various menu options (step <b>518</b>). In an exemplary embodiment the main menu page includes a list of promotions or “specials” currently available within the retail establishment <b>12</b>, a browse/search option, a shopping list option, and a “wish list” option (step <b>520</b>). Selection of the browse/search option prompts the user to enter a search term identifying a product of interest. In turn, the DSA <b>14</b> queries the product database <b>120</b> and displays any available returned information via display <b>28</b>.

[0058] Upon selection of the Help key (step <b>526</b>), a list of available help topics is presented via display <b>28</b> (step <b>528</b>). In particular, this list may include a search field and a specific list of topics (e.g., “Tech Advice”, “Services”, “How to use DSA”) for which additional information is available (step <b>532</b>). In the exemplary embodiment selection of any of these topics, or entry of a term within the search field, causes the DSA <b>14</b> to query the memory <b>114</b> of central host facility <b>16</b>. In response, the host facility <b>16</b> returns the requested information to the DSA <b>14</b> for presentation via display <b>28</b>. Alternatively, certain of the information relating to the displayed list of help topics (step <b>532</b>) may be stored within memory <b>62</b> of the DSA <b>14</b>.

[0059] Turning now to FIG. 11, the CDC <b>34</b> serves marketing, sales and other product-related information to the central host facilities of one or more related retail facilities (e.g., central host facility <b>16</b> of retail establishment <b>12</b>), and includes a collection of standard server computer components necessary to effect this functionality. In particular, the central CDC <b>34</b> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <b>602</b> connected via bus <b>606</b> to standard external network connection <b>610</b>, and memory <b>614</b> (primary and/or secondary). The CDC <b>34</b> also may include a standard POS interface <b>616</b> to the legacy point of sale (“POS”) system of the retail establishment <b>12</b>.

[0060] Memory <b>614</b> contains operating system <b>620</b>, a product information database <b>622</b> and a sales/marketing database. Memory <b>114</b> also contains a network communications program <b>630</b> and a CDC operations program <b>632</b> which each provide instructions for execution on CPU <b>602</b>. The instructions provided by network communications program <b>630</b> facilitate connection of the CDC <b>34</b> to the Internet and to central host facility <b>16</b>.

[0061] During operation of the system <b>10</b>, the CDC operations program <b>632</b> compiles the information within the product information database <b>622</b> by procuring product-related information from the web sites of associated vendors hosted by external servers <b>36</b>. Additional such information may also of course be manually entered into the product information database <b>622</b>. In one exemplary embodiment, the CDC operations program <b>632</b> replicates the information stored in the product information database <b>622</b> within the product database <b>120</b> of the central host facility <b>16</b>. To the extent the central host facility <b>16</b> requests product-related information from the CDC <b>34</b> not contained within the host facility's product database <b>120</b>, the CDC operations program <b>632</b> causes the specified information to be retrieved from product information database <b>622</b> or the applicable external server <b>36</b> and forwarded to the host facility <b>16</b>. The CDC operations program <b>632</b> also records, within sales/marketing database <b>626</b>, the product sales and customer preference information originally stored within the databases of the central host facility <b>16</b> (e.g., customer database <b>118</b> and sales database <b>132</b>) and those of other retail establishments.

[0062] The CDC operations program <b>632</b> is also disposed to utilize information within the sales/marketing database <b>626</b> in implementing marketing and sales strategies and initiatives developed for the retail establishment <b>12</b> and other retail facilities. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, this enables marketing and sales initiatives to be personalized based upon customer preferences and purchasing trends. For example, products related to those items selected or investigated by a customer during a given shopping session can be recommended to the customer at the conclusion of the current shopping session (prior to checkout). Similar recommendations of product models of higher quality or price can also be made during the same shopping session on the basis of items selected earlier. This capability to offer customers “cross-sell” and “up-sell” opportunities during the same shopping session is not known to be offered by prior systems, which typically do not contemplate updating of customer preferences until after checkout has occurred. Moreover, different marketing and sales campaigns defined for retail establishments within different regions may be developed at, and deployed from, the single location of the CDC <b>34</b>.

[0063] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. In other instances, well-known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessary distraction from the underlying invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following Claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.