DE102015111659A1 - Method and arrangement for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method (500) and an arrangement (100) for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, which can reduce personnel costs and / or material costs without increasing the risk of theft or discomfort for customers, • current item data ( 222), which comprise a current position of a customer (405, 407) over time, continuously determined by a carried by the customer, mobile data peripheral device (102), • the determined position data is continuously transmitted to a central control unit (104), • is from the central control unit determines, at least from the position data, a control variable (327) for controlling a check of actual purchases (101) of the customer, the control variable is transmitted to at least one data peripheral device (108, 109) available to at least one member of the store by the control quantity one of the at least one member of the Store to be undertaken to check the purchase process on the at least one data available to the dependents data peripheral device (108, 109) by type and / or scope.

Description

The invention relates to a method for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase process in a retail store. The invention further relates to an arrangement for carrying out this method. Further, the invention relates to a mobile data peripheral device to be carried by a store customer, a central control unit, and a data peripheral device available to at least one store user, all of which are adapted for use in such an arrangement. Finally, the invention also relates to a computer program product, a machine-readable, in particular computer-readable, data structure and a machine-readable, in particular computer-readable, data carrier with program parts for carrying out the method.

State of the art

Retailers, especially in self-service shops in the food trade, use checkout systems and methods for their use which involve reading a product code, spread in the form of a bar code, products selected by a customer for purchase, and a checkout process by cashiers at a cash register Store is performed. In such methods, it is usually necessary that the customer puts all products to be purchased on a cash register tape and the bar code individually read by the cashier - d. H. scanned - will. After completing reading the product codes of all products selected by the customer for purchase, the payment process takes place.

This procedure causes the retailers corresponding material costs for the acquisition of the cash register systems and personnel costs for the import and payment process. These costs can not be flexibly adjusted to the same scale as the number of customers over time, e.g. B. the time of day or an opening time of the store, varies. For example, during periods of high customer demand, long queues may form in front of the cash register because of insufficient staff and / or funds available. The formation of these queues leads to inconvenience for the customers, which can ultimately cause loss of revenue. On the other hand, it may happen, for example, that during periods of low customer traffic, the available funds are not utilized, ie. H. In these times, the corresponding material and possibly personnel costs are not matched by any turnover, so that the profitability of the trading company deteriorates.

In order to meet the challenge, especially of insufficiently variable personnel costs, retailers use procedures whereby the customer himself reads the product identifiers of the products to be purchased into the cash register system and pays them at a self-service checkout. Although this still results in the disadvantage that incurred for the purchase of the cash register system material costs that can not be flexibly adapted to the same extent as the number of customers fluctuates, but the staff costs for monitoring the self-service funds in these procedures can be better adapted to customer demand as with a staff-operated POS system. In practice, however, there is an increasing risk of theft with a reduction in personnel costs for monitoring the self-service funds, which can not be counteracted with the desired effectiveness even with an essentially random, random checking of the customers by the available personnel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Problem, Solution, Advantages

The object of the invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, by means of which personnel and / or material costs can be reduced without increasing the risk of theft or inconvenience for the customers.

• • aktuelle Positionsdaten, die eine aktuelle Position eines Kunden über der Zeit beinhalten, insbesondere eine aktuelle Position innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts, durch ein vom Kunden mitgeführtes, insbesondere im Ladengeschäft mitgeführtes, mobiles Datenperipheriegerät, insbesondere Mobiltelefon, bevorzugt Smartphone, laufend ermittelt werden,
• • die ermittelten Positionsdaten laufend an eine zentrale Steuereinheit übertragen werden, insbesondere abhängig von der aktuellen Position, bevorzugt nur bei einer aktuellen Position innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts,
• • von der zentralen Steuereinheit wenigstens aus den Positionsdaten eine Steuergröße für eine Steuerung einer Überprüfung tatsächlicher Einkäufe des Kunden bestimmt, insbesondere laufend bestimmt, wird,
• • die Steuergröße an wenigstens ein wenigstens einem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbares Datenperipheriegerät übertragen, insbesondere laufend übertragen, wird,
• • durch die Steuergröße eine vom wenigstens einen Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts vorzunehmende Überprüfung des Kaufvorgangs über das wenigstens eine dem Angehörigen verfügbare Datenperipheriegerät nach Art und/oder Umfang bestimmt wird.

This object is achieved by a method for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, wherein

• Current position data, which contain a current position of a customer over time, in particular a current position within the store, by a carried by the customer, especially in the store entrained, mobile data peripheral device, in particular mobile phone, preferably smart phone, are determined continuously,
• The determined position data are continuously transmitted to a central control unit, in particular depending on the current position, preferably only at a current position within the store,
• • determines from the central control unit at least from the position data a control variable for a control of a check of actual purchases of the customer, in particular continuously determined,
• Transfer the control variable to at least one data peripheral device available to at least one member of the store, in particular to transmit it on a continuous basis,
• • By the control variable to be carried out by the at least one member of the store business review of the purchase process on the at least one data available to the dependents data peripheral device by type and / or scope is determined.

• • Auswählen des Einkaufs, wozu insbesondere ein Aufsuchen, d. h. Betreten, des Ladengeschäfts durch den Kunden und darin der Bereiche, in denen einzukaufende, d. h. zum Kauf ausgewählte bzw. auszuwählende, Produkte bereitliegen, sowie der Vorgang des Auswählens und/oder Entscheidens zum Kauf zählen;
• • Tätigen des Einkaufs, wozu ein Ansichnehmen der zum Kauf ausgewählten Produkte, die damit zum tatsächlichen Einkauf des Kunden werden, sowie bevorzugt ein Verbringen dieses tatsächlichen Einkaufs in einen physischen Warenkorb zählen, d. h. insbesondere ein Entnehmen der zum Kauf ausgewählten Produkte z. B. aus einem Warenregal des Ladengeschäfts und ein Verbringen der Produkte in den Einkaufswagen des Kunden;
• • Bezahlen.

In this case, the purchase process in the meaning of this term used in connection with the present invention comprises the steps

• • selecting the purchase, including, but not limited to, visiting, ie entering, the store by the customer and therein the areas in which products to be purchased, that is to say selected or selected, are available for purchase and the process of selecting and / or deciding to buy ;
• • Making the shopping, including taking the products selected for purchase, which are thus the actual purchase of the customer, and preferably a transfer of this actual shopping in a physical shopping cart, ie in particular a removal of the products selected for purchase z. B. from a shelf of the store and a transfer of the products in the shopping cart of the customer;
• • Pay.

All these steps are monitored and / or controlled by the method according to the invention.

The position data determined by the mobile data peripheral device entrained by the customer, in particular in the shop, comprises the respective current position, ie. H. Location coordinates, the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer, and the time at which that location is determined; d. H. was taken by the customer carried, mobile data peripheral device. For the sake of simplicity, this position or these position data is always understood below as the position data of the customer since it is assumed that the customer carries the mobile data peripheral device continuously. Thus, if in the following only the term position or position of the customer is mentioned, this always describes the position of the customer, which was determined as the position of the customer carried along, in particular in the store, mobile data peripheral device, also referred to as a customer peripheral device it is assumed that the customer carries it permanently.

To determine the position, d. H. Location coordinates, carried by the customer, mobile Datenperipheriegeräts different methods and facilities are available, preferably those that are known per se under the collective term of building navigation. Preferred examples are the so-called sensor analysis, the triangulation, the multilateration or the calculation of the proximity of a signal transmitter. A satellite-based location, z. B. with the so-called "Global Positioning System" - short: GPS - is not applicable within buildings and is therefore not preferred for use with the inventive method.

The sensor analysis is a method, which is described in more detail below in connection with the exemplary embodiments and distributed to a signal strength measurement of signals in the store Distributed transceiver stations - so-called "WLAN access points" - a so-called "Wireless Local Area Networks" , in short: WLAN, and / or transmitting / receiving units, which work with the so-called "Bluetooth" technology and accordingly emit "Bluetooth" signals is based. This is combined to increase the accuracy of the position determination with an evaluation of sensors that are provided in the customer peripheral device - especially in many mobile phones, preferably in smart phones. These are preferably one or more acceleration sensors, spin sensors and / or magnetometers, d. H. electronic compasses.

The triangulation and the multilateration are also applicable for the position determination in closed rooms and thus here in particular within a shop. Since with them, however, signal disturbing objects, such. As walls, shelves and the like, which can cause a corruption of the position determination, are not taken into account, is to expect when using these methods with larger errors, which is why they are less preferred here.

The calculation of the position based on the proximity or presence of a signal transmitter, also referred to as a "proximity approach", is the simplest and most preferred solution. Here, the detection of a particular signal transmitter is used with a certain signal strength. In one Example is the signal strength of "Bluetooth" signals that are sent by a so-called iBeacon, ie a certain form of installed at an entrance of the store radio beacon, as described in a related entry in the Internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia" - see. the internet appearance " http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/iBeacon ", Read on 12.06.2015 at 13:24 - is measured by the customer peripheral device with a specific signal strength and identified. From this it can be concluded that the customer occupies a position near the entrance or that he enters the store. The measuring tolerance for this position determination, however, with more than 10 meters is not sufficient for monitoring the payment process. Therefore, preference is given to a combination of different measuring methods.

The continuous determination of the position data means that they are repeatedly determined in a predetermined time sequence, d. H. in a predetermined time rhythm, in particular recurring periodically, wherein the determination preferably takes place in such short time intervals between the individual times at which the positions are determined, that a complete tracking of locations and times, d. H. Length of stay of the customer at certain positions, taking into account his speed of movement, especially in the store, is possible. These whereabouts and durations of the customer result directly from the time sequence of position data, ie. H. in the sequence in which they are detected.

As a store, in the context of the present invention, any type of sales or distribution facility is described in which products for sale to customers are made available for inspection and / or selection. In particular, such devices are described with self-service.

The customer peripheral device is used for the input / output of data by the customer. As such a peripheral device is preferably a mobile phone, particularly preferably a so-called smartphone, which is equipped with a device for position determination and for data transmission. This device is to be designed in such a way that thereby determining the position by means of known devices and methods of interior navigation, d. H. Building navigation is enabled.

The determined position data are continuously, d. H. preferably repeated in the predetermined time sequence in which they are determined, d. H. in a predetermined time rhythm, in particular recurring periodically transmitted to the designated as the central computer central control unit. This transmission can be made in particular depending on the current position. Preferably, the transfer takes place only at a current position within the store since it is only of importance for monitoring and controlling the purchase. This way, data traffic required for transmission can be kept to a minimum.

The central computer determined from the transmitted to him position data and possibly other data, which will be described below, for each customer individually also known as the trust index, in short: V-index, control variable. The determination of the control variable from the determined and transmitted position data is in particular repeated continuously, preferably in the predetermined time sequence, in which the position data are determined and / or transmitted, d. H. in the predetermined time rhythm, in particular periodically recurring made. The control quantity serves to control a check of the actual purchase of the customer, d. H. the totality of the purchase currently selected and made by him, that is, the totality of the products that he physically holds, eg. B. has placed in a shopping cart or shopping cart. This set is also called a physical basket. The tax quantity is a measure of a current trustworthiness of the individual customer, d. H. a measure of the need to review this customer's current, actual shopping - his physical shopping cart. Preferably, the customer's trustworthiness is greater, and therefore the greater the size of the tax variable-the V-index-the smaller the need to check the customer's actual purchase.

The control variable is transmitted from the central control unit - the central computer - to at least one data peripheral device which is available to at least one member of the shop. Preferably, this transmission is also carried out continuously in the above-described sense, particularly preferably in the same time rhythm as the determination of the position data, so that the relatives of the shop always updated data are provided. As a member of the store is understood here in the broadest sense, every person who is entrusted in any way in the service and / or order of a holder of the store standing in any way with a review of the purchase process, ie in addition to the owner or dealer himself, any member of the staff, any employee, any supervisor, any cashier, packer, security guard, detective or the like. The at least one of the at least one member of the store available data peripheral device, hereinafter also referred to as dealer peripheral device, both as the customer peripheral device can be configured as a mobile unit and is then also referred to as Personalperipheriegerät, or it is stationary in the store arranged, z. In a checkout area of the store or in a, preferably immediate, environment of that checkout area, a supervisor room, or the like, and is then also referred to as a control peripheral. This merchant peripheral device, both in the configuration as a personal peripheral device and as a control peripheral device, serves the input and / or output of data by or to the members of the shop.

The current value of the control variable continuously transmitted by the central computer to the at least one merchant peripheral device controls there the check of the purchase process to be carried out by the store user via this merchant peripheral device by outputting and / or determining specific displays or signals from the merchant peripheral device depending on this current value of the control variable Entries are required to respond to the member of the store or he has to enter on this dealer's peripheral device to perform the review and prefers to finally confirm. This controls the type and / or scope of the review. So can be determined by the control size as the type of review, whether z. B. the actual purchase of the customer is to check or whether the payment should be controlled. As a scope of review z. For example, it may be specified whether the actual purchase should undergo only a superficial visual inspection or a thorough, detailed follow-up inspection. Also, the type of payment can be specified, for. For example, if the customer has to pay by cash or cash at a checkout or if he has to pay, d. H. the payment process, electronically on his customer peripheral device can handle or may.

The invention allows the customer a simple, fast and comfortable completion of the purchase process completely self-service method including payment. Checks of his purchase process are kept to a minimum. The owner of the store or trading company, the inventive method allows an effective reduction of the effort, in particular personnel costs, for carrying out the monitoring of the purchase of his customers and the execution of the payment transactions, coupled with a reduction or containment of the theft risk. This is achieved by the possibility of the current, for each customer individually determined V-index very precisely and specifically the general theft risk of certain products or product groups on the one hand and an individual buying behavior, d. H. On the other hand, to adapt to an individual, current order of the purchase process of the customer, so that monitoring and review can be made more targeted and effective.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• • wird ein vom Kunden getätigter tatsächlicher Einkauf von dem vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführten, mobilen Datenperipheriegerät als registrierter Einkauf erfasst und zusätzlich an die zentrale Steuereinheit übertragen,
• • wird die Steuergröße von der zentralen Steuereinheit für eine Steuerung eines Abgleichs des tatsächlichen Einkaufs des Kunden mit dem registrierten Einkauf ermittelt, erfolgt wahlweise diese Ermittlung zusätzlich auf Grundlage des registrierten Einkaufs,
• • wird zusätzlich zur Steuergröße auch der registrierte Einkauf des Kunden an das wenigstens eine dem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbare Datenperipheriegerät übertragen und zum Abgleich des tatsächlichen Einkaufs des Kunden mit dem registrierten Einkauf bereitgestellt.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention

• • an actual purchase made by the customer is recorded as a registered purchase by the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer in the store and additionally transmitted to the central control unit,
• If the control variable is determined by the central control unit for a control of a comparison of the actual purchase of the customer with the registered purchase, this determination is optionally made on the basis of the registered purchase,
• In addition to the control variable, the registered purchase of the customer is also transmitted to the at least one data peripheral device available to the customer of the shop and provided for matching the actual purchase of the customer with the registered purchase.

The customer's actual purchase, d. H. the physical shopping cart of the customer and thus the products which the customer in the shop z. B. removes from the goods shelf and spends in his shopping cart is detected by the customer peripheral device and referred to by this registration for registered shopping, as a digital shopping cart. The purchase process thus additionally includes the process of registering the purchase in the digital shopping cart. This registered purchase is additionally transmitted to the central computer in the described embodiment of the invention.

In the central computer, the V-index, which is intended to control the customer's actual purchases, is now specifically determined to control the reconciliation of the actual purchase - the physical shopping cart - of the customer with the registered purchase - the digital shopping cart - enabled and made. This adjustment can now directly on the merchant peripheral device, ie directly at the position of the customer to be performed by members of the store, that in addition to the V-index and the registered purchase of the customer transferred to the merchant peripheral device and provided for matching the actual purchase of the customer with the registered purchase.

Optionally, the determination of the control variable in the central computer also takes place additionally on the basis of the registered purchase, ie. H. the current value of the tax code is determined by the products of the registered purchase. This can be done in different ways. So z. For example, the current value of the control variable may be increased and thus signaled that the need for a review is reduced if only products have entered the registered purchasing department for which e.g. B. is given only a small theft risk. On the other hand, for. B. a determined from the position data for the current purchase of residence of the customer at a position within the store, at the and / or in the immediate vicinity are to a greater extent theft-sensitive products, with identical registered purchase to a significant reduction in the control variable and thus lead to a signaling to the member of the store that this customer is to be checked.

• • einen vom Kunden geplanten Einkauf, gespeichert im vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführten, mobilen Datenperipheriegerät,
• • eine Kundenkennung zum Identifizieren des Kunden,
• • eine Bezahlung des Einkaufs.

A further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that from the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer in the store to the central control unit additionally optionally further data are transmitted concerning

• A customer-planned purchase stored in the mobile data peripheral device carried by the store customer;
• A customer identifier for identifying the customer,
• • a payment for the purchase.

These data can be transmitted individually or in any combination. Scheduled Purchasing, also known as a shopping list, is a collection of products to be selected by the customer for the current purchase on its customer peripheral that is intended to facilitate and speed up the process of selecting it. The evaluation of the planned purchase, in particular a deviation of the planned purchase compared to the registered purchase or a deviation of the recorded whereabouts, d. H. Positions, the customer in the store of places or areas within the store, where and / or in the immediate vicinity of the listed in the planned purchase products are, a change in the current value of the tax variable, here z. As a reduction of this value, the result.

The transmission of the - individual - customer identifier of the customer to the central computer serves to identify the customer, in particular for a customer who repeatedly visits the retail store, and is used for the individual determination of the V-index. In addition, it must be ensured during the current purchase process that all collected and determined data is assigned to the right customer. Such a customer identifier may be provided with characteristics sent by the customer peripheral device, e.g. As a telephone number to be formed. Other ways of training a customer identifier are that the customer z. B. logs on a website of the retail company and register and then receives a special, solid customer identifier assigned, or that the customer is a unique device identifier of his Kundenperipheriegeräts, especially mobile phones, preferably smartphones, also referred to as UDID identified.

In particular, the data relating to payment will include information on a method of payment, ie. H. whether a payment z. B. by credit card or via the customer peripheral device, details of the payment amount or other characteristics that are needed to process the payment transferred.

• • eine Übertragung von die Bezahlung betreffenden Daten von dem vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführten, mobilen Datenperipheriegerät an den Zentralrechner abhängig von der aktuellen Position ermöglicht wird oder gesperrt ist, insbesondere, dass die Übertragung nur ermöglicht wird, wenn sich das vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführte, mobile Datenperipheriegerät in einem vorgegebenen Bereich des Ladengeschäfts, bevorzugt in einem vorgegebenen Abschnitt eines Ausgangsbereichs des Ladengeschäfts, befindet,

und/oder

• • die Bezahlung vom Zentralrechner und/oder dem wenigstens einen dem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbaren Datenperipheriegerät abhängig von der aktuellen Position des vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführten, mobilen Datenperipheriegeräts ermöglicht wird oder gesperrt ist, insbesondere, dass die Bezahlung nur ermöglicht wird, wenn sich das vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführte, mobile Datenperipheriegerät in einem vorgegebenen Bereich des Ladengeschäfts, bevorzugt in einem vorgegebenen Abschnitt eines Ausgangsbereichs des Ladengeschäfts, befindet.

A still further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that

• A transfer of payment-related data from the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer in the store to the central computer is enabled or disabled depending on the current position, in particular that the transfer is only possible if the in-store customer carries it, mobile data peripheral device is located in a predetermined area of the store, preferably in a predetermined section of an outlet area of the store,

and or

• The payment from the central computer and / or the at least one data peripheral device available to the customer of the shop is enabled or disabled depending on the current position of the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer in the store, in particular that the payment is made possible only if the data from the Customer in-store, mobile data peripherals in a given area of the store, preferably in a predetermined section of an outlet area of the store is located.

With the dependence of the transfer of the payment-related data from the customer peripheral device to the central computer from the current position, in turn, the position of the customer peripheral and thus the customer, on the one hand unnecessary data traffic between the customer peripheral device and the central computer is suppressed because it can be prevented in particular that the customer the payment process already triggers when he z. B. is not yet in the cashier area of the store, but rather can be initiated there exclusively. This serves not only the security of the trading company but also a clear structure of the process of the purchase process for the customer. The predefined area of the store, preferably the predefined section of an outlet area of the store, may be the named checkout area; However, this area can also be formed by a part of the checkout area or an area set up in the store in addition to the checkout area. In any case, the predetermined section is set up so that the customer there captures his actual shopping for the payment process - if this is not preferably already done in the form of the transmission of the registered purchase to the central computer - and the payment process or only the payment process in self-service can make. This default section of the store is also referred to as a "self-checkout area".

The "self-checkout area" is the spatial area in the store where the payment process can be triggered and also triggered. This area may be determined by the owner of the store, ie. H. the trading company, can be set arbitrarily. In most cases, this will be a separate, spatial area in the outlet area of the store, through which the customer can leave the store without having to queue in front of a cash register. However, it is also possible that a normal cash register (with or without staff) receives an additional function as a "self-checkout area". The essential feature distinction is that in a "self-checkout area" several people can pay at the same time without communication with a member of the store, in particular a cashier.

Alternatively or additionally, the payment, d. H. the payment process itself, from the central computer and / or the at least one merchant peripheral device depending on the current position of the customer allows, d. H. released or locked. In particular, the payment is made possible only if the customer peripheral device is located in a predefined area of the store, preferably in a predefined section of an outlet area of the store, particularly preferably the "self-checkout area", so that for the person or users of the store monitoring and / or verification is simplified.

In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive method, a release and / or a determination of a type of payment is made by the central control unit and / or the at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the store depending on a current value of the control variable. From the central computer and / or the at least one merchant peripheral device is thereby advantageously determined depending on the current value of the V-index, whether the customer z. B. the store through the "self-checkout area" may leave without checking his actual shopping after paying via his customer peripheral device or - also via his customer peripheral device - is navigated to a cash register for payment by credit card or cash, d. H. is prompted by an appropriate message displayed on the customer peripheral device to go there. Optionally, the display of this indication can be triggered automatically by the central computer or by intervention of the member of the store by means of the data peripheral device available to him, d. H. by a respective input on this data peripheral device, be effected.

• • der registrierte Einkauf und/oder
• • der aktuelle Wert der Steuergröße und/oder
• • die aktuelle Position, d. h. die aktuelle Position des Kunden, d. h. des Kundenperipheriegeräts, insbesondere innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts, und/oder
• • eine Information zum Bezahlen

angezeigt. Bevorzugt kann also auf dem Händlerperipheriegerät eine die für den Kunden individuell vorbestimmte Art des Bezahlens, wie sie vorstehend erläutert ist, betreffende Anzeige ausgegeben werden. Die wahlweise oder zusätzlich in beliebiger Kombination durch das Händlerperipheriegerät anzuzeigenden Signale bzw. Daten dienen dazu, dem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts den Kaufvorgang des Kunden übersichtlich darzustellen. Insbesondere kann dieser Kaufvorgang auf dem Händlerperipheriegerät in der Form einer Kombination angezeigt werden, die einen Lageplan des Ladengeschäfts, in dem die Position des Kunden markiert ist, und eine Darstellung seines registrierten Einkaufs umfasst.According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the shop is provided

• • the registered purchase and / or
• • the current value of the control variable and / or
• • the current position, ie the current position of the customer, ie the customer peripheral device, in particular within the store, and / or
• • information about payment

displayed. Preferably, therefore, a display relating to the customer's individual predetermined payment method, as explained above, can be output on the merchant peripheral device. The signals or data to be displayed optionally or additionally in any combination by the merchant peripheral device are used to clearly present the purchase process of the customer to the customer of the shop. In particular, this purchase process may be displayed on the merchant peripheral in the form of a combination including a location map of the store in which the customer's location is marked and a representation of his registered shopping.

According to another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the registered purchase is detected by reading in a product identifier of the actual purchase by means of the customer peripheral device. In the product identifier is preferably a bar code, as attached by default to many products or their packaging, in particular printed, and z. B. in the food trade basis of a registration of goods and also the payment transactions. Furthermore, product identifiers of any other types and configurations may be used, such. As so-called QR codes, which are like the bar codes attached to products or their packaging, in particular imprinted, or it can be provided on the so-called "Near Field Communication", short: NFC, radio-readable, electronic labels. The customer peripheral device is accordingly equipped with matching reading devices. It is advantageous in this context that already many mobile phones, especially so-called "smartphones" are equipped with reading devices for barcodes and / or QR codes and / or NFC and therefore can be used immediately for the inventive method, preferably after installation of a corresponding user program - a so-called "app". This helps to keep equipment costs and costs for the introduction of the method according to the invention low. The use of such reading devices allows a simple, fast and fail-safe registration of the actual shopping, d. H. of the physical shopping cart, to create the registered shopping, d. H. of the digital shopping cart, by means of the customer peripheral device.

The product itself may also serve as another form of a product identifier, the shape of which - or the shape of the packaging - can be detected via an image recording device, in particular a camera, on the customer peripheral device and a subsequent image recognition. Mobile telephones, in particular smartphones, are already equipped with cameras as standard, so that it is already possible to use this form of product identification; However, since a very high image resolution of the camera and an extensive signal processing and signal evaluation is required for the image recognition, mobile phones, especially smartphones, with correspondingly powerful features are preferable here.

• • die Kundenkennung zum Identifizieren des Kunden,
• • Aufenthaltsorte und Aufenthaltsdauern des Kunden, insbesondere innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts, abgeleitet aus den laufenden, aktuellen Positionsdaten,
• • der für den aktuellen Kaufvorgang vom Kunden geplante Einkauf, gespeichert im vom Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitgeführten, mobilen Datenperipheriegerät,
• • eine Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher an die zentrale Steuereinheit übertragenen geplanten Einkäufe,
• • eine Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher registrierten Einkäufe,
• • eine Gesamtheit von Ergebnissen der Abgleiche zwischen registrierten und tatsächlichen Einkäufen im Rahmen der Nachkontrollen,
• • Standorte aller Produkte im Ladengeschäft,
• • Diebstahlrisiken der einzelnen Produkte oder Produktgruppen.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the central control unit additionally uses the following additional data individually or in combination for determining a current value of the control variable:

• The customer identifier for identifying the customer,
• • Whereabouts and durations of the customer, especially within the store, derived from the current, current position data,
• The purchase planned by the customer for the current purchase transaction, stored in the mobile data peripheral device carried by the customer in the store,
• A set of all planned purchases previously transferred by all customers to the central control unit,
• • a total of all purchases previously registered by all customers,
• • a set of results of the reconciliation between registered and actual purchases as part of the follow-up checks,
• • locations of all products in the store,
• • Theft risks of the individual products or product groups.

The evaluation of this data - individually or in any combination with each other and with the data already mentioned above - by the central computer makes it possible to adapt the V-Index very precisely and individually for the individual customer and his current purchase.

As already explained, the customer's individual customer identifier serves as the identification of the customer during his stay in the store during the current purchase and the recognition of a customer who visits the store repeatedly, and is used for the individual determination and assignment of the V-index , So z. B. the V-index for a previously unknown new customers routinely set to a predetermined initial value, which is preferably dimensioned so low that the new customer z. B. checked by default and / or passed to pay to a staffed cashier. In the case of an already registered customer, that is to say a regular customer whose behavior has already made a significant increase in the value of the V index during previous purchase transactions, the initial value of the V-index for the current purchase is preferably the last - in the preceding purchase transaction - the value of the V-index used.

As already outlined above, the recording and evaluation of the location and length of stay of the customer, ie. H. his movement profile in the store, in his current purchase to classify the theft risk and thus the need for a review of the customer and his actual purchase. This movement profile can in particular be compared with the theft risks of the individual products or product groups, which also includes the locations of all products in the retail store, ie. H. Sales room, must be recorded by the central computer and evaluated accordingly, d. H. the locations of the products, their respective theft risk and the current movement profile of the customer are linked. This link can still be reconciled with the planned purchase, for. B. deviations of the movement profile of the customer in his current purchase of an ideal for his current planned purchase route, d. H. an ideal movement profile, in particular a shortest route through the store, to determine. These deviations can z. B. be evaluated so that the current value of the V-index is downgraded by a predetermined amount.

• • die Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden, insbesondere einschließlich des augenblicklichen, d. h. aktuellen, Kunden und seines aktuellen Kaufvorgangs, bisher an die zentrale Steuereinheit übertragenen geplanten Einkäufe,
• • die Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden, insbesondere einschließlich des augenblicklichen, d. h. aktuellen, Kunden und seines aktuellen Kaufvorgangs, bisher registrierten Einkäufe, d. h. digitalen Warenkörbe, und
• • die Gesamtheit der Ergebnisse der bisher durchgeführten Abgleiche zwischen registrierten und tatsächlichen Einkäufen im Rahmen der Nachkontrollen, ebenfalls für alle Kunden,

bevorzugt auch zum Erstellen einer statistischen Verteilung eines Verhaltens der Gesamtheit aller Kunden. Es kann damit z. B. ein durchschnittliches oder typisches Verhalten, z. B. Bewegungsprofil, eines durchschnittlichen, d. h. normalen, Kunden beim Kauf bestimmter Produkte ermittelt werden. Dieses kann vorteilhaft als Grundlage für eine Bewertung eines aktuellen Kaufvorgangs eines individuellen Kunden herangezogen werden. Beispielsweise könnte so eine typische Aufenthaltsdauer eines durchschnittlichen Kunden beim Kauf eines bestimmten Produkts an einer bestimmten Position im Ladengeschäft ermittelt werden, die dann als Vergleichsgröße der aktuellen Aufenthaltsdauer des individuellen Kunden bei seinem aktuellen Kaufvorgang herangezogen wird. Auch könnte für z. B. einen Stammkunden eine solche statistische Vergleichsgröße individuell aus ausschließlich seinen vergangenen Kaufvorgängen ermittelt werden. Dies ermöglicht die Schaffung einer verlässlichen Bewertungsgrundlage für jeden individuellen Kunden.In addition to these data, which are used to individually determine the current value of the V-index for the individual customer in his current purchase process serve

• • the totality of all planned purchases made by all customers, including, but not limited to, the current, current customer and their current purchase transaction, previously transferred to the central control unit;
• • the totality of all purchases made by all customers, including, but not limited to, the current, current customer and their current purchase, previously registered purchases, ie digital shopping carts, and
• • the totality of the results of the comparisons made so far between registered and actual purchases during the follow-up inspections, also for all customers,

preferably also for creating a statistical distribution of a behavior of the totality of all customers. It can thus z. B. an average or typical behavior, eg. B. motion profile, an average, ie normal, customers are determined when buying certain products. This can advantageously be used as the basis for an assessment of a current purchase process of an individual customer. For example, a typical length of stay of an average customer could then be determined when purchasing a specific product at a specific position in the store, which is then used as a comparison of the current length of stay of the individual customer in his current purchase. Also could for z. B. a regular customer such a statistical comparison variable individually from his past purchases only be determined. This enables the creation of a reliable valuation basis for each individual customer.

• • die aktuelle Position,
• • der aktuell geplante Einkauf des Kunden,
• • die Kundenkennung zum Identifizieren des Kunden,
• • ein Bezahlstatus,
• • der aktuelle Wert der Steuergröße.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the central control unit additionally optionally transmits the following further data to the at least one data peripheral device available to the at least one member of the shop:

• • the current position,
• • the currently planned purchase of the customer,
• The customer identifier for identifying the customer,
• • a payment status,
• • the current value of the control variable.

These data can also be transmitted individually or to several in any combination or compilation. The position is again the position of the customer, ie the current position determined by the customer peripheral device and transmitted to the central computer. The payment status indicates the current, ie current, status of the process of payment. In this way, the store user will be provided with all the data needed for the review of the purchase process are of importance, ie form a basis for decision-making for the control of the expiry of the review, ie the relatives receives a complete picture of the customer currently being examined.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the actual purchase is detected by reading in the product identifier by means of the at least one data peripheral device available to the at least one member of the shop. In this case, the reading of the product identifier takes place in the same way as is done with the customer peripheral device, ie by scanning a bar code, a QR code or by radio transmission of information from electronic labels via NFC. This will make the actual purchase, i. H. the physical shopping cart, the customer quickly and reliably captured by the merchant peripheral device. The secure detection - also by the customer peripheral device - is also important because errors that occur incorrectly as attempts of the customer to commit a theft, evaluated and thus this can be charged unjustifiably. This is to be avoided in any case.

• • die Kundenkennung wenigstens eines Kunden und/oder
• • ein letztermittelter Wert der Steuergröße dieses wenigstens einen Kunden und/oder
• • die Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher geplanten Einkäufe und/oder
• • die Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher registrierten Einkäufe und/oder
• • Ergebnisse der Abgleiche zwischen registrierten und tatsächlichen Einkäufen im Rahmen der Nachkontrollen und/oder
• • Standorte aller Produkte im Ladengeschäft,
• • Diebstahlrisiken der einzelnen Produkte oder Produktgruppen.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least the following data are stored by the central control unit:

• • the customer ID of at least one customer and / or
• A last-average value of the control variable of this at least one customer and / or
• • the totality of all purchases previously planned by all customers and / or
• • the totality of all purchases previously registered by all customers and / or
• • Results of the reconciliation between registered and actual purchases as part of the follow-up checks and / or
• • locations of all products in the store,
• • Theft risks of the individual products or product groups.

As already explained, these data are used for the individual treatment of each individual customer, but also for the generation of statistics and empirical values for the average settlement of purchase transactions on average via a large number of customers. Thus, on the one hand, an individual customer profile, in particular for regular customers, created and on the other hand a reliable basis for the assessment of the behavior of customers in general in the shop to be created. This is done by the central control unit based on the stored data listed above.

• • ein von einem Kunden im Ladengeschäft mitzuführendes, mobiles Datenperipheriegerät, insbesondere Mobiltelefon, bevorzugt Smartphone, zum laufenden Ermitteln wenigstens eine aktuelle Position eines Kunden über der Zeit beinhaltender aktueller Positionsdaten, insbesondere innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts,
• • eine zentrale Steuereinheit, an die die ermittelten Positionsdaten laufend, insbesondere abhängig von der aktuellen Position, bevorzugt nur bei einer aktuellen Position innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts, übertragbar sind und die eingerichtet ist zum, insbesondere laufenden, wenigstens aus den Positionsdaten Ermitteln einer Steuergröße für eine Steuerung einer Überprüfung tatsächlicher Einkäufe des Kunden,
• • wenigstens ein wenigstens einem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbares Datenperipheriegerät, an das die Steuergröße von der zentralen Steuereinheit übertragbar ist und das eingerichtet ist zu einem nach Art und/oder Umfang durch die Steuergröße über das wenigstens eine dem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbare Datenperipheriegerät bestimmten Steuern einer vom Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts vorzunehmenden Überprüfung des Kaufvorgangs.

The above object is further achieved by an arrangement for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, comprising

• A mobile data peripheral device, in particular a mobile telephone, preferably a smartphone to be carried by a customer in a retail store, for the current determination of at least one current position of a customer over the time containing current position data, in particular within the store,
• A central control unit to which the determined position data is continuously, in particular dependent on the current position, preferably only at a current position within the store, transferable and which is set up, in particular running, at least from the position data determining a control variable for a controller a review of actual customer purchases,
• • at least one data peripheral device available to at least one member of the shop, to which the control variable is transferable by the central control unit and which is set up for a control of the type of and / or extent by the control variable via the at least one data peripheral device available to the member of the store Checking the purchase process to relatives of the store.

In this arrangement, it is particularly advantageous that the mobile data peripheral device, ie the customer peripheral device, preferably in the form of a mobile phone, in particular a "smartphone", is already present in the form of a mobile phone, at least for a vast majority of customers, and is therefore available from the retailer, ie by the owner of the store, not separately procured. This saves considerable investment costs. The cost of a aufzuspielendes on the customer peripheral device user program - so-called "App" - are, however, negligible. The central computer is in shops with cash registers, which have an electronic recording of customer purchases, anyway available and must also be provided only with a corresponding program for performing the method according to the invention. Particularly preferably, trading companies, in particular those having a plurality of shops, use a central computer in a central data center, so that such a central computer is used at the same time for a plurality of stores. Also, a trading company instead of procuring its own central computer computing power z. For example, rent from an external data center. Thus, those for the arrangement to carry out the inventive method further reduced costs. Thus, only the procurement of one or more merchant peripheral devices and a device for data communication between the customer peripheral devices on the one hand and the central computer on the other hand and between this and the merchant peripheral devices remains. Preferred for this data communication is a secure, wireless Internet connection, preferably via a so-called "Wireless Local Area Network", in short: WLAN, or - in the case of the configuration of the merchant peripherals as fixed installed control peripherals - wired Internet connection, then preferably via a so-called "Local Area Network ", in short: LAN, used. Overall, only a small amount of equipment and thus low costs are connected.

The above-mentioned object is further achieved by a mobile data peripheral device, in particular a mobile telephone, preferably a smartphone, which is carried by a customer in a shop, designed for use in an arrangement of the kind described above. As already explained, this customer peripheral device is very simple with a mobile telephone to which a corresponding program for controlling the process steps to be performed has been created.

The above object is further achieved by a central control unit adapted for use in an arrangement of the kind described above. In addition, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a data peripheral device available to at least one member of a shop, designed for use in an arrangement of the kind described above This merchant peripheral device preferably comprises a display unit, particularly preferably a combination of a display unit and an input unit. In the embodiment as a fixedly installed control peripheral device, the merchant peripheral device is advantageously designed with a touch screen; In the mobile embodiment as a personal peripheral device can advantageously also be a mobile phone or the like are used.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a computer program product comprising program parts for carrying out a method of the aforementioned type, by a machine-readable, in particular computer-readable, data structure generated by such a method and / or by at least one such computer program product and by a machine-readable, in particular computer-readable , Data carrier on which at least one such computer program product is recorded and / or stored and / or on which at least one such data structure is kept ready for retrieval.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention are explained in connection with exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the drawing and are described in more detail below, wherein matching elements in all figures are given the same reference numerals and a repeated description of these elements is omitted. Show it:

1 a rough schematic representation of an example of an inventive arrangement, with which an example of the method according to the invention is carried out, and for a case of data transfer between individual elements of the inventive arrangement,

2 a rough schematic representation of an embodiment of a portion of the inventive method according to 1 , with which position data are determined,

3 a roughly schematic, diagrammatic, symbolic representation for determining the control variable, ie the V-index, within the method according to 1 .

4 a rough schematic, symbolic representation for playback of data on a merchant peripheral device and for releasing a payment transaction via the merchant peripheral device within the method according to 1 , and

5 a rough schematic flow diagram of essential steps of the embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

In 1 is a rough schematic representation of an example of an inventive arrangement reproduced and with the reference numeral 100 designated. 1 shows to this arrangement 100 , with which an example of the method according to the invention is carried out, roughly also a here performed data transmission between individual elements of the inventive arrangement 100 , First of these elements of the arrangement 100 as well as the method performed with this arrangement is a physical cart 101 symbolically represented, which is formed by the actual purchases of a customer individually considered here. The customer is running a mobile customer peripheral device 102 with himself, with which he uses the products of the physical cart 101 ie, their product identifiers, in particular bar codes, QR codes or codes readable electronically via NFC, reads, ie scans, and thus registers on the customer peripheral device. By reading in the products of the physical shopping cart 101 a digital shopping cart, the registered purchase, on the customer's peripheral device 102 added. The process of reading and registering is denoted by the reference numeral 103 designated.

From the customer peripheral device 102 Furthermore, the position of the customer, ie the position of the customer peripheral device, is continuously, ie at continuously successive times 102 , intended in a shop. For example, this position determination by means of the reception of a number of radio signals, z. For example, those of iBeacons or WLAN transceivers, in 1 with lightning symbols with the reference number 117 indicated. For determining the position, the signal strengths of these radio signals are preferred, as is currently the case on the customer peripheral device 102 be measured, used. Position data, including the current customer's current positions and the times at which those positions have been taken, are continuously sent to a central computer 104 of the store. Furthermore, the digital shopping cart is transmitted to the central computer. This transfer, in 1 with the reference number 105 referred to, via a radio link 106 , in particular a wireless, secure Internet connection 107 , Unless the customer on the customer peripheral device 102 created and stored there, via the radio link 106 , here the wireless, secured internet connection 107 , also a shopping list, comprising a purchase planned by the customer for the current purchase transaction, transmitted to the central computer. The planned purchase and the digital shopping cart, ie the registered purchase, are collectively referred to as purchasing data. In addition - if necessary - from the customer peripheral device 102 another customer identifier for identifying the customer in the same way to the central computer 104 transfer.

• • Aufenthaltsorte und Aufenthaltsdauern des Kunden, insbesondere innerhalb des Ladengeschäfts, abgeleitet aus den laufenden, aktuellen Positionsdaten,
• • eine Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher an den Zentralrechner 104 übertragenen geplanten Einkäufe,
• • eine Gesamtheit aller von allen Kunden bisher registrierten Einkäufe,
• • eine Gesamtheit von Ergebnissen von Abgleichen zwischen registrierten und tatsächlichen Einkäufen im Rahmen in der Vergangenheit bei Kunden vorgenommener Überprüfungen,
• • Standorte aller Produkte im Ladengeschäft sowie
• • Diebstahlrisiken der einzelnen Produkte oder Produktgruppen

zählen, erfolgt im Zentralrechner 104 eine Bestimmung einer auch als V-Index bezeichneten Steuergröße, durch die ein am Schluss des aktuellen Kaufvorgangs vorzunehmender Bezahlvorgang bzw. eine damit verbundene Überprüfung des Kunden und seines tatsächlichen Einkaufs gesteuert wird. Einzelheiten zur Bestimmung des V-Indexes sind nachfolgend im Zusammenhang mit 3 erläutert.Based on the transmitted purchasing data, item data and, if applicable, the customer ID and, if applicable, other data stored in the central computer 104 be created and / or stored, including in particular

• • Whereabouts and durations of the customer, especially within the store, derived from the current, current position data,
• • a totality of all of the customers so far sent to the central computer 104 transferred scheduled purchases,
• • a total of all purchases previously registered by all customers,
• • a set of results of reconciliations between registered and actual purchases within past customer reviews;
• • Locations of all products in the store as well
• • Theft risks of the individual products or product groups

count, takes place in the central computer 104 a determination of a control variable, also referred to as a V-index, by means of which a payment process to be carried out at the end of the current purchase transaction or an associated check by the customer and his actual purchase are controlled. Details regarding the determination of the V-index are given below in connection with 3 explained.

The order 100 Also includes one or more of the store, ie, the owner, personnel, etc., available data peripherals 108 . 109 , referred to by the generic term dealer peripheral device. These dealer peripherals are advantageous 108 . 109 alternatively mobile trained and as Personalperipheriegerät 108 or they are stationary in the store and then as control peripherals 109 designated. Comparable to the transmission 105 over the radio connection 106 , in particular the wireless, secure internet connection 107 , between the customer peripheral device 102 and the central computer 104 is between the latter and the at least one personal peripheral device 108 a transmission 110 set up via a radio link 112 , in particular a wireless, secure Internet connection 111 , whereas a transmission 114 between the central computer 104 and the at least one control peripheral device 109 via a fixed, in particular cable-bound or wired, secure Internet connection 115 he follows. About the transfers 110 and 114 become the merchant peripheral devices 108 . 109 Data transmitted so that the members of the store on the personal peripheral device 108 or on the control peripheral device 109 View the current position, purchasing data, payment status and calculated customer V-Index.

The relatives of the shop will be on the Personalperipheriegerät 108 or on the control peripheral device 109 on the basis of the current value of the V-index, that of the central computer 104 is continuously determined and transmitted, which customers are displayed in what way to check. Depending on the current value of the V-index, different levels of a scope, that is to say a degree of detail, of the check by the central computer become advantageous 104 given and related control commands for implementation with the help of at least one dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 transferred to this 110 respectively. 114 , An example of such a grading of a customer's review based on the current value of the V-index is given in the table below. It is assumed by way of example that the V-index can assume values between 100% for complete trust in the customer and thus no review and 0% for very low or complete lack of confidence and thus the requirement of a thorough review, depending on the course of the current purchase and prior purchase transactions. Whether the shopper details the customer's physical shopping cart in detail, ie inspects or merely superficially reviews each product of actual shopping, can be freely determined by the retailer, ie the shopkeeper, as desired, experience or requirement.

In the case of a very conspicuous behavior of the customer during the purchase process, which leads to a very low, current value of the V-index, should be checked more intensively than a customer with a discreet, ie unsuspecting, behavior. trustworthiness Index Type and scope of the review Very high, z. Eg 80-100% No review High, z. Eg 60-80% It is a visual check Means, e.g. Eg 40-60% As part of a follow-up, only a few products from the physical cart are to be sampled by random sampling, eg. B. about 10-20% of the purchase Low, z. Eg 20-40% As part of a follow-up inspection, several products from the physical shopping cart are to be randomly scanned. B. about 20-40% of the purchase Very low, z. Eg 0-20% As part of a follow-up check all products from the physical shopping cart to scan

In this context, the performance of a visual check means that only a rough assessment is made by the store user, that the digital shopping cart matches the actual purchase, ie the physical shopping cart. At a follow-up inspection, however, at least random samples of products from the physical cart are scanned. The process of scanning and matching the scanned products against the customer's digital shopping cart is done by the merchant peripheral device 108 . 109 , preferably the mobile personal peripheral device 108 using the central computer 104 determined, held and transmitted data. The scanning of the products or product identifications takes place, as with the customer peripheral device 102 , by reading the bar codes, QR codes or electronically stored codes and is in 1 for the mobile personal peripherals 108 with the reference number 113 as well as for the control peripheral device 109 with the reference number 116 designated.

The review of the customer and his current purchase - whether as a visual inspection or as a follow-up - can, as the least one Personalperipheriegerät is mobile. be made at different locations within the store, especially in a checkout area of the store, preferably directly at a checkout this cashier area, or in special areas or facilities of the store, which are set up for a payment process by the customer in self-service. These particular areas or facilities of the store are z. B. as so-called "self-checkout terminals" or "self-checkout areas" and preferably in the vicinity of an outlet of the store, particularly preferably this outlet immediately preceding arranged. At a so-called "self-checkout terminal", the customer z. B., but not exclusively, pay with a credit card, or it may be set up a so-called NFC interface, where the customer by means of his Kundenperipheriegeräts, especially mobile phones, via the so-called "Near Field Communication" with the central computer data regarding a payment process exchanges. A so-called "self-checkout area" can preferably be designed to handle the payment process, ie the exchange of the relevant data with the central computer 104 , about the transfer 105 make. Such a payment process in the so-called "self-checkout area" can z. B. be controlled by that over the current position data is determined whether the customer is in the so-called "self-checkout area" provided spatial area of the store. Then, the payment process and / or a check can be initiated and / or controlled on the basis of the customer's registered purchase as well as at least the current value of the V-index. The customer becomes advantageous through the customer peripheral device 102 to the checking and / or payment process determined for him or his current purchase transaction on the basis of the data listed above, and thus also to that place in the store where this is to be carried out, preferably by a message, eg. Display or voice output, on its customer peripheral device 102 , This will be corresponding data from the central computer 104 transmission, including in particular the transmission 105 configured accordingly or may be extended for a required bidirectional traffic.

The table below gives an overview of different options for controlling and designing the verification and / or payment process, using also the definitions of the previous table: Current V-index of the customer Design of the checking and / or payment process / equipment of the shop Is there a "self checkout area" available? Yes No Are enough members of the store available for review? Yes No High, z. Eg 60-100% The customer leaves the store via the "self-checkout area" and pays with the customer's peripheral device 102 The customer passes an unoccupied cash register and pays with the customer's peripheral device 102 Means, e.g. Eg 40-60% The customer leaves the store via the "self-checkout area" and pays with the customer's peripheral device 102 , There is a simple visual inspection Not possible → see next column The customer passes a cash register, possibly a fast cash register, and pays with the customer's peripheral device 102 , There is a simple visual inspection by cashiers Low, z. Eg 0-40% The customer leaves the store via the "self-checkout area" and pays with the customer's peripheral device 102 , There is a follow-up. Not possible → see next column Customer passes a cash register, possibly a fast cash register. There is a follow-up check by cashiers. The customer then pays either with the customer peripheral device 102 or with cash or credit card at checkout.

In the below described 5 For these operations, a representation in the form of a flow chart is shown.

The aforementioned payment transactions of the customer's current purchase via a credit card or cash, also in the central computer 104 are recorded in 1 shown symbolically and with the reference numerals 118 respectively. 119 designated.

The check, especially in the form of follow-up, is positive if the shopper in the physical shopping cart has not scanned a product that has not been previously read and registered 103 of the physical cart 101 in the customer peripheral device 102 added by the customer to the digital shopping cart. By means of transfers 110 and 114 are from the merchant peripherals 108 . 109 to the central computer 104 Data on the result of the review of the customer or his current purchase process transmitted. These data are taken into account in the further calculation of the V-index, as also described below 3 is reproduced.

In 2 is a rough schematic representation of an embodiment of a part of the inventive method according to 1 , with the position data through the customer terminal 102 are reproduced in a flow chart. An advantage of the calculation on the customer peripheral device 102 is that by using the in the customer peripheral device 102 Costs that can be saved anyway on the part of the store or the retailer or, from an economic point of view, already existing resources with increased efficiency can be used.

As already stated above, in the described exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, a calculation of the position data is performed on the basis of a measurement of signal strengths distributed in the store distributed wireless signals emitting signal sources. In concrete terms, the WLAN signal is used by transmitting / receiving stations set up in a retail store, also referred to as signal transmitters, of a "Wireless Local Area Network", ie wireless network, and / or a Bluetooth signal sent by iBeacons. Each of these signals from each of these signal sources has at each position in the store a certain signal strength, the by the distance of this position from the relevant signal source as well as spatial conditions in the store, in particular by elements that put the propagation of the signals obstacles in the way , such as As walls, is determined. All signal strengths of all available such signal sources at all positions in the store form a signal card 201 that in a server 200 which is preferred by the central computer 104 can be formed, stored. This signal card 201 Compared to a simple triangulation or multilateration in the position determination the advantage of higher accuracy, since in the simple triangulation or multilateration for position determination, the shielding of signal strengths by the spatial conditions such. B. walls is not or insufficiently considered.

The signal card 201 Thus here contains the Bluetooth and / or WLAN signal strength from the respective transmitting / receiving stations and the associated position at which the signal strength of the signals transmitted by the respective transmitting / receiving stations has been measured.

For a representation of the position in a on the customer peripheral device 102 map to be mapped requires the customer peripheral device 102 or the positioning calculation program installed thereon, furthermore, information about which positions are possible for the customer in the store. This information is in a map of positional hypotheses 202 stored in the stored with what probability a customer can stay in which position.

Furthermore, for the position determination a so-called enveloping body 203 used. Such as B. from the internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia" - cf. the internet appearance " http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hüllkörper ", Entry read at 2015-06-15 15:22 - As an enveloping body in algorithmic geometry, it describes a simple geometric body enclosing a complex three-dimensional object or a complex body, and accelerating algorithms of algorithmic geometry or computer graphics is used. With the envelope body 203 Here, a spatial-geographical boundary is defined, in which the building location and / or building navigation and thus the position determination can take place.

Also used for position finding and orientation is the representation of the position on a map on the customer's peripheral device 102 another north angle 204 used.

• • die Signalkarte,
• • die Karte der Positionshypothesen,
• • der Hüllkörper und
• • der Nordwinkel

werden vom Kundenperipheriegerät 102 bzw. dem darauf installierten Rechenprogramm zur Positionsbestimmung, hier auch als „mobile Anwendung” bezeichnet und in 2 mit dem Diagrammelement 205 symbolisiert, vom Server 200 heruntergeladen. Der Vorgang der Datenübertagung ist in 2 als Diagrammelement mit dem Bezugszeichen 206 dargestellt.All these data, namely

• • the signal card,
• • the map of the position hypotheses,
• • the enveloping body and
• • the north angle

are from the customer peripheral device 102 or the calculation program for position determination installed thereon, here also referred to as "mobile application" and in 2 with the diagram element 205 symbolized by the server 200 downloaded. The process of data transfer is in 2 as a diagram element with the reference numeral 206 shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the position determination after 2 the WLAN and / or Bluetooth signal is used for a so-called global position determination, also as an absolute position determination namable, in which the position in a predetermined by the signal card, fixed system of Location coordinates is determined. This global positioning is in 2 as a diagram element with the reference numeral 207 shown.

To increase the accuracy in determining the position is also a relative or local position determination 208 performed. It is in a conventional manner on the basis of signals from the customer peripheral device 102 arranged sensors, in particular at least one acceleration sensor, at least one spin and at least one magnetometer, ie compass, a determination of a relative or local position according to the method of dead reckoning, also referred to as "Dead Reckoning" made.

Global Positioning 207 and local positioning 208 act in the position determination 209 together and are in the presentation of 2 including thereof.

Through the mobile application becomes in the customer peripheral device 102 continuously measured the WLAN signal and / or the Bluetooth signal and these data of global positioning 207 supplied 214 and with the downloaded signal card 201 compared. This comparison is preferably carried out with the aid of a so-called "quadratic shape-distance algorithm". 210 , Positions in the signal map, for which so-called "quadractic form distances" assume their lowest values, are determined by means of a so-called "nearest-neighbor algorithm". 211 calculated. Outliers in the measured or calculated values are determined using an algorithm with the term "Outlier Detection", ie outlier detection, 212 filtered out. From this result, a so-called position interpolation algorithm is used 213 a linear weighted interpolation between the positions of the nearest neighbors. The result of these four algorithms is a global X and Y position 215 of the customer in the store. In 2 is this process of global positioning 207 includes shown.

At the same time, in local positioning 208 a local X and Y position 216 based on measurements taken by the compass, the acceleration sensor and the spin sensor. The supply of the measured values from the compass is denoted by the reference numeral 217 denotes the supply of the measured values from the acceleration and rotational acceleration sensor, the reference numeral 218 , The local X and Y position 216 represents a relative change in position, since starting from a position determined position changes are determined at least from direction information and acceleration information. For local positioning 208 be in the first step with a low pass filter 219 filtered high frequencies to smooth the data, in particular the measured data, and thus filter out already unlikely movements. In the second step, a positional change is calculated based on a moving speed obtained from measured values of the compass and the acceleration sensor, and based on a moving direction obtained from measured values of the acceleration sensor and the rotational acceleration sensor. The change in position is thereby in particular by the previously mentioned dead reckoning 220 - Also called "Dead Reckoning" determined.

To connect the local position or relative position change with the global position, one is used as a particle filter 221 used designated method. Different hypotheses are formed on which position the customer is currently located. These hypotheses are the particles. The particles shift with each iteration with the result of relative positional change in dead reckoning 220 , In forming these positional hypotheses, by incorporating the map of positional hypotheses 202 takes into account the probability that a customer can stay in which position. For example, walls or shelves are given a zero probability.

The calculated position represents a resulting global position 222 in the mobile application on the customer peripheral device 102 represented and can for that in the 1 . 3 . 4 and 5 explained procedures are used.

• • Vom Kundenperipheriegerät 102 wird ein erstes Datenpaket 301 bereitgestellt, umfassend – den aktuell geplanten Einkauf 302 des individuellen Kunden, – den aktuellen, registrierten Einkauf 303, d. h. den digitalen Warenkorb, des individuellen Kunden, – eine zeitliche Folge aktueller Positionen des Kunden bei seinem aktuellen Kaufvorgang und daraus berechnet Aufenthaltsorte 304 und zugehörige Aufenthaltsdauern 305 des Kunden im Ladenggeschäft sowie – die Kundenkennung 306.
• • Im Zentralrechner 104 stehen weiterhin als zweites Datenpaket 307 Informationen von vergangen Einkäufen des individuellen Kunden und anderer, bevorzugt aller anderen, Kunden, d. h. – deren geplante Einkäufe 308, – deren tatsächliche Einkäufe 309, – die Ergebnisse 310 der einzelnen Überprüfungen, d. h. Sichtkontrollen oder Nachkontrollen, die bei den voraufgegangenen Kauf- bzw. Bezahlvorgängen der Kunden, bevorzugt des individuellen Kunden und aller anderen Kunden, gewonnen wurden,

sowie als Stammdaten 311 des Handelsunternehmens bzw. des Ladengeschäfts

• – die Positionen, d. h. Standorte, 312 der einzelnen Produkte und/oder Produktgruppen im Ladengeschäft und
• – das Diebstahlrisiko 313 der Produkte bzw. Produktgruppen

abgespeichert zur Verfügung.In 3 is a rough schematic, diagrammatic, symbolic representation for determining the V-index within the method according to 1 played. The V-index in the method according to the invention serves for the trading company to set an optimum between theft risk on the one hand and cost savings on the other hand, with the customer registering and paying for the actual shopping in the self-service procedure, also referred to as "self-checkout" of the customer can. In particular, the following data will serve as the basis for the current, individual determination of the V-Index 300 used as in 3 is hinted, whereby further, not listed here data can be added:

• • From the customer peripheral device 102 becomes a first data packet 301 provided, comprising - the currently planned purchase 302 of the individual customer, - the current, registered purchase 303 , ie the digital shopping cart, the individual customer, - a temporal sequence of current positions of the customer in his current purchase process and calculated whereabouts 304 and associated lengths of stay 305 the customer in the shop and - the customer ID 306 ,
• • In the central computer 104 remain as a second data packet 307 Information about past purchases of the individual customer and others, preferably all other customers, ie - their planned purchases 308 , - their actual purchases 309 , - the results 310 the individual checks, ie visual inspections or follow-up checks, which were obtained during the previous purchase or payment transactions of the customers, preferably the individual customer and all other customers,

as well as master data 311 of the trading company or shop

• - the positions, ie locations, 312 of the individual products and / or product groups in the store and
• - the risk of theft 313 of the products or product groups

stored available.

The trading company can now rules 320 define under which conditions the V-index should be lowered or increased. Generally, these rules make 320 a calculation or tax rule for setting the current value of the V-index for each individual customer dar. They can be formulated preferably in such a way that the value of the V-index, starting from a predeterminable initial value, in particular the last-averaged current value The V-index of the individual customer is increased or decreased by a predeterminable increment if certain values of one or a combination of the above-listed available data are present. In another variant, in the presence of particular values of one or a combination of the above-listed available data, the current value of the V-index may be changed to a new, e.g. B. fixed value can be set. Thus, the fulfillment in such a rule formulated conditions by the customer to a gradual increase of the current value of the V-index, preferably until reaching a predetermined maximum, or even lead to a gradual reduction, similar, as in damage free discounts of motor vehicle Insurance is handled. In the other case, it can also be provided that the fulfillment in such a rule formulated conditions by the customer leads to a sudden, strong reduction of the current value of the V-index, in particular, if the current evaluation of said data an immediate, urgent The need for a follow-up, in particular an accurate, thorough follow-up, the individual customer and his current purchase process results.

It can be from the data 308 . 309 . 310 of the second data packet 307 identify a population of all customers, ie common, typical characteristics of customers and their purchases. For example, customers with similar trajectories, store durations and planned purchases can be filtered out and statistical characteristics used to derive typical characteristics of the purchases of such a group of customers. For the individual customer, deviations, in particular of his current purchase process, but also of all his previous purchase transactions, can be determined against this population. These deviations can z. B. as abnormalities that lead to a downgrade of its individual, current V-index. For example, a very simple rule derived from this, In 3 as the first rule with the reference number 321 symbolized, would be that a deviation in the ratio of the length of stay in the shop to the amount of purchased items compared to a statistically determined average value for the considered population of customers leads to a reduction of the V-index.

According to an example mentioned, second rule 322 the current value of the V-index is increased by a specifiable increment when a check, for. B. follow-up, without any abnormalities has occurred, ie all scanned by the members of the store products were also in the digital shopping cart 303 of the customer included.

To the whereabouts 304 of the customer in relation to his planned purchase 302 and / or his digital shopping cart 303 to put on the sites 312 of the products in the shop from the master data 311 of the shop or commercial enterprise. This can be a Deviation between the customer's purchase, ie his planned purchase 302 and / or his digital shopping cart 303 , calculate your chosen route through the store and an optimal route. To weight the influence of this deviation, the risk of theft can 313 of the products or product groups, their locations 312 are located in areas of the store, through which this deviation of the chosen route leads. So z. B. a third rule 323 formulated that a deviation between the optimal route and the selected route leads to a reduction of the V-index, the amount of this reduction, z. For example, the amount of increment by which the V-index is decreased from a level of theft risk 313 of the products that the customer passes on the deviation of his chosen from the optimal route.

This is the theft risk 313 certain products and / or product groups from experience of the trading company or a larger number of trading companies and determined for use in the method according to the invention. For example, trading companies generally have a high or low risk that the product will be stolen for certain products or product groups. For example, the risk of theft 313 in retail for razor blades or high percentage alcohol very high while the risk for flour is very low. Thus, the experiences of the trading company are used to improve the informative value of the V-Index. If z. For example, if a customer stays longer in the alcohol area and does not add a product to their digital shopping cart by scanning, this behavior is much more noticeable than the same basic food behavior. The theft risk 313 is based either on the subjective experience of the retailer, or there are actual, objective values in the form of inventory differences.

Based on the planned purchase 302 and alternative, possibly cheaper products from the same product group can also form a rule. If the customer, unlike his shopping list, scans a cheaper product from the same product group, the V-index will be reduced. Again, an increment of the V-index's theft risk may optionally be added 313 depending on the scanned products. This is the fourth rule in 3 with the reference number 324 symbolizes.

As the fifth rule 325 For example, it is stated that a movement speed determined from the position data of the customer when leaving the store then leads to a reduction in the V index if this movement speed exceeds a predefinable threshold value.

In the 3 The rules indicated are not to be understood as conclusive in the method according to the invention, but serve for illustration and can be expanded and supplemented as desired by further rules. The goal of all rules is to estimate and describe the purchasing behavior of the customers, ie the course of the purchase process, as accurately and precisely as possible. From the totality of all rules 320 the current value of the V-index is determined continuously. This provision is in 3 with the reference number 326 and the current value of the V-index is denoted by the reference numeral 327 symbolizes.

As already stated, then controls the current height, ie the current value of the V-index 327 then, how to the 4 and particularly 5 will be described in more detail whether the individual customer is guided in his current purchase process for so-called "self-checkout" and, if appropriate, how then for the individual customer in this current purchase process of "self-checkout" including the payment process is designed.

In 4 is a rough schematic, symbolic representation for playing back data on a merchant peripheral device 108 . 109 , preferably a control peripheral device 109 , and for releasing a payment transaction via this merchant peripheral device 108 . 109 within the procedure according to 1 played. On a display unit 400 of the control peripheral device 109 is here on the right 401 a schematic floor plan 402 of the store or part of this floor plan 402 represented, which has an output 403 of the store and a "self-checkout area" located close to it, especially in front of it 404 includes. The "Self-Checkout Area" 404 can be formed by a part of a cash register area or preferably by an additionally set up in the store area in the store area and is set up to allow the customer there to capture his actual shopping for the payment process - unless this is preferably already in the form of transmission of the registered shopping 303 to the central computer 104 is done - and can make the payment process or only the payment process in the self-service process. The advantage of a "self-checkout area" set up in the shop in addition to the checkout area 404 is that the customer who uses the method according to the invention does not have to wait in line at a cash register.

4 symbolically shows a release of a payment transaction via the control peripheral device 109 for a client 405 whose position is in the "self-checkout area" 404 located. This customer 405 is based on its transmitted position data, in particular its resulting global position 222 , in the display unit 400 at its current position in the floor plan 402 symbolized and specially marked as soon as in the central computer 104 and / or the control peripheral device 109 it is recognized that he is the "self-checkout area" 404 enters. On the left 406 the display unit 400 will be for this designated customer 405 the digital shopping cart 303 ie the registered purchase, listed. Also a customer 407 who is still outside the "self-checkout area" 404 can already be on the display unit 400 but is displayed on the display unit 400 not yet specially marked, and also his digital shopping cart 303 is not displayed yet.

Based on the currently determined value of the V-index, preferably the V-index 327 to 3 , a release of the payment process is now made. The data traffic between the control peripheral device takes place 109 and the central computer 104 takes place by means of the transfer 114 , It is envisaged that the payment process only after release by the central computer 104 and / or the control peripheral device 109 optionally in a first option from the customer 405 triggered or in a second option by the control peripheral device 109 and / or the central computer 104 is triggered.

In designing this process of initiating and / or triggering the payment process, a variety of gradations and variations are possible. In a first variant, the payment process by central computer 104 and / or dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 automatically triggered when the customer 405 the store leaves, and the customer 405 gets over the customer peripheral device 102 just a notification, but no longer has to enter itself - neither on the customer peripheral device 102 still elsewhere - make. Intended data traffic runs automatically, the customer 405 leaves the store without having to take any further action, keeps the customer peripheral device 102 in the bag and still paid in full and correctly. For its part, the trading company can be sure that the purchase will be paid in any case. This for both the customer 405 However, as the retailer most convenient form of payment process requires both confidence in a flawless and error-free operation of the process and the arrangement 100 to its implementation as well as the creation of appropriate legal conditions. Therefore, in a second variant to be mentioned by way of example, a type of mixed form may possibly be more catchy and legally compliant, in which the payment process is carried out by the central computer 104 and / or dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 also automatically triggered and possibly already started when the customer 405 the store leaves, the customer 405 but continuation and conclusion of the payment process expressly, preferably also on the customer peripheral device 102 , must confirm or can cancel.

The release is based on the position of the customer and his current V-Index. A customer 407 which z. B. still in the store outside the "self-checkout area" 404 - and also outside the cash register - is not yet able to pay. It becomes advantageous in this case on its customer peripheral device 102 the way to the "self-checkout area" 404 displayed.

Is in the "self checkout area" 404 No member of the store is currently available for follow-up and wants a customer 405 Pay with a low V-index, he is in an advantageous manner - preferably by a related display on his customer peripheral device 102 - from the central computer 104 via the appropriately designed and / or supplemented transmission 105 controlled diverted to a normal, staffed cash register.

The payment is preferably also made with the customer peripheral device, ie it will be advantageous to necessary data such. As a bank account and others, between the customer control device 102 and the central computer. Preference is given to common, mobile payment method, also summarized under the term "mobile payment" used. Further preferred are also also common, so-called "online payment method" used, also referred to as "online payment". The payment process is carried out without having to exchange data with a cash register. This makes the payment process simple and also ensures that no newly developed methods and / or facilities are required. The payment process is done for example by credit card or PayPal or via a connection with NFC.

A more detailed illustration of an embodiment of a method 500 for controlling the payment process according to the invention is in 5 shown in a rough schematic flow diagram. In this embodiment, the customer initiates the implementation of the method 500 in a first step 501 in this flowchart by commissioning his customer peripheral device 102 and thus the functions or programs stored thereon, which are used to carry out the method 500 be used. In particular, this starts the determination of the position and a connection between the customer peripheral device 102 and the central computer 104 for the - ongoing - transmission of the position and possibly further data as described above from the customer peripheral device 102 to the central computer 104 produced.

In a second process step 502 is now - also continuously - queried or the currently determined position data is checked whether the customer has taken a position within the store. If this is not the case, the customer receives via the customer peripheral device in a third step 503 a notification that a purchase is not possible, and the check is repeated after determining new location data. On the other hand, if the test is positive, in a fourth process step 504 running at least both the current position data, preferably in the form of the resulting, global position 222 , as well as the planned purchase 302 and the registered purchase 303 from the customer peripheral device 102 to the central computer 104 transfer. The data mentioned are therefore only transmitted if the customer 407 respectively. 405 or his customer peripheral device 102 are in the store. This must be the customer 405 . 407 with his customer peripheral device 102 at the central computer 104 explicitly neither logging in nor out, which makes handling easier and more secure. This also ensures that the data of customers who carry out the purchase with the method according to the invention, in any case to the central computer 104 be transmitted. Secondly, it also ensures that data is only collected during the shopping and can then be deleted again.

Indicated by the symbol 550 , the next two steps take place parallel to each other, ie at the same time side by side. On the one hand, this is done in a fifth process step 505 running the current value of the V-index 327 determined.

On the other hand - in parallel - in a sixth process step 506 based on the transmitted position data 222 constantly checked whether the customer -. B. the customer 407 - already in the "self-checkout area" 404 located. As long as this is not the case, the customer receives 407 in a seventh process step 507 on his customer peripheral device 102 a corresponding message, in particular a feedback that the payment process only in the "self-checkout area" 404 possible, combined with a navigation aid for one, preferably the optimal way to the "self-checkout area" 404 , This notification is given in particular if the customer 407 outside the "self-checkout area" 404 Tried about his customer peripheral device 102 to initiate the payment process.

Is the customer - z. B. the customer 405 - in the "self-checkout area" 404 or he enters this, is in an eighth step 508 first until the time this happens - especially from the central computer 104 - is determined, currently determined value of the V-index 327 determined and examined by means of which type and / or scope of the review of the customer 405 and the payment process, ie it will be for the customer 405 based on its current V-index 327 Determines which payment options are available for him for the current purchase process and whether he needs to be checked. So if the customer 405 as in the "self-checkout area" 404 is detected, the calculated at this time V-index 327 as - final for the control of the review and the payment process in the context of the current purchase process - basis for the decision regarding Nachkontrolle seen. However, then the result of the review, z. B. Nachkontrolle, again in a then continued determination of the V-index 327 so that the value of the V-index updated by the result of the check 327 ultimately serves as an initial value for a future purchase and is stored as such in the central computer.

In the flowchart after 5 is simplifying the case shown to the customer 405 depending on the current value of the V-index 327 Only two choices are available for the type and / or scope of the review and for the payment process. Will in the eighth step 508 recognized that the V-index 327 exceeds a predetermined threshold, ie a high indexed V-index 327 there is no need for a follow-up check and the payment process can be started. In contrast, in the eighth process step 508 recognized that the V-index 327 does not exceed the predetermined threshold and thus a V-index classified as low 327 there must be a follow-up check. The follow-up check can be done in the "self checkout area" 404 by a member of the store after the payment process or the customer 405 is indicated by references to its customer peripheral device 102 for the payment process led to a normal cash register. The follow-up check can then take place there before the payment process. The payment process in the "self-checkout area" 404 can by the customer 405 be triggered or from the central computer 104 and / or dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 , In any case, it is ensured by the inventive method that the customer 405 paid at the end of his purchase and his actual purchase was controlled.

To do this, at a high V-index 327 in a ninth procedural step 509 Checked whether for the execution of the payment process the arrangement 100 with customer peripheral device 102 , Central computer 104 and / or dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 is arranged according to the possibility described above, that the payment process by the central computer 104 and / or the merchant peripheral device 108 . 109 automatically triggered when the customer 405 the store leaves, and the customer 405 via the customer peripheral device 102 only receives a notification, but no more input - neither on the customer peripheral device 102 still elsewhere - must make. This is called automatic payment. Is such an automatic payment in the arrangement 100 set up or activated, is determined by the arrangement 100 in a tenth process step 510 the payment process - automatic payment - started and executed as soon as the customer 405 in the "self checkout area" 404 located. Is such an automatic payment in the arrangement 100 however, either not set up or not activated, the payment process is in an eleventh step 511 initiated by the customer himself. Preference is also paid here as in automatic payment 510 via the customer peripheral device 102 instead of; the main difference is that the impulse has to be made explicitly by the customer. Optionally, as described above, the payment process by the central computer 104 and / or dealer peripheral device 108 . 109 also triggered automatically and possibly even started when the customer 405 the store leaves, leaving the customer 405 but continuation and conclusion of the payment process expressly, preferably also on the customer peripheral device 102 , must confirm.

Activating automatic payment can be done on different levels. The trading company can optionally deactivate the automatic payment, in parallel, ie in addition to offer a payment process by the customer 405 on the customer peripheral device 102 triggered and / or confirmed, or even more compulsorily active. Furthermore, in the case of a retail company with several shops, activation would only be possible for certain shops, for example in certain countries due to legal circumstances. If the automatic payment when leaving the store is always activated by the retailer and a choice is set up, the customer 405 automatic payment via its customer peripheral device 102 Activate or deactivate yourself.

At a low V-index 327 is in contrast in a twelfth process step 512 Checked whether there is the possibility in the shop, ie whether z. Eg a "self-checkout area" 404 is available and / or if personnel is available for it, a check, in particular a follow-up check, of the customer 405 respectively. 407 in the "self-checkout area" 404 make. If applicable, the customer pays 405 in the thirteenth procedural step 513 with the help of his customer peripheral device 102 by performing on this actively required operating steps, for. B. initiates a payment process and / or confirmed. Subsequently, the member of the shop controls in a fourteenth step 514 the physical cart 303 of the customer 405 in the "self-checkout area" 404 , May, however, a review of the customer 405 respectively. 407 not in the "self-checkout area" 404 be made, the customer becomes 405 respectively. 407 through his customer peripheral device 102 to a - in particular conventional - cash directed. In a fifteenth step 515 At this checkout a follow-up check is carried out and the customer pays 405 respectively. 407 in a sixteenth process step 516 also at this box office. As a result 517 All described variations of the payment process, the current purchase of the customer is paid and checked.

• • aktuelle Positionsdaten, die eine aktuelle Position eines Kunden über der Zeit beinhalten, durch ein vom Kunden mitgeführtes, mobiles Datenperipheriegerät laufend ermittelt und
• • die ermittelten Positionsdaten laufend an eine zentrale Steuereinheit (104) übertragen,

und wird weiterhin

• • von der zentralen Steuereinheit wenigstens aus den Positionsdaten eine Steuergröße für eine Steuerung einer Überprüfung tatsächlicher Einkäufe des Kunden bestimmt,
• • die Steuergröße an wenigstens ein wenigstens einem Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts verfügbares Datenperipheriegerät übertragen und
• • durch die Steuergröße eine vom wenigstens einen Angehörigen des Ladengeschäfts vorzunehmende Überprüfung des Kaufvorgangs über das wenigstens eine dem Angehörigen verfügbare Datenperipheriegerät nach Art und/oder Umfang bestimmt.

In summary, therefore, in a method and arrangement for monitoring and / or controlling a store purchase transaction that can reduce personnel and / or equipment costs without increasing the risk of theft or inconvenience to customers,

• • current position data, which includes a current position of a customer over time, continuously determined by a carried by the customer, mobile data peripherals and
• • the determined position data continuously to a central control unit ( 104 ) transfer,

and will continue

• Determining, from the central control unit at least from the position data, a control variable for controlling a check of actual purchases of the customer,
• • transmit the control quantity to at least one data peripheral device available to at least one member of the store; and
• • determined by the control size to be carried out by at least one member of the store business review of the purchase process on the at least one data available to the dependents data peripheral device by type and / or scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

arrangement

101

Physical shopping cart = actual purchase of the customer

102

Customer peripheral device, z. B. mobile phone / smartphone

103

Reading in and registering 101 in 102

104

mainframe

105

Transfer of data from 102 on 104

106

Radio connection for 105

107

Wireless, secure internet connection for 105

108

Data server available to store retailers: Mobile retailer mobile: Personal peripherals

109

Reliable data peripheral device available to shopkeepers: Dealer Peripheral Device Fixed: Control Peripheral Device

110

Transmission between 104 and 108

111

Wireless, secure internet connection for 110

112

Radio connection for 110

113

Reading from 101 in 108

114

Transmission between 104 and 109

115

Wired secure Internet connection for 114

116

Reading from 101 in 109

117

Radio signals, z. From iBeacons or WLAN transceivers

118

Pay by credit card

119

Pay with cash

200

server

201

signal map

202

Map of position hypotheses

203

enveloping body

204

North angle

205

Mobile application on 102

206

Data transfer between 200 and 205

207

Global Positioning

208

Local position determination

209

location

210

"Quadratic form distance algorithm"

211

"Nearest-Neighbors algorithm"

212

Outlier detection

213

Positionsinterpolationsalgorithmus

214

Supply the measured WLAN and / or Bluetooth signals 210 in 207

215

Global X and Y position

216

Local X and Y position

217

Supply of readings from the compass

218

Supply of the measured values from the acceleration and spin sensor

219

Low Pass Filter

220

Dead Reckoning

221

particulate Filter

222

Resulting global position

300

dates

301

First data package from 300

302

Currently planned purchase of the individual customer 301

303

Current, registered purchase of the individual customer 301

304

Whereabouts of the customer in the store 301

305

To 304 associated residence periods of the customer in the shop 301

306

Customer ID 301

307

Second data packet from 300

308

Past planned purchases from all customers 307

309

Past actual purchases made by all customers 307

310

Results of individual reviews of all customers 307

311

Master data of the trading company

312

Locations of products and / or product groups in the store 311

313

Theft risk of the products or product groups 311

320

regulate

321

First rule out 320

322

Second rule off 320

323

Third rule off 320

324

Fourth rule off 320

325

Fifth rule out 320

326

Determination of the V index

327

Current value of the V-index

400

Display unit of the control peripheral device 109

401

Right side of 400

402

Schematic layout of the shop

403

Exit of the store

404

"Self checkout area" of the store

405

Customer in the store within 404

406

Left side of 400

407

Customer in the store outside 404

500

method

501

First step of 500

502

Second step of 500

503

Third step of 500

504

Fourth step of 500

505

Fifth procedural step of 500

506

Sixth step of 500

507

Seventh step of 500

508

Eighth process step of 500

509

Ninth procedural step of 500

510

Tenth process step of 500

511

Eleventh procedural step of 500

512

Twelfth procedural step of 500

513

Thirteenth procedural step of 500

514

Fourteenth step of 500

515

Fifteenth step of 500

516

Sixteenth procedural step of 500

517

Result of 501 to 516

550

Symbol: 505 and 506 run in parallel

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/iBeacon [0013]
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttering [0076]

Claims (18)

Procedure ( 500 ) for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, where • current item data ( 222 ), which is a current position of a customer ( 405 . 407 ) over time, in particular a current position within the store, by a customer ( 405 . 407 ) carried along, in particular in the store entrained, mobile data peripheral device ( 102 ), in particular a mobile telephone, preferably a smart phone, are determined continuously, the determined position data ( 222 ) continuously to a central control unit ( 104 ), in particular depending on the current position, preferably only at a current position within the store, • by the central control unit ( 104 ) at least from the position data ( 222 ) a control variable ( 327 ) for controlling a check of actual purchases ( 101 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ), in particular continuously determined, 327 ) to at least one data peripheral device available to at least one store user ( 108 . 109 ), in particular continuously transmitted, is, • by the control variable ( 327 ) a check of the purchase process to be carried out by the at least one member of the shop via the at least one data peripheral device ( 108 . 109 ) is determined by type and / or scope. Procedure ( 500 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that • one from the customer ( 405 . 407 ) actual purchase ( 101 ) from that of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the retail store ( 102 ) as registered purchase ( 303 ) and in addition to the central control unit ( 104 ), • the control variable ( 327 ) from the central control unit ( 104 ) for a control of a reconciliation of the actual purchase ( 101 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) with the registered purchase ( 303 ), optionally this determination additionally based on the registered purchase ( 303 ), • in addition to the control variable ( 327 ) also the registered purchase ( 303 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) to the at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the store ( 108 . 109 ) and to reconcile the actual purchase ( 101 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) with the registered purchase ( 303 ) provided. Procedure ( 500 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the retail store ( 102 ) to the central control unit ( 104 ) additionally optionally further data are transmitted concerning • one by the customer ( 405 . 407 ) planned purchase ( 302 ) stored by the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the retail store ( 102 ), • a customer identifier for identifying the customer ( 405 . 407 ), • a payment for the purchase ( 101 . 303 ). Procedure ( 500 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that • a transmission ( 105 ) data relating to the payment from that of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the retail store ( 102 ) to the central control unit ( 104 ) is enabled or disabled depending on the current position, in particular that the transfer is only possible if the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the store ( 102 ) in a given area ( 404 ) of the store, preferably in a predetermined section of an outlet area of the store, and / or • the payment from the central control unit ( 104 ) and / or the at least one Available to the store user data peripheral device ( 108 . 109 ) depending on the current position of the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripherals ( 102 ) is made or blocked, in particular that the payment is only possible if the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the store ( 102 ) in a given area ( 404 ) of the store, preferably in a predetermined portion of an outlet area of the store. Procedure ( 500 ) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that releasing and / or determining a mode of payment from the central control unit ( 104 ) and / or the at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the shop ( 108 . 109 ) depending on a current value of the control variable ( 327 ) he follows. Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the shop ( 108 . 109 ) • the registered purchase ( 303 ) and / or • the current value of the control variable ( 327 ) and / or • the current position, in particular within the store, and / or • an information for payment is displayed. Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the registered purchase ( 303 ) by reading a product identifier ( 103 ) of the actual shopping ( 101 ) by means of the customer peripheral device ( 102 ) is detected. Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central control unit ( 104 ) for determining a current value of the control variable ( 327 ) additionally optionally the following additional data can be used individually or in combination: the customer identifier for identifying the customer ( 405 . 407 ), • whereabouts and length of stay of the customer ( 405 . 407 ), in particular within the store, derived from the current, current position data ( 222 ), • for the current purchase process by the customer ( 405 . 407 ) planned purchase ( 302 ) stored by the customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device carried in the retail store ( 102 ), • a totality of all of our customers ( 405 . 407 ) so far to the central control unit ( 104 ) planned purchases ( 302 ), • a totality of all of our customers ( 405 . 407 ) previously registered purchases ( 303 ), • a set of results of comparisons between registered ( 303 ) and actual purchases ( 101 ) as part of the follow-up checks, • locations of all products in the store, • theft risks of the individual products or product groups. Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central control unit ( 104 ) to the at least one data peripheral device available to the at least one member of the store ( 108 . 109 ) additionally the following additional data can be transmitted: • the current position, • the currently planned purchase ( 302 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ), • the customer identifier for identifying the customer ( 405 . 407 ), • a payment status, • the current value of the taxable amount ( 327 ). Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actual purchase ( 101 ) by reading the product identifier ( 113 . 116 ) by means of the at least one data peripheral device available to the at least one member of the shop ( 108 . 109 ) is detected by this. Procedure ( 500 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central control unit ( 104 ) at least the following data are stored: the customer identifier of at least one customer ( 405 . 407 ) and / or • a last-average value of the control variable ( 327 ) this at least one customer ( 405 . 407 ) and / or • the totality of all of our customers ( 405 . 407 ) previously planned purchases ( 302 ) and / or • the totality of all of our customers ( 405 . 407 ) previously registered purchases ( 303 ) and / or • results of reconciliations between registered ( 303 ) and actual ( 101 ) Purchases as part of the follow-up checks and / or • locations ( 312 ) of all products in the shop, • theft risks ( 313 ) of the individual products or product groups. Arrangement ( 100 ) for monitoring and / or controlling a purchase transaction in a retail store, comprising • one of a customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device to be carried in the retail store ( 102 ), in particular a mobile telephone, preferably a smartphone, for continuously determining at least one current position of a customer ( 405 . 407 ) over the time containing current position data ( 222 ), especially within the store, • a central control unit ( 104 ), to which the determined position data ( 222 ) continuously, in particular depending on the current position, preferably only at a current position within the store, are transferable and which is adapted to, in particular running, at least from the position data ( 222 ) Determining a control quantity ( 327 ) for controlling a check of actual purchases ( 101 ) of the customer ( 405 . 407 ), At least one data peripheral device available to at least one store user ( 108 . 109 ) to which the tax quantity ( 327 ) from the central control unit ( 104 ) is transferable and that is set up according to type and / or extent by the taxable amount ( 327 ) via the at least one data peripheral device available to the user of the store ( 108 . 109 ) certain taxes on a check to be made by the shopper. From a customer ( 405 . 407 ) mobile data peripheral device to be carried in the retail store ( 102 ), in particular a mobile telephone, preferably a smartphone, designed for use in an arrangement ( 100 ) according to claim 12. Central control unit ( 104 ) designed for use in an assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 12. At least one data peripheral device available to a shopper ( 108 . 109 ) designed for use in an assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 12. Computer program product comprising program parts for carrying out a method ( 500 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 11. Machine-readable, in particular computer-readable, data structure generated by a method ( 500 ) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 and / or by at least one computer program product according to claim 16. Machine-readable, in particular computer-readable, data carrier on which at least one computer program product according to claim 16 is recorded and / or stored and / or on which at least one data structure according to claim 17 is kept ready for retrieval.

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