ES2763240T3 - Procedures for influencing buyers in the first moment of truth in a retail establishment - Google Patents

Abstract

A procedure for influencing the selection of products by a buyer during a buyer's shopping journey in a retail establishment, said procedure comprises the steps of: i. placing a multi-communications network (10) for communication of the buyer in a retail establishment (5), the multi-communications network (10) comprises at least one mesh communications network (14) that is configured to track the location of said buyer and at least one star communications network (16) that is configured to transfer information data consisting of one or more voice data, image data, video data and / or financial transaction data to said buyer, said mesh communication network (14) and said star communication network (16) operate within said multi-communication network (10) to produce tracking data and product selection data; ii. providing a logic machine (23), said logic machine (23) being in operative connection with said multi-communication network (10) and managing said multi-communication network (10); iii. track a wireless end device (40), keeping the wireless end device (40) close to said shopper (7) during said shopper's shopping trip at said retail establishment (5), wherein the wireless end device (40) is in follow-up communication with said logic machine (23) through said mesh communication network (14) of said multi-communication network (10); iv. electronically associating said wireless end device (40) to said multi-communications network (10); v. identifying a product on display in said retail establishment (5), said product being very close to said buyer (7); saw. determining a suitable influencer message to transmit to said wireless end device (40) held near said shopper (7) from said logic machine (23); and vii. transmitting from said logic machine (23) said suitable influencing message through said star communications network (16) to said wireless end device (40) held close to said shopper (7) during said shopper's shopping tour at said retail establishment (5).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Procedures for influencing buyers in the first moment of truth in a retail establishment

Cross reference to related request

This application claims priority over United States provisional patent application 61 / 110,202 filed on October 31, 2008, United States non-provisional patent application 12,353,817 filed on January 14, 2009, non-provisional patent application of the United States 12,353,760 filed on January 14, 2009 and the United States non-provisional patent application 12,408,581 filed on March 20, 2009.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to influence on a buyer while shopping in or around a retail establishment. Specifically, influencing a buyer's behavior includes influencing a buyer's purchasing decisions in the first moment of the buyer's truth by transmitting an influential message through a wireless communications multired network to a wireless end device that is You are close to that buyer during your shopping tour of the entire retail establishment.

Background

Retailers are being pressured. These are being pressured by high commodity prices, high transportation costs, high labor costs, and the high cost of advertising inside and outside their retail centers. Retailers now, more than ever, have their profit margins decimated by events beyond their control. Importantly, retailers, who control their own retail space, need to optimize the use of that space so that it considers the buyer's actual needs. Such buyer needs are expensive to obtain and often incomplete. For example, it is known that the collection of buyers' buying habits is acquired at the point of sale. Such data collection is widespread, but does not provide detailed information about a buyer's behavior, i.e. the reasons why a buyer chooses a particular product for purchase. Currently, in addition to following shoppers in a store with one or more trained and qualified people to conduct focus group testing, the ability to obtain shopper information at the decision point is lacking.

Grocery stores are among the hardest hit, as their profit margins are often no more than one to two percent of a store's total sales. Stores currently increase their profit margins by selling shelf space in the store as real estate. To increase the price of shelf space in stores and encourage a greater variety of products in stores, stores need to provide wholesalers of wholesale products with a more effective and influential way of selling their products to shoppers. store. Stores need a way to provide sellers with effective systems and procedures to influence buyers in the first moment of truth, allowing sellers and retailers to sell more products. Sellers will pay premiums to stores that employ such systems and procedures.

Buyers are also affected by increasing prices for basic commodities such as oil, corn, and others. As a result, shoppers have become increasingly aware of the costs of their monthly food bills. However, today's modern lifestyles do not give shoppers the luxury of wasting time searching for and trimming coupons or other savings mechanisms typically offered by retailers. Therefore, shoppers need a way to make shopping easier, faster, and cheaper.

Currently, retailers are attempting to influence shoppers before, during, and after a buyer's product consideration by advertising products at the retail location through in-store speakers, through elaborate displays, attached fixed print ads to shopping carts, weekly circular announcements provided to shoppers as they enter the store, and electronic labels affixed to shelves displaying products. These procedures are inefficient and often result in higher costs for the store, which are passed on to customers.

Therefore, a low-cost, highly effective, and highly reliable in-store system is needed to track, analyze, and respond to a buyer's decision-making regarding a product. It is important that such systems and procedures serve to improve, simplify, and streamline a buyer's experience with very little, if any, cost transfer to buyers, and little, if any, negative impact on a company's profit margin. store. This has been accomplished by one or more of the embodiments described below and will now be explained in greater detail and particularity.

US-A-2008/0189170 discloses a context-sensitive content delivery system based on the sensor network.

Summary

In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided as defined hereafter in claim 1.

In an exemplary embodiment of the system of influencing a buyer's product selection during a buyer's shopping journey at a retail establishment, the following are present: (1) a communications network placed around said retail establishment; (2) a logical machine operatively connected to said communication multinetwork, the logical machine manages said communication multinetwork; and (3) a wireless end device placed near said buyer. The wireless end device collects product-related information from said buyer, and is in follow-up communication through said communications multinetwork with the logical machine. The logic machine delivers an influential message, intended to influence the buyer's product selection, to the buyer's wireless end device.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a system for influencing an early shopper's selection of products in a retail establishment is described, comprising a number of elements that will be addressed in turn.

The first element of this execution includes a communications network placed around said retail establishment. Second, a logical machine is operatively connected to said communications network to organize and manage data communication through the communications network. Third, the products placed around said retail establishment for purchase by said buyer have specific known product locations in the retail establishment. Fourth, this execution includes a map of said retail establishment in which a two-dimensional X and Y grid is juxtaposed on top of said map of said retail establishment to provide each element on said map of said retail establishment with a set of positional coordinates X and Y. Fifth, a product location map is provided, where the logic machine knows most of the product locations placed around the retail store. Sixth, a wireless end device is placed near said buyer.

In such an execution, the wireless end device is operatively connected to a location tracking device which is tracked through said communications network by the logic machine to produce buyer location data. Furthermore, the wireless end device is operatively connected to a product scanning device. The buyer scans each product they intend to buy with the product scanning device to create product selection data. Furthermore, the wireless end device transmits the product selection data to the logical machine which then compares the product selection data for a single product selected by that buyer with said buyer location data collected at the time said products were collected. product selection data. This creates a location relationship between the buyer and the product.

The logic machine examines the location relationship between the buyer and the product, the product selection location data, and the product selection data for that buyer to determine if that buyer experienced a first moment of truth. The logic machine then creates an influential message and delivers it through said communications network to the wireless end device located near said buyer. Finally, the influential message influences said buyer just before, at or near said first moment of truth.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a method is described for influencing a buyer's product selection during a buyer's shopping journey at a retail location. Said procedure comprises a first stage of placing a communications network around a retail establishment. This communications network includes a mesh communications network and a star communications network. Next, a logical machine is provided in operational connection with said communications network. A wireless end device is provided to said buyer to remain in a position close to said buyer during said buyer's shopping tour at said retail establishment. The wireless end device is in follow-up communication with the mesh communications network of said communication network. The wireless end device is then electronically associated with said communication network. The logic machine then identifies a product on display at said retail establishment that is between approximately fifteen and twenty-four centimeters (six inches) and approximately three meters from the buyer. The logical machine then determines an influential message to transmit to the wireless end device kept close to that buyer and transmits the influential message to the wireless end device of the buyer. In the exemplary embodiment, said buyer has the option to select that they do not wish to receive influential messages that are sent to their wireless end device.

Other embodiments of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of these embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

While the specification concludes with claims that particularly point to and clearly claim the invention, the embodiments will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which the same reference numbers identify the same elements and in which :

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a store having a multi-store based preferred store for communication;

Figure 2A and Figure 2B provide a schematic view of an exemplary mesh communication network that can be used in a store;

Figure 3A and Figure 3B provide a schematic view of an exemplary star communications network that can be used in a store;

Figure 4 provides a schematic view of a store providing an exemplary communications network with a star communications network and a mesh communications network that can be used in a store;

Figure 5 provides a flow chart of one embodiment of the system and procedure for calculating, storing, and tracking the location of a buyer's alleged location in the store; Figure 6 provides a flow chart of an alternative embodiment of the system and procedure for calculating, storing, and tracking the location of a buyer's alleged location in the store;

Figure 7 provides a schematic front view of a wireless end device used by a manager, associate, or buyer; and

Figure 8 provides a schematic of a smart shopping cart used by a shopper in a store.

Description of reference numbers

With reference to the drawings, the same reference characters denote the same elements in all the drawings. The following is a list of the reference characters and the associated element:

5 Shop

6 Multi-network communication line

7 Buyer

8 Associate

9 Manager

10 Communications network

11 Multi-network router

14 Mesh communication network

16 Star Communications Network

19 System communication line

20 Data communication radio

21 Multired Organizer

23 Logic machine

25 Switch

27 Gateway server

29 Store server

31 Location Tracking Server

40 Wireless End Device

42 interface keys

44 Cart key

50 Smart Shopping Cart

52 Mango

54 Basket

55 Inner surface of the shopping cart

56 Under the car

58 Weighing Device

60 Hook

Detailed description

The term "first moment of truth" is the moment of decision that a buyer takes to first consider a product for purchase through choosing or not choosing the considered product. Additionally, the key components of the first moment of truth include 1) the product considered for selection, 2) if it is selected for purchase; the selected product, 3) the amount of time a buyer spends considering a particular product for selection, 4) a buyer's alleged location in a store relative to the location of a product that is considered the product of choice (for example, on products, on a screen, at the beginning or end of the rows, etc.) and one, two, three or four of any of the four key elements mentioned above. Typically, the first moment of truth varies in time from about two to about seven seconds. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the first moment of truth can extend beyond the typical threshold and that such extension remains part of the definition herein for the first moment of truth.

The terms "intended purchase" and "intent to purchase" as used herein mean that the buyer removes the product from the store shelf, kiosk, or display considering the potential purchase and the products the buyer has included on your shopping list.

The term "tracking communication", as used herein, means the ability of the communications network to track wireless end devices when those devices are placed near a buyer.

The term "gateway server," as used herein, means a server that receives data from the store's communications network through a switch that the gateway server is routing to other servers in the store. the store, such as an associated task management server, a computer-assisted ordering computer, a point of sale server, location tracking server, an ISP server, or other store computer.

The term "computational functions" as used herein means any and all computational tasks or routines based on a microprocessor or microcontroller commonly known in the art that occur in a computer or computer-like device comprising software, memory and a processor.

The term "computational work", as used herein, means those common computational types associated with known types of computers and / or device servers that have complex microcontrollers and / or central processing units (CPUs). Such devices that perform computational work typically have the ability to transport extensive software and execute various types of routines and subroutines on it.

The terms "influences" or "influences" on product selection mean the ability of the system to make a buyer aware of the following: (1) potential health risks; (2) less expensive alternative products; (3) better rated alternative products; (4) complementary products to be added to the chosen products or to be chosen soon; and / or (5) product information. It should be noted herein that the preferred influence causes a buyer to act or not act in a manner consistent with the best interests of the buyer.

The term "wireless end device", as used herein, means an electronic device, and ideally a portable electronic device, that works wirelessly through a communications network and is used close to the buyer while touring the entire retail establishment. Each wireless end device functions as a blind node in the entire communication network.

The term "blind node", as used herein, means those nodes of the communications multired that would be unknown to the system except for the tracking location subsystem.

In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless end device is coupled to a "product scanning device". As used herein, the term "product scanning device" refers to an electronic device for scanning readable media. A product scanning device includes, among others, image generators capable of taking pictures. A readable medium is a unique identifier for an item or class of items in the retail establishment that can be read and understood by an electronic device and, in some cases, a human being. A barcode is an example of a readable medium. Barcodes include, but are not limited to, a Global Business Identification Number (GTIN), UPC, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN13, eAn 8, Databar (multiple versions), GS1-128 and any other codes of product identification known to those skilled in the art.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wireless end device is temporarily attached to a smart shopping cart, with which the wireless end device is kept close to the buyer. In this embodiment, both the wireless end device and the smart shopping cart are communicatively associated and connected to the communications network. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the wireless end device is permanently coupled to a smart shopping cart. The smart shopping cart is a shopping cart that is configured to receive and weigh items within it. The smart shopping cart is in follow-up communication with the mesh communications network of the communications network.

Systems and procedures are provided herein to implement a variety of ways to influence a buyer's product selection when that buyer purchases in a retail environment with a wireless end device. In an exemplary embodiment, a retail establishment captures current buyer behavior data, in real time, the sum total of the buyer's location data, product selection data, and product selection time data, which are used to create one or more influential messages. These various types of data will be defined in turn.

The term "buyer's location data", as used herein, means the estimated buyer's location that is tracked through a location tracking device associated with a wireless end device in relation to known product locations. The buyer's location data is collected as a product of the tracking location subsystem, in which the logical machine tracks a buyer's assumed locations while touring with the wireless end device throughout the retail establishment. Because the retailer through the location tracking subsystem is actually tracking the location of the location tracking device associated with the wireless end device that is keeping close to shoppers, but is not actually doing a human tracking, buyers' locations are assumed. Sometimes shoppers stray away from their assigned wireless end device that is attached to the location tracking device. On these occasions, the buyer's location data is inaccurate. To be clear, the buyer's location data is accurate within a predetermined tolerated error range.

The term "product selection data", as used herein, means the information collected when a product scanning device scans the readable media of the selected products for purchase by the buyer. Such product selection data includes, among others, the identity of each product (by name and / or internal code) and price. In some cases, product selection data includes the identity of the manufacturer or supplier of the product in the store. In certain cases, product selection data includes the weight or some similar unit of measure (volume) of the product selected by the buyer for purchase. In exemplary embodiments, the product selection data also includes a timestamp for each product selection data collected by the product scanning device.

The term "product selection time data", as used herein, means the amount of time that the buyer spends during each product selection time period, in which the logical machine tracks such amount of time. The logic machine creates product selection time data by beginning to record the amount of time that passes from the time the shopper begins to slow down their store travel time while their location matches location data. of a product until the moment the buyer scans the readable medium of one or more products. Product selection time data is determined and tracked by a time measurement device physically located within the wireless end device, time measurement software programmed into the wireless end device, or associated hardware or software. the logical machine. In exemplary embodiments, such product selection time data is removed when a false first moment of truth is detected. The first moment of false truth detection will be addressed in more detail below. The system knows the time data for product selection, as their approximate positions become known as the buyer goes through the entire store, and this location tracking data can be evaluated moment by moment in real time.

In an exemplary embodiment, the retail location, specifically through the logic machine, knows the location of each product or each group of products, known herein as product locations, because store employees have recorded the locations of each group of products in a product database as they store the items in the store. Product group locations They receive coordinates on a product location map, just like almost all other physical store elements are assigned coordinates on a two-dimensional X and Y grid placed on or juxtaposed on the store map. In an exemplary embodiment, the retail establishment, through a logical machine, can know the precise location of more than eighty percent of the products exhibited in said retail establishment. In alternative embodiments, the retail establishment knows the majority of the product locations, the precise locations of the products on display at said retail establishment. Therefore, with the knowledge of the supposed location of each wireless end device in the retail establishment through the buyer's location data collected in real time, and with the knowledge of the product locations, the retail establishment can compare the Buyer location data with product locations to determine when a buyer is near certain products on display at the retail location.

In practice, the system herein detects the buyer's participation in product selection when it detects that its speed is substantially slower than the buyer's average rate of speed and when the buyer's alleged location in the store is opposite a display of products in the store. Part of this detection includes the comparison of the two relative speeds between the time of consideration of the product for a possible purchase and the typical journey of the buyer through a store. In exemplary embodiments, the store has a detailed profile on the particular buyer, in which the detailed profile includes the average rate of speed of the buyer in the store, so that the detection of the logical machine of a first moment of truth is highly accurate.

The term "current real-time buyer behavior data," as used herein, refers to the sum total of buyer identification data, location tracking data, product scan data, and the product selection time data. Ideally, current real-time buyer behavior data also includes the buyer's personal and demographic profile.

The retail store's logic machine, which uses such current buyer behavior data in real time, creates and transmits an influential message to the wireless end device, which is in close proximity to that shopper while shopping in or around the retail store. In alternative embodiments, the retailer only uses the product selection time data and the buyer's location tracking data to create influential messages that are then relayed to the wireless end device in the vicinity of that buyer when they shop in or around of the retail establishment.

The logic machine creates "shopping trip time data", referred to herein as the total amount of time each buyer spends on their entire shopping tour. If the buyer has not completed their shopping tour, then the shopping tour time data is incomplete, but reflects the amount of time that buyer has spent so far on their current shopping tour. To create such shopping journey time data, said logic machine records the total amount of time the buyer spends in the store from the first time the buyer's wireless end device associates with the store's communications network until the moment the buyer leaves the store.

To be clear, the term "logical machine", as used herein, means one or more electronic devices comprising a switch and a server. The logic machine includes hardware such as one or more server-level computers, but it also includes the ability to perform certain computational functions through software. Mechanisms known in the art other than software can be used, provided that the mechanism allows the logic machine to pass through logic functions to provide location calculations, evaluations, behavior times, etc. The logic machine is also capable of performing the functions of the switch, gateway server, and store computers, such as an associated task management server, a computer with a computer-aided ordering system, a processor in the store (ISP server), location tracking server, commerce server or other store computer. In addition, the Logic Machine serves as the primary database for the retail establishment, including, but not limited to, the Product Database and the Buyer Profile Database. Functionally, the logical machine routes, organizes, manages and stores the data received from other members of the communications network. In exemplary embodiments, the logic machine has the means to perform ray tracing calculations and blind node location calculations. Although the embodiments described herein refer to "one logical machine", it is contemplated that multiple logical machines can be used to perform the same function in the communications network.

In the systems and procedures disclosed herein, most, if not all, of the necessary wireless electronic communications between buyers and the retail establishment is via a communications network when such wireless electronic communication occurs within the facility. retail establishment, on the premises of the retail establishment, which may include the limit controlled by the retail establishment (for example, store parking). In embodiments where a communications multi-network is enabled, two or more communications networks work together, although not necessarily in a dependent manner, to track the location of the wireless end devices used by buyers, to track the location of the products, to track the first moments of truth and learn the identities of products and buyers in or around the retail establishment.

The communications multi-network comprises: (1) at least two mesh communication networks; (2) at least two star communication networks; (3) at least one star communications network and at least one mesh communications network through which the location tracking device operates; or (4) two or more types of communication networks known to those skilled in the art. In selected embodiments, the communications multi-network is a single network architecture, but it operates functionally as two or more networks that operate differently. For example, there may be a single network that functions as a star communications network and a mesh communications network at the same time.

An exemplary mesh communications network is a ZIGBEE communications network that operates within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 communication protocol, but one skilled in the art will appreciate the alternative communication protocols that can be employed. instead of 802.15.4. The benefits of using the ZIGBEE communications network as a mesh communications network herein are various. The ZIGBEE communications network is known for its low power consumption, low implementation cost, high density of component use (for example, the use of dozens, if not hundreds, of multi-network routers and / or wireless end devices for a network communications network), and its simple communications protocol. ZIGBEE protocols are designed for use in wireless communication networks requiring low data rates and low power consumption. The ZIGBEE communications network also provides a low-cost communications network that can be used for industrial control, integrated detection, medical data collection, smoke and intruder warning, building automation, home automation, and many others. The resulting network uses very small amounts of energy that can then allow individual devices to operate for up to a year or more using the originally installed batteries.

The ZIGBEE protocol works in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio bands; that is, 868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in the United States, and 2.4 GHz in most other jurisdictions in the world. ZIGBEE technology is designed to be simple, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. In one execution, the most capable multi-network router within the ZIGBEE communications network requires only about 10% of the software of a typical BLUETOOTH or other wireless internet node, although a BLUETOOTH execution is also contemplated herein. In another execution, the multi-network router only contains approximately 2% of the software of a typical BLUETOOTH or other wireless internet node for use in the ZIGBEE 15 communication network, greatly reducing the technical complexity and possible costs of maintenance.

The star network of the communications network also works within the IEEE 802.15.4 communication protocol, although it could work in a different protocol, depending on the specific application contemplated. In addition, each mesh communication network includes a mesh network organizer. In certain embodiments of the communication multi-network, the mesh network organizer is hosted with a data communication radio in a device called a multi-network organizer, and one or more information routers.

The mesh network organizer, a radio for the mesh communication network, assigns addresses to all members of the mesh communication network. The mesh network organizer is the only entry point to the mesh communication network from the gateway server. The mesh network organizer routes information, also known as data packets, to and from information routers and the central store computer. In one embodiment, the mesh network organizer routes location tracking data to and from the information routers and the logical machine. In one embodiment, the mesh network organizer communicates with the logic machine through an Ethernet cable, while communicating wirelessly through the mesh communication network to the other devices connected to the mesh communication network. mesh. Other devices connected to the mesh communications network may include information routers, wireless end devices, smart shopping carts, HVAC monitors and controls, security systems, traffic counters, and other electronic devices, depending on the specific application contemplated. Both communication between information routers and communication between information routers and the mesh network organizer can be wired or wireless. Functionally, the mesh network organizer routes location tracking data from wireless end devices from associates and buyers to managers. Because the mesh network organizer transmits data over a radio, it transmits or radiates radio waves to other members of the mesh communication network.

Information routers, also known as stationary reference nodes, are end nodes and fixed members of the mesh communication network. Each stationary reference node works through the mesh communications network to receive information and send information to smart shopping carts, wireless end devices, the mesh network organizer, other information routers, and other communicatively coupled network devices to the mesh communications network. Each information router transmits the Received Signal. Force Indication (RSSI), X and Y coordinates pertaining to the position of the information router and the address of the closest data communication radio to any requesting wireless end device. Each information router comprises one or more radios. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: Texas Instruments 2430 and 2431 models.

In those embodiments using one or more star communication networks, the star communication network comprises data communication radios that function as hub nodes or central nodes of each star communication network. Data communication radio routes data information, too known as data packets, to and from wireless end devices and the logic machine. In one embodiment, the data communication radio transmits data through a cable, for example, an Ethernet cable, when it communicates with the logical machine, while simultaneously communicating wirelessly through the star communications network to wireless end devices, smart shopping carts and / or other blind nodes and electrical devices connected to the star communications network. Functionally, the data communication radio routes data, such as influential messages from the logic machine to wireless end devices. Data communication radio transmits or radiates radio waves to other members of the star communications network rather than strictly in a straight line.

In exemplary embodiments of the communications multi-network including a mesh communications network and a star communications network, the information communications router of the mesh communications network and the data communication radio of the star communications network are they are housed together in a device referred to herein as a multi-network router. Each of these multi-network routers houses at least three microcontroller unit (MCU) radios: one that functions as an information router for the mesh communications network, and at least two that function as data communication radios for the network communications star. Two of the three radios are low-power radios, including but not limited to the Texas Instruments 2430 or 2431 models, while the third radio is a higher powered controller, such as the Texas Instruments models above the 243x series. . Functionally, multi-network routers communicate wirelessly or by cable to other multi-network routers. Ideally, multi-network routers communicate wirelessly with wireless end devices, smart shopping carts, and other electrical devices used by shoppers, associates, and managers within the store. Multi-network routers communicate with the central computer, or logic machine, through the multi-network organizer.

In exemplary embodiments, the location tracking of buyers is performed through the mesh communications network of the communications network, although it is possible to operate said tracking function through the star communications network. The wireless end device communicates with the stationary radios of a communications network (the information routers of the mesh communications network, the data communication radios of the star communications network or the multired router of the communications network. ). Stationary radios transmit their set of X and Y positional coordinates to the wireless end device positioned near the buyer as it moves throughout the retail establishment. In addition, the signal strength of each stationary radio is measured by the wireless end device, logic machine, or other server in the store, such as the location tracking server. The X and Y set of positional coordinates of the wireless end device is calculated based on the measured signal strength and the X and Y set of positional coordinates of the closest stationary routers. The buyer location tracking subsystem of certain embodiments of the invention is described in more detail in United States Non-Provisional Patent Application 12,353,817 filed on January 14, 2009.

In an exemplary embodiment, the logic machine stores location data on products and buyers within a store. In a sample buyer location tracking subsystem, the logic machine creates a historical progression, which is a map of the path a buyer follows while shopping at a store. The logical machine matches the historical progression taken for a particular shopping tour with the list of items purchased by the buyer on that particular shopping tour.

To be clear, any computation or storage completed by the logical machine can be performed, in selected embodiments, by a specific server called a location tracking server. Therefore, each time a logical machine is used in this context herein, the use of a location tracking server is contemplated. The wireless end device continuously transmits its unique identification address to the logical machine, allowing the logical machine to create buyer location data. As used above, the term "continuously" herein means a predetermined time interval, eg, every five seconds or every ten seconds, as determined by the software engineer. Furthermore, when said wireless end device is stopped for a predetermined period of time programmed in the software of the wireless end device, the wireless end device is automatically disconnected or turned off and continuous transmission of the unique identification address of the wireless end device ceases. Any time period can be configured to be the default period of time before the wireless end device turns off, such as ten minutes or thirty minutes. The benefit of the ability to automatically disconnect is reduced power consumption. Also, in exemplary embodiments, when the wireless end device returns to a state of motion from its stationary position, the wireless end device automatically powers on to restore continuous transmission and tracking characteristics.

In exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods herein, the retail establishment, specifically the logic machine, detects each buyer's first moment of truth before an influential message is delivered to said buyer's wireless end device. In some embodiments, the retail establishment assumes that the buyer is experiencing a first moment of truth when the buyer's location tracking device pauses for a predetermined period of time, for example three seconds, versus the locations of the products. In other embodiments, the retail establishment assumes that the buyer is experiencing a first moment of truth when such a device Such buyer's location tracking slows down at a predetermined rate within said store when it is within a predetermined proportion of the products on display. In still other embodiments, the retail establishment assumes that the buyer is experiencing a first moment of truth based on a comparison of the speed and location of said buyer in said retail establishment (or buyer's location data) with the grocery shopping list. said buyer and the proximity of said products on the screen in said retail establishment that are on said buyer's shopping list.

In some embodiments, a corroboration procedure is used to determine whether an alleged first moment of truth is in fact a false moment of truth. To be clear, the logical machine can detect a false first moment of truth when the buyer appears to be considering a product for purchase, but is not actually considering a product for selection. For example, with the knowledge of the buyer's location tracking data that means for said logic machine that said buyer is in the meat department and that it is slowing down, the software on the logic machine triggers a possible first moment of the truth, indicating that an influential message must be delivered. However, with additional information, such as knowledge of a "cleanup" at the buyer's location (in this example, the meat department), the logic machine determines that the buyer is likely experiencing a false first moment of truth. When the logical machine determines that the supposed first moment of truth is false, the logical machine does not send such an influential message to that buyer.

Corroboration of the first moment of truth can be accomplished in several ways. In some embodiments, the software on the logic machine evaluates the buyer's location data relative to said product selection data to reduce, or even eliminate inconsistent information, and prevent the transmission of influential messages at first from the false truth. In other embodiments, said logic machine evaluates the buyer's location data relative to said shopping journey time data to identify a false first moment of truth. In another embodiment, said logic machine evaluates the buyer's location data relative to said shopping trip time data and said buyer's travel speed to determine if a false first moment of truth is present. After a first moment of truth is detected, and corroborated in certain embodiments, the software on the logic machine is programmed to automatically transmit one or more influential messages, which are often product and location specific, to influence the buyer behavior.

Before the influential message is transmitted, it is created by the logical machine. When the buyer's unique personal identity is known, the influential message can be tailored to the particular buyer's interests and past buying behavior. Since whenever a wireless end device is in close proximity to the store, the wireless end device partners with the store's communications network by sending a signal to the logic machine, the retailer knows the buyer's unique personal identity whenever The buyer purchases with their wireless end device.

Buyer identification occurs in a number of ways, usually at the beginning of each shopping journey, when the buyer begins to use the wireless end device. In some embodiments, if said wireless end device is temporarily assigned to said buyer at the beginning of said shopping tour, the buyer's unique personal identity is disclosed to the retail establishment at the time the buyer scans the readable medium of a card of the exemplary buyer on a product scanning device associated with their wireless end device.

In other embodiments, if said buyer enters said store with a wireless end device previously assigned to it permanently or semi-permanently, or even if said wireless end device was acquired by it, the buyer's unique personal identity will be disclosed to the establishment retail at the time the wireless end device associates with said communications network of said retail establishment. When the wireless end device has been previously assigned to that buyer permanently or semi-permanently, the buyer previously scanned the readable media from their buyer card into the product scanning device associated with their wireless end device, thereby allowing the personal identity This buyer's unique identity is identified with the initial association with the retailer.

A current physical buyer card is not required to identify the personal and unique identity of that buyer. If said store does not use the buyer's cards, then the unique personal identity of said buyer will be released to the retail environment at the time said buyer voluntarily provides his or her unique personal identity information to said retail establishment and their customer information is entered. unique personal identity in said logical machine. The logic machine then opens an electronic file for said buyer that is associated with the unique identification address of the wireless end device that said buyer will use. The entry of unique personal identity information into the logical machine can occur directly or indirectly. If it occurs indirectly, then said associate or said manager enters said unique personal identity information into a computer that is communicatively connected to said communication multired which then transmits the unique personal identity information through said communication multired to said logical machine.

In an exemplary embodiment, an intelligent shopping cart is associated with the communications network by transmitting a signal to the logical machine when it is in motion. The smart shopping cart then automatically closes its communication with members of the communications multired when it is left in the same location for a certain period of time, for example, ten or fifteen minutes. Therefore, the smart shopping cart is not associated with, and is not in follow-up communication with, said logical machine when said smart shopping cart has not been in motion for a predetermined period of time. As with the wireless end device, automatic shutdown saves energy when the smart shopping cart is not in use. Software loaded into the smart shopping cart or logic machine allows a tolerance range to be set, allowing the store to customize the amount of time the smart shopping cart can be idle before power is reduced. In an alternative embodiment, the smart shopping cart is in continuous or near-continuous communication with the communications multi-network, provided it remains close to the communications multi-network.

With the knowledge of the general buyer preferences based on a category of buyers of which the individual buyer is a member, and with the knowledge of the buyer's precise real-time location, the logical machine transmits one or more influential messages tailored to (1) general or assumed buyer preferences, and (2) the buyer's precise real-time location in the store. For example, Mariah, a 29-year-old professional African American woman who is a loyal shopper for the brand, begins shopping at the store with a wireless device that was assigned to her two years ago by the store. Mariah scanned the readable media of her preferred shopper card two years ago when she received the wireless device. When Mariah begins shopping at the store with her wireless end device, the wireless end device partners with the store's communications network, causing the store to detect her presence in the store. The retail outlet places Mariah in a category of shoppers who share a similar buying behavior trait, such as brand loyalty. In some embodiments, the retail establishment, through logic machines, transmits one or more influential messages, tailored to the buyer category, to all members of the buyer category at their respective entrances to the retail establishment. In exemplary embodiments, the logical machine transmits influential messages tailored to the buyer category to all members of the buyer category when a first moment of truth is detected.

In other embodiments, the retail establishment classifies buyers based on demographics rather than past purchase behavior. In still other exemplary embodiments, said retail establishments classify shoppers based on previously displayed buyer behavior and demographics. In such an embodiment, the retail establishment will tailor an influential message to all professional African American women between the ages of 25 and 35, who are brand loyal. In this case, Mariah will receive the same influential messages as all other well-known members of the shopper category that includes professional African American women between the ages of 25 and 35, who are brand loyal.

Influential messages include suggestions that the buyer buys a different size or quantity of a particular brand of detergent from which the retail establishment makes higher profits, for example. Other possible messages to influence shoppers include suggestions for purchasing additional products that other members of the similar shopper category frequently buy. For example, while Mariah is in the hallway displaying laundry detergents, the retail establishment, who knows her unique personal identity information and location within the store, transmits influential messages to her wireless device suggesting that she purchase a fabric softener. fabrics or a wrinkle release agent.

In other embodiments, each buyer receives influential messages specifically tailored to their unique personal identity information in the first moment of truth. This influential message may be in addition to or instead of influential messages tailored to the category of buyers of which the buyer is a member. For example, the store knows that Steve, a 59-year-old Caucasian, spends $ 100 each week at the store, and when he buys laundry detergent, he only buys laundry detergents marketed under the trademark TIDE® (3389568; The Procter and Gamble Company; laundry detergent). With this knowledge, the store can offer Steve a special offer, such as a $ 5 discount on the purchase price, to purchase a laundry detergent sold under the trademark CHEER® (2825038, The Procter and Gamble Company; laundry detergent) to entice you to change brands. Steve benefits because he receives a discount on his detergent. The retail establishment also benefits in several ways, including meeting certain sales targets to maintain or attract certain suppliers, and potentially higher profit margins. For example, the retail establishment may have higher profits on CHEER® than on TIDE®, therefore, when Steve purchases CHEER® and potentially rebrands, the retail establishment experiences higher profit margins.

The retailer learns the personal preferences of the buyer in several ways. For example, the retailer may have the buyer complete surveys on store conditions, preferred products, and suggestions on how to improve the shopping experience. Surveys can be completed on paper or electronically at the retail establishment or at home. The retailer may also learn about the buyer's personal preferences by reviewing each buyer's purchasing history with the retailer. Retail establishments also have access to buyer-generated shopping lists, as the system allows shopping lists to be created and shared with retail establishments in various ways. Buyers can scan the readable media of products as buyers use products in their homes using product scanning devices associated with wireless end devices that they have taken home. Alternatively, said shopping list may be created electronically by said buyer on a website owned by a retail establishment or monitored which then communicates said shopping list to the logical machine of the retail establishment from which said buyer buys.

In exemplary embodiments, the logic machine knows a variety of information including, but not limited to, the following: (1) demographic information collected from shoppers when they obtain preferred shopping cards; (2) the purchase history associated with exemplary purchase cards; (3) historical progression; (4) information collected from buyer surveys; and (5) shopping lists and / or inventory lists created by buyers in non-store locations (such as their homes) on their personal computers or wireless end devices. The buyer creates a significant amount of buyer information known to the retailer in non-store locations. Much of this buyer information is provided by the buyer while at home through the buyer's permanent or semi-permanent wireless end device, or online. Retailers with access to this large amount of buyer information created in non-store locations use that buyer information to influence shoppers by tailoring influencer messages or by selecting appropriate pre-made influencer messages to use on shoppers. during your next shopping tour.

It is advantageous for both retail establishments and buyers for retail establishments to have access to buyers' shopping lists, because retail establishments may suggest purchasing additional items that (1) complement the buyer's shopping list to provide a full menu, or (2) complete a recipe. For example, in the event that the buyer has hot dogs and buns on their shopping list, the retailer conveys an influential message, suggesting that the buyer consider buying ketchup, mustard, and pickle sauce, to the wireless end devices used by the buyer when the buyer is in the condiment aisle. Alternatively, the retailer may suggest that the buyer use a recipe that can be created by purchasing a few additional ingredients. For example, when the retail establishment detects that the buyer has chips and salsa on their shopping list, the retail establishment may convey an influential message suggesting that the buyer also purchase cheese to make nachos.

With knowledge of the buyer's inventory list combined with knowledge that the buyer is in a certain department of the retail establishment, the retail establishment can send you an influential message just before or just as the buyer begins to leave that department. For example, the retailer may send a reminder to the buyer not to forget certain products for sale in that particular department that are not on that buyer's inventory list.

Just as buyers vary from one to another, so does the content of influential messages. The content of influential messages includes, but is not limited to: the recipe suggestion form; suggested entries for the buyer's shopping list; electronic coupons; the specific price of an item, which is similar to a coupon but may better reflect the supply and demand relationship between the retail environment and your customer; alerts when a buyer has passed a product on their shopping list; discounts; product reviews; competitive product offerings; better savings opportunities (for example, a potential system alert might read: "We see you have selected five two-liter soft drinks, buy five more, and receive a $ 2.00 discount"); co-branding opportunities (for example, "We see you selected COCA COLA®, a trademark of The Coca-Cola Company for non-alcoholic beverages, why not try LAY'S®, a trademark of Recot, Inc. for potato chips, together with your COCA COLA®? "); responses to the historical progression of product selection; general product warnings (for example, "This product contains iron" or "This is a dairy product"); Product warnings tailored to the buyer's profile (for example, a buyer's profile includes allergen data that someone in the buyer's family is allergic to peanuts, therefore the influential message may be "The product you just selected it was produced in a factory that handles peanuts. "); combined product warnings (for example, "We see that you purchased a prescription medication last week that may conflict with the prescription medication that you ordered withdrawn today, consult your physician before taking two prescription medications."); health awareness alerts that provide specific product information, such as sodium or fat content; product and store surveys; internal maps on how to find products within the retail establishment; and other influential messages known in the art. In addition, influential messages may vary in the type of medium used, such as text messages, electronic photographs, illustrations, videos, audio, hyperlinks, and interactive messages.

In addition to these procedures for adapting influential messages to the buyer's product consideration, the logic machine adapts influential messages using information that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) the time and date the buyer is at the retail establishment; (2) general buyer preferences already known to the retail establishment; (3) the personal preferences of the buyer already known to the retail establishment; (4) the buyer's previous purchases; (5) the buyer's real-time anticipated purchases known in the store through the logical machine organization of the product scan data and the buyer's location data; (6) the buyer's shopping list; (7) the inventory list of the buyer's home; (8) the actual period of time the buyer spends considering purchasing a particular product or class of products; (9) the amount of money the buyer chooses to spend on one or more items in accordance with the buyer's budget for one or more items; (10) promotional prices (advertised or not) currently at the retail location; (11) electronic coupons previously submitted by the buyer or previously scanned paper coupons; (12) buyer requests for "health alerts" (example: allergens) on your profile; and (13) the buyer's request for alerts to mark individual packages due to close expiration dates for the categories they intend to purchase. The above list is not exhaustive and additions to the list can be easily made.

Ideally, the system provides influential messages that then influence the buyer's product selection and the buyer purchases the products. Such influence includes, among others, adding more products to those chosen or considered, exchanging a chosen or considered product for one suggested by the system and / or eliminating a chosen product due to any known allergic or chemical reaction from the buyer or members of a buyer's house. Logic machines can measure each reaction when the current data on buyer behavior is known in real time. However, even if influential messages do not influence the buyer's product selection, the retail outlet knows the buyer's decision not to follow the retail outlet's suggestion and may retain that buyer-specific information for further analysis and review of the reasons why the product was not selected. The retail establishment can analyze which types of influential messages are most effective and even which displays in the retail establishment influenced or did not influence the buyer to choose or not to choose the products. This information gives retailers the opportunity to tailor future influencer messages to be superior to all other types of influencer messages.

Rather, there are embodiments in which influential messages are not tailored to the individual by the logical machine, but are selected from a variety of ready-made influential messages. In this case, the system selects the most influential of the prepared influencer messages, based on the current data of buyer behavior in real time. Other embodiments employ a mix of personalized and pre-made influential messages.

In an exemplary embodiment, shoppers "opt" for the types of influential messages they want to receive. For example, some shoppers will want health awareness alerts, while others would prefer to receive more information about product pricing, savings opportunities, promotions, etc. Examples of influential message types are described below.

As briefly discussed above, in some embodiments, the retail outlet influences the buyer's behavior by suggesting that they make certain recipes. When the retail establishment suggests the purchase of certain items to complete a prescription, the retail outlet is aware of certain buyer information, such as the buyer's shopping list, the buyer's inventory list, or selected items already scanned for purchase during the shopping tour. The term "recipe", as used herein, includes projects, which require items to be purchased and assembled in some way to achieve the desired result, much like a recipe. For example, when a hardware store becomes aware that the buyer is purchasing brushes and paint for the home, in an exemplary embodiment, the hardware store suggests in an influential message that the buyer purchase sponges and marine enamels, so that the buyer can complete a project. of artificial paint.

In another embodiment, the influential message provides shoppers with the best routes to travel while shopping at the retailer, using the shopper's known shopping list. The retailer will provide maps or directions to find all items on the buyer's shopping list. Exemplary embodiments provide shoppers with tailored shopping routes to real-time events within the retail location.

These embodiments allow stores to use each buyer's location, time, and personal information to tailor influential messages to the product the buyer is considering buying. Additionally, influential messages are transmitted through the communications network to the wireless end device at the time the buyer is actually considering selecting the product for purchase. This could be in, during, or just after a first moment of truth.

Figure 1 provides a schematic plan view of the retail establishment 5. In particular, a top view of a section of the retail establishment 5 is shown in which the buyer 7, associate 8 and manager 9 are positioned and associated within the communications network 10 for wireless communication between members of the communications network 10. The communications network 10 is located in and around the retail establishment 5 and the store premises (for example, the store parking lot and other areas that are not shown).

The communication multi-network 10 in Figure 1 comprises a 14-mesh communication network and a 16-star communication network 16. However, the composition of the communication multi-network varies depending on the specific application contemplated. Preferably, the communications multi-network 10 includes at least one mesh communications network and at least one star communications network. Through the final device Wireless, Buyer 7 communicates data, including machine-readable messages and location information, to the logical machine through the communications network. In exemplary embodiments, human-readable messages and machine-readable information, such as barcodes, are communicated through the star communications network 16 of communications network 10, while tracking the Positional X and Y coordinates of the operator through the 14-mesh communications network of the multired communications 10.

The buyer 7, the associate 8 and the administrator 9 are connected through the multi-network communication lines 6 and the multi-network router 11 to both the mesh communication network 14 and the star communications network 16 of the communication network. 10. Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the multi-network routers 11 operate for both the 14-mesh communication network and the 16-star communication network 16. Each multi-network router 11 contains the components for data transmission through the 14-mesh communications network and the 16-star communications network, allowing it to function as a radio for the 14-mesh communications network or the 16-star communications network.

In selected embodiments, each multi-network router 11 is placed in a location that is out of the reach of people who shop or work at retail outlet 5. For example, in Figure 1, each multi-network router 11 is near or on the ceiling of the retail outlet 5. Preferably, but not necessarily, each multi-network router 11 houses at least three radios: a first radio operating as an information router for the 14-mesh communication network, and at least two additional radios operating as a radio data communication network of the star communications network 16. In exemplary embodiments, in addition to the three radios, each multi-network router 11 comprises a complete computer component with its own IEEE address; The computer component allows the information collected by any of the radios to be transmitted via cables, which are shown herein as system communication lines 19, to the logic machine 23.

In embodiments using a multiple communication network 10, each multi-network router 11 contains all of the components necessary to operate for both the 14-mesh communication network and the 16-star communication network 16. The multi-network router 11 comprises at least three microcontroller units (MCU). One MCU is used for the 14-mesh communications network and at least two are used for the 16-star communications network. Each MCU is preferably a type of system-on-chip MCU and comprises a control unit, one or more registers, an amount of ROM, an amount of RAM, and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).

The Texas Instruments CC2431 MCU is an exemplary MCU for use as one of the radios for the 14-mesh communications network and for one of the at least two radios used in the 16-star communications network, due to its ability to Easily transmit data through the 14-mesh communications network and the 16-star communications network at prescribed data rates. In addition, the Texas Instruments CC2431 MCU can provide location sensing functions within the communications multi-network 10 herein. Alternatively, the Texas Instruments CC2430 MCU is an exemplary MCU for use as one of the radios for the 14-mesh communications network and for one of the two radios used in the 16-star communications network. The third radio of the At least three radios of the 11 multi-network router should be a more powerful radio than those of the Texas Instruments CC243x series.

As shown in Figure 1, the multi-network organizer 21 functions as a hub for the 16-star communications network and as a mesh network organizer for the 14-mesh communications network. While radios for the communications network Mesh 14 and star communications network 16 are shown herein as housed in the same device, these could be housed in separate units depending on the specific application contemplated. Each 14 mesh communication network needs a mesh network organizer. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mesh network organizer is called a multi-network organizer 21 because it is housed with a data communication radio. In other embodiments, the mesh network organizer could be in a separate unit without a data communication radio.

Referring to Figure 1, system 19 communication lines are shown connecting each multi-network router 11 to logical machine 23. System 19 communication lines can be wireless or wired, and are represented as solid lines to indicate that they are wired in Figures 1, 2B, 3A, 3B and 4. The Ethernet cable is an exemplary wired connection device between each multi-network router 11 and the logical machine 23. The system communication lines 19 shown in the Figures are merely exemplary. , since the communication lines of system 19 are connected from each multi-network router 11 and multi-network organizer 21 to the logical machine 23. In exemplary embodiments, the communication lines of system 19 connect multi-network routers 11 to each other.

Figure 1 also shows multi-network communication lines 6 that correspond to the transmission areas between multi-network routers 11 within the 14-mesh communication network. In practice, multi-network communication lines 6, although they are represented as straight lines for illustrative purposes, they are not necessarily straight lines, but more exactly they are circular transmission zones emitted by each multi-network router 11. Through such zones of each multi-network router 11, the data is transmitted and received.

In practice, the data transmission rate within the 14-mesh communication network is preferably configured to be at least 125 kilobytes per second (KB / s). The data transmission rate within the star communication network 16 is preferably configured to be at least 250 KB / s. The interface between the buyer 7 and the communication network 10 is wireless and the buyer 7 accesses it through one or both of the following: a wireless end device 40 (as shown in Figure 7), and a shopping cart. smart shopping 50 (as shown in Figure 8) over multi-network communication lines 6.

Referring now to Figure 2A, a schematic representation of an exemplary mesh communication network 14 is provided. Multiple multi-network routers 11 are in wireless communication with members of the 14-mesh communication network via multi-network communication lines 6. Members of the mesh communication network 14 may include wireless end devices 40, smart shopping carts 50, and a multi-network organizer 21 that functions as the mesh network organizer (shown hosted with a data communication radio). The multi-network communication lines 6 are represented as dashed lines to show the direction and existence of wireless communication lines between the information routers that make up the 14-mesh communication network and other components (for example, the wireless end devices 40 and the multired organizer 21). The 14-mesh communications network provides many benefits, including low power consumption, low operating cost, efficient communication within a defined space, and low maintenance cost.

As shown in Figure 2A, each multi-network router 11 has the ability to communicate with at least some of the other multi-network routers 11 in the 14-mesh communication network. In some embodiments, each multi-network router 11 can communicate with any other router. multi-network 11, multi-network organizer 21, or wireless end device 40 associated with 14-mesh communication network.

Mesh 14 communications network is a local area network (LAN) that employs one of two connection arrangements. An arrangement is a full mesh topology in which all the multi-network routers 11 are wirelessly connected to each other and can receive and transmit information to any other multi-network router 11 within the mesh. Another exemplary arrangement is a partial mesh topology. In a partial mesh topology, each 11 multi-network router is wirelessly connected to some, but not all, of the 11 multi-network routers available within the mesh. The 14-mesh communication network shown in Figure 2A is the full-mesh topology type.

In some embodiments, the data transferred through the 14-mesh communication network is limited to small data packets, such as X and Y positional coordinates between buyers 7, associates 8 and managers 9. Preferably the location tracking subsystem it is performed through the 14-mesh communication network. In this embodiment, the location tracking subsystem functionality uses the information router component of the multi-network router 11. In this embodiment, the information routers do not necessarily communicate with each other , but provide X and Y position coordinates to each blind node, which could be a wireless end device 40 or an intelligent shopping cart 50. In selected exemplary embodiments, the wireless end device 40 calculates its own X and Y position through the triangulation software loaded on the wireless end device 40. The wireless end devices 40 receive signals from at least three of the information routers, shown in FIG. 2A, comprised within the multi-network router 11, to triangulate the position of the wireless end device 40 or smart shopping cart 50. The multi-network routers 11 know each of its X and Y positional coordinates because the logic machine supplies each multired router with its X and Y positional coordinates. Multinetwork routers 11 are connected to the mesh network organizer, which is shown as the multired organizer 21, which is connected to the logic machine 23 (shown in Figure 1, 2B and 3A) via an Ethernet cable (system communication line 19 in Figures 1, 2B, 3A, 3B and 4).

In some embodiments, the 14 mesh communication network is a ZIGBEE communication network. ZIGBEE is the name of a specification for a high-level communication protocol suite that uses small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for wireless personal area networks (WPAN). ZIGBEE is aimed at radio frequency (RF) applications that require a low data rate, a long battery life, and a secure network.

Returning to Figure 2A, in its simplest form, the mesh communication network 14 includes one or more multi-network routers 11, at least one multi-network organizer 21, and wireless end devices 40. The multi-network organizer 21 is a device that routes data to through one or more multi-network routers 11 within the mesh communication network 14. The multi-network organizer 21 is connected to the logical machine 23 through a communication line in system 19. The mesh communication network 14 is of the type beacon or no beacon. In beacon networks, power usage is further minimized because the multi-network router 11 only needs to be active while transmitting a beacon. The power consumption in beaconless networks may be higher since at least some of the multi-network routers 11 within the communication multi-networks 10 are always active, while others may be inactive. However, it is possible to have all or substantially all of the multi-network routers 11 within the continuously active communications multi-network 10.

In embodiments where the 14-mesh communication network is a beacon network, the multi-network routers 11 (and more specifically, the radios for the mesh communication network called information routers) automatically transmit their positional coordinates X several times per second and And to the blind nodes. The blind nodes are selected from the group consisting of wireless end devices 40 and smart shopping carts 50. In this embodiment, the blind nodes do not have to transmit signals to the multired routers 11 requesting their coordinates.

Other embodiments employ a non-beacon 14 mesh communications network. In a non-beacon enabled network (ie, those with a beacon rating of 15), multi-network routers 11 have data receivers that are preferably continuously active. In these embodiments, when requested by wireless end devices 40, the mesh network organizer transmits a signal through one or more multi-network routers 11 back to the blind nodes. Multi-network organizer 21 manages multi-network routers 11, associates wireless end devices 40 with mesh communication network 14, stores information received from multi-network routers 11, and routes messages between multi-network routers 11 and end devices wireless 40 or smart shopping carts like 50. The use of a beaconless mesh communications network 14 additionally allows heterogeneous networks of multiple device types in which some devices receive continuously, while others only transmit when an external stimulus is detected . An example of an element within a heterogeneous network is a lamp that has a wireless light switch. The node in the lamp receives constantly as it is connected to the lamp power supply while a battery powered light switch remains "asleep" or inactive until the light switch is activated. The light switch activates, sends a command to the lamp, receives an acknowledgment, and returns to an inactive state. In a beacon-type network, multi-network routers 11 within mesh communication network 14 transmit periodic beacons to confirm their presence to other network nodes. These nodes sleep between beacons, reducing their duty cycle and extending battery life.

The logical machine 23 or, in alternative embodiments, the location tracking server 31, provides several important functions within the 14 mesh communication network. The important functions provided by the logical machine 23 are calculation, information storage, organization, response, network notification, data prioritization, event prioritization, ray tracing calculations, historical progression creation, heat mapping, and others. The logical machine organizes the product selection data with the buyer location data collected over a predetermined period of time from the wireless end device to create product selection location data. The logical machine also organizes all product selection location data from a single purchasing journey to create collective product selection location data, storing each buyer's collective product selection location data in the electronic profile of a buyer. This buyer's electronic profile enables the retail establishment to further analyze trends, which uses the logic machine to create historical progressions for the buyer, either individually or by category. At least one server level computer or one server is preferred. A particularly useful server in the communications network 10 in the present memory due to its large computational and storage capacities.

. Referring now to Figure 2B, a schematic representation of the functionality of an exemplary 14-mesh communication network is provided. The 14-mesh communication network transfers data between members of the 14-mesh communication network, such as routers multired 11 and wireless end devices 40 to logic machine 23 via 6-mesh communication lines. Figure 2B shows that there is a flow of data between logic machine 23 and wireless end devices 40 and between logic machine 23 and smart shopping carts 50.

: Figure 3A provides an exemplary representation of a 16-star communications network. In Figure 3A, the data communication radios (housed with multi-network routers 11 in Figures 3A and 3B) communicate directly with logic machine 23 a along the system communication lines 19. The system communication lines 19 are preferably wired lines connecting the multi-network routers 11 to the logic machine 23. In order to explain the functionality of the star communications network 16, multi-network communication lines 6 are wireless communication lines between multi-network routers 11 and wireless end devices 40, and are therefore represented as dashed lines. Preferred system communication lines 19 are capable of high-quality, high-speed transfer of digital voice transmission and other large amounts of data.

A 16-star communications network is particularly useful and important to the 10 communications network: With its data transmission rate of 250 KB / s or more, the 16-star communication network carries data streams requiring data transmission rates of Higher data for greater speed and efficiency. Voice, image, video, and financial transaction data, for example, are the most suitable types of data for transmission at a higher transmission rate (for example, 250 KB / s or higher). While these types of information or data may be transmitted through the 14-mesh communications network, a 16-star communications network is preferred, rather than or in addition to the 14-mesh communications network.

An exemplary 16-star communications network herein operates within the IEEE 802 communications protocol. IEEE 802 refers to a family of IEEE standards that address area networks. local and metropolitan area networks. More specifically, the IEEE 802 standards are restricted to networks that carry variable-size data packets. By contrast, in cell-based networks, data is transmitted in short, uniformly-sized units called cells for use, for example, in cellular telephony. Although preferable, it is recognized that the 16-star communications network operates within multiple communication protocols including, but not limited to, BLUETOOTH® (telecommunications equipment for an IEEE 802.15.1 and 802.15.2 protocol registered in Bluetooth Sig, Inc.), WIMEDIA® (Specifications for connecting wireless multimedia devices, commonly known as the IEEE 802.15.3 protocol, which is registered with the WiMedia Alliance Corporation), Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b), Wi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11 a / HL2), and other wireless protocols such as the preferred 802.15.4 protocol noted above.

In an exemplary embodiment, within IEEE 802, the star communications network 16 transmits data within the IEEE 802.15.4 communications protocol. The IEEE 802.15.4 protocol controls transmissions sent over wireless personal area networks (WPAN). WPANs may include the use of BLUETOOTH technology. The IEEE 802.15.4 communications protocol has a low data rate (for example, approximately 125 KB / s) and also allows long battery life (for example, battery of months or even years) on multired 11 routers and is known for its very low technical complexity and low energy requirements.

Referring now to Figure 3B, an exemplary representation of a star communications network 16 is provided. In this embodiment, all substantive communication with the wireless end devices 40 and smart shopping carts 50 is done via lines of star communication (shown here as multi-network communication lines 6), the data communication radio hosted on the multi-network router 11, the switch 25 and the gateway server 27, and the appropriate store server, such as the location tracking 31. Communication between multi-network router 11 and switch 25 is done through system 19 communication lines, which are wired or wireless, depending on the specific application contemplated. In some system embodiments, the communication lines of system 19 are wired, while the multi-network communication lines 6 are wireless. In alternative embodiments, switch 25, gateway server 27, and storage servers 29, and location tracking server 31 are replaced with logic machine 23 (not shown in Figure 3B).

FIG. 4 provides an exemplary representation of a communication multi-network 10. In FIG. 4, multi-network routers 11 provide a signal to wireless end device 40. In an exemplary embodiment, multi-network routers 11 provide the wireless end device 40 with X and Y position of multi-network information routers 11. Wireless end device 40 or smart shopping cart 50 performs the necessary computations to provide its own location in X and Y positional coordinates, or sends a signal through the 16-star communications to the location tracking server 31. The location tracking server. 31 performs ray tracing and location tracking calculations in some embodiments. In exemplary embodiments, logic machine 23 performs location tracking calculations. According to any of the embodiments described above, the location of each wireless end device 40 and smart shopping cart 50 is known to the store through the data exchanged between the wireless end device 40 and the information router radio of the multi-network router 11 of the mesh communication network 14.

In the embodiments where the wireless end device 40 is a reduced function device and the logic machine 23 or the location tracking server 31 performs the location tracking calculations, the information router radio on the nearest multired router 11 provides the wireless end device 40 with its own X and Y positional coordinates. The information router radio in the multired router 11 closest to the wireless end device 40 receives the X and Y positional coordinates of the wireless end device 40 from the multired organizer 21, which receives the X and Y positional coordinates from the location tracking server 31. In any case, the location of the wireless end device 40 on the map of the retail store 5 (shown in Figure 1) is known to both by the device wireless end 40 such as by location tracking server 31 or logic machine 23, via It is from the 14 mesh communications network of the 10 communications network.

In an exemplary embodiment, with the location of each known wireless end device 40, buyer-maintained wireless end device 40 sends and receives information from store associates 8 and managers 9 via the star communications network 16. In certain embodiments, the location of each smart shopping cart 50 is known, and the smart shopping cart 50 used by the buyer 7 sends and receives information from associates 8, managers 9 or logic machine 23 via the network star communications system 16. In some embodiments, all communication between the buyer 7 and at least one of the group consisting of associates 8, managers 9 and an intelligent shopping cart 50 must be performed through the multi-network router 11, the switch 25 and the gateway server 27, and the appropriate store server, such as the location tracking server 31.

In Figure 5, a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the system and method for influencing buyer 7 in the first moment of truth is provided. Generally, the buyer is influenced by the messages transmitted to the wireless end device 40 of the buyer 7 through the communication network 10 in the retail establishment 5. In step 100 of Figure 5, the buyer 7 begins to buy with the device final wireless 40. In most embodiments, when buyer 7 begins shopping with wireless end device 40, buyer 7 scans their preferred buyer card when wireless end device 40 is assigned to buyer 7, causing the retail outlet to 5 immediately knows the identity of the buyer 7. In step 105, the wireless end device 40, which is kept close to the buyer 7 while purchasing, continuously calculates and transmits location data to the logical machine 23. The logical machine 23 receives data from location of the buyer's wireless device 40 7. In embodiments where the wireless end device 40 is a reduced function device, the coordinates of the nearest multired routers 11 will be transmitted from the wireless end device 40 to the logic machine 23, where the location data will be calculated by the logical machine 23.

Step 110 shows that the logical machine 23 continuously tracks the location of the wireless end device 40 kept close to the buyer 7. The use of the word "continuously" as used herein is defined as the increment determined by the software operator. For example, the time interval may be, inter alia, every 3 seconds, every 5 seconds, or every 10 seconds. The interval will vary, depending on the specific application contemplated.

Then, as shown in step 115, buyer 7 slows down or stops his tour of the store in front of the products and experiences a first moment of truth. Logic machine 23 is programmed with software that recognizes when buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth when buyer's speed drops to a certain speed or when buyer 7 stops in front of a screen for a certain period of time, for example, three seconds. In step 120, when the buyer 7 slows down or stops his journey through the retail store 5 in front of the goods, the logic machine 23 tracks the amount of time the buyer 7 slows down or stops, the location of the slowdown or stoppage, and the identity of the products selected by the buyer (if any were selected) during the period of deceleration or interruption of travel throughout the retail establishment 5. At step 125, logic machine 23 evaluates the information gathered during step 120 to determine if buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth. To determine a first moment of truth, the logical machine 23 compares the buyer's tracking location 7 (also known as the buyer's location data) with the product location map to produce a relationship between the buyer and the location of the product . When the relationship between the product and the location is less than about one with 1.5 meters, the logical machine 23 begins to measure the amount of time that the buyer 7 is close to the product. When buyer 7 selects the product and scans it with his wireless scanning device, creating product selection data, logic machine 23 stops measuring time using the difference between the time of day that buyer 7 selected the product and the first time the product location ratio was below about one with 1.5 meters. Logic machine 23 evaluates the buyer's intended purchase of the product, the buyer's relationship to the product location, and the product selection time data to produce evaluation data. The logic machine determines whether the evaluation data indicates a first moment of truth.

At step 130, if it is determined that the buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth based on the evaluation data, then the logical machine 23 transmits to the buyer 7, via its wireless end device 40, an influential message based in evaluating the first moment of truth. At step 135, buyer 7 receives the influential message on their wireless end device 40. Ideally, while experiencing a first moment of truth, buyer 7 reads the influential message on their wireless device 40 as shown in step 140. Non-ideally, buyer 7 can read one or more influential messages on this wireless end device 40 when it does not experience a first moment of truth.

At this time, in step 145, the buyer 7 makes the decision whether or not to follow the guidance of the influential message. For example, when the influential message recommends a substitute product for scanning by the buyer, at step 145, the buyer 7 decides to purchase the item recommended by the influential message. In other embodiments, buyer 7 is influenced by the influential message to buy a different quantity of products than buyer 7 originally contemplated in his first moment of truth. In still other embodiments, the buyer 7 decides to buy a different product from the selected and scanned product, returning the original product to the shelf and scanning the suggested product. After the buyer's decision in step 145, buyer 7 continues to shop (back to step 100) or proceeds to verify the already selected items (step 150).

Figure 6 provides a flowchart of an embodiment of the system and procedure for influencing buyer 7 in the first moment of truth by transmitting messages to buyer 7's smart shopping cart 50 through a communications network 10 at the store. retailer 5. In step 200 of Figure 6, buyer 7 starts shopping with smart shopping cart 50. In most embodiments, when buyer 7 starts shopping with smart shopping cart 50, buyer 7 scans its preferred buyer card when the smart shopping cart 50 (and the built-in wireless end device) is assigned to the buyer 7, making the store 5 immediately know the identity of the buyers 7. At step 205, the smart shopping cart 50, which is very close to buyer 7 while shopping, continuously calculates and transmits location data to the logical machine to 23. The logic machine 23 receives location data from the smart shopping cart 50 from the buyer 7. In the embodiments where the smart shopping cart 50 includes a wireless end device which is a reduced function, the coordinates of the nearest multired routers 11 will be transmitted from the smart shopping cart 50 to the logical machine 23, where the location data will be calculated by the logical machine 23.

Step 210 shows that the logical machine 23 continuously tracks the location of the smart shopping cart 50 near the buyer 7. The use of the word "continuously" as used herein is defined as the increment determined by the software operator. For example, the time interval may be, inter alia, every 3 seconds, every 5 seconds, or every 10 seconds. The range may vary depending on the specific application contemplated.

Then, as shown in step 215, buyer 7 slows down or stops his tour of the store in front of the products and experiences a first moment of truth. The logic machine 23 is programmed with software that recognizes when the buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth when the buyer's speed drops at a certain speed or when a buyer stops in front of a screen for a certain period of time, for example, three seconds. In step 220, when the buyer 7 slows down or stops in front of the products, the logic machine 23 tracks the amount of deceleration or stop time, the location of the deceleration or stop, and the identity of the products selected by the buyer (if any were selected at all) during the deceleration period or tour interruption throughout the retail establishment 5. At step 225, the logic machine 23 evaluates the information collected during step 220 to determine if the buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth. To determine a first moment of truth, logic machine 23 compares the buyer's location data with the product's location map to produce a buyer's location relationship with the product. When the ratio of the product to the location is less than about 1.5 meters, the logic machine-23 begins to measure the amount of time that the buyer 7 is close to the product. When buyer 7 selects the product and scans it with his wireless scanning device, thereby creating the product selection data, logic machine 23 stops measuring time using the difference between the time of day that buyer 7 selected the product and the first time the product location ratio was below about one 1.5 meters. Logic machine 23 evaluates the buyer's intended purchase of the product, the buyer's relationship to the product location, and the product selection time data to produce evaluation data. The logical machine determines whether the evaluation data indicates a first moment of truth.

At step 230, if it is determined that buyer 7 is experiencing a first moment of truth based on evaluation data, logic machine 23 transmits to buyer 7, via their smart shopping cart 50, an influential message based in evaluating the first moment of truth. At step 235, buyer 7 receives the influential message on their smart shopping cart 50. Ideally, while experiencing a first moment of truth, buyer 7 reads the influential message on their smart shopping cart 50 as shown in the step 240. Non-ideally, buyer 7 reads one or more influential messages on this smart shopping cart 50 when he does not experience a first moment of truth.

At this time, in step 245, the buyer 7 makes the decision to follow or not follow the guidance of the influential message. For example, when the influential message recommends a substitute product for scanning by the buyer, at step 245, the buyer 7 decides to purchase the item recommended by the influential message. In other embodiments, buyer 7 is influenced by the influential message to buy a different quantity of products than buyer 7 originally contemplated in his first moment of truth. In still other embodiments, the buyer 7 decides to buy a different product from the selected and scanned product, returning the original product to the shelf and scanning the suggested product. After the buyer's decision in step 245, buyer 7 either continues to shop (back to step 200) or proceeds to verify already selected items (step 250).

Figure 7 provides a front view of a wireless end device 40 with multiple interface keys 42. Wireless end devices 40 are used by at least one of the following: a manager, a store associate, and a buyer. In some embodiments, a location tracking device is housed within each wireless end device 40. The wireless end device 40 is battery operated and preferably rechargeable. It has the ability to search for and associate itself (ie, connect wirelessly) to an existing communication network 10 in the present specification. The wireless end device 40 herein is either a reduced function device or a full function device, but a reduced function device is preferred because of its lower power consumption. In some embodiments, the wireless end device 40 includes a product scanning device (not shown) and an image generator useful for item scanning by the buyer 7 to place the scanned items in a shopping cart (smart 50 or not). smart; not shown) and for taking pictures.

The wireless end device 40 serves substantially as a device that receives information and transmits information to the communications network 10. In Figure 7, the wireless end device 40 is shown including the interface keys 42. While each multiple interface key 42 denoting a function that occurs, most multi-interface keys 42 actually provide a requested transmission to or from other devices connected to communications network 10 (not shown) rather than requesting wireless end device 40 perform functions computational. In some embodiments, the wireless end device 40 transmits information to other devices connected to the multi-network 10, such as the logic machine 23 or other devices capable of performing computational functions, for the calculation. Computational functions include but are not limited to ray tracing calculations, price calculations, and budget calculations. Therefore, the interface keys 42 shown on the wireless end device 40 in Figure 7 are not intended to imply the activation of a function within the wireless end device 40 other than receiving or transmitting information from the communications multired 10 and any type of key used in the wireless end device 40 results in little, if not no, computation, because the logic machine 23 or the location tracking server 31 performs the ray tracing calculations. By using the interface keys 42, the hardware required for calculation functions such as calculating their X and Y positional coordinates on the store grid is alleviated.

For example, wireless end device 40 itself does not substantially calculate or maintain a running total of the cost of items previously scanned and placed in smart shopping cart 50. Instead, cart key 44, when pressed, points to the communications network 10 that the wireless end device 40 is ready to scan an item to be placed in the cart 50 after the item has been scanned. The information about the scanned item is transmitted wirelessly through the communication network 10 and finally routed to the logical machine 23 or to the location tracking server 31 for further storage and / or processing.

It should be noted herein that Figure 7 is exemplary and the types, configurations, and orientation of the buttons shown are not part of the invention. A myriad of key types, sizes, shapes, configurations, symbols, graphics, etc. can be created. to fit the scope and purpose of the wireless end device 40 depending on the specific application contemplated.

When the wireless end device 40 is configured to do little or no calculation, the wireless end device 40 is extremely cost-effective to build and to use. Since lower priced components (ie, high speed processor and memory) are used, wireless device 40 is subject to less theft. Furthermore, even if theft of the wireless end device 40 occurs, its replacement cost is much less than the unit costs of the more complex devices. When the wireless end device 40 lacks a processor and high-speed memory, it also lacks a significant amount of software from other devices that rely on high-speed processors and large types of sophisticated memory. Furthermore, due to the low cost per unit of wireless end device 40, more units can be deployed to a larger number of retail store buyers 5. Wireless end device 40 can also be used in multiple grocery stores, as long as each store owns a compatible communication network 10 that can be used by the wireless end device 40.

In other embodiments, the wireless end device 40 performs certain complex computational functions, at least partially, within its circuits, that is, within its microcontrollers. For example, it performs ray tracing calculations to determine its own location on the overlapping two-dimensional grid on the store map. In this embodiment, it is preferred, but not necessary, that the logical machine 23 or the appropriate store server, such as location tracking server 31, acts as a backup of a full-function wireless end device 40 in the case of a computer or other type of interruption in the wireless end device 40.

The wireless end device 40, whether or not it has computational capabilities, comprises at least one MCU. The MCU herein is preferably a system-on-chip MCU. The MCU herein comprises a control unit, one or more registers, a read-only memory (ROM) amount, a random access memory (RAM) amount and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). In embodiments where the wireless end device 40 does not do all of the computational work, the ALU will be accessed very little, if at all, for any computation within the wireless end device 40. In embodiments of the wireless end device 40 where the device itself performs most of the computational work, the ALU will be accessed, and therefore used for calculations.

In some embodiments, the wireless end device 40 includes at least two MCUs. One MCU receives and transmits information from the wireless end device 40 to the 14-mesh communications network. Another MCU receives and transmits information from the wireless end device 40 to the 16-star communications network. The Texas Instruments CC2431 MCU is preferred in the present memory due to its ability to transmit data for both the 14-mesh communications network and the 16-star communications network. In addition, the CC2431 MCU provides location detection functions within the communications multired 10 herein memory. Such location detection is an important and preferred function because it allows to find and locate any device equipped in this way (be it wireless end devices 40, smart shopping cart 50 or multi-network routers 11) anywhere within the multi-communication network 10 .

The technical specifications for the CC2431 MCU are as follows: Low Power MC51 8051 with 32MHz Single Cycle; 2.4 GHz Rf transceiver compliant with IEEE 802.15.4; 128 KB programmable flash memory on the system; ultra-low power requirements; ZIGBEE protocol stack (Z-STACK); and 8 Kbyte, 4 Kbyte SRAM with data hold in all power modes. The CC2431 is a true system-on-chip (SOC) for ZIGBEe / IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor network solutions. The CC2431 includes a detection hardware module of location that can be used to locate the wireless end device 40 or an intelligent shopping cart 50 within the communications network 10. Based on this, the location engine calculates an estimate of the position of an unknown wireless end device 40 of a smart shopping cart 50 within the communications network 10.

In addition to the MCUs used for information flow and management throughout the 14-mesh communications network and the 16-star communications network, at least one control MCU is employed within the wireless end device 40. This Control MCU controls, evaluates, sends messages to, receives information from, and manages the other MCUs configured to send and receive information throughout the 14-mesh communications network and the 16-star communications network. The MSP430 manufactured by Texas Instruments is a preferred model for a control MCU. The MSP430 is a microcontroller built around a 16-bit processor designed for low cost, low power consumption embedded applications. This is especially suitable for wireless radio frequency (RF) or battery powered applications. Current consumption in idle mode may be less than 1 microampere. Its maximum processing speed is 16 MHz. You can slow down to reduce power consumption. The MSP430 does not have an external memory bus. Therefore this is limited to onboard memory and preferably comprises up to 128KB flash memory and 10KB RAM.

In embodiments where the communication multired 10 contains multiple star communication networks 16, an exemplary configuration of the internal hardware of the wireless end device 40 includes two MCUs responsible for communication with the communication multired 10 and a control MCU that it controls all other necessary functions within the wireless end device 40. In this configuration, one of the two MCUs is always associated and connected wirelessly to the communications multired 10. The other MCU, when not connected wirelessly to the communications network 10, searches for the strongest radio signal transmitted by communication network 10 to connect to communication network 10. If a signal detected by the unassociated MCU becomes stronger than a signal transmitted by the communication network currently associated star 16, the non-associated MCU will be converted to the associated state and the previous MCU Previously associated it will convert to the unassociated state and then begin searching for the strongest radio signal available in the communications network 10. Such a process of association and unlinking between MCUs occurs continuously as buyer 7 moves through a store and it moves from one 16-star communications network to another 16-star communications network located within retail store 5.

In alternative embodiments where the communication network 10 comprises multiple star communication networks 16 and no 14 mesh communication network, two MCUs (preferably CC2431 from Texas Instruments) responsible for the simultaneous reception and transmission of information from the end device Wireless 40 are associated with the communications network 10. This dual association allows the transmission of larger data packets to or from wireless end device 40. These larger data packets may include voice, video and other data types. whose wireless transmission (that is, between the wireless end device 40 and the communication network 10) is facilitated by a transmission rate of 256 KB / s or higher.

Referring now to Figure 8, an exemplary smart shopping cart 50 is provided that is used by a shopper 7 at the retail outlet 5. In appearance, the smart shopping cart 50 resembles the more popular conventional shopping carts. The smart shopping cart 50 has a handle 52, a basket 54 attached to the handle 52, and a lower cart 56 positioned under the basket 54. However, the smart shopping cart 50 is "smart" because it is in communication with the store. Retailer 5 via communications network 10. When smart shopping cart 50 is equipped with MCUs (preferably CC243 1 from Texas Instruments), it is responsible for receiving and transmitting information with logic machine 23 via the communications network 10. In addition, when the smart shopping cart 50 houses an imager and a display, or is combined with a wireless end device 40 that houses an imager and a display, the buyer 7 can read received influential messages of the logical machine 23. In some embodiments, the smart shopping cart 50 includes a tracking device so that the retail store 5 can real Track the location of the Smart Shopping Cart 50 across the retail store 5.

As shown in Figure 8, the smart shopping cart 50 also includes weighing devices 58 positioned within the inner surface 55 of the basket 54. In some embodiments, the weighing devices 58 are hook-shaped 60. Each weighing device Weighing 50, or hook 60, is connected to a strain gauge (not shown) that measures the strain of an object on which it is placed. The strain gauge measures the strain of the hook 60 when an article is placed on it causing measurable strain. Measurable deformation is a measure of at least a part of the weight of an article applied to hook 60.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and should not limit the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the described shapes and details can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described above, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (15)

1. A procedure for influencing a buyer's product selection during a buyer's shopping journey at a retail location, this procedure comprises the steps of: i. Placing a communications network (10) for buyer communication at a retail outlet (5), the communications network (10) comprises at least one mesh communications network (14) that is configured to track the location of said buyer and at least one star communications network (16) that is configured to transfer information data consisting of one or more voice data, image data, video data and / or financial transaction data to said buyer, said mesh communications network (14) and said star communications network (16) operate within said communications multinetwork (10) to produce tracking data and product selection data; ii. providing a logic machine (23), said logic machine (23) is in operative connection with said communication multi-network (10) and managing said communication multi-network (10); iii. keeping track of a wireless end device (40), keeping the wireless end device (40) close to said buyer (7) during the shopping tour of said buyer in said retail establishment (5), in which the wireless end device (40) is in follow-up communication with said logical machine (23) through said mesh communications network (14) of said communications multired (10); iv. electronically associating said wireless end device (40) with said communications network (10); v. identifying a product on display at said retail establishment (5), said product being very close to said buyer (7); saw. determining an influential message suitable for transmission to said wireless end device (40) kept close to said buyer (7) from said logic machine (23); and vii. transmitting from said logic machine (23) said appropriate influential message through said star communications network (16) to said wireless end device (40) kept close to said buyer (7) during the shopping journey of said buyer in said retail establishment (5). 2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a multi-network router (11) positioned within said retail establishment (5), said multi-network router (11) is communicatively coupled to the communications multi-network (10 ). 3. The method of Claim 1, wherein said communication network (10) comprises a first mesh communication network (14) and a second mesh communication network. 4. The method of Claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises a first star communications network (16) and a second star communications network. 5. The method of Claim 1, wherein said appropriate influential message is selected from the group consisting of a competitive savings opportunity, a co-branding opportunity, a product warning, a product combination warning, a review of product, a response to a historical progression, an alternative choice for product purchase, in-store instructions for locating a product, an electronic coupon, price cut alerts, price increase alerts, and budget limit alerts. 6. The method of Claim 1, wherein said wireless end device (40) is associated with a shopping cart (50). 7. The method of Claim 1 further comprising the steps of: i. coupling a product scanning device to said wireless end device (40); ii. scanning a product for purchase using said product scanning device, said product for purchase has a product identity; iii. create product scan data by registering the identity of said product for purchase; iv. transmitting said product scan data to said logic machine (23); and v. evaluating said product scan data, wherein the logic machine (23) evaluates the product scan data. The method of Claim 7, wherein said wireless end device (40) comprises a tracking location device that is in tracking communication with said logic machine (23), wherein the tracking step of said device wireless end (40) further comprises the step of producing a location tracking said buyer in said retail establishment (5), by means of which said logical machine (23) produces said tracking location. 9. The method of Claim 8 further comprising the step of comparing said tracking location with a product location map to produce a buyer relationship to the product location, wherein said logic machine (23) compares said location tracking with said product location map. 10. The method of Claim 9 further comprising the steps of: i. record the time when said relationship of the buyer to the location of the product is less than 1.5 meters; and ii. calculate the product selection time data by calculating the difference between the time such product selection data was created and the time the ratio of buyer location to product location is less than 1.5 meters, in in which the steps of recording the time and calculating the product selection time data are performed by said logical machine (23). 11. The method of Claim 10, further comprising the step of producing evaluation data, said evaluation data is the result of said logical machine (23) evaluating said intended product purchase, said buyer relationship to the location of the product and said product selection time data. 12. The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of determining a first moment of truth, said first moment of truth is indicated by said evaluation data to said logic machine (23). 13. The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of adapting said appropriate influential message to said evaluation data when said first moment of truth is determined. The method of Claim 1, wherein said influence of said buyer's product selection occurs prior to said buyer's product selection, during said buyer's product selection, or after product selection of said buyer. 15. The method of Claim 14, wherein said influence of said buyer's product selection causes said buyer's product selection to be altered.